Fargo Monthly October 2024

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COMPLIMENTARY

STAND UP and laugh about it!

FROMTHEEDITOR

THE PRESENCE

THAT BINDS US

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his month, we're exploring the underground yet not-so-underground, comedy scene in FargoMoorhead. This community is close-knit, making it more like a big group of friends who welcomed me into their circle to tell me about their craft rather than just an observer of the scene. What was even more unexpected was the diversity within the group—from the actual backgrounds of the comedians to their comedic styles, deliveries, stage presences, and even short and long term goals. This group isn't just funny, they're unique, passionate, supportive, and resilient; they're outgoing without overbearing; they're secure in themselves while still showing vulnerability—making their insecurities their strong suit; these people are relatable; and these are some of our talented local comedians.

Comedy, like any other hobby, takes time to grasp. It takes time to hone and develop and evolve into what you can coin your own. And all the while, the audience is there to witness that mold into what's yours. While that might sound scary at first, giving a room full of people the full authority to judge you and witness what might be a mistake or just as much a win—well, 2 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

yeah, it is scary. It's scary to show your whole self, illuminated by the bright stage light and echoing through the mic. It's scary to slip up and fumble in front of anyone, and it's scary to show vulnerability in such a broad and all consuming way.

But, ask any of these comedians, it's just as freeing as it is scary.

And that's something that half of us could never dream of doing.

In the other perspective—being able to witness that moment, when someone on stage is being truly themselves, is just as meaningful. Truthfully, I had never been to a comedy show before writing this month's cover story. To fully immerse myself and commit to my journalistic integrity, I attended one of the Wednesday night open mics where all of my features happened to be on the docket, along with many others familiar with The Cellar's stage, a few who hadn't quite gotten their footing yet, and even a newbie all the way from The South. As a collective, we turned off our phones, sipped our beers, and locked eyes on the lit up stage.

As the show began, it was one of those moments where you could feel the energy in the air.

Everyone was excited, the room was warm, and you felt like you were waiting on the edge of

your seat. There were ups and downs, laughs and silences, but all the while there was this overwhelming feeling of being present. It's hard to put this into words (I know, that's literally my job), but there was this collective feeling of being together, feeling the moment together, listening intently to the same thing and understanding something all at the same moment—together.

The togetherness of it all was endearing, while still fun because, these people were funny. And, even when they weren't funny, they were real.

Whether it was the lack of screens, the shared emotional rollercoaster, or the raw presence of vulnerability, I never thought I'd be able to write an entire page about a comedy show— and maybe it isn't even about the comedy show at all, but rather the people who shared the moment together. I hope you can find some moments to feel togetherness, feel fully present, this fall. Happy season of color, of nostalgia, and of togetherness; and, of course, Happy Reading!

Geneva Nodland Editor

TABLEOFCONTENTS

FARGO MONTHLY // OCTOBER 2024

COVER STORY

20

Partner Content: 14 How To: The Pre I Do! with Wimmer's Diamonds

20 STAND UP & LAUGH ABOUT IT! 22 28 34 40 46

David Standal Nate Roe Marquay Belcher Bethany Abeln Blaise Kautzman

52 Embracing the Chaos of Creativity with Artist Punchgut 60 FM October-November Event Calendar

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66 Jenny Sheets: Go Ahead, Indulge 68 Meet the Maker: LunaTique Boutique

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Partner Content

How to:

THE PRE I DO! When it comes to engagement ring shopping, the experience can be as exciting as it is overwhelming. With countless styles, stone options, and considerations about budget, it's easy to feel unsure about where to start.

That’s why having a solid understanding of the dos and don’ts of engagement ring shopping can be a lifesaver!

Whether you're ready to surprise your partner with the ring of their dreams or start the journey together, a little preparation goes a long way. Wimmer's Diamonds and Fargo Monthly are here to help navigate the process in our Engagement Ring Shopping Guide—check out our universal advice and also learn about the personalized, expert care you can expect from local and family-owned jeweler Wimmer's Diamonds. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your engagement ring shopping experience is seamless and stress-free!

TIP: SAVE PHOTOS YOUR PARTNER HAS SENT YOU OR SHOWN YOU FROM SOCIAL MEDIA—THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP NARROW DOWN THE RING STYLE!

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE KNOW BEFORE COMING INTO A JEWELRY STORE TO SHOP FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING?

Start by deciding how you’d like the ring-buying experience to unfold. Do you want to visit the store together to get an idea of their preferences, then return solo for the final decision? Or would you prefer to surprise them, or perhaps go through the entire process together from beginning to end?

"Our team of certified jewelry experts is here to guide you and your significant other through any questions you have about one of the biggest purchases of your life. Consider coming to our showroom together or have the soon-to-be ringwearer come in with friends to ensure that the ring functions well for them and is a reflection of their vibe and style! This also gives you the opportunity to see different metal colors and stone shapes so you can feel more confident in what style works best for you. We can also discuss preliminary information on pricing—we are happy to accommodate a wide range of budgets."

QUICK INFO: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS A COMPLETE SURPRISE, TRY TO HAVE AN IDEA OF THE RING-WEARER'S GENERAL RING STYLE, GOLD COLORS, DIAMOND SHAPE & SIZE, AND YOUR BUDGET.

14 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

HOW DOES THE ENGAGEMENT RING PROCESS TYPICALLY BEGIN?

At Wimmer's, you'll begin with a beverage and 'get to know you' sesh to figure out wants and needs in a ring. There are many ring options to try on in-store, they can modify almost any ring to fit your requests, or, of course, they can design a fully custom, one-of-a-kind ring for you!

"Once we figure out any specific ring modifications you may want, our team of designers will get to work crafting the perfect ring for you." "

QUICK INFO: MEETING IN-STORE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO EXPERIENCE A VARIETY OF ENGAGEMENT RING OPTIONS AND GET HANDS-ON GUIDANCE FROM JEWELRY EXPERTS TO HELP YOU BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DECISION.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN SHOPPING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING? - Listen to your partner’s preferences—just because you're a couple doesn't mean you share the same taste in rings. Pay attention to hints about styles and diamond shapes and sizes they love.

- The engagement ring is a lifelong symbol of your relationship, so choose what feels right for both of you, regardless of trends. Wimmer’s will help build confidence in your choice based on your personal taste, lifestyle, and budget.

HOW CUSTOMIZABLE IS AN ENGAGEMENT RING? If you can dream it, Wimmer's can make it!

"We have over 105 years of experience in custom jewelry design. The possibilities are nearly endless and our jewelry experts can help you navigate your options, so every detail is incorporated into the final design."

QUICK INFO: ANY RINGS IN-STORE CAN BE MODIFIED WITH DIFFERENT STONE SIZES AND SHAPES, AS WELL AS GOLD COLORS.

- Always plan ahead! Quality craftsmanship takes time, so aim to meet with Wimmer's about six to eight weeks before your planned proposal date. With their large selection of in-store engagement rings, they can try their best to accommodate a spontaneous proposal.

- Start thinking about a comfortable budget in advance, including whether or not you will need to look into financing options. Wimmer's can guide you toward the perfect ring while keeping you financially at ease.

- Don't get overwhelmed. The engagement ring-buying process should be easy and fun! When working with Wimmer's, you are simply finding a ring your partner will love that is within a comfortable budget for you!

TIP: HAVE A DATE IN MIND? BACK UP YOUR PROPOSAL TIMELINE BY AT LEAST 6-8 WEEKS TO ENSURE THE RING ARRIVES ON TIME.

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Partner Content

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KNOW YOUR PARTNER’S RING SIZE BEFOREHAND? With over 70 combined years of experience, Wimmer’s in-house goldsmiths are highly skilled at resizing rings. However, resizing does have its limits, and Wimmer's prioritizes maintaining the quality of the ring. In some cases, they might reorder a ring in the correct size rather than resize it. This is why it’s important to know, or have an idea of, your partner’s ring size before proposing to ensure the correct fit and preserve the sentimental value of the ring.

HOW MUCH SHOULD SOMEONE EXPECT TO SPEND ON AN ENGAGEMENT RING? The simple answer? Spend what you can afford and are comfortable with. Wimmer's works with all budgets to get the perfect ring of your partner's dream.

