It’s the big 100th episode and Brian is celebrating with a dull wimper.
Topics on the day include the horrors of a comedy club, performing from your death bed, being heckled by a comedy historian, one of BTB’s first ladies returns to the show, and another installment of Tales from the Comedy Diner. So help me God, if one more person brings up Carrot Top…
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
Wha? I said I USED to like Carrot Top as a kid, not currently. Except for that delicious physique. Like Conan the Clownbarian. /puke
But anyway, Mitch Fatel is a talented guy, but if he didn’t have the retarded character thing going, I’d like him a lot more. Do you guys think stuff like that can hurt a comic in the long run even though it’s what they’re known for?
Since Brian mentioned the Smiles Open mic post from last week, let me give everybody an update… I made a couple of new friends who helped keep things on track and it went great. Even though it was on the night before Thanksgiving under a light rain (which people in LA consider a life-threatening natural disaster) we still had a good audience of civilians and 18 comics doing anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. The show ran until 11:30PM and we had an audience until the absolute end… ½ price drinks helped, but I had several of my new comic friends comment that everybody was putting out their “A” material. The most important things were that the club owner made money and I got more practice Emceeing.
The next show is on Thursday December 11th, so if anybody is in LA and wants to come out to play, let me know… It’s a fun room and we have a good time. Hopefully it will be an ongoing thing.
Dennis, if it was a day before, I’d go. Unfortunately, Thursday nights I have a standing prior commitment.
Any other day of the week I can roll… Please keep me posted!
the token scot: It really depends on what you mean by ‘hurt a comic’. I can’t really fault a comic for making people laugh and making money if they have to use a character.
I think Mitch Fatel could go on and do different material or a new character, but it would be a lot of work, like when Jerry Seinfeld started with completely new material.
Does anyone have a good video that shows his actual voice and personality… it doesn’t seem that his comic character is that far removed his normal voice. But it’s hard to tell…
Dude… I’m so bummed!
How cool would it have been to have a BtB comic in my club… and you’re right around the corner from me… I’m in Valencia.
Have you been to the JR’s Comedy Club at the Marie Calendars in Stevenson’s Ranch that gets mentioned on the show? I’ve actually performed on that stage once! Well… on the wooden box by the window anyway… Randy, the guy who runs the place, is a really fun guy who maintains a cool room with lots of pie.
Well, that’s enough Santa Clarita news for now… I’ll do a myspace friend thing and keep you in the loop so if things work out you can come out on a different night.
And to add, I do mean just his voice not the character itself which is quite different.
Dennis,
Have I been to JR’s? A few times.. I’m actually the guy that does the Tales from the local comedy diner. By no means am I a comic.
I think I would set the record for the fastest ‘boo’d off the stage’ time. And that would damage my fragile ego. Heh.
Needed to share this net-gem: Stop Carlos Mencia
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1892552
BMO your little fit after reading Joke #50 made me nearly choke on my drink when I heard you go off. That was classic.
Love the Tales from the Comedy Diner segments BTW.
Hello all! I recently discovered this podcast and I have to say it’s been more informative about the ins and outs of stand-up comedy than most books I’ve read or by hanging out in the clubs for the past 3 years. It’s great to have a place to talk shop and listen to other comedians talk shop. With the exception of a few comedians I hang out with, it seems all everyone wants to do is bounce material and feed their egos. I also enjoy the advice by some of the pros! Although I take advice like a bucket of chicken, take what I need, leave the rest for someone else.
I have a few questions but usually I can find the topic on a past podcast and it’s already been covered, so forgive me if my questions have already been discussed.
I would like your advice on a few things and your opinion on doing cancer material?
I’m a 3 year cancer survivor and to make a long story short. I performed comedy twice, then I was diagnosed, had to go through treatments and lost my voice for roughly 8 months. I could still write so I entered a comedy writing contest sponsored by the Laff Factory and won the damn thing, and since then I’ve never looked back. I started playing with cancer material on stage and much to my surprise it worked. Then I started feeling odd about it. I didn’t get into stand-up to be known for that, so it started messing with my head, and I felt like it would offend people. One night I had the pleasure of sitting down with a major headlining comedian who’s even had his own sitcom and I asked his advice. He told me, “Your sitting on a goldmine and don’t even realize it, I wish I could play with cancer on stage and get away with it, don’t be scared, don’t worry about offending anyone, it’s your story you tell it the way you want”.
