full
#045 - Are Comedians the New Rockstars?, The #1 Skill Comics Need (Not Stage Time), The Power of Clean Comedy,+ MORE
In this episode, we catch up after a brief hiatus, sharing honest insights about balancing life, family, and comedy.
We cover the power of clean comedy (with shout-outs to Nate Bargatze’s $80 million success), the importance of rehearsing your material, and why networking with other comics is key to getting booked. Plus, they offer valuable advice on staying motivated, avoiding burnout, and—most importantly—having fun with your comedy journey.
Join the clean comedy course waitlist here: https://forms.gle/nTYe4MdYzEMGkMEA9
Join this month’s contest here: https://buy.stripe.com/aEU7tv9v08GHbfO28a
Key Takeaways:
Reprioritizing as a Comedian:
- Joel opens up about becoming a new dad and how it’s shifted his focus from road gigs to local shows, teaching, and clean comedy workshops.
- Yoshi shares how life changes have led him to pivot toward corporate gigs and teaching, showing there's more than one path to success in comedy.
The Power of Clean Comedy:
- Clean comedy isn’t just a style—it’s a lucrative skill. Joel talks about how clean material opens doors to higher-paying gigs like corporate events, country clubs, and even church gigs.
- They highlight Nate Bargatze’s $80 million success as proof that clean comedy can crush at the highest levels.
How to Improve Faster as a Comic:
- Rehearse your set—not just in your head, but out loud. It’s a game-changer for timing, delivery, and finding new punchlines.
- Watch other comics perform. You learn more from observing styles, pacing, and crowd work than you realize.
- Network intentionally. The best gigs often come from relationships with other comics and bookers.
Mental Health & Mindset:
- “No one cares.” A powerful reminder that most people aren’t judging your every move, so focus on your own growth.
- Have fun. Comedy should be joyful, even when it’s hard. Don’t forget why you started.
Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork
Join our email list here: https://hotbreath.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Transcript
Hello, Hot Breath Averse.
Speaker A:It's been a while.
Speaker A:We're back.
Speaker A:Welcome to Hot Breath with comedians Joel Byers and Yoshi.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:Hello.
Speaker B:Hello.
Speaker A:It's been since December 5th since we've done one of these episodes, and we're going to let you know why and a lot more, but I'm a little nervous, so let's get into it.
Speaker A:Welcome back, hot brethren and sister.
Speaker B:Welcome back.
Speaker B:Welcome back.
Speaker B:Welcome back.
Speaker B:Welcome back.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker A:It's been a while.
Speaker A:I just had my first child.
Speaker B:What?
Speaker A:So that was loud.
Speaker A:I think that's a loud sound effect, but okay.
Speaker B:It's okay.
Speaker B:What's it called?
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:We're starting off so strong.
Speaker B:Fortuitous.
Speaker B:What's the.
Speaker A:Oh, loudness.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I was trying to connect loudness to what's going to happen in the future, but I forget what the word is.
Speaker B:I'm.
Speaker B:I'm getting old.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's.
Speaker A:We all are.
Speaker A:But we're back.
Speaker A:Hot brother and sister.
Speaker A:And so we appreciate your patience through this, I guess paternity leave you can call it.
Speaker A:It's basically been two months since we've done an episode, and I have not slept since.
Speaker A:So this should be a nice delusional episode that we have a lot to get into today, which is very exciting.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah, we do.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker B:First of all, how are you doing?
Speaker A:I'm hanging in there.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:Question number one is how is Joel Byers?
Speaker B:Let's make sure we get.
Speaker B:Get to the meat of this real quick.
Speaker A:You know, I'm very grateful.
Speaker A:I've gotta say.
Speaker A:The Hot Breath Averse was beyond supportive and kind.
Speaker A:I got so many messages in our Facebook group.
Speaker A:There were several posts about celebrating the birth of my first child.
Speaker A:Several people also sent gifts as well, so we really appreciate those.
Speaker A:Those were promptly returned for gift cards, which we really appreciate.
Speaker B:Daddy needs some groceries, baby.
Speaker A:Just diapers.
Speaker A:That's just diapers and wipes.
Speaker A:Anyone?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Everyone's been beyond supportive and shown so much love, so I'm.
Speaker A:I'm overwhelmed with gratitude in that sense.
Speaker A:And then just also overwhelmed with sleep deprivation, which also helps with.
Speaker A:Life is now just one big hallucination.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, that's.
Speaker B:That's the beautiful part.
Speaker B:You just.
Speaker B:You're like, oh, I didn't know I was going to miss sleep.
Speaker B:I'm just trying to stay alive myself.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's really like, I would recommend having a kid when you're ready to give up freedom and sleep.
Speaker B:Oh, I thought you were just going to stop at give up.
