Comedy and Everything Else

[bridgetosolace]

I saw him try out new material at a small comedy club (The Comedy Studio) in Boston about 6 months ago. It was awesome. I just wish he did more time!

[KeithTalent]

While "crutch" sounds like a slightly harsh term, I couldn't help but think that Dore's comments about crowd work may have solved the mystery of why Pardo isn't more famous. As much as I enjoyed his record, to a non-comedy nerd a CD of crowdwork just doesn't come across.

Don't change the name of the podcast 'cause I think a friend and I are gonna try to do some phony radio call-letter things and we need four initials.

[bridgetosolace]

While "crutch" sounds like a slightly harsh term, I couldn't help but think that Dore's comments about crowd work may have solved the mystery of why Pardo isn't more famous. As much as I enjoyed his record, to a non-comedy nerd a CD of crowdwork just doesn't come across.

I disagree with that entirely. Crowdwork tends to lack the subtext and complexity that is lost on general audiences, and is this more accessible.

I think Pardo is in the top 1 club comics because he's doing crowd work a lot of time. Anyone can enjoy him yelling at 'idiot in the front row'.

Pardo is also a genius though, so maybe Jimmy D is talking strictly about lesser crowd working comics.

[Shane]

But who are these other strictly crowd work comedians? Bob Zany? I cant think of anybody else who does crowd work consistently throughout a show and I'm not sure I can even call that crowd work

[scamboogah]

Bobby Slayton, Lisa Lampenelli.

[bridgetosolace]

Oh, okay, I agree with Jim Dore now.

[spriest]

Harland Williams put out two cds of crowd work.

[Kentock]

Judah Friedlander also does an all crowd work show.

Thanks for clarifying, Jimmy. I still disagree with some of it, but I think I see your point better now. After you've seen enough of it, most crowd work is really boring. And as a comedian, my goal is to craft really specific and hard hitting bits to form the foundation of my act. Crowd work still feels like a total chore to me, something I know I have to improve just because I have to be able to handle hecklers. But my goal, like yours, is to craft and present really funny material.

But I'm not going to say that Pardo's making a mistake by doing an act full of crowd work. His crowd work is special. He doesn't just make fun of Joe Audience's job. He weaves threads of logic through an entire crowd, constantly connecting the dots between all the individual conversations he's started. His shows at Helium this fall were some of the most fun shows I've ever seen.

Moreover, he's actually capitalized on these skills in his podcast. Never Not Funny allows him to use his best asset, which is spontenaity. Jimmy isn't going to spend months crafting a set of prepared bits because that's just not where he thrives. I think it's great that he's actively sought out avenues that show off his skills (NNF, Match Game, hosting) rather than trying to square the circle with a clean 5 minutes of Tonight Show material.

[nathansmart]

rich vos does a mostly crowd work show as well

[brewcaster]

I can see both sides, but I like to think of this analogy. Bands.

There are some bands that are just better live, and only the die-hard can really listen to a live CD by the band and enjoy it. Otherwise, you just have to be there to get the real experience.

Other bands are better on record. The live shows are good, but they ultimately are just playing the CD louder and with guitar faces.

I don't think one is better or worse, nor do I think that is Jimmy's point. With the before mentioned analogy the band that does better in studio and can craft something people enjoy while jogging, driving, or swinging, will most likely have a better "shot" at making some dough at it.

Of course there are exceptions....

[aenemaTron]

What you failed to note is that these "best live" bands never really make it to mainstream success and their album sales tend to stink.

[Keith Whitener]

Could you give some examples of such bands?

[aenemaTron]

All jam bands?

[brewcaster]

Could you give some examples of such bands?

These are bands that I like and/or know a little about:

Live:
Caribou - best live band ever for me
Gwar?
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
The Flaming Lips - Newer albums mid 90's and up, can't stand them on record, but a fun show. LOVE the older albums.

Studio:
Pretty much any "electronic" band (example: Ladytron)
Any pop star of the last 5 years - Not my thing, but either they lip sync or they are awful live.

I am hoping you understand my point. If not, who cares?

[brewcaster]

What you failed to note is that these "best live" bands never really make it to mainstream success and their album sales tend to stink.

With the before mentioned analogy the band that does better in studio and can craft something people enjoy while jogging, driving, or swinging, will most likely have a better "shot" at making some dough at it.

I thought I did. But thank you.

[bridgetosolace]

Jam bands is a less apt analogy than just improvisation.

Any guitarist worth his nuts can improvise a little solo and it'll at least be on key. A competently written solo is much more free and creative, though. (ie. you stay within the scale while improvising for fear of sounding off, but when you write you have time to explore atonal notes and such).

You can be flashy and easy by sweeping arpeggios and shredding (racial humor, for example, in this analogy) because you know people get a charge out of it, but it's kind of soulless and boring to the discerning listener.

But there are some virtuoso's that that make sweet love to their instruments and can improvise all they want, and it's probably better than other people's written solo's.

My point being that Jimmy Pardo is Victor Wooten. Or maybe David Gilmour.

[aenemaTron]

I thought I did. But thank you.

Whoops, missed that. Thing is, from what I understand, bands make more from touring than albums. I... I'll go now.

[Aaron1933]

These music analogies are like the bass guitar: simple and unnecessary.

[bridgetosolace]

But when done well, adds layers of texture.

[Aaron1933]

But when done well, adds layers of texture.

Right, but I was talking about these music analogies.