Right now in the Houston comedy scene, there’s a whole new crop of comics who are hitting stages like a thunderous rumble from the skies.  This new class of comics all have their web presence in order, they perform relentlessly, and they’re climbing the ranks of the comedy world quicker than many before them.  While Houston has always been known for a strong comedy scene, no Houston comic has popped in as quickly as newer comedian Zahid Dewji.  Zahid seems to find his pace later in a set than most, but once he’s going, his shows are heavier in laughs than many comics with ten times the experience.  FPH caught up with him to attempt to figure out how he’s gotten so strong so fast.  

FPH:  I know you’re not from Houston originally, where are you from and how long have you been doing stand up?

ZAHID DEWJI:  I was born and raised in Queens, NY, where my parents immigrated from Tanzania (East Africa), before moving to Long Island, and later Houston.  I have been doing stand up for a little over a year now.

FPH:  You seemed to have really turned a corner set-wise, which all culminated last year when you and some other comics went to NYC.  What about that trip do you think made things start going stronger for you?

ZAHID DEWJI:  Not really sure if it was one thing; maybe a 100 different small things.  Perhaps, feeling some confidence from trying your set in a new city so early on in comedy; doing the trip with friends and comics who are stronger than myself; having honest conversations during that time about what I, we, were bringing to the table and the shortcomings as well.  Just the idea of traveling for comedy, something other than leisure, was new and cool.

FPH:  Aziz Ansari recently said, “Comics are lazy about stupid things.  Like, being a comedian is one of the hardest and most time consuming professions a person can do, but even though I tour kind of non-stop; I won’t fill out a form for the doctor fully.”  Do you feel like you can echo that sentiment?  That you’ll work tirelessly on a set but you’ll do a bunch of other things half-heartedly?

ZAHID DEWJI: Maybe to some degree, everyone is like that, but, honestly, no. Somewhere over the last couple of years, I rediscovered a work ethic I lost in my early twenties.  I knew comedy wouldn’t be easy; that’s probably what I found and still find attractive. My aim is to work on everything I pursue with full commitment, and yet I constantly feel like I should be doing more.  But, yeah, I hate filling out forms.

FPH:  Favorite comics of the past?  Favorite current comics?

ZAHID DEWJI: I more interested in now so currently Dave Ross, Tom Segura, Daniel Simonsen (a comic we encountered in NYC out of Norway), Hannibal Buress, Myq Kaplan, Maria Bamford, Norm MacDonald, Megan Amram, Aaron Barrett, Sean Patton, Louis CK, the list goes on.  Past, um.. Patrice O’neal, Mitch Hedberg, Joan Rivers, Harris Wittels.

FPH:  You seem to really stretch your legs in a set, where your jokes hit like a ton of bricks stronger in a ten minute set than they would in a five minute set.  Is that just your style or where you’re at currently as a comic?

ZAHID DEWJI:  Not really sure – but, one time, Victor Tran told me, “You do good, but it takes you like 20 minutes to get a rhythm.” I think there’s truth to that. Anyways, we’re not friends anymore.

FPH:  What about stand-up comedy made you want to become a comic?

ZAHID DEWJI: I like the idea of writing and performance as a combination.  And like anything, you see people do something and you go: I can do that.  And you find out no, no you can’t.  I like the challenge.

FPH:  You’ve had a really strong year as a comic, yet I think people would be shocked that in that time you’ve worked on a film, you helped illustrate a book, and you have a pretty strong day job at an app development company.  Have you ever had a really crappy job, or are you just a super creative guy who happens to have awesome jobs and is also a comic?

ZAHID DEWJI:  Thank you. I’ve had a fuck ton of crappy jobs: I got fired from my first job at a hot dog stand on my first day when I was 15; I worked at a shoe store; sold knives door-to-door; worked at the NYU library where I used to take naps under the desks for hours on end ala George Costanza; I once made myself throw up to get out of my job teaching soccer to three-year-olds in college.  The stuff I do now, I enjoy, and I like staying busy.  

FPH:  You get a lot of shows at various venues around town, which is impressive for a newer comic.  Is there ever a show you’ll turn down, or have you had to turn down a show because you have so many things happening?

ZAHID DEWJI: Again, thank you. No, I’ll pretty much do anything anywhere.  It’s too early to be picky.  I once did a senior citizen birthday party with Andy Huggins, where he made fun of me for saying ‘balls’ on stage.  If anything, I would like get more shows and as much stage time as possible.

FPH: You’re part of this newer group of Houston comics like Dale Cheesman, Jaffer Khan, and Gabe Bravo.  Is it weird to be part of such a strong class of comics?