Speaker A:That's a good point.
Speaker A:Oh, that could be a bit.
Speaker A:If you just.
Speaker A:If I just build it up to when you're ready to give up and then just stop right there.
Speaker A:But build it up as if there are, like, there's more to that.
Speaker A:But it's really just.
Speaker A:That could be a joke.
Speaker A:That's funny.
Speaker A:Yeah, I have to try that because I have been already do have some, like, material which has been working really well, which is exciting.
Speaker A:And I've been able to start reframing existing material through this new lens, which gives it a little more, like, gravity and makes it a little more grounded.
Speaker A:So instead of me talking about, like, my wife and I taking melatonin, now it's like, we used to party.
Speaker A:Here is an example of that, like, the melatonin.
Speaker A:So it.
Speaker A:It kind of.
Speaker A:It's kind of matured my material in some ways as well.
Speaker A:In addition to having new jokes, it's also kind of revamped old material.
Speaker A:So that's a good.
Speaker A:That's a good thing for comics out there as well.
Speaker A:Maybe if you want to have a kid just to try to, you know, make it in comedy.
Speaker B:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Kid number one for me was like, oh, we want to have a kid.
Speaker B:And then kid number two and three, that was for more material.
Speaker B:That's why I had.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:More material at this point.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But it's been great overall.
Speaker A:And seriously, the hot breath of verse was incredible through all of this.
Speaker A:I mean, I can't even.
Speaker A:I don't even want to start naming people because I don't want to leave anyone out, but it was, like, several.
Speaker A:Several people who showed so much love and support during this.
Speaker A:So I really appreciate that and all your patience in us coming back basically two months later.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker A:We're back and ready to rock, baby.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:Love that.
Speaker B:Not surprised at all, but you've been.
Speaker A:Moving and shaking since.
Speaker A:You know.
Speaker A:I know we both took.
Speaker A:Took breaks, but you weren't out here resting on your laurels.
Speaker B:Oh, for sure, Ben.
Speaker B:Yeah, I got.
Speaker B:Just got busy in terms of just, like, you know, I think New Year focus for me was to kind of, like, lean into things that I can control.
Speaker B:So, like, my family dynamic situation changed at the house, so I'm driving my kids more.
Speaker B:I'm kind of.
Speaker B:I'm responsible for taking all my kids to their school and picking them up.
Speaker B:So that means my mornings are busy, my afternoons are busy.
Speaker B:So now I've got that gap in between of, like, what to do and what to focus On.
Speaker B:So I've been leaning on really work, figuring out how to do more corporate comedy and just more stuff that I know is, like, in my wheelhouse, because I was in corporate for 22 years, and so I've been really excited about that.
Speaker B:I started teaching a class at Helium Comedy Club, which is a new club here in.
Speaker B:In Atlanta.
Speaker A:A new club in Atlanta, but probably the top comedy chain in the game, for sure.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Just say, this is.
Speaker A:No, this isn't your, you know, rinky dink comedy course at the Chuckle Hut.
Speaker A:This is.
Speaker A:Yeah, probably the top comedy brand in the game.
Speaker A:You're getting to teach a class with now, so that's for sure.
Speaker B:Yeah, I appreciate it.
Speaker B:Appreciate it.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's big.
Speaker A:That's big moves there.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a good club.
Speaker B:Like, you know, and this club is, like, solid.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's got a 400 seater and a 100 seater all in the same place.
Speaker B:It's, like, top notch when it comes to customer service.
Speaker B:Like, it's like that experience when you go to a comedy club.
Speaker B:So just a great club overall, and then being able to see some, like, some dope comedians at this place as well has just been awesome.
Speaker B:I saw Aries Spears there the couple weekends ago.
Speaker B:Murdered.
Speaker B:You know, I mean, just.
Speaker B:I'm just like, oh, it's kind of nice just to see, like, your icons and people that, you know, are killers and being able to go watch that at a club.
Speaker B:That's another advantage of taking a comedy class is if you go to your comedy class, especially at a club like this, you get to go watch these comedians on the low, low.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:So that is a huge advantage just to work with them.
Speaker A:You worked with Don McMillan, too, so.
Speaker B:Yeah, dude.
Speaker B:And like, Don McMillan.
Speaker B:I mean, just.
Speaker B:Just.
Speaker B:Let's just pause for a second.
Speaker B:He is not only super gracious with his time, but, like, the way that he thinks about comedy in his engineering kind of way.
Speaker B:He was writing jokes right before his set that he was like, I might try this, I might not, but he was just doing it.
Speaker B:And I loved seeing that, because I'm like, who still writes right beforehand?
Speaker B:I thought you had to write, like, everything, like, way before, but he was literally working on jokes, like, right beforehand, and he tried them out there, like, that night, and they crushed.
