Guy Torry Is Having the Last Laugh

The door to starting a comedy career is wide open, but there are only a few comedians who have staying power. Guy Torry is one of them. After more than twenty years in the game, he still believes he has something to prove. Guy Torry recently performed at the comedy club, Funny Bone, to a packed audience in the comedy swing state of Ohio with nonstop laughs and applause from the audience. He can also be heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Torry talked with TheVillageCelebration’s Najah Goldstein about the business of making people laugh.

TheVillageCelebration: How important is it for you to incorporate politics into your live standup comedy?

Torry: I always have been a political comic, but now it’s more important than ever because of this idiot we have in office right now. It’s my voice, its how I feel and what I say on stage is what I really mean. Donald Trump wasn’t qualified for the job. This country is more sexist than it is racist. Hillary Clinton was more qualified for the job and she didn’t win. It just shows you that we haven’t really moved forward like we thought we did with President Obama and that’s a bigger problem.

TheVillageCelebration: How are you helping to sustain live standup comedy?

Torry: When I do standup, I’m carrying a torch for live standup comedy. I want to give 800% percent on stage so that if someone is coming to my comedy show for the first time, I want to make sure they come back to see Joe Torry, Tony Rock, Cedric The Entertainer or D.L. Hughley. I want them to support live standup comedy, so if I go on stage and I’m not good that may ruin it for them.

TheVillageCelebration: How do you feel about these new social media comics?

Torry: I embrace this new generation of comics. I’m a fan of comedy. The new internet comics have found a way in, and I’m not mad at it. My generation’s way in was through Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comic View. My only note to these internet comics is to put as much time into your live show that you put into your social media show.  If someone is going to see a social media comic for the first time and they have 45 minutes to an hour to fill, it’s important for them not to fizzle out after seven minutes. We don’t want to lose fans at shows. I applaud them for gaining a fan base on social media; just respect the live comedy game as well. The internet and social media is free when people come see you live they are investing in you. They are taking off of work, buying an outfit, doing the two drink minimum and buying a ticket. Hopefully, their return is a great show. You have to give your audience more than what they paid for.

TheVillageCelebration: What’s your advice for those comics just getting started?

Torry: Study the craft, history, and the comics before you. With the internet, it is no excuse not to be informed about what your potential job may be. Once you study it, you may find it’s hard. We make it look easy. If you’re not going to commit to comedy then stay out because all you’ll do is muddy the waters. Find out what’s your passion, study it and then pursue it. There will be a lot of no’s and doors slammed in your face, a lot of rejection so if you don’t love it, you’ll wind up doing something else. You have to believe in yourself to get to where you’re going, change your language, you change your life, change your words, you can change your world.

TheVillageCelebration: Who has influenced your comedy career?

Torry: If you were to tell me to name my comedy Mount Rushmore, there are more than four faces on there. My brother, Joe Torry, Martin Lawrence, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Dick Gregory, Moms Mabley, Whoopi Goldberg, Lenny Bruce, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Tommy Davidson, Keenan and Damon Wayans, Adele Givens, Evan Wilson.

TheVillageCelebration: Who are some of the young comedians that you see coming up?

Torry: Ms. Pretty Ricky who opens for me is hilarious, she is a rising star. She is fun, smart and loves the craft. Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, Kevin Tate, D’Lai and Jess Ness.

TheVillageCelebration: What would people be surprised to know about the life of a comedian?

Torry: A lot of comedians are dark on the inside. We have twisted, messed up minds, and dark souls. We do comedy to bring light to our dark situations. We may look all happy and fun on stage or in public, but a lot of us are hurting. I think the next phase of my career is doing documentaries and telling stories of other comedians because it’s such a disrespected craft. People have no idea what we go through, the blood, sweat and tears, the depression and health issues, traveling, diet, alcohol and drugs…and we do it all to make people laugh.

TheVillageCelebration: What projects are you working on now?

Torry: I’m working on a new documentary called Phat Tuesday, which will come out next spring. It is a comedy night that I created that is the greatest comedy night in all of the years of comedy and it tells the story of how this night helped to create some of the biggest stars in stand up…myself, Kevin Hart to Katt Williams. The documentary really goes into what is going on today socially with police brutality. The night was created to show the injustices of how law enforcement treats people of color.