The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 007

Sumukh, Golak, and Laura sitdown and talk the LAST 15 & Killin' It, tweeting during shows, confrontation, pop culture references, becoming hack accidentally, Indian people, and parallel material.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

Sanjay A. Yelp Review: El Jalapeno

Sanjay A. is back! Check out his review of El Jalapeno Mexican Grill in Columbus, Ohio! (A.K.A. Bizarro Chipotle!)

The Way of the Stage

I love stand-up comedy, but I don't necessarily ever read books on stand-up comedy. Whatever books have been written about how to write jokes or find better ways to deal with the art or the business have never caught my eye. I gave them a shot, but then looked to other avenues. The books that draw me are by the successful comedians, particularly ones I idolized as a child. Steve Martin's Born Standing Up is the best one yet.

Yet, I also turn to other sources for perspectives on stand-up comedy because I think that there are lines that can be crossed and where other professions and experiences could help make me a better comedian and person. It's why Georges St. Pierre's The Way of the Fight is strangely the best book on stand-up comedy that I've read all year (okay, I haven't read many other books this year, but that should not discount the statement).

On paper, it wouldn't make sense. How could the life of a UFC champion be comparable to a comedian or any artist? But, that was the point of St. Pierre's book. It was to provide a biography of his life, yet that dwarfed in comparison to it being a source of inspiration and perspective for as many people as he could reach out to.

St. Pierre spends much of the book discussing fear, and using it as a benefit in life:

“The key, I discovered, is to understand fear and how it works. What I want to do is demystify fear. I don't have a choice, because fear walks next to you everywhere in life. It has a reason for being there. People feel fear because they sense a threat. Sometimes it comes from physical pain: something unseen falls on your head, it hurts, and you're immediately scared. That's normal, and what the fear is doing is telling you to be careful, to get out of the way because it doesn't want something else to fall on your head. So fear's purpose is ultimately good—that's what people forget.” (53)

Fear is a huge part of stand-up comedy, and a huge reason behind some of the worst conversations I've had with audience members after a show. There's always a person who says, “I've always wanted to try this” or “I've got some funny things to say.” Well, why don't you say them? They fear it. Who wouldn't? Who would want to get up on stage and be judged by a crowd of people? I was fearful when I first started. Every comedian had to be. But, you toss a few beers in, and you see if the 5 minutes of what's probably hack that you've written goes over well. Then, you keep at it, and the fear gradually goes away and the confidence builds as long as you keep getting the laughs.

Fear has to still be in the minds of plenty of stand-up comedians at my level or younger (maybe even older as well). There's still a lot to think about before I head up on a stage in front of a crowd no matter what the size. Questions run through my mind like, “Will they understand my humor?” “Will I give them what they paid for?” or “How many drunks are out there?” There's still the pressure that comes with entertaining. 

 

“Humility is the first rule of martial arts. Either you learn humility quickly, or you leave because your ego can't handle losing repeatedly. I don't like losing—nobody does, especially in front of your girlfriend or your buddies (or millions of people watching on pay-per-view television). But it's good to realize you're not always as strong as you thought. It's good in the long run.” (94)

Comedy translation: bombing on stage. Every comedian's bombed. I certainly have. But, as I mentioned in this month's Comedy Sitdown, on occasion, I want to bomb for the reasons that St. Pierre points out. As much as I may get laughs consistently for a few shows, one bombing at a show is enough to put me back into my place, and allow me to analyze myself and that situation to continue to get better.

“I like to watch the best athletes in other sports and how they react or move in certain situations. It helps me understand my own movements better. I break down their processes, their reactions, their movements. They perform certain tactics at speeds that are far greater than my own. It is good to see them perform at these speeds, and to improve my ability to follow their progressions.” (102)

If a person decides to do comedy, I have to believe he or she made that decision because of a love for stand-up comedy. You saw the greatest who do it, and you felt inspired to do it yourself. That was the basis for your roots and you can continue to use that through your progression. But, there's a great value to continuing to watch stand-up comedy both at a national and a local level. From a terrible open mic to Louis C.K.'s newest special, to me, there's always an opportunity to learn from the best and avoid the mistakes of the worst.

There are so many symbols that I could make revolving the notion of the fight and I did so in a way with the experience of being a comedian as compared to that of a pro wrestler after reading C.M. Punk's GQ interview. As St. Pierre discusses how he handles an opponent, so could I relate to the “fight” that occurs between the comedian and the audience.

