Carrington brings raunchy comedy, music to Emens

MUNCIE – For 25 years, Rodney Carrington has combined his bawdy stand-up comedy and country music to become a recognizable name in blue collar.

The 45-year-old comedian known for everyman charm and raunchy humor — his first single was "Letter to My Penis" in 1998 — will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Emens Auditorium.

"Oh, (the tour has) been going good. Started in 1989 and just never quits," Carrington, of Oklahoma's Tulsa area, said in a phone interview with The Star Press on Sept. 24.

Over the last two and a half decades, he has earned two RIAA-certified gold albums, 2000's "Morning Wood" and 2004's "Greatest Hits," and released six other major label albums while touring and appearing on radio programs, including Indianapolis' nationally syndicated "The Bob and Tom Show."

The comedian-musician also has acted and written for ABC's TV sitcom "Rodney" as well as the 2008 film "Beer for My Horses," sharing writing and starring credit with country music star Toby Keith.

After trying to book Carrington last year, the budget and availability aligned for Emens to set up the show, said Kristi Chambers, assistant director of marketing and communications.

"Love and tenderness," Carrington said, laughing about what the audience could expect. "Just a lot of love. I'm going to stand up and have everybody line up and give everybody just a big hug when they come around."

Comedy for charity

Tickets for the performance are $39.75 for adults and $26 for Ball State students. As of last week, the 3,581-seat auditorium still had tickets available, Chambers said, which can be bought at the box office or on ticketmaster.com.

Underneath his raunchy jokes sits philanthropic work, setting up his shows so that $2 from each ticket goes toward the Rodney Carrington Foundation.

"I thought, … 'Why don't I take the opportunity that I have and create a foundation and give it to some place where I really feel like I can make a difference?'" Carrington said.

This nonprofit organization he created in 2010 largely benefits DaySpring Villa of Tulsa, Okla., a not-for-profit domestic violence shelter for women and their children that has helped nearly 6,300 women since 1995, according to a press release.

While picking an organization that had no large corporate funding and helped Tulsa-area children, Carrington said it was important for him to be able to personally hand over the donations and witness the physical benefits.

When he toured DaySpring Villa to narrow down his selection, the faith-based shelter reminded him of his past. By the time he had turned 15, Carrington's mother had married five times, which included bad situations.

"I certainly experienced what domestic violence was and is," Carrington said. "… The first time I walked in (to DaySpring Villa), I was affected. … When I walked in that place and I saw those women and kids, I saw my mother and I saw myself and my sister."

In addition to donating thousands of dollars to DaySpring Villa, the Rodney Carrington Foundation purchased a car last December to help shuttle around the women and the children.

From his touring in 2013, Carrington landed at No. 159 out of the top 200 North American tours, according to Pollstar, his performances generating $5.3 million in gross profit.

"People donate the money through the form of tickets, so I'm just using what it is I do … in my professional life to help people in my private life," Carrington said.

New material

The end of this month marks the release of two albums on his own Laughter's Good Records: a remastered "C'Mon Sing You Bastards" and a new album and DVD combo, "Laughter's Good."

"Laughter's Good" was recorded about two years ago, Carrington said.

For comedians, doing shows after releasing an album isn't the same as musicians, who will perform pieces from that record to support it. Carrington said the process is "a little backward" for comedy albums.

"You go out and tour, you build the material, you record the record, but then before you put it out … you have to develop new material," he said.

Crafting new material keeps an element of surprise, which is "what comedy is," Carrington said. If the audience already knows the words, there's nothing enjoyable about performing it for him.

Even after 25 years of gigs, Carrington said coming up with something new is never easy. However, he said he has become better at understanding what will work with his audience through getting to know them. One way Carrington connects with his fans is through Facebook, with a little less than one million likes on a public page where "there's no intent other than humor."

His performances draw from moments in his life, an aspect he said has helped keep his words fresh as his perspective changes with age, though he said his audience doesn't have to be in the same position or age to enjoy it.

"If you've experienced any kind of life, if you're breathing right now," Carrington said. "You're firsthand to things that I'm talking about."

Contact Ball State University intern Ashley Dye at (765) 213-5841.

IF YOU GO

• WHO: Rodney Carrington, a comedian, actor, writer and country music artist

• WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

• WHERE: Emens Auditorium

• TICKETS: $39.75 for adults and $26 for Ball State. Order tickets through ticketmaster.com, the Emens box office in person or call 285-1539.