ZAHID DEWJI:  In some ways, yes, because I remember watching them in admiration when I first started.  I still do, of course, but now I count them as my friends.  Honestly, I’ve learned as much from them off stage through long conversations and quick bits of advice as I have while performing.  I don’t think I’d have any success without the people in the scene.

FPH:  What’s your idea of a successful comedy career?

ZAHID DEWJI:  Steady bookings, personal happiness, and the respect of other comics.
There’s definitely a humble and honest nature to how Zahid does things.  While he waits for the respect of other comics, you can catch Dewji on the Stalk Show this Friday at Beta Theater, the monthly Triple Header shows at Beta Theater, The Hell Yes! Comedy Fest in New Orleans in October, Houston Whatever Fest on November 21st & 22nd, as well as varying shows around town.

Anyone who has lived in Houston long enough can agree that there’s almost always something to do.  Any artist who has lived in Houston long enough will agree with that sentiment, but will also argue that having a place to do some things at is harder than most would think.  As a native Houstonian, I’ve actually lived in more major cities than most, and it’s always felt like Houston was lacking something….industry.  Sure, we have plenty of places for comedy and improv, but finding those people with the experience, the connections, and the mindset to help with your career are pretty much nonexistent.  That was ultimately true before Beta Theater opened.  For the last year, the tiny black box theater inside the MECA facility has helped hundreds of artists hone their craft while hosting some amazing comedy and improv shows.  Now, with factors beyond the theater’s control, they’re moving to a new space in which to offer their industry based services. The cost has forced them, for the first time, to ask for help from the community they’ve helped nurture.

When I first met Jeromy Barber, Beta’s creative director; he reminded me of all the guys I went to an art college with.  Succinct and direct are definitely his forte, while having the goods to back himself up.  A creative guy with a list of professional credits, Barber has helped Houstonians with their careers in comedy, improv, and in general with entertainment advice.  I was, and actually still am, blown away with what he’s achieved inside a converted junior high classroom.  The black box style theater has a professional lighting rig alongside professional sound and somehow, they still fit upwards of fifty seats inside.  I’ve seen everything from stand-ups to improv, two person shows to movie screenings, and occasionally even a music performance inside the miniscule space.  All of these shows were done with the highest level of professionalism that usually made me forget that I was in an old junior high school.  When I went to watch local comedian Brian Zeolla record his debut comedy album, “Okay, You Got It!” I forgot that this wasn’t a comedy club I was at.  I sat alongside complete strangers as well as comics and friends, and it never felt out of place.  The same could be said about when I watched one of their Triple Header shows where three different comics perform three separate twenty minute sets on the same night.  Whether it’s one of the “Feelings” shows with Antoine Culbreath and Amy Birkhead, any one of Mills McCoin’s shows, or a comedy performance; I’ve always appreciated the spot’s existence in our city.

However, after I spoke to comics who had attended the theater’s comedy workshop, I had a whole new appreciation for Beta and all that Jeromy is trying to achieve.  The highest praise I’ve ever heard about a comedy workshop was what I would go on to hear.  That’s saying so much for a workshop that’s not run by a comic who can get you on a show or you you strive to gain approval from.  At the theater’s one year anniversary party, I met so many different people who had taken one of the many improvisation courses there.  These were people from all different walks of life, from all different ages, demographics, and income levels who all said the same thing; I love this place.  Over the course of one night, I would go on to hear stories of students who professed love for Barber and about how his courses had changed their lives.  It was truly an amazing experience for someone who isn’t used to hearing so many nice things about anything in this town.  All of this praise confirmed to me what I already knew, Houston needs a place like Beta Theater.

In the guise of finding a space that can be converted into something similar while staying close to town, Beta has gone to the act of “trading” for a new space.  In a new video available on Beta’s website, Beta is attempting to trade a golden microphone for a larger space.  While this is a noble effort that could possibly lead to a larger performance space, you can help by attending their final Triple Header show in their current space this Saturday.  Instead of the usual two performances, there will actually be three and all carry their pay what you can price model.  But, this is your chance to pay what they need, what they could use, and ultimately; what you should.  If you’ve ever performed at Beta Theater, if you’ve ever taken a class, and even if you’ve just seen a show there, Saturday is your chance to help keep Beta in all of our lives.

The final Triple Header will utilize three great performers on Saturday night.  Dusti Rhodes, the host of the Rudyard’s open mic will perform alongside the hilarious Barry Laminack, and the irreverently funny Chris Oddo.  As always, the show is hosted by the funny and talented Bob Morrissey.  You can pick up advance tickets and pay what you should here for either the 7:00, the 9:00, or the 11:00 performances.  The show’s are all BYOB and there are beverages at the venue as well.