Spike Einbinder Takes Me to the Office
Brooklyn’s premier dog walker on his Thursday morning route.
Spike Einbinder is a Brooklyn staple, and for good reason. He does stand-up, drag, and acting, often in ways that feel like all three at once.
Spike has famously been a professional dog walker for years. A few weeks ago I joined him for his Thursday morning route through Crown Heights. When I met up with him that morning, he had four dogs in tow.
It was actually the first time we’d hung out in person. Within thirty seconds, I adored him. Spike is immediately comfortable company.
I love the way he loves these dogs. They’re his clients and, more importantly, his friends. He knows each one so well, and most of them he’s known since they were puppies. He told me he’s the only person who’s ever walked a few of them.
This is Spike. Here are a few highlights from our conversation.
Stand up, drag, or acting?
Whenever I’m doing one of the above it’s never far from the other two. I can promise you that. I really want to get into a new performance paradigm… maybe endurance Shakespeare. Like doing a “stay on one foot without falling into the water” challenge à la Survivor while acting as Caliban from The Tempest.
Dream role?
Someone screaming and covered in blood, like a psycho killer in a horror movie. That, or anyone who wields a crossbow but has a heart of gold!
I’m obsessed with your drag. Where do you get inspiration for your performances?
I’m very inspired by imagery perverted by capitalism and grafting sexuality and hubris onto iconography. So basically: what if the green M&M mascot had a mother who was an uber right-wing conservative and simultaneously a repressed lesbian who needs an abortion. You know, stuff like that.
I want to entertain people and show them something they’ve never seen before every time, while still paying homage to the classics. Does that make sense? Do I sound insane? Comment below…
Your favorite dog walking story:
It’s too long to type but can be found in this episode of Greta Titelman’s podcast starting at 25:00 and ending whenever you don’t want to listen anymore.
Editor’s note: Involves a highway, a truck driver, and a lot of screaming.
Favorite city to tour in?
I have a lot of love for the PNW and the West Coast because I’m an LA native, but I have big aspirations to do a Euro comedy tour… bopping around from Bratislava to Prague to see if they dig my stuff.
What does your perfect night look like?
Weather that supports my love of trespassing. Looking so good we have to take a photobooth picture kissing my boyfriends. Seeing a repertory screening of some movie beforehand and making it home in time to give my 14-year-old dog his seizure medication.
Favorite deadly sin?
I’m a wrath sun, lust rising, and pride moon.
Catch Spike on tour with Honey Pluton kicking off March 10, with stops across the Midwest, the PNW, and the West Coast.
One Hour Photo Creative Production: Carly Kane
↓ UNLOCK SPIKE’S JUICY TIDBIT FOR $2 ↓
“I’m so sorry to every gay person on earth…”