By Mark Anthony Ramirez
Photo by LaMott Jackson
It will soon be 11 years in the game of comedy for me and the game has changed many ways and in other ways, it’s still the same. Cliques still tend to rule the roost. Hard work pays off. Though with the advent of MySpace and other self-promotion online tools, it has changed the game of comedy very much.
Developing material used to be the most important thing a comic had to do. Now, someone is trying to stick you in front of a camera before you even have a solid 20 minutes. Comics have to master marketing and be savvy when dealing with the media as a whole. Today, being a stand-up comedian is a multimedia ball game, which I sometimes feel has taken away from the art form.
Some disturbing trends I have observed is the lack of respect for veteran comedians, who have been in the game 15 to 30 years, keeping the art alive and not reducing it to a MySpace page. It’s disturbing to see the lack of respect they receive from younger comics. Though they may not be famous, veteran comics do have knowledge to impart.
Another troubling trend is the blatant disregard for the “light.” If you haven’t gotten that big laugh in your allotted time, you’re probably not going to get it, especially if you’re hosting a show. Respect the club, the audience, the next comic and get off the stage.
Lastly, the journey of comedy is not a sprint, but a marathon. I hear a lot of complaints of young comics: “So and so got on this show, or is passed at this club. Why am I not passed or getting picked for those things?” Everyone has their own pace, style and path in comedy. Some are better at networking or have an industry insider helping them. Whatever it is, stop worrying about what the next person is doing and focus on your own work and it will come to you in time.
The best advice I was ever given in comedy came the one and only time I met Jerry Seinfeld. He said, “There is no competition in comedy. In comedy, you’re either your own best friend or your own worst enemy.”
