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Florida’s Funniest Q&A: Luis Diaz

Sometimes reaching the finals of the Florida's Funniest Comedian competition can be a sobering experience - as Luis Diaz can attest.

by ApplauseBreakAdmin
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WEST PALM BEACH – What started as a joke for Luis Diaz quickly progressed to superstition, ultimately becoming a vow.

Asked one night why he wasn’t drinking, Diaz casually replied he wasn’t drinking alcohol until he wins the Florida’s Funniest Comedian competition.

At first Diaz didn’t mean it, but the more he thought about it, the more he figured it would be bad luck to go against his joke.

Th 29-year-old Diaz progressed through the Miami first round and the east division semifinals to reach the Dec. 28 Florida’s Funniest finals.

Moments after reaching the finals, Diaz’s parents misunderstood a text message he sent them. They responded to his good news with condolence messages.

“They’re now very happy and they don’t hate me,” Diaz said with a laugh.

Now Diaz is focused on winning the competition – an outcome that would very much please his wife, Laura.

“She just wants her drinking buddy back,” Diaz said.

APPLAUSE BREAK Q&A: Meet Luis Diaz

APPLAUSE BREAK: Why did you start performing stand-up comedy?
LUIS DIAZ: My first show was on my 22nd birthday. I told all of my friends to not get me anything, just be my bringers at the club so I can perform.

AB: Who is your favorite comic and why?
LD: Bert Kreischer is my favorite comic not just because we’re both frat stars turned dads. He is truly the best story telling comedian performing right now and as a guy who loves telling stories I am always inspired by how he can find humor in any story.

AB: What do you do when you’re not performing stand-up comedy? What is your job and hobby?
LD: Aside from raising my two toddler girls and trying to make my wife happy, I’m a voice over talent and producer for iHeart Media. As far as hobbies go I love fishing.

AB: What’s your pre-show routine?
LD: As much as I’m going to regret leaving this in, I love singing and warming up my voice while driving to a show. And when I get there I prep by writing and going over my set for the night.

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AB: What can people expect from your Florida’s Funniest finals set? How is it different from your normal headlining set?
LD: My finals set will be my favorite story to tell on stage recently. The only difference between my finals set and my headlining set is that it’ll be one story and 6 minutes long as opposed to many stories and 50 minutes long.

AB: Where do you see your comedy in five years?
LD: God willing I’ll be performing all around the country whether it’s opening for someone or doing my own shows. I’ve gone through so much growth in the past 5 years that if I keep it up and limit the speed bumps I truly hope to expand my audience outside of our state.

AB: Where did you perform in the first round of Florida’s Funniest? What do you remember from that show?
LD: My qualifying city was my home, Miami. I remember that night being so proud of the talented comics we have in our scene and knowing whoever it was that advanced could make some serious noise in this competition.

AB: What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you at a show?
LD: I nearly got into a fight with a biker gang at a charity event. What makes it even weirder is that fellow finalist Ricky Cruz was also on this show and he too almost fought the bikers. It was THEIR CHARITY EVENT. Crazy.

AB: Of the other comics in the finals, who are you most looking forward to seeing perform? Why?
LD: Easily it’s Ricky Cruz. He’s my big brother in stand-up, always pushing me to have new material, finding the good in bad bombs, and is straight up a legend in the Miami comedy with a name that every big name comic with a Netflix special knows and respects. And as far as comics from the West Coast I’m a fan of Jay Legend, came down to Miami once for our New Faces show and was so strong I’m excited to see his new material.

AB: What would winning the Florida’s Funniest Comedian contest mean to you?
LD: To be more specific than the generic “Everything” that I want to say, it would be validation that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. It would mean I am at the level of all the comics I’ve worked so hard to look at eye to eye. Taking the risk of going after a life as a comedian is so scary and to win this would be the sign that there’s nothing to fear.

AB: What else should comedy fans know about you?
LD: I am only here to make you laugh. If I say something that makes you groan or question whether or not I’m a good guy, remember I’m just joking.

Follow Luis Diaz on: Instagram |

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