Firstly, could you introduce yourself, and give a quick summary of your show?
Hello! I'm Ever Mainard! I am 30 years old and grew up in Little River-Academy, Texas. You might be wondering-"I wonder what that was like." Have you ever accidentally stepped into someone's pee outside of a run-down petrol station? Yeah. It's like that. Super Classy. Let Me Be Your Main Man is essentially about me learning to clean the pee off my shoes.
What is your earliest arts memory?
Taking permanent markers and drawing all over family photos. I called it art - my mom called it, "wait till your father comes home."
What first encouraged you to become a performer?
My family encouraged me to be a performer at a young age. We were always watching Saturday Night Live and other sketch shows together. I could never get enough of Carol Burnett. I was always the class clown and knew that I wanted to do comedy since I was about ten years old.
Do you remember your first professional performance, and how did it go?
I was nineteen and performed in this comedy club called Club Image in Temple, Texas. I dressed up as a character named De-De Robinson. She was this lewd 50 year-old who chain-smoked and lived in a trailer park. I had about 5-8 mins as this character. I thought it went over relatively well, but when I look at the material now I cringe. The first time I performed at this club as me I ate shit. Over and over. I just kept going back up until I didn't suck. Then I moved to Chicago and kept working at it.
What do you feel is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that I get to be 100% me and make people laugh.
Conversely, what is the worst?
The worst part of my job is when I am 100% me and no one laughs.
How do you decide whether or not a show has gone well?
I used to let the audience decide that for me. But then I realised that, ultimately, I am in control of my own show and emotions. So it goes between the energy exchange between me and them. I try to look at every show as a learning experience. Kidding. I go by how bad I want to drown myself after a set and if the other comics can look me in the eye. Oh, you're looking down and telling me it looked like I had fun up there? Ok. Guess I'll hurl myself down these stairs.
If you could work with anybody, dead or alive, who would you choose to collaborate with?
Dolly Parton. She's an incredible musician and actor. I love her delivery and timing. I think she would be amazing to work with. A real dream.
What made you want to come to Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
When I moved to Chicago all of my friends were talking about it and obsessing about the Fringe- "The big one." This was the first time I had ever heard of it and became obsessed myself. A whole city filled with artists and comics? This sounded obscene and amazing. Then one day I got a call and Brett Vincent from Get Comedy wanted to have me over. I was screaming in a parking lot when I got the news!
Is performing at EdFringe different from 'traditional' shows?
This will be my first time performing at the Fringe. I think it will be more challenging and have more room to grow. I've never left the U.S. so all of this is very different and exciting.
If you could travel back in time and give 16 year-old you one piece of advice, what would it be?
Grow the mullet longer and ditch the perm.
What advice would you give to young people who want to enter the industry?
I would say to keep going. Sometimes I'll table a joke if it's not hitting the way I want and revisit later. Sometimes it still doesn't work and I think- I should just quit. Everything is pointless, who cares. And then I'll think of a new joke and feel like the Sheriff of comedy. Sometimes you're the Sheriff, sometimes you're the Constable.
Do you have social media that our readers can follow you on?
YES!
Facebook: Ever Mainard
Twitter: @evermainard
Instagram: EverMainard
Snapchat: buttholesnapper69
Where can people catch your show during EdFringe?
Gilded Balloon Wine Bar August 3-29th, no show the 15th, 6:15pm
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