Known for his baby faced dimples and wild unfiltered brand of comedy, Guy Torry has been a stand up favorite for more than two decades. While many people become famous or known for their talent, the true key is longevity and consistency. What is it about Guy that has captivated his fans for so long? Well, after meeting him in person for our interview and photoshoot I think I have the answer. Charisma. Drive. And pure energy. His vibrancy is real; unfeigned and authentic. He lives life enthusiastically and that translates well across his comedic routines and overall personality.
Torry explains how the game has changed for entertainment artists in a world increasingly obsessed with social media:
“ Social media is HERE, and it’s not going ANYWHERE. You have to roll with it, or it will roll right by you. Hop your muthafuckin’ ass on and get a seat. It’s not 1988 any more, it’s 2018. Back in the day the less people knew things about you, the more popular and mysterious you were. Now, if they don’t know the color of your doo-doo, you’re dead to them. You have to find that balance. Somewhere between “Celebrity” and Regular. I call it “CeleRegular.” I refuse to be the “Get off my lawn, you young whipper snappers” GUY! So I’m embracing this new phenomenon and growing in it. “
He’s right. Many people are often wary of jumping full-fledged into social media but it is here. And it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
On set, we talked about his love affair with fashion. If you know him or follow him then you know he takes his fashion game seriously. Fashion for some is just utility but for others like Guy it is an extension of who he is and can serve as a visual compliment to his myriad of emotions. Sporty, casual or grown and sexy; he has fun with his fashion choices and his female fans appreciate it.
Torry often talks about sex and relationships in his standup and boy can it get wild! But that is exactly why we love comedians. They say things we would be apprehensive to say on a public stage and they also make us think. Comedians are social commenters and they often teach us about ourselves based upon their observations or lens on life.
Guy’s uncut and off the cuff way of expressing himself has led him to become a strong voice in the radio and pod cast game. If you have never had the opportunity to catch him doing standup—you can now experience him on the radio and often on television segments as well.
Our interview with Guy was fun and best of all eye-opening. Behind his exuberant smile is a deep well full of knowledge. Unsurprisingly, he kept it beyond real and beyond funny no matter what we asked! Torry is known for his unfiltered words and his interview revealed what makes him tick as well as the thought process behind his comedic genius force:
How have you evolved as a comedian over the years?
I’ve grown from being a comic to a COMEDIAN. A COMIC says funny things, a COMEDIAN makes things funny. The comic, you only know their act, a COMEDIAN, you know their story. Comics tells jokes. COMEDIANS tells stories. Comics, you know WHAT they are. COMEDIANS, you know WHO they are. The comic hides the darkside, the COMEDIAN reveals it. The comic is afraid of the truth. The COMEDIAN tells it. The comic is scared. The COMEDIAN is brave. The comic stays in his/her lane, the COMEDIAN knows the power of that platform.
Tell us a little more about your participation in the whole podcast game. I know you are part of two different podcasts.
I have 3 personalities ME, Myself & GUY. Each show represents each personality. I’ve now added a nationally syndicated radio show for this year.
UNSTABLE’D is a VOD/POD cast with an Odd Cast. Claudia Jordan, Mike Hill, Steve Wilson & ME. We are Unfiltered, Fun, & Entertaining. We talk News, Relationships, Entertainment and Truth.
Third Degree Radio is a Podcast with rappers Big Tre Dee & Conyac, DJ Cell, Lil’ Cuzzo & Myself. We spit news, music, and jokes. It’s my street side. More organic than structured.
Tom Joyner Morning Show is nationally syndicated radio show, with the legendary Tom Joyner where I’ll be sitting twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. It’s syndicated in several markets. That’s GUY. That’s the show!
What is next for Guy Torry?
My turn. It’s my turn to put 25 years of what I’ve learned in life, the business, and in myself and put that into production. To build a platform to help others and reset Hollywood and do things the RIGHT way. Where you won’t have to sell your soul or your hole. Be on the look out for some really PHAT projects.
How have you started to change your approach to social media as it comes more and more part of the entertainment world:
Social media is HERE, and it’s not going ANYWHERE. You have to roll with it, or it will roll right by you. Hop your muthafuckin’ ass on and get a seat. It’s not 1988 any more, it’s 2018. Back in the day the less people knew things about you, the more popular and mysterious you were. Now, if they don’t know the color of your doo-doo, you’re dead to them. You have to find that balance. Somewhere between “Celebrity” and Regular. I call it “CeleRegular.” I refuse to be the “Get off my lawn, you young whipper snappers” GUY! So I’m embracing this new phenomenon and growing in it.
Explain to us your “Tri-polar” concept:
Tri-Polar is the name I came up with when I realized that I have not two, but THREE identities.
ME, MYSELF, & GUY! The GOOD, The BAD & The UGLY. CRAZY, SEXY, FOOL! They all want shine, but they have to share it equally. The SAINT, the SINNER, the INSANE! The person. The Persona. The Personality.
I’m more conscience of what I post now. I post with a purpose. Not just randomly. I post WHAT, I want people to know, WHO I want people to know and WHY I want people to know this.
What has been your favorite fan experience:
I have 3 of course, I’m Tripolar. Lol.
My first favorite fan experience is people showing up for my shows. It still amazes me that people take time out of their life, spend their expendable income, and show up to share some laughter with me. I don’t take their presence for granted. I appreciate their existence. I make sure I give all of me on stage for them.
My second is after a show in Dayton, Ohio at The Funnybone Comedy Club, and guy attending the show, a White guy, came to me and said that my role in a film I did called “American History X”, changed his life. He was a racist, and that my role and my truth in that movie woke him up. I was humbled.
