What Sarah Blackmore learned about comedy from dad Buddy Wasisname

In August,audience members at the LSPU Hall laughed their guts out as a member of the Blackmorefamily told jokes on stage.

But itwasn't the Blackmore mostLSPUHall audiences were used to.

It was Sarah Blackmore, daughter of Kevin Blackmore, who is Buddy Wasisname in the legendary comedic three-man variety show, Buddy Wasisname and The Other Fellers.

A songwriter and singer in the band Punch Table, Sarah Blackmorewas performing one of her first sets of stand-up comedy. Her father was in the audience.

"He said he was very proud," Blackmore said.

Showing off Newfoundland culture

Buddy Wasisname and The Other Fellers have been on the go since 1983, recording and performing.

Wayne Chaulk and Ray Johnson are the Other Fellersand BlackmoreisBuddy. The triocombines skits, antics and songs which range from genuine, heartfeltballads like "Sarah" to hilarious takes on Newfoundland culture like "Gotta Get Me Moose B'y."

They've released 20albums andthey've influenced a generation of Newfoundland and Labrador comics.

"I remember being really young and my dad playing their tape in the carwhile we drove to Gander," said Justin Hawco, a comedian who was part of team behind the Newfoundlander Vs. videos and is now part of the team behindThe Outhouse videos.

"They created their own way to show off Newfoundland's culture in a really funnyand goofy way," he said.

"You can't make Newfoundland-based comedy and not show your respects to those guys."

• Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers to stop touring after 35 years

After stops in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Stephenville, the group iswrapping up itslast big tour with shows all week at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.

They swear it's not the end of their performances, just the end of their longtours. They've got show dates set for Ontario and Alberta in 2018.

'None of us got away normal'

Growing up, Sarah Blackmore said her father was always trying out new comedy bits.

"I remember him trying out voices and characters around the house. He was always making new jokes and trying out material. Sometimes my friends would come over in high school and he would ask us all to listen to a little demo recording of something, to gauge people's reactions," she said.

"I feel like none of us got away normal."

All members of the household got in on the antics, Blackmore said.

"As much as he was funny himself, he was also encouraging, and made sure my sisters and I fostered our own versions of silliness," she said.

"My mom is very funny too, in a witty, dry, smart way They're a great combination to have as comedy mentors."

Blackmore said it wasn't until she was in her 20s, living with a family in Australia and looking after their children, that she realized being silly wasn't everyone's goal.

"They would say 'Now, don't be silly girls' when their kids were acting up," she said.

"In my childhood, silliness was revered!"

'A father who made a living being silly'

Blackmore, who recently moved from St. John's to Toronto, has only just begun her comedy career, but she's got a leg up having learned from her father.

"[He taught me] about being weirdand not fitting conventional moulds of what 'funny' means," she said.

"Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers have really carved their own path, especially when they began in the early 80s. There weren't a whole lot of groups doing comedic music, sketches, trad, and storytelling all in one show."

Her dadalso taught her how to (hopefully) make a living at it.

"[He] taught me the invaluable lesson of putting value on your work, art especially. It's easy for a musician or comedian or whatever type of artist to fall into the trap of feeling like they want to give away their work for free. My dad told me early on in my songwriting career, 'Figure out what the value of your work is, and ask people to pay you for it,'" she said.

"He's a businessman too, which is how I so luckily grew up with a father who made a living being silly."