Alex Mackenzie害羞草研究所檚 life could have turned out very different than it has.

Having just finished an apprenticeship as an instrument mechanic in 2019, Mackenzie was set to enter a stable, well-paying career at a Prince George pulp mill and perform small-time comedy shows on the side.

But his fear of a monotonous life pushed him to take a life-changing leap of faith, one that has resulted in sold-out shows at arenas around the world and his own Amazon Prime special.

害羞草研究所淚t was scary. As soon as I finished the trade, I felt like I could see every day of my life for the rest of my life. I was like, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 going to come into this mill and do this job and walk through the same red door every day for the next 30 years,害羞草研究所� Mackenzie said in an interview with The Northern View.

害羞草研究所淐omedy was the one thing I kind of liked doing that I could see a way to monetize 害羞草研究所� I started going on the road with pro comics, then the plan quickly became, 害羞草研究所榮ell your car, sell your house, buy an RV.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

After touring Australia, Mackenzie is now coming back to the North for the first segment of his 28-city 害羞草研究所淗appy Camper害羞草研究所� tour.

Mackenzie has a happy-go-lucky brand of comedy, which he said is part of his goal to spread positivity and joy at his shows.

害羞草研究所淚 think there害羞草研究所檚 enough people saying that the world is falling apart, that we feel more divided than ever,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie.

害羞草研究所淚 think there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of reasons why there害羞草研究所檚 never been a better time to be alive 害羞草研究所� I try to be very positive and uplifting.害羞草研究所�

Representing the north on a global stage has been an honour for Mackenzie, who in his youth spent summers fishing in Prince Rupert, where his grandfather lived.

害羞草研究所淚 take a lot of pride in coming from northern B.C.,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淢ost comedians have a joke about it, and it害羞草研究所檚 always about it being a laughing stock.害羞草研究所�

Mackenzie 害羞草研究所� who used to play in the Central Interior Hockey League 害羞草研究所� also said the north has an underrated sense of humour.

害羞草研究所淎ll my friends are the funniest people I害羞草研究所檝e met. I don害羞草研究所檛 think I害羞草研究所檓 exceptionally funny,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 was just the one who took the risk and tried it out.害羞草研究所�

Growing up in Prince George, Mackenzie always enjoyed watching stand-up shows on TV, but only started performing in the area about a decade ago, when he would open for Vancouver-based professional comics.

害羞草研究所淚 was doing that for a while, getting to meet some people who were doing it professionally and it was just so fun. I really, really enjoyed it,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淏ut I still didn害羞草研究所檛 know if I wanted to do it 害羞草研究所� you suck at the beginning. So once the fun of the first few events goes by and the novelty is worn off, you害羞草研究所檙e like, 害羞草研究所業 don害羞草研究所檛 know if this is that fun, I害羞草研究所檓 going out there telling jokes and no one害羞草研究所檚 laughing.害羞草研究所� But I just stuck with it.害羞草研究所�

Honing his craft has been a challenging yet rewarding journey for Mackenzie, who said his shows are much more personal than they used to be.

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e just trying to learn to write a joke, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 really have much personal meaning. You害羞草研究所檙e just like, 害羞草研究所榟ow do I write a joke?害羞草研究所� And then it害羞草研究所檚 like, knock knock, who害羞草研究所檚 there? There害羞草研究所檚 nothing to it,害羞草研究所� he said. 

害羞草研究所淣ow I害羞草研究所檓 at such a fun stage in my career, where most of my material is me talking about my life and experiences, and then using my craft of joke-writing to dispense it in a fun way.害羞草研究所�

He added that he likes to incorporate emotional, serious topics into his shows.

害羞草研究所淚 always close my shows with some emotion from the heart,害羞草研究所� he said.

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