When it comes to the annual District’s Funniest College contest at the DC Improv, not everyone is guaranteed a passing grade. Bad timing, poor stage presence and unfunny jokes? You fail.
Originality, energy and a good relationship with the audience? That’s winning.
| Onstage |
| The District’s Funniest College Finals |
| Where: DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave NW #100 |
| When: 6:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show time. Thursday |
| Info: $10, dcimprov.com |
“The best advice I can give, if you know how to make people laugh, don’t deviate from that,” said Kasaun Wilson, a senior at Howard University and last year’s winner. “Just be you and people get it.”
The preliminary rounds for the event, which concludes with the finals this Thursday at the Improv, took place at area college campuses during the last few weeks. From those earlier trials, 13 finalists from six local institutions of higher learning have been selected to compete for the grand prize. The winner receives a paid hosting gig at the Improv, a radio interview and a year’s supply of Popchips.
Last year was actually Wilson’s second stab at the contest. In an earlier effort, he didn’t even make it out of the preliminary rounds. Wilson refocused, came back and won, and now is pursuing standup comedy as a career.
“If I do this again, I’ve got to start getting out there,” Wilson said of his reaction after losing his first go-around. “I was star-gazed, I was so starstruck at the Improv, I didn’t stick with the game plan. It wasn’t the material. I wasn’t being me. I was being who I thought would win the competition.”
Wilson said confidence played a big role in winning and has played a role in his continuing success.
Allyson Jaffe, owner of the Improv, is the brains behind the Funniest College contest. She’s pretty much seen it all.
“One of the biggest things is their performance onstage,” Jaffe advised. “It’s not only what you’re talking about, it’s how you relate to an audience.”
She also added that standing still with a microphone in front of your face is a surefire way to jeopardize a chance at the crown.
Jaffe also stressed that winning is not the biggest thing about the competition. Performing at the Improv, a stage that has hosted some of the best comedians in the country, is the biggest prize.
“I really try to explain to the students it’s not about winning this thing,” she said. “It’s about being at the Improv. It’s about the opportunity to be at the Improv.”
Wilson concurred.
“Enjoy your time at the Improv,” he said. “It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
