How It All Started…
In 2015, DeVoné Hunt (pronounced dee-voe-nae), a.k.a. D-Vo, departed from his hometown, Buffalo, New York, and eventually landed in Rico, Colorado. While living in Colorado, D-Vo transitioned from the medical career path to the pursuit of comedy, which he views as an alternative form of helping and connecting with people. He began his comedy career in Telluride, notably winning the Wood Ear town talent show with his crowd-sourced improv style, and combination of comedy and song-writing.
History In The Making…
Following this comedic drive, D-Vo decided to move to Hollywood, where he landed a gig with the Laugh Factory. While traveling with friends in Northern California, and with a great mixture of luck and happy circumstance, D-Vo made the acquaintance of Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter. Dorsey was impressed by D-Vo’s style, and connected him with the Big Sur comedy festival. At Big Sur, D-Vo delivered: crushing a ten-minute set amidst professional comedian peers, making his first big break into the industry (yes, Dorsey and D-Vo still follow each other on Twitter too).
Style & Inspiration…
D-Vo describes his comedic style as entering into a “mind-state”, in which he connects with the audience, and expresses his perspectives on situations and experiences. Whether he’s pulling crowd-sourced paper slips from hats, or making awkward eye contact with audience members, D-Vo always thinks on his feet to spin a joke. Before every performance, D-Vo reminds himself that being true to yourself is the best policy, with the affirmation that he’s here and he did it. D-Vo takes a silver lining point of view with life, focusing on positive goals and self-reflection and improvement, even in the midst of quarantine when the national gigs are down. He says his ultimate inspiration is love – as a hopeless romantic he tends to fall hard, but even with heartbreak the loving process is one of the best teachers.
Where the Heart Lives…
D-Vo’s traveled all over the country, but as he notes: “Telluride grabbed my heart [and] I’m proud to call the town my home… [being here] helped me realize I love seeing people smile, so I plan to make that my lifestyle.” His favorite venue is still Wood Ear, although he’s had some impromptu regional shows – such as riffing off of Durango’s 11th Street Station balcony.
What’s Up Next…
Keep your eyes and ears out for his developing company project – Goldiggin Productions – D-Vo is in the process of launching their new site, and the filming of an all-new comedy show is coming out sometime this year. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @93sfunnyguy.