Interview with Darnell Wright, The MySpace Bulletin King

There are at least 15,310 people who know about the Bulletin King, also known as comedian Darnell Wright. He's performed at over 70 venues and headlined four sold-out, one-hour, one-man shows. He resides in Atlanta, but represents New York harder than Caesar from the Boondocks. Frequently found in clubs and bars when he's not doing stand-up with a Patron and Stab (orange) juice in his hand if he's trying to have one of those I-can't-even-remember-how-much-fun-I-had nights, and a Grey Goose and cranberry juice if he wants to recollect. His best 9-5 job was at a hospital and, although he loved his co-workers, he's got a laundry list of why working at a bank is not his cup of tea. Besides the basics, what do we really know about Mr. Wright? Let's get a taste of the man behind the cramps-from-laughing MySpace bulletins.

On your MySpace page, it says that your first gig was at your job's talent show. Did your job have anything to do with comedy?

Yes, my first time ever going on stage was at a talent show given by my job. No, the job had nothing to do with anything fun at all. I used to work at a very well-known bank. The only reason I got into the talent show was because of peer pressure from my co-workers. If there are any teens reading this, even adults still get peer pressured. I didn't wanna do it, but I went home, wrote one joke about the job, and said "I think this could work."

A lot of comedians use truth in their jokes while others make stuff up. What is your ammunition for jokes? Have you ever had a family member or friend get mad at one of your jokes, if it was in regards to them?

[Laughs] I make up my jokes but they are all things that you can, or you know someone that can, relate to. Like, I have a joke where I talk about a girl that I dated and she draws on her eyebrows. I talk about how we get into arguments and in the middle of arguments, she draws new eyebrows. I ask her why she stops to do it, and she tells me it's because she wants to put on her mad face! There are things like that in my jokes. I call it made-up reality. I have my mom in a lot of jokes, and she loves it. I have a joke where she is giving me and my brothers a beating when we were kids. Every time she comes to a show, she is like "Do the joke where I'm whooping your ass." I just look at her and shake my head.

[Laughs] Who are the funny people in your family?

Well, my family is comedy in itself. Every family has people in them that are characters. The aunt that curses around all the kids right after church. The uncle that swears he's still young.

"I love 52 cents and the C-Unit."

"Uncle, its G-Unit."

"That's what I said, P-Unit."

There's comedy in every family. I really picked up comedy from everyone saying "You should be a comedian." Now the crazy thing is I've been hearing this since I was a teenager, but doing comedy for strangers and doing comedy for your drunk friends is totally different. I just really took up the craft once I sat down, really applied myself, and said "I know I can do this." Winning the talent show really made me wanna peruse something I had in me my whole life.

Is there anybody that you modeled your comedy from, or did you come out of nowhere with the jokes?

I look up to everyone that gets up on stage. I have some favorites though, like Talent, A.G. White, Gerald Kelly. These dudes aren't your Steve Harveys or Bernie Macs, but they are comedians that I looked up to when I was trying to come into my own. I love Chappelle and Chris Rock because I feel like my stand-up resembles them. And being from NY, you get a whole 'nother swagger on stage. I'm real and raw; you can't ask for more of that when you're watching stand-up. That's all people want; to relate to everyday things that might go on in your life and their life, and put a spin on it.

Do you test your comedy out on someone before you go on stage or do you just go up there and see what works and what doesn't? What do you do if a comedian ever tries a joke out on you and it's not funny? Would you tell him/her?

Well, when I first started I would sit in with my dad, and he would critique what I would say. And it would definitely work because if you can make him laugh, then getting on stage was a cake walk. Nowadays, I take the batteries out of the TV remote and pace back and forth in my living room, pretending there are people sitting on the couch and the loveseat. If a comedian tries something out on me and it doesn't work, you have to be honest with them. Tell them "You suck," and "You should be a carpenter or knit some quilts or something." [Laughs] Noooo, tell them a different way they can say the joke. Reword the set up. Give them pointers. That comedian is coming to you for your honesty, and I would never put them in front of a crowd without their best. I wouldn't want anyone to do that to me. Comedy on another comedian is the best way to practice because we comedians have heard it all. You have to be saying something pretty special to get another comedian to laugh. Think about this. Some people really feel comedy is easy but in all seriousness it is hard work. There is no job in the world where you get hired and get your evaluation on the same day. If you suck at another job, well, you just suck. But in comedy, there is no room for doing bad because it's live and bad causes boos.

