Milwaukee-based comedian Diego Avila has a warning for the homophobes who happen to be at any of his shows: There’s a chance you’re going to fall in love with him.
The joke, part of a dialogue about the differences between bullying and cyberbullying, is typical of Avila’s approach to comedy and identity.
Avila is gay and a first-generation Mexican-American, and he wants to address these aspects of his life not in a way that panders to the audience but instead makes a certain type of demand on them.
“It makes you have to pay attention, and it gives more dimensionality than just the identity,” Avila said.
An offer to help
Avila’s path into comedy was unique, coming by way of photography.
At the time, he was mostly doing street photography and was interested in shooting live music performances.
His entry into comedy photography came through a chance connection with comedian Gavin Matts.
“I saw him, and loved his kind of very slow performance,” Avila said. “It didn’t always feel like a punch line. It was a little more nuanced.”
Avila met Matts after a show in Milwaukee, and the two spent time together that weekend, staying in touch afterward about movies and museums.
The following year, when Matts returned to the city, Avila took a photo of him outside a local comedy venue, The Laughing Tap.
“I asked if it would be cool to go down to Chicago to watch him and just hang out again,” Avila said. “He asked if I’d be down to photograph his Zanies show.”
It was all by chance that he got into photographing comedy, he said.
“I just wanted to hang out with this guy from the internet and watch him perform because he was nice,” Avila said. “It was later that I started asking people if I could photograph their shows.”
It’s a thoughtful move on Avila’s part, as photography is a key part of the comedy ecosystem.
Venues and comedians often use images of live performances for promotion, and comedians rely on headshots when seeking bookings. Avila began doing both.
“I realized how important of a role it really played, and it opened up the world of comedy even more,” he said.
Comedian by chance
Avila eventually performed himself.
At the time, he was preparing for a college assignment that required him to speak in front of an audience.
“I was really nervous to talk to a bunch of strangers,” Avila said. “Comedy is essentially a lot of public speaking to a bunch of strangers. I thought I should just go up there and just talk – and just practice talking.”
He performed his first open mic at The Laughing Tap in 2022. Then he began to perform more regularly.
At first, it was infrequent – about once a month. Slowly, his desire to perform grew.
“I thought, ‘I kind of just want to try to really do this,’” he said.
By October 2023, he was performing at open mics regularly and developing his material more intentionally.
Over time, he said he developed a clearer and clearer picture of what kind of comedian he wanted to be and – just as importantly – what kind of comedian he didn’t want to be.
“I’m not going to talk about being Mexican in a way that’s like fun for white people to ingest, or gay culture for straight people to ingest,” he said.
Avila believes that decision also makes for funnier standup
“It feels less like I’m giving you less slop,” he said.
Growing up
Although Avila didn’t plan to become a comedian, those who know him say it is not surprising.
“He’s always been a performer,” said Ellen Golackson, a friend who grew up with him in Janesville.
“The call for attention was deep in me,” Avila often says on stage.
Avila appeared in school plays and was comfortable on stage well before he began doing standup, she said.
“This seems like a natural next step for him,” Golackson said.
She also sees a connection between his comedy and photography.
“I feel like it speaks to kind of the two halves of Diego,” she said. “One side of him is very analytical and then the other half of him is just unbelievably creative and boisterous.”
That same energy showed up early in his life, his mother, Rocio Avila, said.
“When he’s around people – whatever joke he’s making, he makes everybody happy.”
She said family members often looked to him to lift the mood.
“(Family) would say ‘Where’s my Diego?’ because he’s the one that brings the life of the party,” she said.
Immediate goals
Avila’s comedy continues to develop as he becomes a more regular presence in Milwaukee’s comedy scene.
As he builds more material, he can do longer sets as well – while still maintaining what keeps it interesting for him.
“I really just want to try to be an interesting gay Mexican comic.”
For more information
Those who want to learn more about his comedy or photography can follow him.
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