Five Questions
First Night of Funny comedian Eric McMahon, featured on ESPN and NBC, will perform at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, where he previously studied and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, on New Year’s Eve. This comic now lives in central New Jersey but visits the Capital Region often, including to visit one of his kids who attends another local college, when she lets him, McMahon said. The Weekender caught up with McMahon before his upcoming Collar City appearance to talk about the past, present and future. Tickets to all First Night of Funny shows and details for each are available online at www.FirstNightOfFunny.com. Tickets are $35 through Dec. 30 or $40 the day of the event for all shows and venues. 1 So, you’re an RPI grad. What’s it like to be performing at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in your old college town? Is it bad that I used to have a checking account at the Troy Savings Bank? It’s always good to come back to Troy and see how much the area has changed. Even though I’ve been gone more than a few years now, I’m in the area every year at least either to perform or to ski or both. Troy also helps me find new material - it’s got a never ending supply. The city seems to have had some highs and lows and I’m happy to see that it’s currently on one of the highs. All of the architecture and the Music Hall in particular are really beautiful. When I heard I’d be performing locally I didn’t realize that the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall was an option, but when I found out it was I was excited to be on that bill. 2 What did you study at RPI? I was a materials engineering major. Not exactly a stepping stone for most people to standup comedy, but I suppose I do engineer material now. Kind of a stretch I know. 3 How did you get into comedy? I hated my job. I was envious of people who could wake up and love what they did every day. I was marketing Zinc oxide nonlinear resistors and Piezo ceramic devices. To say the least, that wasn’t very fulfilling! I saw some really bad stand-up shows, and I said at least I’ll be better than these guys. Here we are almost 30 years later still loving it.
4 What’s your new year’s resolution for 2018?
I really just want to slow it down and enjoy the ride. I’m in a good place right now. I get to make people laugh for a living. What beats that?
5 Why should people come check out The First Night of Funny this New Year’s Eve?
People should come out because it’s funny. It really is a great
night out and it’s affordable. The venue is beautiful and the show is over by around 10 so people can either go out after or go home and watch the ball drop on TV and be asleep shortly thereafter. I also think that all of us who lived through 2017 deserve to end it with a laugh, don’t you?