I had to perform the night after the election. It was hard to laugh or try to be funny, especially since many people, including myself (I am not a liberal and not a conservative, by the way) and other comedians were not happy with the outcome.
There was an elephant in the room and you either had to address it or ignore it. I addressed it and moved on and it was fine. I went on auto-pilot after and the show was fine. In fact, people loosened up as the show went on and realized life will go on. Some people clearly came out to get away from it all while others were happy with the outcome and were celebrating in a way. As for comedians, I know a lot of them cried that night, especially those from groups marginalized and attacked during this election. As for the crowd, they didn't want to hear about politics but they also didn't want you to ignore it. It was a challenge to make people laugh but that was the job and we did it. My heart goes out to those of my comedy friends who will be negatively affected negatively by the new administration and also for those non-political people who didn't realize that they voted against their interests. As a middle-eastern person who experienced a backlash after 9/11 and have family members who were attacked after the Iranian Hostage crisis in 1979, I hope the recent attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ community, specifically transgenders does not lead to more violence. The comedy world is also going through a shift, just like the country. For the last four years, many were attacking the woke and political correctness of leaders. There will be less excuses now. Funny is funny, so if you punch down, you still have to be funny. I hope the comedians who were punching up on those in power, stay punching up on the new leaders, regardless of the letter in front of their name. #standup #comedy #formerpoliticalwonk #formerlawyer #election
0 Comments
I am not a “comic’s comic”. These are comedians that other comedians always wanna see or will stick around to watch or stay around to see when they do a set. A comedians' favorite. In other words, I am not typically a comedian that other comedians stay to watch.
When I started, I always tried to entertain the people who paid to see the show, not the comedians in the back of the room. There are comedians who play to the back of the room, which sometimes feels like “inside baseball” to me and the patrons of the show. Those are jokes catered to comedians that non-comedy fans typically don't understand. You will see a joke not hit with the general crowd but hear everyone in the back laughing, to the point where the patrons will turn around to see what they are missing. I was never bothered by it, but recently it started to bother me, since it feels like I am being slighted. Especially when there is a smaller crowd and the comedians laughing for their comedian (the comic’s comic) help to fill the laughs in an otherwise smaller show. To be fair, I don’t really go out of my way to watch other comedians sets, unless I need to or hear things about someone I should watch, but when possible, I always stay in the room to listen. Unless its a comedian I really love. Hyppocritcal I know. Recently a comedian went up while we were all the other comedians were in the green room. It was a small show, but all the comedians went to watch him. I was the comedian closing the show after this comedian, so when he got off stage, they all left. It would not have been a big deal except for the comedians were 1/3 of the audience. Recently on the road, I did play for the back of the room (the comedians), and it did feel great, I am not gonna lie. I still think the paying audience is who should be the focus, but I hope to also win over the comedians someday. #standup #comedy #comedian #formerlawyer I left the practice of law four years ago for comedy. I was not burned out. I did not hate my job and I certainly did not hate the law. I love it and I still have faith in the legal system.
When I have an opportunity to educate people on the law, I take it, especially if its in my wheelhouse. I try not to be political as a comedian, although at times, what I say is deemed political and my dislike for certain politicians is hard to ignore if you follow me long enough. I don't like the extremes of either parties and, like most Americans, deem myself a moderate and somewhat independent. I was once a Republican and also a Democrat. I was a political wonk too years ago, working and volunteering on various campaigns at the Federal level, with my last "tour" being for Obama's Presidential campaign in 2008. Initially when I started comedy, I did not want to do any political jokes. I thought, and still think, that people come to comedy shows to get away from the news so why bring it up again. Now, I like to pepper it in, since its what I know and what interests me, especially as it pertains the legal issues. Some people who follow me, don't know that I used to be a lawyer who actually handles Constitutional issues and tried cases involving political figures and cities so they chime in with their own often horrible takes on the law. I also studied and majored in Politics in Middle East in college, with my thesis being on the Arab-Israeli conflict. I know things. While I am now an entertainer, I will always be a student of the law and will take every opportunity to educate people and correct falsehoods that are spread in the news and, sometimes with people wrongly accused of bad behavior. I encourage people to do their own research and use logic and reasoning to find answers to issues in the news, especially when its about the legal system. Nonetheless, people get offended on my socials when I call out falsehoods but I will continue to do it. While I love comedy, I also love the law and our legal system. #formerlawyer #comedian #legal #bettercallpaul As stand up comedians, like other art forms now, much of our "worth" to our respective industries is tied to social media. How many followers do you have on (insert platform)? What is your engagement? It ties into what the industry believes your marketability will be for ticket sales (live shows) or projects where you can be a part of. On one level it makes sense, since its a way for gatekeepers to determine if you can help them. On the other hand, it is frustrating since art is sometimes lost in the mad dash to create and put our content that will be consumed.
I have been struggling with what I want to put up and in the end, I have decided that if I enjoy making it (or at least don't mind making it), it is worthy of being blasted out in the world. Sadly, for comedy right now, stand up clips seem to be taking a back step to other forms of comedy content. There is just too much stand up on social media right now. I have some projects in the works that are consistent with my comedy and I hope you can follow me on the other social media I am pushing out there. Even a "follow" helps demonstrate my worth. Also if you like my stuff, or any other people who do comedy or make music, whatever, the best thing you can do it share it with others. It doesn't cost you anything and its very easy. You may be surprised how much a simple "share" of a clip is worth to the all mighty algorithm. #standup #comedy #socialmedia Last night (and this morning) I watched all four episodes of the new documentary "No Dress Rehearsal" about the band Tragically Hip, a band I was a fan of but never really a devout fan. As I watched, I remembered more and more of the songs I knew and connected all over. This was easily the best music documentary I have seen, if not one of the best of all documentaries all around. What a journey and what an amazing band with integrity and talent. I forgot how many amazing songs they had and I was so glad I was able to see them live.
It also reminded me of my time when I was a musician and then a manager for bands, before I did comedy. So much energy is placed into the pursuit of music and the relationship you have with bandmates is so hard to explain and understand for those who never had it. I always used to say being in a band was like being in a marriage but with no (less) sex. And then, when I was no longer in bands and managing bands, it was like babysitting and being a therapist for that relationship. With comedy and all creative endeavors, there is also a lot of sacrifice. I missed, and now with comedy, Icontinue to miss so many outings, marriages, parties, birthdays. And sometimes there is regret and remorse. And Self-doubt. Did you make the right decision? With a band, you have some sense of companionship and community; as a stand up comedian, there is some of that but mostly, you are ultimately alone. Especially if you do not have a team. It reminded me of the opportunities I sought and created for my artists as a band manager and how I am missing those opportunities right now without a manager or representation. I need represenatation. My goal for 2024 was to get a manager and its looking like I won't have one again. Here's to finding one in 2025. #standupcomedy #documentary #formerlawyer #formermusician |
AuthorPaul Farahvar is a comedian hailing from Chicago, Ill. Archives
August 2024
Categories |
Paul Farahvar Comedy
All From Paul
SUbscribe TO WHy ARE YOU AWAKE on YOUTUBE! |
Buy My Merch |
SHOWS |
clips & Press |
WHY ARE YOU AWAKE? |
MIXTAPE PODCAST |