Chester Ho creates a vibrant tapestry of storytelling, imbued with his unique style of chaotic energy and heart. He captures the essence of life’s small, specific moments, drawing from his experiences growing up in Vietnam and as an immigrant in Canada. Raised in a lower-income environment, Chester developed a keen eye for the simple, often overlooked details of everyday life. His performances transform these insights into relatable, uproarious tales.
How would you describe your comedy style?
My comedy has a strong focus on storytelling and is seasoned with my own brand of chaotic energy and heart. My stories focus on the small, simple, and the specific. When you grow up in the lower layers of society, it’s easier to be down to earth and pay attention to the small things. I turn many of my experiences growing up as a poor kid in Vietnam and an immigrant into comedy sets. There was a lot of material to work with since I was born and spent 19 years of my life over there before I immigrated to Canada. As a kid growing up in a lower-income place, challenges, troubles, and failures were my constant companions. As an adult in Canada, those three are still around, they just speak in English and French now.
Comedy has always been a productive way for me to cope and make sense of the hardships of life. I understand that not everyone would share my life experience one to one. We are all human and unique. But we all relate to the feeling of the day-to-day struggles and the absurdities that these struggles often bring. I want to invoke that feeling in my audiences when I perform. I want it to resonate with them despite our differences. And even if none of them related to my experiences, at least they would get a laugh from seeing a man on stage getting weirdly emotional about how the beach from his childhood having less trash is bad because now there is a fee to get to the beach.
Who are some of your influences?
The concept of Stand-up Comedy did not come to me until I was legally allowed to swear and drink. Really wish I could give you a, “It has always been a dream of mine ever since I went to a live show, or I have seen Dangerfield on the family TV when I was a child. I grew up in a not well-off neighborhood in Vietnam so those are luxuries I could not afford.
However, comedy has always been there every step of the way. The need to laugh and make commentary on life hardships and the powers that be are universal and not limited to any culture. There were a lot of Vietnamese TV comedians that I admired (Thanh Bạch, Chí Tài, and Hoài Linh to name a few. These were not standup, but sketch comedy. All the characters that they played were exaggerated and packed with so much energy that it was impossible not to laugh. I was a 6-year-old who did not understand the concept of how government corruption led to the underfunding of public infrastructures, but the comedians danced and did funny voices while talking about that on the small screen was enough to get a chuckle out of me.
If you want to go for stand-up comedy examples, there are Robin Williams and George Carlin. It was one of those whiplash moments when you find out that the actor you associate with family-friendly cartoons turned out to have said more than a few swears in a stand-up set. This is Robin Williams by the way, not George Carlin. I would be concerned if George Carlin was in family-friendly flicks. George was one of the best. That is nothing new. What drew me to him was that his commentary was sharp. And he knew how to twist humanity’s blunders, and darkness into comedy. I related and resonated with his subject matter.
Williams was the opposite. He always has this earnestness and heart in his routines. I just find that endearing as hell. He taught me that just because we are making jokes about things that are beyond our control and some heavy stuff, doesn’t mean that we have to be bitter and cynical; we can act a fool, be silly, and have a laugh with our fellow humans. I related and resonated with the way he performed his jokes.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Definitely Robin Williams. He inspired both my love for comedy and animation. I often have people say that I look and act like a cartoon character on stage. And you can trace back the root cause for that some 22 years ago when I first saw Disney’s Aladdin from a VHS that I rented with the money that I got from making a bet regarding the World Cup with the neighborhood kids. He was such a big inspiration for me that I cannot describe and explain it succinctly.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
That’s a tough one. Ever since I started as a comedian, I have had the chance to see so many talented people. All have their unique voices and stories. I have too many favourite comedians now. I think any comedian who makes me laugh during any of the local shows is my favourite comedian. Some shows are just packed with all my favourite comedians.
What is your pre-show ritual?
I don’t have a preshow ritual. However, there are things that I always do before every set.
I always make sure I am well-hydrated and not tired. No matter the scope of the show, every member of the audience gave their money and time to see me perform, so I got to give it my all.
I always have an outline of my routines mapped out in my head, so I always have a direction and never get stumped.
I keep this outline loose so that I can present myself as earnest and as natural as possible.
Lastly, I often remind myself that if I bomb, it’s not the end of the world. Failure is a friend so don’t sweat it and have fun.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
It was the Prohibition Bar down at 17 Ave. I performed my headliner show there and it was one of the best venues I have seen. The place has charm and atmosphere in spades. The venue has the aesthetic of a 1920s speakeasy, and the place commits to that premise. To get to it you must go through a door that leads you down to the basement floor, fitting for underground comedy in a metaphorical and very literal sense. The place has the perfect amount of space. It’s easy for you to give a sense of connection between you and the audience while also not feeling cramped. Since I often see myself as an outsider, being an immigrant and growing up in poorer parts of the city, I feel right at home in a space that emulates the underbelly of society in days past.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I have a story where I reminisce about my childhood summer vacations. When I was younger, I often visited the beaches of Nha Trang. Back then the beach was free for everyone and so it was littered with trash. And not just small-time trash mind you. These were the kind of trash that could very well hurt someone if you weren’t watching your steps. However, I always see that as a gauntlet, a challenge that everyone has got to go through to get to the swim at the beach. And the journey makes it all worthwhile once you hit the water.
That was the case until a bunch of finance groups from overseas started investing in the beach and barring it off with a fence. The beach is cleaner in some places, but those places often cost you. Costs that are chump changes to tourists, but impossible for the locals. And the attitude throughout the whole bit was of pure frustration, unmitigated vulgarity, and anger. And it ended with me declaring that Sheraton is my arch-nemesis.
I’m proud of it because I get to share one of the highlights of my youth. It was not always hardship and failure, there was beauty and joy in it too. And I use that as a vessel for me to make a commentary about how investors, no matter the intentions, would always choose money over people. Because yes, the beach is slightly better now, but it’s no longer the people’s beach, it’s no longer the beach that countless others grow up with. It is there, but a fence and a line in the sand that says it’s only for those who can afford it. I’m proud of it because I feel like I don’t preach to anyone, instead I just get to share one of the frustrating observations that I have in my own voice.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
I’m old school. I like to head out to open mic places or local shows (The Laugh Shop, Yuk Yuk, Rat Boy…).
Oftentimes, I would be introduced to new comedians, both amateur and pro. And there are so many opportunities to see my new favourite comedians of the day.
Tell us a joke about your city.
I got ghosted on a date once. She was working for a law firm so the fact that she stood me up without a single plainly worded email or a message really bothered me. It bothered me so much that I didn’t watch my step on the way home and I tripped on some black ice and fell.
No one came and asked how I was doing beside a homeless man nearby. He helped me get up and check if I was okay. He didn’t ask for anything. In fact, he gave me something. One of those organic protein bars and such. Never a fan of those, and apparently neither was he. I just gave him some change and we were both on our separate ways. On the train home, I couldn’t help but think that the homeless people in this city are somehow more polite and caring than the law firm lady who put the word “Empath” in her dating profile.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I will always promote The Laughloft show at the Attic Bar and Stage. It is an inclusive comedy showcase in Calgary. They are a welcoming community, and you will often find me there on stage.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Karla Marx, Victoria Banner, Yianni Assimakis, Mollie Risa, Gabby Rose, Zac Wiggin. This city has so many talented folks and I still have a lot to learn from them.