Speaker B:And I just love that confidence level of, like, thinking, oh, you could still, like, experiment out here.
Speaker B:He's already headlining the show.
Speaker B:The show is already sold out.
Speaker B:He's like, oh, let me just try something.
Speaker B:So that was Just fun to watch.
Speaker B:But yeah, that's been.
Speaker B:My focus is just like working on corporate stuff, teaching this class and really, you know, still being out there, just grinding.
Speaker B:I'm still traveling, I'm still doing weekends when they're available.
Speaker B:I'm still producing shows.
Speaker B:So yeah, the grind hasn't stopped.
Speaker B:It's just my situation.
Speaker B:So it's funny because I was, my plan was to get into more like start doing cruise ships, but I can't.
Speaker B:So just schedule wise, I'm just not able to not be around.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so I was like, all right, how can I supplement what I would have made on cruise ship with something else?
Speaker B:And so that's why I'm diving more into the corporate stuff.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Cruise ships are an acquired taste.
Speaker A:I've been offered before.
Speaker A:I just, the being on a boat stuck like that just gives me the heebie jeebies.
Speaker A:And we have several friends that do a lot of cruise ships and they kill.
Speaker A:Just.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker A:I just, I haven't taken that leap.
Speaker A:It just hasn't been worth it for me.
Speaker A:I was like, is this pay worth if pirates took over the boat?
Speaker A:And I'm like, no, it's not.
Speaker B:I, I love, I love that.
Speaker B:That's the thing that you fear.
Speaker A:Jack Sparrow took over this Carnival Cruise Line.
Speaker A:Would it be worth the check?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You're like, oh, me, I don't do well with pirates.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:But that's, it's all personal preference though.
Speaker A:But you know, they can pay well depending on which cruises you book with and whatnot.
Speaker A:But it's all kind of what you envision your life to be.
Speaker A:And that, that is interesting you brought up kind of like your focus this year.
Speaker A:Because my focus has definitely shifted as well.
Speaker A:I mean, having.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Having a kid is ridiculous in the best way, but it does kind of force you to like reprioritize and rethink and re.
Speaker A:Just recalibrate what your priorities are.
Speaker A:So I definitely have been shifting my focus to be more local, to be more from home and even that.
Speaker A:That's already been kind of helping me in terms of like booking stuff.
Speaker A:I've been booking country clubs.
Speaker A:I've had, I have several testimonials from country clubs I've done in the past.
Speaker A:You've done them with me.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I've been able to like reach out to country clubs and having a really good response and close rate with them.
Speaker A:I mean, I've booked three so far and I've reached out to like not that many really.
Speaker A:So I think I Do think it helps to have testimonials and to kind of understand at this point after working with several country clubs, just kind of what they're looking for, what their price range is as well to kind of meet them where they are.
Speaker A:Because each country club is different.
Speaker A:So I try to kind of make sure I'm mindful of that to make sure I don't cut myself short, but also don't make it to where they don't want to respond because they're like, oh, why bother?
Speaker A:So, so been doing that.
Speaker A:And also I have like an afternoon corporate gig this month which you know, is my, my bread and butter.
Speaker A:I mean next week I have.
Speaker A:Oh, this week I have like a noon show at like a retirement community for Valentine's Day.
Speaker A:So I mean I'm just, I'm focused more on like local, local booking now.
Speaker A:Like things that I can drive to and just be home that night or early the next day and things like that.
Speaker A:Just kind of reprioritizing that way.
Speaker A:And also you mentioning teaching.
Speaker A:I'm excited to do more teaching this year.
Speaker A:I started doing it more last year and I did more like workshop type things.
Speaker A:But I want to start getting a little more deeper into like six week classes to really help comics, specifically with clean comedy.
Speaker A:Really helping comics develop a clean comedy or if they're not clean, just learning how to be clean.
Speaker A:So when a corporate event does reach out or a church does reach out to do 10 minutes, you know, that's something you can say yes to because I remember talking to a comic in Austin who told me he turned down a church gig, they want him to do 10 minutes and he said no because he couldn't do 10 minutes clean.
Speaker A:And it was going to be 500 bucks and he had to say no to it because he didn't have 10 minutes clean.
Speaker A:So I'm really excited to just help comics with clean comedy this year.
Speaker A:So I'm definitely going to be doing a like a six week clean comedy course coming up that I'll link a wait list in the show notes for people that are interested in just learning more about how to join because I do want to keep it small just so everyone can get like one on one feedback and stuff like that.
Speaker A:But yeah, I'm, I'm excited to do more teaching this what year as well.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think in the past I just been focused on just like road, got to get on the road, gotta get on the road.
Speaker A:And I'm like, I don't know if I want to be chasing the road as much.
