For over a decade, Joey Dardano has climbed the ranks of the comedy world. He’s opened for comedians like Hannah Berner, and now he’s making his mark with his nationwide tour. Dardano’s “Let Me At ‘Em” Tour will stop at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville for sets on Oct. 4 and 5.

Ahead of his show, Dardano spoke to The Hustler about life on the road as a comedian, his roots in Florida and what it’s like headlining comedy shows while navigating personal material. 

The Vanderbilt Hustler: What is your first memory surrounding laughter? Either making someone else laugh or something you found hilarious?

Dardano: A specific memory does not come to mind, but I remember in high school, everyone was eating a giant spoonful of cinnamon during the cinnamon challenge and dealing with the repercussions of that. I would do that at lunch for a bit. People would bring cinnamon to school, and I would do the challenge. I did it more than once. I would think, “I’m crushing it right now. People love this.” I would eat hot peppers as well. My vice principal bought a carton of milk after I ate a ghost pepper, but I remember thinking it was worth it because at least I got the laugh. 

And when you were a kid and discovered how much you enjoyed making people laugh, what comedic figure inspired you? Is there a specific film or sitcom that comes to mind?

Jim Carrey, Robin Williams and Steve Carrell, for sure. All of these people made the transition from comedy to drama and then back to comedy again. When I was growing up, I devoured anything they were in, especially Jim Carrey and Robin Williams. At a certain point, it is a transition I want to take in the future. 

Stand-up comedy requires vulnerability. How do you balance sharing personal stories and humor without feeling too exposed?

For me, it might not be vulnerability but rather a complete lack of a filter. After a show, people come up to me after I talk about IBS or diarrhea, and they say it meant something to them — which, I think, is funny in and of itself. You don’t know what anyone else is going through. There is the idea that the more personal your material is, the more universal it is. With regard to vulnerability, it might be that the filter is turned off when I perform. Maybe that’s what it is. Or maybe I recognize an upstanding member of society would not talk about these issues, and I feel that is my job. 

You’ve performed in different cities and faced various audiences. What’s the most unexpected or memorable reaction you’ve ever gotten from a crowd during a performance?

The one that is in the forefront of my mind is my performance in Indianapolis last weekend. These are my first headlining gigs outside of New York. So, I have some material in my show that is about mental health and figuring out who I am as a guy, and that leads to some mistakes and blows. I get very fearful about how audiences will react to that, but I had a sold-out show on Saturday night at the Helium in Indianapolis, and I was riffing and having conversations with the audience. About an hour and twenty minutes into the show, I covered my darkest material and they loved it. It made me feel so confident, so seen and prepared to meet the moment I was in, which is touring the country. 

What excites you about performing in Nashville? Are there any sights you want to explore?

Well, I actually have my little brother with me and his birthday is Oct. 6, so I’m staying in Nashville an extra day and a half to explore with him. So, I have to hit up Hattie B’s, go to the Parthenon. If there’s something at the Grand Ole Opry, I want to check it out. I’m dialed in on Nashville. I do love my dog, Ella, and she’s great at cuddling with me. Every night I am away from her hurts my soul, but I have decided to spend an extra day and a half just to see the whole city from top to bottom. 

You’ve shared the stage with big names like Hannah Berner. How has collaborating with other comedians influenced your own style and material?

Yeah, I noticed Hannah did a really good job of meeting the audience’s expectations and giving them what they wanted while also doing a phenomenal job of fulfilling her own artistic needs. It’s how I remember the 7 shows I opened for her. So, it was a great learning example of how to be successful in the business of comedy while also being an excellent comedian. 

You talk about bombing as part of the process. Can you describe a time when a show didn’t go as planned, and what you learned from that experience?

Whenever I’m home — I’m from South Florida — I perform. My friend, Jeff Wright, who writes for Late Night with Seth Myers, was headlining Dania Beach Improv, and he let me do guest spots for the weekend. I was getting into a joke, and the audience did not want to hear it at all. Every comedian has their trademark tactics to get the audience back on their side — something like acknowledging the room, or how badly I am bombing, but everything I did didn’t work. It was embarrassing. I’m bombing in front of my dad and younger brother. I have rewatched the tape from that night multiple times, but I think that night I just came out and the audience thought, “Not this guy.” Sometimes there are factors beyond your control. 

Are there any future projects you’d like to discuss?

I have a movie coming out called “31 Candles,” directed by my good friend Jonah Feingold. I saw the friends and family screening, and it is a fantastic film. I can’t wait for people to see it and I think that it’s a great rom-com. I have an internet show called “The Method with Joey Dardano.” My girlfriend, Alina Ranjbaran, wrote a song in the show that I sang, and she produced the track. She should be producing some original music as well, and she is a film composer. I worked with my manager, Tam Sackman. She told me that early cuts look great, and I’m very excited.

And lastly, time for an interesting question. What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve received?

In terms of practical advice, live below your means. I don’t need every pair of shoes or to eat at every new restaurant. But artistically, don’t care what other people think. You have to care about what the audience thinks, but you don’t have to care about what the 10 comics in the back of the room think or what the producers think. If your content is great, then the audience will come to you.