Uncommon Convos

Matt Garard | Season 01 | Episode 014

Dennis VanDerGinst

Summary

Matt Garard talks about his career in theater, working in standup and improv comedy, and his current stint with Thunder Bulge in this weeks podcast episode. 

In This Episode

  • When and why Matt started to perform
  • Why Matt turned down a scholarship for theater
  • Matt’s work with Comedy Sports
  • Working in a murder mystery show
  • Winning The World Comedy Championships
  • The difference between standup comedy and improv
  • How to handle hecklers while doing comedy
  • How Matt got into teaching Junior Theater classes
  • Working in long-form improv in Chicago
  • Learning at Second City Conservatory with improv legends
    • Gilda’s Club, a cancer support organization named after Gilda Radner, an American comedian who got her start in Second City and eventually went on to star on SNL, ensures that people impacted by cancer have the knowledge and community that they need. If you’d like to support Gilda’s Club, you can donate here: https://www.gildasclubchicago.org/donate
  • Touring with Mission Improvable and working in edutainment
  • How to get out of not having professional headshots
  • Playing clean vs. going blue
  • Working shows behind-the-scenes to learn that end of the business
  • Working with Thunder Bulge to promote body positivity and comedy
  • Thunder Bulge on the Gong Show
  • Auditioning for America’s Got Talent
  • Getting kicked out of a bridal convention
  • Doing virtual events during the pandemic
  • Shout out to Lance Bass, and getting Thunder Bulge to perform at Rage
  • Starting Rose Entertainment group while doing shows and planning a wedding
  • Matt’s comedic and theatric heroes that propelled his career
  • Matt’s best advice to aspiring actors and comedians
  • Check out Matt’s show: https://thunderbulge.com