QUICK INFO: FINANCING AND LAYAWAY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

TIP: HAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER GET THEIR RING SIZE WHILE OUT SHOPPING TOGETHER OR ENCOURAGE YOUR PARTNER TO VISIT THE STORE FIND THEIR SIZE AND TO MARK ALL OF THEIR FAVORITE STYLES ON FILE ON THEIR WIMMER'S WISHLIST!

ARE THERE TRENDS IN ENGAGEMENT RINGS THAT BUYERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

"Trends come and go, but your personal style should be reflected in your ring.

Current trends that we've seen lately include elongated diamonds as the center stone, in a timeless solitaire setting."

When a wedding band is added, it provides the perfect opportunity to showcase personality and style without overshadowing the engagement ring itself. Whether it be something super trendy or a timeless classic, Wimmer's offers an extensive selection of wedding bands in-store and is happy to assist with customizing a band to complement any engagement ring.

TIP: IF YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT WHAT RING STYLE THEY ARE GOING TO LOVE, STICK TO SOMETHING THAT'S SIMPLE AND CLASSIC.

16 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE DO IF THEY DON'T WANT A DIAMOND OR ARE LOOKING FOR A NONTRADITIONAL RING?

"We will do everything possible to ensure you love your ring, while also acknowledging the functionality and craftsmanship of the ring. Although diamonds are always recommended due to their durability and hardness, our jewelry experts can help you identify other center stone options that are available."

TIP: SAPPHIRES ARE A GREAT DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE AND OFFER EXCELLENT DURABILITY AND VARIETY. PRINCESS DIANA’S ICONIC ENGAGEMENT RING IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF NONTRADITIONAL BEAUTY.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PURCHASING FROM A LOCAL JEWELER VERSUS AN ONLINE STORE? Wimmer’s Diamonds provides a hands-on service, allowing you to touch, try on, and see the rings in person. Plus, if you need your ring serviced, an online store will have to ship out the ring, meaning it's then in the hands of the mail carrier, and usually takes more time than stopping in-store to explain the issues to the jewelry experts and goldsmiths.

"If you ever need to ask a question about your ring, you will be directed to an actual human with Wimmer's Diamonds, not an automated system with long wait times to be directed to a customer service representative. You cannot beat working with actual people, and online companies typically do not give the care and treatment that a local jeweler will provide."

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FIRST-TIME ENGAGEMENT RING SHOPPERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AT WIMMER’S? Wimmer’s Diamonds treats you like family, regardless of how much you spend. They offer free inspections and cleanings on all jewelry and transparent pricing.

"Our team has extensive knowledge in the jewelry industry and has given clients the best experience possible in the FM area for the last 100 years. (Did we also mention that you can meet our beloved furry friend, Rosie, in-store?)"

VISIT WIMMER'S DIAMONDS AND GET STARTED ON FOREVER TODAY!

QUICK INFO: LOCAL JEWELERS OFFER PERSONALIZED SERVICE, HUMAN CONNECTION, AND QUICKER, SAFER SOLUTIONS FOR RING SERVICING.

PREPPING TO POP THE QUESTION? Now that you know what to expect—head to Wimmer's starting October 14 through the end of the month to shop engagement ring-bling while you sip a complimentary brew! Plus, enjoy 25% off the ring for a limited time! *Center stone not included

4582 32ND AVE S, FARGO www.wimmersdiamonds.com

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21

The All American Standal

David's Audience Member Do's & Dont's Dont: Talk "You don't have to talk back to the comic, you don't have to be the guy to say something. I feel like so many people in America just want to be a hero. A lot of times the people in the crowd are like, 'You loser,' yeah, well, that's why he's doing stand-up. So I think they're just setting themselves up for failure when they say stuff like that."

Meh: Phones "As long as you're not in the front rows, if I can't see you on your phone, whatever, as long as you're not like talking."

Do: Not Laugh (Unless It's Funny)

22 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

ver 15 years of comedy in the FM area hasn't aged David The All American Standal a bit— besides his skill of course. While the Fargo native has built his material and confidence through years of stage time across the venues that have opened and closed in the community, you never want to get too comfortable on stage.

They say that some of the brightest and best comedy can spawn from the darkest places; that comics have described that joke-telling ability as a crutch, coping mechanism, or other like it—and I suppose a lot of that is up for interpretation for both audience and comedian—but regardless, for David, comedy was something learned early on as a tool to help navigate both on and off the stage.

"In the 90s or early 2000s, I was pretty much the only brown kid that I met until I was at least in like high school, so a lot of people would give me shit and whatnot. Then I realized, I think I was like four years old, that if I make these dudes laugh, then they just don't care anymore," David said. "So, I started doing that at a young age and throughout my life. I just thought of a joke and I would say it.

I was like, what's the worst that's gonna happen?

They're gonna yell at me? You know? I got a feeling of what's funny, what I can get away with, and what I can't... My theater teacher in high school, she was connected with somebody who knew about the open mic at the Red Raven, they got me connected, and I started showing up there."

David honed his "make them laugh with you before they can laugh at you" power, had gotten some stage experience through theater, and when his theater teacher, the infamous and highly admired Fargo South retired faculty Gwendolyn Stark, connected him with local stand up opportunities— he took it.

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"It was fun. I had written my set down and practiced in front of the wall with a hairbrush for a whole week straight. So, when I actually did my set, I did it really well. Also, I think they weren't expecting a 15-year-old kid to go out there and crush it or do better than a 15-year-old kid should do, I guess, but that was a good start to ignite the flame," he said.

With a perfected set, a good friend in the audience (shoutout Joe), and the sweet sense of teenage invincibility, David took the stage one fateful night 15 years ago and hasn't looked back. And now, besides his entertainmentrelated odd jobs—ie: radio, equipment set up, freelance work, or "pretty much anything I can get my little hands on to make it some extra bucks,"— David does comedy year-round.

In general, the comedy world tends to slow down in the summertime, that is especially the case here in Fargo-Moorhead due to the summertime usual—the lake. Many local comedians will take this time to hit the road and do some traveling for shows. This year, David summered in, well, the rural Midwest, doing shows at small-town bars as well as a few festivals! Now that the summertime is coming to a close, the shows at The Cellar and around town are packing in again, make sure to arrive on time to get the best seat!

I've learned a lot of comedy is not what you say, but how you say it—and what voice you say it in, what your face looks like. You can add a bunch more laughs onto something, just by the way you said it... You learn about levels of joke writing after a while. You start with the basis of that punchline, and then you can add a little more to it." - David Standal

24 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

David's comedy come style isn't for one set group of people but rather he has certain jokes in his arsenal that might hit better with one group than another.

"I like to think that I have a joke for everybody.

I try not to make too much of a niche where I'm offending half the crowd, I like to make everyone have a good time, but I do like to push the envelope a little bit by challenging myself and seeing what I can say and how I can say it and get away with it. A lot of my stuff is—because of the way I grew up—racial stuff, but it's more like satire. I like to make fun of what people would say or hear in their daily lives."

David has an edge to his jokes and his more serious inflection and demeanor on stage adds to the perfect execution of said material. But, that's not to say he doesn't laugh with the audience or even at himself when the moment presents itself. David's sets don't feature a lot of riffs with the audience, but there's a loose flow that you can feel during his time with the mic. He guides the energy in the room with a gentle, steady hand. Laughs come easy and there's ample room to breathe around the jokes while still keeping your attention fixed on his next line.

He might throw a little self-deprecating-like joke in, but rather than making you giggle at the awkwardness or "cringe" of it, it's endearing and relatable. There's a soft and warm feeling in the room while David is giving his set, even if he's joking about vulgar material.

How has he crafted this easy-going yet peculiar enough to hold your attention energy?

Years of practice.

"It was probably at 27—the last two, three years, so maybe 26—that I've really felt truly confident with what I'm doing, but there's always room for improvement. I could always be better. But as far as being self-conscious about what I'm able to do, not so much," David said. "If the challenge arises, I'll usually take it, but it takes so many years—even just authentic stage presence and stuff like that.

You can tell someone who's been doing it for a long time and some who still need to work on it."

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Being in the comedy scene for as long as David has, has given him a unique perspective on the journey.

"I think people get really confident, you know, once they get that taste. Being on stage—it's pretty addicting, but I've always looked at it as it's never gonna be a quick game. It's not like, you do comedy for two years and then you're a little famous, it's gonna encompass your life for years and years and years."

After doing some open mics and getting that initial taste, David knew that this was not something he was going to let go of. He continued to attend open mics for years after highschool, but as dedicated as he could be at the time, he says he got more serious about comedy as a career and knew he was going to stick with it for the long haul when he was in college.

