Bleep Free Comedy - John Branyan - Rik Roberts - Derrick Tennant

Biography:
I love doing comedy. You know how some people are athletes and some people are artists, I'm neither of those things and that doesn't leave me with many options. I thoroughly enjoy the experience of making people laugh. I've enjoyed it since my first 'stand-up' experience in Mrs. Carlson's 7th grade reading class at Kesling Jr. High School in La Porte Indiana. It was a book report on Harry Houdini. Everyone laughed. I was hooked.
Eventually, I graduated from Jr. High School and moved out of La Porte, got married, had some children and settled into a regular nine to five job like you're supposed to do. The day job made me happy in that it provided me with money which, where I come from, is a useful thing to have. Comedy was a part-time venture for me and I traveled within the confines of the midwest doing shows at comedy clubs, churches and Lion's Club meetings. (NOTE: Lion's Club meetings are no longer the comedy hot-bed that they were in the early 90's)
When the number of calls for shows reached a point where I couldn't do all of them and keep my job, I had to make a decision. I chose the road less traveled. I chose to be a full time comedian and listened to the tiny voice inside me that kept repeating, "Are you out of your mind?"
My primary goal on stage is to be flat-out funny. I love to hear people tell me their sides ache and their cheeks hurt. When the show is over, I want the audience to be tired! I frequently achieve this goal.
It's hard for me to believe that I'm making a living doing something that's so much fun for me. I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. ...seriously, I pinch myself. I sometimes do it while on stage. It's the only way I can really be sure...