In Focus | David Kopp of KelownaComedy.ca

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
David Kopp

What do you always find yourself saying?
Why do all the movies in the theatre suck? Why would anyone make a sequel to a movie that sucked in the first place?

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
I would hang out with Elon Musk in the hopes of leaching off a bit of his genius.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
I almost won a theatre award last week. Maybe next year I'll win it if I can convince the theatre companies in Armstrong to do something by Bertolt Brecht.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Jimi Hendrix would be great. I would love to hear him play live.

Who inspires you?
Louis CK and Bill Burr. There are a lot of great comics out there right now creating a lot of very funny material.

What are three things on your bucket list?
I would like to go to LA or New York to watch some stand up comedy. It would also be cool to go heli-snowboarding somewhere.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
The Titanic. What are the odds of that happening twice?

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I would be most interested in the day I die.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about sniffing out and exposing hypocrisy. I think all comedians are.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I lived in Brazil for a few years. Those were great times. Probably someday then that I have only vague memories of.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
I got my driver’s licence after four tries.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
I love Dakodas. They have the best wings and the hottest dishwasher in town.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
I love open mic comedy at Dakodas. It has to be the silliest show in town. Kelowna has a thriving comedy scene and it’s always a fun night.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I really have no idea. I could never have predicted where I am now and what I am doing and I don’t see that changing much.

What are your favorite books or the top books that have most influenced your life?
I don’t even remember what it was called, but I read a book in university that said to figure out your goals and then to stop doing anything that wasn’t related to achieving those goals. It helped me then and has helped me since.

What do you value most in people? Friends?
I like the weirdos.

Tell us about a defining moment in your life.
There were a few moments when I stopped to sort of analyse my successes and failures. By the time I was thirty I had developed a pretty strong pattern of not following the herd. So I just stopped trying to fit in or do the normal thing. I am not trying to be a rebel or anything like that. I just suck at it pretty bad. There is a quote I remember reading that says, “Do something amazing. There is less competition.” This has been true for me.

What makes you successful?
If I am successful, and I don’t know if I am really, it would be because I don’t expect much help from others anymore and I am honest and open with how I operate.

What is the name of your business/organization?
I run kelownacomedy.ca and Dakodas Comedy Lounge.

What does your business/organization do?
We tell jokes three nights at week at Dakodas Comedy Lounge.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.kelownacomedy.ca

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Just add me...David Kopp.

What is your mission?
To tell jokes and put on fun comedy shows.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
I would like to perform on Shaw Cable.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I would like to be travelling around with my comedian friends, putting on shows in other towns showcasing our Kelowna talent.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Tim Nutt is a fantastically talented performer living right here in Kelowna. He performs all over the world but also goes out of his way to support the Kelowna comedy scene.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Jokes, smiles, and laughter.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
I have so many people to thank. First of all, thank you to all the comedians who spend so much time writing and performing. And thank you to our sponsors who make it possible to bring in so many professional comedians.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
I think we have taken comedy from being something you go out to see, to something you can participate in. There are a lot more local comedians then every before and the scene is still growing.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I would want them to be experts in retiring on $150.00. They could sort me out.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
That canal thing everyone is talking about would be great.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
I think it's the lake. If you look at places without lakes, you notice a huge difference. I wish I could say it was something virtuous or noble about the people, but I really think it is just the lake.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Leif David the magician.

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