It is around this time every semester when you start spotting people sleeping, crying and just generally losing their minds in the library. It’s a stressful time of year, the second half of the semester is no cake-walk and Brock Commons is filled less with the sounds of laughter and more with the sounds of students briskly walking to class. However, laughter is important, it’s the best medicine some might say, so the first ever Fishin’ Pig Funnies came just in the knick of time.
On Thursday night Winston Hodges, Farmville native and amateur comedian, came to The Fishin’ Pig. Interspersed between a diverse crowd of professors, students and folks ready to get their weekend started early, were eight comedians whose job it was to get the rambunctious crowd to quiet down.
Winston Hodges, Johnny Cook, Eric Steele, Rob Mir, Alex Dejulio, Chris White, Dylan Vattelana and T.J. Ferguson were the eight comedians who braved the stage that night, each with their own unique brand of comedy. At first the crowd seemed a bit confused. I mean, who were these guys interrupting their Thursday night ritual? However, as the night went on the crowd began to settle into their new roles as audience members.
“People come out for a normal Thursday night. Like ‘can you keep your comedy down while I hit on this girl?’” joked Vattelana. “That’s kind of the vibe I got, but a lot of the people were here to really laugh. I think this was a great test run.”
Dylan Vattelana, Winston Hodges and T.J Ferguson were all in great spirits after the show. The adrenaline of performing live, paired with a few a drinks, is the feeling these three live for. Chasing down their dreams one bar show at a time. Hodges said organizing the event on his old stomping grounds was something he had wanted to do for a very long time, and The Fishin’ Pig was happy to oblige.
“Because I’m from here I already knew 30 percent of the audience so I knew they would at least feign laughter at my stuff,” said Hodges, whose set consisted of tales from online dating and roller coaster horror stories. He was thrilled to bring the eight comedians together for what will hopefully be the first of many shows at The Fishin’ Pig.
Hodges went on to say that he had always heard you get more work from other comedians then you do from anywhere else. Therefore, organizing this event was just a
matter of calling up some of his funniest pals. Hodges met both Ferguson and Vattelana at an open mic night at The Funny Bone in Richmond. Since then the three have not stopped trying to make each other laugh.
“When I first met him my advice for him was just to stop,” said Vattelana when he was asked about the first time he and Hodges met. This response elicited uproarious laughter form both Hodges and Ferguson, and the groups genuine camaraderie really shined through. The friendships that develop between young comedians who are working the bar scene are vitally important because things can get pretty rough and it’s nice to know someone has your back.
“You’ll get these crowds that are just disinterested and just not there and not listening and its just horrible,” said Ferguson. “There are literally nights where you go home and you’re like why do I put myself through this.”
Luckily The Fishin’ Pig Funnies was not one of those nights. The audience responded well and all the comedians agreed that they would be happy to return and perform. Hodges hopes to make The Fishin’ Pig Funnies a monthly event. Hodges, Vattelana and Feguson were all pleased with their performances, but not before making a few good Farmville jokes during their performances.
“I’d always heard from people that have never been to Farmville that they thought that dancing was illegal here,” joked Hodges. Vattelana quickly chimed in, “I came here for two reasons, one to come to this show and hopefully make people laugh. Two, to find whoever has been sending me all hose Facebook game requests and shut that shit down.”
Winston Hodges, Johnny Cook, Eric Steele, Rob Mir, Alex Dejulio, Chris White, Dylan Vattelana and T.J. Ferguson were the eight comedians who braved the stage Thursday Oct. 15, 2015 at the Fishin' Pig restaurant.