Wait a minute. There are some other people in the entertainment industry that get evaluated the same day, like dancers. Comedy and dancing, that should make for an interesting combination. Are you a goofy dancer or do you juke? (Note: You know you're from Chicago when you say juke.) Speaking of partying, do you hang out a lot at clubs or are you more introverted when you're not on stage?

Dancing yes, but dancing doesn't get the scrutiny that comedy does. If a dancer falls, everyone says "Awwww" or the mean ones laugh, but that is what most people do when a person busts their...well, you know. How many routines in dance have you seen where people just outright get nasty and start boooing? Not much, and when it does happen, you're usually not out there by yourself. But comedy is a whole 'nother beast. If you mess up, it's you and the audience. You and that cricket sound right before people give you the stare like "What the hell are you talking about?" Comedy takes a lot of guts to just get up on a stage in front of people you don't know and make them laugh. And when I'm not on stage, yes, I'm out having a good time. Clubs, bars, lounges, anywhere there is alcohol being served. Love dancing, juking, or whatever, and I like to go out and chill. I make sure no matter what day it is, I'm somewhere enjoying myself. I don't have a problem being in the house but I also love being around people juking and acting a fool.

When you're at the club, do you ever get women who won't talk to you because they're scared they'll end up in your act, like Ms. Mad Face, or do women usually flock to you? I've heard a billion times that women look for a great sense of humor!

I don't wanna say women flock to me because of comedy, but it is an asset. Women, so I hear, [Laughs] love a person with a sense of humor. But in my case, they are very aware that they might end up a joke. So with that said, I'm always hearing "Don't put me in your jokes, Darnell!"

Your blogs about the Court Jester's relationship stunts always crack me up. That guy is a character. You said he's come to you for advice on relationships and you always know when to yank him away. I pretty much agree with every single piece of advice you give brothas. Do you ever act this entertaining when approaching a woman? What made you the relationship connoisseur?

Well, the Court Jester is my best friend and my roommate, and I get a kick out of talking about his experiences. Not because I feel like his methods are wrong because whatever works for that person at that time, do it. I just think when he drinks, his thought are as jumbled as everyone else gets when we drink. He might go off and sing to some women and I don't think that's what most women wanna hear. He does his thing though, so I don't think I need to tell him what to and what not to do with women. I'm far from an expert. I go off the women's expression when they are talking to him, like "Please leave me alone." So I try to get him out of certain situations. As far as me, I'm too shy, so I rarely approach women unless the alcohol is in my system. Then, all that shy talk goes out the window. I've been in a long-term relationship (6 years to be exact) so I feel like I know what women want to an extent. We lived together for the majority of our relationship so you learn a lot living with the opposite sex. Being single for the past four years has helped me understand the game that goes on between men and women also. I pretty much study women, so I will say growing up and paying attention makes me have a great understanding of females needs and wants.

You definitely have a lot of women on your friends list so there's plenty of opportunity to study us and see what we like. I'm sure with all the women on your friends list, there's a given that at least some have hit on you. What was the worst pick-up line you've ever heard on the computer? How did you respond?

Well, I do get hit on, but women are a little more slick when it comes to pick-up lines. Women are two things when it comes to someone they like, either blunt and forward or they will give hints and clues. I've had both approaches. The only line I can even think of is this beautiful lady asked me for my number so she could call me to find out when and where I was performing even though I told her I had a website and she could find it there. She insisted that that was so informal and I should get to know my fans. [Laughs] I thought that was clever.

