He says he wasn’t a bad kid, he just happened to be there.
Sitting in the office as an eight grader, he says he had the principal and the vice-principal laughing over his impression of old men and their obsessive love of cars.
He also realized they were laughing as his equals, too.
A few years before that, watching TV in his childhood home in Dartmouth, he recalls watching Laurel and Hardy, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, and improv programs.
“As much as I enjoyed watching, I had this thing in the back of my head that said ‘I can do that’ or ‘I can write a better joke than that, and that guys on TV,” Evans recalled with a chuckle on Tuesday.
“So I was this cocky 12-year-old kid that thought I could do that”.
Evans has been honing his craft for years, finding gigs in Toronto while he worked at a call centre.
Now he’s returned to Halifax and makes a living hosting comedy shows at different venues. He’s appreciative of the Halifax comedy scene.
“It’s more supportive here. There’s fewer people doing it, there’s fewer opportunities for it here, but the talent is every bit as good if not better.” said Evans, comparing the scenes of Halifax and Toronto.
Evans has based his acts around everyday life, with a particular interest in the way we use, and especially misuse, our language.
And now Evans has a spot on the roster of the upcoming Halifax ComedyFest, and he couldn’t be happier.
“It’s huge. It’s really huge. There’s three of us locally that get to be part of it, and 30 other comics that are world class,” he said. “It’s a world class festival, and to be able to say that you’re apart of it, and in my hometown, where I grew up, it’s humbling.”
Evans is performing twice Saturday during Halifax ComedyFest. He takes the stage at the Lower Deck at 3 p.m. and at the Gala of Laughs Finale at Spatz Theatre at 7 p.m.
Plenty of comedians to make you laugh in Halifax this week
The Halifax ComedyFest is ringing in its 19th birthday this year, with its opening gala at Casino Nova Scotia on Wednesday night.
The popular festival runs through Saturday at various venues across the city.
“Believe it or not, every year is different,” said event producer Kim Hendrickson. “This festival is like a snowflake, none are ever the same.”
The lineup this year boasts 31 comedians and 13 shows.
The acts for this year’s festival include Jeremy Hotz, Derek Edwards, Greg Morton, Deanne Smith, Cathy Jones, and Tim Nutt.
Visit halifaxcomedyfest.ca for full event details.