Devils in Depth: Kevin Brown

Before starting at Arizona State University in 2020, Kevin served in the Marine Corps. After serving, he decided that he wanted to continue helping others, which led to his decision to major in social work.

However, needing an outlet for his sense of humor, Kevin spends his nights at comedy clubs, where he performs as a stand-up comedian. His stand-up comedy career began in 2017, when he took an improv class to get a little more comfortable with performing in front of a crowd.

Kevin says, “It’s different when you’re in front of family and friends or at a BBQ, just being that guy, but when you’re forced to be funny and the spotlight’s on you, it’s a little different.”

Kevin’s sense of humor allows him to lighten the mood in serious situations—which he plans to do once he is a social worker. Of course, Kevin won’t crack jokes in serious circumstances—it’s all a matter of reading the room. When asked if he could work with any comedian in particular, Kevin said, “The goal is for them to want to work with me.”

Initially, Kevin thought that the COVID-19 pandemic would force him to put his education on hold, but he has adapted to online classes. Even though he misses the in-person interaction that on-campus classes allow, Kevin admits that the shift to online learning saves him a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on transportation.

The pandemic has also forced Kevin to perform some comedy via Zoom—which, while better than nothing, lacks the spark that a live performance offers. Kevin has recently gotten the opportunity to perform at comedy clubs one again, but with a limited audience. “Even if it’s an empty room, you still have to put on a show like there’s 1,000 people. You never know who that one person in the audience is,” Kevin says.

Kevin is glad that the pandemic is slowly improving, and that he can perform live again. If you’re interested in learning more about Kevin’s stand-up shows, you can check out his Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.