I’d say I have a good 15-20 solid minutes and 60% is cancer material crammed in the middle between random things. There are nights I don’t even touch it, just to make sure I’m genuinely funny and not just getting sympathy laughter. My ultimate goal is to take it to a very real, very funny, sick and twisted, and inspirational place, and possibly do some good with it one day.
However now that I’ve gotten a little more experience on stage and can relax and read my audience better, I’m starting to notice a few things. As soon as I mention the “C” word, three things usually happen. (Especially in bars more than comedy clubs)
1. People will hit their drinks hard, get up and go to the bar or bathroom…”he said cancer, I don’t want cancer, I don’t want to even think about it…I’m going outside to smoke!”
2. People will get this blank look or sadness on their face because I just reminded them of someone they loved who passed away from it, now it’s all they think about.
3. People will pay full attention, laugh and tell me they enjoyed my set.
So I guess my biggest challenge would be to reach all of those people. Right now I’m taking a break, looking over my material, writing and adding tags. Anyway, I’ve typed a novel here, advice? Thoughts?
I’m really looking forward in participating here. I’ve had some crazy moments since I’ve started doing comedy that I can’t wait to share!
If you want to have a go at it, come out before the show and I’ll show you how to use the mic and give you some basics, and then we’ll put you up at the end of the night when there’s just a few people left… They’ll be really drunk and you’ll kill… Just tell a few bar jokes and at least you’ll have your first time behind you… oh, and I’ll even video…
The last post made me wonder what rules I might offer a newby to avoid common mistakes… let me know what you think:
1. Respect everybody! You never know who is going be important to you! (This includes bartenders, waitress and other people who control the flow food and booze). Imagine if there’s a conversation after the show about who to have back and the waitress says you acted like an ass.
2. Keep our drinking and drugs in check; they don’t improve your performance. They might work for Richard Prior, but you’re no Richard Prior.
3. Respect the light! Everybody hates the comic to steals minutes.
4. Shake off a bad show. Take it as a learning experience.
5. Shake off a good show; otherwise you’ll trip over your own ego.
6. Never rip on the club, the Emcee or other comics unless it’s with a smile. You want to be invited back on a better night, right?
7. Incorporate the environment in your material. “Wow… I’m so old that disco ball isn’t even ironic”, or a police siren “excuse me, my rides here”, etc. It gives the show immediacy.
8. Even an audience of one deserves respect.
9. Use open mics – don’t waste your bringers. Nobody has an unlimited number of friends with money for a $10 cover and a two drinks minimum; use then wisely.
10. Use a digital recorder to capture impromptu jokes and to record shows.
11. Don’t step on your laughs. If their laughing, let them laugh.
12. Do the show in front of you, not the show you’ve written. If something’s not working, try something else.
13. Remember to breath (trust me, people forget).
14. Be organized, sober and reliable – it’ll make you stand out.
15. Take advantage of video opportunities. Post your stuff where people can find it.
16. Always have a business card or show DVD your up-to-date contact information so if you can quickly hand it out if you meet someone who can help your career or blow you after the show.
17. Don’t chew gum or anything else while you’re trying to enunciate jokes.
18. Comedy clubs make money from machos and beer, not jokes. Don’t get in the way of the servers. The club owner’s cash register is the more important space in the club.
19. Always know and respect all the club rules (even in an open mic). That means don’t curse at a clean show, don’t park your car where it gets in the way, and don’t smoke where you’re not suppose to smoke… in other words, don’t be an ass.
20. Don’t attach women; even a heckler… you’ll always come out as the bad guy.
I just re-read my post… sorry about the typos… I did it on the fly…
—D
Here are some other observations about doing comedy:
When you’re in a restaurant or bar with a bunch of comics never take out your credit card. One guy tried to charge my card for a lap dance from the waitress; which is why I can’t go to Denny’s anymore.
