Interview with Harriet Braine
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in comedy?
Catasha: I have been at it about 6 years now in a very lackadaisical manner. I didn’t realize that until I found this fossilized piece of paper with a date on it from some of my first material. Doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
Catasha: Filthy and engaging. I am a representative of the average extraordinary (and by extraordinary I mean seriously awesome) person having to remain humble around an ever increasing world full of doucheness….if you will.
Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?
Catasha: Awww man….. so many people. Paul Mooney is an excellent writer and is very relatable to us. I love Bob Saget. The first time I saw a stand-up from him I had an asthma attack! I don’t even have asthma! LOL! DL Hughley is the reason I wanted to be funny. I used to watch his stand-up every day after school as a kid. Tommy Davidson, Ralph Harris, George Lopez….man it is so many.
Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?
Catasha: No. It’s not really something you think about doing. As a kid you just think “Man, today, in 7th hour, I wanna be as funny as DL Hughley.”
I have known since I was seven that I wanted to write for Saturday Night Live. What little black girl with a million beads in her hair wants to grow up to do that? People didn’t believe me.
Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?
Catasha: Writing is one of the most difficult and rewarding things for me. I used to never write, just get up there and let my lips flap until someone cried. Now, as I strive to be better, it’s methodical. The problem with that is…you will always find something funnier to say or add. It’s a never ending process. I do really enjoy writing for other comics. That’s what I want to do. It gives me chills when they return like “I killed with that set last night!’ It’s really gratifying. Most of what I write for myself never makes it on stage anyway because I forget it as soon as I get up there. I am sure my mama was still indulging in the ganja while I was baking in her belly.
Comedy Blogedy: Do you gig as a stand-up full time or is it more of a part-time hobby? If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?
Catasha: I definitely have a full time job. Being a black, female comedian in Oklahoma City does not bring in the big bucks. I perform 2-3x a month. I spend most of my time writing and producing my local Sketch Comedy, Licensed to Laugh.
I don’t really use a lot of my work situations for material because my nosey coworkers like to “support” me…the nerve.
Comedy Blogedy: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the comedy circuit?
Catasha: Most enjoyable is when you come off stage and some old lady’s wig is sideways and she has dried up tear streaks down her face from crying laughing and she tells you” Girl it’s something wrong with you.”
Most frustrating is not doing as good as you could have done. I always feel like there is someone in the audience who is going to choose to never see me again because I sucked this time. I am a little dramatic that way.
Comedy Blogedy: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
Catasha: Small crowds have proven to be my favorite. Where you can interact with them and they feel like y’all are cousins. Those people always come back to see you and they embarrass you in the grocery store too!
Comedy Blogedy: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle Comedy Blogedy: you’ve had?
Catasha: I have never been heckled in my city. They all know I will devote my entire set to their demise LOL! If I am out of my element, I usually just remind them that I have a microphone and that makes me Cameron Diaz in this instance and it makes them Store Shopper #3.
Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking of starting out in comedy?
Catasha: Just. Do. It. The difference between you and I is I had the balls to take five more steps from the seat to the stage. That’s the ONLY difference.
Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Catasha has performed in many shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Dallas such as The Luxury Comedy Showcase, CTFU Comedy Showcase and the “battle” between Oklahoma City and Tulsa comedians in the OKC vs. Tulsa All-Star Comedy Showdown. She has also opened for D.L. Hughley during his Oklahoma City show in 2008.
The Females in Comedy Convention takes place April 22-27 and is founded by comedian Hope Flood. Attendees will perform comedy showcases, take part in workshops to educate them about the business of comedy and meet and work with many of today’s established comedians. The showcases are open to the public and information about show times, performers and ticket prices can be found at: www.femalesincomedyconvention.com .
Oklahoma City comedian Catasha will perform two comedy showcases in Hollywood, CA, as part of the 3rd Annual Females in Comedy Convention, April 23 at the Haha Café Comedy Club and April 26 at J. Anthony Brown’s The J Spot.
Photo Credit: Concepts Productions
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