Speaker A:Maybe I'll just help other comics who do want to get on the road faster.
Speaker A:I can just kind of help them while I'm also doing my local work as well.
Speaker A:But I will go on the road for the right price, of course.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, it's just reprioritizing.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I think that's really the key is, like, what are you willing to do for the work?
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:Like, what are you willing to do for the dream when your priorities change and when life is happening now?
Speaker B:What?
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:Like, you know, it was easy to go up seven nights a week when you didn't have any kind of responsibility other than yourself.
Speaker B:And you can rent and, you know, you could eat ramen all day and be good.
Speaker B:Now that's just not how, you know, my wife just isn't a Robin kind of person.
Speaker B:That's putting it nicely.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Like, I, I now have standards and these standards that I have, I don't want to go below those standards, at least for me.
Speaker B:That's just how I think of it.
Speaker B:So for me it's like, okay, how do I work to the standard that I'm want to live by?
Speaker B:But also, you know, it doesn't mean that I'm not grinding.
Speaker B:I just gotta grind in a different way.
Speaker B:Not every comedian has to be on the road, you know, for 24 weeks out of the year to be a comedian.
Speaker B:You know, I mean, like, there's so many different ways to do this.
Speaker B:And so I think just reprioritizing what your focus is and then shifting your lifestyle to that, that's key, man.
Speaker B:That's just how it works.
Speaker A:And being okay with that as well.
Speaker A:Like not worrying about, oh, well, what are, what, what are certain comics gonna think or say if they see me doing X, Y and Z or if I'm not out seven nights a week, am I a real comedian?
Speaker A:Or like all that self talk that no one's thinking, no one cares.
Speaker B:No one cares.
Speaker A:No one cares.
Speaker A:That's really something.
Speaker A:Yoshi definitely helped me with over my.
Speaker B:Tendencies to catastrophize is thinking about you.
Speaker A:No one cares.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:The people that are thinking about you are the people at the house.
Speaker B:That's it.
Speaker A:And as long as your, your heart's in the right place, then, you know, it's like we were talking before recording because I just announced this month's monthly contests and how I'm making it a clean comedy contest.
Speaker A:So now the, the challenge is you write a brand new 60 second clean set based on a theme and the entry fee is $25.
Speaker A:And someone had commented like, oh, this costs $25.
Speaker A:And you.
Speaker A:We were both just like, well, as long as your heart's in the right place, it's okay to like, if I was trying to scam comics, those type of comments would like, offend me or make me pause.
Speaker A:But I know where my heart is with this and I know it's very valuable and I know it's an investment for people that want to do this voluntary contest.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm not making anyone.
Speaker A:The podcast is still free, the YouTube content is still free, all the education, all of that is still free.
Speaker A:This is just something you can do if you want.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's just knowing where your heart is and where your priorities are.
Speaker A:So for anyone trying to figure out what they want to do this year, I think that's a great place to start.
Speaker A:And leaning into what you can control, like you mentioned earlier, is very valuable.
Speaker B:Yeah, man, that's key.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:So, yeah, we appreciate the community for all your love and support through all this.
Speaker A:So we're hoping that us sharing our kind of focuses for this year will help you to determine yours.
Speaker A:And it, I mean, it could be doing three open mics or I mean, you know, it's not like, oh, I want to get on the road or don't have to be, oh, I want to book X, Y and Z.
Speaker A:It could just be, oh, I just want to do, instead of doing one open mic a week, maybe I want to try to do three open mics a week this month and just kind of chipping away at the process that way, whatever level you're at.
Speaker A:Or it could be, I want to get on stage.
Speaker A:I know a lot of people listen to this and have not been on stage yet taking that leap.
Speaker A:So maybe this is the year you get on stage for the first time.
Speaker A:It's whatever you want it to be.
Speaker A:But just being okay, that it can evolve and it can change with you as a person, as we all evolve and change.
Speaker A:So big year.
Speaker B:Big year.
Speaker A:Big Year.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I, I do want to bring up, speaking of big Year.
Speaker A:And as we're talking about comedy, I heard Travis Barker, a well known musician, talking with Bert Kreischer.
Speaker A:And Travis was saying how chameleons are the new rock stars.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Let's go, baby.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:We were nerds before and now we're the rock stars.
Speaker A:I see it.
Speaker A:It's so crazy.
Speaker A:And you know, I saw a stat that comedy has tripled in size in the Past decade.
Speaker A:Like, it is like.
Speaker A:Like, almost like a.
Speaker A:I think up to now it may be a billion dollar industry.
Speaker B:It's way past billion dollars.
Speaker A: st poll I saw was from, like,: Speaker A:So, yeah, for.
Speaker A:For a live.
Speaker A:For live ticket sales is specifically.
