Blind standup who hit massive on Kill Tony talks comedy forward of San Antonio present

“I used to be born with eye issues instantly – like a delivery defect,” standup comedian Chris Silio says. Credit score: BT Pictures

“Fuck, I hope that is actual!” slapstick comedian Chris Silio exclaimed when he stepped as much as the microphone throughout a stay taping of stand-up comedy selection present Kill Tony in Austin final summer season.

The joke landed immediately as a result of Silio is blind.

In lower than a minute, the comedian, who had simply moved to Austin from Miami, had the room within the palm of his hand. Kill Tony host Tony Hinchcliffe, the judges’ panel, the home band and the packed viewers erupted in laughter. Silio’s look, which has garnered greater than 900,000 views on YouTube, shortly grew to become one of many evening’s standout moments.

By the tip of his efficiency on Kill Tony, Silio had earned a Golden Ticket, which permits comedians to carry out on future episodes with out getting into the present’s random drawing.

On Friday, June 19, Silio will carry out as a part of the Golden Hour Comedy Present, a stay present on the San Antonio Aquarium that includes comics from Kill Tony, Don’t Inform Comedy and Netflix.

Throughout our interview, Silio, 30, talked about his blindness, what led him to comedy and what his targets are as a comic.

Inform me a bit about your eye historical past.

I used to be born with eye issues instantly — like a delivery defect. They mounted it early. Rising up, I may see. I had the most important glasses at school. Then, I began having my first retinal detachments after I was 12 or 13. It’s the a part of your eye that helps join the image to the mind. My retinas are tremendous skinny, so I used to be getting retinal detachments on a regular basis. I ended up having 5 retinal detachments from ages 12 to 18 and having 30 eye surgical procedures earlier than I used to be 18. Sooner or later, the docs have been like, “We are able to’t do anything.”

Are you completely blind now?

Yeah, I’m 100% blind. Throughout my final yr of highschool, my good friend was messing round and threw a manila envelope at me and nailed me within the eye. They mounted it … and I had six extra months of fine imaginative and prescient. Earlier than going to varsity, the docs have been like, “Do that eye surgical procedure, so that you’ll have slightly bit extra imaginative and prescient.” However I got here out with no imaginative and prescient. There was simply an excessive amount of scarring. So, that was that.

Did you keep in faculty?

I didn’t. It was an adjustment interval. I needed to go to the Lighthouse for the Blind for some time, so they might educate me be blind. They needed to educate me do all the pieces once more. Then I did some analysis on native open mics, and I did my first comedy present. After I advised my first joke on stage, I used to be like, “Oh, that is the one factor I wish to do.”

What led you to comedy?

I’ve at all times been a giant fan of comedy. After I went blind, I used to be sitting alone at the hours of darkness and realized I didn’t wish to watch TV. So, I gravitated in direction of comedy podcasts. I used to be listening to Kill Tony again then and a bunch of others. It was one thing I wished to do. I assumed I may deal with writing some jokes.

While you initially sat down to put in writing the jokes, have been all of them based mostly in your blindness?

Oh, no. I feel I’ve discovered how to try this extra now. After I first began, I didn’t need [my comedy] to be about that. While you first begin writing, you don’t actually know be humorous on stage. It’s not till you begin doing comedy that you simply study what the viewers thinks is definitely humorous, which is honesty and actual views.

As you continued to develop as a comic, did it develop into simpler to understand what the viewers wished from you?

Yeah, I discovered what I wanted to do. It could be loopy for me to not discuss in regards to the factor that everyone is considering. What occurred early on was that I used to be writing these jokes that weren’t essentially about me. There was this massive elephant within the room I wasn’t addressing. There was a disconnect with the viewers. I feel all artwork is meant to be trustworthy.

Earlier than relocating to Austin, did you set any targets for your self?

I don’t know if I’m an excellent planner. I’ve simply been stumbling my manner via it. My solely purpose each evening is, “How do I get on stage tonight?” That was my driving power for a very long time. In Miami, there wasn’t a transparent image or a path. There was simply stage time. There wasn’t a giant comedy scene. So, my solely thought was, “How can I get in entrance of individuals?” Now that I’m right here, I’ve began considering, “How can I’ve a profession in comedy?”

Are you OK if individuals check with you as that “blind comic”?

I’d somewhat simply be Chris. Clearly, I perceive that it’s a label that can at all times be there. However I attempt to not have it’s the main label. I’d somewhat be that “humorous man,” for certain.

Golden Hour Comedy Present$25.09, Friday, June 19, 8 p.m., San Antonio Aquarium, 6320 Bandera Highway, (210) 310-3210, eventbrite.com.