On his way to Los Angeles for his third time headlining the Netflix Is a Joke Fest, standup star René Vaca hits town for an 8 p.m. Thursday show in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.
Vaca took some time from his tour to chat about his start in comedy, how his family feels about being the butt of many of his jokes, and his future plans.
Chip Chandler: How did you get your start in comedy?
René Vaca: I ended up joining this business program (in college). The goal was to find your passion and to make it a business. I didn’t really have many things I was passionate about, and then I ultimately found out my passion is comedy and movies. I was very eager to find out what I was gonna do to the day I die, and then comedy made the most sense for me.
CC: George Lopez was a big influence on you, right?
RV: He’s from the San Fernando Valley, I’m from the San Fernando Valley. He’s brown, I’m brown. I have a big head, he has a big head.
CC: When you were in your business class, were you already doing gigs or open mics or what?
RV: I was. I had told myself I’m gonna be a comedian, and I was already telling people around campus, I’m a comedian. “Oh, we wanna go see you.” So I actually forced myself into getting a restaurant to give me a night, and that’s how I started.
CC: You talk about your family a lot in your act. I know early on, they were a little reluctant about showing up in your act. Has that changed over the years?
RV: I think they expect it now. You know, I think they watch how they behave around me now.
CC: Have they forgiven you for dropping out of college yet?
RV: Oh 100% yeah. Yeah, I pay for a lot of their rent, so they better have. I’ll cut them off.
CC: How long did it take, do you think, for them to come around to seeing that this was actually going to work out for you?
RV: I think like four years in, I won a competition (StandUp NBC)—$30,000 and a development deal with NBC. After that, they’re, like, OK, it’s gonna be something.
CC: After your headlining gig at Netflix Is a Joke, what are your next goals?
RV: Movies and TV shows, man. I’m not trying to step away from standup, but I’m trying to invest my time in other things other than standup. I want the whole experience.
Tickets are $45 to $55, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Pink Fuzz with Horrid Demise: 9 p.m. Tuesday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Shamrock St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Thursday through Sunday; various locations and cost; 806-256-2501
Micro Wrestling: 7 p.m. Thursday; Cactus Cove Inn & Suites, 2501 E. Interstate 40; tickets $24.99 to $46.99, plus fees; 806-905-6089
Drink & Ink: noon to 10 p.m. Friday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Amarillo Warbirds vs. Sioux City Bandits: 6:30 p.m. Friday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-378-3096
The Buster Bledsoe Band: 9 p.m. Friday; Blind Pig Cocktail Lounge, 609 S. Independence St.; 806-412-4251
Cameron James Smith: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Chlorine Bleach with They Might Be Loud Maggots: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Pi Day: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive; admission $16 adults, $10 students, free for members; 806-355-9547
Pi Day: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday; Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon; 806-651-2244
Amarillo Bombers vs. Dallas CD La Cuerda: 7 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $20.50; 806-376-3096
Chamber Music Amarillo’s Seasons of Celestial Joy: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; tickets $40; 806-376-8782
Back in the Saddle: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
The Stray Sons: 9 p.m. Saturday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Texas Rex: 9 p.m. Saturday; The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover, donations suggested; 806-322-1806
Amarillo Bombers vs. Boulder United FC Halo: 7 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $20.50; 806-376-3096
St. Patrick’s Day Party: 4 p.m. March 17; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Cameron James Smith: 6 p.m. March 17; Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3506 Soncy Road; 806-398-2003
The Strange Whiskey Project: 6 p.m. March 17; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
St. Paddy’s Celebration: 7 p.m. March 17; Drunken Oyster, 7606 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6668
Dueling Pianos: 7:30 p.m. March 17; continues through March 19; Metropolitan Steak & Seafood, 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201; reservations $21; 806-242-0117
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: Romantic drama Reminders of Him and horror film Undertone (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