"I was really depressed many years ago, and it was during the Fentanyl crisis, and a lot of my friends were passing away, and [I thought], I can't keep hanging out with these guys because they're bad influences. And I was kind of miserable, and—actually it's kind of funny, I started watching 'Alf,' the show with the puppet. And I was like, 'This guy is boss. This guy literally does whatever he wants, you know, and doesn't bring anything up.' I kind of want to be like that guy, so then I was like, screw it—I'm gonna move downtown and I'm gonna start doing comedy. Alf was pretty much my inspiration," David said.

Well—actually, David said, "Alf was pretty much my Alf-spiration."

Q: Craziest on-stage experience?

A: I was hosting a show at The Cellar, and some drunk, homeless guy came in and rushed the stage. I jumped off stage and ran around and tried to rodeo clown him, people came and wrestled him... I mean, it's a great story, it's the most anguish I've ever had on stage.

Q: Top on-stage experience?

A: One of my favorite things to do every year is the roast, and I'll do a PowerPoint. Those are some of my favorites because it's like a multimedia comedy set. It's like the one time of year where comedians are able just to say all the real nasty stuff that they want to say, you know, like, what they can because of society. It's kind of the green light just to be mean.

Q: Have you been heckled?

A: Yeah, I'm pretty good at it. I just, I don't know, I just kind of look at them and like a stern parent, say, "Shut up."

Q: Do you think there are any misconceptions about comedians?

A: I don't remember who said it, I think it was Shakespeare, said [something] like, comedy is tragedy plus timing, you know? A lot of the comedians I know, that are really good especially, are really, like mentally ill... There are a lot of emotions that actually go with comedians that people don't see or even hear about. Like with Robin Williams and stuff like that—checking on your funny friends. I think a lot of people think that comics are doing comedy to be famous, or to get under people's skin. But, I think a lot of it is just that people found their outlet and what helps them feel better. I know a lot of people that if it wasn't for comedy, I have no idea what they would be doing.

26 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

WITH DAVID

Keep up to date with David's upcoming shows, the occasional Alf meme, and more on his socials! | /NotDavidStandal | @davidstandal

Formulas & forte

Nate's Audience Member Do's & Dont's Do: Not talk during the set.

Dont: Don't sit in the front with RBF.

28 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

hen you're on stage and the lights are bright in your face and you can't quite see the entire crowd, it can be comforting to slip into the mask or the groove of your stage presence—whether it's a theater performance, live music, a public speaking event, or a comedy show. It's pretty special to witness someone else do that, especially when it's followed by an encapsulating performance.

Nate Roe came from small-town Minnesota to the area to attend college. He grew up doing a bit of theater in high school. He now works as an engineer for a local pharmaceutical supply company in town.

He lives downtown, is a bit soft-spoken when you first meet him, and has an incredible stage presence.

Nate had some experience in front of crowds because of theater, but he actually started doing stand-up at the old Red Raven Espresso Parlor (now, an event space called FirehouseNo2 hosted by The White House Co.) in 2019. But, it wasn't a smooth ride from then on, one might call it more of a zig-zag.

"I think [my comedy] goes back to—all my brothers are a lot older than me. Like, my youngest brother's eight years older than me. So, I grew up, and I think I got a real kick out of making his friends laugh. I would think, 'What would they think is funny?' and it kind of stems from that," Nate said.

"It's kind of hard to pin down [when I started] because I started in, I want to say, 2019, but then during COVID, I didn't really do any shows. I didn't want to do any Zoom shows," Nate said. "I also had a co-op during college, where I lived in Jamestown for eight months. I probably did like, two open mics during that time in Jamestown, and that was nervewracking because it was a new place. Those mics were horrible, with like three people on the lineup, and the other two were country music artists, then me telling jokes for five minutes."

Other than being a jokester with his older brother's friends growing up, Nate says he hasn't thought much about why he does comedy; other than the fact that it feels cool—of course, it didn't start out feeling like that.

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Back in 2019, 20 after watching his friend who has since retired from the stage perform at an open mic at the Red Raven a few times, Nate decided to try it.

"My first time, I basically just told a story about—I don't even remember what it was— something dealing with a farm story. I literally don't remember a single thing about it. I don't even think it had a point to the story. That was my first time on stage in years, since high school. That was fun. Then the next week, I had a couple actual jokes. You just do those jokes again with more stuff to them. More new jokes and they kind of get bigger and bigger."

Nate remembers a few laughs here and there from that first open mic. Usually, there are some chuckles at every show, but Nate said that if he's doing an open mic, he'd rather have dead silence than pity laughs. Why? Because that's more data.

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Nate is i the type of comedian who immediately grabs your attention. It's not that he necessarily does that with a loud noise, or a crazy opening line; in fact, he enters the stage in no rush, there's no hurriedness to his movements, but once he starts speaking you can feel yourself drawn into the show. As some say, there's a method to the madness.

Wordplay, "aha" moments, and a little bit of formula-driven jokes make up some of Nate's comedy style.

"Basically every joke is, you set up an expectation, you subvert the expectation, and that's what causes the laugh for some reason," Nate explained. "It's like—what's the point of the joke? Like, is it true? Because, if you're pointing out something, it's got to be something that other people have also noticed consciously—that's hard to do."

There are a lot of formula-made jokes that Nate has developed. The tricky part about that style of material development can be to make sure that your jokes are still presented authentically. And what's a great way to create authenticity? Vulnerability.

you're able to pop it up again as they're dying down.

A comic who's really good at that is Sam Tallent, in his sets you watch him and he does a quip or like a tagline and it's timed perfectly to when they start to die down," Nate said.

"I do a good amount of self deprecating stuff at the top of the set," he said. "Which is good to do because if you come off right off the bat thinking you're hot shit or whatever, and then you don't do that good, everyone hates you for the rest of the set."

If you didn't talk to Nate about this trick, you'd never notice that he is very intentional about his timing.

Listening to his set, you're zoned in, waiting for the next line to come, and as he works out the timing of his next line, you're almost being baited—which makes you want to listen even harder. And when it does come, you can feel the pressure in the room release.

As he starts with a little self-depreciation to connect with the audience, it can almost seem like the set is a bit uncouth, but in reality, it's extremely calculated.

Not in a deceiving way, but rather intriguing. He's almost calculated it down to a science, the audience is wrapped around his finger waiting on the edge of their seats to hear what he says next—without ever realizing you're as involved with what he's saying so much until you're snapped out of it as he leaves the stage with a wave and a "have a good night."

"I try to do that, and very rarely am I as successful as that. But, it's a really good feeling when you get the crowd rolling and then with the contagious nature of laughter, if you get that, then everyone's laughing. It's loud as hell."

"I feel like I'm able to get a good amount of laughs per minute with my current style. And I like the feeling of a crowd pop, where everyone's laughing, and then if

That's the tough nature of comedy—the better you do, the less material you have to do because there's more laughter to fill the time.

Whereas, if you're bombing, you have to joke, and joke, and joke. That is actually a really good metric to tell how well you did because it's hard to tell when you're on stage, threequarters of the way through my set, there's only one minute left that's generally because I did pretty good. Or if I go through all my material and there's still, like, three minutes left, I'm just like, I ate shit." - Nate Roe

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Nate is really at a high point in his career as a comic thus far. You can tell he is comfortable on stage, has plenty of material, and is just excited to be a part of the scene. That's not to say there's not much more to come, and that is to say that in reality there's only about five years give or take under his belt—so again, the future is wide open for Nate.

What he's really looking forward to now? Growing and being a part of the local community.

"There's no dearth of talent. There's a lot of older talent and newer, upcoming people that are getting better each week. I think we're in good hands, although unfortunately, two of my friends recently moved to the Twin Cities area," Nate said. "We keep losing them."

That's a commonality with comedians from the Fargo area—going east for brighter lights and bigger stages.

But, Nate and the other comedians would probably tell you that choosing to move on from the FM scene can be a bittersweet thing.

WITH nate

Follow along with Nate's upcoming shows and highlights online on The Cellar's socials and his Instagram! | @nath_roe

32 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

Q: Do you have any memories that stuck out to you?

A: There was this one showcase we did a couple of years back that might be the best set in terms of crowd reception, and this hasn't happened since, which is a bummer because I've been chasing that high. I was able to do the [crowd pop] thing I was kind of talking about, and then there was a point about two-thirds of the way through the set where a lady fell off her chair because she was laughing.

