Interview by Gabriella Giarrano. Photos by Jacki Schklar.
When I first saw Atlanta comedienne Karen Hilton perform, it was like having a feather thrown at you after being pelted with rocks; surprising and a breath of fresh air amidst the many louder more in your face comics. Her style is effortless and easy, and that’s probably because her attitude is the same.
Stand-up Comedian Karen Hilton
G:Your brand of stand-up is a quiet humor – some may even call you the Eeyore of comedy; more monotone and yet always true. If you had to describe your style in 3 words, what would they be?
K: Please listen close.
People that introduce me sometimes will say, “This next girl, she’s really funny, but you do need to listen.” Some people have said that they notice I don’t change the way I speak when I’m on stage. I don’t go out with a motive, I just kind of say it the way that it is in my head. I don’t know how to dress it up, I don’t know how to make it louder. I am exactly what you see. The way that I’m talking to you right now is the way that I’m talking on stage. I feel like, people listen when I talk to them like that, why wouldn’t they listen when I’m on stage?
G:When and how did you get started in stand-up?
K: When I was a kid, the HA network (now Comedy Central) would play stand-up all the time. I couldn’t get enough, and if I thought something was funny I would write it down, I would write it on a loose piece of paper, a napkin, a piece of trash, whatever. My mom was cleaning the house one day and she said, “Do you want all this stuff, “ and I said, “Don’t touch that!” That’s when I realized I needed to put them together, and I ended up filling an entire notebook. I was so anal about it; I used to write the comedians name, the day I heard. I had a very serious filing system.
But I never wished on a star, and thought, that’s where I need to be, I need to be on stage. I liked to watch, I like the feeling and experience of watching and not knowing what’s going to happen, you don’t get that same experience when you’re performing. Everyone kept telling me I needed to get on-stage. I just kept thinking, based on what? That I made you laugh here at this table? There are 100 assholes that are funny, but not everybody needs to be on-stage. And they kept on me, and kept on me. And then people started to yell at me. My friend Tanner yelled at me, “WHY AREN’T YOU ON STAGE?” That’s when I thought it might be dangerous for me to NOT be on stage, so eventually I got familiar with Relapse and then just did it.
G: I’ve seen different last names associated with you online, who is the real Karen?
K: Laughs I was wary of putting my real name on Facebook. I just don’t like putting my real name out there, but I guess I’ll have to when this comes out.
G: So did you ever figure out the difference between a blow-job and a Caesar salad?
K: Laughs Well they both taste like sardines, and they’re both good starters.
G: Who’s been your favorite headliner to work with?
K: The Beards of Comedy are terrific. Jarrod Harris and Debra Cole. Oh Kyle Kinane as well.
G: What’s next for you in stand-up?
K: It’s kind of a roll of a dice kind of thing. It’s like if you’re really good at making pottery, and you don’t really know why and everyone makes a big deal out of it like, Look at those pots? And you’re just like, I don’t know, I’m just making pots! And everyone thinks you need to sell these pots, and you don’t think the pots are even that serious.
I’m having fun, and what happens after that, I will accept. I’m just really flattered right now by the people coming to shows and approaching me to perform. I’m kind of still in adventure mode. But I have a few shows coming up. I’m performing at Revenge of the Funny, March 10th at the Highland Ballroom Lounge. Also, February 6th at Comedy Gold in Buckhead, I will be headlining. This is the big deal for me. If I fail on February 6th I’m moving back in with my parents, developing a pill habit maybe. There’s not a lot of pressure. If I don’t succeed my whole life will crumble, so please come and watch me do or die.
Gabriella Giarrano is a freelance writer and stand-up enthusiast with an addiction to used books that borders on clinical.
She is currently working within the Atlanta comedy community to promote and support local talent and events. Follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/pantsoff.
Tags: Atlanta Comedy, editors choice, female comedian, funny monologue, funny woman, Gabriella Giarrano, women in comedy
Enjoy this article?
Support us by sharing! If you liked this article, please share it with others via email or using the social bookmarking system of your choice.
Very good blog post, a bunch of beneficial tips. I’m going to point out to my girlftriend and ask them the things they think.
This is actually the 2nd moment I have come across your site in the last few weeks. Seems as if I ought to bookmark it.
Tremendous article, a lot of excellent information and facts. I am about to show my friend and ask them what they think.
Superb blog post, a bunch of quality info. I’m going to show my friends and ask them the things they think.
Very interesting submit. Your web site is rather quickly turning out to be among my top picks.
Very worthwhile posting. Your web presence is fairly quickly becoming considered one of my top features.
Very interesting post. Your own ?nternet site is rapidly turning out to be one of my top picks.
This is the second time I have run into your blog post within the last few weeks. Seems as if I ought to take note of it.
Here is the 2nd time I have run into your blog in the last few weeks. Seems as if I ought to bookmark it.
Impressive article, lots of handy information.
Fabulous blog post, lots of wonderful facts. I’m going to point out to my girlftriend and ask them the things they think.
Very worthwhile article. Your current web presence is speedily growing to be certainly one of my favorite features.
Very worthwhile posting. Your current ?nternet site is fairly quickly starting to be certainly one of my favorite features.
I am not really sure if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your great job is clearly identified. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested.
Very nice and helpful information has been given in this article. I like the way you explain the things. Keep posting. Thanks. . .
Hello, this is a helpfull article, keep up the good work. How about more articles about coverage and homeowners.
Amazing, truly excellent information. Your blog is really awesome. I bookmarked this and will come back once again. . . .
Yes you learn more while you share your knowledge with others. . . . . .
I agree with the author that we need to share the knowledge we gain!. . . . . .
Some great bedtime reading here. I am glad to have come across this site. Didn’t know it existed before to be honest but I’ll definately be telling people about it and will visit back again myself. Keep up the good work. I am impressed.
buy cheap klonopin
Easily, the article is actually the best topic on this registry related issue. I fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your next updates. Just saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the fantasti c lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates.
Random question: I am just starting my blog, but how did you start gaining readership? was it just natural? I mean how did people start finding you?
Great post. I am just starting my blog as well. Do you find it hard to have something to say, because I don’t feel like natural writer and it seems to come natural for you.
How much could you make with this blog if you had thousands of product seeking visitors coming to it every day? What if you could do this without using seo, adwords, socials, article marketing or YouTube? I can gain thousands of buyers to my sites every day, not worrying about Google at all. I use this cheap, targetted traffic to make at least $300 every day. If you are sick of shelling out a ton on ppc, seo bs, or other crazy ideas, you need to learn how to really cash in —> OVER HERE.
Good reading mainly because of the answers and questions raised during the presentations and comments. Being a reseller of SaaS apps, we realize the issues to take an app to market. You have to be in front of as many SMB as possible inside the shortest period of time to produce the awareness. Thanks for the blog. Richard http://www.cloudcomputingleaders.net
Don’t you think you should have some more site like this ?