Just for Laughs: An Interview with Fortune Feimster!
Published on: Apr 1, 2022
Written by: Joey Hodgson
Look out Canada, here comes Fortune! After her first one-hour special, Sweet & Salty, Fortune Feimster has been hitting the road on her Just For Laughs “Hey Y’all” tour all over the US, and she has added Vancouver and Toronto to the list. Check out OUTtv’s interview with her below and enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show!
What was the inspiration for the title of your tour “Hey Y’all”?
I introduce every show as my character “Brenda” and she always says, “Hey Ya’ll.” So it’s the very first thing out of my mouth at a show.
Any advice for comedians wanting to move into stand up?
The best thing you can do is just get up there and do it. There is no magic formula. It just takes tons and tons of practice. Plus you have to write a lot. So always be keeping notes if you think something is funny and then find a way to get up on stage and talk about it.
How do you battle writer’s block?
The best way to come up with material is to live life, which is sometimes harder than it seems, because you’re always working. And if you’re having a block, you have to push through it. I also find that deadlines help. Lol.
How do you handle hecklers?
I either crack a joke about it or I just completely ignore them. Most of the time it’s just somebody looking for attention.
Who are some of your comedian role models?
I very much admire Carol Burnett. She’s so funny and such a class act. I grew up watching reruns of her show and was just fascinated by her. I also tend to gravitate towards the very silly comedians from SNL like Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon. No one could make me laugh like them.
How do you gauge the audience’s energy levels?
You can hear it as soon as the show is about to start. If they’re clapping and singing to the pre-show music, you know it’s going to be a good night.
What excites you about doing stand up comedy?
I love being able to connect with an audience. You hear right away if they like what you’re saying and you can adjust it in the moment. I also love the feeling and rush you get when something works. There’s nothing better than hearing a room full of people laughing.
How much improv do you incorporate into your stand up?
When I’m doing a set that will eventually be filmed, I don’t do as much improv because I’m trying to really hone that set. But when I’m building a whole new hour, I tend to do a lot more crowd work. I love bringing my improv background into a set when I can.
If you were on Drag Race and it came to Snatch Game, what celebrity would you pick and why?
Oh, man. Who would I be? I’m not the best impersonator. I’d probably attempt to do someone over the top like Carol Channing or Elaine Stritch. I don’t look or sound anything like them but I love those old school Broadway performers.
For tickets and more info about the tour head over to the Just for Laughs website.
OUTtv is also giving away a pair of tickets for each show so to enter for a chance to win click here.
Contest rules: No purchase necessary. Must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada over the age of eighteen (18). Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. Winners must answer a skill-testing question to claim the prize. Contest ends at 11:59:59 p.m PT on 04/05/2022.