How does a police detective become a stand-up comic? Practice, practice, practice is the answer.
Eric Potts was with the Plainsboro Police Department for 25 years and recently retired as a detective (The News, June 28, 2013). “I wanted to do something completely different, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Potts.
“I saw an article in the paper several years back about Steve Trevelise and Jimmy Graham running a comedy school at Catch a Rising Star,” says Potts. “I thought I’d take it for fun and once I got on stage I found out how much I enjoyed doing it.”
“Steve is a savvy promoter and taught the business side of comedy,” says Potts. “I appreciate Steve for giving me the opportunity to get stage time and learn from the other comics. I’ve learned a ton of stuff from him.”
“I started very late but I do have a half a lifetime of experience while young people make reference to sex, drugs, and drinking,” says Potts. “Everything is based on truth, and you see something and make it funny. It is lots of fun.”
He began doing comedy when he was still working with Plainsboro Police. “I was advised not to be controversial, and I’m still not looking to exploit it,” says Potts, referring to his police work. “I’m not far enough out of that I want to write about it.”
Potts has performed at Helium, Stress Factory, Catch a Rising Star, LOL, Sarcasm, Comedy Cabaret, and numerous fundraiser and private shows. He recently opened for Gilbert Gottfried with 350 people in the audience and did a benefit show in Glassboro.
Potts, who now pursues comedy full time, shared a joke about retirement with us. “My kids pooled their money together and bought me a gift, they told me it was in the garage. I was excited and ran out to see what it was. It was a big box with a big bow. I tore it open and it was empty. I asked what’s this? They told me, we bought you your retirement home. I got them back, the next day I drove up in a corvette. The kids said what’s that? I said it’s your college fund.”
Potts was raised in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School, where he was in school plays. “As the youngest of three kids I was always trying to get attention,” says Potts. “I was a jokester but I never thought about being a standup comic.”
His parents were divorced. His father, who died six years ago, was the police chief in Manalapan. His mother attends many of his shows.
Potts spent six years in the Army, where people told him that he was funny and should be on stage. Potts decided to pursue police work. “When Plainsboro advertised openings in the police department 1,000 people took the test,” says Potts. “They took three of us.”
Potts and his wife, Cheri, are longtime residents of Ewing, where they raise two sons, 19 and 15, and a daughter, 16.
“My wife has been a huge supporter of my comedy and spends a lot of our weekends at comedy clubs helping me when I’m managing the room,” says Potts. They usually get to Hightstown two and a half hours before the show to have dinner and set everything up. “She stays around to listen to new material and has met some great comics and become friendly with a lot of them.”
Over the years he did voice over for radio stations and worked as an overnight DJ on 94.3 radio. “I got on stage and caught the bug. I love to write and I wanted to write comedy. I wish that this had been planted more than 20 years ago.”
Potts is now the house emcee at Sarcasm Comedy on Friday nights and Catch a Rising Star on Saturday nights. Potts also runs “World Tavern” trivia on Tuesdays at Wildflowers Too in Yardville, and on Thursdays at the Firkin Tavern in Ewing.
Potts does a podcast called “Whipped Cream and Other Delights” with two other comics. Kevin Downey Jr., seen on America’s Got Talent this past summer; and Scott Friedman, a comic and morning show host on WZXL 100.7 FM Atlantic City’s rock station. “It’s a long story about how we came up with the title but the Herb Albert album by the same name does have a lot to do with it,” says Potts.
“For aspiring comics I run a comedy writers roundtable where local and national headlining comics get together and help with their writing,” says Potts. E-mail retrolunchshow@yahoo.com to get on the mailing list.
While some comics tape an index card onto a water bottle it did not work for Potts. He blocks his material into topics. “I know my routine and I can do a 35-minute routine now,” he says. “I can add to it and change it up. I’m also getting more comfortable talking to the audience.”
“Comedy is an art,” says Potts. “You never want to look rehearsed.”
Sarcasm Comedy, Tavern on the Lake, 101 North Main Street, Hightstown. New comedy club hosted by Steve Trevelise with house emcee Eric Potts. Vic Dibitetto and Mike Bocchetti, Friday, December 20, 8 p.m.; and Bob Dibuono and Scott Friedman, Friday, December 27, 8 p.m. Register. $20 for show. 732-SARCASM. www.sarcasmcomedy.com.
Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency, 102 Carnegie Center, West Windsor. Comedian Joseph Anthony on Saturday, December 21, 8 p.m.; Tommy Savitt and Mel Kohl, Saturday, December 28, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Register. $19.50. 609-987-8018. www.catcharisingstar.com.
Firkin Tavern, 1400 Parkway, Ewing. Thursdays, December 26, January 2, 9, 16, 6:30 p.m. Trivia hosted by Eric Potts. 609-771-0100. www.firkin.org.
Wildflowers Too, 255 Route 156, Yardville. Tuesday, January 7, 7 p.m. Trivia hosted by Eric Potts. 609-585-5483. www.wildflowerstoo.com.