One of the unfair things about comedy is that people expect you be funny on demand. Nobody expects a chief to broil a steak on his own time, or a off-duty cop to beat a random black guy for no reason, or for an actor to refill your Ice tea at TGIF…. Well the actor one is true… but other than that…
Oh… another rule… when you’re having an after show snack with a bunch of comics, never leave your food unattended. It’ll quickly contain more body fluids then the grotto at the playboy mansion.
… have you figured out I’m trapped in my office and bored on Friday afternoon?
A couple of comments, not exactly on topic–
Brian May–
LOVE Tales from the Comedy Diner, particularly your commentary on the show itself. I like it better than hearing the comics, though they were pretty good this time. I worked with Peter Berman, nice dude.
Amelia–
Welcome back, and great question for Brian. The comedy scene is so tricky, because the best way to make friends is to have something in common, and bagging on the other comics is the easiest way to make that happen. It’s so tempting. Great advice about focusing on the things you can control, Brian. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.
Congrats on your century Brian. Still a lot of unfunny jokes from GQ to go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwhxqnCyoGo&feature=related
this clip is why:
-I love Louis CK
-I think Opie and Anthony, despite Brian’s opinion, is infinitely moe listenable than stern
-denis leary should rot in hell for being an even bigger joke theif than anybody even thought
-jim norton, in the last minute of the clip, is a radio genius who’s oddl even better than as a standup
sorry I haven’t posted in awhile, but I completely forgot about this podcast. I’ll be around
The first time I heard that O&A clip, I sent it to every comic I knew simply because it’s something both parties have been involved in the same types of scandals, and on the same ends of the spectrum as they are in this one. I’m more inclined to believe Louie when he says stuff like this, since he’s shied away so heavily from accusing Dane Cook of wrong-doing, or at least getting caught up in it. But in this instance, Louie brought it up, which means it’s something that has festered for awhile and I’m positive it true.
Just thinking about my last message on the show – how nobody in my family or circle of friends know about my forays into stand up…..yet. We’ve touched on it before, it will be a little while before I tell anyone of my friends….my plan is to practice until I get a little better then invite them out. Just wondered what other people’s experienced were with non-stand up buddies? I’ve seen people, like me turn up solo and I’ve seen them turn up with a whole room of buds to cheer them on. It’s gonna be weird…..
Nick, I had some friends come to my 3rd open mic. I didn’t really keep it a secret from them, but I didn’t ask them to come… they just wanted to. My other couple of open mics were pretty good, so I wasn’t too worried about bombing on stage… and having to endure their pity.
I guess it depends on how well your open mic nights went, to decide if you want to tell your friends or not. I’d say tell them about it, but don’t try to force them to go. Then it isn’t really your fault if they don’t have a good time.
I have invited some family to a performance this week, it’s the graduation show for a comedy college. I have a large family, and I told some who I think could handle it. Unfortunately my grandma got wind of the performance and wants to come, I think I gagged the moment she asked me about coming. I’m not a blue comic by any means, but I go to some dark places and the comedy is at worst pg-13. Still not stuff I want to talk about with my grandma in the audience… plus I know some of the other comics are going to get really dirty. I’m just going to flat out tell my grandma not to come… it’s just not right… so uncomfortable…
My family is supportive, though they think I’m crazy for doing this. I was told to try to bring 10 people to this comedy college graduation show, I guess this is my first experience of a bringer show… what a way to graduate…
Hey Americans, stop it with your offensive gags. You come over here, take our women and run our wholesome sense of humour.
http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/12/08/7949/bbc_rapped_over_palin_gag
sorry…*ruin*
I always try to send out an email to my friends about open mics or gigs I have around town. Just as a reminder. I usually get a handful of people to show up. But alot of them have a life and it’s hard for them to get out on a week night. I find it most difficult to give them a time frame. Alot of the times they will ask, “when are you going up?” and if I invited them to an open mic I have to tell them, “sometime between 8:00pm and 1:00am”
On occasion we will have a “bring the office guy” come around. He brings about 30+ people from his office, nobody has seen or heard of him, and he is killing the audience and all the comedians going on after him cannot wait to sink their teeth into them. Unfortunetly as soon as his set is finished, they all get up and leave. So if I invite people out, I ask them to please stay and watch as many other comedians as they can.
