Harry Artin teaches others to stand up

By Sam Logan Khaleghi
BerkleyLive Special Writer

Stand-up comedians are often said to hold a lonely job. A stand-up comic is in the line of fire at all times by their audience often without set dressing or production design. Perhaps with the simplest audio equipment on hand, they can find their voice in a microphone; even more so as the risk they take is writing and acting their own material.

Southfield native Harry Artin is a stand-up comedian whose work has stood up over the past 20-plus years performing in and producing comedy club shows either as himself or his alter egos, Blarney the Dinosaur and MC Sampler. He’s appeared on “The Anna Nicole Smith Show,” “Last Comic Standing” and “The Howard Stern Show.” On Wednesday nights, he emcees and performs at O’Mara’s Comedy Night on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Every week his talents are put to the test by the assembly of patrons before him. As an interactive experience, the audience is sometimes considered the co-star of the show since stand-up comedy is unlike a straightforward stage play due to offering the congregation of the house to instantly change the atmosphere with either acceptance by laughs or denial by heckles.

I came from a father who was a famous Metropolitan Opera Singer. So he sang for his supper and I tell jokes for scraps.” Artin says of his father, Ara Berberian.

Artin is a University of Michigan graduate of the Class of 1988. Although comedy wasn’t offered as a major, Artin studied English literature and applies his life’s experiences into his acts. Many comedians may follow not just their passion but also their natural inhibitions to be the jokester. When poked about his own interests in performing arts, Artin articulates his familiarity.

“My parents thought I was very talented in acting in high school and urged me to go to acting school, but I resisted because I thought acting was too boring and easy,” Artin says. “As an actor I landed in the background for a Five Hour Energy commercial and you could see my legs for 1.5 seconds in the background. My first pro comedy gig was in 1988 at the Holly Hotel and that was great because I got to try the escargot in phyllo dough. I knew I was rolling in money by then.”

Artin addresses the proximity of an artist to their city of domiciled Renaissance and points out his opinion on the advent of the internet taking over where a comedian needs to live to work.

“Today it doesn’t matter where you live,” Artin says. “You can perform, produce, and market your comedy via the web and make advertising dollars, or drive and fly across the country when it’s economically advantageous.”

Artin currently is hosting a workshop called the Adversity Comedy Course and is currently taking names; although he advises that potential observers take notice of their audience and not show fear at revealing the man or woman behind the comedian.

“Tell stuff that is embarrassing and painful to talk about, especially stuff you think is unique to you,” Artin says. “You’ll realize they’re not as unique as you think. The Adversity Comedy Course is nine weeks and we teach improvisational acting and comedy writing skills. Most of all, we help you to discover your inner persona and we craft jokes around that persona. Every course comes close to selling out and we can only take up to five students. “

To register for the Adversity Comedy Course, call 313-312-4333 or email harry@electriceelentertainment.com.

O’Mara’s, 2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-399-6750

Other happenings in Berkley this week:

Thursday, Oct. 6: Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., The Coffee Beanery Café, 28557 Woodward Ave.; 248-336-9930

Friday, Oct.7: The Reefermen, 9:30 p.m., O’Mara’s, 2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-399-6750

Oliver Thompson and The Places and The Accidentals, 10 p.m., The Berkley Front, 3087 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-547-3331

Saturday, Oct. 8: Karaoke, 9 p.m., Blarney Stone Pub, 27253 Woodward Ave.; 248-541-1881

The Smiths United, 10 p.m., The Berkley Front, 3087 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-547-3331

Sunday, Oct. 9: Karaoke, 9 p.m., Blarney Stone Pub, 27253 Woodward Ave.; 248-541-1881

Tuesday, Oct. 11: Honky Tonk Tuesdays with Kenny Kens & The Cash Creek Band. 10 p.m., O’Mara’s, 2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-399-6750