In their own words

Can each of you please tell more about what do you do and why you love to do it? 

KM: I love building queer art spaces in Calgary! This is a wonderful celebration of queer art and comedy. It is a chance to raise queer voices and let us share our own views and messages.

VB: There’s a duality in my comedy for sure; on one hand I like finding combinations of words that speak truth to power ESPECIALLY to do with emotionally abusive systems. For me comedy is a revenge thriller centered around my C-PTSD and my comedy is very funny/cathartic if you’ve also had some dark times. To counteract trauma-bonding with the audience I like to pepper in classic silliness, I think I’m one of the few comics in the city you could accurately describe as “a goofball.”

This [event] is a dual album taping which means Karla and I will be doing 45 minutes of our best material and taping it live off the floor. We’ve been gathering the best laughers from our weekly queer/femme comedy show: Laugh Loft, and are ready to showcase them the best of the best.

Karla is a queer ICON and Victoria is DEFINITELY NOT STRAIGHT, so it will be an affirming night of Queer/Femme comedy with two sharp local comics who have been making waves on a national scale. We are excited to turn this live show in to a physical album that will be a lasting artistic artifact that will showcase our Queer/Femme comedy scene –which was a missing resource in Calgary comedy for quite some time.

I’m an intersectional feminist and a “do what I say-er.” Most albums are taped in comedy clubs where you have to adhere to the comedy club owner’s personal opinions to be allowed to tape your album there. By renting out the cSPACE theatre I am very blessed to be able to do the album my way. Hopefully the stellar turn-out for the show will inspire other comedians locally to do the same and speak their truths without a completely unnecessary authority figure adjudicating their words.

What are your hopes for Calgary as a Creative City?

KM: More acceptance for transgender artists!

VB: I’ve hit a fantastic point in my career where I am always given a platform and a space for whatever silly ideas I have. As an artist and a creator who loves to experiment with premises for live comedy shows I’d love to grow space that is a hub for experimental/alternative comedy. Its difficult to market something completely unique, so I want to put my efforts in to making a space where audiences know they can go to see something funny/new.

What’s something outside of your work/mission that brings you joy?