

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Goldstein.
Hi Dave, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Thank you for asking for my story. I always knew that I wanted to be a comedian. I remember writing a note to myself under the windowsill in my bedroom about that when I was about 12. Since starting comedy years ago, I’ve been fortunate to perform across the U.S., Canada, Germany, and The Netherlands, and my comedy special Isn’t It Obvious was released last year. The travel gets old, and we could talk for days about the business behind the scenes, but I still love noodling around with a bit to see how it works best and challenging myself with off-the-cuff bits during shows. Plus, it’s comedy, so nobody stares at you when you have a couple of beers just before you go to work.
Comedy has taken me places I never thought I’d go, not just geographically. I fell into being an auctioneer for charity events too. It’s sort of me doing my schtick, but for good! People enjoy a benefit event that isn’t just another boring night out. If you can get people laughing, getting them to give is much easier. And, it feels great helping people and organizations do their good work. I had a retired Navy SEAL grab me after a benefit for our veterans with PTSD. He said, “Do you know how many men’s lives you just saved tonight?” I didn’t even know how to answer that. Maybe there’s a serious guy inside every comedian, just trying to get out? I was just happy to be a part of things.
I also officiate weddings, and I’ve married almost two hundred couples in ten states. I don’t know if the word is karma or what, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about being involved with the happiest day in people’s lives. I had a couple who liked my act ask me to marry them. I figured it would be a one-off, but it’s taken on a life of its own. My dad suggested I bill myself as the funny guy who marries people. I remember saying, “Dad, how many people want a comedian to marry them?” A lot. The weddings have light moments, and I tell the couple’s story in my way, but we never lose the dignity of the day; it’s someone’s wedding, not my show.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
Smooth, no. But that’s how life works. Comedy, at least for me, isn’t one of those graphs where the line keeps angling up. It’s more like a radio wave with highs and lows. You learn how to be a better writer and a better performer. Then, you try to keep the momentum going as you get to work, moving up in the business and working better venues. People in your family get sick, and our world gets rocked by a pandemic, but you persevere and keep moving, keep writing, keep getting yourself out there, and keep refining your work. You realize you’re not as valuable as you thought and that people move on quickly when you’re gone. I once took almost a year off for back surgery and had to restart things. That’s what happens; real life gets in the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Wow. I think I mentioned some of this in my first answer, but I’ve done a few things. I’ve opened theaters for Dennis Miller, handled the audience warmup for Drew Carey’s CBS game show, The Power of Ten, and done a million live openings for Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The naked cop one in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York gets the most attention. I’ve been honored to perform for our troops here in the States and overseas. My Dry Bar Comedy special Isn’t It Obvious has received great reviews, and I’m proud of what you see there.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role you feel it’s played for you.
I keep waiting for Steven Spielberg to be in my audience some night, but that hasn’t happened yet. Luck, good fortune, fate, whatever you want to call it, is a part of everybody’s story—some more than others. My manager said to me once; you need a break. You’re as good as anybody we have. And I remember thinking, great, can we make that happen already? The more you do, the more opportunities there are for good luck. So, like a buffalo, I keep my head down and try to move forward. I’m also pretty hairy, so the buffalo analogy works.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.davegoldstein.com, www.goldsteinauctions.com, www.goldsteinweddings.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comediandavegoldstein
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/comicgold?lang=en
- Instagram: https://
www.instagram.com/ comicgoldstein/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/comicgold/featured