Some comedians are born to perform. That wasn’t the case for Ed Hill.
The comedian from the Lower Mainland who will be appearing at Riot Brewing Co. in Chemainus Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m. came by his talents anything but naturally.
Hill was born in Taiwan before his family immigrated to Canada to settle in Coquitlam when he was 10 years old.
“It’s not even something that was popular or significant in my culture,” he said of becoming a comedian.
That transpired about 14 years ago in his mid-20s during his last two years of grad school at Simon Fraser University, said Hill, now 39,
“Definitely not something my parents wanted to see – go to grad school, not this,” he quipped.
But that’s how things happened for him. Hill has become an international touring comedian.
He has performed all over the world, with many honours and credentials coming his way. Hill was voted Best Vancouver Comedian of 2015 and 2016, Best Vancouver Comedian of 2015 by The Georgia Straight, along with being named ‘Comic to Watch’ in 2018 by Reader’s Digest Magazine and in 2015 by Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
He has also appeared on AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live, Laughs on FOX, TED talks, and XM Radio. Hill was invited to perform at the Just For Laughs Northwest Comedy Festival, the Hong Kong Comedy Festival, the San Francisco Comedy Festival and many more.
In 2021, he became the first comedian of Taiwanese-Canadian descent to release a full one-hour Amazon comedy special titled ‘Candy & Smiley’ with Comedy Dynamics. The special was named one of the Top 15 comedy specials of 2021 by Paste Magazine and Best of 2021 by NPR Radio.
“The special is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV,” Hill pointed out.
A second special, ‘Stupid Ed,’ will be released in late 2023.
Hill’s performance in Chemainus is part of the follow-up to his comedy specials where he’s hoping to bring a brand new show across North America.
“I’ve done venues as large as like a state fair to small venues like the brewery I’m going to be at,” he noted.
“To be honest, I prefer the smaller venues. I feel that in a setting of 40-80 you can have active engagement with the audience.”
But it’s not always good for the bottom line so larger sites mixed in with the intimate settings are a necessity.
“It’s a different energy,” Hill qualified. “You can feel the back and forth.”
The visit to the Island coincides with a baby shower for his better half with the in-laws, as the couple is a month and a half away from the arrival of a daughter. Yes, the comedian is going to be a dad for the first time that sounds like decent fodder for some of his routines.
“I’m focusing on the lessons my incoming daughter is teaching me,” Hill said.
He’s not into political comedy so he’ll be talking about himself and his life, but not in any kind of a conceited way, of course.
The shoe’s now on the other foot and “I see my parents differently now,” he joked.
Additional information on Hill is available at his website by clicking here.
Tickets for the show at Riot Brewing can be purchased through eventbrite.com.
After appearing in Chemainus, Hill will be heading to the Thirsty Moose Pub in Prince George, Fox Mountain Brewing Co. in Williams Lake and Barkerville Brewing Co. in Quesnel May 12-14.
“I’m not doing comedy to be rich and famous,” he summed up. “I’m doing it because I love it.”
@chemainusnews
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
