Evolving humor
Chingo Bling’s stand-up comedy reflects personal growth
The world of comedy is ever evolving.
For Chingo Bling, that means he often finds himself editing and polishing material.
“It all needs to be tight,” he says of his comedy set. “You can’t have a moment of dead time. The audience will know it.”
It’s been nearly a year since the comedian last performed in Albuquerque. He will perform two shows on Saturday, Oct. 19, at The Stage at Santa Ana Star.
He’s also gearing up to film new material for a comedy special.
“If I had to guess, it’s been about two years of working on this material,” he says. “I’m five years into the comedy game. I’m starting to get more efficient in finding my voice and knowing how to whittle down the information.”
Chingo Bling, born Pedro Herrera III, cut his teeth in the music industry in his early days.
He has since built a burgeoning career in stand-up comedy and carves out his niche with his insightful, unapologetic Latino stand-up and viral videos.
He appeared in the Netflix comedy special “They Can’t Deport Us All,” filmed in late 2016 and released in 2017.
“I feel like when I first started, that first little set was my starter kit, and that went to Netflix,” he says. “The new stuff is personal and family stuff. It’s about my relationship with my dad. Then there’s the real story of my wife giving birth at our house with no drugs at all. It’s giving the audience a glimpse into my life.” Chingo Bling knows that comedy has to be relatable. “I want them to laugh at the story of my wife giving birth,” he says. “I want the people without kids to understand. You don’t have to have gone through it to understand. There are pieces in the routine that are relatable. That’s what makes comedy so fun.”
Although his new life consists of comedy, there is a piece of his set that throws back to his rapping days.
“I’ve really shortened that part and dive in deeper on what it’s like for me to get back into the studio,” he says. “When I’m in the studio, I feel like I’m the old guy. A lot of the technology has changed, and I try to keep up with it.”
The days of staying up late are also behind Chingo Bling.
“I prioritize my day and make sure I get sleep,” he says. “Sleep is a big deal. I even have this device that my wife got me that goes under the sheets and when you lay down, it is like you’re getting a sleep study. It tells you how efficient you are. Here I am nerding out about sleep.”