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Do You Ever Take The Stage High or Drunk?

1/10/2025

No. When I first started comedy, I needed a shot to even get through a set. Then for the first 2 years I did comedy, I "needed" to have a few drinks before I performed. Then I watched a set I did when I thought I was crushing but was too intoxicated to have sell-awareness that i was not doing as well as I thought.

From that point on, I never drank before a set, unless it was the "Midnight" show at Laugh Factory, where everyone was intoxicated and I thought I could "match" the energy for a while but I don't do that anymore either. For me, alcohol was a crutch to calm my nerves and help me perform but in reality, it lessened my awareness of what was happening. I missed so many social cues or opportunities to engage with the audience instead of just giving a speech.

As for being high, never. I once did a music show when I was in college playing in a band after a few hits and I was so in my head that I could not perform. I would play all the parts correctly, or as correctly as I did sober, but I was not bringing anything to the table, in terms of stage presence.

Great question. Keep em coming! hashtag#standup hashtag#comedy hashtag#formerlawyer

Photo by Connor Daly

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New Year, New Me?

1/2/2025

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Nah. I am the same as I was last year and I probably will be the same next year. Maybe better. Maybe worse. I am hoping this will be a big year to complete goals I had last year as well, including performing a set on a late night show, finding a manager, growing my social media presence for my stand up and my podcast and headlining more "A" rooms.

One thing I was to change is the amount of days I take off and to have goals with every set I perform. I did 398 shows this year. That's averaging just over a show a night. I need to take more days off. For the first time in my career, I experienced true burn out. I remember working with headliners early in my career and they would not take shows on weekdays so they can rest. I did not understand that. Now I do.

I can think of shows were I was only on stage to fulfill an obligation that I agreed to previously. It was only a handful of shows, but that is no way to perform. I used to look at nights off on my calendar, especially if it was two nights in a row, as holes that needed to be filled with shows and I now will use those days to refresh. And I think its also important with every show to grow and intentionally take chances or try something new to keep it fresh for you and the audience.

I recently did a show where the crowd was very tight and I was hesitant to do a new joke because I thought it would make them less likely to laugh. I did the new joke and it did better than the rest of my set. I think my enthusiasm shone through and the crowd felt it. I hope to keep taking chances like that on stage. New me, afterall. #standup #newyears #careermoves

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How Do You Handle a Small Crowd?

12/26/2024

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Sometimes I get to do a show for crowds of thousands and yes, sometimes I have to do a show for less than that. Much less. I recently did a show for 4 people. Yes, Four. It wasn't the first time either.
Most comedy clubs have a minimum before they continue with a show, usually between 6 - 15 people. Smaller rooms and clubs will let the comedian decide. I think if there is less than 10 people, the show should generally be cancelled, unless its a smaller room that only holds 20-30 people but in this recent case, I had no say. And since I was closing the showcase of comedians, the show had already started before I arrived to close it out. The show must go on.

This show I did for 4 people was in a smaller room but if I knew in advance, I would probably not have done the show. Not that I have done shows for less than five people before; I have. But by the time I got to the show (I was closing), it was clear that the audience was well aware of the irregularity of the situation. They were not comfortable for whatever reason and I am not sure if the comedians before me drew attention to the situation or not.

If "the show must go on" and I have any say, I would tell the club or producer to shorten the show. Its already awkward for the audience to see that its smaller so they will not mind if a show is shorter. That didn't happen here but it was a smaller room and the other comedians went into the audience to make it "more full." I could tell nobody had left to even leave the bathroom for fear of being pointed out by one of the audience members.

The last thing to do is bring attention to the crowd size. It's not their fault that the show is not crowded, so I didn't blame them. They actually showed up to laugh, so I tried make them laugh. And when things I planned to do didn't work, I still tried to make them laugh or at least, be entertained. I still have a job to do and these four people paid to be entertained, not be yelled at or ridiculed for not laughing as hard as a room of 300.

Obviously, it wasn't gonna be the same set as a full crowd so I have to adjust and maybe make it personal and try to include them in a more conversational show, as opposed to a regular set. I talked to them about stuff from my set that they could relate to or at least remember. I also wanted to work out some new jokes but I sandwiched them in between some "hits" that I knew would possible work.

In the end, I had a good time and I think at least one of them had a good time. Thats batting .250 which is not bad. #standup #careerchange #comedy

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What Was Your Worst Bomb?

12/21/2024

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This is a question comedians are asked very often. I run a show called Stand Ups Sit Down (last 2 Mondays at Laugh Factory Chicago) where the audience can ask comedians questions and every week, we get this one. But what people don't know is how important a bomb is for a comedian's growth. The takeaway from any bomb is what you learn.

I have a few that come to mind. One was a bar show in L.A in 2018 which I still have saved on my phone to keep me humble. That was a notoriously hard room but I learned how to adjust to crowds who don't have time for prepared jokes. I learned the importance of riffing and talking to the crowd instead of at them. Every comedians needs them.

The other one was in 2017 when I did my first college campus show. I had no idea how sensitive they were and even though I was warned, I didn't think my self deprecating jokes about being Middle Eastern and 9/11 (Hack I know!) would fail so epically. I now know how to work around the sensitive issues that comes with college crowds. Although college campuses are not as sensitive as they used to be, I hear.

If you have any questions for me, message me directly or come ask them at my show at Laugh Factory this Monday and next. I can give you free tickets if you message me as well! hashtag
#bombing #standup #growth #formerlawyer #comedian