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

Podcast Powered By Podbean