Informal? Yeah, I'd say you can read between the lines of that one. Besides the people on MySpace that you know personally, have any of your MySpace friends ever recognized you on the street? Any crazy experiences?

[Laughs] The crazy thing is yeah, people do recognize me on occasion. People will come up to me like "Ummm, wait. What's your name? Darnell? I knew it. I read your stuff all the time. You're funny as hell. Where's your gay cousin?" I love it because people really are into the things I write. People show me love. A lot of the people that come to my shows from MySpace will come up to me and say "Hey, Darnell. You know who I am? I left you a comment two weeks ago, and I read all your posts." In the back of my head, I'm thinking "Damn, I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I have no idea who the hell you are," but it comes out like "Yeah I know you. How are you doing? Thank you for coming to the show! I hope you have a great time. I will speak to you later." You have to show the love back to the people.

Speaking of showing love, you say on your webpage that men only need "okay sex." Why only "okay"?

[Laughs] Yup, okay sex and it's simple. The reason is this. In very rare cases will a man stop having sex with a woman because she is horrible in the bed. Even if he does stop having sex with her, he will have done it three or four more times before he calls it quits. We gotta make sure. [Laughs] But a woman, in most cases, will stop at one. One bad encounter and your sex days with that woman are over. Then everyone that she knows will know you did a bad job. Her friends, close family...it might turn into a blog on MySpace or a bulletin. The word will be out. You have to have great sex with women at all times. Your rep is involved. With men, okay sex will do.

[Laughs] I hear the women are six to one in Atlanta. With that said, where do you like better? New York or ATL, and why?

WHAT? I heard 19 to one! Aww, damn, I hope it's not going down! I like Atlanta. It's really cool. Some say Atlanta is the southern NY. I have nothing but great things to say about Atlanta. The weather is great, people are nice, and there is that little women-to-men ratio thing, but I'm NY 'til forever. I'm from Brooklyn, NY, and that's my heart. There is like a little chip that is embedded in everyone that is born and raised in Brooklyn to rep it for the rest of their lives. That is why anywhere in the world, if you say "Is Brooklyn in the house?" someone in that crowd will say "Helllllll yeah!" We are everywhere. I've lived in NY for almost all my life so that is what I know, but Atlanta is a great change for now.

Where would you like to perform that you haven't already?

Honestly I've performed in so many cities. At this stage in my career, I will perform for anyone listening. I wanna be everywhere; I can't be picky on places because I'm new. Wherever people will accept me, I will gladly express myself. When you're grinding, you can't say "Oh, I will go there" and "I'm not going there because you don't know who will be in the audience at any of these places." Your big break could be at that venue you turn down. So, I wanna be on stage at all times in all the states.

Judging from your webpage, you tend to be discouraged by stereotypes. Are there any jokes you won't do?

I wouldn't say discouraged, but I rarely talk about Black and White on stage. I do it, but it's very rare. The only reason why, and I don't take anything away from any other comedian because I look up to [them] all, but I stray away from it because I listen to everyone. And to be honest, one of my favorite comedians in the world would be Ellen DeGeneres. I like her because of her style. You will rarely hear her talk about race or stereotypes. She does it, but it's to a minimum. Her sets are about everyday things. From toilet paper to walking down the street. The problem is some people will see a Black comedian and assume that he will go into some kind of racial joke. Like, that has to be part of the routine. I want to be similar to Ellen. When I get on stage, you're not going to know what comes out of my mouth, just know it's funny and you can relate. Not that you wouldn't relate to stereotypes, but some people take it to heart even though it's just a joke or comedy.

So where would you like to take your comedy? You want to stay with stand-up, trying to do music videos like Chris Rock's "No Sex in the Champagne Room," or straight to the movies?

[Laughs] Nah, there won't be any music from me. At least, I don't see anything right now. Movies are always ideal. I seriously doubt anyone doing comedy would not like to be in a movie sometime in their career. The stage is usually a springboard for bigger and better opportunities. Right now I'm perfecting my craft. In comedy years, I'm still a rookie. I have a lot of learning to do so getting better on the stage is where I'm at right now. Commercials or a part in a TV show would be my next step. I'm actually working on a couple of projects that are currently on TV right now that will be great for my career. I'm just on the grind.

