BONUS: From Atlanta to China with Damon Sumner

In this episode, Damon Sumner shares his journey from Atlanta to stages around the world, including his time performing comedy in China and connecting with audiences across cultures. He talks about how he got his start in stand-up, the lessons he's learned from performing internationally, and what continues to inspire his work today. Plus, Damon gives listeners a preview of the comedy, energy, and laughs he'll be bringing to Bend on Labor Day Weekend. 

Nighttime Benders is a Powered by The Source Podcast. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hi guys, I am so happy to be back with you this week. Welcome back to nighttime vendors. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Your favorite place to catch up with Central Oregon's favorite funny faces. I am Julia Reid Nichols and I actually work out of the Source Building, which is so much fun. The Source is our local independent digital daily. They also do a weekly hard copy paper. And the really cool thing about this week's paper is they are announcing the best of Central Oregon award winners. And if you want to know what the best food, drinks, entertainment, all that jazz here in Central Oregon, pick up your copy. They're free and all over town. I do want to give a really quick shout out to the open mic at Silver Moon ran by Beer Town. They did get a honorable mention in the best of. They definitely got voted favorite by lots of people in town. So it's great to have such a great comedy open mic and to have it recognized by our community. So thank you. But while our crew recovers from a very busy week, I have another great bonus episode for you. This is Damon Sumner. He is an Atlanta-based comedian who honestly is great. His perspective on international comedy and joy in comedy and his professionalism, he's always on the road. And we are so lucky that he's going to be coming to Ben Labor Day weekend. We were able to sit down and learn more about him and his comedy journey. And I hope you guys enjoy that conversation now.

SPEAKER_02 1:33

Well, welcome to the podcast. Can you introduce yourself for people who might not be familiar with your work and your comedy?

SPEAKER_03 1:39

Sure, sure. I'm Damon Sumner. I am a comedian based in Atlanta, Georgia. And uh I love getting a chance to bring joy through humor to people's lives. So uh I'm excited to get up to the Northwest really soon.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Have you ever performed here in Oregon before?

SPEAKER_03 1:57

No. First time coming up. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_02 2:00

Well, good. We're happy to have you. And where is home?

SPEAKER_03 2:03

Home is here in Atlanta, Georgia. Uh I was born in Shreepport, Louisiana, but Atlanta's home. That's where I became a man. That's where I found my footing as a comedian. So yeah, I'm down here in the Southeast.

SPEAKER_02 2:15

What do you like about working in Atlanta? Why do you make it your home base?

SPEAKER_03 2:19

Man, I was just not enough time in the day. Atlanta's the best uh for a lot of reasons. One, we are a top five comedy scene in the country, hands down. Uh I love the fact that it is uh full of culture and and a variety of cultures, and there's a beauty in that. Uh I mean, apart from some of the best music in the country, some of the best food on the planet. Uh-huh. Uh and then, you know, I get a chance just to be around a lot of uh energetic, fiery people who are passionate about so many different things. And so Atlanta's just a city that pushes me to be the best me I could be.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

I love that. It's always good to kind of grow where you're planted and find your people.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

That's great. And what's your comedy origins story? Do you remember your first time at the mic?

SPEAKER_03 3:06

I do, I do. So the nutshell is that um, man, this was after college, and my one of my best friends, a great comedian here, David Padou. We're hanging out with some friends, we're in a circle, we're laughing, ha ha, hee hee. And somebody was like randomly, this was in um 2010. Somebody was like, yo, y'all are really funny. Have you ever thought about doing stand-up comedy? I have never never thought about it, to be honest with you. I just always love being funny in the cafeteria and on the playground. And so we signed up for an open mic together, October 27, 2010, Lapis School Lounge, Atlanta, Georgia. We both do a mic together for the first time. And I just remember before the show, I was just all over the place. But as soon as I got off that stage, I was like, oh yeah, this is this is what we're gonna do. I don't know how or how we'll figure it out, but this is it. This is it.

SPEAKER_02 3:56

Well, it seems like you've had a lot of interesting adventures. I always dig through people's social media and watch their stuff before I talk to them. And you had an experience that I don't think a lot of comedians have had, which is doing comedy in China. Can you tell us a little bit about that and how that came to be?

