Meet a SICC28 Semi-Finalist: Leif Skyving

Time to get to know another one of this year's Seattle International Comedy Competition Semi-Finalists.

With consistent top five finishes and a mean blues harmonica wail, our next semi-finalist pieced together the scores to lock him into second place for Preliminary Week One. You might have seen him perform as Curt Sudden, but, officially, he's LEIF SKYVING.

SeattleComedy.net's "Interview by E-Mail"
w/Leif Skyving

--background--
How old are you?
52

What's your hometown?
Born in Stockholm Sweden. Came to L.A. at age 11. Caldwell Idaho for the past 14 years.

Did you start doing comedy in your hometown?
I started in L.A. First time up was at the Comedy Store, after that, I built my virgin act at the L.A. Cabaret on Ventura Boulevard.

Did you move to where you live now for comedy?
NO! Caldwell, Idaho is NOT the place to move if you are making a career move in comedy. I met my wife there 14 years ago at a Tribble gig. I was living in Vegas at the time, she was two months pregnant when we met. Yeah, you heard me.

And, she promised to live with me wherever I wanted after the baby was born. I moved up to be with her, then decided I liked Caldwell. She has a great family there and it's a great place to raise kids. Also, it reminds me a lot more of my childhood in Sweden than L.A. does.

Follow up question, if you moved for comedy--what were you looking for in moving where you did?
I just told you I DIDN'T move for comedy. Aren't you listening? I moved because I met and fell in love with my wife!

How long have you been doing comedy?
52 years.

Seriously, I've made a living at it for 17 years now.

Are you a full time comic?
Like I said, I'VE MADE A LIVING AT IT FOR 17 YEARS NOW! Are you high?

What did you do before?
The last work I did before comedy was in the taxi business in L.A. Before that, lots of odd jobs, warehouse work, delivery service driver, short order cook, retail sales, even a short stint in the merchant marines.

What was your first comedy performance like?
THE COMEDY STORE, Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood California. It was a real shocker. I wrote my 5 minutes of material the night before. I thought that was how it was done and that I would kill. I had never been on stage before and had no idea.

Somehow, I ended up going on in prime time in front of a full house. Ten minutes before I went up, I suddenly became so nervous, I couldn't remember anything I'd written. At least, not in the order I had written it, and when I hit the stage, the blinding lights threw me into another dimension. One that I was not comfortable in.

I stumbled toward the microphone and proceeded to spit out bits and pieces of what I could remember. There was not a sound from the crowd until late in my set when the comics in the back of the room started heckling me. I had heard the expression "flop sweat" but didn't really know exactly what it meant until that moment.

It was about six months before I got back on stage and tried it again.


--inspirations--
What are your first memories of stand-up comedy?
First and foremost, my friend Mark's mom's Bill Cosby albums.

After that, it was watching whoever Johnny Carson, Steve Allen or Dick Cavett would have on their shows.

What made you decide to try it yourself?
I was learning to become a radio DJ in L.A. and one of the guys in the workshop told me that he did stand up on open mic night at the Comedy Store. I had no idea that people could do that.

I'd always loved listening to others do stand up and knew I had a knack for making people laugh, so actually doing it myself sounded really exciting.

Did any performer directly inspire you to become the kind of comedian you are?
No one specifically.

Are there any current performers who inspire you?
I'm inspired by any comic that is brave, original and funny.

Do you have any other major interests?
Titties.

Do those interests inform your comedy?
Uh, yeah...sort of...

Is stand-up your ultimate career goal?
Stand up is my primary career goal. I suppose film making and/or scriptwriting would be fun if the opportunity arose.

BTW, I do have a really funny and original script if anyone is interested.

At the peak of your career, if everything goes the way you want, what are you doing?
Ehr...my wife might read this, so I'd rather not say.


--this competition--
Any overall thoughts about your experience in Preliminary Week One?
I had a lot of fun seeing and hanging out with a bunch of comics that I just met and that I normally don't get to see.

What do you know now that you didn't know before the competition began?
That it was possible to go from 12th place to 5th in one night.

Knowing what you know now, would you still have signed on for all of this?
Absolutely.

I love the camaraderie and the competition aspect. It's really a challenge to hone your act to a tight, short set and do it under pressure.

What do you think the key to your moving on to the finals will be?
Making it into the Top 5.

How will having competed in this competition impact your comedy or your career?
Meeting people. "Networking." Making friends.

Learning how to do that really tight 5 minutes.

Over the course of the week, did anyone impress you?
Andy Haynes, having a killer set the last night of the prelims to move from 12th to 5th place.

Kyle Harbert going balls out and winning three out of six.

And, Mike "Wally" Walter, keeping the energy and positive spirit going strong night after night.

Best memory of the competition so far?
Darren Frost snapping in Bellingham.

Worst memory of the competition so far?
Darren Frost snapping in Bellingham.

--the final question--
Why should someone come see you perform your comedy in the semi-finals of this competition?
Because, if you liked Curt Sudden doing 5 minutes, you'll like him twice as much doing 10!