Opportunity LOL's Spotlight Interview: Kevin "Dot Com" Brown of "30 Rock"

One of the breakout stars from NBC's "30 Rock" sitcom is Kevin "Dot Com" Brown, who plays a bodyguard to Tracy Morgan's character similarly named Tracy Jordan. The scenes focusing on Dot Com, Grizz, Tracy, and Kenneth rank as many fans' favorite moments throughout the show's time on television. With 30 Rock returning January 12th, 2012, it was extremely kind for a busy actor such as Dot Com to answer my questions about the acting and comedy world. Learn what the actor and comedian thinks about the chances of 30 Rock coming back past season six, his advice for up-and-coming comedians, and what Dot Com considers the biggest pitfalls facing an actor. Also, embedded below are a couple videos of his stand-up comedy from the Laugh Factory. Enjoy!

You owned a comedy club, right? Could you talk about how this happened, what you learned as a club owner, and what you did with it?

Dot Com: "Yes, I did own a Comedy Club. I started out as a party promoter getting huge crowds to my events. My brother was a young comedian and I bought a ticket for $20 to see his show. I had not seen a Black comedy show before, I did not know what to expect.

I attended the show and sat in the audience waiting for the show to begin. The show ran late. My brother Dre’ came to my seat and told me the host of the show had not shown. He asked me to host it. I told him no but he said I could do it, that I knew how to talk to people. My brother talked me into hosting the show I bought a ticket to see. Lol I enjoyed hosting it and I enjoyed the audience.

My brother suggested we do it again. Since I was a radio/events promoter it was a smooth transition. The first show the audience was the same as the one I purchased the ticket. Initially, I thought it would be like the theater; same show- different audience.

We had repeat customers so we needed different Comedians. We put on shows for a month before it became the Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem and later a hit comedy series on television. The Uptown Comedy Club became an urban legend and national institution."

What advice can you give to an up-and-coming comedian in 2011? Where can they go to build an audience and put money in their pocket?

Dot Com: "I advise up-and-coming comedians to not just work the comedy clubs. They will die broke if they just work the clubs. It will take an undeterminate amount of years before they start to make serious money.

I suggest to them to get involved in radio as a DJ for example; talk show host, write for people; write a book; do podcasts; youtube; blogs etc.

When I made the decision 15 years ago to do stand-up comedy I took acting classes to prepare me to take advantage of opportunities"

Who are your favorite comedians?

Dot Com: "Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin and Johnny Carson"

As a huge comedy podcast fan, I'm surprised I have not heard you on the biggest shows. When can we expect to hear "Dot Com" Kevin Brown on Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, or Who Charted?

Dot Com: "After you Robert brought these comedy podcasts to my attention my Public Relations people are exploring opportunities in this area.

As a comedian I am exploding this year with my stand-up routine headlining throughout the country. I have been on a number of blog talk radio shows, one of the more popular ones Mr. Media and I have several videos on youtube from TheLaughFactory i.e Sizist, Women's Excuses and Typecasting"

What are the three best things to have happened to you since you've been cast on 30 Rock?

Dot Com: "I was invited to a legendary P. Diddy birthday party

I won a Screen Actor’s Guild award

I was able to share my success with my mother who I love very much"

Do you think 30 Rock will be coming to a close at the end of this upcoming season? I'm pretty sure Jack McBrayer said in an interview that many contracts have terms ending at the end of that period, but I'm curious what you think about the show's future.

Dot Com: "I am pretty sure 30 Rock will be back"

What do you think are the five biggest pitfalls that an actor should avoid?

Dot Com: "The obvious ones- drinking, drugging and women- these are very dangerous"

What television shows do you watch? Have you seen HBO's The Wire?

Dot Com: "TV shows I watch everything. My DVR is constantly at 100%. I consider myself a student of pop culture. Recently while in Baltimore for one of my stand-up show I went to see HBO’s The Wire."

What do you see developing within the stand-up comedy world over the next 5 years? What do you see yourself doing within it?

Dot Com: "I am following the money- wherever the money doors take me that is where I am going to go."

What can the Opportunity LOL readers look forward to from Kevin Brown in the future?

Dot Com: "I intend to have a theater company, movie production company, television production company, clothing line and I am three quarters away from finishing my first book."

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