Keene State College After Hours held their first comedy show of the semester, on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 9 p.m. in the Night Owl Cafe, [NOC].
Admission was free for students, as well as and popcorn and unlimited soda.
After Hours is a program run by Student Involvement that “gives students opportunity to come out and do something. Its a great alternative to drinking,” KSC student Chelsea Harris said.
According to Harris, who has been working with Student Involvement for four years now, After Hours has many different events throughout the semester.
This year, they have a program, “the first Friday, second Saturday and third Thursday” of every month, with something fun for students to do, according to Harris.
Saturday, comedian Derrick Knopsnyder and Steve Caouette took the microphone in the NOC.
KSC After Hours found these entertainers through Neon Entertainment, a college entertainment agency, according to comedian Caouette.
The night began with Knopsnyder as he chose a member of the audience to come up and receive a free give-away—a t-shirt from his personal merchandise.
From then on, the crowd was full of laughter and smiles.
Derrick Knopsnyder is a 23 year old recent graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Professional Golf Management and “minored in depressing his parents and playing the Xbox,” Knopsnyder joked.
While he started pursuing comedy as a career just four and a half years ago, he knew it was his passion when he was only seven years old, he said.
Steven Caouette, on the other hand, said he started out in a different way back in 2000.
Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff
“It was a dare,” Caouette said, “I was in the movie and entertainment business, and was always goofing off, so a few of my coworkers dared me. I got up, did it, and knew that this was what I was meant to do.”
According to Caouette, his recent success has been finding his voice.
“Every comedian has an inner voice, has a way of growth, and that’s when it really comes together. I had sort of an epiphany, I realized that the more fun I have, the more success I have,” Caouette said.
Caouette continued, “When I’ve got the mic, I really try to integrate everything I’ve polished through the years into a spontaneous event. A show is like a blank canvas, my goal is to build the picture, painting it as I go along.”
Knopsnyder agreed, “It’s best to engage the audience as much as possible. There are certain things I’ll do with a group that I’ll never do again. If it’s about them, they’ll enjoy it that much more.”
Freshmen Hannah Schmidt and Meredith Melick enjoyed the show, and said they plan on coming to other After Hours events throughout the semester.
“I’m glad there are things to do for people that don’t want to go out every night,” said Melick.
The two said they found out about the event from posters around campus and other friends that said they were going, according to Schmidt.
Harris explained the ways for students to get involved with the After Hours program because she believes it is a good way for students to get involved. “Contacting Jen Ferrell, the Director of Student Involvement, is the best way to go. We are always looking for people, and love to give opportunities,” Harris said.
Eleanor Marshall can be contacted at emarshall@keene-equinox.com
