# Comedy: Former Ohio Comics Now Contributing To Local Communities

Dorian Vasquez and Setoiyo Ekpo are both Philadelphia-based comedians by way of Columbus, Ohio. Each giving back to North Philadelphia residents in their own way, they just happen -- by coincidence -- to be helping people on different ends of the age spectrum. https://vimeo.com/257980719 Vasquez is as a career specialist, helping find jobs for graduates at the [Philadelphia Technician Training Institute](https://www.ptt.edu/) on Girard Avenue. Growing up in a similar environment, Vasquez tries his best to relate to the students. “I grew up in a predominately black and hispanic neighborhood,” Vasquez said. “I mean, I’m from the hood essentially, but I was always the smart kid that got picked on growing up.” Vasquez is originally from Los Angeles where he did comedy for a year before relocating to Ohio. Now as a Philly entertainer, Vasquez has submerged himself in the scene, putting together shows at [Victoria Freehouse](https://www.victoriafreehouse.com/) and [Max Capacity Comedy](https://www.facebook.com/events/119563322041695/) productions which are run out of his Spring Garden apartment. ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25145939/MeansLinvillSpring18CommunityContributors-2-577x385.jpg) “And he was all in back in Columbus,” Ekpo said. “Like, he was super-duper all in. He just took that same work ethic and brought it over here.” Ekpo actually played an integral part in Vasquez’s move to Philadelphia, at a time when his friend felt stuck. “I was just like 'give it a thought because I think it’s pretty clear you can’t stay there,'” Ekpo said. Ekpo is now helping other Philadelphia comedians in similar ways. “He’s like a comedic brother, I think to like a lot of people, because he’s approachable,” said local comedian Jarrod Little. “There’s like no ego with him.” ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25145937/MeansLinvillSpring18CommunityContributors03-577x446.jpg) Ekpo works as a payroll manager by day but teaches hip hop dance on the side. He does give private lessons, but his real joy comes from teaching classes to inner-city youth at the [Community Education Center](https://www.cecarts.org/) in West Philadelphia or [Girard College](https://www.girardcollege.edu/) in North Philadelphia. “I would say I was probably doing it more back home than I am doing it here, simply because the volume of comedy that I was doing was not as much so I actually had more free time,” Ekpo said. He moved from Ohio after giving comedy a serious push in 2011 and making it all the way to the [Funnybone Funniest Person in Columbus Finals](https://www.funnybone.com/). Ekpo performs at open mics and comedy clubs in and around the city, and hosts a weekly podcast called "[Them Boys](https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/them-boys-alex-pearlman-setoiyo-MZh-HELPJj1/)" with Alex Pearlman. Ekpo has never heard of a bad artist coming out of Philly and that’s precisely why he’s here. “Philly really will just give you a good beating until you become good,” Ekpo said. “And even then when you’re good, it’ll keep on beating you because it’s Philadelphia.” *- Text, images and video by George Means.*