When you think of Ben Bailey, maybe what comes to mind is his six-time Daytime Emmy Award® winning series “Cash Cab,” or a comedy, television show, or film you’ve seen him in. But what you didn’t know is that at heart, Ben is a down-to-earth local town guy who grew up on Garden Avenue in Chatham. He’s happy to see that the house number he made in shop class in 7th grade is still up when he drives by. Ben appreciates the simple things in life and still plays hockey and golf with his childhood friends. Let’s get to know the real Ben Bailey!
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
When I was a kid, If you asked me that, I would’ve said “happy.” I’ve kind of lived my life that way, but it’s not always easy. My mom told me when I was in 7th grade, ‘’If you believe it, you can do it,” and I believed her. I still believe that wholeheartedly. When I moved to L.A., I wanted to get into film. I didn’t know it was going to be comedy until I stumbled into it. I had gotten a job answering the phones at The Comedy Store. I remember thinking -“go through the doors that open to you.”
WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF GROWING UP IN CHATHAM?
We moved to Chatham in ’79; I was 8. I swam in the Fish & Game Club. I was a swimmer, a diver, a vaulter, and a county champ. The joke is that I worked in every business in town. If I didn’t like the job, I would quit and get another one. I had a paper route, worked at the library, the ice cream shop, a pizzeria, and at both swim clubs in town. I was 14 when I got my first one!
DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS IN THE ARTS?
There are a few other Chathamites that I know of. Mike Rex is a children’s book author, Ross Gibby is an actor, and Scott Hallock and Bill Mutchler are musicians. Bill actually plays drums in my band “From This World.” We have an album out called “Variations on a Dream.” It’s a fun thing. People know me as the “Cash Cab” guy and I wanted the music to live on its own, so I just released it last year without saying anything. I’ve actually been a musician longer than I’ve been a comedian. The arts, music and comedy just kind of came naturally to me, and seemed like the best fit.
FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORIES?
Garden Avenue and the roads that branched off it… maybe the whole town actually? …for the week around Christmas/New Year’s Eve. Everyone would put out luminaries, and all the streets would be all lit up. It would really feel special. We would also have a neighborhood block party once a year, fireworks on the 4th, and of course, Fishawack. All the kids…we loved it.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO BE SO HAPPY?
Seeing the negative side of things doesn’t get you anywhere. Comedy to me is meant to be an escape from all that stuff. It’s supposed to be fun. I do a live-streaming show on social media(@realbenbailey) every Sunday at 9:00 pm to raise money for charities like Feeding America and No Kid Hungry. A friend in the food service industry told me of the situation that “free and reduced” students were facing “…the schools are closing and they’ll have no food.” Through our Sunday show, we’ve been able to provide food for many of these kids.
Ben’s "Road Rage and Accidental Ornithology" is streaming on Netflix. Next year, catch Ben live at the Mayo PAC in Morristown, performing his latest stand up set. Ben can also be heard on his popular podcast, “Tall But True.”
You can see many stand up videos, as well as Ben’s web series and short films, on YouTube at Ben Bailey Comedy. If you’d like to support him, you can do so on his Patreon page - Ben Bailey Comedy at https://www.patreon.com/user.
www.TheRealBenBailey.com @realbenbailey on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook
Side Bar page 3: Favorite Holiday Songs
01 It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
02 It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
03 Elvis’ Blue Christmas