Dillon Garcia

There is always that one laugh that stands out from the crowd. On the night of April 18th, that laughed belonged to sophomore Candice Reeder.
“Dillon was hilarious, his topics were great for a college crowd, and bottom line, he killed it,” Reeder said.
Reeder was referring to a program put on by UNC Wilmington’s Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE). That night, the Burney Center welcomed the youngest comedian to ever perform on Comedy Central, Dillon Garcia.
ACE discovered the talented comedian when a group of members attended a showcase put on by the National Association for Campus Activities last semester. At the event, musicians and comedians come to showcase their talents in front of those who are involved with campus entertainment. ACE’s Comedy Chair, Staci Alden, took a special interest in Dillon Garcia after his performance.
“We saw him perform at the NACA showcase and kept his name in the back of our minds. We all love Gabriel Iglesias, and since he is Dillon’s mentor, we took interest in Dillon,” Alden said. “We brought Dillon’s name up at the first meeting when we got back and showed videos of his stand up to everyone. After they all saw some of his videos we all decided we needed to have him perform at UNCW.”
Garcia was only 16 when he began his professional career as a comedian, and he has not looked back since. He has opened for “big name” comedians like Dave Chappelle, Nick Swardson, and his idol, Gabriel Iglesias.
Garcia was more than comfortable when it came to his performance at the Burney Center.
“I love performing at colleges, these are my people,” he said. “We’re the same age, they are easy to relate to, so coming up with material is easy which makes my job even more fun.”
Most of Garcia’s material is based on throwing himself into the spotlight and poking fun at himself. And he sure didn’t disappoint. He shared his thoughts on the Twilight saga, told stories of his baseball career during his younger years, gave his two-cents on relationships and defended our generation.
“I don’t get why our parents’ generation hates on ours, after all, they are the people who raised us,” Garcia said.
Garcia also comes from a diverse family, and doesn’t shy away from it.
“I lived with my mom who is half white and half black for the first eight years of my life. Then I lived with my father who is Mexican for eight years. Then from age sixteen to eighteen I lived with my black grandfather. At the age of eighteen I was so confused that I was wearing soccer cleats, baggy basketball shorts and a polo shirt,” Garcia said.
UNCW is one of 38 schools that Garcia has visited on his Dills Chills tour. He is also a part of the Latin Comedy Tour and Gabriel Iglesias’ tour.
“I have been busy, but I love what I do and I enjoy working with the people I work with,” Garcia said.
As Garcia ended the night, he introduced new material to the UNCW audience. He said he is trying to bring his comedy to another level—a deeper, more intimate level, with more material that involves his family and past.
Dillon Garcia brought much-needed laughs to UNCW students who are entering the final stretch of the semester. However, as of next year, ACE will be combining the music and comedy committees to form the new Special Events committee. Unfortunately, this means there may be fewer chances to see comedians like Garcia at UNCW in the years to come. If Garcia’s show was any indication, UNCW students are going to miss the events put on by the committee. - The Seahawk (University of North Carolina Wilmington)

Trying to make it as a comedian takes many years of hard work, patience and perseverance. And Dillon Garcia is no exception. He just started earlier than most.

At age 16, Garcia started doing stand-up for the first time. At 17, he became the youngest comedian to perform on Comedy Central, and was part of Gabriel Iglesias’ “Stand-Up Revolution” premiering on the channel.

The now 21-year-old has recently begun a college tour, which will bring him to Whitworth on Feb. 23. Garcia said he started the tour because, although his life is not like an average person his age, he still would like to connect with people in his age group.

Garcia had plenty to say about how he got to where he is today:


Photo courtesy of laughstub.com
Comedian Dillon Garcia was the youngest comedian to perform on Comedy Central when he appeared on Gabriel Iglesias’ “Stand-Up Revolution.”

Q: When did you first realize you were funny?
A: “I’d say elementary school is when I knew I was funnier than everybody else. But I never really wanted to be a comedian; it just happened. I’m really fun, immature, and I’m… a driven person, but most of all just fun to be around, and confident.”

Q: Why would you say that you’re driven?
A: “As a young comedian, I just feel like I sacrificed a lot of the things people my age do so I could focus on my career. But it’s not a regular 21-year-old life.”

Q: Why did you decide to start a college tour?
A: “A college tour is the closest I can get to people relating to me. Because a lot of other times when I’m doing regular shows, it’s just performing for an older crowd, so I kind of have to cater to them. But with college age [audiences], I can just be myself and just talk about the things that I think are funny because they’re my age and they think it’s funny too. And it pays really well!”

Q: How do you come up with material for your shows?
A: “I kind of just let it happen. I never write any of my jokes on paper. I kind of just let life experiences hit me in the head and then I’ll put my twist on it. So it’s like a big…hit-or-miss onstage.”

Q: What would your advice be for someone who wants to get into this profession?
A: “Don’t! No, I’m just kidding. But it’s tough. It’s not just being funny. I mean if you want to become a comedian more power to you, but it’s a battle. You don’t make it right away. You’re going to bomb [on stage]. You’re going to not be very good for about a year. You start to learn the ropes. Just stay humble, and write your own material. Be original.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future, like 10 to 15 years from now?
A: “I think in 10 to 15 years I’ll be a household name — hopefully legendary. I see myself headlining arenas. I’m shooting for the sky.”

Garcia’s show will be at 7 p.m. in the HUB dining hall on Feb. 23.

