Brittany Carney
What makes you Hapa? Do you identify with the word?
I am one-quarter Japanese and three-quarters Black. I was born and grew up mostly in Tokyo, save for a few preteen years in Singapore and high school in Philadelphia. Japanese was my first language. I identify with the word Hapa, yes, because I feel my time in and connection to Japan informs my experience as a Black American.
What made you decide to pursue comedy? Did any particular comedian influence you?
I decided to sign up for a comedy open mic in DC, where I was living and finishing up a master’s program, because I was down to my last semester and had freer evenings. I had watched and felt impressed by a local comedy festival, which inspired me to attend DC shows and open mics. I became hooked as an audience member, particularly because I have a background in theater and was fascinated by the writing and repetition of stand-up. Eventually a close friend suggested I sign up for an open mic to try it myself. I did ultimately, and the habit stuck. I had not grown up watching standup comedy, but since middle school had fallen in love with Monty Python and old BBC-ass shows like Blackadder.
Do you think your mixed perspective influences your approach to comedy?
I do, I think. I have enjoyed (and at times felt challenged by) trying to figure out how to address my childhood and family background in my jokes, if mostly for personal context. Like as a chance to say “hello audience, this is who I am just bare with me.” I felt generally American growing up but didn’t have much access to certain American cultural elements like, uh, Nickelodeon, or a dad who likes hip-hop. When I am able to explain that I grew up mixed, overseas, I think it helps the audience make more sense of how I sound/look/think.
It has been said that comedy is the last frontier when it comes to the First Amendment, what are your thoughts on this? Do you think it is important to keep pushing the boundaries of this?
I agree, at least philosophically. I also find it’s important/more “elevated” to navigate that line against evolving societal ideas about what’s compassionate/inclusive/offensive. Mostly I feel comedians should be able to say anything. Sometimes comics are edgy “sooth-sayers” for the sake of edge which can fall into an uninspired trap. A teaspoon (liter?) of funny makes the devil’s advocacy go down, etc.
What’s your methodology and psychology when it comes to your sets?
I write bits over and over again across the same page or two, like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. This helps me memorize my specific word use and sentence structures. I plot out my set list, on paper or on my iPhone notes, and frame it as a sort of “skeleton” — be concrete about what I want to open and close with, and leave room for last-minute changes or fluidity in the middle. I believe in pushing myself to try something new in each set, whether it’s a new intonation or word switch or order or… awkward pause, but of course often forget or chicken out. I seek to come out confidently ASAP which is critical for me as I have awkward, wavering energy, and tend to try and build up with volume and physicality.
Is anything off-limits? And if so, what and why?
While I do feel I can’t speak for other comics without breaking some sort of golden rule, I’m not comfortable punching down. Ableist takes make me cringe, for example. That seems juvenile. That said, I don’t think anything is off-limits exactly, rather, it’s more about comedians being aware of their audience in relation to their personal identity.
In your opinion do you think Louis CK deserves a second chance?
Is this a trap
How have you been spending your time during this pandemic?
While I was at home with my parents through the shut-down, I enjoyed cooking, bingeing shows about sexy people freely enjoying cities, and making silly videos on their lawn. Now that I’m back in New York, I have been enjoying going to the beach and performing in outside shows.
What’s next for you?
For the moment, I’m back to teaching preschool at an independent school in Bedstuy. I’m also applying to writing positions and submitting self-tapes. I have some videos with Comedy Central that will come out over the next month or so — I am very excited.