Q: Pre-show rituals?

A: I'll get a coffee, and then I'll get an old-fashioned. That's it. Coffee to pep you, and then the whiskey to... also pep you up?

Q: What isn't funny?

A: I think a lot of newer comics confuse offensive with funny—it can be, in the hands of a skilled comic, which, if you're starting, you probably aren't. Guys will go out of the gate, like, borderline saying slurs on stage—those guys get blacklisted, obviously, so that isn't funny. Although I won't say certain topics are 100% taboo, I think if the joke is done well enough and it's done from a place of understanding then it can be funny, but rarely is the case. [Also], stolen jokes aren't funny.

Comedy dad

Marquay's Audience Member Do's & Dont's Dont: Answer the questions comedians ask.

"A lot of times, you'll ask a rhetorical question, and then there's somebody in the audience that just answers it. You don't have to answer it, they're almost always rhetorical."

Dont: Talk during the set.

Do: Be engaged.

34 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

or some, comedy isn't a huge tour, sold-out shows, or national or even regional recognition; it's an outlet, a community, a home. Marquay Belcher has been on stage for about five years, and while each set brings more experience and confidence to his comedy career, he's perfectly fine with the local stage as long as he can continue to introduce new faces to it.

Growing up in Michigan, Marquay loved comedy.

Comedy shows, comedy specials, anything comedy that he could get his eyes and ears on.

"There's this special, 'Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met' and it sounds silly, but I watched that four times a week," Marquay said. "I could recite it live."

In his 20s, Marquay moved to Hawaii. And although it might sound like someone's dream, being on vacation mode 24/7 wasn't doing it for Marquay.

Drawn towards the entertainment world, he attended music school intending to become a record label owner. He and his then-girlfriend lived in Minneapolis while Marquay was developing his label career. They were there until it was evident that his family—which now consists of him, his wife, and their son—needed to move to Fargo for more opportunities for his wife's job as a doctor. That was about 14 years ago.

For many years after moving to the FM area—still drawn to the entertainment business—Marquay ran a DJ business. In time, he slowed down and retired the DJing equipment—unless someone is doing a 90s hip-hop party—and now his day job is in sales.

Right about the time that he stopped DJing, an old coworker told him that her son was doing stand-up comedy in town, Marquay was immediately intrigued.

The Cel lar Mic Det - Open ails: Every Wed nesday Nig ht Up to 20 Comed ians 3 - 5 minut e sets Free Event 21+

Stage time is not guaran teed!

Hosted by Marquay B elcher

Time: doors open at 7 p.m. sign-up at 7:30 p.m. show starts at 8 p.m.

as I enjoyed comedy as a kid, I never considered it as a career or anything like that, until I got here and she said that her son just went to open mic.

Something clicked, I thought, 'Whoa, I could do that'—well, not even, I went to it and thought, 'Wow. There are people who actually do comedy.'"

After going to the open mic, and witnessing returning performers and first-timers do both really well and bomb, he thought it was just really fun. There was something extremely intriguing about the mundanity of these people's lives during the day compared to the excitement of their stage time at night.

"It was really interesting to see that those people just left work, then they were doing comedy, and then they would go back to their regular life. Fast forward to now, where the people I watched at the open mic are now doing national podcasts, that's really awesome," he said. "So I guess, to answer the question, when did I get into comedy? I was always into it from a young age, but I didn't know that it was something a regular person could do until almost too late in life, I suppose."

"I got into comedy at a very young age, but it wasn't until I moved to Fargo that, I mean it sounds so silly, but that's when I figured out that normal people can do things like that..." Marquay said. "Even as much

35

Courtney's Comedy Club was the premier comedy spot in the FM area. Established in 1992 the club had a long history.

It was named after the original owner’s daughter and was known as the "House that Laughs Built." The club hosted a variety of nightly events, like karaoke, free poker nights, and open mic nights. Unfortunately, it has since closed down but many who have been a part of the local scene remember this club, especially its neon sign—which Marquay still regrets not snagging for a keepsake when they closed their doors!

Before Front Street's Cellar was the Valley's go-to comedy spot, Courtney's Comedy Club in Moorhead was the stage on fire with local comedy shows.

Throughout the years, there have been other spots to host open mics around town, including the since-closed Pickled Parrot as well as Dempsey's Public House—which is where Marquay went for his first time in the spotlight.

"I guess I just needed to know for myself, like, can I get up on stage and tell a joke? Would I be good at this? Would I be nervous? I just had to do it, to try it. That was five years ago."

He was both nervous and not, always being the guy who was not easily embarrassed. He cracked jokes often, admitting that it might have been a little bit of a defense mechanism for situations. Almost like a class clown, but not in a negative light—there's one instance of clowning that he remembers to this day.

"Miss Knightling—she was my art teacher. We were doing something in class, all gathered around her, and I don't remember what she said to prompt what I said, and I don't even remember what I said, but I said something. And I started looking around to make sure that everybody thought that what I said was funny, and then she said, 'That's right, Marquay, look around and make sure everybody thinks it's funny.' I was like, 'Am I doing that?' And I was doing that, and it just got real. It made me more aware of public speaking, I suppose, like, if you want to be in control of the crowd, you have to be in control of the crowd. I thought, I want to make sure these people enjoyed my joke."

Still to this day, he admitted he never knew if they did or not—but he does know—that was one moment he remembers looking for his audience's feedback after a joke, just as he does today.

36 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

Make sure to check out Marquay's podcast, hosted by him and fellow comedian Blaise Kautzman, called "I Woke Up For This" live on Tuesday mornings from 8 - 9 a.m. and released on streaming platforms on Wednesdays!

Marquay loosely coined his style of comedy as "misdirection," meaning he would start with a joke that you, as the listener, think is going one way, but then he will come in with a punchline or detail that will make you realize you misunderstand what the story was about in the first place—and it's usually absurd, and usually very funny.

"There are other jokes where you can take a real-life situation, and then maybe you can twist it a little bit to make it a little bit more funny. But, I don't know if I have a comedy style, I think that wouldn't necessarily be for me to answer. Some comedians, you can tell there's like, a formula that they use, plug and play if you will, which is fine, but I don't have that—a set style."

Each week, Marquay hosts the open mic at The Cellar on Wednesdays. He starts the show with some jokes, gets everyone in the audience hyped up for the evening, and introduces each comedian after their timeslot is up. It can be a delicate job to uphold. Whether it's making the comedians feel welcomed and encrouaged without overstepping or engaging with the audience. But, Marquay loves it.

He might switch up his set or style night after night at a back-to-back show or midshow if he notices something that is or isn't working with the audience. But there's a sense of casualness when Marquay is on stage. It's not that it's carelessness in a negative way, but rather an aloofness. You can tell that ultimately, he is unbothered about being up there—unbothered but comfortable enough to be himself and to be funny.

When Marquay is on stage, the audience feels like they can see him just being himself.

Sometimes comedians enter the stage with this persona, sometimes they enter and give a bit from start to finish never fully revealing themselves, and sometimes they radiate the energy of authenticity. No one is superior to another, but they are all hard to do well.

Marquay is unruffled yet engaged, and welcoming while being just plain funny.

37

Marquay is extremely passionate about the local comedy scene, The Cellar's open mics, his friends and peers in the community, and welcoming in new folks (expirienced or not, comedians or audience members), and that's where he would be comfortable staying at.

"My goal, I guess in comedy, isn't the same as a lot of the other guys. I think that comedy like I was talking about earlier, I feel like my time has passed. [Maybe] not passed, but I don't have any dreams or aspirations or goals or hopes for it. I don't see myself going on the road to do comedy, to get famous, or to get paid for doing comedy, the stuff you have to do before you get enough money to maintain a lifestyle like that," he said.

There's no part of Marquay that looks down on those who are doing stand-up and grinding to become nationally recognized, in fact, some of his close friends who perform every week are—it's just not his goal right now.

"My goal now is to see people develop their style, become better comedians, and then ultimately take it somewhere else... It's cool to be like, 'I watched them from the beginning, grow into that.' I guess that's my goal, to water the flowers. They call me the comedy dad, I don't really take that title too seriously, but I do like to see the seeds grow."

WITH uay Marq

Keep up to date with Marquay's upcoming shows and more online, and check out the next open mic he's hosting! | @marquayquay | @thecellarfargo

38 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

Q: Pre-show rituals?

