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| Stand-up comedian D. Hall / Courtesy of Kyungsu Shin |
By Rory Kelly
D. Hall never forgets about who's watching. "I definitely view the audience as a collaborator in having a great evening," he told The Korea Times.
An American living in Korea, Hall says the Korean concept of "nunchi," introduced to him by friends here, has shaped how he approaches his craft. Remaining critical in new environments and trying to intuit others' feelings without using spoken language is a skill that any foreigner needs, but one that also translates well to stand-up comedy. Overall, it's also allowed him to have more fulfilling experiences in life. His newest comedy special, happening this April, is titled "Nunchi."
Hall started doing stand-up eight years ago, having been interested in the art form for most of his life. His comedy inspirations include a long list of celebrities although he says the funniest jokes always come from family and friends, the people closest to him. He originally wanted to try comedy for himself, he admits, partially because he wanted to meet other people who loved to laugh.
He confesses that he's done some shows that he considers "absolutely embarrassing," but bristles at the idea of taking any of them back, stating how they helped him improve his craft. His biggest accomplishment in comedy, he says, is simple: "not quitting."
No topic is considered off-limits by Hall, but the well he draws from most often for material is multiculturalism. The funniest joke he's ever heard? "The human condition," he says. Comedy, he states, can be a great tool for addressing priorities. "Comedy can provide a great reminder that the things you think are important are probably not that important at all." But is comedy important? "It's important to whoever values it," he says. People will derive their own value from his performance, he says.
So does that mean he doesn't get nervous? The first time he was performing in another country, Korea, he did, but now, he says "I get more excited than anything. I have material that I am excited to share."
That material is planned out in advance. Hall says stand-up is a priority for him, and even though there are other ― perhaps easier ― things he could be doing, he enjoys it too much to give it up. And so, a certain level of preparation is required. But flexibility is a must for comics, he advises: "Live comedy is about being in the moment … always address what's currently happening."
His main advice for fledgling stand-ups, though, is to attend open mics. "You get to see that jokes are refined ideas," he explains, "the evolution of a thought." But more importantly, "you'll see some jokes that are so bad that you'll feel better about trying."
Joining D. Hall on stage will be host Fernando Kim and opener David Kang.
"Nunchi" is happening on Saturday, April 22, at Lit Lounge in Itaewon. Tickets can be purchased at the door for 20,000 won, cash only; ticket includes a free drink. The special is exclusively produced by D. Hall with production support by Dark De Gary Comedy Club. Contact D. Hall on Instagram @dhall.co or visit d-hall.co for more information.
Rory Kelly is a writer, actor, improviser and stand-up comedian based in Seoul. He's also often spotted not quite winning pub quizzes in the Itaewon area.
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