Speaker A:Is what I'm talking about, for sure.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So now more than ever is a great time to get into comedy wherever you can get in and fit in, really Rock stars, y'all.
Speaker A:Apparently.
Speaker B:Yeah, apparently people love us.
Speaker B:People want to.
Speaker A:Not.
Speaker A:Apparently.
Speaker A:We're all over super bowl ads and selling out arenas and.
Speaker B:Yeah, even comedians that you didn't even think did anything this past year.
Speaker B:Still crushing at arenas.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Sebastian Monacowsko is still top 10 touring comedian.
Speaker B:I'm gonna be honest.
Speaker B:I knew he was, like, doing work, but I had no idea for.
Speaker B:For a top 10 that would.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That floored me.
Speaker B:I mean, I know Joe Coy and Matt Rife and, you know, the.
Speaker B:The undisputed heavyweight champion of touring right now, Mr.
Speaker B:Nate Bargazzi, who's just crushing it, right?
Speaker B:Cleanest comedian out there.
Speaker B:Crushing it.
Speaker B:Got super bowl ads.
Speaker B:Just was on SNL this past year, like, just twice.
Speaker B:Just crushing it all over the place.
Speaker B:Got his own production company putting out new content.
Speaker B:So just love, like, that work that he's put in, you know, Also, he's been on the podcast, just giving out gems as well.
Speaker A:No big deal.
Speaker B:No big deal.
Speaker B:Just, you know, just another regular comedian who's just been on the podcast.
Speaker A:Yeah, he sold over a million tickets last year, and it grossed over 80 million.
Speaker A:$80 million.
Speaker B:Oh, dude, let's go.
Speaker A:80 million.
Speaker A:Mr.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:Shucks himself.
Speaker B:Oh, shucks.
Speaker B:Oh, shucks.
Speaker B:I love that, man.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Makes me so happy.
Speaker A:It just shows the power of clean comedy where, you know, people can go see a Shane Gillis, but they're not going to.
Speaker A:And he's doing fine.
Speaker A:I mean, he's selling out arenas.
Speaker A:But I'm just saying, for Nate, you know, where normally Shane may sell, like two or three tickets, four tickets per group, you know, Nate's bringing the aunts, the uncles, the nieces, the nephews.
Speaker A:It's a family reunion when people.
Speaker A:People go to Nate shows.
Speaker A:So if you can be clean, you can just entertain that many more people.
Speaker A:$80 million.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:That's some perspective right there.
Speaker B:Eight.
Speaker B:Zero.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And then, like, in the top ten, Matt Rife was number two.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Over 50 million.
Speaker A:Fluffy, number three.
Speaker A:Over 40 million.
Speaker A:Cat Williams.
Speaker A:Dude, almost 40 million off of 60 shows.
Speaker A:Like, Cat is like, he just, he just keeps.
Speaker A:He's.
Speaker A:He's one of those OGs.
Speaker A:It's kind of like Schultz in a sense to where it's like they've been killing it for so long, you almost forget.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:That they're still killing it and they didn't go anywhere.
Speaker A:You know, it's like Kat Williams, 60 shows, 40 million.
Speaker A:Just, you know, no big deal.
Speaker A:It's like heavenly day.
Speaker B:My heavenly day.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Sebastian was number five.
Speaker A:Bert Kreischer was number six at almost 30 million.
Speaker A:Trevor Noah, almost 30 million.
Speaker A:At number seven.
Speaker A:Jerry Seinfeld number eight at 28 million.
Speaker A:Adam Sandler, 27 million off 26 shows.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Joe Coy number 10 at 26 million off 83 shows.
Speaker A:Adam Sandler just doing a cool mill per show.
Speaker A:Apparently there just cool mill.
Speaker A:So, yeah, we're saying all that to say, yeah, comedians are the new rock stars.
Speaker A:So now's a great time to be a comedian because that just.
Speaker A:That all trickles down.
Speaker A:So you may not sell hundreds or thousands or millions of tickets, but comedy is more popular than ever.
Speaker A:So comedians are in higher demand than.
Speaker A:Than ever.
Speaker A:So it's like, you know, I got contacted to do comedy at this, like, retirement community Valentine's Day thing this week, you know, just because I think comedy is more top of mind.
Speaker A:I'm performing at a, like a chamber of commerce gala event in March because they were searching, like, clean comedy in the area.
Speaker A:So I think just positioning yourself as a comedian this year more and being more intentional with that will just attract more opportunities because, yes, we're talking about the top 1.0.01% of comedians in this top 10 list.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:But comedy is more top of mind than ever.
Speaker A:So people at every level are going to be looking for comedians.
Speaker A:You can go make a couple hundred bucks somewhere locally is.
Speaker A:That's not a bad day's work there.
