Yes, ladies and gentleman, I am talking about none other than Dalin Oliver (he's a stand-up comedian for those of you who don’t know).

Our first encounter was at the Chilli Bar on a Thursday night. Dalin walked on stage full of confidence and entertained the crowd with is unique sense of humour. Now, about four years later, I watched Dalin perform at the Baxter Theatre in his one-man-stand-up-comedy-show: I Came, I Taught, I Left.

What an amazing experience it is to watch someone grow the way I’ve watched Dalin grow (yes, dude, I have been stalking you for quite some time). From a “hello, bye” guy to a hug and “howsit!” guy. Dalin has not let the fame get to his nose head.

The show is about Dalin’s life experiences and he is extremely descriptive in the way he explains his encounters with his friends, family, colleagues, learners and educators which makes the show quite intimate (the intimacy could be because of the venue setting).

I would recommend all educators to watch this show as a “you are not alone in the struggle” team-building. Everyone can relate to this show and have a good laugh at the same time (except home-schooled kids who won’t really understand). Dalin interacts with the crowd, so if you fancy yourself a joke(r) or just love being in the spotlight, book your tickets now!

I saw Stuart Taylor after the show and he looked at me and I looked at him thinking “I know you, I wrote about you… but you don’t even know I exist”

*note to self* 
Learn how to use Twitter and get people to like my Facebook Page.

Dalin was kind enough to take me backstage for a short interview and to have a quick catch-up. I of course didn’t say five words to him – VersatileLyle did all the talking.

STUART TAYLOR this Thursday at The Chilli Bar with Nelson De Gouveia, Dalin Oliver, James Enstrom 9pm R30


"Versatile Lyle"

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Supporting Local Comedy

I have recently started getting very much involved with the local South African or mainly the Cape Town comedy scene and when I say involved I mean mostly as an audience member, watching shows in and around Cape Town, such as the Chilli Bar Comedy Thursday's and most recently "The Gino Fernandez What a F in Funny Show".

One of my favourite comedians which I had the priviledge of seeing perform is Carl Weber. All the way from Bloemfontein this selfconfessed “farm boy” has been honing hiscomedic skills on Cape Town comedy circuit. I first saw him perform as one of the opening acts for Pablo Francisco at the 2011 Nando's Comedy Festival and I nearly pissed myself from laughter.

A few months later I met the man after his performance at Chilli Bar Comedy Thursday's and arranged this interview and it went a little like this:

Quick 5 with Carl Weber

Versatile Lyle: "Who or what helped influence you to pursue a career in comedy?"

Carl Weber: "Mostly friends, always being the funny guy around the braai, and an incredible love to entertain people"

Versatile Lyle: "What do you prefer, Marie Biscuits or Ouma's Rusks, MensHealth or FHM, Bloemfontein or Cape Town, Helen Zille or Patricia De Lille? "

Carl Weber: "Id prefer sipping black coffee on the porch with ouma’s rusks in Bloemfontein, flapping through the latest FHM with full frontal pictorial of Helen Zille in it "

Versatile Lyle: "Can you share with us your one high point in your career that really stands out above the rest?"

Carl Weber: "It would definitely be winning cape towns next comic, then the Graca showdown and then sharing a stage with Pablo Francisco at the 2011 nandos comedy festival"   

Versatile Lyle: " You also have a radio show tell us abit about that?"

Carl Weber: "I have a radio show on a Sunday afternoon 3pm-6pm called “shootin blanks” ( I have live rounds however) its on a internet based radio station called Vibe radio SA, the show is basically a very funny comedy influenced, and completely unrehearsed stab at promoting cape town comedy and of course …… myself lol"

Versatile Lyle: "What's next for Carl Weber, anything interesting lined up that we should know of? "

Carl Weber: "Well, coming up I will know if I have been nominated for the SA comics choice award, also have a one man show in the pipeline (as soon as I get a sponsor …. Hint hint) id love my very first one man show to be called “the Carl Weber experience”

Versatile Lyle: "Lastly any messages for aspiring comedians?"

Carl Weber: "Hustle, hustle, hustle"

Versatile Lyle: "Anything else you like to add?"

Carl Weber: "Something to add?? ….. I've never been good at math, if there’s 3 things I always hated about math then its geometry and algebra!"

Check him in action!

Go check out Carl on Twitter

"Versatile Lyle"

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