Last Comic Standing participant coming to USU

Getting laid off was the best thing to ever happen to Ryan Hamilton.

Well, at least for his comedy career.

“I started really pushing for comedy while I was looking for another job, and I started to get offered paid work as a comedian,” he said. “So, I started taking that, and I kind of never found another job, and it’s been about five years now.”

After Hamilton was laid off from his job doing public relations for an ad agency, he had time to pursue his comedy career – something he was already doing at night.

“I kind of fell into it,” Hamilton said. “… I was always doing it as a hobby, and then it kind of happened that it worked out for me to do it as a career. So I’m lucky that way.”

Now, after being on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” Hamilton is bringing his act to the big stage of the Taggart Student Center Ballroom on Saturday.

For Hamilton, northern Utah is a very familiar place. He has lived in Salt Lake City and Utah County for 10 years, and he graduated from Brigham Young University in public relations.

He also has roots fairly close to Cache Valley – Hamilton was born in Ashton, Idaho, a town of about 1,000 people 30 miles north of Rexburg.

Likewise, Hamilton’s act has roots in Utah.

He said much of his act was developed in Utah and Seattle, so Utahns should be able to relate. But he is also trying to reach a broader audience, so jokes with references that may not be commonplace outside of Utah aren’t very common in his act, Hamilton said.

Hamilton’s act is influenced by some of his favorite comedians, Bill Cosby, Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan, David Letterman and other late show hosts. Early on, he said he also read a lot of humor columnist Dave Berry.

Although he is influenced by these other stand-ups, Hamilton wants to be different.

“I’m always reaching for trying to be unique and original and true to myself, and clever – I want to be smart,” he said.

No matter what the influence is, or the things behind his act, there is one goal – laughter and fun.

“I want people to leave feeling good about their life and having a good time,” Hamilton said. “… I am usually trying to have fun, and I hope the audience is leaving, smiling and having a good time.”

Hamilton will be joined by Bengt Washburn, and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the TSC Ballroom. Tickets are $5 and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.