Meet Gavin Eddings | Comedian & Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gavin Eddings and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gavin, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pursue a creative career in comedy because its always been a way for me to express the true version of myself. I really enjoy bringing joy to others whether it be through stand-up, content creation for YouTube, or podcasting. It allows me a sense of freedom and purpose that I don’t get from anything else. And trust me, I looked.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started doing stand-up back in 2008 during my freshman year of college at the University of Southern Indiana for their Night at the Apollo talent show. I did 4 minutes of the most “just OK” comedy you can imagine and ended up doing well. From that point on, I was hooked. I’ve managed to turn that 4 minutes into a 17 year long pursuit of something more. I get booked fairly regularly, and while I haven’t made it big, I’ve gotten to travel this country making people laugh and have made some of the best friends I’ve ever had,

My comedy has always been from a nerd/geek perspective because that is authentically me. I can’t go up on-stage and talk about what a ladies man I am because nobody is gonna believe that. But if I do jokes about how I don’t know how to talk to women and how my nerdiness gets me in trouble, they believe that. And once an audience believes you, you can take them wherever you want. A lot of comedians talk about doing drugs and drinking on stage, but I don’t drink or do drugs. So I talk about it. The audience is expecting to hear those jokes but when someone takes a different perspective, it surprises them. And they laugh because they believe you.

I like to think the reason I’ve been able to have whatever longevity/success I’ve had is because A) I’m funny and B) I’m easy to work with. Those things do not always go hand-in-hand. Some people are funny but not easy to work with. And sometimes, you might want to work with someone who may not be as funny, but easier to work with. Although, I like to think I am both.

But it absolutely has not been easy. Writing jokes and performing is the easy part. The hard part comes from sending emails to bookers, trying to prove yourself to clubs, and dealing with your own mental health. The business side of comedy is way harder than writing jokes. When you write jokes, you are in control of the setup, the punchline, and the delivery. It’s all you. But the business side is you putting yourself out before someone and saying “I hope you like me enough to put me on your stage.” And the rejection that can come from that can affect your mental health. The mental health aspect has been the hardest part for me. The not feeling good enough or trying to convince yourself you are still talented after you bomb in front of a room full of people. The toughest crowd is always going to be you.

But you overcome it by repetition and it gets to you less and less. A crowd may not like you, but you can still like you.

My other love has always been the horror genre. I like the feeling of being scared in a safe environment because life can be scary. I have taken this love and turned it into a YouTube channel called Gavin Loves Horror where I do horror movie reviews, video essays, and collectible unboxings. It allows me another creative outlet to grow my comedy, while also sharing with the world something that I love.

And out of that spun what I think is my proudest achievement which is the horror movie podcast I do with my amazing friend Brent Terhune. The podcast is called “They’re Coming to Get You” (based on a line spoken in the original Night of the Living Dead) and it is such a fun endeavor that we have embarked on. Each week we cover a different horror movie but it is really just an excuse for two friends to get together and make each other laugh for 60-90 minutes each week. We’ve managed to grow a modest fanbase, start a Patreon, and even had to file taxes for the podcast. Taxes mean you are successful. But truly, talking about horror movies with one of your best friends isn’t a bad way to spend time. If you can make it out of comedy with two or three truly good friends, you’ve done alright for yourself. And I’ve done much better than alright.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from Evansville, IN and we have a few interesting places here. And we’ve lately become kind of a geek heaven with all of our collectible stores. I’m a huge toy, comic, video game, etc kind of geek so I’d definitely take them to Evansville Toys and Games, which is our premiere collectibles store. And this doesn’t have to be hypothetical because I have taken people from out of town there and they always leave impressed.

I’d also taken them to my favorite local pizza places which would have to be Turonis and Azzip Pizza. I know, I know, those are thin crust options, but man, I love me a good thin crust option.

Evansville also has a great museum downtown that has a great planetarium. And if you are wanting nightlife, we have two amazing bar arcades in High Score Saloon and Arcademie. Even though I don’t drink, I’ve had some great times there with friends.

And if they are visiting in the fall, you have to have them visit the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival which happens the first week of October every year. It is a week long street festival that has some of the best foods you can imagine and some of the weirdest combinations Indiana can come up with.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To anyone who has believed in me even when I didn’t and to those who have helped keep me here. You know who you are and, while I can never repay your kindness, I can make you proud.

Instagram: @GavinEddings @GavinHorror

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GavinLovesHorror

Other: TikTok @GavinLovesHorror

Spotify/Apple Music: They’re Coming to Get You
Patreon.com/TheyreComingtoGetYou

Image Credits
NOX Photography