Comedian Brian McDowell hopes his best future gigs aren't that memorable. It seems like the ones where people threw sandwiches at him or where he said something he thought was stupid and sneaked out of the building are the shows that jump to the front of his mind.
"I've done a lot of bars, coffee shops and some that were pretty nightmarish; they weren't always fun. I am of the mind, especially early on in your career, a bad gig can teach you a lot more than a good one," he said. "If I can survive a motorcycle bar where people initially hate you and turn it around, doing a gig at nice hotel bar in Jefferson City is pretty easy."
Having a good reception from his opening set at the R Bar at Baymont Inn & Suites a few months ago, the St. Louis-based comedic veteran is excited to headline the Laughing Class Productions-sponsored event at 8 p.m. today (Friday, June 16, 2017).
Memphis-born and St. Louis-raised McDowell enjoyed watching "The David Letterman Show" and classic comedians like Don Rickles, Bill Hicks and Joan Rivers.
"I discovered George Carlin, and it clicked in place for me. This is a guy who can express himself. You can be silly but get some things out there," he said.
McDowell entertained his teachers with "ridiculous," hilarious essays and stories, but he had too much stage fright to perform. Then he got a boost of encouragement while living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"I was working at a coffee shop and one of my co-workers had read some of my stuff, suggesting I read my funny essays during an open mic night there," said McDowell, who studied communications at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. "I did, and a comedian who was in the audience said, 'You are doing stand-up, you just don't know it.'"
For the next 10 years, McDowell concentrated on performing live comedy. He developed his own comedic approach, describing his stand-up as coming from a place of "maybe low-grade anger and frustration."
McDowell had success in California's comedic scene, but later realized he may have moved into that heavy-hitting market too soon.
"You are competing against a lot of famous people on television. There is only so much good stage time, and many people had already established themselves. It's like putting a Little Leaguer in the major leagues," he said. "I did get stage time and made friends, becoming part of an interesting scene. It remains, in these smaller markets now, there is always going to be more comedians than stage time."
McDowell took a five-year hiatus, but he didn't let his comedy rest. He worked as a sports and general assignment reporter for a small-town newspaper in Kansas, also writing a sports column. Injecting jokes and humor, it started gaining traction with readers and a statewide "Best Sports Column" award.
After moving back to the St. Louis area, he got back into comedy and has developed a following in the Illinois and Missouri circuits during the last year.
"It has been interesting retiring and then coming back to comedy. It's like working out. If you didn't work out for five years and went back to the gym, it's tough. My muscles had atrophy, but I was surprised how well it went the first week or two back," he said.
McDowell is encouraged by The Laughing Class Productions' events, which help bring quality comedy to smaller markets that may not have a dedicated comedy club or offer a steady stream of live stand-up.
"(The Laughing Class) is booking a lot of gigs for comedians in Mid-Missouri, and it's great to see someone moving in to fill the void," he said, noting several shows have been booked at hotels in Jefferson City and Lodge of Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. "People shouldn't have to drive to Kansas City or St. Louis, and it is ideal to see it in their own town."
McDowell doesn't mind traveling, with multiple shows booked through early September. He plans to get out on the road doing stand-up and hopes to make Jefferson City a semi-regular stop.
Friday's show will have two openers, including St. Louis comedian Spencer Tegtmeyer. Tickets are available at the door for $15. For more information, visit brianmcdowellcomedy.com.