The Clothes Make The Comic
October 25, 2007 · Print This Article
It’s the new and employed Brian Mollica, but even though he sold out to the man, he still enjoys gratuitous profanity.
Topics on the day include 80 year old rappers, comfort vs. perception when it comes to wardrobe, the BTB comedy tour gains momentum, a glossary of terms and a new segment to commemorate 1 year of peeking behind the bricks. Monster Rain!
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
So, you say to leave the mic alone and get to a comfortable distance, eh? So we shouldn’t be up there practically frenching the microphone like I see the guys on Mike and Mike (and Imus, when he was still on) do?
As far as what to wear when on stage id have to say wear something thats comfartable and obviously something youd wear in real life. however the more i perform the more i find that my clothing is starting to resemble my act. By that i mean i’m wearing what could be best described as “slacker nerd”. still i am admittidly both those things so iguess its really not a problem.
Hey Brian.
Cheers for the additonal recommendations on current US comics I should check out - I LOVED Daniel Tosh. It’s so cool as a frustrated stand-up who worries about writing left-field material and whether the audience are going to get it or not to listen to an intelligent guy like Tosh get big laughs talking about whatever the hell he wants - I thought his hilarious brief piece attacking comedians who do segues between bits would only make other comics in the house laugh, but then you hear the whole room erupt on the CD, and you really feel inspired to push the envelope rather than just be another crowd-pleasing hack comedian.
Loved the talk about correct comedy stagewear too. If I could chip in one opinion on the subject, it’s that comics who choose to wear a nice suit can seemingly get away with more edgy material than a guy in just a t-shirt and jeans. A good example of this is Jimmy Carr. Carr does some very un PC material , but because he’s a well-spoken middle class guy dressed in a nice suit, he gets away with it, as opposed to if a bluecollar guy with a heavy regional working class accent tried passing off exactly the same material - that guy would get a lot more grief for doing the same act.
He’re a couple musical acts from Britain, Well one and another from Republic of Ireland. Bill Bailey is the Englishman very funny comedian and musician, He’s quite surreal but very funny. Heres a youtube link for him if you have’nt seen him before http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk9Ny7Tme2Y . David O’Doherty is the Irish man who is very funny here’s a clip of him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAG18UUDPPI .
Hey Brian, Thanks so much for always answering my questions. That really helped me. I hope that I am able to one day get this comedy club off the ground. I have 2 things I wanted to ask and say. On the musical comedy thing…I saw a comic one time and he had a guitar on stage. At the very end of his set he reached back and said, “oh yeah, i have this guitar because my account told me I could write it off on my taxes if I use it in my routine.” He then played one chord and set it back down and that was it! It was the most hilarious shit i’d seen! 2nd thing is, I live an hour away from the closest comedy club and so I don’t get to go too often, but when I do I noticed that every single one of the comics that perform set up out in the lobby and sell their cds, dvds, or t-shirts. Do most comics do this? Is this how they make most of there money? Did you ever do this? I think its great. I love buying there cds…infact, I take extra money so I can buy them if they have any for sell and I really liked the comic.
Brian, I think you’re right about Cook’s song. I highly doubt he put that together himself.
Gilley, best of luck on a comedy club. It would be an outstanding business in a market that could support it. Its something that would require a large amount of capitol to start up and month to month the expenses would be $10,000+ (at least in Calif. it would run this much-maybe cheaper elsewhere) If it was me, I would look for others who also wanted to invest in the club and it would reduce the amount you would need and reduce some risk. As for selling T-shirts and such, it probably happens, but a merch. booth at the club is an outstanding idea. I’ve been to resturants that have a little area where you can buy stuff-You could have items with your clubs logo/theme on it and sell it all the time and have a place where the comics put their items. My last bit of business advice would be make the club exactly how you invision it, don’t cut corners, don’t leave things out because of cost, spend as much as you need to make it how you want it.
Mac, I like your joke and your delivery is good too and thats on the telephone. Look forward to more.
I’ll try to check in more often…have a good weekend all.
Thank you NorcalSports..Actually all that you just said were the biggest items I was worried about. I think the month to month basis was getting stressful to think of how I would make it and how much I would actually get after all that. The comedy club I visit now has a little area that sells t-shirts and stuff like that. That would be something I would want to do as well. There are several old clubs that went out here in this town that I could maybe buy cheap and fix up. This town only has 100,000 people but half is military so im thinking it could work. I don’t know if any comics want to perform in Lawton Oklahoma though.
Good call on the comic merch. I’ll definitely address it on next week’s show.
Lawton’s not too far for me, I’d make the drive to do a week of feature work. Oklahoma has some good clubs, though, doesn’t it? Tulsa comes to mind, but maybe I’m just thinking about Texas clubs. I know Houston’s got a decent scene.