My third is, when Magic Johnson told me that he was a fan. He’s the reason why I have been a Laker fan since I was 10 and still living in St. Louis and to hear that he even knew who I was, is like WOW!
What is something most people don’t know about you:
That I’m sad on the inside a lot. I’m a perfectionist and no where near perfection. I’m just not where I’d like to be in life right now. I miss being in LOVE. I miss the innocent me. I miss being married.
That I’m scared of fucking it up again. I’m complicated.
And that I’m a freak. Lol. I think sex is beautiful and an art and it should be something to enjoy. Not something to be used to have power, or to barter over or to control a person.
What is your advice for young comedians just starting off?
Know that this is what you really want to do. Sacrifice for it. Nothing but GOD is more important. Study the art. Study the craft. Study the genre. Tell your truth. Fuck with those you like and those who likes you and Fuck those who don’t. “Don’t give pearls to swine,” as the Bible says. Find your point of view early and tell YOUR story.
DON’T steal jokes or styles. Be WHO the FUCK you are. Find your IT. Whatever IT is… find IT. You don’t know where IT is, what IT is, or when you’re going to find IT. But when you find IT, that’s IT! Also know that everybody’s not going to find you funny or like you. So what. But at the end of the day, BE FUNNY!
What do you do to relax with such a busy schedule?
I love sports. I love movies. I love cigars. Listening to old comedy albums on vinyl. I love women. I love myself. So I’ll pick one of those and chill with it.
What are your hidden talents:
I think I’m a pretty good cook. The artist in me loves to be creative and have fun with food. I love home decor. I can get a little creative with it.
What do women most like about you?
I would say most women like that I strive to be a gentleman. I see them as equal. I adore them. I recognize that the world is unfair to them, and I have sympathy for them. I have too much testosterone to be a feminist, but I try and be a voice. I’m also unselfish in bed.
I’ve had three different women, at different times, after a lesbian relationship tell me, that I kind of remind them of their last girlfriend. Hearing that made me say; “BITCH, you calling me a BITCH?” Lol no, I was a little offended, but they each said that I’m a very attentive and unselfish lover in the bedroom.” That made me climax right there all over them. Lol. I’m very selfish with my time, before the bedroom, but once they get in there, you’re the ONLY one that exists to me.
Have you ever slid in someone’s DMs?
I have not slid into someone DM to hook up, no. I have NO game.
Where do you see the Guy Torry brand going in a few years?
I see my brand being BIGGER, BETTER, BADDER! I see all of my projects coming to the world stage. From film, to TV, to stage and even the net. I will be a household name by the end of this year.
What are you reading? I know you travel constantly… what’s on your reading list?
Right now I’m reading, How the FUCK to get TRUMP out of office without going to Jail. I just made that up. Lol .No, I’m reading biographies on comedians.
I’m reading Christian books. I’m reading social injustice books. “The New Jim Crow” Even my reading is “Tripolar.”
Who inspires you?
GOD inspires me. I know, it’s corny, but GOD really does. With the blessings and talents HE has given me, HE inspires me to not waste them and become more productive so I can inspire and help more people.
You have a very distinct fashion game. Tell us a little more about what brands are your favorites and how you approach your daily fashion.
There are days when I’m feeling Swaggy. There are days when I feel like just being simple and days where I don’t give a FUCK! Tripolar. I’m a moody GUY, so I dress according to my mood that day. On stage I try to be somewhat fashionable, but I really just want to wear BLACK! I fight myself and ask, “Is it about the how you look, or what you say?” It’s a constant battle. Should I look like I’m successful and happy and wear brands and colors? Or should I be like FUCK IT, it is about what I say. Focus on the funny. Just wear black. But that’s not creative. It’s safe. FUCK safe. Be bold. Comedy is art and so is your style.
Some women like power, strength, simplicity; that’s wearing black. It’s sexy to them. Others like fashion, creativity, colors, boldness. That’s swag. That’s sexy to them. That’s why we dress up. To impress the women. Fuck the guys. It’s all about women thinking I’m sexy. But whatever they like, they all want FUNNY! That’s why I’m there. So some weekends I pack simple just basic black. But some weekends I pack like a girl: 5 pairs of shoes, different looks every show even if they are on the same night. The bitch inside of me wins sometimes.
I strive to be loyal in life and other things. I’m not sure if it’s OCD or “loyatee”, but I enjoy certain brands and stick to it. I’m an Adidas guy. At lot of comedians were on NIKES’ dick, so I went the other way. You can’t GIVE me a pair of NIKES. If you do, I’ll give them to the homeless. The ONLY pair of NIKES I own are a pair of Kobe Bryant’s. The only other tennis shoe I wear are some old school canvas Converse—Chuck Taylor’s. I’m a Gucci over “Louie” guy. I’m a G- Star and Five Four Clothing guy when it comes to denim. I won’t mix brands too much. I won’t wear Polo and Lacoste together. I won’t mix Adidas Originals (The flower) with Adidas Performance (The Triangle).
At the end of the day, I just want to be happy, make people happy and make someone happy. Whether it be through my person, my persona, or my personality; I just want to honor GOD, play hard, work hard and have great sex!
It was truly a honor to have interviewed Guy as well as to get inside the head of one of the comedy industry’s veteran players. He is just as entertaining in person and Cachet Digital is proud to witness his reinvention as an artist with many evolving facets. Make sure you stay connected and follow us on Instagram via @CachetDigital for exclusive upcoming behind the scene interview video segments (like this one) with Guy Torry! Connect with Torry on instagram via @GuyTorry and online at www.guytorrylive.com.
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