[Note to reader: Because his TV projects are in the early stage and Mr. Wright has that belief in jinxing something before it releases, I have to refrain from telling you any information on his TV projects, but this cat is going to do it big!]

How difficult is it to make a living off of comedy, or are you still a 411 operator as well, like it says on your webpage?

[Laughs] I've never been a 411 operator. [Laughs] I hated my bank job so much that I put that job up instead. I had drug dealer [on there] because it was better than working for that bank, but I took it down. I used to work for the bank as a floor manager for the Call Center. But that's long behind me. Comedy is what I do for a living. That's what pays the bills. It is definitely difficult to make money at first. You have to do shows for free at weird places just to get your name out there. You have to prove yourself. It might take a year or two before you get your first paid gig. Maybe even longer for some comedians. Finally I've worked into the paid club. So the 9 to 5 is a thing of the past.

What did you study in college? Do you think you'll ever do anything related to that? Did you graduate or pull a Kanye West?

In college, I studied Communications, and yup, I pulled a Kanye. Unlike Kanye, I didn't leave and pressure my dream. I was leaving to make money. Unfortunately, I didn't finish, but would love to go back. And it doesn't look like I will go back to do anything in that field, although I communicate to people everyday on stage. I'm comedy 'til the day I die.

Were you one of those kids who was constantly in the principal's office because you were acting up?

Yeah, but after the age of eight, I was really bad. Always looking for attention. Always in the middle of things, which in most cases puts you in the principal's office. You learn after a couple of talks from Mom and Dad that being the center of attention gets you a soft behind. So after a couple of run-ins, I calmed it down a notch.

Well, you definitely come hardcore on the bulletins! Who gave you the alias, the Bulletin King?

Bulletin King came from me posting so many bulletins on MySpace. I deemed myself the Bulletin King after a couple of weeks of posting jokes on the bulletin board. It just stuck. I don't use it unless I'm on MySpace. Just plain old Darnell Wright when I'm on stage. On MySpace, people really know me as the King of the Bulletin because I post them daily.

You clown a lot of cats for sending wack messages on MySpace to women. How do you usually respond when women send you corny messages?

The same way. [Laughs] No one is excluded from getting clowned. Some women send wild messages also. I've been nice, but in the next couple of bulletins, you will see the other side of the spectrum. This will help everyone read messages more before they send them out. Make people really pay attention to what they are saying before sending it out. Who wants to read a message and it's in English but you have to have a translator? It's terrible. After reading all those messages, I can read things like this "Helo butiful u r da sexis ting I eva sen." Translation: "Hello beautiful. You are the sexiest thing I've ever seen." See, you get those skills after a bunch of horrible messages.

What do you want to say to Tom, seeing as how you're 110% addicted to MySpace?

What do I want to say to Tom? Thanks. Thank you for the free advertising. Thank you for letting me express myself to people that would have to wait until I get to their city to perform. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express myself for people that might have never gotten a chance to see, read, or experience anything from me. I would just thank him to the high heavens. MySpace is a great tool to showcase your talents if you use it right, along with meeting great people, old friends, and people that might put you closer to your dream. Thank you, Tom! Now fix the spam problem on MySpace!

Last question. I see you like Kirk Franklin. Are there any songs you listen to that get you amped up before you go on stage?

Wow, that's a great question. Crazy, but I do have a song. Eminem's "8 Mile Road." That song is me all the way. If you listen to the words, they are the most inspirational words for an artist. He's talking about rapping but as an artist in any field, you can use it for inspiration. He is talking from the heart. I love it because as an artist, we all get down when things don't move at the speed we would like it to. But you really have to believe in God, yourself, and continue to work hard towards your ultimate goals. That's pretty much what the song is preaching. It's a struggle song, and right now I'm at that stage of my career. Getting people to believe like I do.