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BACK ISSUES INTERVIEWS Stand-Up Comedians Jim Norton Robert Kelly Donnell Rawlings Brad Stine Tammy Pescatelli Leighann Lord George Sarris Nick DiPaolo Russ Meneve Shang and more By Tasha A. Harris, NYC Comedy Journalist STAGE TIME The Magazine That Stands Up For Comedy |
We don’t talk about that amongst ourselves. Sense of humor, comedy is a natural skill.
Some people have it more than others but we don’t say that. There’s a veneer of that it’s all
very equal. It’s not all very equal. Some people are funnier than others. Finding your voice is
one of the most difficult things to do. Even to this day, I would say I have not got a firm
handle on my voice or I think my voice is too vague.
So it’s a work in progress –
Some people right away find it. You can use a simplistic example like Rodney Dangerfield,
who was absolutely brilliant, yet his voice is so simple and clear. If the audience can figure
you out in 30 seconds, you’re set.
I work with a lot of comics on the road and they have a physical attribute that is the act. I
know you might say, “Are you telling me that some fat comic coming out doing 40 minutes of
fat jokes is a voice?” Yeah. It is a voice. That’s his voice. That’s what he is. He’s a fat comic.
And you might think it’s a little too bland a voice of your taste. I think voice is a little
synonymous with the concept of your act or character. I don’t have anything about me that
jumps out, so when I go onstage, I’m going to have to rely on something that I say. Then,
there’s also this idea of what comes off of you naturally.
They wouldn’t be casting if it wasn’t stuff like that. Casting is finding the guy you want to play
a criminal because without him saying anything, he makes you nervous. That’s why you cast
him as a criminal because that’s the vibe he gives off. Unless you have something, you’re
immensely gigantic…where you’re nervous, you go up and you act a little kooky or you’re
deadpan…that’s what the voice situation is.
I’m using myself as an example. I used to think I was the snotty, edgy guy. That was my
fantasy. I met my wife and she travels with me and she’d go, “You’re just a nice guy
onstage.” And I’d go, “No, no, no, I’m the edgy, snotty guy.” I couldn’t accept it. I had to
hear it from another agent and someone else that I knew, and they were like, “No, you’re
really a nice guy.” So I was heartbroken.
Some people have it more than others but we don’t say that. There’s a veneer of that it’s all
very equal. It’s not all very equal. Some people are funnier than others. Finding your voice is
one of the most difficult things to do. Even to this day, I would say I have not got a firm
handle on my voice or I think my voice is too vague.
So it’s a work in progress –
Some people right away find it. You can use a simplistic example like Rodney Dangerfield,
who was absolutely brilliant, yet his voice is so simple and clear. If the audience can figure
you out in 30 seconds, you’re set.
I work with a lot of comics on the road and they have a physical attribute that is the act. I
know you might say, “Are you telling me that some fat comic coming out doing 40 minutes of
fat jokes is a voice?” Yeah. It is a voice. That’s his voice. That’s what he is. He’s a fat comic.
And you might think it’s a little too bland a voice of your taste. I think voice is a little
synonymous with the concept of your act or character. I don’t have anything about me that
jumps out, so when I go onstage, I’m going to have to rely on something that I say. Then,
there’s also this idea of what comes off of you naturally.
They wouldn’t be casting if it wasn’t stuff like that. Casting is finding the guy you want to play
a criminal because without him saying anything, he makes you nervous. That’s why you cast
him as a criminal because that’s the vibe he gives off. Unless you have something, you’re
immensely gigantic…where you’re nervous, you go up and you act a little kooky or you’re
deadpan…that’s what the voice situation is.
I’m using myself as an example. I used to think I was the snotty, edgy guy. That was my
fantasy. I met my wife and she travels with me and she’d go, “You’re just a nice guy
onstage.” And I’d go, “No, no, no, I’m the edgy, snotty guy.” I couldn’t accept it. I had to
hear it from another agent and someone else that I knew, and they were like, “No, you’re
really a nice guy.” So I was heartbroken.
You said earlier that some comics are funnier than
others. Do you agree that a comic who isn't funny when
they start out, but if they put in the time, they will
eventually get better?
I think I answered that already. [laughs] I think I know
what saying and it’s very rare. But yes, there’s going to
be someone out there, maybe one person or two out of
hundreds…it just won’t happen. Do you think everyone
could be an open heart surgeon? Don’t you think
someone is going to have shaky hands?
It’s not a judgment. I think that’s what we’re afraid of –
that we’re judging but if some Olympic diver came to me
and said, “I’m a better diver than you. "I’m going to say,
“You are.” I wouldn’t say he was judging. It would be a
fact.
others. Do you agree that a comic who isn't funny when
they start out, but if they put in the time, they will
eventually get better?
I think I answered that already. [laughs] I think I know
what saying and it’s very rare. But yes, there’s going to
be someone out there, maybe one person or two out of
hundreds…it just won’t happen. Do you think everyone
could be an open heart surgeon? Don’t you think
someone is going to have shaky hands?
It’s not a judgment. I think that’s what we’re afraid of –
that we’re judging but if some Olympic diver came to me
and said, “I’m a better diver than you. "I’m going to say,
“You are.” I wouldn’t say he was judging. It would be a
fact.
| COMIC TIP "I guarantee you the five minutes onstage you get. Love those five minutes. Please, don’t waste it. Don’t do all that crowd work. Why do comics do that? They work at The Improv for two hours, so they can get a five minute spot at [NYCC] and they go up and do crowd work..." |
I don’t want to discourage people but I think people need a solid dose of reality when you’re
starting in comedy.
How did your industry showcase come about?
I decided I wanted to produce an industry show because I’ve seen other people do it and
it looks lucrative…So I thought I’ll find people I work for. I’ll contact them and pay them to
come down. They watch and that’s what I guarantee. That’s what I give. I’m very big on
integrity.
I’ve had a decent amount of success. Maybe out of a couple hundred, 15 percent definitely
got work right away. The other thing is that [the bookers] will say they’re interested or not
interest. And the other thing they’ll say is, "we’d like to see the comic again in six months,"
but not in the bringer situation, meaning they can contact them by sending in a tape or
through an audition.
starting in comedy.
How did your industry showcase come about?
I decided I wanted to produce an industry show because I’ve seen other people do it and
it looks lucrative…So I thought I’ll find people I work for. I’ll contact them and pay them to
come down. They watch and that’s what I guarantee. That’s what I give. I’m very big on
integrity.
I’ve had a decent amount of success. Maybe out of a couple hundred, 15 percent definitely
got work right away. The other thing is that [the bookers] will say they’re interested or not
interest. And the other thing they’ll say is, "we’d like to see the comic again in six months,"
but not in the bringer situation, meaning they can contact them by sending in a tape or
through an audition.
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