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How to break your parents’ hearts in one simple step? Amer Rez has the answer.
Rez has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from McGill and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, and was employed by an aerospace firm creating satellite components.
But four years back, Rez chucked his high-tech gig and his six-figure salary for chump change in the chuckles trade.
And with the pandemic, even less than chump change now.
“But my dream had always been to become a comic, and the way I tried to explain it to my parents was: they left a country, Lebanon, that was torn by war. They gave up everything to come to Montreal and follow their own dreams. That’s the way I tried to sell it to them.”
Did they buy it?
“Not so much at first,” replies the trilingual comic, whose influences range from Lenny Bruce to Bill Burr. “But it’s a good thing my father has a great sense of humour. When I told him I could one day make the same kind of money as a standup, he laughed — a lot. He has since been supportive.”
In fairness, Rez has made waves on the local club and festival scene. He is also part of a sketch troupe that features Sid Khullar, Sugar Sammy’s younger sib.
Rez’s humour is heavily self-deprecating. “On the bright side, performing only online now allows me to hide the 30 pounds I’ve gained since the start of the pandemic,” he muses. “People can see me only from the nipples up.”
Rez isn’t deterred that he was a late starter in the biz. “Really, who wants to listen to a 20-year-old whining on stage about the pain he’s feeling over his dying phone battery? Ah, so sad! But at 37, I can talk about life’s real pains … like back and heartburn pain. Now, that really bites.”
— Bill Brownstein
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