Gavin Clarkson is a comedian whose unique style blends geeky humour, absurd facts, and personal observations. With a love for video games, Lego, and quirky trivia, his performances are an energetic and fun journey through his eclectic interests. Whether riffing on his favourite comedians or sharing personal stories, Gavin’s comedy always takes the audience on an unexpected ride.
How would you describe your comedy style?
My style is very much ‘does what is said on the label’. I’m a loud geek who loves video games as much as Microsoft Excel as much as my excessive Lego collection of scale-accurate space models, and I look the part. Did you know Michael Jackson was an uncredited contributor to the music of the Sega Genesis game Sonic & Knuckles? Or that the only non-military man to walk on the moon was a geologist? Or that Bob Kane didn’t really create Batman? Follow me for more tips on how to avoid conversations.
I also talk about my wife. Which I somehow have, what a neat little twist.
Who are some of your influences?
Myq Kaplan, John Mulaney, Mitch Hedberg, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
I didn’t have cable growing up, so didn’t get the same exposure to standup that many of my colleagues did – there wasn’t any late night you could pick up on the bunny ears. But what I did get was Friday night comedy on CBC, and I religiously watched Just For Laughs, Royal Canadian Air Farce, 22 Minutes, the Red Green Show, and Made in Canada. I’ve always loved musical comedy too, likely starting when a friend showed me his cassette of Adam Sandler’s “They’re All Gonna Laugh At You” and I was hooked. Weirdly, that unauthorized blank cassette also had Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” on it. I knew every word and had to be talked out of doing it at my Grade 4 Talent Show.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
I have to give it to Adam Sandler. My love of standup started with that cassette, then he dropped stand-up in favour of movies for decades. And it came as an extremely pleasant surprise when he returned with 100% Fresh in 2018, and it was amazing. It felt all warm and nostalgic and had the same mix of off-the-wall silly and musical bits that made me listen to it so much as a kid.
What is your pre-show ritual?
Superman pose. Fists on hips, shoulders back, deep breath. It centres me and calms the nerves. I can’t remember where I picked that up, but it worked, so I kept doing it.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
The Comedy Mix in Vancouver. It closed in 2019, but that place was legendary, something about the design of the low ceilings in that hotel basement and the small stage made every laugh hit like a tidal wave. I came up in the Comedy Mix on their Tuesday amateur nights, and I’ve been chasing the dragon of how the laughs felt in that place ever since. Maybe it was the room design, maybe it’s just sentimentality – many of my big comedy firsts were in that club – but I’ve yet to perform in a place like it.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
There’s a couple, I have a fun opener that goes into absurd, accurate detail about the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster – a good 2 minutes of just facts – only to end in an absolutely silly one-liner. I would open with it and audiences had no idea where it was going, and I would take them on that journey with them having no idea why only to abruptly end it in a very silly place. It took people off guard and felt like a fun prank we were all enjoying together, and is great at introducing who I am to a new audience.
Another favourite was re-writing Blackalicious’ Alphabet Aerobics and replacing everything with comic book characters. I do love musical comedy.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Spotify is a great place to start, then go to the comics website and buy the special because Spotify does not pay.
Tell us a joke about your city.
Sometimes people ask me if Vancouver is as unfriendly as they say it is, and I always tell them to please get out of my way and never speak to me again.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
Always tune in to CBC Debaters! I’ve had the absolute pleasure of being a repeat guest, so check out my episodes or any episode on Spotify. They’re all great.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Sterling Scott. He’s a Canada’s Got Talent golden buzzer winner, one of the funniest people working today, my comedy mentor and my brother-in-law. In order of importance.
