The always funny and very talented Peter White will be spending his Christmas with friends and family here in Pictou County where he grew up. While in town, Peter will also be performing stand-up with fellow local comedian Peter Anthony at the Dock on December 21st. I have known Peter for a long time and he graciously agreed to do an interview with me for New Glasgow Talks. Please note because of a few choice swear words, this interview should be considered PG-13. So if you are offended by expletive language this is your warning not to read on.

Introduction:

1. Where and what did you study in University?

• I took electrical and computer engineering at StFX and Dal. If I could go back in time and do it all over again I would not take electrical and computer engineering at StFX and Dal.

2. Following University, where were you working?

• I worked for a small software company in Halifax called Diaphonics. It doesn’t exist anymore. I don’t think that has anything to do with me.

3. When/How/Where did you get into stand-up comedy?
   

   Peter White doing stand-up.

• I did standup for the first time in Calgary in 2005. I was on an engineering internship, which if you’ve never tried is one of the 4 most boring things on the planet to do. I always loved stand up and thought I might be able to do it, so I went and watched an amateur night at Yuk Yuks in Calgary, and a lot of the guys were so bad that there was no way I could be worse. I signed up for the day before I left the city, so that if it went awful I could just leave town and no one would ever know that I tried it. It went ok.

4. What was your first paying gig?

• Christmas 2005 I got my first paying gig, doing 15 minutes at a company’s party for $150. I had only been doing comedy for a few months and I didn’t have 15 minutes and I didn’t deserve $150. I sucked. They’ve never booked me again.

5. How long did it take you to realize comedy was your true calling?

• I’ve never realized anything was my true calling because if I ever felt myself saying the words “true calling” I’d punch myself in the nuts. I hate that phrase. I tell jokes, it’s fun.

6. When did you start doing it full time?

• I’ve been doing it “full time” off and on for about 4 years. It’s such an inconsistent job that sometimes you have to pick up other work. I’ve spent a lot of the time the last few years writing for TV while doing stand up.

7. How much of your act is influenced by experiences in your life?

• Most of it is at least semi-biographical. A lot of it is looking at situations that happened and then thinking about how much better they could be, then pretending that happened. I spend a lot of time lying to myself and pretending my life is more interesting than it is. It’s not healthy, but it’s fun.

8. Would you like to add anything?

• Brendan Fraser is a shitty actor.

Notoriety

1. What was your first big break?

• Well, it’s weird, because every time you think you have a big break you realize that still no one knows you. The first kind of hype I got was from CBC radio, who named me one of the “Top 5 up and coming comics in Canada” in 2006, which is a neat title until you remember you can’t pay rent with it. I’ve been pretty lucky since then, and have had a series of pretty cool things happen.

2. How did you get involved with 22 Hours, can you tell me more about it?

• The first thing I can tell you is that it’s called 22 Minutes. I got the job writing for them when I did a show with the executive producer, a great comic named Mark Farrell who might find this when he googles his own name. He was nice enough to give me a job, and I’m forever grateful and will suck up in any interview that I think he might accidentally find someday.

3. What kind of travelling has stand-up comedy enabled you to do?

• It’s been great for that, I’ve seen pretty much everywhere in Canada thanks to it. Even the places you never want to see. I’m talking to you Red Deer, Alberta and Saint John, New Brunswick. Next step is to see the rest of the world. I’m heading to London, England in a few months, so hopefully that goes well.

4. Can you tell me about your Halifax talk show?

• Two summers ago I wrote/directed/hosted a talk show in Halifax that drained my soul and bank account. It was a good experience, but a lot of work. We made some stuff that I’m proud of, and a lot of things I’m not proud of. You can judge some of the stuff here: http://www.youtube.com/user/llapw

5. What TV appearances have you made?

• 

  This is a screenshot from Peter's appearance on A&E's Bag of Bones.

  Hm. I’ve been on that thing a few times. I was on 6 (I think?) episodes of The Halifax Comedy Festival, two episodes of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, CTV and the Comedy Network’s Comedy Now, a few commercials, and I had a few lines with Pierce Brosnan in A&E’s “Bag of Bones” that came out last week.

