Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mat Dann. Mat was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Julie Roland.
Mat, can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had very little direction in my 20’s. In fact the only thing I did have was a sense of humor and a bad drug habit. Though I was always able to make those around me laugh my life was not going as planned. I wasn’t in school, I had no career path and needed some semblance of stability. That’s when I became an EMT and started working on an ambulance. It was exactly what I needed at that point in my life to help me kick the drugs for good, discover empathy for other human beings and realize my own intelligence and ability to handle myself under pressure. Not to mention a kick ass work schedule, I could crunch a 40 hour work week into 2-3 days which gave me ample time to accomplish anything else I wanted to do in life, and that was to make people laugh.
Now that I was finally clean, independent and in control of my life it was time to put this new found motivation behind my dreams and I never looked back. I did stand up, sketch, improv, writing, you name it! If it was connected to comedy I wanted to do it. I was doing all forms of comedy throughout the city of Boston and would take the cheapest bus possible down to New York at least once a week to do shows or take classes at a theater, then hop the last bus back home to Boston and ride the ambulance the next day. I had finally found what I was passionate about in life.
Alright, so we’d love to hear more about your comedy career. What else should we know?
The thing I’m most proud of is my ability to create healthy, long lasting and honest relationships. I don’t care what you’re attempting in life, who you surround yourself with is EVERYTHING. I’m a comedian but first and foremost I’m a writer. Whether it’s stand up, a screenplay or my journal I’m always writing. I hit the lottery when I teamed up with Teddy Gilmore as a writing partner. Teddy is a wizard of structure on the page and one of the funniest SOB’s you’ll have the pleasure of coming across. I couldn’t ask for a more intelligent and considerate writing partner. I also produce 3 shows in Los Angeles, Welcome to Pluto, ILL-PREPARED and Comedy House @ Soho House. All of which you can follow on social media. These shows are produced with a team of people that I could only describe as some of the most insanely dedicated, smart, hilarious and kindest people of had the pleasure of working with, Julie Roland, Emilia Barrosse and Matt Catanzano. Welcome to Pluto, a stand up show created in February of 2021. This show was designed to help comedians stay sharp and bang the rust off after not performing for nearly a year. The popularity that came along with it was unexpected and I’m happy to say just made the leap from an outdoor show in a dog turd filled park to a weekly residency at Oeno Vino Wines every Thursday night at 7pm. Also on Thursday nights, 9pm immediately after Welcome to Pluto is a second show I produce called ILL-PREPARED, an improvised stand up show. Absolutely no written or prepared material. Comedians will field suggestions from the audience and let it rip. The final show of the three is our flagship show, Comedy House @ Soho House. Comedy House of Soho House is hands down LA’s most exclusive night of comedy. Held in a private club, the show is a member event only with an extremely limited guest list. In addition to comedy, each show is closed out with a musical guest. These shows are always very memorable.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Julie Roland and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Julie.
I met Julie through Emilia Barrosse and the Just Tryna Make Friends show that they produce together. They asked me to do a set almost 3 years ago and I’ve been doing them regularly ever since. I met Julie while doing my first San Diego JTMF located at her home. When meeting her I was instantly blown away by her cool as a cucumber demeanor, not a trait I possess. You just have a sense that when talking to Julie she’s listening and lines of communication are open. She’s interested what you have to say and gives you her undivided attention. And when she responds it’s always levelheaded, thoughtful with a touch of a that chill SoCal attitude everyone else in the country wishes they had.
She transfers that same energy to the stage when hosting. It’s the thing that separates her from everyone else. With 99% of hosts you see you get an act, a façade, it’s not really them up there it’s their character. With Julie you get the real deal person and it’s SO REFRESHING. She can take hosting an audience of 250 people and make it feel like a casual conversation with friends. Not an easy task. Whether one on one or in a crowded JTMF show, it’s hard not to immediately like Julie. She’s a real one, sky’s the limit.
Website: matdanncomedy.com
Instagram: @matdannimal @welcometoplutocomedyshow @illpreparedcomedy @comedyhouseshow
Twitter: MatDannimal
Facebook: Mat Dann
Youtube: Mat Dann
