Native American Stand Up Comedian Finds Success in London

Chuquai Billy is a Choctaw/Lakota American Indian from Gallup, New Mexico. He has his own brand of stand up comedy that he has brought over to the United Kingdom. He is gaining popularity at clubs around London and doesn't show signs of slowing down. I spoke to him recently about his comedy and what it was like for him to be a performer in a place that is so different from where he used to live.

CC: How did you get into comedy?

CB: Actually it all started in the 8th Grade at St Agatha Indian School back in 1970 when our class did the annual graduating students variety show. All the kids in the class had to be some celebrity of the day and I was cast as Impressionist David Frye because I did a pretty good Richard Nixon. Then, later at age 15, in the 10th grade at Santa Monica High School I came in 2nd in the talent show doing the same hack David Frye material. Then I went back into it again later in the 1980s at the Comedy Store in Hollywood to impress a girl I knew. It didn't work but I got laughs. I quit stand-up and got into Improv, working with the LA Connection Group.

CC: Have you ever performed anywhere but England? If so, how was it different?

CB: I did a few gigs in the Netherlands which is much different than the UK as their humor is more American/slapstick, whereas the British like w**king jokes and self-deprecation.

CC: How do you get on with the other comics in your circle?

CB: Some of the comics are brilliant and really make me laugh naturally as its part of their personality or they have really good material. Also, some are manic-depressed obsessives who get envious of anything or anyone that distracts attention from themselves. But the majority of comics I've met here, save for one or two, have been pretty cool with me.

CC: What are some of the difficulties you've faced over here that you wouldn't have in America?

CB: In America I could rely on a few natives getting the jokes and I wouldn't have to explain anything to them. The British still believe everything they see in a western is real. I am also very aware of the great American/British accent divide.