Comedian K-von, Of 'Last Comic Standing,' Coming To South Bay

HERMOSA BEACH, CA – K-von, a comedian known for his appearances on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and MTV's "Disaster Date," as well as his TED Talk and Netflix comedy special, will perform at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

K-von, whose real name is Kevan Moezzi, is half-Persian and uses his identity and humor to unite people, regardless of where they came from or how they grew up.

Patch caught up with K-von to learn more about his creative process, opinions on the projects he's worked on and best memories as a comedian.

Buy tickets to K-von's show in Hermosa Beach here.

Emily Holland: How did you get into comedy?

K-von: I've figured out that you don't get into comedy, instead, like a whirlpool it sucks you in! In college, I'd put anything I found funny in the back of my notebooks. It was a lot of bad material that was never put to use. Upon graduating I started my regular day job in Redondo Beach. It was a glorious time full of financial security and at night I dabbled in the open mic stand-up scene.

However, the better you do in comedy, the more frequently you're invited to bigger and better shows. One day my boss came up to me and said, "You're fired!” When I asked “Why?" he told me, "We saw a billboard in Reno with your picture on it."

That was it for me. The whirlpool won!

Emily Holland: I saw you frequently joke about your ethnicity, and it makes for great material. How do you think being half-Persian has shaped your life (career-wise, family-wise, other)?

K-von: Just about, everyone, I speak with says they enjoy stand-up comedy. I noticed a trend When I ask them; "Who did you see last?" They’d often say, " I can't remember, but boy was that comedian funny!" What good does that do anyone? Therefore, I spelled my name phonetically making it harder to forget. I then started branding myself with the most ridiculous titles like ‘The Most Famous Half Persian Comedian in the World.’ Now after every show; even if you've had way too much to drink, you'll be able to find me with a simple online search.

As far as the material goes, all comedians scour their lives for jokes that are unique but relatable and haven't been ‘done’ to death. It’s quite the task. Surprisingly, growing up in a household with one immigrant and one American parent is a wealth of material. For instance, when I would go to school my dad would tell my brother and I to, "get good grades so you don't end up working at the MacDonald". He would actually say "The MacDonald," as if there's only one. (I guess it's the one next to the "Starbuck.") The best part was when we got good grades, he would celebrate by taking us to "MacDonald."

An added bonus is that even though I may say "Persian" in a joke, people with backgrounds from around the world often tell me, "Your stories reminded me a lot of my family!" So, mission accomplished.

Emily Holland: You've been involved in a wide range of projects – from an MTV show, a TED talk, Netflix specials and a lot more. What has been your favorite project to work on?

K-von: I've landed some TV shows, commercials, and other opportunities, but the most rewarding projects are the ones I developed, produced, and brought to completion. When there are other chefs in the kitchen you have no control of how you come across to the audience. However, with my one-hour stand-up comedy special, documentary, TED Talk, and new book, I was able to oversee everything from beginning to end and these are the things that have gone viral. I'm proud of the most because I wasn't sitting on my rear end waiting for some 'luck'.

Emily Holland: Are any subjects off limits for comedians, or is everything fair game? Why?

K-von: I think anything is fair game since that is my world. On the reverse side, the audience often thinks everything is off limits, since they just got off work and have been berated all month in HR meetings with sensitivity training. So, when we all arrive at a comedy club that night – we're like two gladiators circling each other, seeing who's going to strike first.

I prefer when the comedian wins this stare down, and it is better for everyone when I do.

Emily Holland: Do you have any rituals to get you into the mindset to write jokes, or is it more of a spur-of-the-moment thing?

K-von: Some comedians have lucky shoes or a pair of underwear they need to have on before a big show. I travel at a much faster pace than most. When you do a lot of shows in different cities for different age groups around the world you learn to stay ready so you don't have to GET READY. People have given me wrong addresses. Cars have broken down. Planes have brought me to town so late they were literally announcing my name as I ran through the crowd from the back of the theater- leaping up onto the stage to start the show. I'd hate to tell everyone to please give me 5 minutes of silence as I do my ritual and hum self-affirmations before I can go on.

Emily Holland: Best memory (or favorite performance) as a comedian?

K-von: Stand-up comedy leaves you with a ton of memories and gives you a natural high. One memory that I cherish is the first time I performed and how I couldn't sleep at all that night because of all the excitement I felt. At the time I still had my day job, company car, insurance, and expense account, but I was ready to throw it all away for this 'choose-your-own-adventure' mystery. Since then, I have had many more sleepless nights wondering what was I thinking, but it has been worth it!

Another great memory for me has been putting my stand-up comedy into book form and selling thousands of copies. It’s a plus that because of the book we've been selling out a lot of shows a week before I arrive, which is a whole new level of excitement.

In truth, it all blends together when things are going well and I'd like to think my best memory is still yet to come.

Photo courtesy of K-vonComedy.com