6. You had a special on Comedy Network, can you tell me more about that?

• It was a cool experience. They slap a bunch of makeup on you and then put you in front of 500 people and tape you telling jokes for an hour in front of an inexplicably orange backdrop. They showed the full hour on the Comedy Network, and then a 30 minute “clean” version on CTV. It’s nice, because it’s the only outlet in Canada to put a full set of yours on TV. And since it’s on the comedy network at least 12 people saw it. I haven’t watched it yet, but I hear I look silly. You can watch it here: http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/ComedyNow?videoPackage=84081

7. Have you reached out to the internet as a comedic outlet?

• In some ways. When I originally conceived the talk show idea, the plan was to broadcast it online. That was a lot of work, so we put up clips. I spent a year writing sketches and articles for This Hour Has 22 Minutes website. Ah… so basically no, I haven’t really. I should do that. Can you do that for me?

8. What is coming up for you, are you working on any big projects?

• I’m working on a lot of things that will probably never exist. I’m developing a feature film with a producer in Toronto that will likely never be made, and pitching a few TV shows around. I’m moving to London which isn’t really a project but has a better chance of being real than most of the other things.

9. Would you like to add anything?

• I wash my hands with cold water due to an irrational fear of burning myself.

Coming Home

1. How many times have you performed in Pictou County?

• A lot. ­8?

2. How do you feel about performing in front of people you know?

• The toughest part is that there are a lot of people who come out every time, which is awesome, but it’s hard to have new material for every show. I do my best, but I feel bad when I don’t.

3. Do you find yourself modifying/censoring any parts of your act in front of your hometown audience?

• Everyone who knows me has already judged me enough in life that it doesn’t matter what they hear me say onstage. I mention pizza more I guess.

4. You have performed in front of large audiences, how does that compare to smaller/more intimate venues like The Dock?

• It’s a completely different feeling. I like all the shows we’ve done at the dock, it’s a very small, intimate room and it tends to be a lot more fun than the bigger rooms.

5. Do you stay in Pictou County with family for the holidays?

• I do. I try to make it home as much as possible, which is hard with all the travel. This year I get to be home for over a week, which is really nice.

6. What do you enjoy the most about coming home?

• I like seeing my family, and getting away from everything and relaxing, and anything else I can think of that keeps me from saying pizza.

7. For someone that knows nothing about Peter Anthony what can you tell me about him?
   

   "A Very Peter Christmas" featuring Peter White and Peter Anthony at The Dock in New Glasgow on December 21, 2011.

• Pete’s an amazing comic, originally from Pictou (where you may have known him as Peter Reid). He’s a guy I looked up to a lot starting out, and still do, and I’m really excited that we’ll be doing this show together. You can see more of him here: http://peteranthony.net/

8. Have the two of you done stand-up together before?

• I’ve been lucky enough to do a few shows with him, but not nearly enough. He’s one of my favourites to watch. So even if I wasn’t on this show I’d go watch.

9. Would you like to add anything?

• I really don’t like black socks.

What would you rather

1. Acropole or Sam’s? Additional thoughts?

• I was always a sam’s guy. But I accidentally ordered from Acropole in Westville last time I was home, and it was amazing. Though after living away for a long time I’ll take anything.

2. Riverfront Jubilee or the Pictou Lobster Carnival? Additional thoughts?

• Jubilee for sure. I got to host it for a day a few years ago when they had Blue Rodeo. It was a great time.

3. Highland Square Mall or Aberdeen Mall? Additional thoughts?

• The Aberdeen Mall still exists? That makes me sad.

4. Melmerby Beach or Park Falls? Additional thoughts?

• I couldn’t find Park Falls if you paid me.

5. If you could spend the day with a local (Pictou County) celebrity, who would it be? Additional thoughts? (examples. Peter MacKay, John Hamm, JD Fortune, George Canyon, Dave Gunning, Colin White, John Simms, Joey MacDonald, Fleur Mainville, etc)

• Myself and a few friends did a show for a fundraiser with the local NHL guys, along with a few others this summer, and it was a blast. They were the nicest guys and showed us a great time. Also I’m pretty sure Peter MacKay hates me.

6. Would you like to add anything?

• You ask a lot of questions.

Additional

1. Can people buy advanced tickets for your show at the Dock?

• Every other year we did advanced tickets, but this year I’m not able to get home until the day of the show, so we’ll only be selling them at the door.

2. How many seats are available for your show?

• We’ve squeezed 100 in there before, but it was pretty tight. So maybe 80?

3. Where can people go to find out more about you/do you have a website or Facebook page?

• They can add me on facebook, I don’t have a website yet because I’m the least professional person possible. Or they can ask my dad, they probably know him.

It is amazing the variety of talent this community produces, and Peter White is just another prime example. To see Peter’s full set, (which trust me, is gut splitting) you can watch him and Peter Anthony perform at ‘The Dock’ in New Glasgow on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are available at the door. More information can be found on their Facebook event page.

Kris