Brian,
Joke 100 wasn’t a bad start, it was after all a Steven Wright classic. I’ve heard a few people tell it over the years and strangely it’s never funny to me when anyone else does it.
This isn’t a critism of your delivery, more a comment on how Steven Wrights style really makes that joke his and his alone.
Hey Brian,
I don’t know if you’ve ever spotlighted Bill Burr but I think he is one of the best comedians working today. If anyone is interested in checking him out I recommend him highly especially his HBO One Night Stand!
Within the first 5 minutes, BMo has “laughed his balls off” and said The Email at the 5:31 mark.
BMo for President!
Being musical comedy month, I’d thought I’d put my vote in for one of my countrymen - being a Canadian expat in the UK, I have to. Phil Nichol is one of the best comics working today. He’s from Canada originally, now works mainly in the UK, and he won the if.comedy award (formerly Perrier), which is the sort of highest accolade for comics in Britain. But most people know him in Canada and the States for being in the band Corky and the Juice Pigs, who had the CLASSIC comedy number ‘I’m the only gay eskimo in my tribe’.
He doesn’t do only musical comedy, but it’s a major part of his solo shows, with a band behind a curtain (kind of like Sarah Silverman in Jesus is Magic), and his impersonation of Ella Fitzgerald is hilarious. You can find a bit of his stuff on YouTube.
I’m the only gay Eskimo was a favorite of me and Mike our whole childhood. I especially love the Rick Ocasek impression.
Hi everyone,
Also Billy Connolly has done some comedy music if i’m not mistaken. In my eyes Billy Connolly is the funniest man in the world on stage just thought i’d bring him up.
-austin powers came out in july of ‘97 brian, so that’s where you’re getting youre list from.
-lots of comics talk about the merch whoring after their shows in their acts, like bill burr (foreshadow), doug stanhope, and jim norton. Stanhope’s is my favorite because he addressed how pathetic it makes him feel when people walk by and try not to make eye contact w/ him, if you’re willing to make some customers feel guiolty, than i defintely say the merch booth is a good idea,plus everybody reads t-shirts so that could increase your circulation in a small town.
-Bill Burr is great ryan, even though i thought his one night stand wasn’t that good. Even if brian finds opie and anthony unlistenable, I’m sure if he did listen he’d recognize how they’re able to get the best out of the comics that come on their show, with bill being a great example. I’ve never heard him on that show and not had a good ol’ fashioned laugh out loud.
-If you liked tosh and todd barry, rick, their’s a good chance you’d like mitch fatel. he’s a little out there and kind of reminds people of emo phillipps, but their is no better joke writer out there when it comes to structuring a joke and being willing to say it with full confidence. the guy’s undeniably hilarious.
-for some reason, comics in suits have always bothered me. I feel like their trying to sell you on their material, rather than trying to send you on a journey thru the way they think. Letterman actually has a rule where all comics on his show must wear a blazer, which is a the top of the list of why i will never watch his show. Material sells itself normally in my opinion, just be yourself on stage i say.
Cheers for the recommendations, Ben.
Time for more Leonaro’s Musings:
Let me start by saying thanks for tolerating this, I am using it as a drill of sorts to improve and be more focused. And thanks as well for past and future criticisms.
Ok. So I’m a Mitt guy, but I could vote for Rudy as well. This election coming up will be another close one, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how these middle-aged white guys could be more appealing to younger voters, snice every vote is going to be important. Here’s what I came up with. For these examples, let’s just say it’s going to be a Romney/Huckaby ticket.
1. Whenever discussing the War on Terror, refer to Bin Laden as Yo Yo Yosama.
2. Finagle your way onto CBS’s The Amazing Race, and give each other smooth nicknames like Mitt Fairplay and Huckabizzle. The kids love this stuff.
3. Announce that K-Fed will be appointed Attorney General in your administration. He’s building a pretty good track record, after all.
4. Modern Day Watergate: hack into Hillary’s Facebook account and post that she really prefers Myspace.
5. Promise to use taxpayer money to kick off a Behind The Bricks Worldwide Comedy Tour, and pay out the ass.
Don’t worry, my fellow conservatives. It’s in the bag.
Nice Leonardo. Best one yet, in my opinion anyway. “Huckabizzle”!
Okay, how did all my fellow brits enjoy Doug Stanhope Go Home…which was on channel 4 last night. I’m bias and a stanhope fan but i thought it was awesome. He really cuts through the bllshit and is a really thoughtful (and passionate) guy………
I’m not a huge musical; comedy fan but bill bailey’s tunes are amazing…..
but what I do like is comedy albums and sets that are backed by some music. It often gives the comedy a little extra…setting the scene…. One of Mitch Hedbergs albums has that cool bass in the background……’Something to take the edge off’ by doug stanhope has an acousitc guitar and of course…one of the best albums of all time Arizona Bay by Bill Hicks has some beautiful music to smoothe out the comedy of hate…..