A: I wouldn't say there's a ritual, but there's like, a routine. I feel like that might be part of where the "comedy dad" part comes from. Because I have kicked people off stage. I have told people that they can't do certain things and kicked people out of the establishment, but I'm not a bouncer or anything. It's not part of my job description if you will, but I do feel a responsibility to protect the open mic in general. If there's somebody causing trouble, I don't want that for the establishment. I don't want that for the open mic.

Q: What isn't funny? *Note: there was much deliberation, discussion, and doubting that happened before this answer. Too much to print here, but trust that this decision was not made lightly.

A: Stolen jokes.

NOt-YourGrandma's-favorite comedian

Bethany’s Audience Member Do’s & Don’ts Do: Laugh loudly and often.

Dont: Be that person who shouts out answers to rhetorical questions—just don’t.

40 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

omedy can be a refuge, a stage where your authentic self and crafted persona can come together under the spotlight. For some, it's a lifelong pursuit, but for Bethany Abeln, it’s a passion that sparked just a year ago. What began as a casual attempt has become a new chapter in her already busy life.

With her background in bodybuilding, design, and running her own business, she brings a unique kind of energy to Fargo’s comedy scene, all while embracing the exhilarating unpredictability of stand-up.

Bethany is a wearer of many hats. Along with comedian, she is a retired bodybuilder, entrepreneur, and business owner. She designs, sews, and sells bodybuilding suits.

Because of this, Bethany is no stranger to being on stage. As a bodybuilder, she’s been judged under the bright lights, posing in front of large crowds—which she said has helped her with the nerves that come with live comedy.

"I can bounce back pretty quick since I was a bodybuilder, I'm pretty mentally tough from that," she said. "For me, being on stage in front of people isn't

that intimidating, because I've been on stage pretty much naked in front of people."

Although, comedy is a different kind of performance, it didn’t take long for Bethany to feel the draw of making people laugh.

"I loved comedies as a kid. I was obsessed with 'I Love Lucy.' I would watch whatever stand-up was on HBO, Comedy Central, or whatever I could get away with watching at the time. In college, I watched him stand up, I liked podcasts, and then about five years ago, when I watched 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' that inspired me to actually start writing bits."

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Bethany’s first time on stage was a step into the unknown just as much as it was a leap of faith in herself.

"I had my bits prepared, I was supposed to only go for three minutes, and I looked at the clock, it was six minutes. I had just gone up, and I don't remember what I said—I blacked out.

I remember some people laughed," Bethany said.

"It was so nerve-wracking, I was nervous to the point where I don't really remember it."

That first open mic, though anxiety-inducing, didn’t discourage her. After listening to the audio back later, she realized how much she wanted to keep doing this, hearing what worked and what didn’t,

Bethany’s comedy style is personal, grounded in reallife stories, and infused with just a touch of dark humor.

“I’m definitely not your grandma’s favorite comic,” she said. “I talk about things from my whole life, things from my childhood to now.

As far as inspiration— anything and everything.

Just the other day, I saw a billboard that made me laugh, and I thought, how can I turn that into a bit? I'm still pretty fresh at it all, so sometimes I have to realize just because it was really funny in my head or when I said it in the kitchen doesn't mean it's funny on stage."

Bethany reminds herself that just because no one laughed today doesn't mean that 42 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

and finding motivation by picking out what she could "fix" or "make it better."

Like many comics, Bethany found herself hooked on the chase or breakdown of refining jokes, testing new material, and making incremental improvements.

And the best way to do that is to get on stage and do it.

"If I want to be a better comic, but I get tired of going to open mics, I'm never going to become a better comic... I think, well, even if I don't have the best new joke yet, maybe I just need to go there and ramble into a microphone for a minute, and something will come out. It doesn't always happen. But I'm like, Hey, I still showed up," Bethany said.

they're not going to laugh next time. She has learned resiliency in this aspect.

Another key to Bethany's comedy is reliability, she doesn’t shy away from the gritty or the awkward and even embraces the unexpected turns of life in her comedy.

A lot of what she brings to her sets are everyday things that people can relate to, but maybe don’t talk about. Her jokes may walk a fine line, but they come from a place of authenticity.

While she may be still figuring it all out, she's staying true to who she is.

For Bethany, that's where the fun is—being herself, but with a mic.

Bethany’s comedy career may still be in its early stages, but she’s already made significant strides.

In addition to regular performances at The Cellar, she recently had an unexpected opportunity that launched her to a new level. She received an Instagram DM from national comedian Nikki Glaser.

She asked Bethany to open for her in New Town, ND. And while she thought it was a scam at first, it was real. And earlier this summer, Bethany opened for the comic.

Opening for a well-known comic in front of thousands of people was a surreal experience for Bethany. The show was the biggest crowd she'd performed in front of to date—around 3,000 people. Nikki gave Bethany a few extra minutes of stage time and told her that she'd found her through a few clips on Bethany's Instagram.

This was a huge opportunity for Bethany. And not one to be taken lightly, all things considered. The fact that she, among more women of various ages,

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backgrounds, and experience levels, are weekly performer on The Cellar's comedy stage is a feat and something the FM area should be proud of.

"Comedy is a male-dominated industry. It is. You can't deny it," Bethany said. "The first time I came to The Cellar when I walked in, it was mostly dudes.

I think the first night I went, there was one female... but I come from the gym world, so I've been around dudes. I thought, how would I act if I was walking to the gym? Either I put my headphones on and ignore them, or I'm like, well, we're all here to work—it's the same thing with comedy. We're all here to have fun.

That helped me."

With just about one year of stand-up under her belt, Bethany is focused on gaining more experience, specifically in different venues outside of the FM area. Because her main focus right now—learn, learn, learn.

"I'm looking forward to just doing more shows around North Dakota in general. I've talked to some people in Bismarck about doing a show, and maybe Minot. We're doing some shows in Casselton and Mapleton, ND, coming up; because I haven't done comedy outside of Fargo. New Town was my first road gig. I just want to get more experience in front of more crowds and different venues, and then in time travel outside North Dakota," she said.

Though she’s ambitious about expanding her comedy, Bethany remains grounded in the joy of the journey. Right now, the goal isn't fame or fortune, but experience and personal expansion—and that's enough for Bethany.

WITH ny Betha

Q: Pre-show rituals?

A: “Every time I drive to where I'm going, I listen to the song 'Inside Out'

by Eve 6. I don't know, it's a good jam and it gets me in a good mood.

And, I write my whole set out in my comedy notebook."

Q: What isn’t funny?

A: “Parallel parking."

Learn more about Bethany and her business, and watch out for announcements on her next performance in town! | @bethanyabeln

isn't it absurd?

Blaise’s Audience Member Do’s & Don’ts Dont: Heckle or try to be part of the show.

"People just want to be part of it and don’t realize they’re derailing the set."

Do: Laugh when it’s funny—don't hold back.

46 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

or Blaise Kautzman, comedy isn’t just an outlet or a hobby—it’s a central part of his life and has been for the past two and a half years.

What began with a spontaneous decision to hit an open mic has quickly transformed into a passion for Blaise, who is now a regular face in Fargo’s burgeoning comedy scene.

From performing in dive bars to running open mics, Blaise has been steadily growing his presence and perfecting his craft. His style?

Observational, laid-back, and a touch of the absurd, finding humor in everything from daily interactions to the quirks of modern life.

“I've always just been a goofball, always looking for the next joke," Blaise said, and added, "probably in situations where I shouldn't be looking for that."

Though Blaise didn’t jump into stand-up right away, the thought of doing comedy was always there in the back of his mind. Even though he said he didn't have the guts to get on stage, he remembers wanting to join the open mics at the since-closed Pickled Parrot. That all changed in May of 2022 when Blaise finally decided to make the leap.

“I just told my friends that I'm not coming to play volleyball that night like I was supposed to, and went up and did the open mic for the first time."

Like many first-time comedians, Blaise’s debut was filled with a whole lot of excitement touch of something new to him— nerves.

"I don't ever get nervous for stuff—for anything. I was always playing sports and in state championships and stuff like that, and I still never really got nervous.

But this was something that I actually was nervous about. I've done plays and things like that, but this was something that I wrote, it meant something to me where other stuff didn't, this was super personal,"

Despite his nervousness, Blaise's first set went relatively well. He remembers getting a lot of laughs, although he did go way over my time, which is a big open-mic no-no. He attributes some of the crowd's excitement and reception of his set to the MC of the evening— Marquay.

