Editor's Note: Local Comedian Dan Swartwout's interview was featured in the March/April print edition of CityScene Magazine. The interview was shortened for space requirements. Below is the interview in its entirety...
Dan Swartwout, also known as Swarty, could have been nominated “Most Likely to Succeed” in his class of ‘92 at Upper Arlington High School. Instead, however, he became Class Clown. Turns out both titles fit.
Swartwout has tasted success on the national standup comedy scene. Just this year, he’s toured 22 states and has been on the road for about 40 weeks. He’s headlined shows from Colorado to Florida, and private events for a number of organizations, including Nationwide and the United States Marine Corps.
Swartwout was selected for the 2003 Boston Comedy Festival, the 2004 NACA Northern Plains Regional Conference and won the Carnival Cruise Comedy Challenge in 2005.
The 32-year-old Powell resident also recently landed a spot on the Ohio Lottery game show “Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich,” where he keeps the audience occupied during breaks.
Additionally, Swartwout has tapped into popular Web sites like Myspace.com and YouTube.com to saturate the comedic market. He tag teams a podcast show with fellow Columbus comedian Bill Arrundale for the Bill and Dan Show, which is available at www.swarty.com.
Swartwout is the poster child for someone who is doing exactly what he wants and enjoying himself while doing it. He took some time out from his whirlwind schedule to talk with CityScene about fertility, roller coasters and a career that is literally in the spotlight.
CityScene (CS): How did you get started on this career path, which seems rather tough to break into?
Dan Swartwout (DS): In 1997, my current wife (Tasha) and I were dating and we split up. The way I dealt with it was to write jokes. I figured I’ve got all these jokes; I might as well do something with them. I always had an itch to do comedy, so I took my material about this break-up and started performing it at an open mic night on a Thursday night at the Bogey Inn. We’re obviously together now and very happy and married almost five years, so it all worked out in the end.
CS: Why did you decide to do it full time?
DS: (Laughing) I continued going to open mic’s even when I went to law school. I got a show as an opener at the Funny Bone in ’99 and I graduated, passed the bar and continued to work at the club. But I got a job at a big law firm, making great money. So some days I would work there for nine or 10 hours, then run up to the Funny Bone and do a show, and then go back to the law firm to finish work. I finally came to the conclusion that I had gotten as good as I could possibly get at comedy and decided to give it a go full time.
CS: That sounds like a bold move. Was it worth it?
DS: Well, it was and still is scary. I did well in law school and was blessed with a good job. I knew when my paychecks were coming. Financially, this was a shock, and I was scared that I may have thrown away security for something that may not work. But making the transition into comedy was never a question. I like talking, I like making people laugh and I have a bit of a knack for this.
CS: How would you describe your comedy?
DS: Very personal and very high energy. I have a lot of physical movements and facial expressions. Most of my material is about me and what I’m going through and hopefully I can at some point connect with the audience and make them relate. If you can take a topic that is unique to you and make it relatable to someone else, then it will almost certainly be received well.
CS: What are some of those topics you pick to make “relatable”?
DS: Right now my wife and I are trying to have a baby. We’re going to a fertility doctor and there are times when it is funny. I was adopted, so I have jokes about that. I’m a bigger guy and I had this incident at Cedar Point a few years ago where they couldn’t get the security mechanism around me. It was the most embarrassing, horrible feeling, but it’s also something I can take and make funny. My goal is to make the audience feel what I’m feeling, or make them see things through my point of view.
CS: How do you keep your show fresh?
DS: I’m experiencing new things all the time. This whole thing about my wife and I trying to have a kid, that’s new. I just observe what’s going on around me all the time and do a lot of writing. I can’t tell you how many napkins or receipts I have with observations I’ve written down regardless of where I am. And then, as you change or develop on stage, you can make the same jokes you’ve been doing for five years fresh just by ad libbing.
CS: What is the biggest challenge you have as a full-time comedian?
DS: It’s two-fold. There is always the challenge of being on stage and remaining fresh and relevant and getting better and things like that. Then there’s also the aspect of trying to get the gigs. Promoting yourself. There are a limited number of slots for comedians to perform and make money and a whole lot of comedians.
CS: How do you handle those challenges?
DS: Well the more stage time you have, the better you’ll get. Your comfort level improves the more you go along. I mean, there’s always the potential to go up there and eat it, but I feel now, after doing this for five years, that I could take any stage. On the promotion side, the Internet has been unbelievable. It allows a comedian to be available to anyone, and allows you to do a whole lot of marketing and PR and fan interaction.
CS: What is the biggest moment you’ve had in your comedic career thus far?
DS: One of my favorite moments was very recent. I just got off of a tour of military bases and the enthusiasm and excitement they show, and bonding with them after the performance is a great feeling. I was part of the Boston Comedy Festival, which was probably my biggest gig. I won the Carnival Cruise Comedy Challenge in 2005, which was probably my most successful moment. I’m also now part of “Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich,” which I love because I can create a comedy moment that people aren’t expecting – that I’m not even expecting.
CS: Who are your influences?
DS: My No. 1 influence is Brian Regan. He is a guy who comedy fans love and know, but he isn’t necessarily a mainstream superstar. Then probably David Letterman, with his ironic nature, and Bob Newhart has the best timing and deadpan.
CS: You grew up in Columbus and currently live in Powell. How would you describe the comedy scene here?
DS: Columbus has a lot of really, really strong comedians who started here. I don’t think people realize how great the Funny Bone is here and the national reputation it has. Everybody wants to play here. There are also about five or six comedians in the Columbus area who are touring around the country, so it has quite a scene.
CS: In five years, where do you see yourself?
DS: Continuing to do standup, being better at standup – so that I’m paid in a manner that reflects that. Standup creates a buzz. However anything in my career happens, I’ll be doing standup.
CS: All of this stems from a break-up with your now-wife. She must have a strong sense of humor as well?
DS: She really does. It’s not easy for her. I’m on the road a lot. She is hardwired to need to know when the next paycheck is coming. I’m not like that. To me, it’s just all going to work out and it has worked out great. But had we not broken up that one time, who knows where we’d be? Of course, she probably wishes she’d never broken up with me now …
For Swartwout’s biography, stand-up bits and pieces and tour dates, visit www.myspace.com/swartycomedy or www.swarty.com.