I get asked a handful of times about what its like being a stand up comedian. So here is my take on my job:
First of all, its a lonely and stressful gig. People think its all fun and chill but it actually is not. Once you have to pay bills with only your stand up then things get a little hectic. Unless you are a headliner, you aint getting paid that well at comedy clubs. Comics usually make their living through college gigs and corporate gigs.
Writing a bit is never easy. Just because you are funny among your friends don’t necessarily mean you gonna do well as a stand up comic. It may help but doing it on stage infront of a bunch of strangers is a completely different animal. You gotta put work in before product hits the stage. Everyone is different. Some folks read the newspaper for inspiration. Some people do drugs. Whatever the case, its always gonna be a lil different.
You are gonna bomb. Every now and then, you are gonna bomb on stage. Bombing a set is probably one of the worst feelings in the world. Picture this, a packed room of about 400 people. They have been laughing the whole night. Then you get on stage and they give you nothing. You hear the blender in the bar making some drinks. The crowd just staring at you wondering when the hell you are gonna get off stage. Let’s add a heckler into the mix. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth but its gonna happen. It happens to everyone. I have seen some of the best bomb on stage after they got famous.
Being an Asian American comedian adds a little wrinkle into the equation. We still have that stereotype that we aint funny. Some people go for the imitation of the mother or father. Some go for the stereotypical small dick/bad driver bits. At the end of the day, you gotta be you. I am the one that will say damn near anything that is on my mind. Recently I said on stage that white girls smell like bologna juice. It was an observation I had and I stated it due to past experiences. They were shocked that I even talked about white folks. Its the same if you talk about other races, especially, the black folk. Things get a little sensitive. So be wary of the added pressures and hurdles for being Asian.
Finally, talent alone wont get you famous. I know tons of comics that are funny as fuck. And alot of those comics are not household names. The stars have to align for that to happen. So don’t do this thinking that its gonna get you famous. Cuz it might be the case that you will never be on tv or known. Do stand up because you wanna do it.
I encourage anyone that has ever thought about trying out to do it. Just remember that its not as easy as you think it would be.
With all this said I have a show this Friday Sept 3rd at the Laugh Factory.
Here are the details:
A-GAME Comedy Show at The World Famous Laugh Factory
(every first Friday of the month at 8pm is Asian Night)
This Friday, Sept. 3, 8pm ! Come watch a great show!
AIKO TANAKA (Comedy Zen, Soul Train, The Grind, Fast and Furious)
PK (channelPKtown, Kollaboration, Comedy Zen, A-Game)
DANNY CHO (Ktown Cowboys, Mad TV, Parks and Recreation, Comedy Zen, Kollaboration)
ELIOT CHANG (Comedy Central, Showtime, Comedy Zen, Kollaboration)
GUESTLIST INFO:
A-GAME FRIDAYS AT THE WORLD FAMOUS LAUGH FACTORY- EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AT 8PM!
Tickets are $20 but FREE admission on the guestlist – Send Full names (+ up to 5) by Friday 2PM sharp to pkguestlist@gmail.com
GUESTLIST IS ALREADY BUILDING UP FOR THIS SHOW! GET ON IT!
