BACK TO NM
Comedian Dan Soder looks forward to show at The Stage at Santa Ana Star
Dan Soder has a history with Albuquerque. And the 35-yearold comedian can’t wait to get back.
“My first road gig was in Albuquerque at Laffs (Comedy Club),” he says. “I went to school at the University of Arizona, and I got the gig out there. It was pretty amazing, because I was getting my feet wet in this industry. I haven’t been back since, but I’m looking forward to doing another show.” Soder is a triple threat. Not only is he known for his stand-up comedy, but he also has done acting as well as radio.
He has a recurring role in the TV series, “Billions” and since 2015, he has co-hosted “The Bonfire,” on Sirius XM’s Comedy Central radio with fellow comedian Jay Oakerson.
“Jay and I are friends,” he says. “Doing the show is just like we’re hanging out. I appreciate being able to do this type of job. And with ‘Billions,’ it keeps me busy. I’ve been on the road for six weeks straight, then I jump right back into production for that. I’m tired, but I can’t complain too much.”
Soder was recently featured on the first season of the Netflix series “The Standups.”
The 30-minute episode was the season finale and featured Soder’s act.
“It’s funny, because I’ve done an hour on Comedy Central and nobody can find it,” he says. “But I do 30 minutes on a Netflix show and everyone sees it. Hopefully, that 30 minutes will get people to see my live show. It’s all a process, and I’m fortunate to be able to do this for a living.”
Since recording the 30-minute show in March 2017, Soder has been hitting the pavement hard and working on a new hour of material.
“It’s been about a year and a half already, and I have 45 minutes,” he says. “I’ll go another six to eight months of building to get the 60 minutes that I really like. Hopefully, I’ll film it for somebody to air.”
Soder was always the funny kid.
Growing up in Colorado, he wasn’t the “class clown” but was always ready to clap back.
“Everything that is in my comedy is stuff that I react to,” he says. “I’m very reactionary. I am an only child, and I used to get bored a lot and make faces all day. I’m also getting to a point where I feel really relaxed, and that allows me to be myself on stage. I’m hard on myself, because I want it to be good. I see every comedy set as a first date, which is why it’s still fun for me. You’re meeting the audience for the first time and working to win them over.”