Bob Answers Some Interview Questions
Apr, 25, 2013
How did you first get into being a comedian?
Bob: MANY YEARS AGO I DID A STAND UP COMPETITION AT MY COLLEGE (YES…I DID GO TO COLLEGE!). FIRST PRIZEWAS $500 WHICH WAS 4 MONTHS RENT FOR THE ROOM/CLOSET I WAS LIVING IN AT THE TIME. SO I DID IT ANDWON…NOT BECAUSE I WAS GOOD BUT BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WAS TERRIBLE. (ASK ME ABOUT THE GUY WITHTHE SOMBRERO!) ANYWAY, TWO YEARS LATER I GRADUATED AND THEN GOT A CALL FROM A COLLEGE FRIEND OF MINE WHO SAW ME DO THAT STAND UP COMPETITION. HE WAS NOW ROAD MANAGING CLAY CROSSE AND THEYNEEDED A FUNNY EMCEE AS WELL AS SOMEONE TO HANDLE THE MERCH ON THE TOUR. HE ASKED IF I HAD A JOBAND AFTER WE BOTH HAD A GOOD LAUGH AT THAT, I FLEW TO NASHVILLE TO GO ON TOUR WITH CLAY. CLAYLIKED ME AND KEPT ME ON TOURING WITH HIM THROUGH THE SUMMER. THEN THE NEWSBOYS ASKED ME IF I’D GO ON TOUR WITH THEM AND THIRD DAY. IT PAID SO I SAID YES. (I HAD GOOD PARENTS THAT TAUGHT ME THATLESSON) THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE NUMBER 1 TOUR THAT YEAR AND MANY YOUTH LEADERS STARTED ASKING ME TO COME TO THEIR YOUTH GROUP AND DO A COMEDY SHOW FOR THEM. MY ACT HAD THE WORD BOOGERTHREE TIMES IN IT SO I DID REALLY WELL. I THEN TOURED WITH SUPERTONES, MERCY ME, TOBY MAC, AUDIO A, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER BANDS WHO DIDN’T HAVE THE INTERNET BACK THEN IN ORDER TO FIND A BETTERCOMIC. THAT’S HOW IT ALL STARTED.
What’s the funniest thing you ever did as a kid…that kind of brought some allure to making people laugh?
Bob: I was in 2nd grade and the teacher asked me to help a kid up at the board who couldn’t figure out a math problem. The problem was “5 birthday candles + 3 birthday candles equals how many birthday candles?” I jumped up and said, “5 birthday candles + 3 birthday candles is 8 birthday candles. Come on, its a piece of cake!” No one laughed except my teacher but afterwards she pulled me aside and thanked me for making her laugh. She was having a bad day and she said the laugh cheered her up. So that wasn’t the funniest thing I ever did but it was the first moment when I realized how much power there is with being able to give someone a laugh.
How did you/do you deal with opposition from other Christians about making people laugh for a living?
Bob: I dont get many negative comments now (except for family reunions) because I’ve been doing Christian comedy long enough that people know where my heart is. But when I first started I’d run into people saying things like, “How can you crack jokes in a church building? That is sacrilegious!” The first few times I heard that I had to look up the word sacrilegious because I went to public school and didn’t know many big words. But later on I would ask them, “Shouldn’t Christians, more than anyone else, be the happy ones? Shouldn’t Christians have more of a right to laugh and enjoy themselves than anyone else in this world? We cant tell people about the joy of knowing our Savior personally and then walk around with a stern frown all the time. We are set free to laugh and enjoy ourselves because we know this is not our home.” I dont know if that answer ever made a difference because they usually walked away after they stopped talking but I think its a solid point.
What’s the coolest experience you’ve had while performing?
Bob: That’s a long list. I’ve toured with Newsboys, Mercy Me, Toby Mac, Jeremy Camp, Third Day and many others I wont name because my best friend Mac Powell says its not cool to name drop. I’ve also been to England, Wales and Canada…all because I can tell a joke. I’ve seen God use an hour of laughter to remind suicidal people that there is still joy to be found in this world and to not give up. I’ve seen married couples on the verge of divorce finally laughing together and deciding to work it out. So picking one experience is tough because God has used comedy as such a powerful tool to remind people that He is still in control. All that to say, I guess every time I get on stage is the answer.
What’s the worst experience you’ve had while performing?
Bob: That’s a long list as well. I’ve performed for a youth group of 9 kids that were forced to be there. I’ve performed for a group of alzheimer patients who couldn’t remember anything I had just said. (I’m not making this up!) I’ve performed at festivals at 8AM while the next band sound checked through the same speakers I was talking through. I did a show from a stage that was 200 yards from the crowd with no video screens. They couldn’t see me and I couldn’t hear them. I’ve pretty much seen it all. So again, if I have to pick one I’ll go back to referencing my family reunion. I can still hear the booing.
Who do you model yourself after in the Bible and why?
Bob: John the Baptist. John 3:30 is my daily motto. All of John’s followers were jealous because they used to be the popular act in town but now everyone was going to Jesus and His disciples. So John the Baptist’s followers complained to John and that’s when he said 3:30 “He must become greater, I must become less.” If we could wake up everyday and live out this small verse our world would be so much greater. Every day we need to become less and allow God to become greater!
If you could ask Jesus anything, what would it be and why?
Bob: Why Tall, Grande and Venti? What was wrong with small, large and X-large?
How long have you been in the ministry as a comedian? How many performances do you figure you’ve done?
Bob: I’ve been doing stand up for 16 years. I normally do between 90 to 100 shows a year. So 16 times 90 is…. Well, we dont need to bring math into this. I’ve done a lot of shows.
What are you listening to on your iPod?
Bob: Right now I’m listening to The Lads because I’m on tour with them and they’re sitting right next to me. Earlier I was listening to songs from Peter Furler and Phil Joel’s new CD’s. These CD’s aren’t out yet but Phil left his computer open in catering this morning (Phil’s on the tour with us as well) so I quickly grabbed my thumb drive and took advantage of it. Earlier this morning when I was running 12 miles (Hey, its not like you can check to see if this is true) I was listening to the OC Supertones because I heard they are getting back together. Those guys put out a lot of great music.
What does down time look like to you?
Bob: I have 3 tax deductions at home, all boys, so down time is quite loud and involves lots of nerf darts and water balloons. I also read a lot when I’m on the road.
Why is it important for people, Christians especially, to laugh?
Bob: See answer to question #3.
What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
Bob: See answer to question #6.
Bob, you are going to be speaking at an event on Father’s Day. The hope is that it will be a time to honor dad’s and be really fun. Tell us about your role as a dad. And what significance Father’s day has to you.
Bob: Being a father should be the most important roll anyone takes on. You are investing in a child that will later pick out the nursing home you go to. First and foremost though, kid’s get a good idea what God is like by looking at their earthly father. So being a good loving father is very important. Father’s day for me is not so much about being honored as it is a day to evaluate the job I’m doing. Am I pointing my kids to the perfect father up above or am I just using them for great comedy material? Hopefully I’m doing both.
