Senior Powell Mansfield will be kicking off the first SUBLive show of the year in Irazu Coffee Shop August 29 at 8 p.m. with a stand-up comedy routine, “Everybody Needs to Calm Down.”
The show will include comedic stories and personal accounts revolving around life at Elon University.
Stand-up comedy is something relatively new for Mansfield. This summer, he attended Elon in LA and knew he wanted to incorporate stand-up comedy as part of his experience. After an audition in LA, where he performed three minutes of material, he was booked on the spot for a show.
As the summer progressed, he met other comedians and continued gaining experience by booking more shows. Mansfield even had the opportunity to perform at the Comedy Store, a venue in LA where stars, including Jay Leno, Dane Cook and Eddie Murphy have performed.
In all, Mansfield performed on five different occasions at a variety of clubs and venues.
After the summer, Mansfield began thinking of ways to bring his stand-up comedy to Elon.
“If I can succeed here in LA and get good feedback, I can certainly do a show at Elon,” Mansfield said. “I have a good talent at storytelling and I’m excited to bring that to a stage in a comedic way.”
Mansfield approached SUB to arrange a show at Elon. SUBLive executives Lauren Schuessler and Charles Racioppo recognized the benefits of showcasing an Elon student’s talent and said they hope to draw a more “student-friendly” genre of SUBLive performances as a result. Mansfield is the first student comedian to perform for a SUBLive show.
“It is exciting to have a fellow Elon student being showcased because the crowd will be able to relate more with him,” Racioppo said.
In preparation for shows, Mansfield keeps notes on his phone where he jots down ideas. On the day of his shows, he reviews the topics he has selected and constructs a plan to elaborate on his ideas, depending on how he is feeling that day. He said he is prepared to talk about “anything and everything” with his audiences.
Mansfield said he especially appreciates genuine and honest humor and incorporates that into his stand-up. Most importantly, Mansfield enjoys making fun of himself. Performing in Irazu for friends, classmates and fellow students allows him the ability to capitalize on these elements.
“I have a philosophy where I’m never embarrassed, and I think that’s translated very well into my comedy,” he said, explaining his personal sense of humor. “I think that when you’re honest about yourself and your own flaws, it makes for more interesting stories.”
This was not always the case for Mansfield. Prior to attending college, he had a serious outlook on life. His humor began to develop during college and has now impacted all aspects of his life.
“It’s a new revelation about college. Life is much more enjoyable now,” Mansfield said, describing how his perspective has changed at college and how humor has affected him. This inspired Mansfield to reach a broader audience.
The primary hallmark of Mansfield’s stand-up routine will be the focus on Elon. Mansfield said Elon students are inclined to relate because each university has its own “quirks.” He plans to identify those topics and create material that is relatable while preserving the personal aspect of the show.
“It is by no means going to be an appropriate show, but we’re all college students, so I think we can handle it,” Mansfield said, elaborating on the content he plans to perform. He said he hopes the audience leaves feeling content and ready for a great weekend.
As a media arts and entertainment major, Mansfield wishes to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He is open to various possibilities, including writing television scripts or acting in a sitcom. “Everybody Needs to Calm Down” provides him with experience and preparation for his future.
“I want to do anything and everything that has to do with making people laugh,” Mansfield said. “I don’t know if any immediate success will come from this show, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m doing this for me.”