Michael McDaniel, Comedian
By Ebony Nicole
In life sometimes it's all about the journey -- that's where the real magic happens. For comedian, Michael McDaniel, although comedy appears to be his final destination, he has quite the story to tell about how he ended up on the stage with his stand-up routines filled with clever impersonations of controversial targets.
Growing up in Southwest Detroit, Michael was your typical kid, and although he had a natural sense of humor, this talent wasn't cultivated until high school. Like many of us in the mid-90's, Michael was a huge fan of the Martin Lawrence show and his parodies of different characters. Who could forget Shananay? Michael then began trying his own hand at impersonations by participating in local talent shows. With encouragement from his peers, who would beg Michael to impersonate some of their favorite celebs, Michael gained confidence and came to the realization that he had talent.
Michael has worn many different hats including a brief stint at Eastern Michigan University, real estate investments, selling time shares, and even working as a Sheriff Deputy in Hamtramck, yes, a sheriff deputy. No matter what he was doing, Michael was constantly being encouraged to take the "comedy thing" seriously. It was a former colleague who gave him his first shot at the stage, connecting him with a local comedy club.
Like many comedians, the generally hilarious Michael bombed his first time doing stand-up. This did not slow him down. Instead, he turned his time and energy to YouTube, creating mini films of him doing sketch comedy, impersonating celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Louis Farrakhan, and Charlie Murphy. Obviously, not being shy of controversy has its advantages. Michael thrived on YouTube and it also gave him a chance to practice his chops, develop a fan base and connect his material with people all over the globe.
A big moment for Michael came when he went to Chicago to audition in front of a live audience for Bill Belamy's "Who Got Jokes" Although he was unprepared for the stage, Michael shined, mixing improv with impersonations. This enabled him tomake great connections. Shortly after that, a chance meeting with the owner of a comedy club allowed him to showcase his talent.
It wasn't long before the once-sheriff and businessman was booking at some of the area's largest comedy showcases, including Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, where he soon became a regular. Being fairly new to the business, Michael made it a point to do things his way, taking risks and promoting himself the best way he knew how. This "can do" attitude is what helped him break through the local comic game and opened up opportunities for him nationwide. "If you can make it in Detroit you can make it anywhere. When they love you here they really love you", says McDaniel.
Michael recently released his first full-length stand-up DVD, which was filmed at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History. Michael recalls everything going completely wrong on that day, but the final product is one he is extremely proud of. It appears that Michael has a knack for turning tragedy into triumph.
Growing up in Southwest Detroit, Michael was your typical kid, and although he had a natural sense of humor, this talent wasn't cultivated until high school. Like many of us in the mid-90's, Michael was a huge fan of the Martin Lawrence show and his parodies of different characters. Who could forget Shananay? Michael then began trying his own hand at impersonations by participating in local talent shows. With encouragement from his peers, who would beg Michael to impersonate some of their favorite celebs, Michael gained confidence and came to the realization that he had talent.
Michael has worn many different hats including a brief stint at Eastern Michigan University, real estate investments, selling time shares, and even working as a Sheriff Deputy in Hamtramck, yes, a sheriff deputy. No matter what he was doing, Michael was constantly being encouraged to take the "comedy thing" seriously. It was a former colleague who gave him his first shot at the stage, connecting him with a local comedy club.
Like many comedians, the generally hilarious Michael bombed his first time doing stand-up. This did not slow him down. Instead, he turned his time and energy to YouTube, creating mini films of him doing sketch comedy, impersonating celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Louis Farrakhan, and Charlie Murphy. Obviously, not being shy of controversy has its advantages. Michael thrived on YouTube and it also gave him a chance to practice his chops, develop a fan base and connect his material with people all over the globe.
A big moment for Michael came when he went to Chicago to audition in front of a live audience for Bill Belamy's "Who Got Jokes" Although he was unprepared for the stage, Michael shined, mixing improv with impersonations. This enabled him tomake great connections. Shortly after that, a chance meeting with the owner of a comedy club allowed him to showcase his talent.
It wasn't long before the once-sheriff and businessman was booking at some of the area's largest comedy showcases, including Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, where he soon became a regular. Being fairly new to the business, Michael made it a point to do things his way, taking risks and promoting himself the best way he knew how. This "can do" attitude is what helped him break through the local comic game and opened up opportunities for him nationwide. "If you can make it in Detroit you can make it anywhere. When they love you here they really love you", says McDaniel.
Michael recently released his first full-length stand-up DVD, which was filmed at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History. Michael recalls everything going completely wrong on that day, but the final product is one he is extremely proud of. It appears that Michael has a knack for turning tragedy into triumph.
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