"The energy's up, but all the nerves went away after I got that first joke out, and then it was just kind of like a euphoria like you're riding up here," Blaise said with his hand above his head.

"You just ride a high... and immediately, I fell in love with it. I thought, 'This is what I want to do.' Then, I was going there every week and figuring out where else I could do this... Since then, it's been the number one priority."

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Blaise describes his comedy style as a blend of observational humor and storytelling. His philosophy is that he humor in everyday life. His notes are filled with little ideas or taglines or even just a absurd thought about something that he's witnessed.

"I'm looking at the world in dumb ways. Observational and a lot of storytelling—just different situations I've been in, and finding the humor in everything are probably the two main things that my comedy is about," he said. "I think I can find humor in most things. A lot of my stuff comes from just hanging out with my friends,

BSing around, and catching something that we maybe wouldn't have caught."

While his jokes may rest on the factor of absurdity, he is not ignorant of the importance of authenticity.

“I think authenticity is a big vain comedy. You can tell if someone's not authentic, they come off telling crazy stories that you're, 'that didn't happen.' So there's a lot of grounding in the reality of things that happen to you, but having to embellish it a little bit for the bit, obviously, but I think there's a good balance that you really need to find to be real and relatable."

Comedy has quickly become an all-consuming part of Blaise’s life. In addition to performing regularly, he now co-runs multiple open mics in Fargo and West Fargo, has started doing shows across the Midwest, as well as hosting a podcast and radio show. Blaise appreciates the community of local comedies, those whom he shares the stage with and has come to call friends, as well as the audiences every week. More than that, he is picking away at this skillset, not only to develop his role as a comedian but also as a business-lead entertainer.

Stream Blaise & Marquay's podcast, I Woke Up For This!

Learn more about the podcast and the hosts on Instagram at @iwokeupforthispod

"I've actually really liked to learn the business side of scheduling shows or like talking to people. It's a lot of networking, so finding other comics that want to do a show with me that's really fun. Or actually calling the bars and venues, or having bars or venues contact you and work out the deal, learning the business side is just as fun as doing the actual show," Blaise said.

Blaise is also passionate about growing the scene, particularly in smaller towns. He and the other comics travel around the Midwest and try their hands on a few small bars or venues like that, and it's always a toss-up on the receiving—but but eager fresh comedians like Blaise, they're excited to be out with a mic testing out material.

50 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

Blaise is incentivized by a challenge, and sometimes, the best motivation is failure.

"That's the fun thing about stand up is just you learn every single week, because you'll go on stage and say a joke that you think is super funny, then no one laughs. So then it's a whole process of asking yourself, is that just not funny? Do only I think it's funny? Or did I say that with just the completely wrong inflection or not portray it enough? It's growing and working every week that draws me into it even more," he said.

Though he’s still in the early stages of his comedy career, Blaise is in it for the long haul.

WITH Blaise

Q: Pre-show rituals?

A: I usually have one to two beers... I'm very extroverted, so if I sit around by myself too much, it's not gonna be good for me.

Q: What isn't funny?

A: I honestly think that you can find humor in everything. Sure, being outright mean isn't funny. If you have bad intentions, is the only not funny thing... Everything in the world is ridiculous. It's kind of insane that we're here in the first place.

Q: What’s your last meal?

A: Any type of taco. I'd probably just have a wide variety of tacos. Tacos cover so many different areas. You can have the Midwestern white people tacos all the way over to some barbacoa tacos.

Follow Blaise’s comedy journey on Instagram and catch his next performance at The Cellar! | @blaisekautzman

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52 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

Embracing the

The Beginning of an Artist Punchgut has always been an artist in some capacity, and more so has always bridged art with a mental outlet. His grade school days were filled with doodling as a way to escape anxiety.

"That was a way to keep my head down and not associate a whole lot because of anxiety and all those other things. It was like a weird little escape bubble to hide," he said.

His journey into the professional art world began over 25 years ago, and since then, he’s explored just about every creative avenue imaginable— from t-shirt designs to gig posters to commercial work.

His professional career took off with the help of local collaborations, most notably with Drekker Brewing. A chance encounter with one of his gig posters caught the eye of Drekker’s co-founder, Mark Bjornstad.

"They saw one of the gig posters I did for Girl Talk, and that was the drippy death look they wanted to go for. Then, we started going from there," Matt said. "I've almost been with them since day one, which is crazy, but that's where we've gone from. It's been like 10 years."

This marked the beginning of a creative partnership that has expanded over a decade and produced more than 100 unique beer labels.

CONtINUED 53

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Balancing Business and Art In a world where artists are often expected to wear many hats, Punchgut fully embraces the duality of being both a business owner and a creative.

"I do a lot of that [commercial] stuff too, and I like it. It's like the yin and the yang. Sometimes it makes the spicier stuff, spicier.

I do logos, I mean, when you're an artist in Fargo, ND you gotta do everything to keep your head above water," he said.

His days are split between commercial projects, like logos, and his passion projects, which he refers to as "the fun stuff."

Winter is Punchgut’s prime time for experimentation. Isolated by the season, he uses this time to push boundaries with his art.

"Winter is perfect for depression and art creation. For artists, 54 | OCTOBER 2024 | FARGOMONTHLY.COM

winter is perfect because it's isolating, and you do have time to just disappear in your pieces and just start trying to wreck stuff and create new stuff. Winter's perfect for that, so that's what I binge on in the winter. I just start going in a whole bunch of routes and try to do as much as I can," he said.

Punchgut stockpiles pieces during the season for many different avenues. Whether it'll be in an art show, stand in his personal collection on his walls, or be sold an an event like Drekkerfest come the early fall.

The point is to create, create, and create some more.

"I don't know if anyone will buy it, but it's an eye-catcher," he said.

Punchgut’s Fargo Favorites FAV WINTER ACTIVITY: Experimenting with new art projects FAV LOCAL EVENT: Drekkerfest (of course) HIDDEN TALENT: Longboarding down steep hills at 35 mph without crashing!

CREATIVE MUSE: "Whatever crazy idea comes next."

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The Creative Process: "Always the Next One" Punchgut’s process could be described as deeply intuitive, often driven by an unplanned, natural evolution. He doesn’t meticulously plan each step, instead letting the art grow as he works. It's a bit chaotic, but even more, it just perfectly makes sense.

"For me, my favorite one is always the next one. I think it helps inspire me to keep grinding, because I'm so involved in it at that moment, and I'm like, 'This could be the best one,'" he said. "It's a weird little motivation.

I don't know if I ever thought of it as motivation, I just started working at it. I like having something on the board for next."

Whether he's working on a Drekker label or an experimental piece, the rush of seeing an idea come to life is what drives him forward. But that doesn’t mean everything comes easily. When

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he’s stuck on a project, he turns to longboarding as a way to clear his head.

"I constantly deal with intimidation and anxiety, I think we all do," Matt said. "Even with the art when I put on pricing, I second guess everything... a lot of times I'm breaking it down for people to make myself comfortable in situations because I'm spun up a lot of times with that stuff, we all get stuck in our heads. That's why I started long longboarding, it was an hour where my brain shuts up."

"It just gets those voices quiet a little bit, and if I don't pay attention, I eat shit, it hurts. So, you have to turn off those voices, the chatter, stay focused... that's where I feel better because I'll come back from those and I'll just be sparked up and refreshed," he said.

Drekker, Drekkerfest, and Collabs For fans of Drekker Brewing, Punchgut’s work is instantly recognizable. His intricate designs, often filled with hidden surprises and Easter eggs, have become so beloved that some keep them as collector’s items.

Some fans even peel the labels off cans to keep as mementos and will have Punchgut sign the labels at events.

But his collaboration with Drekker goes beyond making beer labels. He’s also involved in their signature events, like Drekkerfest, as well as the massive creation of Brewhalla. Alongside fellow illustrator Nathaniel Huhnke, Punchgut sketched ideas and helped craft both the festival's and the market-hotel-brewery's visuals.

"I'm lucky to have another illustrator where we can both jam on stuff, and I think it helps push both of us to work a little bit harder. And, I think it shows in the final products and the stuff we do," Matt said.

Monsters Aren't That Scary One of Punchgut's philosophies is to break down barriers between art and the public. To engage the public with art and remove any intimidation that can come with it. At Drekkerfest, he hosts the “Monster Drawing Club," where people of all ages can gather to draw without judgment.