Speaker A:You drive 20 minutes to make a couple hundred bucks.
Speaker A:So just keep that in mind for this year with whatever your focus is that, yeah, this is the year of opportunity for sure.
Speaker B:Boom bow.
Speaker A:And I think having that abundance mindset really helps with that as well that anything is possible now.
Speaker A:All the success these big comedians are having shows us that we can do it at whatever level we're currently at, whether just starting out or professionals like Yoshi and I, it or your Nate Bargazzi.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:There's opportunities for all of us out there.
Speaker A:So just having that mindset, I think will help us all to make the most of this year.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Okay, cool.
Speaker A:I'm glad we touched on that.
Speaker A:That just struck me that comedians are the new rock stars.
Speaker A:And of course, they talked about the partying and all that as well.
Speaker A:He was talking with Bert about how much, you know, Burt parties and stuff, so that was a part of it as well.
Speaker A:But I really love what Nate is doing, just not only with his career, but also helping other comics, because, you know, we're all about comics helping comics.
Speaker A:And Nate has built this whole brand of Nateland entertainment to where he's producing other comic specials, he's producing other comics podcasts.
Speaker A:He's really using his platform and influence as a way to elevate other comics as well, which is something that, you know, we try to do here.
Speaker A:And to see him doing it at that level is very inspiring that we're kind of all in this together from a comedian standpoint.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:He just dropped Aaron Weber's new special on their YouTube channel.
Speaker A:I know he's done.
Speaker A:He's produced several other specials, and I think they're about to be doing a movie as well.
Speaker A:I mean, there's.
Speaker A:There's a lot cooking up over there at Nateland Entertainment, so I love it.
Speaker A:Look for other ways this year to collaborate with other comics as well.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Nate Holl at your boys.
Speaker A:Yeah, we out here.
Speaker A:We out here.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:So there was a question in the community I wanted to talk about as well, and we got a.
Speaker A:That was something I was very excited to see because I.
Speaker A:I was very intentional about not really being on social media during this time as well.
Speaker A:I was really trying to be present and be in the moment and not.
Speaker B:Yeah, you were keeping the social media for bathroom breaks.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:You know, don't want to be out here dopam mining too much, as they call it, where you're just jumping from app to app to app.
Speaker A:Just dopa mining.
Speaker A:But I did, like, scroll back through the Facebook group and just all.
Speaker A:There are a lot of great discussions happening, a lot of great questions being asked, and, yeah, opportunities being shared.
Speaker A:And, of course, the daily writing contest was still going on.
Speaker A:Thanks to Bobby, Sutton and Evelyn for their support in that and others who will help sub in when they're unavailable.
Speaker A:But they really keep the.
Speaker A:The hot breath verse spinning in that direction, which I'm very grateful for.
Speaker A:But a really interesting question that I saw posted in here was from Eric Gallagos.
Speaker A:I hope I'm pronouncing that right, Eric.
Speaker A:But his question was, other than going up a lot, what do you think is the number one thing Comics skip out on that could make them better.
Speaker A:And he says emphasis on number one.
Speaker A:So as you percolate on that a little bit, there were some good ones in the comments.
Speaker A:If you'd like to hear those first before you say yours or if you just have one.
Speaker B:I think other than going up, probably the biggest thing that I would say comedians don't spend enough time doing is rehearsing their set before they go on stage.
Speaker B:I would say that's probably the thing that I, I notice because when they get on stage, when they're at the open mic, it feels like the first time they've ever said it or it feels like the first time it's come out of their mouth.
Speaker B:I've been guilty of kind of doing this, of just kind of slacking and like, and just thinking, oh, this material is going to slap.
Speaker B:It's going to be great.
Speaker B:The way that it's in my head and every time that I have spent more time practicing and actually like saying the words out of my mouth, feeling what it feels like in my body, the joke has always been better.
Speaker B:And I say that's probably the biggest thing is like because you're performing and you're getting on that stage, even if you're not in, there's not an audience in front of you.
Speaker B:Just saying the words is really important to how it feels in your body to say the words.
Speaker B:That's probably the biggest thing.
Speaker B:It's just that rehearsing element of stand up that I think is probably the next big thing for me that I would advise comics to do outside of just getting up a lot is actually rehearsing the words.
Speaker B:And then like, you know, comedy is about writing, editing, going on stage, editing, rewriting, going back on stage.
Speaker B:The rehearsing has to happen in all of those.
Speaker B:After you write how say the words to the joke after you edit, say the new version of the, of the joke after you perform.
Speaker B:Transcribe what you said when you were on the actually on stage.
Speaker B:How were they the same words that you actually practice kind of thing?
Speaker B:Because it's different when you get on stage in front of people.
