Sarper Güven’s life comes straight out of a television show. Reality TV, to be exact.
Known as one of the “bad boys” on the hit TLC show, 90 Day Fiance–where foreigners come to America on a K-1 visa with only 90 days to marry their loved one before it expires–the Turkish-born Güven has been a stripper, model and gym trainer. He’s also been tear gassed fighting governmental oppression in Turkey’s 2013 Gezi Park protests. But now he is premiering another season in his life as a stand-up comedian and a successful one at that.
“I love to watch stand-up comedy but I never tried it in Turkey,” he says. “But I thought I could do it.”
Talking with Güven—who performs four shows across two days at Rooster T. Feathers in Sunnyvale this weekend–it’s apparent he’s a natural born optimist. When he sets his mind to do something, best move out of the way because he will accomplish his goals. Even if it means telling jokes in a second language and culture he’s never experienced before.
“Turkish and American humor are completely different,” admits Güven. “I couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be. The first months were really difficult because I was not good and was demoralized a lot because people didn’t laugh.”
However, the 44 year old doubled-down on himself and learned about the audiences, culture and stand-up craft. He kept jokes that worked and noticed during his improvisations which bits got the most laughs so he could go back and tighten them up. Now, he’s performing 90 minute sets to sold-out shows coast-to-coast across the entire United States. He’s even performed with a who’s-who list of comedians like Bobby Lee, Whitney Cummings and Pauly Shore.
All of that would look good on any comedian’s resume reel, let alone someone who’s only been in the country for 18 months. Yet despite being brand new to the United States Güven’s taken a DIY approach to his career and booked his current, 40 dates over four months national tour completely solo sans manager or agent.
So what’s it like for a new American travelling a country only slightly geographically smaller than the entirety of the European continent?
“Every state is just like a new country,” he says. “When I travel I learn. Wherever I go I’m asking people ‘What is famous here?’ and what do they do? So everywhere I go I have jokes about it.”
Yet he’s also quickly realizing what all stand-up comics learn early on: not all crowds are equal.
“All audiences are organic,” Güven explains. “When I do two shows in a row it can be the same city, same amount of people, but two completely different reactions to the same sets. Oh my God! You can never know if an audience is good or not before the show. It is just a gamble.”
As risky and vulnerable as stand-up might be, he has no problem fighting for the life he wants to live.
In 2013, 3.5 million people across an estimated 5,000 demonstrations stood up against Erdogan’s Adalet ve Kalkinma (Justice and Development) Party. What started as an occupation to save Gezi Park rapidly escalated to a citizen-led protest and strike across the country after peaceful protestors were violently evicted from the grounds. Güven was there and was tear gassed more than once. Because of this he posted a clip on Instagram in solidarity with the people of Iran as that country tries to rise from under the repression of Iranian Supreme Leader’s Ali Khamenei’s regime.
“If I believe in something, I have to say it,” declares Güven. “I call them Fear Empires because of how they threaten people. ‘If you do this, I will kill you. So don’t do it.’”
Güven is also glaringly aware of the current ICE crackdowns here in the United States and what that means for him as he traverses across red and blue states. He believes if people do something illegal there should be consequences, but how the federal government is acting–breaking car windows, separating people from their crying families–is wrong and “too much.”
While he’s in the United States legally, the spectre of ICE detention or even possible deportation follows him.
“I say onstage ‘This could be my last show,’” he admits. “I don’t know what could happen. There is uncertainty. But if they deport me, no problem. I will go back to my country and everything will be a good memory. There is nothing I can do about it.”
Armed with this tenacity and self-confidence, there’s one other thing that continues to motivate the star across these united states of uncertainty.
“When I’m on stage I forget everything,” he says. “It’s like boosting dopamine. For two days after I’m happy and it keeps me going.”
Sarper Güven will be at Rooster T. Feathers, 157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale on Friday, February 6 at 7pm and 9:30pm, and on Saturday, February 7 at 6pm and 8:30pm. $39.50–$49.50.
