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HB! Live #040 - Our Favorite Pens, How to Break Writer's Block, Hosting Tips + MORE

We're back with another Hot Breath! Live answering all of your comedy questions. Don't forget to join our email list for reminders of future livestreams!

Takeaways:

  • Engage your audience by sharing personal stories about your journey in comedy.
  • Prioritize writing and refining your material to ensure you maximize every performance.
  • When hosting, focus on creating a positive atmosphere for performers and the audience.
  • Make use of different writing mediums and techniques to spark creativity and inspiration.
  • Aim for three laughs per minute in your set to maintain audience engagement.
  • + MORE

Get the Writer's Block workshop: https://joelbyarscomedy.gumroad.com/l/writedaily

Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vip

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/



Transcript
Joel Byers:

What's goody?

Joel Byers:

Hot breath verse.

Joel Byers:

Welcome back.

Joel Byers:

This is Hot Breath Live, your weekly comedy tune up with comedians Joel Byers and Yoshi.

Joel Byers:

So today is a very special episode.

Joel Byers:

That was Yoshi and we're both jazzed because we are diving into pins.

Joel Byers:

We are sharing our favorite pins.

Joel Byers:

We're going to nerd out on pins today.

Joel Byers:

So if you don't like pins, then this is not the episode for you.

Yoshi:

Yeah, we're still gonna talk comedy, though.

Yoshi:

We're still gonna talk comedy, but we.

Joel Byers:

Are still gonna talk comedy.

Joel Byers:

So I should say for retention's sake, that don't turn this off.

Joel Byers:

We need to get that AVD up.

Joel Byers:

That's average view duration.

Joel Byers:

So hang out with us.

Joel Byers:

Of course we're gonna be talking comedy, answering comedy questions.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

And we felt like on election day that we would.

Joel Byers:

We would lighten it up a little bit.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Let's get to debate and vote for our favorite pins.

Yoshi:

Let's go, baby.

Joel Byers:

This is what we're gonna go today.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Oh, my gosh.

Joel Byers:

And Aditya just commented.

Joel Byers:

Love from India.

Joel Byers:

Very cool.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

For hanging out.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

We got.

Joel Byers:

We got hot breathers all over the world and we love all y'all.

Yoshi:

All over.

Joel Byers:

Feel free to comment with your questions.

Joel Byers:

If you aren't aware, we do a live stream every Tuesday at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

Joel Byers:

So join our email list linked in the show notes and I will update you on when we are going live and other fun hot breath happenings.

Joel Byers:

So we're gonna answer some questions, but we're gonna get into some pins as well.

Joel Byers:

So people in the live chat have some pins.

Joel Byers:

They've already posted.

Joel Byers:

I have a pin.

Joel Byers:

I'll kick this off as this is the pin that really started it all for me.

Joel Byers:

This is the pin that started it all.

Yoshi:

The OG pen.

Joel Byers:

This is the OG pen.

Joel Byers:

And it all happened.

Joel Byers:

It was a dreary Monday evening.

Joel Byers:

The venue was called Hole in the Wall because it was a hole in the wall.

Yoshi:

Oh, my God.

Yoshi:

That place brings back so many memories.

Yoshi:

It's the first place I did comedy where I cried in the car.

Joel Byers:

Amazing.

Joel Byers:

Amazing.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

They would do this show at like, 11.

Joel Byers:

It started at like, 11 on a Monday.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

And they did not want to be there.

Joel Byers:

And a lot of the times they weren't there, that's for sure.

Joel Byers:

But I remember the bartender had this pin and I was like, what is that?

Joel Byers:

Because I, you know, just waiting my turn, not listening to the other comics.

Joel Byers:

Like all respectful comics do.

Joel Byers:

You should listen.

Joel Byers:

You learn by studying others.

Joel Byers:

It is valuable to Pay attention.

Joel Byers:

But.

Joel Byers:

And then she said she had no idea.

Joel Byers:

Like, this is.

Joel Byers:

I.

Joel Byers:

I'm like some kid.

Joel Byers:

Who kind of pin is that?

Joel Byers:

She's like, I don't know.

Joel Byers:

I found this.

Joel Byers:

It's like you probably traded it for some cigarettes.

Joel Byers:

And I.

Joel Byers:

I got the.

Joel Byers:

She let me see the pin, and I clicked it, and I felt the click, and it was really smooth.

Joel Byers:

And then I wrote with it, and it was really smooth and just rolled along.

Joel Byers:

And it's just very durable and affordable.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And it is the big Atlantis.

Yoshi:

The big Atlantis Atlantis.

Joel Byers:

Now, when you go into stores, they now call it the Bic Glide.

Joel Byers:

They call it bit glide on the packaging, but the actual pin still says Atlantis on it, because that's what it is, the Bic Atlantis.

Joel Byers:

It's just a good, affordable, durable pen.

Joel Byers:

And it also comes in different styles as well.

Joel Byers:

You can get just, like, the rollerball, but they also have a fine point.

Joel Byers:

They have a gel pen version.

Joel Byers:

So you can really get the whole big Atlantis family at a really affordable price for just kind of your everyday driver.

Joel Byers:

And you don't mind you losing it.

Yoshi:

Yep.

Yoshi:

Yeah, that's a.

Yoshi:

That's important part about pens.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Attached.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, Dude.

Joel Byers:

I went to Paris with my wife and family a few years ago, and I got a Parker pin.

Joel Byers:

Now, they make real expensive pins.

Joel Byers:

This was, like 20 bucks.

Joel Byers:

It was a Parker jotter.

Joel Byers:

My foray into a nicer, elevated pin.

Yoshi:

For sure.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

You're a penis sewer now.

Yoshi:

And you were trying to add to the collection.

Yoshi:

Yes.

Joel Byers:

And then I lost it.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

So guess what?

Joel Byers:

This big Atlantis, it will not go away.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

Somehow, some way, it just appears.

Joel Byers:

I can't pay to lose this pen, but I get a nice one, and then it's like, where did it go?

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

My favorite pen from the beginning and till now.

Yoshi:

And I have one left.

Yoshi:

I think I've bought maybe in the nine years I've probably.

Yoshi:

I've been doing comedy, I've probably bought maybe 15 packs of these, maybe just over the years.

Yoshi:

And it's a simple pen.

Yoshi:

It's a.

Yoshi:

It's the Sharpie S gel.

Joel Byers:

Oh, yeah.

Joel Byers:

Like.

Yoshi:

And the fine point just sticks.

Yoshi:

Right?

Yoshi:

Now, I will say there was a time when I was into erasable pens because I thought maybe I would, like, erase my jokes and then try to, like, rewrite it.

Yoshi:

But I'm off that now, and I stopped doing the erasable thing.

Yoshi:

But this Sharpie S Gel, dude, old reliable, like, it is just a reliable pen.

Yoshi:

It's been there since day One.

Yoshi:

It's there since day, you know, whatever.

Yoshi:

Many days I've been doing comedy, you know, 10, 80, 200 or whatever it is.

Yoshi:

And it is seriously, like just a reliable pen.

