Many PR professionals are naturally funny, but few would dare to channel their sense of comedy into a performing venue. And fewer would dare to journey where Mike Strecker has
traveled: The stand-up comedy circuit.
Strecker, who is director of public relations at Tulane University in New Orleans, began doing stand-up in 1995 after taking a six-week non-credit course taught by comic Mike
Parnon at the University of New Orleans. The final exam was a live performance. "I had a great experience my first time on stage, mainly because the audience was packed full of
my classmates' and my own family and friends," says Strecker. "Anyway, I guess I got bit by the bug and have been at it since."
Strecker bills his act as "Think Jerry Seinfeld...with less money and more problems." To date, he's appeared at major clubs including The Improv in Los Angeles and the HA!
Comedy Club in New York. Most recently, he opened for Brett Butler as part of her national comedy tour.
"I perform mostly at night and on weekends so the shows don't interfere with my work," he explains. "Actually, I find performing is a great way to relieve stress after a long
day at work."
The Tulane administration has been a big fan of their in-house funnyman. "The university is very supportive of my comedy work," continues Strecker. "I even had the pleasure
of performing for our top administrators and donors at the kickoff of our capital campaign in March 2005. I often try to use a pun in the headline of press releases or start off
with a light lead if it is appropriate. For example, one time we had a professor who devised a new method of recording owl calls. So my headline was: 'Professor's Work May Land
Him in the Who's Who of Researchers.' So far, no one's complained to the Labor Board!"
Of course, recent events in New Orleans have left laughter in short supply. Strecker and his fellow Big Easy comics have carefully worked to bring back smiles.
"Oh yeah. I don't see how you could be a comedian in New Orleans and not mention Katrina and its aftermath," he says. "There's nothing funny about people dying, of course, and
nobody I know would dare joke about that. But Katrina is a common experience that all of us in this area have gone through and are still going through. You need humor to get
through. It's not a choice. Here is an example of my Katrina-related material: I was watching a relief concert for hurricane victims. I was so moved I wrote myself a check for
$100. I hope it's tax-deductible."
Contact: Mike Strecker, [email protected].