Many of Mister Tim's most important musical influences were comedic: Spike Jones, "Weird" Al Yankovic, The Smothers Brothers, Allan Sherman, Tom Lehrer, The Bobs. These artists are excellent musicians who use their music to craft musical punchlines. Mister Tim discovered very early on that his imposing and serious-seeming disposition and legitimate musical skill meant that he could score big laughs by mining the incongruity of his innate wackiness and love of absurdity. He spent years performing, recording, and touring with comedic a cappella acts, performing in theater productions and improvisational comedy, and recording his own solo comedy material, even as he was performing and writing "serious" music. Much of the material he currently writes and performs has a satirical, humorous, and/or quirky edge, though it can be subtle and is often dark. Add this history to the reality that Mister Tim loves improvisation and spontaneity, and that he does not take himself terribly seriously, and comedy is bound to emerge in some fashion any time he performs.

Mister Tim: professional Kazoo player