Yoshi:

It has never ran out of ink, like legit, ever.

Joel Byers:

It's an infinite pin.

Yoshi:

Yeah, it's literally never ran out.

Yoshi:

I'm such a fan of this pin.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And the good thing about that pin, the S gel, I love the S gel.

Joel Byers:

And I've seen in the live chat several people say the G2.

Joel Byers:

And I'll tell you, like, several people have said G2, probably in the live chat, that's the most popular one.

Joel Byers:

But I will say, when we're talking gel pens, the G2, unlike the S gel, the G2 will smudge like crazy.

Joel Byers:

But the S gel, you.

Joel Byers:

You write it and then like rub your finger on it.

Joel Byers:

It's already dry.

Joel Byers:

It doesn't smudge.

Joel Byers:

That's why I like the S gel as well.

Yoshi:

No smudge.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

It is a.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

It's just a reliable pen.

Yoshi:

Like, it doesn't.

Yoshi:

I've never.

Yoshi:

And I'll say part of it is also I, I also realized that I used to see a lot of waiters and waitresses with this pen too.

Yoshi:

This is like they're taking orders pen.

Yoshi:

And so I was like, oh, I'm in good hands.

Yoshi:

Like, I, I picked the right pen because I just kept seeing it over and over again.

Joel Byers:

You know what's funny is one time my wife and I went out to dinner and I noticed the waiter had a zebra like the, the F3.01.

Joel Byers:

Like kind of the fine point one.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

Yoshi:

Zebra.

Joel Byers:

This is one.

Joel Byers:

I'll, I'll usually take this out to shows.

Joel Byers:

It's a good mobile pin.

Joel Byers:

It's good on the go.

Yoshi:

Yep, it's.

Joel Byers:

It's like a fine point.

Joel Byers:

So, like, you know, I write in a notebook like this.

Joel Byers:

It's like a smaller pocket sized notebook.

Joel Byers:

So I like a finer point.

Joel Byers:

So I can kind of get into the nitty gritty when I'm doing a set list.

Joel Byers:

But I saw he had this pin and then when he brought the check, he had a different pin.

Joel Byers:

It was like a Bic stick.

Joel Byers:

Like the generic.

Yoshi:

Yes.

Joel Byers:

And I brought it up to him and I was like, where's the zebra?

Joel Byers:

And he's like, oh, no, I don't let the customers use that one.

Joel Byers:

He's like, that's mine.

Yoshi:

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

I keep the BCK for the peasants.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

He was like, they'll they'll steal.

Joel Byers:

He's like, they'll steal my pen.

Yoshi:

This.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

You get this dollar tree special.

Yoshi:

I'm keeping the target for myself.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

I caught him, though.

Joel Byers:

I was like, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

Oh, yeah.

Joel Byers:

Corey said they're a sharpie guy.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, I'm definitely a sharpie guy.

Yoshi:

Yeah, I like the sharpies.

Joel Byers:

And I'll mix it up, too.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Are you a fine point or you a.

Yoshi:

Are you a ballpoint kind of person?

Yoshi:

You like the fine or you like the thicker?

Yoshi:

I'm a 0.38, like, point.

Yoshi:

Anything less than 0.5 is what I'm doing.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

I'm on the finer side.

Joel Byers:

I do.

Joel Byers:

I do like being on the finer side.

Joel Byers:

But I will say I have been converted recently to fountain pens.

Joel Byers:

It is.

Joel Byers:

It's a different.

Joel Byers:

It's a different level.

Joel Byers:

I don't wanna.

Joel Byers:

My voice just changed.

Joel Byers:

Even saying fountain pen, I have to talk with a little more genocide now.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

But every time I think about a fountain pen, I just feel like I've been like, early Civil War, my dear.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, you don't want to be there.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, you definitely don't want.

Joel Byers:

Yoshi definitely doesn't want to be early Civil War, that's for sure.

Joel Byers:

That's hilarious.

Yoshi:

I feel like it's a pen that you use to write to, like, your old lady after you've been out in the out and out on war.

Yoshi:

And you're like, oh, my dearest Linda, the nights are cold and the days are even colder.

Joel Byers:

And I, you know, I too, had my doubts from afar, but when I got up close.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, it's a whole new world.

Joel Byers:

I went to if anyone in Greenville, South Carolina.

Joel Byers:

And I know there are.

Joel Byers:

I know we got hop brethers in Greenville.

Joel Byers:

If you ever go to Greenville, there's the best pin store ever called True Fay T R U P H A E I've gotten a few pins from there now, but I went in recently with my wife while we were in Greenville, and the lady showed me a Lamy Safari.

Joel Byers:

It's one of these.

Joel Byers:

And this is like an entry they had.

Joel Byers:

I mean, they have.

Joel Byers:

They had pins in there.

Joel Byers:

They're like 20 grand.

Joel Byers:

It was ridiculous.

Joel Byers:

Like, these fountain pens are crazy.

Yoshi:

Wow.

Joel Byers:

I think this was 30.

Yoshi:

30.

Joel Byers:

I think 30 or 40, but you can use fountain pens forever.

Joel Byers:

So, like, yeah, this thing of ink, I mean, like a couple bucks, and it has like five cartridges in it.

Joel Byers:

So you actually save money in the long term if you can keep up with the pen.

Joel Byers:

And so far, I've been able to.

Joel Byers:

But I've.

Joel Byers:

I've been converted due to fountain pen hits.

Joel Byers:

Different.

Joel Byers:

I've never used one before, but it just has a different.

Joel Byers:

Just user experience.

Joel Byers:

Have you ever used one?

Yoshi:

A fountain pen?

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

I've used it.

Yoshi:

I use it.

Yoshi:

It just took me, you know what it was.

Yoshi:

It took me longer to write what I needed.

Yoshi:

Whereas when I'm with, like, my s.

Yoshi:

Gel, I just feel like I can just flow freer with the fountain pen.

Yoshi:

I go a little slower.

Yoshi:

You know what I'm saying?

Yoshi:

I feel like a fountain pen is like, when I was using it, I think I was using it just to write like.

Yoshi:

Like journaling.

Yoshi:

Whereas when I'm writing jokes, I'm just trying to, like, dump everything out of my head.

Yoshi:

And so it didn't feel as fast.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

It's a different.

Joel Byers:

Because it also has a cap, and I never.

Joel Byers:

I never use pins with a cap.

Joel Byers:

I was always averse to it until this fountain pen.

Joel Byers:

So it is a different kind of experience.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

It's a totally different feel.

Joel Byers:

But I do recommend everyone at least try one as it leaks all over me.

Joel Byers:

What if it just, like, exploded?

Yoshi:

Yeah, you should.

Yoshi:

You should have one fountain pen in your collection.

Yoshi:

I think that's important to have one fountain penny.

Yoshi:

A collection.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Do you ever use pencils at all, or is that just blasphemy?

Joel Byers:

When I started, I.

Joel Byers:

I was nothing but pencils.

Joel Byers:

I used a mechanical pencil on all my set lists.

Yoshi:

Yep.

Joel Byers:

And those have since faded into oblivion for the most part because it was lead.