I really didn’t like that Doug Stanhope comedy lab thing. I thought he came off as a bit of an arse to be honest.
DAMN! Missed the Stanhope show - what channel was it on?
it was on channel 4….. heres a link to it….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=walWYAIfJHI
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxpf_bayjbQ
part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nJ-NGTNT7E
Enjoy!
I have a question Do you consider John Valby a comic or more of an Entertainer? I used to love im back in college but I thnk it was the drinking and atmosphere. Recently XM did a short feature and I was enjoying it but wondering if it really comedy or more of vaudeville?
So I was watching the View ( yes I said it) and Whoopi was dicussing with Joy and Sherri Shepard about using someone else’s material. To summarize both Joy and Sherri said it was stealing even if it was not verbatim. Whoopi disagreed and said we all steal and it is more of an honor as we are are emulating someone. She gave that the 80’s were nothing but Pryor wannabes.
Yes I watch the view. That’s when the babywakes up for his noon bottle. I have a 2 month old, 7 yr old and 12 yr old. Shit will change my man.
Thanks for the Stanhope links, Nick. I’m just gutted I missed seeing him on UK terrestial TV. especially how little there is on worth viewing. How is it i can see crap reality doc shite along the lines of My Teen Boob Implant Hell 24 hours a day, but completly miss Stanhope? Thanks for the youtube links though.
Just a note on the how to dress. I’ve worked in a lot of clubs since then but when I first started hosting it was at the Laff Stop. The co-owner, at the time, Pete ran things and he enforced on all the hosts and sometimes the intown features a very strict “dress code”
Unfortunately it consisted of slacks and a nice/dress shirt or suit. His claim was that we represented the club and thats why we needed to look good. Which was odd because I thought being funny was the best way to do that hmm. Anyway this always annoyed most of the seasoned comics and took the newbie hosts completely out of their element. Which is retarded.
Fortunately things have changed since then and he no longer works there but I cant believe that it was a completely isolated event.
Hi folks,
Brian, what a fantastic show. Again, another great week of posting.
I’m enjoying the responses about clothing. The only suggestion I have for the discussion is: No matter what style of clothing you choose to wear on stage, I always set my outfit aside in my closet or drawer, only wear it when I’m on stage and I only change into it a little before going on stage.
For me, this helps in my preparation for a show and helps me get psyched for it. I hate to think of it as a uniform, but when you’re getting dressed to do your act, you are getting dressed for work. I’ve tried just wearing whatever I happened to have on earlier that day, but it just didn’t feel right and it affected my performance.
Rick, I completely agree with you on the way a comic dresses and the material he can get away with. The better dressed the more risque the material you can use. Jimmy Carr’s an excellent example.
Brian, on the topic of new comedians leaving the mic alone? AMEN. Maybe like most BTB fans, I’ve cringed too many times watching a new comedian fumble with the mic using up all the valuable grace time an audience often gives
a new comic. The other valuable part of leaving the mic alone is that it frees up your hands to do better “act outs” (the part of your act where you elaborate on the punchline by acting out mini-scenes. For instance, in the case of Leonardo’s great joke about deaf people talking in the car, you’d act out using a steering wheel then letting go of it and signing, etc.)
Anyway, I’m taking up too much time, here.
Again, great posting everyone. Like you, I genuinely look forward to BTB and reading the responses.
Thanks.
- Don
Hey Nick, you wouldn’t happen to have any links to “My Teen Boob Implant Hell” would you?
Thanks Don. I really feel that the reason the show has been better lately is because the contributions have been fantastic. People have actually started making BTB a priority in their Thursday entertainment, and since people are listening earlier and contributing sooner, the conversations on the site are well developed and giving me a wealth of material. My thanks to everyone.
Hmm… checking in this week. I would’ve earlier, but I hadn’t fully formed my opinions about the idea of dress.
I think it really depends on the person, and the system. Because for me I guess, wearing a collared shirt reminds me too much of going to school, and makes it too formal. And completely opposite from Rick. I think when going on stage, I want to be loose, and being dressed nicely seems to make it too formal.
I think wearing something that doesn’t distract you is the most important.
(Note: It also may be the culture in Hawaii, because people tend to dress a little more casual compared to most other cities)
On leaving the mic alone: That’s really good advice. Because I totally didn’t follow it, and my volume sucked. So i agree with everyone else who said it. Don’t mess with the mic.
If I have anything useful to say, I’ll post again later.
“Huckabizzle”!! I laughed out loud at that, which is a rarity for reading a bit, even if it’s funny. Good job!
