#NerdsUnite: I can haz funny (one nerds journey around the comedic circuit)
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Brandon. We started talking on the Facebook not too long ago, and lemme tell you, this guy can throw in quite the few kneeslappers in his emails. Yep, see Brandon is a comedian who is here today to tell you the real deal on what it's like being "on the circuit." I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT BRANDON!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @BrandonComedy
I’m starting the next phase of my comedic journey this summer. I’ve already moved all of my stuff out of my place in Oklahoma, now I’m hanging out at my parents’ house (woo) saving up money to move to Chicago in August.
Oklahoma was a cool enough place to start comedy, but at the end of the day there are too many comics for such a small scene. There comes a time in every young comics life where they look at the situation they are in and they have to say either “I’ve done everything I can do in this scene, it’s time to move” or “It is time to consider this a hobby and not a job.” Comedy is more than a hobby for me so the decision was an easy one, I’m getting the fuck out of Oklahoma.
Chicago seems like it is going to be the perfect scene for me. I can get on stage every night, there are enough industry showcases to get seen, and get TV work, and it isn’t as competitive as LA or New York for stage time. From what I hear Chicago seems like it is a really helpful place for a lot of comics to take it to the next level.
Anyway, enough about that, here are some terms and definitions that you can use to talk to comics, and they make you sound like you are totally in the know.
Comedy, like every other esoteric occupation has its own language. Fortunately for you, that language is based in english! But in discussing comedy I noticed I have slipped in some of this lingo. Now we both know YOU are smart and able to use context clues, but the person next to you... ugh.
Alt Comedy: A comedy show where anything goes, the jokes tend to be a bit longer, laced with more pop cultural references. Alt is weird to define because it covers a huge spectrum. But usually a crowd that goes to see an alt show, and knows that’s what they are going to see, doesn’t have any expectations.
Bachelorette Party: The worst most obnoxious group of guests at any comedy venue.
Bomb: bombing can be defined in many ways, but it boils down to not getting the laughs you expected.
Booker: Someone whose job is to book shows, they don't really care who they book, so much as they get a guy to fill a slot.
Bringer Show: Bringer shows are more popular in big cities, and are a terrible burden on beginning comics. The way a bringer show works is you get a slot, and to keep your slot you have to bring a certain number of people to the club/venue. The problem with this model is you only have a finite number of friends/people who will come watch you talk, so doing these types of shows causes you to burn through your friends rather quickly, and sometimes before you were ready to have a lot of people you know see you.
Closer (joke): USUALLY the biggest joke of your act. Guys like Bill Cosby just close on whatever joke, Paul Mooney also does this. One time Carlos Mencia closed a set with some weird advice piece he probably stole? I don't know, it was weird.
Crowd work: Interacting with the crowd. Some comics see this as taking the easy way out, those comics are dumb and probably terrible, and you probably don't know their names. F*ck those guys.
Emcee: The worst, dumbest slot in a show. And sometimes the first paid slot you can get. The emcee has to set the tone for the crowd, go on cold, and bring up all the comics. It isn't that being an emcee is bad, it's just that people don't see you as a comic just a guy who works at the club and you have to do dumb things sometimes. Basically the emcee is the opener, the most forgettable person on the show. Some guys are great emcees, awesome.
Feature/Middle: The awesome spot in the show, you do 20-30 minutes, you can come to the show kind of late and you can leave early.
Hack: A comedian who consistently fails to generate original material, and often results to stealing other comics hard work. Also a comedian whose jokes lack any sort of depth.
Headliner: Highest billed/highest paid comic on any given show. Usually does upwards of 30 minutes a set.
Open Mic: Anyone can sign up and do time, you have to do these to do showcases.
Set: an allotment of stage time, in minutes.
Showcase: A chance for advancing comedians to show bookers, club owners, or other industry types a tight set.
Urban show: A show with a mostly black or Hispanic audience.
Well, now you know all of that stuff. Feel free to lie to comics and pretend you are one of them to sneak back stage!
#nerdsunite
click here to follow Brandon on twitter & don't miss his blog over yonder!