Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Hurley.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was always “naturally funny.” As a young child, I always preferred to sit at the “adult table” with my parents, aunts and uncles. I found it more interesting than playing with my cousins…. They were all so funny and would always be trying to “outdo” each other with funny stories. I would say that that is where I developed my observational/day in the life storytelling ability. They had the gift of “Irish whit” and humor! I got married to my high school sweetheart (Jimmy Hurley) and we went on to have 5 great kids (3 girls and 2 boys). Jimmy worked 2 and 3 jobs so that I could stay home and raise the kids….
One day, when our youngest was around 4 years old, we were watching the “Nick-At-Nite” channel when a commercial came on, they were having a contest to find “America’s Funniest Mom!” and they were going to create a nationally televised show out of it. Unbeknownst to me, Jimmy had entered me into the contest and we went to the Laugh Factory in NYC to audition for the show. After making it through several auditions (and several thousand entrants), I was selected as one of the final 5 contestants that made it! So, my first time doing stand-up comedy resulted in getting on a nationally televised cable TV show! So, I would say that being a 40-year-old mom who never tried stand-up comedy yet got selected for a TV comedy show is pretty unique!
Please tell us about your art.
My art is making people laugh at things that they probably see and hear every day yet don’t see it as funny. I look at things and verbalize the situation in a funny manner. I have the ability to embellish a situation or story and make it funny. I’m not even sure I how I do it sometimes? It’s just the manner of using certain adjectives with the right inflection of my voice and facial expressions. I have the ability to say things that people may be thinking but don’t dare say. My husband always says that I can get away with saying certain words and phrases that, if other people said the same words, would come across as offensive and not funny. I truly believe that one is born funny and that you cannot teach someone to be “funny.”
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
The greatest advice I got about stand-up comedy came from Don Gavin. He is known as the “Godfather of Boston Comedy.” He is probably the funniest man on earth! He told me that the only way to get better at stand-up comedy was to get up in front of an audience as much as possible. You can write and rehearse as much as you want but the only way to perfect your skills is to get live reactions from strangers watching and listening to your act.
Here’s a lesson I learned earlier in my career as a stand-up comedian…. Do your time! Notice I did not write, “Do MORE time!” If the booker of the room says, “Do 10 minutes” He/She did not say, “Do 12 or 15 or 18 minutes” He/She is running the room and has other comics or variables to contend with that you (as a piece of a puzzle) should not question. It’s not your room and you shouldn’t question their reasons.
Even if you are having a “good set” and the people love you, it does not give you the right to do more time (or as I like to say, “steal more time”). If you are doing good, that’s great, leave the crowd wanting more! Conversely, if your set is not going well, don’t go over your time in hopes that you will “get them” with your next bit…. It’s also a respect thing. You don’t want to upstage the headliner or closer. Especially if you are on a show with 3-5 comedians. I always loved the expression, “Less is More!” A show in the best comedy clubs in the country use the same formula, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes is the maximum time for a show. It doesn’t matter if Jerry Seinfeld is performing, people’s attention spans are limited….
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I work all over New England and last year I worked in Las Vegas, Montreal, Aruba and Florida! My schedule can be viewed at ChristineHurleyComedy.com. Come out and support live comedy! It’s fun and gets you away from the TV and computer screen!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ChristineHurleyComedy.com
- Phone: 508-269-2370
- Email: info@ChristineHurleyComedy.com
- Instagram: c.hurley6488
- Facebook: ChristienHurleyComedy fB fanpage
- Twitter: @churleycomedy
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