Boasy Boy Floyd celebrating 25 years in comedy

Veteran stand-up comedian and host Boasy Boy Floyd plans a night of laughter, "roasting" and memories with friends as he celebrates 25 years of "healing the world with the best medicine - laughter".

"It's an overwhelming feeling, to be honest, and I carefully thought about it before I executed it. A lot of people celebrate milestones so I said why not celebrate my 25 years in being consistent in comedy, hosting and making people laugh? I'm not waiting for anybody to give me my flowers," Floyd told THE STAR.

"Dem have a saying in Jamaica weh seh 'Man nuh receive flowers' but yuh can tan deh, when yuh dead a wreath will be placed on yuh grave and a flowers mek di wreath suh mi a tek mine from now," he laughed.

Though this wasn't the path he set out to the trod, the comedic stalwart has been making an indelible mark in his field since age 21.

"I wasn't destined for this journey but when yuh get yuh calling, yuh have to capitalise on the opportunity which presents itself," he said as he reminisced on his start at the Cactus Night Club in Portmore.

"If yuh nuh buss a Cactus, yuh cyaah buss no weh," he said. It was at Cactus that he met comedic duo Ity and Fancy Cat "and the rest is history".

"It has been a tremendous journey and I have no regrets getting into comedy because it's a way to make a living with your natural talent in a society where unemployment rate is high. It's really a tremendous feeling and I'm looking forward to the celebration" an excited Floyd added.

The event, 'Boasy Boy Floyd & Friends Celebrates 25 years of Comedy and Hosting', is set to take place tomorrow at The Home of Comedy Bar at Johnny's Place on Dunrobin Avenue. Among those scheduled to appear are Dufton 'Duffy' Shepherd, Bobby 'Finzi' Smith, Blakka Ellis, Ity, Christopher 'Johnny' Daley. The show will be hosted by local/internationally-based comedian Diego the cross-eyed villain.

"If you are a grandma or grandpa and you say 'Jesus, praise the Lord, hallelujah,' space is available for my Christian lovers and my Christian fans because we keep our comedy clean [and] authentic. We might be suggestive but it's nothing that will be distasteful to the audience. It will be a very accommodating environment for family; the only thing is that you must be 18 years or older," said Floyd who intentionally chose that space as he desired a more "intimate" setting.

Despite the support he boasts on getting from his local "family in comedy", he calls for more support for the general local theatre space.

"I don't know if it is a 'used to' thing because people will see us at a nightclub or at a road show and they are not excited to come on out and watch us. But I think there's more to be done in comedy and theatre and Jamaican people in my own 'analysation' don't accept stand-up comedy the way we want them to but we continue to push and spread the laughter," he said.

However, he admitted that due to their efforts, "the numbers are starting to climb and people are just now adapting to our style of entertainment".

"The UK and the US markets and the Caribbean have been very, very supportive. We just need Jamaica to now capitalise on our craft and start to give us more support," he added.

Floyd reasoned that the international market is more thirsty for local comedy because everybody wants to know what is happening in Jamaica and many things are not shared on the Internet.

"We as comedians, when we go overseas, we can bring that culture back to them on stage doing stand-up comedy," he shared.

Though he's hopeful that the new creative art prospects will carry on the baton when he retires, he's overly concerned that the crop of modern-day talents who mostly thrive off a viral moment may not have the "authenticity, aptitude, and longevity to endure in this space with quality material that's not scripted".

Known on the local scenes for his staple comedy events such as Christmas Comedy Cook Up, Come Catch a Laugh and Laugh Online, Floyd said one of his greatest accomplishments is being able to travel to several countries through comedy.