Page 23 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2024

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January 2024 | 23
While most of us have hobbies outside our day jobs, few venture into activities that would terrify the average person. I’m not talking about BASE jumping or sky surfing; it’s something much scarier.
Christen Duhé is president and executive director of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation by day, and by night, she fearlessly seeks to make people laugh as a stand-up comedian.
About two years ago Duhé and her husband, David, visited the Comedy House New Orleans. After the show, Chris Trew, the club’s comedy coach, ann“ounced that if anyone
“I find joy in looking at weird things that happened to me,” she said. “I’m the type
of person who welcomes chaos. When most people are in situations where they’re wanting to get out, I’m like, ‘I’m going to ride this out and see where it goes!’”
She typically performs at the Comedy House but has done other shows, including the United Way CEO Talent Show where she did a bit about raisins, or more specifically, her hatred of raisins.
At the Community Foundation, one of Duhé’s primary roles is to connect entities looking to give money to people and
was interested in doing stand-
organizations who need money. “We help people help people,” she said proudly.
time to make it
up, now was the In the end, I’m the
This got the
happen. one on stage with the
wheels in Duhé’s
head turning,
knowing she
needed a creative may be hilarious or I“she wasn’t able to outlet. “I initially
thought, ‘I could
never do that.’
I was scared
people wouldn’t
think I was
funny,” she said.
“But COVID
really made an
impact, making
me feel like there
may not be a tomorrow, so I need to do it today.”
Two months later, she met with Trew to discuss her future in comedy. Afterward, she started improv classes and practicing at open mic nights.
To create her routines, Duhé says she, “welcomes the weird,” keeping copious amounts of notes on the strange things
that happen to her. She sifts the notes for nuggets of comedy gold, developing a draft bit. She then seeks feedback from a group of comedic peers. After reworking, she practices at an open mic night before fine-tuning and performing it on stage during a real show.
into her comedy liked in 2023. And
microphone, and I
may completely bomb. put as much time
At least I got on stage. as she would have while she has no
shows booked yet, – Christen Duhé she plans to make
comedy more of a focus in 2024.
At this point, comedy is a
creative, fun, and “kind of therapeutic” outlet. But she jokes when friends ask when her next show is, responding, “I’ll let you know when the Netflix special is coming out!”
Her advice for people is, “If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, whether it’s stand-up comedy, writing a book, or going back to school, do it!”
She referenced a quote that goes something like this, “Who cares what other people think? You’re the one who has to live with yourself and the regret of not following your dreams.”
“In the end, I’m the one on stage with the microphone, and I may be hilarious or I may completely bomb. At least I got on stage.”
Only a year into her day job and having to prioritize it over her side gig,