1/10/08

Comic Belding talks about her life in the spotlight
By Jerriod Grizzle

CLEVE DOWELL/Manning Times

Comic Joy Belding, daughter of Wyboo residents, John and Lee Belding, treated a Dec. 26 audience to a taste of her stand-up act. Belding is a regular performer at Universal Studios and on the nightclub scene in Orlando, where she makes her home.

In Joy Belding’s case, comedy is just down right fun. She said she got into acting when she was a kid and her love for comedy continued into college.

“I always wanted to act but it was too serious, so I did comedy. I liked one liners and watching comedy sidekicks,” she said.

Belding said she took improvisational classes in college and loved it.

She was even voted class clown in college and served as the body inside the mascot (a lion) suit.

“I took a chance and I liked it,” she said.

Belding, daughter of Wyboo residents John and Lee Belding, works at Universal Studios and the Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando, Florida. She is a young comic full of energy, something she said really helps out in both her comedy routines and her work life.

“Two days a week, on the weekends, a group of us go out and perform street theatre with improvisations. It’s really fun for the kids,” she said speaking of the children who are guests at the resort. “We get to go all over the hotel and perform bits.”

Belding said that she and her cast of performers recently portrayed security guards at the well-known resort style hotel.

Another favorite act of Belding’s is an imitation of the hit show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” a show in which actors perform different scenes made up in their heads or suggested by audience members.
Belding’s job at Universal Studios has the same theme as her job at the hotel.

“We perform an 80’s rewind show where we get up on stage and perform,” she said.

She said that this job in particular gets children at Universal Studios laughing and parents talking when kids are brought on stage to participate in the program.

“It’s really nice to see kids who want your autograph and it’s nice to let them perform in the show, something they probably haven’t done before,” she said.

Perhaps Belding’s most fulfilling job she said is being a stand up comedian at nightclubs and other events.

“I perform around the local Orlando area and have a good time doing it,” she said.

Belding said she moved to Florida four years ago when she was granted an audition to work at Universal Studios and wound up being offered guest spots and openings for other shows around the area.

Her first performance was at Club City Jazz, a popular Orlando nightspot.

“I finally got paid for performances and opening for headliners,” she said.

Belding maintains that there is no one-comedy routine in her acts.

“I do have some standard jokes that I tell that I know will work but you really have to tailor the routine to your audience,” she said. “I try to appeal to where I am.”

Belding said that a lot of times she will put in new jokes and one-liners to see how people react to them.

“If they work, you keep them,” she said referring to the new jokes.

She said she gets a lot of jokes from her own life and the things she sees around her.

“I would say that about 95 percent of my jokes come from life experience,” she said.

Belding performed at the Wyboo Community Center on Dec. 26, to a loud and laughing audience.

“I came two years ago and did a routine,” she said. “I would say this time it went very well because they were laughing the whole time.”

Though Belding is happy with her current life in Florida she said that she has big plans for the future.

“I hope to eventually move to Los Angeles and pursue a comedy career there,” she said.

“I have some contacts there and I hope someday to do standup in front of a very large audience for Comedy Central.”