Yoshi:

That's the worst.

Joel Byers:

But I use, like, these Papermate sharp writers.

Joel Byers:

Like, these are kind of your generic kind of teacher mechanical pencil.

Joel Byers:

I'll use these, but not lately.

Joel Byers:

I went through a phase with them, and then I went through a phase where all I did was type for a while.

Joel Byers:

But now I'm just.

Joel Byers:

I'm on that.

Joel Byers:

I'm on that pin game now.

Joel Byers:

Really?

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

I like writing.

Yoshi:

Even if I write a joke in my.

Yoshi:

In my note, like in my phone, I will re transcribe it, like, in almost like, final form on paper, just because I want to see how it's laid out.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And it makes a big difference there.

Joel Byers:

There have been studies that have proven actually writing, the kinetic exercise of physically writing helps with memory and retention and creative thinking.

Joel Byers:

Because I'll get asked that a lot when I'm teaching workshops and stuff.

Joel Byers:

I was like, oh, should we be typing or writing?

Joel Byers:

And it's.

Joel Byers:

It's really Whatever you're going to do, like, if you're going to write more consistently as typing, go for it.

Joel Byers:

If you're going to write more consistently, writing, go for it.

Joel Byers:

But there have been studies shown that writing does have a different effect on your brain that really does spark creativity and critical thinking and things like that.

Joel Byers:

You're more connected to what you're creating in that moment.

Joel Byers:

But it's also a personal preference if you want to type or write.

Joel Byers:

But yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll also.

Joel Byers:

What also helps me is I'll mix up.

Joel Byers:

All right.

Joel Byers:

With like, a Papermate flare felt tip kind of marker sometimes or like a fine point Sharpie.

Joel Byers:

I'll mix it up that way as well.

Joel Byers:

I'll write on cardstock sometimes.

Joel Byers:

I'll kind of mix it up though all the mediums, just to kind of keep it spicy.

Yoshi:

Nice.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Heartburn.

Yoshi:

It came back.

Yoshi:

It does that.

Joel Byers:

It snuck back up on me.

Yoshi:

Yep, it does that.

Yoshi:

It's just like, you just be walking and you're like, where's that from?

Yoshi:

You're like, oh, that's from breakfast.

Joel Byers:

Right?

Joel Byers:

Oh, so I'm just allergic to fun now.

Joel Byers:

Okay, so that's what being an adult is, is you're allergic to fun and slowly.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

Like, my body, it.

Joel Byers:

I think when I hit 30, that's when drinking, like, fell off a cliff.

Joel Byers:

Like, hangovers were just a different level.

Joel Byers:

I was like, this isn't even fun anymore, dude.

Joel Byers:

Like, I have two drinks and then I'm tired, and then I'm depressed for two days, so.

Joel Byers:

Or have anxiety and now food.

Joel Byers:

It always.

Joel Byers:

I guess I could power through it all.

Joel Byers:

I guess it would affect me as the years come on.

Joel Byers:

But this heartburn's a new level, so, yeah, it's.

Yoshi:

Anyone that was a reminder that you're getting older and the.

Yoshi:

And the goodies on the inside don't work the way they used to.

Joel Byers:

Not so fast.

Joel Byers:

Pizza party.

Joel Byers:

Not so fast.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

Your body's.

Yoshi:

Your body's connecting.

Yoshi:

They're like, no, your stomach is not going to be able to take that Taco Bell that you had yesterday.

Yoshi:

Speaking of which, we are different now.

Joel Byers:

Your joke, that's a young man's game.

Joel Byers:

Which y'all should go watch.

Joel Byers:

Yoshi special, available now on the Hot Breath YouTube channel.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

Go watch that.

Joel Byers:

We premiered that last week, so go watch that.

Joel Byers:

Get the views out.

Joel Byers:

We trying to spread that.

Joel Byers:

Them comedy goodies.

Yoshi:

Hell, yeah.

Joel Byers:

So, yeah, that's.

Joel Byers:

I think it's.

Joel Byers:

Sometimes it can help when.

Joel Byers:

If you're kind of In a writing slump or looking for new inspiration.

Joel Byers:

I mean, sometimes going and getting a pack of pens and never opening them just kind of is what gets your juices flowing.

Joel Byers:

I got an unopened pack in my cabinet right here that I went to Target and was like, I've never heard of these.

Joel Byers:

Let me get these.

Joel Byers:

I never open them.

Yoshi:

I'll be honest.

Yoshi:

I, I, I have like, there's just this collection of pins just like right next to me.

Joel Byers:

Oh, yeah.

Yoshi:

And when I'm feeling like, like a little inspired, I will just be like, all right, which one of these pens do I want to, like, change it up with?

Yoshi:

Yeah, Like, I, like, I don't know if we did this during the hot Breath, but I think one day when we were doing the live shows, I was like, all right, everybody, whatever paper that you're writing with, we're going to change it up.

Yoshi:

I think when I was doing it when you were out one day, or you might have had the breakdown before or after one of those days.

Joel Byers:

Very possible.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

And I was just like, just write on a different medium today.

Yoshi:

So whatever medium you're writing on, just change the medium out.

Yoshi:

And it sparked new ideas.

Yoshi:

So I think it's the same thing with your pens.

Yoshi:

Just write with a different pen every once in a while, see what happens.

Joel Byers:

And it can also help to change your environment as well.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

If you're feeling writer's block or uninspired, I mean, a lot of writers block is you just over complicating and having all these expectations of the outcome instead of just showing up and just starting the success being in the process.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Yoshi:

The quicker you get to action, the easier it is to get away from the writer's block.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Which is really why I, I brought that hundred joke contest back, because it's just the ultimate accountability of like, oh, gosh, I have two weeks to write this new set, so let me get on it.

Joel Byers:

So it's great accountability.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

What can also help you is if you're writing at home all the time, go outside and write.

Joel Byers:

Go sit in your car and write.

Joel Byers:

Go to a coffee shop.

Joel Byers:

Go to a park library.

Joel Byers:

I used to write in the library all the time.

Yoshi:

I used to write at the park because I like people watching and just write and just like, watch and just like, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

And not even necessarily you can go out and not like, write jokes, Write what you see.

Joel Byers:

I mean, writing, it's just like, it's the habit of pen to paper, sitting down and showing up to the page.

Joel Byers:

And the more you do that.

Joel Byers:

The more it becomes a habit, and then it just becomes second nature bars.

Yoshi:

Sitting down to the page.

Joel Byers:

You gotta.

Joel Byers:

You gotta show up to the page there, kiddos.

Yoshi:

To the page.

Yoshi:

I like that.

Joel Byers:

And these are things we have to remind ourselves of as well.

Joel Byers:

I mean, there's.

Joel Byers:

It's not like every day I'm waking up writing amazing jokes or even writing at all.

Joel Byers:

Perfect.

Joel Byers:

You know what I mean?

Yoshi:

So, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

But, yeah, it is part of the job, though.

Joel Byers:

And even if you don't come up with anything, there is like, a compound effect to writing.

Joel Byers:

I really do believe that.

