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Originally Posted by daveT
Very nice TR, A-Rod. Way to go!
A few thoughts:
Most professional comedians I met are actually introverted, quiet, and not very funny in real life. They are "on" for the show, but they quickly turn "off" once they get off stage. In fact, I think "funny" and "extroverted" comedian is an oxymoron.
There are certainly funny extraverts. I have met plenty. But I do expect that at some of the higher levels introverts are represented at a much higher percentage than they are in the general population. You have to be somewhat reflective to think of a lot of this stuff.
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As an aside, there is a very high rate of suicide in the profession, but that's a whole other point of topics.
I think this is more about the type of people that go into comedy. similarly into art and writing and other types of Arts. Sane people don't go into comedy then kill themselves because they are in comedy. I read years ago that creative writers are the craziest of the creative types.
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Smokers aren't bad people. I used to smoke and now vape. Sorry if they bother you, but please note that most cities in America allow you to smoke indoors, so you'll kind of have to learn to tolerate people and smokey bars if you want to go on the circuit.
I'm fully aware. I grew up in a house with both parents being chain smokers.. I never smoked and always found it disgusting. In fact my now wife said she almost broke up with me because when we first started dating she thought I was a heavy smoker because all my clothes stunk and I had no idea why because I couldn't even smell them.
I have chronic rhinitis and asthma. My point was only that all those guys were standing outside chatting and smoking so it's not a very welcome environment to meet people especially when you are already shy. Cigarette smoke is disgusting. I'm not going to breathe that stuff in unless I have to. My point was not that smokers are bad people.
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Not sure if you "follow" comedians, but you may want to take a page from Louis CK and George Carlin. They both throw out all of their material and start from scratch each year (I can't find the interview where Loius CK describes this process, but possibly Howard Stern?). Most comedians I'm aware of that are successful constantly write new material (or have their writers create more, whatever the case). Nothing is more irritating than seeing a comedian who does the same thing for 10 years on end. Yeah, they tour the country, but you seldom see these guys on TV (I want to punch the TV when I do). Jake Johannsen is a stellar example of a comedian who can do an entirely different set each night for a month.
I Am Comic is where CK mentions that. That is a really good documentary and the entire thing is on YouTube I watched it again the other night.
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I'm glad to see you stuck around and didn't break for the doors right after your set. I see this all too often and it really bothers me. It is so disrespectful to the other performers.
Yeah I like to watch the other performers. I love laughing. But I did notice some people just left right after their set even the dude who went a couple spots before me. So he was literally only there for about 15 minutes. It would be funner if everyone hung around until the end and then got to chat once the nerves were gone.
But some of us have kids at home and stuff which does make it tougher. I'm lucky that this club is about 5 minutes from my house. A lot of people probably drive a decent distance to get here.