Miami Comedian Makes His Debut on the Island this Summer
By: Liz Hilfrank
Marvin Dixon had no intention of becoming a comedian until he ended up on stage one night. Now, Dixon lives for the stage. Since his start 56 years ago, the comedian has performed and hosted HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Comic View; he’s appeared in a few movies, hosted countless radio shows, discovered other comedians, toured the nation and conquered the world of improv. Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest is excited to have him perform for the first time on the island August 8-11.
This Week: When did you decide you wanted to be a comedian?
Marvin Dixon: I decided because of the response I get performing. The first time I signed up was like a dare. Well, I shouldn’t say a dare. Two friends signed me up without me knowing. We were at an amateur night and after a few people went, they announced, “Next up, Marvin,” and my friends pushed me onto the stage. I didn’t get the Boo,” so I figured, “Hey, I’m pretty funny!” Within the next month or two I fell in love with it, put in my two weeks notice and bam, went forward.
TW: Can you briefly explain how you got to be as successful as you are today?
MD: When you do anything as a profession and make a good living from it, then you’re successful. People think success is only when you’re on TV, but it can be from anything, a painter or roofer etc. I just happen to be in entertainment.
I love it. Within my first year or two I was on BET. I’ve done more radio than TV. I did 6 years of radio. I’ve booked my own comedy nights. Then, I started doing improv, and I’ve done improv every week for 19 years. I bring people to Miami before they’re known, like Steve Harvey, that’s because I learned the business before doing stand-up. It is called “show business” after all. In any profession, you need to know all aspects of it to be successful.
TW: What’s the best part about your job?
MD: For the brief moment I was on stage performing, I was a part of their [the audience’s] day. I made them forget their worries.
TW: What’s the worst part about your job?
- MD. There are two things. The first is some people book you like you’re a clown. They ask, “Hey can you come to my son’s backyard birthday party?” No! The second is when you do a friend a favor but it turns out to be a favor for someone the friend knows, but you don’t. I call it the bait-and-switch of comedy. You show up to an event and ask where so-and-so is, and then they’re like, “Oh, he’s not here. This event is actually for me.” I’ll do a friend a favor but not someone I don’t know.
TW: What do you think the most important characteristic is for someone to have who wants to go into comedy, besides being funny?
MD: Besides being funny? Patience, patience. People ask for their money before putting in their five minutes. They don’t put in the time and perseverance like we did.
TW: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since becoming a comedian?
MD: Don’t trust a lot of people’s words. Listen to a lot of clichés, “I got you…” they don’t actually have you. At the end of the day it’s business.
TW: Do you have a favorite venue you’ve performed at?
MD: You’re going to laugh, but it’s when I’m connected to the venue. Like there’s a casino in one area, then a hallway and the hotel in another area, and you can walk back and forth to your room.
But city wise, once you go somewhere once or twice, you build a following. I like going places where I’ve built that. Tallahassee, Charlotte, I like the southern cities, Memphis, Dallas, Phoenix…Vegas, places where they show a lot of love. Anywhere you go, you try to make the best of it.
TW: Is there something or someone that inspires your work?
MD: What inspires me most in comedy is the natural high I get when I’m on stage. We all have those days when you don’t feel good or your leg hurts, but you make that leg feel good in order to make the audience feel good. They’re paying for you.
I always tell people, remember when the saying was that people listen to politicians and laugh at comedians? Well, now I say that people laugh at politicians and listen to comedians. Most people have a valuable lesson in comedy. You laugh initially, then later realize something you hadn’t thought about before.
TW: So, related to that, how do you come up with new material?
MD: There’s crazy stuff happening everyday. I watch the news everyday and read a lot online. With social media, news is so accessible. I’m a good visionary, so I can read a story, then tell it in a funny way and have people visualize what I’m talking about. The real clever comedians find humor in every story no matter what’s going on, even tragedy. It gets them away from the stress.
TW: Do you have hobbies or things you like to do besides comedy?
MD: I love to go places with a lot of entertainment. I’ll watch other comedians; I love sports, even live entertainment. I love basketball, so I’m in a drought now without basketball and football not starting until August.
TW: In reference to the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest, how did you get involved with it?
MD: I was asked a couple of years ago but couldn’t, even last year because of shows already lined up. So, this year I made sure to mark that area on the calendar because I can’t wait. Other comedians told me it’s a great event, because we socialize and ask each other about events, so I’m really excited about it. I hope Obama comes.
TW: Have you been to the Vineyard before?
MD: No, never.
TW: Oh, so this is your first time! What are you looking forward to on your visit?
MD: Meeting new people, I look forward to that. I want to do like the tourists do, and find out, who is Martha?
TW: You know, I’ve wondered that too, but I still don’t have the answer. She must have been pretty important to have a whole island!
MD: Yeah! So, I want to find out, and I’ll need to meet her relatives.
