The Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy pre-show Q-and-A series give you 10 questions of insight into your favorite comedians’ minds.
At 17, Tom Rhodes took a fake ID and auditioned at the only comedy club, then, in Orlando, The Funny Farm. In the 1990s, he became the first comedian spokesperson to sign with Comedy Central. He would also become the star of NBC’s “Mr. Rhodes,” Dutch Yorin Television’s “Kevin Masters Show” starring Tom Rhodes and Yorin Travel. Rhodes has ventured overseas to perform in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. Rhodes and his photographer wife now travel the world, in another spot every week documenting their lives as they continue living their dream. And now you have the opportunity to see this talented, world-traveling comedian live. Rhodes will be performing at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy February 25-28th.
When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a comedian?
My father took me to a comedy show in Washington D.C. when I was 11 years old.
The front entrance was beside the stage and when we entered the show was already underway. I was wearing a Washington Redskins jacket and the comedian onstage pulled me up onstage with him and started interviewing me as if I were the coach of the Redskins. I only gave bashful, dopey 11-year-old kid, one-word answers like “yes” and “no” but that moment forever changed my life because I will never forget standing on that stage and seeing all those happy people with their heads thrown back in laughter with all their teeth in their mouth. That was the moment that I decided what I was going to do with my life.
What was your best (or most embarrassing) moment on stage?
About five years ago in February I was in El Paso, Texas, performing during a massive snow storm. About halfway through my hour show, the power and lights went out. The audience was enjoying the show so much and didn’t want me to stop so they all pulled out their cellphones and I did the rest of my show in the glow of cellphone light. I think it was one of the coolest moments of my career because the people were loving it so much that they didn’t want it to end.
What’s one thing you want people to know about doing stand-up that nobody has ever asked you?
Stand-up comedy is the great equalizer because it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, the only thing that matters is if you are funny and that is why I love it so much.
Who is your comedic inspiration?
Yosemite Sam.
What’s one thing you wished someone had told you about stand-up?
Even though you get drinks for free, you don’t have to spend every night of your life drunk. Go home and work on your act instead of chasing girls and being the life of the party every night.
What’s one item you never hit the road without?
Clean socks and underwear.
What is your favorite city to perform in and why?
San Francisco, London, New York and Sydney because my favorite kind of audience is multi-ethnic, multi-national and well-informed.
Describe yourself in three words:
Big love always!
If you had one day left to live, how would you spend it?
Answering AZ Big Media questions! Hmmmm, depending on if I could make it there in time and what I was dying from I would say I would like to be doing the tango in Buenos Aires.
What did you do the last time you were in Phoenix?
The last time I flew into Phoenix no one could leave the terminal because a killer was on the loose and had run to the airport to get away from the cops after killing a few people. In other cities when you fly in there could be delays because of the weather but in Phoenix you can get delayed because a killer is on the loose. Just a note to Phoenix, even in war torn countries they have properly secured their airport. The last time I was in Phoenix I went to see spring training baseball games. I grew up in Florida with spring training baseball, but I have to say that it is a much better experience in Arizona.
