Playing “Rock Paper Scissors” with Ian Bagg

Ian Bagg, a Vancouver native, has had a prestigious career. He has risen through the ranks and earned the glorious Comedy Central Presents half-hour special. Bagg gained much success in Canada and has also been touring in the American comedy circuit (New York, L.A., Houston, etc.) for 12 years. He has even been a featured MySpace comedian. Having odd connections to Houston, as well as being a genius with words and hecklers, Bagg is a comic that does not leave any stone unturned.

This past Saturday, Bagg gave a brilliant performance in Houston. His style is very playful and interactive with the audience, even nicknaming a pair of girls in the crowd Oprah and Gale. He also brings humorous observations to the table. In one situation a young women came up to show him her tattoo after he invited her up saying, “Come on it’s for Jesus!. Show us your tattoo” (referencing Easter). The revelation was that she had the dumbest tattoo in the world. It was a tattoo on her backside that said, “Exit Only”, which he proceded to joke about. That is Ian Bagg!

Where did you get started?
Ian: I first started stand-up in Vancouver, Canada. Then I went down to New York and I lived there for a while. Now I live in L.A.

Did you go to college?
Ian: Yes, I did go to college. I wanted to go to college because I was going to become a blasting engineer. I used to work in the mines in Vancouver gaining experience, and I just decided to do stand-up.

Do you feel comedians have a role in shaping how Americans feel about national and international events?
Ian: I feel that there are things to be addressed, I try to speak out, but I don’t as much. I have a sense of what’s going on, but I don’t talk about the same things because I’m an immigrant. I don’t touch much in other subjects.

What inspired you to do stand-up and how do you define your act?
Ian: I was inspired to do stand-up ever since I was a kid. My inspiration came from Bill Cosby and Jonathan Winters. Jonathan Winters was Robin Williams‘ inspiration for “Mork” so I respect his stand-up a lot and he is my greatest inspiration. I define my act as just being fun stupidity. I do stand-up ultimately for myself and I want to do this ’til I’m ninety.

With the recent Carlos Mencia vs. Joe Rogan incident as well as the past accusations of Dane Cook stealing jokes from Louis C.K., what is your view on comedians stealing jokes?
Ian: It has always happened and it always will happen. As for Carlos, I feel that he just has a lot of anger in his stand-up. I think that he doesn’t even know that he is stealing jokes. Well, Dane Cook is just like the Nickelback of comedy, they’re good at what they do and that is selling tickets.

How’s Houston and is this the first time you’ve come?
Ian: No, I have been here a lot. I was here when they started constructions on the I-10 freeway. I perform at the Houston Improv and the Houston Laff Stop; those are my favorite places to perform in. I even recorded my record at the Houston Laff Stop. So I’ve been here a lot (laughing). I even used to date a girl who went to U of H.

How is the following on your comedy central presents special, did you gain more fans, more press, etc.?
Ian: Fans? I want them (laughing). It’s weird because I get so much hate mail from MySpace because of the video shorts I make that are on my page. I get these little 15-year-old kids telling me off, but it’s so weird because they think they are so anonymous. They think they can get away with stuff just because they are on a computer.

What is your ultimate goal you have set for yourself as a stand-up comedian?
Ian: I want people to come see Ian Bagg! I don’t want people just to come to any comedy club to see any comedian, I want them to come see me.

You can catch Ian Bagg’s special on Comedy Central, or you can go to comedycentral.com and search for Ian Bagg. You can add also Ian Bagg as your friend on MySpace at myspace.com/ianbagg or visit his website at ianbagg.com. His new CD, Rock Paper Scissors, is available on his website.