Comedy: Danny Browning

DANNY BROWNING

Southern Indiana -based stand-up comic looking to revitalize the Evansville comedy scene

For those who remember when the Funny Bone was all the rage in Evansville, routinely drawing big crowds for both regional and nationally-known comedians, this one's for you. Because stand-up comic Danny Browning, a native of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, was right there in the thick of it, learning a little more about his craft each time he took the stage - though he's the first to admit how green he was about the art of joke-telling prior to that first five minute set over two decades ago. "The Funny Bone was the second club I'd been in in my entire life," he recalls. "The owner at the time let me do some time; I got off the stage and he said, 'Ok, I'll use you.' I was truly clueless - had no idea what he was talking about. I said, 'use me for what?'"

Despite not quite comprehending that he'd been given the go-ahead to perform again, unexpectedly stumbling into a paying gig, Browning finally took the hint "and that's how I found my way into the Evansville comedy scene." He had actually moved here to take a job with WFIE - the number one TV station in the market - which saw him driving the live truck and setting up live shots in addition to getting the footage and editing everything before broadcast. "To this day I don't understand why they put me in charge of thousands of dollars worth of equipment," Browning says with a chuckle. He loved every minute, in truth, and still considers past coworkers such as Mike Blake and Jeff Lyons friends today. Best of all, his work schedule allowed for evening sets at the Funny Bone.

But the lure of life on the road was strong - deep down inside, Browning wanted nothing more than to make people laugh whenever and wherever he could. And that meant giving up the security of his full-time position with WFIE and preparing to live as a "vagabond," literally criss-crossing the country for any and all opportunities to perform. "My first gig was in Parkersburg, West Virginia," Browning recalls. "Then I had another in Charleston and then the next week I was in Port Charlotte, Florida - I drove all the way down there and the next weekend drove all the way back to Livonia, Michigan. That's what my schedule was like after I left my job at the number one TV station in the market." Basically, Browning followed the money trail, though he experienced some lean

times for sure, including one particular evening when, short on cash, he feasted on Goldfish (the snack food) for sustenance in a hotel bar in North Carolina. There were also plenty of nights spent sleeping in his car among other sacrifices - all totally worth it in the long run.

Because as the years rolled by, Browning developed into a damn good stand-up comic, able to adapt to most any crowd or situation. And he reached "a certain level where people knew who I was" - his confidence on stage blossomed and comedic peers took note. A look through Browning's website reveals that he's shared the stage with some very big names over the last 20 years, including the late Norm MacDonald, Louis CK, Lewis Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Roy Wood, Jr. and many more. Still, he never lost sight of where it all started - in good old Evansville. And with Browning once again residing just outside of Louisville

but I don't believe that Evansville is dead to comedy. It's a huge community - huge acts come through all the time and play the stadium.

these days, back in Floyds Knobs, he's able to devote time to a truly worthwhile cause: revitalizing the comedy scene in our corner of Indiana.

Now increasingly focused on comedy fundraisers that benefit the likes of school groups and various organizations - "a proven formula for success" - Browning has found a home at Jennings Street Public House in Newburgh where he recently sold-out a show featuring some very talented regional comics. "Especially in Evansville it's a great way to raise money, but at the same time it works for me and my friends and fellow comedians," he explains. "Everybody wins, including the venue." Ultimately, Browning hopes to schedule events two nights a week - one show on Friday and two on Saturday. But he's already making an impact, even if a return to the glory days of the Funny Bone-era seems a bridge too far, perhaps. "I do understand that that was a different time," Browning says, "but I don't believe that Evansville is dead to comedy. It's a huge community - huge acts come through all the time and play the stadium. It's just a matter of creating a comedy club safe space that people can get used to on a more consistent basis."

Be sure to catch Browning's next show at Jennings Street Public House on February 19 featuring headliner Mat Alano-Martin, a Bloomingtonbased comic who often appears on The Bob & Tom Show.

For more info, visit dannybrowning.com.