“At any given time, in life or in battle, you only need to know two people to succeed: yourself and your opponent.” (117)

The audience at any comedy show isn't necessarily an opponent. They are here to be entertained, and I have the opportunity to do that for them. But, I have to make them laugh. That can be extremely easy or extremely difficult depending upon the crowd and their sense of humor.

“It's harder to know yourself than to know the enemy. Because when it comes to yourself, you have all these emotions—like pride, for example. You get carried away with your own emotions. In some of my fights, I lost control of myself, but if I'd known myself properly I would have calmed myself down immediately.” (117)

Emotions appear at their height when the audience becomes an opponent. I'm always fascinated about how a comedian reacts to a heckler or to bombing. I try to improve on that myself. I'd like to think I've never had a meltdown on stage in seven years, but I likely had a minor one. I've certainly witnessed a lot of meltdowns. Again, it's about learning to control those emotions in the same way and still not completely change who you are on stage.

“Sometimes you need someone from the outside to take a good look at you and tell you the truth. Tell you what's really happening. Sometimes you don't realize what kind of person you are; you need that external feedback.” (125)

Much of what I learned along the way with stand-up comedy came from comedians I didn't necessarily know all that well (either at the time or even now). I have to appreciate and at least take into consideration the perspectives of those who have more experience than I do and that who I respect when I see on stage. Likewise, unless you've proven yourself to be a complete idiot when conversing with me, I appreciate feedback from the audience. It's normally positive, and I've actually modified jokes based off inaccurate factual content thanks to audience members educating me.

“I believe that real friends are truth-sayers. They'll tell you when you're full of crap, or when you're being lazy, or when you're being rude, or when your ass looks fat in those jeans...” (129)

I simply like this quote because that's the type of friend I try to be and hopefully am, and those are the type of people that I try to surround myself with. Then again, I surround myself with comedians, and if they're not truth-sayers, I don't know who the hell is.

There are many other quotes and general stories from the book that could help people out, and maybe to some people, these are pretty standard inspirational messages. But, this is coming from a champion, a guy that got bullied as a kid, did not seem to have the pure genetics to be athletically gifted yet worked diligently and intellectually to succeed at his skill. These are the type of people I would want to embody as a comedian and as a person, and I would think others who try to be the best would want to as well.

I'm not the biggest UFC fan by any means. I didn't even know the half of the fights he was talking about. But, nevertheless, Georges St. Pierre's The Way of the Fight is worth reading for the stand-up comedian that continues to want to get better at what he or she does. Even if one world is filled with muscles and the other filled with dick jokes and alcohol, I'm convinced the octagon isn't that far off from the comedy stage.

The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 006

Sumukh, Golak, and Laura sitdown and talk bombing, taking on crowds, writing new material, the age to start comedy, comedy skill acquisition, starting comedy old/young, being a comedy fan, and comedy snobbery.

New episode the third Tuesday of every month.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

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Sundai's Num Nums

I've noticed a recent trend of parents forcing allowing their children to start "foodie" blogs.  I can only assume they use the word "foodie" because it would be uncouth to label a small child an "asshole."  Anyways, I fell in like with the idea.  But I have no child!  Or HAD no child.  I adopted a child!  Not in the gross "raising" one kind of way.  More in the I send 35 cents to Africa every month and they send me a picture kind of way.  I give him money, someone else raises him, and I cross my fingers (but don't lift one) and hope he turns out okay.  Ooo, I feel like a Dublinite already!

So, now I have Sundai.  A nice young boy from Africa.  I send him money every month.  He sends me a letter every month.  With one twist.  I've asked Sundai to include a "foodie review" of the local cuisine at the end of each of his correspondences.  I will type out those reviews on this blog and title them "Sundai's Num Nums."  Here's the first of hopefully, malaria-contingent, many blog post by Sundai.  Enjoy!

 

Today's meal, while fraught with some minor issues, was simply delightful!  I started off the dining experience with a small wooden bowl of long grain white rice.  Marvelous!  The texture of the rice was sublime perfection.  The flecks of white mushed in my mouth with a slight bite at the center of each delicious kernel.  The rice had an interesting and intriguing flavor.  As if it had been cooked in a broth or some sort of flavor-infused water.  Upon consulting with the chef, I found out the latter was true when the he informed me that, in fact, the water that was used to cook the rice had also been used to wash the villagers clothes earlier that day.  Local flavor indeed!

The meal was accompanied by a enjoyably warm glass of the same water that the rice was cooked in.  A perfect pairing!  This flavor melding made the food and drink blend together in to one incredible culinary experience.  Definitely worth the risk of Hepatitis A!