Speaker B:So it's like there's a performance element to each one of those that I think comedians skip out on sometimes.
Speaker B:That would be my number one.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And rehearsing is also another form of writing and editing as well.
Speaker A:I think even just rehearsing your jokes and that's something that's really valuable in like the monthly contest where you have to do a 60 second submission is you have to rehearse it a lot.
Speaker A:You have to record it several times to get it the right timing, get the right wording.
Speaker A:And every time you rehearse a set in a joke, you start to find.
Speaker A:You'll find new punchlines to it or find ways to edit it down just to get to the point faster.
Speaker A:So I consider, yeah, rehearsing another form of writing and editing because it is.
Speaker A:It's a very productive way to just develop your material without being out on stage.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I'll usually do that like on the way to shows as well, because that helps.
Speaker A:While it's top of mind while I'm driving, it's just something to kind of pass the time and to also make the most of my time.
Speaker A:Like if I'm going out and doing a show, I want to make sure I'm making the most of my time and part of that time is the commute.
Speaker A:So just making sure I'm treating all of that as part of the job.
Speaker A:So, boom.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's a really good one.
Speaker A:That's a really good one.
Speaker A:I think that was in the comments that several people said that like, yeah, rehearsing your lines, rewriting, listening to your recordings and like rewriting them.
Speaker A:Those are popular ones in.
Speaker A:In the comments.
Speaker A:I think another one that came up was from Denise who said staying and watching other comics, that's an interesting one that nobody does anymore.
Speaker A:I mean, when I started back in my day, there was a little more emphasis on hanging out in terms of watching other comics, thanking the host at the end of the show and things like that for having me.
Speaker A:Now it is kind of just in and out.
Speaker A:And you know, if you're going to do another show, I get that.
Speaker A:But if you're just kind of hanging out, there is a value to being there and absorbing other comics.
Speaker A:And like Denise said, also if you're like watching the headliner as well.
Speaker A:So yeah, if it's.
Speaker A:But I would even hang out at the open mics.
Speaker A:But, you know, that's an old school mentality that maybe isn't even necessary anymore.
Speaker A:So for sure.
Speaker B:I mean, I think it's still important because hosts and producers remember who stays.
Speaker A:They do, for sure.
Speaker B:Like at the end of the day, they remember who stays.
Speaker B:And if you're just there for the bucket spot and you're.
Speaker B:It's because it's almost like they're out there to help you support your comedy career.
Speaker B:And if they like what you did on stage, let's say you go up and you showcased or let's say you had a bucket spot or whatever, and then you say nothing to them afterwards.
Speaker B:They're not able to sort of follow up on what they thought of your set or follow up on having that conversation with you after thanking you for being on the show.
Speaker B:And I think there's a missing opportunity when it comes to networking that I think a lot of comedians skip out on.
Speaker B:Networking is big in comedy.
Speaker B:The majority of the work that I've gotten in this business is from, number one, other comedians.
Speaker A:100%.
Speaker B:Like, the homies are going to hook you up.
Speaker B:The homies are going to like it when you're like, oh, when you crush.
Speaker B:They're like, oh, I'd love to take you on the road.
Speaker B:I'd love for you to feature for it.
Speaker B:Or I'd love you to headline this spot that I have.
Speaker B:That's how the majority of comedy works.
Speaker B:And it'll be that for a long time.
Speaker B:Yeah, like the rules of where a network is going to pluck you out of some open mic and then give you a TV show just doesn't apply anymore.
Speaker B:It's the people you know, it's the comedians that you've been on shows with.
Speaker B:It's the comedy clubs.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:That will be like, oh, you did great at our.
Speaker B:At our club.
Speaker B:We'd love to feature you at another comedy club that we've got somebody like a helium or the improvs or the comedy zones.
Speaker B:Comedians do the location and then move to another location over and over again.
Speaker B:But that's based on the work.
Speaker B:And if you're not following up, you're not networking.
Speaker B:You could miss out on an opportunity.
Speaker A:Yeah, networking was a another good one in the list.
Speaker A:In the comments, Murad also added that going to fringe shows you're not on is another way.
Speaker A:I mean, I know a booker here in Atlanta, Joe Pettis, runs some of the best shows in the region and has been doing for a long time.
Speaker A:I know a big thing he does with booking his shows is like, go.
Speaker A:Like he appreciates when comics go to his shows and like, support his shows and show face to him.
Speaker A:And like, I know that's a big part of how he'll book comics is if he sees them at his other shows, even if they're not on them.
Speaker A:Another booker in Atlanta, Maurice Sims, will do that as well.
Speaker A:You go to like, his open mics and you're around there, or you go to his book shows and you're around there and you're top of mind.
Speaker A:You're more likely to get booked and that's Very common in all scenes.
