Who: Daniel Packard
Where: Buffalo Bills
When: Tuesday, June 8
Comedian Daniel Packard shares more than initials with daytime super-therapist Dr. Phil.
"I dont have jokes," says Packard. "Im not talking at the audience; Im talking with them."
And what is he talking with them about? Pretty much the same stuff the bald and burly Oprah-booster is known for. Relationships, mostly. Straight talk about the ages-old battle of the sexes.
"What Ive learned to do over the last couple years is create a place where everybody in the room can start talking about things and yell stuff out, and I sort of act as this conduit between men and women," Packard explains. "I dont know how, but Ive figured out how to call women on their shit and tell them that theyre full of crap without them turning on me.
"Its an indelicate art form."
Packards signature audience rapport and ability to dissect the feminine mystique for the good and enlightenment of both sexes is based in his demeanour. Simply put, hes a nice guy. He takes the opposite approach of many of his contemporaries who capitalize on audience participation to instil fear and intimidation, a technique Packard dismisses as "insecure and lame."
"When I talk to the crowd Ill ask them things and theyll say some pretty vulnerable things that you probably shouldnt say in a comedy club," he says. "But then Ill make them feel good and I get people yelling out more stuff."
Stuff like theyd take a selection of dildos to a desert island. Stuff like they knew he wasnt gay because his shoes werent shined. Men and women may slog through predictable relationship ruts, but people will continue to be full of surprises.
With nine years of performing under his belt and a touring schedule that elicits sarcasm when asked where hes from, Packard has heard all sorts of stuff by now, but he hasnt come close to hearing it all. Thats the beauty of his form of comedy.
"The idea is to create as much chaos as possible," he confirms, "to loosen everybody up and enjoy the beautiful, chaotic, weird moments."
Daniel Packard headlines Buffalo Bills weekly comedy night this Tuesday evening. The show kicks off around 9 p.m. with a performance by Mark Dennison.
For more information call 604-932-6613.