Do you frequently work in situations that make you taylor your material towards people aren't wholly familiar with who you are or what your comedy is like?
Do you frequently work in situations that make you taylor your material towards people aren't wholly familiar with who you are or what your comedy is like?
I often perform in front of people who don't know me or my standup. But it depends what you mean by tailor. I don't have two different acts one for dim witted out of touch old people and one for sexy well-read Flaming Lips fans. I try to tailor my set to what I think a particular audience will enjoy of the material I have anyway, but it's usually whatever works best already. I probably wouldn't talk about MySpace in front of an audience that never heard of it though.Originally Posted by CaptainBreakfast
I do try to avoid shows that sound terrible a month after 9/11 (the first one) I was booked in Las Vegas to do 8 shows at some terrible comedy club off the strip I did two shows, both were truly terrible (after my first set, trying to be helpful, the host asked me if I had any fart jokes or Jewish jokes). I remember mentioning in one of my first jokes the internet and got a blank stare from the crowd they seemed to barely know what I was talking about. To both my and the audiences mutual benefit I was taken off of the last 6 shows. I decided I would do less shows that sounded terrible right away though that can make you a very good comedian or hacky depending how you win people over.
Still, sometimes it turns out amazing. About five or six years ago I did a show in Buffalo, NY at an AMC movie theater for suburban 40 and 50 somethings that was fantastic. I resisted doing the show, but I was totally wrong and it was incredibly fun. And I didn't do anything differently from how I normally would I did my standup and showed my weird videos. I didn't talk about MySpace, but mostly, because it didn't exist.
-Eugene
I really, really like the new site.
Book Excerpt from Licks, Kicks, Dicks and Big Tits: 24 Hours in the Life of a Rock and Roll Band
by Jon Benjamin
Shouldn't you be out fucking a maple leaf or something? -crlygrl
Jon Benjamin and I made a video on stage at Union Hall last year for a contest that we never entered. I just found the video and posted it on my blog. It's pretty ridiculous:
http://eugenemirman.com/archives/category/blog
-Eugene
I really like the new site as well, but does anyone know if there is an RSS feed to the blogs on his site, or is it there and I'm not finding it?
Question for Eugene:
Jason Reich, with 236.com, spoke at my class and said that they hire you guys to make videos for the site, so I was wondering how often do they contact you to make a video? When they do that, do they say to cover a certain thing a certain way or are you given free reign to just make something?
Are you also able to pitch them ideas or is it more of a one way street?
I think it works differently for each comedian. I'm generally contacted by them to do a specific video parody Tom Cruise, dress up as a general and address congress, go to an event to cover it, etc. It's a very collaborative process though. Often they will come up with a concept and I'll write jokes or improv, but they also suggest jokes and direct the videos. Brian Spinks, the person who runs their video department, I've been friends with since college and we work very well together. Also, Holly, who produces most of the stuff I've done for them booked Invite Them Up and I've also known her for many years from Boston when she worked on Dr. Katz. So we're all very comfortable suggesting things or saying when we think something works or doesn't. I'm generally pretty involved in editing the videos as well. I like working with them a lot. It's very ideal.
I rarely pitch stuff to them, but I could if I wanted to, because of how powerful I am.
-Eugene
He IS powerful, especially with the comprehension of Ipod jacks.
Last edited by billynord; December 4, 2008 at 4:00 PM. Reason: unk.
Slingbox video is so, so funny. I would never let a roommate cum on it.
Craig... That dick.
Can you make Lucy: Daughter of the Devil come back? The merciless violence of Special Sister (you) tickles me.
Shouldn't you be out fucking a maple leaf or something? -crlygrl
I don't think I can, sorry. I'd love to. Jon Glaser's show Delocated will be airing in February I think and it's very funny, but not animated.
For something animated (a holiday greeting) you can enjoy this:
http://eugenemirman.com/archives/category/blog
Also, I am told I do have an RSS feed in the right corner on firefox or you can enter my website into RSS feed places and it will work. Though I am being vague, I believe I'm telling the truth.
-Eugene
I think this is the feed URL on your website, Eugene.
http://www.eugenemirman.com/feed
As you indicated, I was able to add your RSS feed by simply putting your website address (I actually used your blog URL above) into the "Add Subscription" box of Google Reader.
I've been trying to keep track of all of your interviews but I've never found anything about your experiences with opening for bands. Do you try to match the energy level of the band or is this not really a problem? What did the bands think about having a comedian open for them?
I've been interested in trying to do this in Portland but I don't know how to approach it.
I don't try to match the energy of the band, though I'm probably more energetic and pause less (because people will yell shit at you if there is down time). I would try to match the audience of the band to your type of comedy. Ultimately, opening for bands is not ideal people are chatty, it's hard to have them pay attention, they're standing and often they aren't expecting comedy. However, it can be really fun, it's just a lot of work. You just have to try very hard, but it's probably worth the experience. I think the bands enjoyed it. Definitely some of the hardest shows I've had were with bands. But when it works, it's very fun. Basically, don't try to do more than 20 or so minutes.
And on a different note, tickets are now available for my book release party at The Bell House. Performers include me, Kristen Schaal, John Oliver, Paul F. Tompkins and special guests. It will be super fun. You can get tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/Sal...eventId=767334
It's 18+ (though on the site it says it's 21+ that will be changed soon).
I am relieved to see that the "Amazing Crooning Child" remains intact on the new web site. The Cat's Cradle cover cuts to the very core of me.
When I saw this thread, I began to recall the first time I saw you perform live, at Jon Benjamin's Pajama Jammy-Jam. Oh, what a night! What I would give to, once again, see "Jeffrey Toobin's" oiled-up calves dance to Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight"...
Thanks for the memories.
I was at that Midnight Pajama Jam too!
I didn't want to ask two questions in a row, but I don't want this thread to fall off the face of the earth.
I've developed a multimedia comedy show and it's become big enough that I'm working on my first press release. I know you've done a lot of regular shows, like Tearing the Veil of Maya and Invite them Up. What was promotion like, for you? Did you take tips from music promotion? Did you ever worry that you were spending too much energy on promoting the show and not enough on promoting yourself?
I think promoting the show is promoting yourself. If you make a good show, it will only help. And having an audience come to a show if often one of the things that makes it good.
And though you did not ask, here is a new video where I play a Saudi prince:
Reviving this topic before it is consumed by the miasma of time and legend.
1. Eugene, having ties back to the Boston scene, what can you say about comedy here as compared to other places (New York, the West Coast)? What are you memories about the community when you were first starting? How does that compare to your assessment of Boston now?
2. Jokes or persona? Which comes first? Do they grow together or does one grow in reaction to the other?
3. Transportation choices: A talking dolphin which can take you to any city near a body of water OR a mute dragon which can take you anywhere? Which would you prefer? A wisecracking companion or an amazingly badass one?
Would you recommend it to somebody starting out to gain experience? I've been writing for a couple years but I've only performed a few times. Some of my best friends are in fairly successful local bands, and I think it'd be a blast to open for them, and I'm not afraid to be eaten alive
I ordered my copy of The Will to Whatevs along with the Season 2 DVD of Tim and Eric. I anticipate that my package will explode from all the funniness that it contains.
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