What dining experience would be complete without desert?  Not one I wish to know.  After completing the first, and only, course of today's palate excursion, a truly unique and sweet snack was sent to me to cap off the evening.  A Typhoid Fever vaccine!  A little bitter at first, when left to explore the inches and crevices of an awaiting tongue, other, more pleasurable, flavor notes began to emerge.  A bitter-sweet combination that paralleled a rich, dark chocolate.  (Note: I've never had dark chocolate, but I am making the parallel based off what the white missionaries in my village have told me about the delectable treat.)  The bitter onset of the meal-capper was also balanced out by the fact that it would prevent me from dying.

That is all for this edition of Sundai's Num Nums.  I hope, like, seriously hope, to be able to make another entry soon.  Until then, Num Num!

You're Not Good (And You're Probably Not A Comedian)

"The thing about being a comedian is, the very first time you do it you're introduced and walk on stage as a comedian...You start right in the middle of your career."
-Jerry Seinfeld

Here's the thing.  If you're doing comedy in Columbus, you're probably not good.  I've been doing comedy almost 7 years now, and I'm not good.  Mostly because there is no "good."  Art of all kinds isn't about being good, it's about a constant trajectory of improvement and creation.  And just think about "good."  It's such a lofty word.  It doesn't sound like much.  But it is.  Good.  Only very good and excellent (or variants there of) really eclipse it.  Is anyone doing comedy in Columbus, OH two steps away from the national touring acts you consider excellent?

And you're probably not a comedian.  Have you thought about quitting your job, going part time, or anything resembling that?  If you are in the freshman year of a business degree, are you the CEO of Nationwide?  You're "doing comedy."  The same way you're "in school."  You're not a comedian.  Few are, so it's ok.

Are you succeeding?  You might be reaching preliminary goals, but you're not succeeding.  Why?  Because you live in Columbus, OH.  This is not a town where success in the arts happens.  Have you moved--or even considered it?  That's the basement of potential success.  Get there and then START succeeding...MAYBE.

That might sound cruel, but you have to move.  It's not a bash on the city to be realistic.  Sure, Columbus is a great place to raise a kid, grab a beer or some food, and have a solid life, but it's not an art Mecca.  Again, not a slam.  There's only 2-4 of those.  NY, LA, and the floaters (your Chicago's, San Fran's, and the like depending on the decade).  Saying that the Yankees are the best team in all of baseball isn't a slam on the Clippers.  Great team.  Great Ballpark.  Not the Yankees.  And any player that is the best Clipper but never made it in the MLB is not good.  He's good comparative to those who've never tried or tried and failed, but he's not good compared to ALL of baseball on all levels.  And to hear him talking as such would be embarrassing to him and baseball.

It's hard.  The myspace era has created an era of self-promotion.  But that has fed into its dark cousin--self-aggrandising and delusion.  Self-promotion is the way of the future.  And it's mostly a good thing.  Scalpeling the suits out of the arts.  Keeping money away from the needless and useless.   But walk that line strict and don't become a douche.

Learn to walk before you run and realize you have to walk for a while.  And Columbus is a good place to walk, but you won't find any race tracks here.  Learn to walk well, then move to a place with a few race tracks.  And while you're walking, stop telling people how good you are at walking.  And by all means, don't tell people how fast you're walking--it'll only make people realize the fact that you're not running yet.

The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 005

Sumukh, Golak, and Laura sitdown and talk pussy, doing comedy in other cities, traveling, open mics, out of town comics, women being funny, bitting, and getting help with your jokes form other comics.

New episode the third Tuesday of every month.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

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The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 004

Sumukh, Golak, and Laura sitdown and talk about joke stealing, hack, performing at outdoors and at festivals, setting up spaces for comedy, crowd response, fat guys eating, crowd sizing, and performing in theaters.

New episode the third Tuesday of every month.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

Podcast Powered By Podbean

The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 003

Sumukh, Golak, and Laura sitdown and talk about talking to people about being a comedian, telling a joke to a single person, bar jokes, hecklers, opening for someone, being mean, performing for your significant other's parents, and heckler responses.

New episode the third Tuesday of every month.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

Podcast Powered By Podbean

The Comedy Sitdown - Episode 002

Sumukh, Golak and Laura sitdown and talk about dating a comic, dating as a comic, the comedy lifestyle, clean comedy, clean shows, what is censorship and what is good business, and rape jokes.

New episode the third Tuesday of every month.

More info on:

Sumukh Torgalkar

Justin Golak

Laura Sanders

15 & Killin' It

Podcast Powered By Podbean