Paul SaitowitzEveryone knows the concept of “funny”...

Paul Saitowitz

Everyone knows the concept of “funny” is subjective. How else can you

explain Carrot Top’s success? What makes a comedian successful is the

ability to satisfy the subjective funny bone of more than half the

audience on any given night.

Stand-up is not a game for the thin-skinned or the insecure; it’s

a long haul and a grind just to get stage time. The image of the

drug-riddled stand-up with no self-esteem exists for a reason -- it’s

a tough gig. Kevin Edwards, 28, knows all about it. The Costa Mesa

resident always thought about getting up on stage and giving it a

crack, but it wasn’t until about five years ago that he finally

traded in playing to the mirror in his bedroom for a live audience.

“I was always the funny guy around my friends, and I loved

watching comedians ... I memorized Bill Cosby’s entire act when I was

a kid,” Edwards said. “I had friends that encouraged me to give it a

try ... I never thought I could do it, but I had to try it out.”

After encouragement from a few friends, he put an act together and

headed for an audition at the Irvine Improv. When he got there, the

plan changed a bit.

“The guy in charge told me that I could either audition or take a

workshop first,” he said. “Taking the workshop was the smartest thing

I’ve ever done. There was no way that I was ready to just go up on

stage.”

He took three-hour classes every weekend for six weeks, learning

how to write jokes, act on stage and deal with the audience. One of

the main focuses of the workshop was teaching each comedian to find

his or her voice.

Edwards found that some have a voice, some don’t -- and some find

it, but it doesn’t turn out to be funny. The class ended with a live

show at the Improv.

“I was so nervous the day of that first show that I couldn’t even

eat or drink,” he said. “When I got to the show, I found out all the

other people in my class were feeling the same way.”

The nervous energy disappeared when he got on stage and saw a full

house laughing at his jokes. Since then, he has performed at least

once a week -- usually three or four times a week -- and he even

began hosting his own comedy night at Durty Nelly’s in Costa Mesa.

The show has grown so popular that well-known comedians have started

requesting to play there.

“A lot of the bigger name headliners that we get like to play down

in Orange County, because crowds are not as jaded as in L.A.,” he

said. “It’s a good place to work out new material.”

Next up for Edwards is finding a manager and realizing his goal of

taking the act on the road from one comedy club to the next. He’s

been hesitant to look for a manager because he hasn’t felt ready, but

the time is rapidly approaching.

“I think I’ve maybe gone one week without getting up on stage

since I started, and it freaked me out ... I didn’t feel right,” he

said. “It takes a while to get it down, and the harder you work, the

better you get.”

* PAUL SAITOWITZ is a news editor and features writer. He may be

reached at (714) 966-4632 or by e-mail at paul.saitowitz@

latimes.com.