The University is known for churning out highly successful and downright noteworthy people. Edgar Allan Poe, Katie Couric, Tina Fey and Tiki Barber are just a few. Yet another alumnus is now making the University proud in the real world -- stand-up comedian Lee Camp.
Camp graduated from the College in 2002 as an English major and psychology minor. He said he loved being at the University and is extremely excited for his upcoming performance at the University this Friday.
"I like getting back some of my tuition money," he said.
Camp reflects fondly on his four years at the University. He said his favorite feature of the University was the Chik-Fil-A kiosk in the Pavilion, which, to his dismay, is closed on Sundays. However, Camp said what resonates with him to this day are the "cool," accomplished and smart students he encountered during his time at the University.
Camp said the four years he spent writing his weekly column for The Cavalier Daily Life section was a highlight of his University experience. Although he always knew he wanted to write, Camp said he didn't plan to join the paper. While on a University tour Camp recalls picking up a newspaper, reading another student's humor column and thinking he could do better.
During his first year, Camp submitted a humor column to the newspaper for a columnist competition that would be voted on by students via e-mail. Camp won the competition.
Before becoming a Wahoo, Camp said he was drawn to comedy early on in life. When he was about 15, he read Jerry Seinfeld's book of stand-up routines. The book sparked a comedic fire in Camp, inspiring him to jot down ideas for possible routines.
"I [thought] I could write something like" Seinfeld, Camp recalled. "Turned out I was wrong for a while."
Nonetheless, Camp's budding comedic interest led him to take the stage for the first time in Richmond, Va. during his first year at the University. Although his routine did not go remarkably well, Camp emphasized that first experiences on stage are notoriously rocky for beginning comics.
"Just the fact that I was able to get on the stage and not get hit by a beer bottle was a big accomplishment," Camp said.
While at the University, Camp also pursued stand-up comedy. The point where he was certain he would stick with comedy as a career occurred after opening for The Whethermen in the 500-person Chemistry Building Auditorium during his second year.
"I just had an awesome set," he said. "I was having so much fun with it."
Later in his second year, Camp was given the opportunity to open for Jimmy Fallon's performance at the University. Camp had previously impressed Fallon with a sample of his routine, and was asked by Fallon himself to open.
"I didn't expect him to want me to open," Camp said. "I was nervous as hell."
Camp received more exposure during his third year when he was asked to open for a Darrell Hammond performance at the University. Afterward, Hammond asked Camp to open for him again at American University the following year.
When Camp wasn't opening for Saturday Night Live royalty, he performed stand-up comedy shows of his own at the University, the proceeds of which were donated to the American Red Cross.
As Camp established a reputation at the University, he said he became known as the comedian around Grounds.
While at the University, Camp also published a compilation of his columns for The Cavalier Daily, entitled "Neither Sophisticated nor Intelligent -- A College Humorist's Take on Life."
During his fourth year Camp was granted the honor of living on the Lawn, an experience he described as simply amazing and something for which he never thought he would be a candidate.
"I was something different," Camp said. "I wasn't the normal path to the Lawn."
Camp recalled some aspects of living on the Lawn.
"Every night you could open your door and hear fellow students puking on the Lawn or streakers running by your door," he said. "Ahh, isn't U.Va. beautiful?"
After graduating from the University, Camp moved to New York City to pursue comedy three months after graduating. Camp said he did not know a single soul in the city, and lacking financial support, he took an open spot in a midtown apartment with two other University graduates he located through alumni e-mail. Interestingly enough, the individual who had previously occupied the spot he took in the apartment was Benjamin McKenzie, 2001 College graduate, who had left the Big Apple upon landing a part in the hit show, "The O.C." Camp recalled sending McKenzie $50 for his couch, and sleeping in his bunk bed for two years.
While living in New York, Camp handed out flyers before comedy club shows, which afforded him seven minutes on stage and two dollars each time a person he solicited came to the show.
Camp's career broke out about two years ago when he landed a college agent, a person who booked him to perform at college campuses up and down the east coast.
In addition to touring colleges, Camp landed roles in shows such as "Law and Order: SVU" and the E! Network's "50 Greatest Chicks." Camp is scheduled to appear on Spike TV's "The Order of the Serpentine," which features guys and their shameful hook-ups. Camp said he is quite familiar with this subject due to his experiences watching students on the Lawn after their weekend exploits on Rugby.
As an up-and-coming stand-up comedian, Camp said he is struggling to find his own style and artistic point of view. While listing Chris Rock, Lewis Black and Jim Gaffigan as some of his current inspirations, Camp makes it a point not to "over-listen" to any one comic. While studying "the masters" is expected and logical, it is not wise to copy anyone's particular style, Camp said.
"You hope your own voice develops on its own as you keep working at it," Camp said.
Camp stressed that in order to be a great comic, he must constantly have his material on his mind. Comedy is a 24-hour job, he said. According to Camp, since millions of aspiring comedians are fighting for the same few moments in the spotlight, comedy is a constant battle.
What Camp finds amazing about the University is just how impressive and influential a student can be at the still-tender ages of 19 and 20. He specifically noted The Cavalier Daily as a prime example of one remarkable product of young people. The University taught Camp it doesn't matter if you're young -- you can still do great things and make a difference.
Camp's offered parting words of advice for current undergraduate students who aspire to a career in comedy: "Work your ass off."
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