NWOH-it-all: Steve Brewer

Steve Brewer is no stranger to comedy.

Performing in hundreds of venues for nearly a quarter-century, Brewer doesn't treat any performance different from one another. He said he treat each one as if it's the most important show.

Before his Tuesday show at Grumpy Dave's Pub, Brewer chatted with Northwest Ohio Comedy via phone interview.

Brewer shares how he got his start, his opinion on comedy in smaller venues and where he enjoys going when in Bowling Green.

Hometown: Detroit

Age: 39

Years Professional: 23

Approximate number of shows performed yearly: 150 to 200.

Comedic Influences/Inspirations: George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce.

You might know Brewer from: Filth Fest: an unrestricted, uncensored three-man comedy tour specializing in dirty jokes.

Fun fact: "Guilty pleasure" is riding and refurbishing motorcycles.


Q: When did you first want to be a comedian?
SB: I knew it started in kindergarten when I was required by the teacher to draw what I wanted to be when I grew up. I drew a stand-up comedian standing up on stage telling jokes, saying 'ha-ha.'

Q: How did you get your professional start?
SB: By the time I was 15, I had written my first five minutes of material. I stole a buddy's ID - the guy I worked for at Domino's [Pizza] - so I got into the club. I was hooked. From that point on, I did everything I could to get on stage.

Q: How would you describe your style of comedy?
SB: It's definitely controversial, political, truthful. If nothing else, my show is truthful. When I write, I take an intelligent idea and I try to turn it into a dick joke. I try to make my shows where the doctor goes 'wow this guy is really smart. He took this really great idea and disguising it so that guy can enjoy it.' And I want to guy who doesn't know any better to be able to go, 'ha, he said f***.' I want it to be enjoyable for everyone.

Q: What are the benefits to performing at smaller venues compared to a grander stage?SB: I really, really believe that it's more important to go and do these small shows than it is to do the big shows because these are the people who come out and they might be spending maybe $50 for the night. But that might be their entertainment budget for the entire month. I feel the responsibility of the headliner to go in and to really give them their money's worth and then some.

Q: What does the true value of comedy mean to you?SB: [Comedians] are in a business that is so focused on success that we forget what it is we are actually doing. If we only do this to be on TV, if we only do this to make a huge paycheck, then what is the value?

I started doing this because for that 45 minutes to an hour, [when] I'm on stage, I can make people forget how s***** their life is for that week. I'm actually doing something that's making peoples' lives better. That's where I get my pleasure. 

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring comedians?SB: The first thing I tell them is don't. The reason I tell them don't is because it's so hard. It was hard when I was coming up, but now it's just unbelievably difficult and competitive and hard to make a living at.

Really though the best way to do it is to get on stage. There is no secret to it. Perform as much as you possibly can. Do everything you can to get on stage as often as you can. Write, write, write and write. Don't write about the [material] everyone else is writing about. Stay away from whatever seems easy.

Q: What do you enjoy about Bowling Green?
SB: I like Main Street. I like the sense in that kind of two-mile radius from Grumpy Dave's [Pub], it's like a really cool mix of old and new. Its got that kind of sense of community and its also got that we can party deal. And the Pita Pit. Christ that place is awesome. After throwing down a bunch of beers, there is nothing better than Pita Pit.

Q: Why should people come see you Tuesday?
SB: I give the best damn show you will ever see. I give them the same show I would give if I were filming a special or if I were performing for the f****** queen. I give them everything I got, no matter how I feel.