Duane Goad is a Seattle comedian. He hosts the weekly show, The Goadcast, on The Podaholics Comedy Network. He’s also worked with a plethora of way more famous folks in the business, yet still lives here in Seattle! We had a chance to catch up with Duane and talk Seattle comedy, what’s missing, and what’s next. 

Jake Uitti: You’re a comedian in a town not necessarily known for its sense of humor. What has been the highlight and the lowlight of your career up to this point?

Duane Goad: I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the top comedians working today. I’ve also been lucky enough to have become friends with some of them. But getting the chance to open for The Jacksons a couple of years ago was a thrill. As many kids growing up in the 80’s. I was a fan of everything Michael Jackson, so working with those guys was a bit surreal.

Lowlights? One that stands out was getting booked to perform at a guy’s birthday party at someone’s house. When I got there they asked me to take my shoes off because the rug was new. So there I am, performing in a suit and my socks in their living room. During my set all I could think of was, ‘What the hell am I doing with my life? This wasn’t part of the dream’. Then the family dog found my leg and…well you can figure out the rest.

JU: What is the best part about the Seattle comedy scene, and do you think the scene is growing (at a good rate)?

DG: The scene is definitely growing. There seems to be a new crop of up and coming comics every week (and it sucks because I’m bad at remembering names).

I think the best part of the scene is the camaraderie. Or so I hear, nobody talks to me. Probably because I can’t remember their names.

JU: I’ll ask you to do your best to remember! Who are some of the folks you’ve liked working with the most and at what venues?

DG: Working with Jim Gaffigan at The Paramount was fun. He’s been great to me over the years.

Bill Burr at Harvey’s Comedy Club in Portland was a blast.

Working with Patrice O’Neal at Giggles was great for the offstage banter back and forth. He’s sorely missed.

Doing the Seattle International Comedy Competition with Mitch Hedberg in 1997 over a couple weeks was something I’ll never forget.

Plus, local comics like Brad Upton, Joe Vespaziani, Rodney Sherwood and so many others are the reasons why comics like hanging out at comedy clubs so much.

It’s hard to name just a few. I could go on forever with that question.

JU: What’s the deal (copyright Jerry Seinfeld) with the show the 206?

DG: 206 is the re-boot of the legendary Seattle sketch show ‘Almost Live’.

For the last couple of years I’ve been writing and voicing a number of shows at MSN-TV and my producer mentioned that Chris Cashman saw me going in for a recording session and asked if she would introduce us when I was done.

I had worked with John Keister a few times at clubs and met Pat Cashman at a few benefit shows I had performed at over the years but had never met Chris. We talked awhile and he had mentioned they were doing this new show The 206 and how John Pat and himself were going to do some live shows before the premiere of the new TV show. He asked if I would considered performing stand-up on some of them and I said I’d love to.

When they were gearing up to tape some new episodes he asked if I would perform on a couple episodes and I did. One was a quick stand-up set and one was a sketch Pat wrote.

They’re a great group of guys to work with and the crew is top notch. It was fun. Hopefully I’ll work with them on some new episodes in the future.

JU: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you improve or get for the comedy scene here?

DG: I’d love to see more industry interest for the truly funny comedians that live in this area. So many of them deserve that big break.

JU: What’s next on the docket for you?

DG: Well, this is a great time of year for comics. The weather starts getting bad and people start going to the clubs again (it helps to have an audience when you’re trying to perform).

For me, besides comedy clubs, and writing and voicing shows for MSN-TV, I’ll be performing at The Moore Theatre with Tru TV’s ‘Impractical Jokers’ December 13.

(I’ll be the one fans of the TV show won’t recognize).