8 • The Southwest Portland Post
FEATURES
May 2016
An interview with Spilt Milk’s Betsy Kauffman and Joanie Quinn
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
B e t s y K a u ff m a n a n d J o a n i e
Quinn are producers, cofounders,
and performers in Spilt Milk, the
smash hit monthly comedy series
at O’Connors Vault in Multnomah
Village.
Quinn has magenta hair. She’s
Catholic. Kauffman wears round
glasses. She’s Jewish. Both are in their
50s. The two met several years ago
when they took comedy classes and
tried doing stand-up.
This reporter interviewed the
pair over a tall Guinness Stout at
O’Connor ’s. Very quickly, a flow
began as it turned out that this
reporter and Kauffman knew each
other from the B.C. (before children)
era.
Who are your influences?
Kauffman: Gary Gulman, Andrew
Norelli are two influencesl They both
get so much humor from everyday
things. I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s book
on creativity; it’s opened up a lot of
things for me.
Quinn: Growing up it was the TV
shows Laugh-In, Saturday Night
Live, Gilda Radner, and later Steve
Martin and Robin Williams. Today I
am influenced by the daily comedy
swirling around me with four kids,
from three different mothers. My
comedy is like Erma Bombeck on
medical marijuana.
Where is the humor in the world
today?
Kauffman: Pretty much
everywhere. I heard Jay Leno quoted
as saying that the average person
could turn out a five-minute comedy
set every day on the things that
happen to him/her. For me, my
humor is mostly from my family – my
kids, my parents, my upbringing, my
husband.
Quinn: Buried under a big pile of
political correctness, perhaps. But I
find humor everywhere – in the palm
trees people are planting in Portland.
Oh, and in Betsy’s hair. Lots of
comedy in there, and probably a few
other things… Betsy have you seen
my keys?
though it feels pretty crappy, it’s not
that big a deal. Still, I usually call
Joanie after I have a bad performance
so I can whine and get some sympathy.
Quinn: Tons of chocolate. Talk to
Betsy. It’s a hard feeling, but it does
happen.
Can anyone do stand-up comedy?
Kauffman: Interesting question.
I don’t know. I do know that a lot
more people can than realize they
can. Much of it is a learned skill
that can be taught if you›re willing
to work at it. Judy Carter, the author
of “The Comedy Bible,” claims to be
able to make anyone funny.
Quinn: Anybody can do it. But it
takes someone special to do it right.
Wait – that’s being a parent. I
guess it applies here, too.
What do you like most about
Southwest Portland?
Kauffman: It’s very homey. I like
the parks and the little shopping
areas. I love the Hillsdale library.
I spent a lot of time there with my
kids. Our curving streets are good
too. That grid system on the east
side is dull.
Quinn: I like the community feel
of Southwest Portland. Multnomah
Village has original shops owned
by local folks, who sent their kids to
local schools, and who work at their
shops and invest in the community
feel of our town.
What do you like least about
Southwest Portland?
Kauffman: We could use a few
more sidewalks.
Quinn: The hills! Geez, a girl with
no muscles would like to ride a bike
every once in a while, pleeeese!
Spilt Milk is located at O’Connor’s
Vault in Multnomah Village, 7850 SW
Betsy Kauffmann (left) and Joanie Quinn at O'Connor's in Multnomah Village.
(Post photo by Jack Rubinger)
Capitol Hwy. Featuring PG-13 humor,
the next show is set for Thursday, May
12. Dinner is available. No minors are
allowed, and the doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Shows often sell out ahead, so purchasing
tickets in advance is recommended. The
line-up for the Thursday, May 12 show
includes Nathan Brannon, Joanie Quinn,
Debby Dodds, Neeraj Srinivasan, and
Wendy Westerwelle. Tickets are available
on www.brownpapertickets.com for $10
in advance/$15 at the door.
Parker Realty, Inc.
Vermont Hills $424,500
Light and bright. Three
bedrooms, two full bathrooms
situated on a very quiet street–
yet minutes to downtown
Portland, Multnomah Village
and OHSU Hospital. Quality
remodeled open kitchen lives large. Brazilian wood floors
throughout the main floor. Five large skylights flood the home
with natural light. Two full baths featuring subway tile, street of
dreams two-person shower, and custom tile work. Walk-in closet
off large lower-level bedroom. Updated mechanicals including
a new tankless hot-water heater. Attached double-car garage
makes life easy.
Jeff Parker
Your Neighborhood
Realtor Since 1980
The inventory of houses for sale in the Portland Metro area remains
at historic lows. High demand for homes in our area coupled with low
interest rates and lack of homes for sale translates to higher prices! If
you are thinking of selling contact us today for a free market analysis.
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www.parkerrealtypdx.com
What’s the scariest thing about doing
stand-up comedy?
Kauffman: It’s soooo scary the first
time you get on a stage. I thought
I was going to get sick. You’re all
alone and so vulnerable, wondering
if anything is going to land. Everyone
knows that awful feeling of telling a
joke and not having anyone get it.
Kauffman: What? I never bomb!
That’s not true. I figured out early
on that you don’t die from it, so even
Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfi res.
SMOKEYBEAR.COM
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How do you recover from a night
when you have bombed?
NATIONAL A
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Q u i n n : E v e r y t h i n g . Wi l l I
remember what I was going to say?
I was really funny last time, but will
the audience find me funny this time?
FO
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