Joel Byers:

So having the right pin can just kind of keep you inspired and motivated to be like, oh, cool, I get to sit down with this pin today.

Joel Byers:

And what will also help is if you set up your writing area, like, wherever.

Joel Byers:

Like, could be by your bed or just whatnot, but just having the notebook and pin there, and even if you can have the notebook open to a blank page to where it's the least amount of friction as possible to actually start writing.

Yoshi:

Really good idea.

Yoshi:

I like that.

Joel Byers:

That's really what it comes down to.

Joel Byers:

Just.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

How can you lower barriers?

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And these are all things and more you can learn in my workshop.

Joel Byers:

Breaking writer's block.

Joel Byers:

Available now.

Joel Byers:

I'll link that in the show notes there.

Joel Byers:

Boom, bow got a baby.

Joel Byers:

Due in December.

Joel Byers:

No big deal.

Yoshi:

No big deal.

Yoshi:

No big deal.

Joel Byers:

Money, diapers, everything is free and very affordable.

Yoshi:

So we're putting in work, baby.

Yoshi:

We are available.

Yoshi:

You know what I mean when people say low ticket sales?

Yoshi:

No, the ticket sales are high.

Yoshi:

There are a lot there.

Joel Byers:

Amen.

Joel Byers:

My heartburn is high.

Joel Byers:

I'm gonna stop complaining.

Joel Byers:

People in the pre show show were like, all right, we heard about your heartburn before the pod started.

Joel Byers:

So we got it.

Yoshi:

We got it.

Yoshi:

We got it.

Yoshi:

There are some questions, though.

Joel Byers:

There are some questions.

Joel Byers:

And I apologize if I went off too far, but I did want to talk about pins.

Joel Byers:

I just want to nerd out on and just kind of, you know, it's election day.

Joel Byers:

The politics.

Joel Byers:

Let's just.

Joel Byers:

Let's just have some fun.

Joel Byers:

That's what we're just trying to be a positive escape for people.

Joel Byers:

Really.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

It's the Pentateuchs.

Yoshi:

That's what we're doing.

Joel Byers:

Yes.

Joel Byers:

Oh, yeah.

Joel Byers:

And, Zach, I don't.

Joel Byers:

I don't even know what you said.

Joel Byers:

I feel like that was a pentateuch.

Joel Byers:

I feel like I agreed to something I shouldn't have there.

Joel Byers:

That sounds like something.

Joel Byers:

Pentateuch.

Yoshi:

Pentateuchs.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

That's what we're doing.

Yoshi:

It's the Penitex day.

Joel Byers:

Oh, pin.

Joel Byers:

Oh like the word.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

That is what you call a pun.

Joel Byers:

Oh when I bought the my fountain pen at True Fate the lady did say you have been pin fluenced.

Joel Byers:

She didn't say that.

Joel Byers:

So she was right.

Joel Byers:

I, I, I love fountain pens now.

Yoshi:

So the bug hits you.

Yoshi:

She got you with the bug.

Yoshi:

She got you with the pins.

Joel Byers:

You got me.

Joel Byers:

But yeah, Zach Newford said he gets a Lamby safari or a pilot 8:2:3 if you're looking for a heavy hitter.

Joel Byers:

Interesting.

Joel Byers:

But there are all types you can get in.

Joel Byers:

But I love, I just love pins.

Joel Byers:

Could do a whole show on them.

Joel Byers:

But let's get into some of the questions here.

Joel Byers:

I let's do the one from Aditya because they followed up saying it's 4am here.

Joel Byers:

Will you please answer my question?

Yoshi:

Yeah, let's get it.

Joel Byers:

Because they're in India so.

Yoshi:

Which we appreciate so so much.

Joel Byers:

Which we do appreciate.

Joel Byers:

Yo, the hot brer is strong in India.

Joel Byers:

I've heard from several comics in India that list wrong.

Joel Byers:

So we appreciate that.

Joel Byers:

So they ask can you please help on how to tighten a set.

Yoshi:

First Type five.

Joel Byers:

Probably.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

They followed up.

Joel Byers:

Oh did they?

Joel Byers:

Okay, cool.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

So basically getting that type five together.

Joel Byers:

Okay.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Let that heart hit you.

Yoshi:

Let it.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Well with the Type 5, the key to tighten up a Type 5 is usually just practice.

Yoshi:

Right from an order perspective.

Yoshi:

You want your best joke to be last, your second best joke to be first and then everything else really in the middle.

Yoshi:

That's typically how you should tighten the type 5 in terms of like getting it to like just nice and brief.

Yoshi:

And when you're tightening up a type 5, really one of the biggest aspect is making sure that at least people know who you are and something about you kind of like within the first 30 seconds or within the first minute of your jokes.

Yoshi:

And if you're just starting out, try to reach for three laughs per minute just out of the gate.

Yoshi:

That's a good bar to have when you are starting out.

Yoshi:

Now if you can get to more, even better.

Yoshi:

But when you're starting out, try to get to three laughs per minute within your type five.

Yoshi:

And that's usually a good gauge.

Yoshi:

But best joke last, second best joke first, everything else sort of organized in the middle.

Yoshi:

But that's typically how you should tighten a tight five.

Joel Byers:

And this is tedious and this is more of like the laborious side of developing your set.

Joel Byers:

But honestly like Transcribing your set.

Yoshi:

Boom.

Joel Byers:

And bolding or underlining annotations where all the laughs are.

Yoshi:

Yep.

Joel Byers:

So now you can physically see, oh, I get a laugh at 25 seconds and I don't get another laugh until 55 seconds.

Joel Byers:

So how can I add a laugh in between those or how can I edit down that time to get those laughs closer together?

Yoshi:

Boom.

Joel Byers:

So it's, it's a, it's a tedious process, but that is how you start to tighten it up and you start to really get mathematical about.

Joel Byers:

Okay, well, how many laps per minute am I getting?

Joel Byers:

And three is a great starting point.

Joel Byers:

That's a good.

Joel Byers:

Every 20 seconds you're getting a lap.

Joel Byers:

That's a good pace starting out to just get your tight five off the ground.

Joel Byers:

But it starts with taking inventory on, well, what is my current 5 minute set?

Joel Byers:

Where are the laughs?

Joel Byers:

And then start to work on tightening that up by editing it down or adding more punchlines to the set.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Yoshi:

Yep.

Yoshi:

And then when you transcribe, you're really.

Yoshi:

The other thing that you're really doing is just finding the words that you don't necessarily need or the things that you are saying that are kind of just habitual, but that are not necessarily intended for the joke.

Yoshi:

That's how you take out the filler words.

Yoshi:

That's how you take out the ums, the ahs, or just the things that you say normally.

Yoshi:

Right.

Yoshi:

I tend to say, here's the thing, a lot, I have to check myself a lot with that.

Yoshi:

So yeah, it, it happens.

Yoshi:

But transcribing it now, you can't get away from it.

Yoshi:

You have evidence of the words that you actually say.

Yoshi:

And now you're responsible for.

Yoshi:

Okay, if you want to tighten it, how do I do that?

