Meet Ben Roy | Stand Up Comic & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Roy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It’s so bizarre, I don’t think of myself as being a business. I guess I am, though, huh? For some reason that just feels so dirty to admit. Which it shouldn’t, we all have to eat.

Truthfully, the business was just a necessary step in the process of me doing what I truly love for a living. I always knew I wanted to be on stage; I’ve been performing in one way or another since I can remember. It’s the only place I’ve ever truly felt like myself.

I also knew I didn’t want to be a nail in someone else’s dream house. You know? I wanted to build my own structure.

So when we sold our TV show to Amazon 2014, and then to TruTV in 2015, I had to get much more organized. It really was just series of events all precipitated by a desire to create comedy and music, and then perform that comedy and music for as many people as possible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
That’s hard to answer. I’m not really sure what sets me apart. I’m simultaneously arrogant about my abilities, and completely dismissive of my talents. I’m always sort of shocked anyone even wants to consume what I put out. I feel like that’s probably a better question for other folks around me.

Maybe it’s my passion for the the things I create. Maybe my love of what I do comes through on stage. I also try to be an open heart up there. That seems to resonate with folks. I don’t know. Like I said, it sort of baffles me at times. But it also doesn’t. I’m not sure if that makes sense or not.

I will say that none of this has been easy. Making waves in comedy and music is a grueling, 24/7 process. Every bit of it has taken an immense amount of drive and fortitude, not to mention cooperation with many other insanely talented people I’ve been fortunate to find myself in the orbit of.

Truthfully, I think that’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way. I think every creative needs a solid community of other creatives and/or tradespeople around them. Sometimes for guidance, sometimes for comfort, sometimes as cheerleaders, sometimes as collaborators; but always close by.

If you want this type of life, get comfortable being communal. Visualize what you want and find the right people with whom to help make it all happen. And then do your best to share that success with them, It won’t always be possible, but do your best to take others along with you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d tell them not to come here. Stay out of Denver! It’s awful! There’s truly nothing to see here! We’ll make plans to meet somewhere else later on in the year.

Then, I’ll go sit, alone, at a counter spot at Pete’s Kitchen, or Shish Kabob Grill, or Pho 95, or Queen Of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant, Patzcuaro’s Mexican Restaurant, or any of the other classic Denver dining spots, and look back fondly on a wilder and more affordable Mile High City that existed prior to transplants like myself moving here.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, this question is so hard. Damn. There are so many people that helped me get to where I am today. My folks, my current and former bandmates, Adam Cayton-Holland and Andrew Orvedahl from The Grawlix. Wende Curtis from the Comedy Works, Chuck Roy, Josh Blue, my old pal Dann Rich who gave me my first opportunity to join his band in high school… There’s so many. I’m the product of a very talented community, so it’s hard to elevate just one name.

But, if I have to push one to the top for the sake of this interview, it would have to be my high school drama teacher Bud Barnes. He recently passed away and, man, it hit me like a back of bricks. I, like a lot of teenagers, was so fucking lost in high school. I hated myself completely. Growing up in a little town in Maine, I truly thought I would never amount to anything in life. I felt like I had very little purpose.

That was until Bud let me join his drama class, a drama class I would take for all four years of my high school experience. And, yeah, he taught me theater. I learned how to break down a scene; I learned to use the space; I learned how to project.

But, more than that, he taught me how to like myself. He made me feel like I wasn’t garbage. He taught me to be comfortable in my own skin. He taught me to set my own value and to believe it. It was above and beyond. And, after his passing, I learned he did that for a lot of kids like me. A truly passionate dude.

In the end I didn’t end up graduating with my class because I failed to meet the credit requirements. But it didn’t matter, I walked away with all the skills I needed. I left that place with a belief in my abilities and a drive to prove myself in this industry. I will never, ever, ever forget what that big goofball did for me. He very well may have saved my life.

If you’re an educator reading this – PLEASE BE A LIGHT FOR YOUR STUDENTS!

Rest In Power, Bud.

Website: https://linktree.com/benroy00

Instagram: @benroy00

Twitter: @benroy00

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benroy00/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@benroy00

Image Credits
I don’t know how to do this. I can’t see the photos or the order now.