“They say it takes 20 years for a stand-up to make it … I don’t have that kind of time …”
So says comedian Heather Turman in the first episode of her Web-series, Conversations with Future Stars, which was part of the official selection at LA Webfest 2013.
However prophetic those words may be, Heather Turman is well on her way to proving them wrong.
Having jumped head-first into the L.A. comedy scene, Turman soon became a firm favorite at all of the big clubs including The Hollywood Improv, the World Famous Comedy Store and Flapper’s Comedy Club.
Earlier this year, together with Jordan Pease and Tara Egnatios, Turman hit the road in The Young Hot and Gay Tour, covering 12 different cities in 30 days, bringing fresh, cutting-edge humor across the country, and along the way showing the world what this generation of ‘gay’ is!
Turman can be seen on Nuvo TV’s Stand Up and Deliver, and on the DVD special The Gay List. She was featured alongside Jay Mohr in Archie Black: The Worst, and on the TLC show Sex Sent Me to the ER. As if that isn’t enough let’s not forget she is also a contributing writer for our very own San Diego LGBT Weekly.
Turman, originally from Michigan spent some time living in San Diego before moving back to L.A. where she currently resides. She will be returning to San Diego to play at Pride, Saturday July 19 1:45 p.m. at the Flashback Cabaret – Wine Grotto stage.
Ahead of Pride I managed to catch up with Heather and ask her, among other things, exactly what this generation of ‘gay’ is.
San Diego LGBT Weekly: Hi Heather, good to see you again. Let me start with the obvious question. Being a comedian is probably one of the hardest careers to follow. What made you want to be a comedian?
Heather Turman: I have always been fascinated with the entertainment industry. From day one it was always the only thing I cared about – and it seemed to me that the best things were always funny. I wasn’t sure what path I was going to take at first, I just knew I wanted to write and make people laugh. The second I got on stage and did my first set, that’s when I knew I wanted to be a comedian.
Which stand-up comedian(s) are your favorite(s) or role model(s)?
Obviously Ellen DeGeneres goes without saying. I watched her HBO specials growing up and she made my face hurt from laughing so hard! And then Maria Bamford. I think she is an absolute genius.
You are originally from Michigan. What drew you to San Diego and what prompted your move to Los Angeles?
I moved to Los Angeles right out of high school to pursue entertainment. Then I moved to San Diego for a brief time to be with my girlfriend who was living there. The comedy scene in L.A. is just a little bigger and after I went on tour it became clear that we had to make the move back to L.A., so she came with me and here we are!
As I wrote in my introduction you have a lot going on. What are your professional priorities right now?
Right now it’s just stage time, stage time, stage time. Just working on new material, and getting seen as often as possible.
You are a founding member of the Young, Hot and Gay Tour which is defined as “… showing the world what this generation of ‘gay’ is!” Can you explain that?
When the three of us initially talked about doing a tour, the first realization we made was that none of us fit the usual gay-performer stereotype. In fact, there are so many gay performers nowadays who don’t. It was kind of our way of saying that the face people associate with ‘gay’ is changing, and the three of us were a perfect example of that. It wasn’t your run-of-the-mill gay show with rainbow banners and glitter – it was just three people with a same-sex preference who are out there to make you laugh.
Do you have any plans to expand your Web-series, Conversations with Future Stars?
I really wish! I loved that project and it was so fun to write and make. We had so many other ideas but unfortunately no budget. So for now it stands as it is!
What have you got in store for San Diego Pride audiences this year?
I am so excited to do a full show for you guys! I’m doing a full 45 minute set so they can expect a beginning, middle and end – with plenty of dick jokes in between!
Looking to the future, what direction do you see your career going and what future projects have you got planned?
I just really hope that my career in comedy will continue to grow. I’d love to play for the troops and do some gay cruises – and then maybe one day write for television! I just finished an original sitcom pilot and a feature film script so I plan on shopping those bad boys around for a while
Tell me, Heather, we just celebrated the one-year anniversary of same-sex marriage being legal in California. Any plans for you in this area?
I am currently very happy with my girlfriend, Felicia. And one day when the time is right I would love to get married!
Finally, what advice would you give a young aspiring gay comedian?
To just be you. Get on stage and be you. Don’t try and emulate another comic; don’t worry about any ‘formulas.’ Just be you and find your voice. The rest will fall into place.
Thank you, Heather for your time and we look forward to seeing you at San Diego Pride.
Heather Turman will be appearing on the Flashback Cabaret – Wine Grotto Stage at San Diego Pride Saturday July 19 at 1:45 p.m. For more information or to follow Heather visit: heatherbrained.com; @heatherturman or facebook.com/heatherturman