Yoshi:

How do you take out the words?

Yoshi:

Are there is this needed for the joke?

Yoshi:

And if it's not, find a different way to write it.

Joel Byers:

And if you have a joke that's kind of fluffy right now, because we'll all do this developing jokes, we'll kind of talk around the point or we have a lot of lead up to the actual joke.

Joel Byers:

So just when you're trying to edit down a joke, ask yourself, what is the premise?

Joel Byers:

And then look at how the joke is at the moment.

Joel Byers:

And whatever doesn't serve, whatever doesn't enhance or reiterate that premise, cut that stuff out and just get to the point.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Somebody asked what is a pros like lpms, like, scientifically, I would say probably the best pro who described it was Ralphie May he's got this YouTube video out that he did from like back in the day at the Comedy Store.

Yoshi:

We were just talking about comedy and I think his number was like 8 to 11.

Yoshi:

Laughs per minute is usually like what a headliner gets.

Yoshi:

But I would say in recent years, laughs per minute really don't necessarily matter when it comes to headlining, usually because those folks, you're just watching them for the funny.

Yoshi:

Right?

Yoshi:

Somebody like Ali Sadiq.

Yoshi:

Right.

Yoshi:

I remember when we were doing the comedy reviews, somebody like Ali Sadiq, his special wasn't getting six to ten laughs per minute, but when he got the laugh, it was a sustained laugh for a hot second.

Yoshi:

It wasn't like, haha, no, it was like a belly laugh.

Yoshi:

It was deep.

Yoshi:

And he's a storyteller, so it wasn't like he was trying to hit you every single second with laughs.

Yoshi:

But this, the set itself was freaking phenomenal and you couldn't get away from the fact that it was still very, very funny.

Yoshi:

So don't get too attached to laughs per minute.

Yoshi:

But I think it's a good thing to know when you are performing and you are sort of running into silence.

Yoshi:

I mean, you've got a lot, a long way between jokes where people are not laughing and you want them in a rolling laugh to some degree, especially when you start out.

Yoshi:

And that also helps build your confidence that you can do the jokes.

Yoshi:

So it's just important to work that out.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, great question there.

Joel Byers:

Great, great question.

Joel Byers:

Next question I'm seeing is, and we hope that helped Aditya and anyone else listening, but I think we dropped, we dropped some gems there.

Yoshi:

Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

Joel Byers:

Hud Taylor asks, what's a good open mic lineup?

Joel Byers:

Sheet and clipboard.

Joel Byers:

I want to get one for the bootstrap.

Joel Byers:

Om I go to open mic, I go to.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

I mean just normal paper.

Yoshi:

I wouldn't overthink it.

Yoshi:

I just use a clipboard and like, or like one of those yellow sheet things that you just kind of turn over.

Yoshi:

That's typically what I use for open mics.

Yoshi:

But clipboard and a piece of paper works.

Yoshi:

I think the clipboard piece of paper works mostly because if you keep it at just like one sheet and that way people won't like try to write on the back or go to another page, that usually helps.

Yoshi:

And if you have like a certain number of open mic slots that you're doing, put the number on the sheet itself.

Yoshi:

Right?

Yoshi:

That way people know, oh, we're only going to do 20 spots or we're only going to do 10 spots don't open it up to where people writing more numbers.

Yoshi:

Now you're just trying to keep going over and over and over again.

Yoshi:

Unless you got like, infinity time to just keep going on the open mic.

Yoshi:

But if an open mic is, you know, two hours and it's five minutes apiece, you can only do like 20 people.

Yoshi:

That's.

Yoshi:

That's just time, whatever.

Yoshi:

So you just gotta break that down.

Yoshi:

And if it's less time, you just got to break those times down and you got to figure out like the filler time in between if you're hosting and doing.

Yoshi:

Going, doing the time in between.

Yoshi:

But I would say just make sure you prep that piece of paper beforehand when you're doing a bootstrap open mic.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, dude, I.

Joel Byers:

I did a.

Joel Byers:

A patio open mic this weekend.

Joel Byers:

Felt good.

Joel Byers:

Felt good to get back in there.

Joel Byers:

I hadn't been in the trenches in a while.

Yoshi:

Yeah, you went from the rooter to the tutor.

Yoshi:

I see you went back to the trenches.

Joel Byers:

Probably where my heartburn came from is sitting through an open mic.

Joel Byers:

No, but it was.

Joel Byers:

It was dope.

Joel Byers:

It was fun to be there and watch and perform, and there was like an audience there.

Joel Byers:

So you got good feedback.

Joel Byers:

It was.

Joel Byers:

It was fun.

Joel Byers:

So I just.

Joel Byers:

Open mic made me think of.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, that patio.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, patio show, which is.

Joel Byers:

I mean, I hosted a patio show for like, it was like seven years.

Yoshi:

You did?

Yoshi:

Yep.

Joel Byers:

Did all.

Joel Byers:

All the weird there.

Yoshi:

All the weird.

Yoshi:

That's the beauty of an open mic.

Joel Byers:

Rubbing the walls at all.

Joel Byers:

I remember there was a.

Joel Byers:

We would.

Joel Byers:

Did the patio even during the winter time.

Joel Byers:

And I remember there was one show, it was literally comics and then a homeless guy standing in front of the heater, and that was the show.

Joel Byers:

Just like, we made it making 25 bucks a show and a tab.

Joel Byers:

I got a tab there.

Joel Byers:

And then, you know, after like three or four years, I talked them up to 50 a show.

Joel Byers:

You know, I'm a mogul around here.

Joel Byers:

I'm a mogul.

Joel Byers:

We make it.

Joel Byers:

We make.

Joel Byers:

And we make a money moves around here.

Joel Byers:

Fam.

Yoshi:

Starting to double it up.

Yoshi:

I think the funny thing is, I think.

Yoshi:

I think you told me when you asked for 50, they're like, okay.

Yoshi:

They didn't even fight.

Joel Byers:

You know, we were wondering how long you're going to do that.

Joel Byers:

But it was great reps.

Joel Byers:

I learned how to host.

Joel Byers:

I learned how to run a show.

Joel Byers:

I mean, it's absolutely.

Joel Byers:

Every comic should host a show at least once.

Joel Byers:

Just at least.

Joel Byers:

So you learn the other side of this game.

Joel Byers:

So when you do go on an open mic, it's like, when am I going up?

Joel Byers:

Can I go up early?

Joel Byers:

You'll show up late and then be like, can I go up early?

Joel Byers:

Or when am I going up?

Joel Byers:

When am I going up?

Joel Byers:

And like, it's.

Yoshi:

It's show up, go up.

Joel Byers:

It's annoying.

Joel Byers:

All that is annoying.

Joel Byers:

And when you run a show just once, you will have a new appreciation.

Joel Byers:

For anyone that runs a show, they're absolutely.

Joel Byers:

They're doing the Lord's work.

Joel Byers:

You can make money work, like running a show.

Joel Byers:

But like I said, you know, I did one for 25 and then 50.

Joel Byers:

It's.

Joel Byers:

They don't all.

Joel Byers:

Some of them, a lot of them are for the love of the game.