SPEAKER_03 4:13

Yeah, sure, sure, sure. So uh I was in Shanghai for a year. I was over there teaching English, uh, and I was also doing comedy uh because I was a teacher and doing stand-up here in the states. We're like, yo, let's go see the world. And so I was over there, and it's kind of it's kind of my two truths and a lie now, but I was actually a part of the the team to open the first ever mainland China Comedy Club, Kung Fu Comedy, and it was it was so great. I mean, just so many fond memories of the other comedians there, but also this was like you know, two to three years into my comedy journey. And it taught me a lot of things. One of the biggest things it taught me was that one, I truly desire to um make comedy that's universal. Like I truly desire to be able to go anywhere and make people laugh. Um, and so being in a room on any given night in China where you've got expats from all over the world, you've got, you know, um Chinese people who have, you know, multiple languages under their belt, you got students, you got uh so much happening where you couldn't just you couldn't just rely on cultural references, you couldn't just rely on, you know, just kind of pop culture chit-chat. It was like, actually, uh, there's 14 countries in here, so we're not sure what you're talking about when you say peptop is all. And so it pushed me as a writer, it pushed me as a performer, um, and it pushed me also just to continue just to see my worldview grow and expand. Um, and so over there for a year and some change, had an amazing time, went to a lot of other dope cities and performed over there as well, and just a time I'll never forget.

SPEAKER_02 5:49

Can I ask a question that might be rooted in ignorance? But was there any censorship of what you were able to perform on stage in China?

SPEAKER_03 5:59

So I'll speak for myself. In general, there wasn't. There was this like cloud uh over the head where it was like, you know, like I'll never forget one time we were in a different city. Um, it was in Shanghai, which is for many people who may not know, is a big bustling, you know, dope city, New York, Paris type of vibe. So we go to a smaller city, and I just remember remember us being in the green room in the back, and they were like, hey, just a heads up, do whatever you want to do, but also there's a couple officials here, you know. I mean, and everybody's like, we don't really know what that means, but what we do know is that we're not gonna get tripped. That's what we do know. So, you know, I never saw a firsthand experience of anything kind of go down at a show, or we never had any issues with the club that I was aware of. Um, but there definitely was an aroma in the air of like, you know, be thoughtful.

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Yeah. Yeah. Well, now that you're back stateside and you get to say whatever you want, what do you use your themes usually center on? What can people expect to hear in your comedy?

SPEAKER_03 7:05

Um, you know, man, it's really been a journey in a lot of ways. I think now where I am is that I'm diving deeper into my love for storytelling. So that's one aspect you're gonna get stories uh for sure from me, my life, my upbringing, you know, kind of that. You're gonna get relatable humor of me saying things that you probably think and you maybe don't want to say out loud. You're gonna you're gonna get some of that. Uh you're going to also get right now, I'm really big and back into reading books. So right now I'm huge in kind of the fantasy romanticy space. So if you mess with any of that, you're gonna get uh some jokes and some humor about that. But really what I do love is that you're gonna get a show that desires for everybody on that even any given night um to have a great time in that room. And so I do take pride in the craft. Um, and I I love that I have the opportunity to be able to do what I love.

SPEAKER_02 8:00

Do you work clean? I feel like when you keep saying like universal, are you a clean comic?

SPEAKER_03 8:05

I'm not a clean comic. I can work clean, I do work clean. Um, I actually have the pleasure uh to headline on uh cruise ships, primarily carnival cruise ships monthly. And so you have to work adult shows and clean shows. So, you know, I do enjoy the family shows just as much as the adult shows. Uh the family shows, in my experience, in my opinion, they really kind of push comics to, you know, showcase the skill set because there's parameters and there are boundaries up. So how can I still now be as funny uh in the midst of a room that might have a 13-year-old and a 95-year-old uh in the room here from different backgrounds, different, you know, viewpoints, etc., uh, for us still to have a good time. So it's definitely challenged and pushed me as well to do be a better comedian overall.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

Yeah. I think one of the reasons you might be finding success is it sounds like you really take into account your audience's experience. It's not, it doesn't sound like it's just about the show you want to do up there. You really want to give them the show they want to receive.

SPEAKER_03 9:09

Yeah, yeah. No, I I care deeply about us walking away all having a good time. And so, like my excitement and love for what I do hopefully kind of oozes out into them, and that's a piece of the puzzle there. But we're definitely gonna be present and in the room and read the room too, because if you know, for people who've been to a show, maybe they haven't, maybe they've only kind of seen stand-up comedy on their phone, it's a different beast being in that room together. Nothing is ever going to be the same as that specific given night, the jokes that hit, maybe we make a statement about something that happened earlier, you know, and it's just really a moment of being present. And so, yeah, that's that's a real gift we have with live stand-up comedy.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

And what does success in your comedy career look like? What kind of goals are you headed for? Um, or maybe that you've already accomplished that you're like, yeah, that was that's something that was really important to me.

