Elliot Weber is a student at Fort Lewis College who has a passion for comedy. He writes his own stand-up routines that he performs any chance he gets in local spots around Durango.

What made you become interested in comedy?

I first became interested in comedy in high school. I would bond with my friends watching Comedy Central and Netflix stand-up specials. I didn’t know then how to become a comedian, I just knew I liked the idea of being able to do that and make people laugh. It took until college for me to realize I need to do open mics and practice. After I did my first one it immediately became all I wanted to do. I started building my schedule around comedy and open mics. Even now I try to get on stage as often as possible.

Where do you get your material?

I get my material from living life. I have never taken life too seriously and think you can find something funny about almost anything. I have a unique view on sexuality and draw a lot of my material from those experiences.

What happens if they don’t laugh?

I like this question. That’s when you get to learn a little about the type of person you are. I used to blame the audience and get mad at them for not getting my joke. That’s a terrible approach. If they don’t laugh I try to take it as a learning experience to make the joke better for next time. At first it hurts in the moment then you start to become real comfortable with silence. Now I find the awkwardness of no one laughing funny so I just move on to the next joke.

Do you perform in town?

I do perform in town. There are weekly comedy open mics at El Rancho Tavern and Eno Wine Bar. Laugh Therapy runs a great monthly show at the Steaming Bean (under the Irish Embassy). There are definitely some good venues in town. If any one is interested in starting I encourage them to go to an open mic they aren’t hard to find. My favorite place I have ever performed is the Henry Strater Theater during the Next Best Comic in the Four Corners Competition. The place was packed all the comics did really well and the energy was electric.

Who influences you?

Daniel Tosh is my original comedy influence. Watching Tosh.O and his stand-up specials is when I realized that comedy is a job people can do. Since then I have branched out to all kinds of comedy. Honestly I’m kind of obsessed. I have books from Kevin Hart, Doug Stanhope, Jim Gaffigan, I listen to comedy podcasts all the time from Bill Burr, Chris D’elia, Theo Von. I honestly just love comedy I consume so much of it in such a large variety. I love working on my own craft to try and get better.