Yoshi:

So for the love of exposure.

Joel Byers:

Oh, I went up.

Joel Byers:

I did a.

Joel Byers:

I did a show Wednesday and then went to an open mic afterwards.

Joel Byers:

And the open mic was over.

Joel Byers:

And then I just, like, went on stage without an audience, just to talk into a microphone.

Joel Byers:

I was just feening for it.

Joel Byers:

Really, really ruined the brand with that one.

Joel Byers:

I was like, this is a comedy flogging right now.

Yoshi:

This is just so funny.

Joel Byers:

Oh, okay.

Joel Byers:

So Chris Summers asked, is gigging 100 times a year enough?

Joel Byers:

Three times a week, watch your set, reflect versus gigging.

Joel Byers:

Oh, okay.

Joel Byers:

So basically, is it better?

Yoshi:

How many times?

Joel Byers:

Three shows a week, but you actually watch and reflect.

Joel Byers:

Or 300.

Joel Byers:

Wait, 100 a year?

Joel Byers:

Or 300 a year, basically, is what it seems like the question is.

Yoshi:

I mean, definitely 300 a year.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

Yoshi:

If you can do more, right?

Yoshi:

So when you ask a question like that, the question I have for you is, why can't you do both?

Yoshi:

Right?

Yoshi:

Why can't you do three times a week, watch your set, reflect on it, and then that way it affects your next set as you're going along.

Yoshi:

I know when I started and I was doing probably, like.

Yoshi:

I probably did like between four to seven sets a week for a couple of years.

Yoshi:

I would watch my set in the car on the way to the other set to modify my jokes, and then at the next set, change that up, and then by the next set, change that up.

Yoshi:

If I was doing like two to three or four a night, and every once in a while, that's what I was doing because I wasn't going out every night.

Yoshi:

Like, I was like, oh, I can do literally four on a Monday.

Yoshi:

So that's what I'm gonna do.

Yoshi:

And then I can do two on a separate day.

Yoshi:

So that's how I rocked it for a couple years.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

The more you can perform, the better.

Joel Byers:

That's really what it comes down to.

Yoshi:

Numbers game.

Yoshi:

It is a numbers game.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, that's the.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, that's.

Joel Byers:

I've said it on here before, but that's the number one advice on all the interviews.

Joel Byers:

Get on stage.

Joel Byers:

You gotta get on stage, cats, to get on stage.

Joel Byers:

And the final question here is from Kim Cattrall, who.

Joel Byers:

Who's actually a finalist in last month's $100 joke contest.

Joel Byers:

She asks first time hosting advice.

Joel Byers:

Just have fun.

Yoshi:

Yes, I'd probably say probably.

Yoshi:

The big thing with hosting is.

Joel Byers:

First.

Yoshi:

Of all, get there early.

Yoshi:

Make sure you're setting up the tone for the entire show.

Yoshi:

That always is helpful.

Yoshi:

Get there before any of the comics get there.

Yoshi:

Make sure you check in with the venue.

Yoshi:

Ask them if they need anything.

Yoshi:

Always ask the venue if they need you to announce anything.

Yoshi:

That's an important thing in terms of, like, announcements, things coming up, things that they've got going on.

Yoshi:

Because then they're like, okay, you're promoting what we're doing as well.

Yoshi:

That's an important factor.

Yoshi:

And know that, like, even with hosting, it's important to have jokes.

Yoshi:

But hosting isn't always about just telling your jokes.

Yoshi:

Hosting is truly mostly about putting the people in a good mood to enjoy the rest of the show.

Yoshi:

Even if it's an open mic, even if it's a showcase show, it's putting them in a good mood and then given with time.

Yoshi:

Make sure you do do your jokes and you're working out your set as well.

Yoshi:

But know that your job as a host is to set the mood for the show.

Yoshi:

That's your goal.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, Great point on getting there early because, yeah, as the host.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, you want to be calm.

Joel Byers:

You don't want to be rushed and jittery.

Joel Byers:

Like, you want to get a feel for the environment.

Joel Byers:

Who's there, who's walking in.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, connect with the venue.

Joel Byers:

The venue.

Joel Byers:

You're basically co workers.

Joel Byers:

Like, the venue is like your co worker.

Joel Byers:

You want to be working together on this show.

Joel Byers:

So, yeah, that's a.

Joel Byers:

That's a great point there.

Joel Byers:

I think the only other thing is if you ask the comics if they want an intro, but really, I mean, if it's an open MIC and there's 20 people, don't worry about that.

Joel Byers:

Just read their names.

Yoshi:

Yeah, don't.

Joel Byers:

If it's like.

Joel Byers:

If you're like a club or it's a showcase, make sure you connect with the comics.

Joel Byers:

Be like, all right, cool.

Joel Byers:

What would you like me to say?

Joel Byers:

Like an intro but if it's an open mic with a bunch of comics, don't worry about that.

Joel Byers:

Absolutely.

Yoshi:

And I would also say if you're doing host and you have a lot of comics, if you have like anywhere from like five to ten comics in between, do not do jokes in between.

Joel Byers:

I was just about to say that.

Yoshi:

Yeah, like, just skip it.

Yoshi:

Like, use the energy from the last person's set because it's their best joke to set up the energy for the next person to go up.

Yoshi:

Do not take a break in between that energy.

Yoshi:

Other than saying, unless you've got like a quick one liner about the last set or a quick one one liner about something that happened, try not to do jokes in between sets.

Yoshi:

Just move the show along as quickly as possible.

Yoshi:

Because you also want to be precious about people's times.

Yoshi:

And if you're spending.

Yoshi:

If you're doing a new minute bit, you've already wasted that time by which that other person could have had as well.

Yoshi:

So just be precious about.

Yoshi:

And be conscious about the time in between sets.

Joel Byers:

For sure.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, I do do like all your time up front.

Joel Byers:

And then throughout the evening, you're just more of a facilitator.

Joel Byers:

Like, you can check in with the audience or maestro.

Joel Byers:

That's what you want to keep drinking or like, things like that.

Joel Byers:

But yeah, keep it.

Joel Byers:

We don't.

Joel Byers:

You don't want to be what we call a host liner.

Yoshi:

Host lining.

Joel Byers:

Host liner.

Yoshi:

That's liner.

Joel Byers:

Host liner.

Yoshi:

You don't go between each comment liner.

Yoshi:

That is not something you want to be at all.

Joel Byers:

No, no, no.

Joel Byers:

So which I would never do.

Joel Byers:

I would never, never at my show would I do that.

Joel Byers:

I learned these things the hard way so y'all don't have to.

Joel Byers:

Or you learn the rules before you break them.

Yoshi:

Oh, of course, of course.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

And then you.

Yoshi:

You learn things that are associated with certain comics.

Yoshi:

You're like, huh, I guess I never saw that person do that until you brought it up.

Yoshi:

And then I'm recognizing.

Yoshi:

Oh, that's what hostlining is.

Joel Byers:

Yes.

Joel Byers:

See, I'm just leading by example.

Joel Byers:

And here's what not to do, kids.

