Spring Break
Comedian Cummins to campus
Stacy Smith/Senior Verge Reporter
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: the Verge
Dan Cummins' wife, Heather, fell in love with his sense of humor and laid-back personality before he became a comedian.
They started dating while they both attended Gonzaga University in Washington. Cummins and Heather met through a mutual friend during his band practice.
Cummins' family felt it was important he attend college.
"I got my (bachelor's) degree because I was always told I needed to go to college to have a good job to make a lot of money," Cummins said.
He became the first in his extended family to get a degree. He then began working as a social worker.
"I had switched my major many times and went into psychology because I was interested in why people do what they do," he said.
Because of his wide range of interests, Cummins had difficulty finding a satisfying career and Heather saw this.
"I knew he was unhappy working three shifts at a children's crisis center and thought this would be something he's good at," she said. "Dan was known in college for winning the sketch comedy show each year and became the star of the show."
Heather then encouraged him to participate in amateur night at Laugh Comedy Club. He was well received at the club. Cummins said he was asked to return weekly.
While Cummins found something he liked doing, he didn't feel he was receiving enough gratification.
"I knew I was being taken advantage of, and used it as fuel to move onto something bigger," he said. "But you need the time in front of those little crowds to practice before you can."
Although Cummins didn't think he was treated fairly, he continued to work at the club to improve his act.
"Comics can't really practice until they're in front of an audience," he said. "It's a weird art form because of the interaction."
His gratification as a comedian changed after a seven-minute performance on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham."
Cummins said this was when he knew he was moving up from the Laugh Comedy Club. As he evolved as a comedian, his jokes did as well. Cummins' goal is to write jokes people will laugh at 20 years from when they first heard it.
They started dating while they both attended Gonzaga University in Washington. Cummins and Heather met through a mutual friend during his band practice.
Cummins' family felt it was important he attend college.
"I got my (bachelor's) degree because I was always told I needed to go to college to have a good job to make a lot of money," Cummins said.
He became the first in his extended family to get a degree. He then began working as a social worker.
"I had switched my major many times and went into psychology because I was interested in why people do what they do," he said.
Because of his wide range of interests, Cummins had difficulty finding a satisfying career and Heather saw this.
"I knew he was unhappy working three shifts at a children's crisis center and thought this would be something he's good at," she said. "Dan was known in college for winning the sketch comedy show each year and became the star of the show."
Heather then encouraged him to participate in amateur night at Laugh Comedy Club. He was well received at the club. Cummins said he was asked to return weekly.
While Cummins found something he liked doing, he didn't feel he was receiving enough gratification.
"I knew I was being taken advantage of, and used it as fuel to move onto something bigger," he said. "But you need the time in front of those little crowds to practice before you can."
Although Cummins didn't think he was treated fairly, he continued to work at the club to improve his act.
"Comics can't really practice until they're in front of an audience," he said. "It's a weird art form because of the interaction."
His gratification as a comedian changed after a seven-minute performance on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham."
Cummins said this was when he knew he was moving up from the Laugh Comedy Club. As he evolved as a comedian, his jokes did as well. Cummins' goal is to write jokes people will laugh at 20 years from when they first heard it.
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