One common way for comedians to break into the local stand-up comedy scene is to perform at hotel lounges, open mics at local bars, or community centres. It also takes years of grinding it out performing at these venues to build your name and a respectable portfolio of work with the hopes of making it big.
Josh Menchions said it is the reason he created the Stand-Up Newfoundland website. His goals with the website are to promote the local comedy scene, showcase talented comedians, and inform audiences about the province's latest comedy shows, events, and performances.
Menchions said he enjoys supporting local talent because, as a comedian himself, he understands the grind it takes to get your name out there. He said the thirst to start something local made sense when promoters like Yuk Yuks closed their doors due to financial struggles in 2016. He also noticed that the local comedy scene was also changing.
“It was a big problem when they left because people assumed there wouldn’t be any comedy venues to watch local talent, but today that's inaccurate. Now, comedy acts are spread out all over the city. It is no longer under one roof.”
Menchions, a comedian for eight years, realized that as the number of local comedians in the city grew, it was time to build a platform to support them.
“If you're a new comedian trying to get your name out there. It is tough. I realized that people are open to comedy but may not always know about the local comedic talent in the city. I made a website dedicated to stand-up comedians so people can learn about them. People can learn about their shows in St. John’s; comedians can submit a profile about their comedy and provide a link on the website from one of their performances.
Based on his website's positive response, he said that there is no reason why St. John’s can’t be a comedy hotspot.
“Traditionally, local comedians had to travel or move to the mainland to make it big, which is ridiculous because there are so many great comedians here. My dream is to hopefully make it so comedians don't have to leave the island to make a name for themselves. And I think this is slowly starting to become a reality.”
With 42 comedians on the website, Menchions said he would like to expand its membership to include comedians in other parts of the province, such as central and western regions. He would also like more touring comedians to promote their Newfoundland tours on his website and encourage other comedians with disabilities to try stand-up comedy. He said the additional support would help advocate for more wheelchair-accessible infrastructure in St. John’s.
Menchions, who spent the majority of his life in a wheelchair because of a brain stem injury, has become an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity.
“With the open mic that I run weekly. I can't get into the main door of the pub. I need to go to the side door. When I go to the washroom, I need to park my wheelchair outside, grab onto the sink, and slowly enter the bathroom. The city is not meant for people with disabilities in mind. My dream is to one day own a comedy club that’s fully accessible and not only just for me but for everyone.”
Menchions describes his comedic style as more of a self-deprecating storyteller who likes to poke fun at himself while working the crowd.
“I have a lot of funny interactions with the public, which may not be funny at the time, but I make it funny in my jokes, so I'm more of a storyteller. I'm also trying to expand into crowd work, where you talk to the audience and make a joke up on the spot, either about a person or whatever they were talking about. If you can master that, you will never run out of material.”
After eight years, Menchions said his long-term goals are a work in progress, but his short-term goals will always be making people laugh.
“I feel lucky to have the ability to get up on stage and make people laugh. It gives me a great feeling. When you do it once, you want to do it more and more. It's addictive, and it's what I'm all about.”
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