Yoshi:

That's the key.

Yoshi:

Here's what.

Joel Byers:

I wouldn't.

Joel Byers:

I wouldn't do that anymore.

Joel Byers:

I want to get out of there.

Joel Byers:

I want to go home.

Joel Byers:

What you mean?

Yoshi:

Oh, my God.

Yoshi:

My.

Yoshi:

My favorite stuff that you said.

Yoshi:

We came out just to get back in.

Yoshi:

That's.

Joel Byers:

Let's get out, but let's get back.

Joel Byers:

That's my new.

Joel Byers:

I love that joke.

Yoshi:

That's such a great line.

Joel Byers:

Dude, I love that joke.

Joel Byers:

It works every time, like on early shows, like a 7 o'clock show every time.

Joel Byers:

Let's get out, but let's get back.

Yoshi:

Let's get back.

Joel Byers:

We don't want to go out and about.

Joel Byers:

Let's, you know, let's.

Joel Byers:

Let's have a game plan here.

Joel Byers:

Jeopardy's on.

Yoshi:

Jeopardy is on.

Joel Byers:

That's so fun.

Yoshi:

So good, but so true.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, I got.

Joel Byers:

I.

Joel Byers:

That's my, my audience.

Joel Byers:

It's.

Joel Byers:

I like older rich people.

Joel Byers:

Now.

Joel Byers:

That's really.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Welcome to the club, baby.

Joel Byers:

I love it.

Joel Byers:

I love it.

Yoshi:

Yeah, I like my crowds with a 401k, you know what I mean?

Yoshi:

I like them close to retirement or just chilling with a bag at the house.

Yoshi:

You know what I mean?

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Amen.

Yoshi:

If you understand the word 401K, come to my show.

Joel Byers:

But we're talking to comics who do not.

Joel Byers:

Most are like, what?

Joel Byers:

Yeah, what is that a new cryptocurrency?

Joel Byers:

Is that a new.

Yoshi:

It's a retirement fund, baby.

Joel Byers:

And the final question here from Adam.

Joel Byers:

Sorry, I just cut you off.

Joel Byers:

I'm sorry.

Yoshi:

No.

Yoshi:

So remember Corey K.

Yoshi:

He says my crowd has spent their 401k.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

Oh, that's hilarious.

Joel Byers:

But, yeah.

Joel Byers:

The final question here from Adam vale.

Joel Byers:

I work 70 hours a week and struggling to do three sets a week.

Joel Byers:

Any suggestions?

Yoshi:

Nah.

Yoshi:

I mean, here's the thing.

Yoshi:

Just get it in when you can get it in and make the most of the time when you're there.

Yoshi:

Right.

Yoshi:

Here's.

Yoshi:

Here's the one thing that is frustrating to watch young comics do.

Yoshi:

Get to a micro and then be like, all right, let me try this real quick.

Yoshi:

Let me see what I'm doing.

Yoshi:

Oh, it is frustrating because have a game plan that is your time.

Yoshi:

Use that time wisely.

Yoshi:

Make sure that you use that time so you get something out of it.

Yoshi:

Like, it's just.

Yoshi:

It's an infuriating thing.

Yoshi:

As a veteran, I don't want to call myself a veteran, but, like, as someone who's been doing it, who watches an open micer just go up there and just feel themselves out.

Yoshi:

It's like, what are we doing?

Yoshi:

What you're not working on crowd work.

Yoshi:

It's obvious that you're just trying to come up with something.

Yoshi:

No, work the joke out that you have been working on.

Yoshi:

That's the point of the open mic.

Yoshi:

So now I sound like an old grandpa.

Yoshi:

Back in my day, we used to just do jokes.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, it's.

Joel Byers:

It's very true.

Joel Byers:

Sometimes, sometimes open mics are Interesting.

Joel Byers:

To where they'll just be some inside joke that evening that all the comics keep referencing and calling back.

Joel Byers:

And it's like, yo, you have three minutes.

Joel Byers:

Like three minutes.

Joel Byers:

Show up with a game plan.

Joel Byers:

What do you want?

Yoshi:

That's your three minutes.

Joel Byers:

Yes.

Joel Byers:

You left the house.

Yoshi:

And imagine.

Yoshi:

Imagine you've been working.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

You've been working 70 hours and then you just go and just do the three minutes.

Yoshi:

Or you watch somebody else.

Yoshi:

You're like, what, what was that like?

Yoshi:

Did you just spend your time just roasting the bartender?

Yoshi:

For what?

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Is that gonna help your set for the next time you try to get on a showcase show?

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

It can be frustrating to watch.

Joel Byers:

Yep.

Joel Byers:

Have a game plan.

Joel Byers:

Have a set list.

Joel Byers:

Go in with intention of things you intentionally, specifically want to work on.

Joel Byers:

Make the most of that time.

Joel Byers:

You.

Joel Byers:

Everyone makes a big sacrifice to get on that stage for just five minutes out of a 24 hour day.

Joel Byers:

So make the most of that time by being as prepared as possible ahead of time.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And just.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, get it in now you can fit it in.

Joel Byers:

You know, I mean, I remember having a day job and I would be out till midnight doing shows and then up at 6 to go back to Enterprise, rent a car.

Joel Byers:

Not to brag.

Joel Byers:

I know, I know.

Joel Byers:

I didn't want to flex on anyone too hard, but.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, I used to wear a tie to work.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

I used to wash cars in a tie.

Joel Byers:

I was rolling in it.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And then there's also probably online, like zoom mics and stuff, which is better than nothing, honestly.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Like, it's still accountability.

Joel Byers:

It's still a way to say your jokes out loud so they're better than nothing.

Joel Byers:

So if that's what you can squeeze in, go for it.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

I'll.

Yoshi:

And also say, also work on your jokes in like during your commute times, like on the way to work or on your way back from work.

Yoshi:

Say your jokes, especially if you're in the car by yourself, work out your jokes.

Yoshi:

Say them, record them, repeat them.

Yoshi:

Like, try it again in a different kind of format.

Yoshi:

I remember Mark Norman just says he walks around his hotel room just saying the joke so he knows how it feels in his body.

Yoshi:

It's a huge, like, lesson for me.

Yoshi:

It's just like, oh, yeah, just say it.

Yoshi:

Like, see how it, you know, how you feel about it when saying the joke itself.

Yoshi:

So in the times, even when you're not working, there are times even in your day that you can still work on the joke itself.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

It's like sometimes People will go to a show and they're just bumping music beforehand, like on the way, like, listen to a set, like, kind of get in the.

Joel Byers:

In that mindset.

Yoshi:

Yep.

Joel Byers:

Working on comedy.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

I go to open mics now the majority of the time, and I'm writing new stuff.

Yoshi:

Like, I.

Yoshi:

I'll tune out what everyone else is doing, and I would just, like, write because I like being at the open mic.

Yoshi:

It's, like, inspiring.

Yoshi:

And so I'll just write new or just, like, be on my phone just.

Yoshi:

And it's not.

Yoshi:

I'm not Instagram strolling.

Yoshi:

I'm literally writing.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, that's another good.

