The Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy pre-show Q-and-A series give you 10 questions of insight into your favorite comedians’ minds.
You may have seen (or heard) Rocky LaPorte all over your television this year — that Brooklyn accent on a former Chicago truck driver, dock worker and self-described boxing and athletically skilled comedian who made the Top 5 on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2014. (He also won the Las Vegas Comedy Festival’s “Stand Up of the Year” award.) The comedian, who has toured with Drew Carey and opened for Tim Allen, has also opened for Hootie and the Blowfish (we’re curious, too).
Good luck getting tickets to LaPorte’s New Year’s Eve shows — both are sold out. Don’t despair, though, LaPorte has shows Thursday, Jan. 1, through Sunday, Jan. 4 at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy. Showtimes vary between 7 and 9:45 p.m. Ticket prices vary between $18 and $24. For more information, or to buy tickets visit the venue’s website.
When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a comedian?
Probably when I was about 8 and was making some relatives laugh really hard, I thought to myself, “What a great thing to possess. It felt like I was doing magic.”
What was your best (or most embarrassing) moment on stage?
Just a few days ago, it was my son’s first time he saw me perform. He was too young to get into clubs and went into the Army at 18 , served in Iraq and now he’s 22 and he saw me on the “Last Comic Standing” tour and it was just a great audience and I had a great set and it made us both so happy. I’m very proud of him.
What’s one thing you want people to know about doing stand-up that nobody has ever asked you?
How hard it is and the sacrifices you have to make.
Who is your comedic inspiration?
I grew up liking Rodney Dangerfield, Carlin, Cosby and Pryor. The classics, I guess.
What’s one thing you wished someone had told you about stand-up?
See No. 3
What’s one item you never hit the road without?
My mind. I’ve lost in a few times. Probably after all the essentials — toothpaste, tooth brush, etc. — I would say my Kindle. I love to read.
What is your favorite city to perform in and why?
Not sure if I have a favorite city; each one has something you love about it. New Orleans has great food. Cleveland has the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Chicago is my hometown — and the pizza. I love Lake Tahoe for its beauty, the weather in California and the pretty girls down South and just about everywhere you go there’s just some really great people and great stuff about each city. I love working up in Canada, too, great peeps. And doing shows overseas for the troops.
Describe yourself in three words:
Kind, funny and probably tortured.
If you had one day left to live, how would you spend it?
With my kids and grandkids. Their the loves of my life and bring me such joy.
What did you do the last time you were in Phoenix?
I stayed in the air conditioned room. It was like 9,000 degrees. Kidding. I enjoyed working there very much and went to Camelback Mountain.