Musical comics? I know I mentioned him before, and I know he isn’t EXCLUSIVELY musical, but Rob Paravonian does some of the funniest musical bits I’ve ever seen. And he’s not just a standup that pulls out the guitar at the end to do a single gag song. Music-related humor is a major portion of his act, and he’s actually got a good bit of material *about* music–not just *using* music. So that’d be my vote for featured comic this coming month.
On that topic, I don’t mind “gag songs”–that is songs that are funny, or are spoofs of other songs, etc. Weird Al is funny sometimes, as are some of Adam Sandler’s songs. But when I want to hear stand-up, I want to hear stand-up. I’m a purist, I guess.
Last Thursday I swung around to what was supposed to be the other weekly open mic here in Pittsburgh, and the venue was dark and empty. I’m not sure what was up with that. It’s a “comedy club” that is really just three comedy nights an 80-seat lounge above a bar and restaurant, and it’s been operating for less than two years.
Anyway, hopefully I’ll be going up, tonight, at the FunnyBone’s Tuesday open mic starting at 7:30. Maybe. There’s an off chance I won’t be able to make it. There’s also a chance I’ll chicken out, I guess, too.
Oh, and Thanks! NorCalSports. Yeah, doing standup to a telephone is murder. No audience reaction, no eye contact…nothing but silent empty blankness as your audience!
Oh, and I meant to mention, Brian: thanks for another great show! Thursday is starting to become “Behind the Bricks Thursday” for me. I find I start to jones for another episode starting around, Monday morning, though, so if you want to add in a second show that goes out on Sunday night, you’d double your exposure for sure.
Actually, that reminds me: I was wondering how you benefit from BtB, other than as a creative outlet or therapy tool. Do you see it principally as marketing and branding for your act, or do you plan to eventually have real sponsors, or what? Are you shooting for some critical audience size before monetizing? (I used to be in the web biz before becoming a preacher comic, and my mind still sometimes drops back into web dev mode.)
My Teen Boob Implant hell!!
Oh fuck I missed that show…….sorry Brian, I was too busy glued to ‘Help! My Faeces is Green’
ummm..I should point out I did actually make up the fictional show My Teen Boob Implant Hell, guys…
It doesn’t exist. If I’d have come up with a less appealing TV doc show title like, say, The Wrinkly Old Man Who Eats Used Buttplugs , would there really have been the same level of interest?!
actually..I’d probably tune in to see that too…
(blush)
.
Hi again all,
On the topic of musical comics I have to agree, Bill Bailey’s work is without a doubt the best in my opinion. After all, who else can fit the phrase ‘anthropomorphic drama’ into a song and make it work? I’d be interested to hear opinions of Valby though, maybe I’ve only heard a small selection of his stuff but it sounds like all the same really bad toilet humour to me.
And damn, I missed Stanhope on C4! Let’s hope they repeat it (or maybe it’s on C4 OD)
P.S Cheers for playing the Jim Norton clip last week. The gay vampire line always cracks me up!
Hey B-Mo, great show.
I just got Nick Swardson and Michael Ian Black’s CDs. Was pleasantly surprised at Black’s, a little disappointed with Swardson’s. His style has slowed a little over the past couple of years, and I think his material is suited for a more frantic pace. It was a bunch of stuff I’d heard before (the newer stuff was sorta blah).
Also, on clothing: I accidentally got to be known for wearing a leather jacket onstage. I wore one at an open mic over a year ago because it was cold in the bar. I had a good set, then some of the other comics came over and told me the leather jacket really seemed to work. So I got supersticious about it. For almost a solid year I wore that leather jacket for EVERY gig. All of them, regardless of size. I stopped doing that in April or May of this year. Now it’s either a polo or regular t-shirt, with blue jeans 90% of the time. Always closed-heel shoes. Always socks.
Sorry to hear that Joel. I’m a huge Swardson fan and was really looking forward to picking up the cd. I must admit though, his last special paled in comparison to his first.
Eh, you’ll probably like it; it was really just the first half that soured me. The last half is his familiar stuff from the first special, and it’s easily the most solid material on the whole album. The last 6 tracks (of stand-up) are great.
Hey Brian, recent recruit to the show here. I’ve been catching up with the archive, I’ll comment on the message board once I’ve caught up with the recent episodes. Recently listened to you rant against musical comedians and though that I should send you the link to one of my favourites. Only now I noticed that Dan has already linked to him above. Good taste Dan, and for your viewing pleasure here’s another clip of the DO’D
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz4f_e02RFM
Hey Brian great show, talking of how people dress on stage made me think of Eddie Izzard who i believe is also well known in the states, who on later gigs came out in knee high leather boots and make up.
Speaking of musical comedy thou i’ve just got into Tim Minchin who;s song Inflatable You is hilerious
http://www.timminchin.com/wp-content/uploads/03-inflatable-you.mp3