Comedian & Host of the Wet Spot on Compound Media

By Jeff Alexander

“M&M’s were already inclusive enough, you share them with people almost all the time, so there was really no reason for Mars to try to one-up another corporation under some empty guise
of diversity.”

Mayr has worked to earn a strong following thanks to her blunt takes on the current political climate, unapologetic impressions, and unabashed delivery that continues earning new fans. Her show, Wet Spot, on Compound Media showcases her versatility while her personable delivery allows for effortless banter. Mayr was proud to celebrate her relentless work ethic and stated despite her new popularity, she’s actually a 10-year vet of the industry.

“You just have to accept that you will be working multiple jobs because it’s next to impossible to make a living solely as a comedian. I always had a 9-5 job, and after, I’d ditch my clothes, add more makeup, and network and work gigs all night,” said Mayr.

Refusing to ‘suck up to the gatekeepers of the industry,' Mayr forged her own path and created her own niche, but she quickly interjected that nothing was ever easy.

“I wanted to be different than a lot of the female comedians who seemed to be more news-based or strictly political. I know in these times it’s so hard to be apolitical. To me, comedy is so honest because you can be blunt, and people come to a comedy show because they want to experience that, and it can be one of the few areas that is real,” Mayr stated. 

She recalls 2017 as the watershed year for her calling, having earned consistent road bookings and refining her ability to take more risks while forming connections with audiences. Her appearance on Fox’s Punchline highlighted her quick wit, leading to her competition laughing along with host Mark Istook. 

“Sometimes, you have to be quick on your feet. Audience play is something I know I’m good at. You listen to the nuance of their reactions to other comics, you make mental notes of what works and what needs tightening up. I always record my sets so I can go back and see what was successful and what wasn’t. The audience is a mirror and a reflection of you and it’s your job to work to figure them out and get a reaction from them. It’s your job to get to them, not the other way around because there is so much competition for entertainment these days,” said Mayr.

Additionally, Mayr co-hosts Nerdrotic’s Friday Night Tights, a program for self-proclaimed geeks and gamers founded in 2014. Topics ranging from pop culture to deep delves into comics and their movie adaptations, Mayr believed it was a welcoming outlet for her to share her improv talents.

“I don’t do impressions like simply having someone come up to me and say ‘do so and so.' No, because that’s stupid. I study the body language, speech patterns – it’s a challenge, but I really enjoy it. Also, I get to wear wigs,” she laughed.

Mayr added, “Doing impressions of someone like Jen Psaki is difficult. You’d think it would be easy because we both have red hair, but no. She’s a hard one to do because there’s nothing fun or funny about her. Also, I enjoyed doing climate activist Greta Thunberg. Is all that attention-seeking because nobody would sit with her at lunch? I dunno, but impressions can really require a lot of prep.”

Mayr easily holds her own within a male-dominated subculture, yet happily takes its most visible woman, G4TV host Frosk, to task with an impression that has since been turned into a rap by Pierry Chan, the "Friday Night Tights" intro creator, complete with original beat! The clip continues earning followers on a daily basis. Mayr remains proud of her relentless work ethic, earning an opportunity to appear on NBC's America's Got Talent. But, like a true outlier, she had fun tearing down the idea that the program actually showcases overlooked talent.

“I showed up for the open call, but I always say, that show is perfect for someone that’s, like, a full-body burn victim or has been abused! They’re looking for a sob story and more of a human interest story. ‘Oh, you were born with a tail? How awful! Let’s see your special talent.’ I’m not really into that, sorry. As for work ethic, I feel nobody really gave me anything, so I worked to earn it on my own. I’m not pushing the message; 'Hard to be a woman in the industry' or anything like that because that’s not me. You have to be willing to accept that things don’t happen right away. I’m really proud and grateful for how things have been going,” concluded Mayr.

Follow Chrissie Mayr on Instagram: @chrissiemayrpod

Follow Chrissie Mayr on Twitter: @chrissiemayr