Meghan Dellinger
Staff Writer

Contact Meghan Dellinger at mdellinger15@my.whitworth.edu - The Whitworthian (Whitworth University)

The Latin Comedy Jam, arguably one of the best comedic tours in the country, will bring nine top-shelf comics Friday, April 26, to the Plaza Theatre.

We caught up with two ahead of the show: headliner Johnny Sanchez and up-and-comer Dillon Garcia.

Sanchez earned his stripes on two seasons of “MADtv” and won wider acclaim as the voice of Lombardo in the “Happy Feet” movies.

Twenty-one-year-old Garcia, meanwhile, got his break at age 16 when comic Richard Villa passed him the mic. Since then, Gabriel Iglesias put him on his Comedy Central show, “Stand-up Revolution,” and he’s appeared on MTV and opened for Dave Chappelle.

Over the phone, they covered various topics with us – everything from Doritos Locos to impersonating Carlos Mencia in front of Carlos Mencia.

JOHNNY SANCHEZ

Q. I heard you say Paul Mooney (comedian known for playing “Negrodamus” on “Chappelle’s Show”) would give you a pat on the back and a kick in the balls.

(Laughs) Yeah. It was just after one of those killer sets and he stops me and says, “Let me tell you something, homie: You funny, you funny as hell. Unfortunately you’re too short for Hollywood.” Then one time at the Screen Actors Guild, he was walking out and I said “What’s Up?” and he’s like, “You a member of the Actors Guild?” I was like, “Yeah.” He said, “Good Lord, they’re letting everyone in this mother f*cker!” and he just leaves.

Q. Everyone talks about “SNL,” but I always thought “MADtv” was a little edgier.

“MAD” was a little bit more edgy. To me “MAD” was the closest thing to “In Living Color” as far as sketch goes. It was definitely edgier and more pop culture. They did a lot more spoofing. “SNL” was always known for political. Since “MAD” has been off the air, “SNL” has switched to more pop culture.

Q. Did you feel awkward impersonating Carlos Mencia right in front of him?

(Laughs) Not really. Because I was the only one doing him, and I actually enjoyed that. It’s part of the biz. Knowing him, he would probably say, “The biggest form of flattery is being impersonated because you are a known celebrity.”

Q. What have you been working on recently?

I finished a film called “Taco Shop.” I did a couple episodes of “Raising Hope” right at the end of the year, which is on FOX.

DILLON GARCIA

Q. This isn’t your first time in El Paso, is it?

No! I did it one time when I opened up at the Comic Strip. I love El Paso – the people are dope. I can’t wait to tap into that Whataburger. The people took care of me.

Q. You’ve said Oprah always wants to know the worst thing her guests did in the last month. I also want to know the worst thing you did in the last month.

I got pretty baked the other day and ordered six Doritos Locos from Taco Bell. That was a bad idea.

Q. You’ve also done some amazing things, too, like open up for Dave Chappelle.

Yeah, we did a couple shows at the Hollywood Improv. He started when he was 16 as well and gave me some good info. He told me as a young comedian I’m going to be treated differently because of my age. I was going to be good as a comedian, but a lot of people are going to try to take advantage of me. I had to learn the business aspect of it really, really fast.

Q. Anything else you would like to add?

Come out to the show! Whoever brings a sign with my name on it gets a free DVD.

Latin Comedy Jam

Plaza Theatre, 125 Pioneer Plaza

Friday, April 26, 8 p.m.

$20-$45 plus fees

Tickets available at the Plaza Theatre box office, Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com

or call 1-800-745-3000.
- What's Up, El Paso

FRESH OFF HIS TOUR WITH GABRIEL IGLESIAS, L.A.’S DILLON GARCIA TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT ON NUVOTV’S STAND UP & DELIVER ON APRIL 16

Muy divertido SoCal native Dillon Garcia has been one of our fave de la región stand-ups for quite a while here in Hollywood, but now the in-demand Latino funnyman is blowing up big time and taking his act to prime-time TV. So, it was only natural that NUVO TV would invite the 21-year-old comic to bring his awesomely outrageous but undeniably relatable stories to the network’s new hit Stand Up & Deliver.

Never one to hold back, Dillion has quickly established a name for himself on the comedy circuit with his bold delivery and insightful wit, recently touring the country opening for recent Mario Lopez: One on One guest Gabriel Iglesias and later making his TV stand-up debut on Comedy Central‘s Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution.

Sure, you’ve got to have the skills that pay the bills to be invited on a mammoth tour like Fluffy’s, but further proving his talent – and that he must have cojones and coraje the size of Nebraska – Dillion recently showcased his inner-badass while tossing out zingers at basketball legend Shaquill O’Neal — and he did it right to his face! (OK, so few people are as tall as Shaq, so it’s more like he was speaking to Shaq’s belly button, but still, it’s badass! Check out the comic’s run in with the sports great below in a clip hyping Garcia’s appearance on truTV’s Upload with Shaquille O’Neal.

And catch a full set of Dillion’s original comedy when he headlines NUVOtv’s Stand Up & Deliver on April 16 at 10 p.m. The showcase also features routines by fellow funny people Lisa Alvarado, Alfred Robles, Jay Montepare, Tracie Walker and hosts Julissa Bermudez and Jose Sarduy.

Felicidades, Dillon, Hollywood’s next big thing! Keep up with the rising star and his upcoming live shows via Facebook and Twitter. - NuvoTV Blog