Comedian William Lee Martin Bringing “Seemed Smart At The Time” Tour To Clayton Center Feb. 26

CLAYTON — Stand-up comedian William Lee Martin will bring his latest national comedy tour to Johnston County next week, offering audiences a night of storytelling-driven humor centered on everyday life, relationships and the moments that seemed like good ideas at the time.

Martin’s “Seemed Smart at the Time” tour stops at The Clayton Center on Thursday, Feb. 26, continuing a run of shows across the country following the success of his previous “Funny Life Tour,” which sold out venues nationwide.

Unlike traditional stand-up setups, Martin said the Clayton performance is designed to feel like a full entertainment experience rather than a simple comedy set.

“Clayton isn’t getting a bar set. They’re getting a full night,” Martin said. “From the moment you walk in, it’s designed to feel like an experience — not just a guy telling jokes.”

The show explores universal themes — marriage, raising children, getting older and starting over — through humorous stories rooted in personal experience.

“The decisions we thought were brilliant… that weren’t,” Martin said. “You’ll laugh hard, but there are also moments where you nod your head and think, ‘Yep… that’s me.’ My goal is for people to leave lighter than they walked in. Like they just exhaled.”

Known for his Amazon Prime comedy specials and the Red Dirt Comedy Show on YouTube, Martin has built a following with a storytelling style that blends relatable observations with heartfelt moments. His approach has been described as “clean-ish,” a term he says reflects a deliberate balance between honesty and accessibility.

“It means I don’t use the f-bomb. Ever. I’m not trying to shock anyone,” Martin said. “I talk about real life — and real life has some edge to it — so there’s some clever innuendo, but it’s never vulgar. I want couples to sit together, laugh together, and not feel like they need to apologize to each other on the drive home.”

Martin’s tour is produced by Red Dirt Comedy, a company focused on storytelling-based stand-up that emphasizes authenticity and relatable experiences.

While the Clayton show is one of several stops across North Carolina this year, Martin said he tailors each performance to the audience and community.

“North Carolina has always shown up for me, so we’re continuing to build dates throughout the state this year,” he said. “But Clayton is special because every town has its own personality. I adjust to the room. The stories may be mine, but by the end of the night, it feels like they belong to everyone.”

Tickets and additional tour information are available through The Clayton Center and at WilliamLeeMartin.com.