Twenty years ago, the man known these days as Raymond the Amish Comic was toiling away at a screen-printing factory. It would be the last day-job he would hold.

"In 1996, I was fired when I returned from my Christmas vacation," says Raymond, who lives in Emmaus. "I saved up my vacation so I could do some headlining from Christmas to New Year's in Reading: two shows a night, all sold-out.

"And they called me in to print three jackets over my vacation. I refused. So, when I got back from vacation, I got fired. That was my last day. It was a rotten job so it didn't really matter."

Raymond the Amish Comic performs in the "Two-Laugh Minimum" series, 8 p.m. March 26, Fowler Blast Furnace Room, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

Freedom from the constraints of a traditional job affords Raymond time to promote his act and arrange bookings. "It's feast or famine. This is a tough business," he says. "The way this business is set up I can do more for myself at home trying to find work. The struggle is trying to find work during the lean times."

Raymond, who does not use his last name, got his first exposure to audiences as a regular caller to the Lehigh Valley's "Bearman and Keith" radio show.

"I was in the screen-printing shop. It probably would have been back in 1991. We printed T-Shirts. That's all we did. And there was hatred and tension in the shop, and the Lehigh Valley radio guys, the Bearman and Keith on WZZ0, was on [tuned in] in the shop.

"I'd say goofy stuff and make them [co-workers] laugh and they would actually dial the phone and hand me the phone," he recalls. "I was on the radio probably a couple times a week for like six months from this print shop."

Raymond's calls to the radio show proved popular with the station's listeners and soon the hosts started scheduling his calls. "I used to have to take the phone and sneak into the bathroom at work to phone into the radio station. My career actually started in the toilet."

The notoriety from the radio calls launched the stand-up career of Raymond the Amish Comic. He considers himself a storyteller. He blends observational insights with one-liners and friendly pokes at the notion of being Amish.

Audiences expecting a pious fellow telling G-Rated barn-raising jokes will be sorely disappointed and may be even a little shocked. Raymond can curse up a blue streak.

First-timers to one of his shows should heed the warnings regarding language and adult content before purchasing tickets. All shows are intended for 18 and over. So, leave the strollers at home and check any outrage over adult language at the door.

"It seems surprising to me that people would be surprised. Going to a stand-up comedy show where they are serving alcohol and you are surprised an Amish guy is dropping F-bombs?" he observes.

"It was always this, maybe without such a nice hat. I have evolved into a cursing, ranting storyteller," says Raymond. "I know I was a lot more deadpan when I started out. I am a bundle of energy and I get worked up. When you are doing a slower pace, the drunks can eat you alive. So, I actually pushed my style to be faster and harder."

The Amish-themed reality TV shows and documentaries trend has not been the boon to Raymond's career.

"I had high hopes of my career skyrocketing on the heels of 'Amish Mafia' and 'Breaking Amish,' but that was not gonna happen. I picked up a few people here and there, but for the most part, these did not have earth-shattering effects on my career at all, which was a big letdown."

Raymond has a distinctive appearance and often gets recognized when out in public. Rather than be annoyed, he embraces the recognition from his fans.

"I love it so much. For the most part, I have fun with it. I can hear them. They think I can't hear them, but I can. I'll be walking around and they wait until they are a couple feet behind me and they go, 'Do you know who that was?' I like that stuff," says Raymond.

Raymond is grateful for the support he receives from his family in his comedy career.

"I'm lucky because if the family ain't with you this ain't happening. There's a long horrible list of lonely, divorced comedians. I don't know how my wife tolerates the life of show business, but that's half of the battle right there. There's a great tolerance. She makes sure I have nice white shirts and my hat is ready to go."

His wife and daughter help him manage his social media accounts. While Raymond embraces the Amish culture, he's far from a Luddite. He worked at a Macintosh software company in the early 1980s when Apple computers were considered oddities.

Venues interested in booking Raymond the Amish Comic need not worry about providing a hitching post out front. Raymond's preferred mode of transport is, as he describes it, is "a Smurf -blue PT Cruiser."