BROWNSBURG — Rik Roberts’ vocation in standup comedy happened completely by accident.
Working a white-collar job by day for Simon & Schuster publishing in Columbus, Ohio, Roberts took his guitar to an open-mic night at a local club to perform. Only after finishing his set did he learn it was strictly a comedy joint.
“If somebody said you’re going to do comedy, I don’t think I would’ve even tried it,” Roberts says. “But having gone in there by accident and doing it, I figured I’d keep on trying.”
It’s turned into a career that’s taken him nationwide and made him a funnyman not just in nightclubs, but at corporate events and fund-raisers. Roberts is performing at 7:30 p.m. today at The Crown Room, 900 E. 56th St., Suite 200, as part of a benefit show for U.S. soldiers serving overseas. Admission to the show is an AT&T; worldwide calling card of any denomination or a cash donation at the door.
Those who can’t attend can still make tax-deductible cash donations to the “Support the Troops” fund by calling the Hendricks County Community Foundation at 718-1200. The money will be used to buy additional calling cards that will be shipped overseas.
Roberts had a bit of a rabble-rousing nature in his youth.
“I was a pretty good instigator,” he says of his school days. “I would get the plan together and let everyone else execute it and get in trouble. I’d sit back, watch, and laugh.”
But comedy wasn’t in his plans. He graduated from West Virginia’s Bethany College with a degree in communications. Once he got a taste of comedy, though, he didn’t look back.
Roberts has emphasized chaste humor almost since he started standup.
“When I first started, I did whatever I could to be funny,” he says. Then he started modeling his jokes after some of his favorite comics like Steve Martin and Bill Cosby.
“There’s plenty of stuff you can make fun of that’s clean,” Roberts says. “There’s not enough comics doing clean comedy right now.”
It’s led to Roberts doing most of his shows at corporate events and fund-raisers, rather than the standard club circuit.
“Nobody’s excluded if you do clean comedy,” Roberts says. “They may or may not like it — just like any other kind of comedy. But they’re not going to be offended by it.”
Fund-raisers are perhaps his favorite gigs. He’s helped churches, Alzheimer’s groups, even a community college that was raising money for children who can’t afford textbooks. Military benefits such as this are also dear to his heart.
“I’m at a point now where I can donate some of my time, and I enjoy doing it,” Roberts says. “It makes every laugh a little extra cool, knowing (those in the crowd are) there to help.”
———
Online:
www.rikroberts.com
www.elitecomedy.com
www.myspace.com/standupforourtroops
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
Local News
Accidental comic to provide laughs for a cause
- Local News
-
-
Cascade seniors protest suspensions
About 50 students have been suspended for two days at Cascade High School following a senior prank that involved entry into the building after hours and placing thousands of sticky notes around the school.
-
Standup event to benefit USO of Indiana
American journalist Linda Ellerbee once said, "A good time to laugh is any time you can." Hoosiers will have an opportunity for that at the Comcast/XFINITY TV taping of "Who's Laughing Now?" 5:30 p.m. May 16 at the Indiana War Memorial Pershing Auditorium. This event benefits the USO of Indiana.
-
Love of horses, teaching leads to local business
DANVILLE — Molly Barnes uses her love of teaching in tandem with her passion for horses at Horses In Education — a small business in Danville.
-
Company promises 80 new jobs in Plainfield
PLAINFIELD — The town council here approved a tax abatement for Fagerdala Packaging which promised to bring 80 new jobs to Plainfield.
-
Avon Wind Ensemble claims state title
Winning has become an expectation for any faction of the high school band here. And the Avon Wind Ensemble is no exception, having placed first May 5 at Lawrence Central.
-
IU West honors troops with wall of honor
With several employees either serving overseas or having family members serving, officials at IU Health West decided to honor those servicemen and women with an Armed Services Day event.
-
Truck crashes into home
A homeowner here received an unwanted visitor over the weekend in the form of a pickup truck.
-
Avon hosts Relay for Life
The Avon Relay for Life group hosted its annual Relay for Life this past weekend in the Avon Town Hall Park.
-
Monument Circle hosts ’green flag’ celebration
A day prior to opening day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monument Circle played host to several classic cars and some past race winners with the annual Green Flag Celebration.
-
Indy fire house opens, welcomes initial family
The Indy Rescue Fire House gives fire victims a little breathing room while they’re trying to rebuild their lives.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Defense Rests in John Edwards Trial
GM Says It Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook
911 Call: Confusion at Home Where Mom Shot Kids
Jury Convicts Steve Powell of Voyeurism Charges
Skechers to Pay $40 Million for Bogus Claims
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FTC: Skechers Deceived Consumers With Shoe Ads
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Romney Calls Obama a 'Disappointment'
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
Blood Drive for Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease
AG Race Tops Oregon Primary Interest
Obama Welcomes Beckham, Galaxy to White House
Raw Video: Mladic's Genocide Trial Under Way
Court Records Detail Zimmerman Injuries
Local Community Prepares for G8 Summit
New Guidelines for US Nuclear Plants
