REXBURG — Everyone enjoys a good laugh. There are some that like to laugh so much and are so good at making others laugh that they make a career of it.
This is the case for Paul Sheffield, a comedian based in Utah. On Thursday, Sheffield will take his propensity for making others laugh to Rexburg.
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Sheffield said that he got his start at an open mic night at a popular restaurant.
“I really wasn't enjoying studying and working and jobs, and I'd always thought I was funny and just decided to go to an open mic, and it just kind of took over for me,” Sheffield said. “From there, I really just found a passion, found a joy and everything just kind of fell into place from there. My first time doing comedy was actually at an Applebee's open mic night. That's where things started, and it just took off from there.”
Besides working on the weekends as a comedian, Sheffield works for a medical staffing company.
Sheffield finds material for his shows scattered throughout his everyday life. In fact, he says the comedy bit that he considers one of his funniest comes from a trip he took to the HR department.
When it comes to the type of comedy he does, Sheffield says that as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has a line that he will not cross.
“I have definitely made an effort to make relatable material for someone of faith,” Sheffield said. “I definitely don't like to go across the line like R-rated comedy. I like to play with the PG-13 line, but I definitely want to make sure anyone who listens to the material wouldn't be someone turned off by it.”
To those looking to possibly find their way into the comedy scene, Sheffield offered some advice.
“I think the number one thing is just write,” Sheffield said. “Just write. You're going to write ten jokes before you find a funny joke and don't give up. If you write it and you go to an open mic and it doesn't work, that's just finding one way to not do comedy.”
To those looking to attend the show tomorrow night, Sheffield said it will be worth it.
“I just recorded my fifth full length comedy special that's going to be released in January,” Sheffield said. “But this will be your chance to see and hear the material before it gets released on Apple Music. Just recorded it. This is going to be a fun special show that has material that's going to be on Apple Music, but before it's there. So come check it out.”
To do just that, go to www.lolrexburg.com for more details and to get your tickets. The show starts at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Woodman Ballroom on E. Main St. in Rexburg.