About the Humorist

Now that you know about Humor That Works, you might be interested in knowing a little bit more about me, the author/humorist behind the scenes.  To start, my name is Drew Tarvin.  (My real name is Andrew, but the name Drew has a lot better nickname options – Drewsito, Drudacris, Drucifer, Winnie the Drew, Isaac Drewton…)

My Corporate Background

I graduated from The Ohio State University in June of 2006 with a BS in Computer Science & Engineering and a minor in General Business Administration.  I was  Magna Cum Laude and held Honors in Engineering.  During my years at OSU, I served as a Resident Advisor and Resident Manager for University Housing. (To my fellow Buckeye fans, “O – H …”)

After graduating from OSU, I moved to Cincinnati where I started working for a Fortune 25 Company as an International Project Manager. In 2008, I relocated to New York City with the same company, where I now manage projects for one of our sales divisions across the United States.

My Comedy Background

Prior to college, I had little performing arts experience–growing up, I was focused on subjects such as Math and Computer Science.  However, in 2004, I co-founded The 8th Floor Improv Comedy Group and started performing stand-up comedy around Columbus.  By the time I graduated in 2006, The 8th Floor had grown to become the premiere improv group in Columbus and I had been a semi-finalist in the 2006 Amateur Comedy Night stand-up competition.

After moving to Cincinnati in 2006, I joined the nationally touring Smarty Pantes Theater Company.  I was also a finalist in the 2007 “Funniest Person in Cincinnati” contest and started performing in comedy clubs around the Midwest, opening for comedians such as Joe Starr and Pauly Shore.

Since moving to New York City in 2008, I have continued performing stand-up in clubs across the city, joined Comedy Sportz New York, and am currently studying at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and Magnet Theater.

My Corporate Comedy (aka Humor That Works) Background

For awhile, my Corporate and Comedy worlds were separate for me. I was creating project plans and doing risk assessment by day, cracking jokes and performing in comedy clubs by night.

But as the dual worlds continued, they also started to merge. The structure and rigor of project management was helping me in the comedy world–the comedy groups and club owners I worked with weren’t used to a comedian who also talked next steps and opportunity areas for improvement. In the corporate world, it was the playful attitude and improv mentality that were helping me–I didn’t fear, but rather enjoyed presentations, and I started making a name for myself through an internal blog I started about being a new hire.

In 2007, I decided to start focusing on how to fuse the corporate and comedy worlds.  I started blogging internally at my company about the benefits of humor in the workplace and self-proclaimed myself the company’s Corporate Humorist. I set to work on improving the workplace with humor by creating a number of humor-based trainings, performing corporate stand-up, and teaching improv workshops.

In 2009, I decided to share everything I had learned and created the Humor That Works blog. Since then, Humor That Works has grown into a full-blown website, consulting service and will soon include a book. I’ve worked with more than 50 organizations in multiple continents on topics ranging from humor in the workplace to customized corporate comedy.

All of that, and I’ve still had a chance to eat Chick Fil A 21 times this year.