Kristeen von HagenB次元官网网址檚 first venture into the stand-up comedy  world was at a

club in Victoria in the mid-90s.

B次元官网网址淚t was terrifying. Everyone knew it was my first time so they were super kind and polite B次元官网网址� but your first attempt at stand-up is always questionable at best,B次元官网网址� she says, now 15-plus years into her career as a comedienne.

B次元官网网址淚 remember doing this thing about driving and being distracted B次元官网网址� looking over and seeing people brush their teeth and playing with the radio. I donB次元官网网址檛 know if they were even jokes.B次元官网网址�

And while von HagenB次元官网网址檚 been away from Victoria B次元官网网址� where she was born and raised B次元官网网址� since 1996, she says returning to perform is always unnerving.

B次元官网网址淢y parents will come to at least one show, and my aunts and uncles. A long time ago I was performing at a club and two girls IB次元官网网址檇 gone to high school with were in the audience. B次元官网网址� I feel the pressureB次元官网网址檚 on a bit more in Victoria,B次元官网网址� she says.

Next week (Aug. 15 to 19), von Hagen joins a terrific lineup of comedians, including Brent Butt (of Corner Gas fame), for the Blue Bridge Comedy Festival.

B次元官网网址淭his is kind of my dream scenario,B次元官网网址� says festival organizer Dan Quinn. He contacted all the best comedians he knew, they all said yes, and the Blue Bridge Comedy Fest was born.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be an amazing weekend of entertainment, to get to see all these top acts at once. If youB次元官网网址檙e a fan of comedy, youB次元官网网址檙e able to get a full fix of acts you might never get to see otherwise... or for way more money,B次元官网网址� Quinn says.

In addition to von Hagen and Butt, Blue Bridge will feature shows from Mark Maron, Nikki Payne, Johnny Bagpipes, Sean Proudlove, Damonde Tschritter, Peter White, Paul Myrehaug and Rob Pue.

Von Hagen says her lengthy resum茅 of experience on stage has helped ease her mind from those first few shows in Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto.

B次元官网网址淚 no longer have that fear that IB次元官网网址檓 going to die or itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a nightmare. I remember a time where I would be phoning in for spots and I would be upset if I didnB次元官网网址檛 get a spot and I was horrified if I did, because I knew I would have to go do it,B次元官网网址� she says.

Stand-up comedy remains an B次元官网网址渙ld boysB次元官网网址� club,B次元官网网址� she says, though she doesnB次元官网网址檛 understand why that is.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 still a lot of people, men and women, who see a woman get on stage and get put off,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淎nd periodically you hear, B次元官网网址榯hereB次元官网网址檚 no funny women.B次元官网网址� That doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense. YouB次元官网网址檝e never had a funny aunt or wife? Your girlfriend has never made you laugh? That, to me, seems insane.B次元官网网址�

For more information on Blue Bridge, visit bluebridgecomedyfestival.com.