"Nobody's gonna say a monster is wrong," Matt said. "That's the one thing I've learned with kids—whatever you draw is correct or whatever you see is correct.

So, we'll roll out some paper, and I would have some 'finish the drawing projects' or draw shapes, and people will sit and draw with that stuff. That's another way to break down that uncomfortable anxiety barrier with art."

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Beyond Labels: The Art of Experimentation Punchgut is constantly experimenting with new techniques and materials. His pieces often come together over time—although there is no one length of time that he restricts himself to—with layers of glue, paint, and found objects to add depth and texture. His wall in his studio is one of the ways he determine's a projects finality.

"Once it makes on that wall, it's officially done. Then my brain pushes the stop button, and I'm free to start on a new one. Some of the ones I've been doing lately, I'll start them, then halfway through stop if I'm getting a little bit stuck, and then pick them up later, and it'll just change. It's a week or month later. That's the weird part, where if you're trained in a world of design,

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like commercial art, it's about deadlines. That's the deadline and that's when it's done. I'm deadline driven, that's what I'm used to. So it's weird to have something that can be done whenever and it doesn't matter.

It's hard to calm that part of your brain down," Matt said.

Advice to Aspiring Artists FOR ARTISTS, PUNCHGUT HAS ADVICE:

"Just keep grinding your stuff out. It doesn't have to be about knowing that someone's gonna buy it. Your skill level is not going to change if you aren't grinding away and doing it yourself. You have to be prepared for if someone does say, 'There's a show,' and instead of you just saying, 'Yeah, I can do it,' you have that stuff ready to go. Even if you don't show it to anyone, it's that progression. You really have to be obsessive about it. Because it takes a lot of time to it, get comfortable, and get better at it, and improve from it. To me, those are the artists that you can tell are supposed to be doing it. Because they can't help it, they're gonna be doing it either way, always creating stuff. Otherwise they just get a little sick, it's something they have to do."

"Even if you don't have a job in that field at that moment, still creating is part of the process, just grinding away at it. You keep putting out more and more stuff. You can put it on an Instagram account, put it on a website. There are lots of things you can do to put that stuff out on your own and get it out there to the world, and then you'll have these pages of images so when someone does come, you're ready for it. Anyone can talk the talk. It's getting your work ready to go, which sucks sometimes if you're just cranking out work and you don't think anybody's seeing it, but it's part of the process."

"To me, it's that I love starting a new project, that's the part that always motivates me. The closure of one project that you just finished and starting a new one. It doesn't matter if it's for client or if it's for just you," he said.

Through this, he has developed a lens or mindset in which he views art.

Punchgut’s philosophy on art and creating is an inspiring reminder of the unpredictable, yet rewarding, path of being an artist. And as for what’s next? We know he's already excited about it—whatever it may be.

Check out Matt's Instagram for more Punchgut content visit his website at punchgutstudio.com for more! @punchgut

I N S TA G R A M

Throughout his career, Punchgut has found encouragement through progression, and that progression comes from an innate need to create.

"I'm taking this time out of my life to create this art, which all art is—these are all little brief synopsis and flashes of a moment in an artist's life, no matter who did it. That's a moment in their life that's up on the wall. In that brief moment, maybe they paid their cell energy bill late, or whatever—they have all this other stuff going on while creating and these moments somehow overlaid," he said.

"It's just this little capture of a moment in an artist's life— good, bad, positive, you have to sort that out."

WEBSITE

Putchgut believes that artists can and should be obsessive about their craft, in order to consistently hone their skills and build their collection.

59

EVENT CALENDAR

Daily until Oct 31, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

West Acres Mall

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As the crisp air and even crispier leaves settle, FargoMoorhead is buzzing with seasonal events that capture the spirit of fall. From pumpkin patches and cozy markets to live performances and family festivals, October and November offer something for everyone.

Whether you’re craving last-minute outdoor adventure or looking to cozy up indoors, we've packed this guide with can’t-miss activities to make the most of the season— check it out!

Daily until Oct 27, Friday 1 - 6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 1 - 6 p.m.

Lil Bitz Pumpkin Patch, 7414 40th Ave N, Fargo

Recurring on Sundays, Fridays, & Saturdays until October 27, Fridays 5 - 8 p.m., Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.

- 6 p.m.

Red River Valley Fairgrounds

Recurring weekly on Mondays, 7:30 p.m.

Front Street Taproom

Fall Story Squad Every Tuesday until Oct 29, 9:30 a.m.

West Acres Mall, Aquarium Court

Weekly on Tuesdays until Dec 17, 7 p.m.

Front Street Taproom

Recurring monthly on the first & third Wednesday of the month, 5 p.m.

Black Coffee and Waffle Bar

Recurring monthly on the 3rd Wednesday until December 18, 6 p.m.

Twenty Below Coffee, Moorhead

Recurring weekly on Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.

Front Street Taproom, The Cellar

Recurring monthly on the last Thursday, 7 p.m.

Front Street Taproom

November 22 - December 1 Fridays & Saturdays 12 - 9 p.m., Sundays 12 - 6 p.m.

Fargo Civic Center

Recurring weekly on Saturdays until October 26, 1 - 4 p.m.

West Acres Mall

CONTINUED >

61

October 10, 6:30 p.m.

Moorhead Public Library

October 10, 7 - 9 p.m.

Avalon Events Center

October 11 & 25, 5 - 10 p.m.

TBD

October 11 & 12, 7 & 9 p.m TBD

October 12, 19, & 26, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Red River Zoo

October 11, 8 p.m.

October 12, Early Show 7 p.m. & Late Show 9:30 The Cellar

October 12, 10:30 a.m.

Moorhead Public Library

October 12, 8 p.m.

Boss Comedy Club

October 12, 7 p.m.

Historic Fargo Theatre

October 12, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Rheault Farm

October 13, 7 p.m.

Historic Fargo Theatre

October 13, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Drekker Brewing Company

October 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Maven Collective

October 18 - 20 Holiday Inn Event Space Plus: October 17 at the Fargo Theather (FF Film Festival Opens)

October 15, 16, 22, & 23, 6 p.m.

701 Eateries

Facilitated by OutFront MN October 16, 6:30 p.m.

Moorhead Public Library

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October 18, 8 p.m.

October 19, Early Show 7 p.m. & Late Show 9:30 p.m.

The Cellar

October 17 - 19 & 24 - 26, 7:30 p.m.

NDSU Askanase Auditorium

October 19, 1-3 p.m.

(Lunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

Fargo Masonic Center

October 19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Horace Community Center

October 19, 7 p.m.

TAK Music Venue

October 22, 7 p.m.

Historic Fargo Theatre

October 24, 5:30 p.m.

NDSU Cater Hall

October 24, 5 p.m.

Family Wellness

October 25, 6:45 p.m.

Family Wellness

October 25, 7:30 p.m.

Sanctuary Events Center

October 25, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m, October 26, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m FARGODOME

October 26, 1 p.m.

Fargo Parks Sports Center

October 26, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Red River Valley Fairgrounds

October 26, 8 p.m.

POW/MIA Plaza

October 27, 12 - 6 p.m.

Brewhalla Market

October 31, 6 p.m.

Brewhalla Market

CONTINUED >

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November 1, 8 p.m.

November 2, Early Show 7 p.m. & Late Show 9:30 p.m.

The Cellar

November 1, 12 - 8 p.m.

November 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Bonus! Santa Hours: November 1, 1 pm - 7 pm November 2, 10 am - 4 pm

November 3 (10 a.m. bar opens, 1 p.m. bingo starts) Brewhalla Market

November 3, 4 p.m.

Scheels Arena

November 6, 8 p.m.

Sanctuary Events Center

November 6, 10:30 a.m.

Delta Hotels by Marriott Event Space

November 9, 6 p.m.

Baker Garden & Gift

November 12, 7 p.m.

Historic Fargo Theatre

November 15, 8 p.m.

November 16, Early Show 7 p.m. & Late Show 9:30 p.m.

The Cellar

November 16, 1-3 p.m. (Lunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

Fargo Masonic Center

November 19, 8 p.m.

The Hall at Fargo Brewing Company, The Hall

November 21, 6 p.m.

Scheels Arena Facility

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November 22, 4 - 7 p.m.

November 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Red River Valley Fairgrounds

November 22, 6:30 p.m.

