A dare to herself led Julie Kim to a career as a stand-up comedian.
Kim is one of three comics that will take the stage Oct. 14 at the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen’s 18th annual Comedy Fest in Penticton. Also eliciting laughter that night will be Herb Dixon and John Buehler.
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Kim, whose other day jobs include management consultant, speaker and university educator, started doing stand-up about eight years ago.
“I heard it was the most difficult thing in the world to do … I tried it once and I got hooked.”
Although it sounds awkward, she lost her comedic virginity after taking a workshop and trying out her new skills in front of friends and family.
“If it didn’t go well I don’t think I would still be doing it,” she said.
Originally hailing from Toronto, Kim now resides in Vancouver and prides herself on always bringing her comedic ‘A’ game, whether it’s in front of a crowd of three at a dingy bar or at televised comedy festivals in large cities throughout the country.
“I find stand-up very challenging and exciting. Most of all I love to make people laugh, connecting with people. I love being able to live a life observing what is funny and then turning it into something that people laugh at,” she said.
Since her stand-up career started, she’s gone from single to married to mother — with all stages providing her hilarious material for her audiences.
One of her dating bits targets the hilarity of profile pictures and their perfect angles. She jokes that perfect profile pictures put women at risk because if they went missing there wouldn’t be an accurate looking picture to provide police.
Dedicated to her work she returned to stand-up three-and-a-half weeks after her child was born.
“I found I actually had more stuff to talk about and joke about,” she said.
Over the years Kim’s performed in a variety of shows and festivals including the Halifax Comedy Festival twice, Comic Vision 2012, Edmonton Comedy Festival and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
The two-time Canadian Comedy Award stand-up nominee said her next goal is to do her own special.
“There’s all sorts of models right now. There are comics that are famous for being online. They’re taping their own shows and putting them online. There are lots of avenues,” she said.
As she continues to work towards that goal, Kim and fellow comics Dixon and Buehler will be making tears stream down the faces of those that come out to support the Community Foundation.
In addition to the entertainment, those in attendance can enjoy an all-you-can-eat Greek buffet and a live and silent auction.
All the proceeds from the night will support the work of the CommunityFoundation
“Supporting the CFSOS means more than supporting one charity, because the foundation provides grants to other charities throughout the region. Last year CFSOS granted out over $400,000 to charities located in every community in our region,” said Aaron McRann, executive director of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen.
Tickets to this event are only $65 and can be bought at Penticton Lakeside Resort or the foundation office at 390 Main St. Penticton. The night starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Barking Parrot.