Most of us dread public speaking, even a presentation in front of classmates can give us nightmares. Imagine standing all alone on a stage in a crowded nightclub delivering a comedy routine.
One of our classmates, 21 year old Ryan Popowcer does just that, he’s good at it, he enjoys it, and he wants more time on the stage.
Popowcer began his comedic career in 2013 when he was only 17. He saw a poster for an open mic night while a freshman at Cal State Northridge. Popowcer had never been on stage before. He took a deep breath, “signed up and went.” He wrote some material. Like most comedic routines it was R rated. Right before the show he called the school, just to make sure his material would fly. The school’s response, “I don’t think so”, no time left to write new material; he was going to have to wing it.
When he got to the venue, he was told, you can “say whatever you want,” so he used his prepared material. Popowcer thought the routine went OK. The emcee was impressed and suggested he enter a comedy competition coming up at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank. A month later Popowcer made it to the finals at Flappers, but he didn’t win. The club owners must have been impressed because a few weeks after the contest they sent him a contract to appear monthly.
Since then Popowcer has performed at the Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store, and on the Vegas strip at the SLS Hotel. He once performed on the same stage with Cuba Gooding Jr’s sister. Gooding Jr came back stage after the set and congratulated Popowcer on his performance. He’s also performed at some less high brow places like Sal’s Comedy Hole, a small room in the back of a restaurant. He had an audience of two, both family members.
Popowcer writes all his own material. It’s not a process of sitting down and writing a routine, he described it as an ongoing progression. If he hears something funny or thinks of something clever he writes it on his phone’s note pad. He can then compile and tweak the ideas when he needs new material.
Popowcer would like to perform in Chicago and called a couple places last semester, but it’s tough to get started in a new town. “It’s easy in California because I know the booker, I just email the booker tell him I’m going to be in town.” Without knowing a booker in Chicago, it is tough to get a gig.
When Popowcer lands a gig in Chicago I recommend you go. I was able to see his last routine at Flappers when he went home for winter break, he is very good. But, you will have to wait for him to perform in the city; his routine will never fly at CUC.
Popowcer has yet to earn a paycheck for his comedy work so, to his parent’s delight, his plans for law school remain in place.
