HandoutChase Durousseau won Houston’s Funniest Person in 2008 and has since shared the stage with many influential joke slingers – Louis CK, Bill Burr, and Norm MacDonald (to name a few). He is a regular performer at local comedy clubs like The Comedy Showcase and the Houston Improv (where works the front desk).

But soon, he’ll say goodbye and head to Los Angeles – eight days after his 30th birthday. Durousseau will bid adieu to Houston with a show at The Improv at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 11. Even though he is leaving, Durousseau says gaining experience in Houston will prove invaluable in the long run.

“Houston is like the training room for X-Men,” he says. From what he’s seen, Durousseau believes the scene here makes comics stronger and sharper than most. He’s ready to put his six years to the test in California.

“I’m looking forward to the climb,” he says. “I look forward to nobody knowing who I am.”

Even now when Durousseau takes the stage in his hometown, he often leaves off his Houston’s-Funniest accolade.

“If I do that, I feel like I earned their laughs and I earned their respect,” he says. “I can really get a gauge on my material; they don’t have padding.”

His ultimate goals are to become an actor, writer, director, producer, or all of the above. With goals set and bags packed, Durousseau says he’s leaving the Houston scene at a time when it’s at its best.

“The comics now are so well-educated and well-versed. Comedy fans are taking over – that’s something that wasn’t around when I first started doing stand-up,” he says. “Everyone is really cool with each other and really supportive of each other. It’s cool. It’s really nice; it kind of reminds me of what’s been going on in Austin for a while.”

As far as advice for other comedians, Durrousseau says keep going up – especially in front of the tough crowds.

“The rough gigs are out there for those who seek them out. Those who are really dedicated to it, they’re going to seek them out. The worst thing you can do is only go to where it’s supportive. You have to be willing to go in front of these rough ass rooms. When you can go up in those rooms and you’re still having fun, like even when you do bad and you’re still having fun, that’s how you know it’s something for you. When you can say, ‘That was horrible, but I had the time of my life’ … there’s nothing else like that.”

Chase Durousseau with Zac Brooks and Matthew Broussard
The Improv, 7629 Katy Freeway
7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 11
www.improvhouston.com
$10-$20

Editors note: Dusti has known Durousseau for years and the two are good friends.