Comedian K-von will perform at 9 p.m. Friday in Penn's Inn on the second floor of the Campus Center on the Pennsylvania College of Technology campus.
He is the star of MTV's hidden-camera show, "Disaster Date," and is working with ScamBook.com as the spokesman and correspondent, providing videos on how to avoid and protect yourself from fraud.
A Nevada native, K-von attended the University of Nevada at Reno and graduated with a business degree, but decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of a life of comedy.
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After jumping on stage a few times, he decided to slow down with comedy, grab a day-job and save his money.
"I realized, if I was going to pursue comedy, I better have some money saved up in my account so that I didn't have to give up on my dream simply because of a lack of funds," K-von said.
Once his finances were in order, he returned to the stage, trying to book about 10 shows a week so he could shake any nerves he had about performing in front of an audience. He then started touring almost immediately in the United States as well as internationally, along side some bigger-named comics. He often shares the stage with comics such as Maz Jobrani, Russell Peters and Brad Garrett.
K-von calls himself an "expert traveler." After a lot of time spent on the road, he has mastered the art of packing and living on a budget.
"If you're not (an expert traveler), then I'll put you through my bootcamp and show you how to have a maximum amount of fun for under $30 a day," he said. "And you only are allowed to bring one small suitcase. A lot of ladies would benefit from my expertise!"
He said every place he has performed at has its own charm, and comparing San Francisco to Miami is not an option. You just love them both, he added.
Although he has had many great experiences in his travels, he vividly remembers the worst place he has ever had to perform.
"A place with no stage. I just stood there trying to tell my jokes," he said. "People were cursing at me, throwing things and telling me to sit down so they could watch the ballgame playing on the TV behind me. - That was in my livingroom. Boy, can my family get mean when they drink!"
Growing up, he loved to watch comedy films and funny TV shows. He said he had a lot of respect for stand-up comics and envisioned himself taking over for David Letterman. Getting on stage for the first time is the first step in making your dreams happen, he said. It doesn't happen just sitting on your couch.
His material comes from a number of places and events in his life, from simply sitting down and writing jokes, to sharing funny stories with his friends or keeping his eyes open as he walks down the street. Sometimes the things he sees on a daily basis spark ideas for his comedy.
"No one way is better than any other," he said. "You just have to keep churning up new stuff no matter what it takes."
A lot of people have their favorite comedians and styles, but K-von believes in telling your own jokes and sharing your own stories, which he said helps build a loyal fanbase.
"I've always admired George Carlin," he said. "He was a no-nonsense older guy that could teach you things as he made you laugh. Recently, I saw Bill Cosby tearing it up on stage in Las Vegas. I hope I can be that hilarious and relevant in my late '70s."
At times, comedians have to face the challenge of doing a show when they just don't feel like being funny. The audience wants to laugh, so your mood doesn't matter, he said. Addressing the issue on stage and complaining about your day a bit might help to get you laughing, and then the audience will get behind you, he added.
If he never pursued comedy, K-von said he probably would have become a successful businessman enjoying a nice life, but he always would have wondered what his life as a comic would have been like and said never wants to live a life of regret.
When he's not on stage, he is either auditioning or exercising and said he doesn't have time left in the day to do much else.
"Sometimes I don't even eat dinner," he said. "I just stand over the sink, eat a tomato, then go back to work. So, if you ever want to make me an amazing dinner, just pop open a veggie tray from the supermarket and I'll be happy."
K-von recently has landed the host role on a new Warner Bros. TV gameshow coming out this winter. He will be working alongside cartoon greats like Bugs Bunny and plans to make the official announcement next month.
For more information about K-von, visit www.k-voncomedy.com, facebook.com/Kvon Comedy or youtube.com/Kvon Comedy.
For more information about student activities at Penn College, visit www.pct.edu/studentactivities.
