To some, comedy is a art that is perfected over the years. To Ben Feldman, it’s a great way to keep his mind sharp.

The computer engineer and Washington D.C. native moved to San Francisco 15 years ago trying to cash in on the Internet boom. He has been doing comedy for only eight years, but in that short amount of time he has learned a thing or two about being a performer.

“When I started doing comedy, I was mistaken that people that don’t know me would think I’m funny,” Feldman humored.

He began honing his skills when he started hosting comedy shows at the Comet. The owner of the bar knew him through a mutual friend and asked him if he would be interested in performing every now and then. Feldman jumped at the opportunity, and has been hosting and performing comedy nights at the bar for the past three years now.

When asked if he knew comedy was always his calling, Feldman admitted that wasn’t always the case. He originally wanted to be a musician, but saw the degree of creative freedom to be a downside.

“With musicians, you have five people in your band and a lot of different opinions. With comedy, it’s just yourself.”

While he believes some comedians perform for the enjoyment of others, Feldman is quick to distinguish himself from the notion. To him, performing is a test of his abilities.

“I more or less do it as a personal challenge to see if I could make people laugh,” Feldman said. “If they happen to get happy from that, then great.”

However, no one said comedy was easy. Feldman admitted his comedy didn’t always resonate well with his audiences, but he eventually figured out where to draw the line in his routine.

“Comedy is a series of failures. I’ve learned not to underestimate crowds of people; they will call you on your bullshit if you cross the line.”

You could find Feldman every Thursday night on stage at the Comet Club.