Stand-up comedians Maria Bamford and Jackie Kashian brought the laughs to the Tempe Improv this weekend.
In honor of Homecoming, the Thursday and Sunday shows were free to ASU students.
Kashian told stories about her recent marriage, her visit to Iraq and Kuwait in July and Internet dating.
Bamford performed material from her latest album, “Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome,” which included impersonations of her mother, high school peers and baby Jesus.
Bamford and Kashian both got their start in Minneapolis and met through open mic nights at comedy clubs said Kashian.
Bamford said she always enjoyed being on stage growing up. As she grew older she realized the attraction of performing translated well to stand-up.
“The great thing about stand-up is that you say whatever you want, write your own parts, you don’t have to wait for anybody to show up, or somebody to give you a role,” Bamford said.
Bamford’s time as a stand-up comic had her thinking about whether she needed a break from the business. She said she thought about applying to graduate school or becoming a librarian or therapist.
“Sometimes I wonder about stand-up because emotionally it’s a bit hard,” she said. “When it goes poorly, it feels really bad. But I’m a sensitive person, and I’ve had secretarial jobs where I’ve felt really bad.”
Despite moments when her comedy isn’t going well, Bamford said the creativity she puts into her act is what keeps her going.
“I do have a drive to do [stand-up]. I do get excited about new material and creating things,” she said. “But I don’t have a drive to do big giant stadiums or bigger places to get super famous or something. I see that as kind of frightening.”
Bamford said bringing laughs to people is another appealing aspect of stand-up.
“Something I really enjoy about my job is that you do get a lot of verbal appreciation. I didn’t get that at all when I was a kid. I was kind of a quiet kid and I wasn’t listened to that much with my family,” she said. “I wonder if I’m just trying to recreate some childhood trauma, where it’s like ‘finally I get listened to.’”
Bamford’s demeanor and speech may come off bashful and nervous, but her time in comedy — a career path that’s not always stable and practical — has toughened her skin.
“I think socially or psychologically women in society weren’t raised to think ‘yeah it’s a good idea to go by yourself to different clubs all over, get in a car and just go all over,’ and do stand-up, whereas [for] a guy that’s a good thing to do,” she said.
Despite Bamford’s thoughts about leaving the comedy business, even just for a while, she said her timorous side gets to pondering what would happen if she wanted to return to it.
“I think I do have a fear of leaving it because it’s so powerful or something, but maybe that’s like any job — fear that it wouldn’t be there when I got back,” she said. “But show business is always there.”
Reach the reporter at brian.bahe@asu.edu.