Historic Fargo Theatre

November 23, 1 p.m.

Fargo Parks Sports Center

November 29, 1 p.m.

FARGODOME

For more info check out the CVB's online event calendar here!

Meet Jenny Sheets!

Jenny Sheets has split her life between the Fargo-Moorhead area and Montana, which means she knows I-94 far too well and exactly how far she can stretch the gas tank until running out (the off-ramp to Beach, ND, to be exact.) She currently lives in Moorhead, MN with her husband and three-year-old son, Henry Danger. She's trying to adopt a puppy but needs to convince her husband that it's as good an idea as having a baby during the pandemic.

Each month, Jenny will bring her perspective to Fargo Monthly on a meandering topic of her choosing: childhood memories, Fargo favorites, a nagging gripe, illogical opinions, something from a dream, new obsessions, or all of the above at the same time. If you want to praise her writing and quick wit, you can find her in person trail running by the river, biking, stuffing her face at BernBaum's, or sipping beers on a patio.

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Go Ahead,

Indulge Jenny talks the joys and indulgements of fall.

Fall has a surprising number of ‘all-American’ events and experiences. July may have Independence Day, but does July have a holiday where we dress up as our altar egos and tell people to give us free candy and, as adults, party in the same room as the Hulk, a mermaid, and Nixon? Fall has changing leaves, hooded sweatshirts, and football for god sake. Fall also has the foundation of our democracy: Election Day. Let’s cut straight to it: elections haven’t exactly been a joyous, democracy-loving event for a while now.

(Regardless, everyone age 18 and older should vote. It’s our civic duty. Go vote.) Campaign season induces anxiety and even has the ability to turn our nice Aunt Marge into a yelling lunatic at the family softball game. Lucky for us, Election Day coincides with another all-American cultural apotheosis: the pumpkin spice latte.

Yes, I’m referring to the millennial-loved latte that won the hearts of millions back in the early 2000s and whose allure never waned. Even if you’ve never had it, you can’t deny its power over mainstream America. The most prominent image in my mind is not that of a pumpkin, but of a twentysomething woman wearing skinny jeans, lace-up boots, and a chunky scarf holding a Starbucks cup. This drink literally influenced fashion.

Pumpkin spice has been used in dishes around the world much longer than the early 2000s, but, according to our friends at "Food and Wine" magazine, it stepped into the modern spotlight more than twenty years ago thanks to the "Director of Espresso" at Starbucks who was tasked with creating a fall specialty drink. From the same team who brought the world eggnog lattes and peppermint mochas, the coffee testers began experimenting with pumpkin by pouring espresso over pumpkin pies and

tasting the difference in cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and milk. The drink hit menus in 2003 (the same year yours truly graduated high school and discovered lattes were actually really expensive when your parents weren’t paying for them). As the drink’s fame continued, Starbucks changed the recipe to include real pumpkin starting in 2015.

This was just the beginning.

Lattes across the country matured from vanilla and caramel syrups to fresh cardamom, honey, lavender, and dried orange. Things got more experimental with chile-spiced chocolate, chamomile matcha, beets, and turmeric. Now, let’s talk milk. Milk from a cow just won’t cut it anymore. We have almond, soy, coconut, oat, cashew, flax, and I’m sure I’m missing a dozen more. And which beans would you like? Don’t say “espresso” unless you want to look like you’re fresh out of 2002. With a premium upcharge, you can choose the country, region, hillside, and farmer by name who cared for the little dark brown beans in burlap sacks in front of you.

“I’ll take one iced ginger-ghee, flax seed milk, organic single-origin beans latte, please.” “$92.50.”

are) seem to fall short of what we can find in our football and hoodieloving America, especially right here in Fargo-Moorhead. I can’t even begin to list the incredible coffee shops by name for fear of missing one. Our city has roasters who have trained around the world, roasting machines that are cared for more than Maseratis, and baristas who pour mouth-watering shots of espresso and cups of freshly brewed coffee for every flavor preference. I’m already drooling.

It’s easy to talk about inflation and the rising cost of everything, but we must admit that most of us spend a lot of money on needless things.

Lattes can be expensive, yes, but so are our streaming channels, new sneakers, cosmetics, and craft beer. As autumn settles in this year, and whether you’re anticipating or dreading Halloween or Election Day, do yourself a favor and hit up a local coffee shop and order a specialty latte. Try something different, maybe even ask your barista for their favorite, and don’t scoff at the price.

Yeah, it might be $10. It’s cheaper than therapy. Walk outside and look at the changing leaves, sip your matcha or brown sugar latte, and tell yourself that you’re worth it. Go ahead, indulge.

After all, it’s fall, damnit.

Jokes aside, we are beyond spoiled by the quality of coffee craftsmanship in our country. I have traveled to quite a few countries that boast the finest beans in all the land, yet their cups of coffee (or espresso, depending on where you

67

MAKER MAKER

LunaTique Boutique

Meet The

By Ashley Morken, Owner, Unglued Photos provided by Ashley Morken

D

iscovering Deanna Dahlsad’s work at a Brewhalla Craft Market last year was like discovering a portal of unique stories and art created through antiques, craft, and insane creativity! And now you can find it yourself daily at First Avenue Market along with upcoming markets like the Brewhalla Craft Market on October 27!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am the daughter of antique dealers and I followed suit! I am an avid collector of numerous things, from women's history and midcentury kitsch to sex history and odd art. I do still sell vintage and antiques, but mainly in the oddities and academia aesthetic areas.

Describe what type of products you make under LunaTique Boutique.

I primarily make 3D mixed media works and assemblages. Most feature found or salvaged objects combined with animal skulls and doll parts. I also make junk journals, other paper works, and some wearable art, aka jewelry.

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Tell us how you got started with your businesses.

As a seller of antiques and vintage, I found myself saddened that so many collectors view less-than-perfect old things as garbage. As a domestic violence survivor, I believe damage doesn't equal trash.

As the mother of children with special needs, I know the beauty of different.

As an empath, I feel the pain of being tossed aside. Past lives are important.

Imperfections are indeed charming. I am compelled to salvage things, people, and myself.

What are your personal favorite items you've created so far?

That's so hard to say! All my creepy little (and large) babies are so special to me...

I love getting updates from buyers with photos of them in their homes, living their best lives. But as of this writing today, I would say She Brings You Flowers is one of the most truly beautiful works I've made in a while.

What is the strangest item you've worked with?

I made a latex cast of my husband's bum for It's Not Ladylike To... which is currently at The Rourke Art Gallery.

What is something people would find surprising about the work you do?

Probably the salvaging part. It takes quite a bit of time. You have to find the old fragile dolls, books, etc, and then deftly sever the interesting parts you can save.

But it's worth spending the time rendering what's left of the fragile old silk from an antique purse frame because while that aged look may be (mostly) replicated, the texture and sentiment cannot be. Plus, you occasionally find secrets inside these things. With a purse, I found photos of women kissing sewn inside it. For the rest of her life, one of those women carried her love around as a hidden secret the rest of her days! That's why I likely was so obsessed with saving that old black silk.

You recently opened a shop inside First Avenue Market! What are you most excited about to have a brick-and-mortar shop?

The boutique's Artist of the Month feature.

Each month I curate works that fit the boutique’s aesthetic from a local artist, supporting local self-taught, outsider, and

folk artists who otherwise might not have access to such a public space.

What is something you've enjoyed the most about doing this handcrafted business?

For a few decades I was a paid writer, but now I tell stories visually without words.

Maybe the stories aren't as precise now, but I believe it's in those blank open spaces that others find messages that resonate with them. That's magical.

What is the most challenging thing?

Like most makers, the constant struggle between art and commerce.

What is one craft or art medium you haven't really dabbled in yet that you want to try someday?

Victorian hair art! I am just beginning to play with this—and I am miles away from creating anything close to the haunting beauty of those old depictions of willow trees made out of human hair! But I am going to get there one day!

What is a word that best describes you?

Obsessive What advice would you have given yourself five years ago?

Start now. Do the things! You will find your people. You will be happier! And what no one really stresses enough to you when you are younger is just how aging eyes will plague you... You will be years ahead if you start right now and build that muscle memory, the ability for your skilled fingers to just feel that everything is done right, so that even if vision isn't as precise, your work still will be.

Where can people find your work?

| luna.tique.boutique | /D.Luna.Tique.Boutique | @d_lunatique