COLLEGES
Oct 13th, 2009 by Kelli Dunham
Kelli performing at Widener University
FAQ About Booking Kelli Dunham for Your College Gig
Q. Is Kelli funny?
A. Yes, apparently many people seem to think so. Her debut comedy CD, “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” has been in regular rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Raw Dog station since it came out a few years ago. She gets many repeat gigs and excellent reviews. She even gets fan mail that starts “you’re very funny” and doesn’t lead to stalking.
Q. Is Kelli responsible? Punctual? Clean? Respectful?
A. Yes, Kelli really is a Boi Scout. Or a Grrl Scout. Or a Womyn Scout, if you’d prefer. She shows up on time, makes people laugh, handles difficult situations with tact and grace and will not scare the straight people.
Q. Has Kelli been around long? Where has she performed?
A. Kelli has been performing for a half dozen years. During her recent “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” tour (more than 100 shows in 11 months) Kelli performed, well, just about everywhere. From atop a ladder at the LGBT business expo. For the attendees of the Beltane Sacred Sexuality Conference (on the front row? A dude wearing a beret and a cape and nothing else) and at tons of colleges, including Baltimore County Community College, Drexel University (Philly PA), Penn State University (College Station, PA) and St. Luke’s College (Sioux City, IA).
Q. Is Kelli really an ex nun?
A. Yes, but not to worry. She has stopped doing the Stations of the Cross as a sound check.
Q. Is it true that Kelli used to live in Port-au-Prince Haiti, that she speaks Kreyol, still skateboards even though she is—technically at least—a grown-up, can blow air out through her eyes and once rescued a three legged diabetic cat who was stuck in a haymow?
A. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and the cat was not diabetic.
Q. Will Kelli say bad words when we ask her not to?
A. No. Kelli is a grown up. She sometimes says bad words, especially if she drops something heavy on her foot, or a rainbow archway collapses on her head, but none of her jokes depend on them
Q. Will Kelli scare our students/parents/ the dean of students?
A. A reporter once referred to Kelli as the “koala bear comic” and her friends and exes have never let her forget this. Unless your students, faculty or staff have a koala bear phobia, they shouldn’t be too frightened. In a recent email, accidentally forwarded to Kelli’s account by a corporate client, Kelli was described as “…[looking like] a stereotypical lesbian but nevertheless approachable [with a] warm, caring, mischievous delivery.” And the client never even saw Kelli in red plaid flannel.
Q. Is Kelli expensive?
A.Well, she’s not free. She makes her living doing comedy and as much as she’d be tickled purple to subsist on funnel cakes, lube and frequent flyer miles, it doesn’t work well long term. At the same time, she is willing to work with colleges to make sure her services stay affordable. If you’re worried about price, talk with Kelli. She has all sorts of ideas for making gigs a win-win for the organization and herself.