Max Macaluso is a Winnipeg-based comedian who treats the stage like a living room and the audience like lifelong friends he just hasn’t met yet. A natural storyteller with an eye for the relatable and the absurd, Max has been sharpening his craft one nervous, stomach-churning pre-show ritual at a time — and it shows.
How would you describe your comedy style?
I would say I am very much a storyteller. I love talking about my life and experiences. I think as a comedian, when the audience can relate to your stories, it only makes the joke funnier. I love being able to take a room full of people and talk to them like they’re friends I’ve known for ages, really just being as transparent as possible.
Who are some of your influences?
I think I have taken influence from many different comedians. I always liked how Gabriel Iglesias used sound effects, Jim Carrey used his body and face to be so animated, or how Sebastian Maniscalco would start quiet and then by the time he got to the punchline, he had veins popping out of his face, and he’s screaming at the top of his lungs. Nowadays, with media being so accessible, it’s easy to watch, compare, and adopt different styles into your own act.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Growing up, I would watch Russel Peters on TV and YouTube, and memorize his jokes word for word so I could tell them to my friends at school. My parents had DVD’s of a few of his specials, and I’m sure I have seen each of them about a hundred times. The way he took everyday experiences and made them into these elaborate, detailed jokes, always blew me away.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
It is so hard to narrow it down to one comedian, but I have to say, Josh Wolf. He is so effortlessly funny. He doesn’t just tell a joke, he tells a whole story, hooking you in from the beginning and making you laugh the entire way through. I could listen to him talk for hours.
What is your pre-show ritual?
My pre-show ritual involves lots of water, sweating, and trying not to throw up. I get incredibly nervous, and those nerves do not settle until I land my first joke. When I started performing, I was certain it would eventually stop…it didn’t.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
Rumor’s Comedy Club. Winnipeggers are so spoiled, having one of the best comedy clubs in North America in the city. Every night, there is a lineup of elite comedians, the place is packed, and the energy is electric.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I have a joke about Shakespeare, I talk about the Old English vocabulary, how much I hate Romeo and Juliet, and how silly the whole double suicide ending is. This joke is kind of like my baby; the first time I ever stepped on stage, I told this joke. At the time, it was only about thirty seconds long, but through years of development, it has now turned into a six-minute bit. It’s super cool to look back and see how it has progressed.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Social media. We have access to so much media at our fingertips…literally. I love when I come across a comedian I have never heard of on Instagram/TikTok. There are so many talented people in the world. A view, a like, a comment, or a follow could help someone accomplish their dreams.
Tell us a joke about your city.
I don’t really have any jokes about Winnipeg. I love it here. It’s the only place where if you step outside, you could get heat stroke, frostbite, stabbed, shot, spit on, and 3,000 mosquito bites all in one day.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Brady Holm, he is a super funny comic with a very unique style of delivery. And Pat Gagné, another really funny local comic who never fails to crack me up.
