Niki Mohrdar, the charming Vancouver-based comedian, is an absolute delight on stage. Niki’s endearing and relatable humour has a unique way of making her audience feel like they’re sharing a good laugh with a close friend. Her warm and inviting presence on stage is truly a testament to her ability to connect with her audience, leaving them in stitches and eagerly awaiting her next performance. We had the opportunity to speak with her about her misadventures onstage.
How would you describe your comedy style?
It’s personal and intimate. Imagine you’re at a party, you go outside for some fresh air and you see a good friend you haven’t seen in a while. They excitedly tell you about all of the crazy, stupid nonsense they’ve been up to while you share a smoke. That’s my style of comedy. I want the audience to feel like they’re my best friend.
Who are some of your influences?
Beth Stelling, Chelsea Peretti, Mae Martin, Annie Lederman, Jackie Burkhart from That ‘70s Show.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
I’d like to say Jon Stewart, but it was more likely Dane Cook. At the time, people were making cartoons from some of his clips and uploading them on YouTube. I was fascinated with how he could take a mundane story about his life and make it incredibly compelling and hilarious. When I was 12 my mom took me to see him live, he had sold out an arena and performed in a sort of circular stage in the middle of the audience. I had never seen anything like it. To me, he was a comedy rockstar. Booo, lame, I know.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Tom Segura, Hannibal Buress, and Nikki Glaser.
What is your pre-show ritual?
Every show is different, but usually, I’ll have something caffeinated beforehand, to keep my energy up. I also need to not be spoken to before I go on stage, so I’ll just sort of pace the back of the green room and run over my set. Sometimes if I’m super nervous I’ll go to the bathroom and smile at myself in the mirror, a terrifying but effective exercise.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
It’s honestly less about the venue and more about the audience for me. Most recently, I had the chance to perform at BMO Theatre Centre with Jokers Canada, that was a blast! It was a big lively crowd that was a little drunk and very engaged. What more could you ask for? Plus it was in a fancy theatre, which is undeniably fun/cool.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I have a bit about having a moustache that I really enjoy. It’s one of the first jokes I’ve written where I felt like I’ve finally been able to take something that was once a pain point for me and make it funny and relatable to a wide audience.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
I like watching specials instead of short clips, so I try to do that, but when it comes to finding someone new, Instagram clips are my go-to.
Tell us a joke about your city.
I don’t have any jokes about Vancouver but I have been known to call this city a Dr. Suess city. It feels like it was built by someone who had visited maybe one or two cities before and was like, “Okay, I got this…let’s put the train in the sky, build our airport on the water, just keep moving the unhoused population like a game of Battleship.” I love Vancouver, but it doesn’t need me to write a joke about it. It does that on its own!
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I have a podcast called Soft For Us, that I host with two other comedians, Amy Walsh and Danielle Florence. You should check it out! New episodes are out every other Wednesday.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
I’m sure you already know of him, but Aaron Read. Some other favourites of mine are Cassidy Furman, Greta Lin, Bradley Fung, Randee Neumeyer, Aaron Campbell, Rachel Schafear, Sophia Johnson, Carter Selinger, Alannah Brittany, I could go on… Ok, this is reading like a love letter. Probably because it is! Vancouver comics are the best.
