In 2002, Singer graduated from Wright State University with a degree in creative writing and was working as a waiter.
He also ended up working as a substitute teacher at Franklin Montessori School in Dayton, teaching 10-year-olds.
“I used comedy to try to control them,” said Singer, now 33. “I spent more time containing chaos than teaching.”
He also got material for his act. Warning: The following joke is not something he actually said to impressionable kids. It’s an example of the kind of things he wished he could say in class, but only says in his act.
There was the joke where he asks the kids how the earth is warmed and illuminated.
“From God,” a student answers.
“No, this is public school. We get our light from the sun here,” is the response from Singer.
Although Singer said his personal preference in humor is the more-adult oriented or even dirty humor, he does not take his act in that direction.
A vulgarity often gets a laugh just for the shock value. Singer intentionally avoids language to make himself work hard.
“I don’t think of it as selling out but as challenging myself to be really good at the craft,” he said.
Singer and the other finalists’ work will be featured on the CMT Web site. Go to Comic.CMT.com to vote.
The winner of the contest will be revealed March 15 and will perform at the 2010 Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival in June.
Singer, who grew up in Kettering and graduated from Alter High School, is surprised to be in a contest on the network that brought us Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy and others.
He asked a CMT executive about it.
“I didn’t think CMT was my target demographic,” Singer said.
The answer: “You live in southern Ohio, don’t you?”
Singer performs locally at Wiley’s and the Funny Bone, and even Canal Street. He also tours across the country.
He released a comedy CD, “How to Get High Without Drugs,” in 2009 that received good online reviews. He has a Web site with sketches at RyanSingerComedy.com.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2216 or kmargolis@DaytonDaily News.com.
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