SPEAKER_03 10:02

Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm already a success story because I I do this, I do this, and I do I've been fortunate enough to do it for decade full time. So we've already hit that box. But as far as like some goals that I um I still have, you know, I still desire to, you know, the China, I'm glad I was I was able to get the the travel bug early because it really opened my eyes very quickly, like, oh yeah, this is a universal thing in like music, in the sense if we go anywhere on the planet, you see somebody tapping their toe and nodding their head, they're they're rocking out to a good beat, regardless if you know what's being said or not. Similarly, if we go anywhere on the planet and you see somebody, ha ha, chuckling, having a good time, you may have no clue what dialect they're speaking, but you know they're laughing and giggling and having a great time. And so, yeah, I have goals to to travel um more abroad and do shows in different countries. Um, I've done a few, but definitely want to do that more. Uh, I have plans to kind of record my second special uh maybe at the end of this year, early 2027. Um, and I just want to I just want to tour more. Um, there's still so many places in the States. Like I love being on the road where you get a chance to go on any given night and I pull up to Cincinnati on a Thursday, then you slide over to Albuquerque on a Saturday, and it's just just meeting people, kind of just trying to build that fan base up and just kind of meet people and just kind of see where they are and and just deliver a great show every night.

SPEAKER_02 11:28

Yeah, what do you like to do when you travel when you're not on stage? Are you are you a foodie or are you a hiker nature person?

SPEAKER_03 11:36

Yeah, yeah. So your person. I'm definitely uh an introvert off the stage. And so uh I do love going to the movies by myself. I'm not gonna lie to you. You give me a 1230 matinee with a soda and a hot dog, and you got me. Um I do also like uh like just kind of seeing what's popular for people who live there, like not like really the touristy stuff, but like I want to know that that secret barbecue spot. I want to know where the best cookies are that ain't nobody really talking about online. Um if it's a beautiful day, I'll walk. I love a good walkable city for sure and exploring. Um, but I'm not gonna allow to, you know, if I'm I'm if I'm in the hotel at 2 p.m., I might not leave to 8 30. So uh so it definitely varies, but when I can get a chance to see a little bit of the city, I'm definitely gonna take advantage of it.

SPEAKER_02 12:25

Yeah. Well, the theater you guys are performing at in September is the Tower Theater, and it is a gorgeous historic theater right in the best part of Bend. So even if you just give yourself a little bit of time before or after the show, it's two blocks from our river trail. So you can walk down to the river, see our geese, see people floating down the river. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

I've heard stories about geese. I gotta stay a little further away.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Yeah, they're more like looking. You don't wanna like, I would give them their space for sure. Yeah, for sure. They're kind of aggressive. Yeah, kind of. Do you know what other animals surprisingly aggressive that I learned since I moved here? The hummingbirds. They will like dive bomb and attack each other. I've never lived anywhere with them, so I had no idea.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

No clue, but thank you for that information. Note it.

SPEAKER_02 13:24

Avoid the hummingbirds. Avoid the hummingbirds. Um and if people want to find you online, where can they find your comedy and connect with you?

SPEAKER_03 13:33

Yeah, the easiest place right now to find me is probably on um Facebook and Instagram and TikTok, which is all just Damon Jr.2, D-A-M-O-N-J-R, the number two. That's where I post dates when I'm on the road. That's where I post a lot of content uh as well. So yeah, you can look for me there.

SPEAKER_00 13:52

Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for joining us. Is there anything you would like to share with the listeners before we go today?

SPEAKER_03 13:57

You know, just when you can support live comedy because I'm pretty confident you're gonna have a good time. Let's laugh more.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Yeah, I love that. Well, thank you again for coming to our town. We look forward to your show.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

That was Damon Sumner. Be sure to check out his social medias for where to catch him and his comedy when he is here in Bend, as well as all over the country, and maybe even on a cruise if you're lucky to catch him there. As always, if you want to get on stage here in Bend, we do have lots of open mics. So be sure to check out that one I was talking about earlier, the one at Silvermoot, ran by Beertown, a very popular comedy open mic on Mondays, Wednesdays at Kraft. And be sure to check uh Worthy's schedule because they often have one on Thursdays at Worthy, which is a great, great mic as well. Um shows that are coming up this week. The day we're releasing this podcast is five dollar Wednesdays at Silvermoon, which is always a lot of fun and a great way to see local talent. So if you're listening to this, head on over there. And you can get tickets either at bin ticket.com or at the door. Be sure to check out Ben Ticket. There's always local shows coming through there. We have so many amazing comedians in our local scenes and people visiting us, and I'm just so glad that we're able to share them with you. So we'll be back next week with more of our favorite funny people from our local community, as well as some of those amazing guest artists that are coming in from afar. Until then, thank you so much for listening to Nighttime Benders. Please like where you like, subscribe where you scribe. All those things really do help. We are a new podcast. Until next time, bye.