The Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy pre-show Q-and-A series give you 10 questions of insight into your favorite comedians’ minds.

 

Andy Hendrickson has “the sickness” — a need for laughter that has made his career as a stand-up comedian a persistent one.

Hendrickson will be performing at House of Comedy, located at 5350 E. High St. Suite 105, in Phoenix on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Friday through Sunday, Nov. 28 to 30. Wednesday, Nov. 26, shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, shows are scheduled for 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday’s shows are at 7 and 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30, has one show at 7 p.m. Ticket prices vary by show and range from $13 to $20.

When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a comedian? 

I don’t think it really hit me until I actually did stand-up for the first time. As soon as I got that first big laugh I was hooked. An old NYC club booker I know calls that need comedians have for laughter “a sickness.” He may be half-right.

What was your best (or most embarrassing) moment on stage? 

I’ve had a 1,000 bombs and those always suck. As you get more experience you learn to almost enjoy them. One time a did a show in Paducah, KY, at this crappy steel warehouse the was converted into a nightclub. The bar owner and I didn’t care for each other. After the show he went on stage with a bucket full of comp tickets and said that because I sucked so bad he was giving tickets away for the next week. anyone willing to walk up on stage could pull their free ticket out of the bucket. I was pretty new to comedy and it was humiliating. It was like I was doing stand-up while stuck in the movie “Road House.”

What’s one thing you want people to know about doing stand-up that nobody has ever asked you? 

How we come with our jokes. Most people think we write them ourselves, but there’s a sweat shop in Thailand where kids 8 years old and up write jokes for cheap, cheap.

Who is your comedic inspiration? 

I’m a big fan of Bill Burr. It feels like he’s just telling you stories, but it’s all very well crafted and thought out. He can argue a point that goes against popular opinion, make the logic so sound that you pretty much have to agree with him and make it all really funny. I think he’s the top guy working out there right now.

What’s one thing you wished someone had told you about stand-up? 

You’ll never have a “normal life” again.

What’s one item you never hit the road without? 

Condoms. Lots and lots of condoms. I fill them with heroin, swallow them and deliver them in the next city. It helps pay for gas. Oh…and my phone charger.

What is your favorite city to perform in and why? 

Washington DC. It’s the area I grew up in. It’s a great city and the crowds are smart. I have tons of friends and family that come out. It’s like hosting a party. Plus… I get to cheer up all of the sad Redskins fans.

Describe yourself in three words: 

Dry, sarcastic, “supercalafragilisitcexpealadocious”

If you had one day left to live, how would you spend it? 

Watching reruns of “Sanford and Son.”

What did you do the last time you were in Phoenix?

Peyote