Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh? Tom Bassett is combining his comedic skills with his business savvy to bring top-notch comics to Quesnel’s newly re-opened Occidental Hotel through his booking company Big Dog Comedy.
Having grown up in Quesnel, Bassett admits he was always the guy who cracked everybody up but he never considered parleying that into a career until about five years ago.
“I was watching the comedy channel and realized most of the stand-up comics were still wet behind the ears,” he said.
“They were young, had little experience with life and it showed.”
Bassett said he sat down and wrote 100 pages of material. He took the material to his friend Barry McKillican who liked what he read and recommended they put together a CD. Another friend developed a website for Bassett.
“I had a double CD and a website before setting a foot on stage,” he said with a laugh.
So it was time to put his comedy to the test. A chance call To YukYuks in Calgary netted Bassett a booking with a show in Quesnel at the Billy Barker Hotel Casino. Headliner Manolis Zatonis told Bassett to do five minutes, if it felt good, do 10 minutes.
“I did a sweaty 14 minutes – it was the moment I knew I could do it,” he said.
In just over five months, Bassett was a legitimate comic.
“It was always my dream to retire from my job and become a comic,” he said.
Well at the end of March, Bassett will be a casualty of the Canfor Mill closing. With 39 years at the mill, he’s looking forward to his new career.
He also joined Quesnel Toastmasters in order to gain much-needed public speaking skills.
“I want to thank Quesnel Toastmasters for giving me presentation skills and confidence,” he said.
Just last year, Bassett did a little booking for comedian Sam Easton. His shows packed the house at the River Rock.
However, as his booking company was growing and his crowds along with it, Bassett knew he needed a bigger venue.
His shows are now playing in the newly renovated and re-opened Occidental Hotel with his old pal, Barry McKillican.
“There’s more space, more seats, better sound and better lighting,” he said.
The first show in the Occidental is with two proven headliners, Tim Nutt and Brett Martin, March 13 – 15 with an 8 p.m. showtime.
Bassett will present standup comedy shows once a month.
And for those concerned about the nature of the shows, Bassett said he doesn’t tolerate either hecklers in the audience, or comics who abuse the audience.
It’s about everyone enjoying the show.
Since the word went out about Bassett’s new business, he’s fielded calls from comics across the country and currently is orchestrating three different tours in B.C.
And just to keep his own comedic skills honed, Bassett isn’t shy about doing five minutes on his own stage or sliding in his 16-year-old son Jackson for a short stand up routine.
“He showing a great deal of promise,” Bassett said with pride.
Tickets for the March 13 – 15 shows are $20 and available at the Occidental Hotel or Quesnel Music.