Bringing family can be stressful, I guess it’s up to the individual person and how comfortable they feel around them. Most of my family has seen me perform and I think the stress factor comes in because you want to do your best in front of them, and give them a great show. Not to impress them for praise, but to convince them your not pissing your life away doing comedy. LOL
I agree that its important to have family and freinds support you in the begining but it can be very annoying. my parents know about my ambitions in comedy but theres a problem. my parents only exposure to comedy is what they see on ET or some shit or the stuff I sit them down for myself. my mother keeps wondering why i dont do more stuff like dane cook(because I actually bother to write) and my father kepps giving me these “ideas” for props i can use in my act. the only similarity between carrot top and i is our hair coler. I understand what theyre doing, they just want me to be succesful but they dont really understand the originality behind it.
My family are going to be supportive I’m sure but I’ll dread telling my abortion jokes in front of them – but I’ve seen my mother laugh in front of Frankie Boyle’s stuff so she’s set herself up for a fall……
My friends are going to be slightly different – I dunno, I know they’ll be pleasantly surprised. I suppose its because of the fact that none really have any similar aspriations or any interest in performing at all. It’ll be weird inviting them along for a show – not that I’m not looking forward to it.
that’s another thing Marc, first and foremost I’m a fan of stand up. I’ve seen half a room get up and leave after their buddy finished. I’d want my friends to enojy the whole show rather my sorry bunch of abortion jokes.
To be honest, at this moment in time I’m enjoying doing it in secret…..if any thing I feel there’s a lot less pressure!
man this years gonna be the year that keeps on giving(comedy wise)
http://punchlinemagazine.com/blog/maria-bamford-john-mulaney-more-added-to-comedy-central-records-roster
Slight delay in the show this week. Wish I had a good reason, but really it’s just complete laziness. Should be out by Friday.
Here is a question I’ve been thinking about. What defines a professional comedian? Is it a state of mind or does it mean you are getting paid as a comedian? I ask this because recently one of our local comedy clubs changed the open mic rules. Amateurs get 3 minutes, professionals get 5 minutes. The first night I signed up, I accidently signed on the professional side and didn’t really say anything about it. Before I went up the new club manager asked me, “are you a professional?” and I said, “I dunno” and he said, “who are you?” and I told him my name and then he said, “where do you work?” and Iike a dumb-ass I said, “at an architectural firm”. Then he said, “your an amateur…scratched my name out and put me on the 3 minute list”. So now I’m labeled (at least by this manager) as an amateur and probably as someone who tried to scam his way onto the pro-side of the list.
In my mind I’m a professional. I’ve had about six real shows were tickets were sold. I’ve also featured for some of the local headliners, and I’ve been on the road for a week filling in for a feature act through The Comedy Zone, got some scratch, and a hotel room for the effort. So wouldn’t that be considered a professional?
The funny thing is, alot of the professionals will sign up for the open mic, and when their name is called to go on stage, they are missing in action. One night a professional went for 3 minutes and said, “that’s all the material I have for tonight” and brought up the next comedian, which happened to be me. So when I got on stage I looked at the club manager and asked him, “can I have his two minutes he didn’t use?” Of course I didn’t get them. lol
Not really sure what defines a professional comedian. I definitely wouldn’t consider myself a professional comic, and it’ll be a long long time before I even begin to think about whether or not I’m a comedian.
I guess it’s up to the decision-makers what makes someone a professional comic. And even they’ll disagree.
I know it was a while ago, but I just saw a guy opening for Brian Posehn, and he admitted to feeling a little sick, but it kind of made me mad, too. He was not interested, clearly mailing it in, so the crowd was disinterested. Don’t you have to at least pretend you want to be there?