Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kenny Smallhorn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kenny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

An exciting thing about comedy is that there is always more to explore and to learn. I started doing open mics when I was in college. As I continued to try new opportunities, I increasingly learned about myself as a performer. Putting in several years of doing shows like this taught me a lot about comedy, but even more about a well-run show.

Right now, I perform as often as I can; however, making sure that shows are up and running is where I spend most of my time. Putting Peach Pit Comedy together has been my most involved comedy work so far, so it has taken over a year to really put everything in place. There is nothing that would have sped this process up because it requires so much trial-and-error.

I would point to hospitality as a major skill that I draw on. My goal is to make people comfortable and ready to laugh, whether I am hosting, performing, or producing.

Additionally, I have become more organized, which has helped speed up a lot of my work. To organize and delegate tasks is essential. I can finish a project knowing that I spent the amount of time that I needed to complete it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2021 I started Peach Pit Comedy in an effort to produce local comedy shows. Since then, I have run a weekly open mic at Tin Roof Cantina and a monthly showcase at Coffee Bar Atlanta. I have worked with several other venues and organizations to produce comedy events as well.

Recently, Dan Alex and Dwayne Dash, both Atlanta comedians, have joined the team as producers to help organize shows and increase our activity. In 2024, we hope to add more recurring shows at various venues to our lineup.

Personally, I have recognized a few core beliefs that help frame the value added from a comedy show. As a comedian, I adore comedy and laughter. Therefore, funny jokes, in whatever form or style, is my primary goal. I enjoy comedy as an audience member, so I want others to enjoy it in that same way.

As a producer, I hope to make comedians, venues, and audiences feel comfortable enough to enjoy themselves. Comedians need to be put in positions to perform their best. Audiences need to know they are in a safe space to laugh and have fun. Venues need to know that everything is taken care of.

There are a lot of factors that need to be addressed when producing a show; however, I would communicate to venues in particular that we are truly approaching this as partners. A good show for Peach Pit will also be a good show for the venue (and vice versa). Peach Pit is committed to putting on a good show, which reflects in its partnerships with venues.

I am very proud of the partnerships and relationships that we have established over the past year. We have an incredible network of Atlanta comedians to connect with. We work with great venues, and I appreciate all of the people that have come out to shows. I am looking forward to 2024 and all the possibilities for growth.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

It always seems weird to me that our culture so strongly encourages competition, especially in a creative field. If you are making art, doing the thing that only you can do, then there is no need to compete with anyone but yourself. Competition and comparison is helpful in small doses as motivation, but it is not a sustainable or healthy mode to stay in. Rather than competition, I would point more towards inspiration from others as essential to creativity.

I think that this is a societal issue, because we are so results-driven. This bleeds over into comedy, which is ridiculous because the art-form is literally about having fun. Society can support creatives by embracing silliness once in a while.
Not everything needs to be perfect, or serious, or competitive. In fact, embracing this silliness helps to ease the burden when serious issues do arise.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Most comedians point to the immediate feedback of stand-up. You go on stage, tell a joke, and the audience either laughs or not. It can be embarrassing when the laughs are not coming, but it is incredibly rewarding and exciting when they do. It is like an instant connection to a flow state when your jokes are landing.

At a show recently, I heard a comedian tell a throwaway, one-liner joke. I was the only person that laughed, and I laughed really hard. The joke did not get the recognition it deserved, but I saw how well-written and conceptualized it was. As silly as the joke was, I could feel the artistry involved in crafting it.

Am I over-aggrandizing this joke? Absolutely! But these are the are the moments that I find so rewarding about comedy. This joke came from a weird part of this person’s brain, just like my jokes come from a weird part of my brain. It is beautiful how simple and silly these things are, but at the same time, so complex and strange. Sometimes, the audience laughs too. That’s also a plus.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/peachpitcomedy?utm_source=linktree_admin_share
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peachpit.comedy/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peachpitproduction