Deigo, the Cross-Eyed Villain - Serious Clarendon barber Dale McKay keeps an eye on comedy

While Dale McKay pursues his dream of being the best and most sought-after barber in Clarendon, he is also indulging in his number one pleasure - being a comedian.

McKay, 31, hails from McCooks Pen, St Catherine, and attended St Catherine High School, but now resides in the community of Longville Park in Clarendon, where he is operating a barber salon. He is also a joker of some repute.

His comedic skills were put on display at a presentation ceremony held recently on the grounds of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation. McKay treated everyone to an impromptu stand-up act. Laughter rang out loud and raucous as he made jokes about being a cross-eyed person.

McKay performs under the moniker, Deigo, the Cross-Eyed Villain, and things seem to be looking good in that arena as well.

"Teachers use to tell my parents to send me to comedy school and stop waste them money," he told CENTRAL STAR.

Growing up as a cross-eyed person, McKay said he struggled with self-esteem issues as a teenager, as persons often passed cruel remarks about his condition. "Some names weh them use to call me - 'One si two', 'One look two see'." But as he got older, McKay embraced his cross-eyed condition and turn it into fun.

He got a foot in the door when he was introduced to comedian Johnny Daley by mutual friends. He also had the chance to enjoy good advice and mentorship from Boasy Boy Floyd and Dufton Shepherd, who are now his good friends.

inspiration

There is no shortage of materials for his comedy act as, he said, he gets inspiration from life itself.

"I can turn anything into laughter. I don't look for a joke. I turn serious things into laughter, giving it my own twist to get laughter from the audience," he said.

Deigo, the Cross-Eyed Villain has made a habit of making fun of himself. At the Clarendon Municipal Corporation event, he joke that patrons, in their feedback, said he had good jokes but does not interact with the crowd.

"Dem seh the whole time me a gi joke, me a look inna di wall. But dem neva know seh a caas yeye me have," he said.

"Mi did have a car and me end up sell it because police always a stop me and seh me a drive and gaze."

"Yuh believe seh di ooman weh me a talk to now, a neva she me did a look enuh. Me see two girl a walk ... me seh hey, but di one weh me a call to, a di caas yeye the other one pick up, so a suh me end up with the wrong woman, and right now she waah lef me 'cause she seh me a see somebody pon di side," said Deigo, the Cross-Eyed Villain.

But life for him is not all fun and games. He is putting in the work to become a world-class barber. McKay recently got a boost when he was selected for the Clarendon Youth in Business mentorship programme. He also received a grant of $100,000 and was trained in entrepreneurship.

"It was a great experience. Following the training, I am now very advanced. The course made me realise I was still behind, and there was so much I didn't know about running a business," he said.

McKay juggles barbering and comedy, and he is determined to keep his eyes on the prize.