Q&A: Kountry Wayne finds his own lane with 'In Real Life Comedy Tour' (2024)

Call Kountry Wayne a social media comedian or online comedian if you want, but he’s shown he has what it takes to move beyond the digital realm.

The Georgia native became a Facebook sensation in 2014 and has performed in comedy clubs across the country, including Helium Comedy Club and the Laugh Lounge in St. Louis.

Now he’s on the “In Real Life Comedy Tour” with Mike Epps, Mark Curry, DC Young Fly and Karlous Miller.

The tour, back on the road since April, visits Enterprise Center on May 15.

“People are spread out, but they’re so happy to be out, and we’re happy to be out, so it feels good,” Wayne says. “There’s COVID tests weekly, and that part is challenging — having that thing up your nose. But once they call your name (to the stage), it feels normal.”

Q • How did the “In Real Life Comedy Tour” come about for you?

A • They hit me up. The promoter wanted to get who they thought was gonna sell, and they knew a certain amount of people are going to come and see me. I have a really unique audience with clean comedy. Mike’s a legend, and when it comes to this new era, you have me and DC Young Fly and Karlous Miller.

Q • So was it a no-brainer when you were contacted?

A • It wasn’t a no-brainer. You gotta get the money right. The business has to be right. I’m doing more online than people are doing on TV, so I’m good. I don’t have to tour. But I do want to see people.

Q • What topics are you covering in your set?

A • Just real stuff, relationships, organic things going on in the home. I talk about my kids a lot. I don’t have any notes. It’s not really jokes with me. It’s real stuff. Child support is real. I got nine kids.

Q • What’s your relationship with the other comedians on the tour?

A • We’re all cool. We got closer because we never had a chance to kick it before. I hadn’t toured with them before.

Q • What’s it like doing clean comedy these days? The other acts on your tour aren’t considered clean.

A • It has more advantages if you look at it the right way. You get in a lot of doors people don’t. The lane and brand I’m in opens different doors. Funny is funny. Kountry Wayne is still going to come out there and bust you up. You don’t even notice I’m not cursing.

Q • What can you say about your St. Louis audiences?

A • St. Louis is one of them real cities with a lot of real people. I feel like St. Louis is home, like my cousins. It’s like we know each other. It ain’t about no celebrity stuff — it’s “that’s our boy.” Those are my people — my family.

Q • How did the pandemic affect you as a comedian?

A • It brought me back to who I really was — a hard worker and a hustler. The shows shut down, so basically in a short explanation, it brought me back to the internet, how I came up in the beginning before the stand-up. It brought me back to who I originally was in the business.

Q • What was it like getting back onstage?

A • It was different with social distancing and people spread out. I was ready to go. I couldn’t remember my material (when he went back onstage in September). I was coming off the cuff. It felt good to be in front of those people again and do what Wayne does, give it to these people again onstage.

Q • Why do you think your video clips took off on social media?

A • I wasn’t afraid to be me, and you could tell I didn’t care what people said. Everybody knew I was Wayne. I didn’t change. I knew the videos would take off. I knew my gift of comedy, and I knew God made this for me.

Q • How do you feel about being referred to as a social media comedian?

A • I don’t care. I went on tour and everyone who saw me on tour knew what was up. I came up on Facebook, where it’s older people, aunties, and you have to be funny for real to get their approval. Facebook is still my bread and butter.

What “In Real Life Tour” • When 7 and 10:30 p.m. May 15 • Where Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Avenue • How much $59-$195 (7 p.m. is sold out) • More info ticketmaster.com