Joel Byers:

While you're in that creative mode, once you get off stage, maybe think of, like, tags and such while you're in that mindset.

Joel Byers:

Oh, well, let's.

Joel Byers:

Let's land this plane here.

Joel Byers:

That was a man.

Joel Byers:

That was a good one.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

We got in some good pin, so we'd love to hear what your favorite pins are.

Yoshi:

Yeah, Tell us.

Joel Byers:

Your pants every Tuesday, 5pm Eastern time.

Joel Byers:

So join our email list so you can stay up to date with that and other Hot Breath happenings.

Joel Byers:

Bow, do you have anything you want to.

Joel Byers:

Adam said he's driving at work right now, actually.

Joel Byers:

Wow.

Joel Byers:

Thank you for hanging out.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

If you're in Atlanta, I'm will be at the Helium Comedy Club, which is a new club out in the Alpharetta area.

Yoshi:

It's awesome.

Yoshi:

It's a premium club that's, like, got a bunch of different places in the country, and this is their newest one in Atlanta.

Yoshi:

It's in the burbs.

Yoshi:

It's like 10, 12 minutes away from me, so I freaking love that.

Yoshi:

I'm doing a showcase show, so I'll be there.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Pull up, Pull up, baby.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, Yeah.

Yoshi:

I went to some weekend shows.

Yoshi:

I went to some weekend shows this past weekend, and it's like, oh, look at this club with, like, just new carpet and new sheets and just.

Yoshi:

So the Helium things in it.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, about the helium.

Joel Byers:

Oh, yeah.

Joel Byers:

Dude, it's so nice.

Joel Byers:

It is, like, so nice.

Yoshi:

Okay.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

It's like it's next level.

Yoshi:

It's like.

Yoshi:

It's like.

Yoshi:

It's got a.

Yoshi:

It's like a fresh, new, fresh club smell.

Yoshi:

You know what I mean?

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

It was cool.

Joel Byers:

I went.

Joel Byers:

I went and checked it out and, like, several of the staff were super hyped on Hot Breath.

Joel Byers:

They were about that life.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

They were in the Hot Breath.

Joel Byers:

It was very cool to see.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

So I got that Thursday and then I'm.

Yoshi:

I'll be.

Yoshi:

Next week, I'll be opening for the homie and hot brethren, Adam Mueller up in Tampa.

Yoshi:

Oh, my God, baby.

Yoshi:

Yeah, that's gonna be fun.

Yoshi:

I think we're doing an entire weekend, so I think it's Thursday, Friday, Saturday shows, man.

Yoshi:

Come check us out if you're in the Tampa area, the 14th through the 16th.

Yoshi:

That sound effect, that's that, that's that boy.

Yoshi:

Adam Mueller, baby.

Joel Byers:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

And we do this live stream every Tuesday, so hopefully you can join us next Tuesday at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

Yoshi:

Yeah, you got shows coming up.

Joel Byers:

You know, I had one this weekend that they got canceled.

Joel Byers:

They got canceled.

Joel Byers:

But guess what didn't get canceled?

Joel Byers:

That deposit.

Joel Byers:

That's why you do a deposit, kids.

Joel Byers:

It's exactly why you do a deposit.

Yoshi:

Yo, we really should get game some people up on sort of the art of comedy contracts.

Yoshi:

I think it's an important thing to learn of, you know, if you're, especially if you're doing like, longer time, get that deposit money.

Yoshi:

Because this is.

Yoshi:

If this is your livelihood and they cancel, you are sol.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, I mean, I had a, I had a.

Joel Byers:

You know what, what's funny?

Joel Byers:

I had a corporate gig Thursday where.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, we'll get you the deposit.

Joel Byers:

I followed up.

Joel Byers:

Sorry.

Joel Byers:

Within 30 days, we'll have the deposit two weeks out from the show.

Joel Byers:

I follow up.

Joel Byers:

Oh, you know what?

Joel Byers:

We had a sponsor fall through.

Joel Byers:

We're gonna have to cancel.

Joel Byers:

And I was like, just so you know, like, that's why I asked for a deposit.

Joel Byers:

This is a busy time.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, Book.

Joel Byers:

When you book talent in the future, please be respectful of their time.

Joel Byers:

Because I had to say no to things to say yes to your event.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

And this was like a, this is like a corporate event that you're like, oh, it'll be fine.

Joel Byers:

It's.

Joel Byers:

It'll get done.

Joel Byers:

But.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

The check's usually clear.

Yoshi:

Yes, absolutely.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

Anybody.

Joel Byers:

That's part of the game.

Yoshi:

Anybody can get it and anybody can cancel on you.

Yoshi:

So, yeah, it's always important.

Yoshi:

Get them contracts and get them deposits when you can.

Yoshi:

It's an important factor when you're a full time comedian that you, you, it's.

Yoshi:

You just gotta protect yourself.

Joel Byers:

50.

Joel Byers:

I do a 50% deposit.

Yoshi:

Absolutely.

Joel Byers:

Is what I do.

Yoshi:

Yeah, so that way that's, that's, that's industry standard right there.

Joel Byers:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Joel Byers:

We had one in the, at the buzzer from South Africa.

Joel Byers:

Oh, I mean, so I feel like, we gotta answer.

Joel Byers:

They say they're struggling to decide between English and their native language.

Joel Byers:

Any advice?

Yoshi:

You know, I think it's about who's in your audience.

Yoshi:

Right.

Yoshi:

If your audience is more native and they understand the jokes in that language, then do that.

Yoshi:

But if your audience is English and you've got that kind of area or they're like expats or people that just know the language or.

Yoshi:

I know some people in the heart bre.

Yoshi:

And in the comedy community, they do both.

Yoshi:

I've got a friend up in Brazil.

Yoshi:

She's a.

Yoshi:

Sorry.

Yoshi:

In Canada, she's Brazilian.

Yoshi:

She does comedy in French, Portuguese, and English.

Yoshi:

Just do it all.

Yoshi:

If you got that skill set.

Yoshi:

I mean, Stefan.

Joel Byers:

Stefan Dyer.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Dyer does it in both languages.

Yoshi:

Put out a special in English, but also does it in Spanish as well.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Yoshi:

Like, don't.

Yoshi:

Don't let the language barrier be the deciding factor.

Yoshi:

Just do it in both if possible.

Yoshi:

But it's really just about your audience and what you can get in front of regularly.

Joel Byers:

Exactamundo.

Joel Byers:

So let's land the plane.

Joel Byers:

Hot breath verse.

Joel Byers:

We appreciate y'all hanging out on this week's Hot Breath Live.

Joel Byers:

Go join our email list so you can get updates on all the hot breath happenings.

Yoshi:

Yeah.

Joel Byers:

Let'S get out of here.

Joel Byers:

I got.

Joel Byers:

I gotta go treat this heartburn.

Yoshi:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yoshi:

And go check out my comedy special, American African, on the Hot Breath Network.

Yoshi:

Bye, y'all.

Joel Byers:

Bye.

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Hot Breath! (Learn Comedy from the Pros)

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Joel Byars