Palm Bay comedian Dorian Gayle now a TikTok up-and-comer: 'I'm overwhelmed with joy'

Dorian Gayle is focused — and, his fans say, seriously funny.

Since the age of 17, the homegrown entertainer from Palm Bay has dreamed of becoming the "Next Big Thing" in stand-up. He's hit comedy club stages and venues across the nation, carefully building a following and developing his comedic repertoire and timing, including spot-on impressions of comedic giants Bernie Mac and Chris Tucker, on social media.

Now, the Heritage High grad and content creator says the hard work is paying off with nearly a quarter of a million TikTok followers and another 20,000 fans on Instagram. He’s also appeared on TV and media shows. Last year he filmed a Burger King commercial that aired on the hit "Ms. Pat Show"  — the show, which streams on BET+, follows an Atlanta family as they navigate the triggers and travails of domestic life  — and stood alongside the comedy's star Patricia Williams during a red-carpet event that drew big stars.

Next week the 26-year-old will host Eastern Florida State College’s Black History Month event, the "Apollo in the Bay Talent Show." That show will take place Feb. 27, at the Palm Bay Campus Auditorium, Bldg. 1.

Earlier this year the BET Network (Black Entertainment Television), recognized Gayle as one of the 12 top TikTok influencers to watch. Gayle took time to answer a few questions about his influences, goals and experiences.

Here are five questions we asked Gayle:

Comedy is a tough business: You hear about the triumphs but there’s also heartbreak. What have you learned about the business of making people laugh and what motivates you?

I’ve learned to stay focused on myself as a stand-up comedian. I’ve met people who had the best intentions with me and I’ve also met people who didn’t have good intentions with me. Being myself was one of the best things I could do because I end up attracting people who are just like me.

There is an old saying that goes “Comparison is the thief of joy” and being compared to other comedians when I first started didn’t feel too good. The comparisons motivated me. I’ve learned to always prepare a set or have jokes in your head. Impromptu performances have helped me gain better skills because important people have asked me to tell them a joke or do an impression on the spot.

I’ve learned to never let someone hold you back because they think you aren’t ready. I had to determine when I was ready for the next level of my dream career. I’ve learned that sometimes personal feelings must be put aside in order for business to be run. I am motivated by my accomplishments that I achieved in the past. The most important thing that motivated me is seeing the smiles and laughter I’m able to put on people’s faces.

‘What’s the funniest bit you’ve ever seen or heard? What about a comedic piece that simply made you think?’

Dave Chappelle has a bit where he says "If MLK had a sneaker deal we would still be on the back of the bus.” I think it was groundbreaking and it made me think about how capitalism sometimes comes at the cost of sacrificing one’s morals and character. Richard Pryor’s jokes about the police still make me think how this country has come a long way but still has a long way to go.

‘Who or what inspired you to want to be a comedian? And do you have a Plan B?’

When I was around 12 years old the first comedy special I ever saw was "The Kings Of Comedy" on a VHS tape. I had rented the tape from my local library and asked my mom if I could watch it. I saw Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and the late Bernie Mac master their craft within their performances and manage to represent Black culture in a way I had seen before. Seeing "The Kings of Comedy" tape made me want to be funny. It wasn’t until I was 14 until I realized the heights of having a comedy career could reach. When I was 14, I saw Kevin Hart’s "Seriously Funny" and the rise of the global superstar we know as Kevin Hart today. Watching that special made me want to be a comedian. When I was 17, I saw a rerun of Richard Pryor live in concert. It left me in awe. I didn’t have a Plan B when it came to pursuing my dream. I know that there are a lot of ways to succeed.

The last few years, with COVID-19, have been rough for everyone. How did the pandemic impact your work and did it turn you more toward social media?

The pandemic forced me to use social media as my way of entertaining others. All of my shows ended up getting canceled and postponed. When TikTok was first introduced to me I was very new to the app and I had no idea how to use it. I have since earned over 220,000 followers on TikTok and 19,000 on Instagram.

People became fans of my spot-on impressions  of Chris Tucker, Chris Rock and Bernie Mac.

When I saw BET recognize me as one of the 12 TikTok influencers to follow in 2023, I was overwhelmed with joy. I remember doing the interview for it but I had no idea they would roll out the article like this. I couldn’t believe I was in an article that would reach millions of people. It feels so good to know that my hard work is paying off.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 5 questions with Palm Bay comedian and TikTok influencer Dorian Gayle