Andrews – With his winning grin, Logan Massey brings amusement, merriment and mayhem wherever he goes.
Massey – who cut his teeth on classic comedians like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor – said, “If these guys were around today, they’d never make it.”
On the cusp of his second Comedy Night as both emcee and performer at The Blue Stage, Massey has been racking up performance credits since February.
“I started doing standup because it’s the only thing I’ve ever truly wanted to do since I was a kid,” he said..
“My first time, like everyone does, I bombed for five minutes, but it made me aware of how much more I wanted to work on material and hone my craft. And I realized I wanted to quit my day job and just make people laugh along with me.”
That first time bombing was at The Mason Bar in Murphy as part of their Open Mic night. Massey didn’t calculate just how difficult it would be to bring comedy to this area.
“It was always music there. My comedy routine was something new and different,” he said. “I slay there now, though.”
Slaying is in his genetics, and he uses his natural agility behind the mic as the permanent emcee at The Blue Stage, which has also helped him work on his stage presence and persona.
“I knew I wanted to be involved here somehow. I was working at Snowbird Outfitters when all this construction started around the Blue Stage, generating buzz about what was happening here,” Massey said. “I stopped by and spoke with David [Howell], the owner, and because I’d worked at Snowbird I had all these carpentry skills and got to utilize them here as we renovated before the opening this April.”
That renovation provided Massey with his own stage to rule, as he’s introduced nationally known acts in both comedy and music at the venue.
“I’m glad we’re able to bring in more comedy acts and, of course, I enjoy getting to warm up the crowd and keep them entertained between acts,” he said. “I’ve been able to make a lot of great contacts regionally as well through my time here.
“Hopefully this area will become a conduit for more comedy shows with the opening The Comedy Zone at the casino, and maybe more folks will participate in open mic nights with their own brands and styles of comedy.”
Massey’s style ranges from the observational to the personal. He credits older comedians like Jerry Seinfeld with inspi ration.
“I don’t really watch a lot of current or contemporary comedy because I don’t want to be derivative,” he said. “I want to keep my routines fresh and personal, centered around my experiences with the mundane and the absurdities of my own life.”
When asked about the future of comedy in this sometimes terrifying world, Massey mused about how bad economies are great for comedy because everyone wants to laugh and be reminded “in every way, shape, form and fashion we’re all in this together, so we better be able to sit back and enjoy it. Because life is funny, but I’m funnier.”
Massey said the future of comedy is also linked to growth in this area and he’s proud to be able to be a part of that growth.
“Otherwise, I’d have to move to a larger city, like Nashville or Atlanta, for comedy clubs and performance opportunities, but I’m optimistic we can grow local comedy right here in Cherokee County,” he said.
You can typically check out his routine on those Manic Mondays in downtown Murphy at The Mason Bar and also this Saturday at 889 Main Street at The Blue Stage in Andrews as he opens for the latest trio of comedians.