Pavisich is hoping to paint
a picture that gets laughs

Jan. 11, 2001

When Mike Pavisich talks, a couple of things can happen. "My sarcasm yields two results," he says, "either a funny anecdote or I come across as a complete jerk."

Such are the misadventures when one is trying to do comedy. But, so far, setbacks have been minimal since he took to the stage in February 1999.

Pavisich's creative life did not initially involve stand-up comedy. After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in video production, the Parma resident started working for a production studio.

He quit after a short while because it was not what he wanted. "I'd be doing someone else's stuff," Pavisich says, "and I wanted to be doing my own stuff."

Shortly after that, he entered a couple of films in the Ohio Independent Film Festival. No big awards, he says, but good audience reaction.

To pay the bills, he works as a painter. "People ask who my influences are," he says. "I tell them, 'Williams. Sherwin Williams.'"

The painting job, he adds, may be mundane but the hours are flexible enough so he can delve into more creative side projects.

Besides stand-up, Pavisich does sketch comedy as one of the members of the Human Zoo that performs at Cabaret Dada. He also plays drums for Razzberri Jamm, which features music in the vein of the Cranberries and Belly. The group is releasing a compact disc this month.

Pavisich lists comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Attel, Richard Lewis, writer Neil Simon and actor Jack Lemmon among his influences.

His comedic stories usually focus on everyday travails, such as Halloween. "First, we're told not to take candy from strangers," he says. "Then, my dad tells me, 'Mike, will you go up to the man wearing the bloody T-shirt swinging the knife and get the candy?'"

He muses on McDonald's combination placemats/applications. "I hope you can read through the ketchup where I was dipping my fries. That's my phone number. And I thought you'd want a list of references, so I wrote them out on this dinner napkin."

Pavisich does not have too many on-stage horror tales, but he does remember an open-mike night he organized that went awry. "We had a decent amount of people there but no one was listening. I started listening to their conversations instead of doing my act."

Working as opener at Youngstown's Funny Farm last weekend was his best gig so far, he added. "About 150 people were there. They were all into all the material and the comedians."

Pavisich plans on plugging away in this area. At some point, he expects to make a trek to Los Angeles.

"My dream is to never have to shovel snow again," he says. "I want to go out to L.A. and see what it's like. Even if it's just performing in a coffeehouse, I want to know that I went out there and tried."

ON STAGE: Vic Henley, who has appeared on VH-1 and "Comic Strip Live," headlines through Sunday at the Cleveland Improv. Hypnotist J. Medicine Hat appears through Saturday at Hilarities in Cuyahoga Falls.

Rodney Bengston, an editor in Sun Newspapers' Metro office, covers Northeast Ohio's comedy scene.