Speaker A:So that's another good way to kind of get your foot in the door at certain places is just being around.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And being nice and being funny is a good.
Speaker A:A good motto this year for sure.
Speaker A:But a good one that came up from Elliot Ryan was he actually listed eight of them.
Speaker A:And Elliot, he's actually.
Speaker A:He's about to drop an album this year, which is very cool, but.
Speaker A:All right, say what?
Speaker B:I said, all right, Elliot, I see you drop.
Speaker A:Yeah, he's up in Canada.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker A:But he had some, like, exercising, meditating, taking other classes, you know, like stand up.
Speaker A:But also improv and sketch and business.
Speaker A:Just learning a bunch of different skill sets that can help all kind of funnel into your comedy.
Speaker A:So he had a lot of good ones as well, like that.
Speaker A:Honestly, I think if I were to do one that we haven't talked about, and this was really interesting, actually just saw a clip of Wiz Khalifa, of all people, and he was talking about writer's block, and he was talking about how he never gets writer's block because he's always living his life.
Speaker A:He's always intentional about creating experiences, creating moments.
Speaker A:And he said a lot of people that have writer's block just aren't doing that.
Speaker A:They aren't really like, kind of just watering that creative plant every day.
Speaker A:And I think that's something a lot of comics, as we're talking about, you know, getting on stage being the number one thing people say.
Speaker A:What else I think we can get in this routine of, okay, writing jokes, going open mic, performing, going home, and then just that on rinse and repeat, and you kind of get caught in that rhythm and don't remember to have a life outside of this grind, which, I mean, I had to remind myself of for, you know, several years.
Speaker A:I was just head down, just gotta go, go, go, gotta go, gotta go, gotta go.
Speaker A:And remembering to live and have things to pull from is super valuable.
Speaker A:So I think that's an.
Speaker A:Another one you could add to this list is just remembering to live life and be intentional and think.
Speaker A:Sometimes we feel like, oh, if we're not always working on the comedy specifically, then we're getting behind or missing out on something.
Speaker A:But I think it's super valuable to remember to live life, and that'll help you to have things to pull from.
Speaker A:And it may not be immediate.
Speaker A:It could be you have an experience that a month later you start to find the humor in, or you start to find a connection to something else that happens in your life or to an existing joke.
Speaker A:Things.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's a marathon.
Speaker A:I know in the social media age, it's easy to think that you need to be famous yesterday, but for most.
Speaker A:Most people, this is a marathon, and it just takes time.
Speaker A:So enjoy the process and just embrace that.
Speaker A:This most likely won't be an overnight thing.
Speaker A:Not saying it won't.
Speaker A:There's people blowing up every day on social media, just being okay with the fact that, okay, this may take a little while, so I might as well go ahead and settle in, enjoy the process, make some friends, and just create what brings me joy and that I enjoy doing.
Speaker A:Have fun.
Speaker A:That's a big one too, man.
Speaker A:Remembering to have fun.
Speaker A:Gosh, I didn't have fun for years.
Speaker A:I was just, how do I get on stage?
Speaker A:How do I get X, Y, and Z?
Speaker A:Why did so and so get X, Y, and Z and not me, even though I wasn't even pursuing that?
Speaker A:Why are they on that flyer?
Speaker A:Why am I not on that flyer of that booker?
Speaker A:I never talked to, you know, things like that.
Speaker A:I think that's a big one for this year.
Speaker A:Have fun.
Speaker A:I think that's throughout all of it.
Speaker A:It is work.
Speaker A:Comedy is hard.
Speaker A:All of that is true.
Speaker A:It's tedious.
Speaker A:It's an emotional roller coaster.
Speaker A:So just have fun through all of it.
Speaker A:I think that's my.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's actually probably my big takeaway on that one.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Remember to have fun through all this.
Speaker B:Boom.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I mean, I think at the end of the day, I've also just recognized, like, I'm not quitting.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:Like, I'm not giving up.
Speaker B:So it's like, all right, now that we've made that part clear.
Speaker A:Mm.
Speaker B:Let's get into it.
Speaker B:Like, let's find ways to make this the thing and make this the thing that supports the family.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:And so, yeah, that's what we're getting into.
Speaker B:And that's.
Speaker B:I enjoy knowing that this is my profession and this is the thing that I do regularly, and it's the thing that honestly brings me the most joy.
Speaker B:Now, my kids bring me joy, but this is pretty up there.
Speaker B:Pretty.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:They don't understand callbacks, and that's, like, my jam, right?
Speaker B:But once they understand callbacks, then maybe.
Speaker B:Maybe they might move up the list of more important.
Speaker A:But till then, teach them a power of threes.
Speaker A:Teach them callbacks.
Speaker B:Boys, I need you to end your sentences with the.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Some hard consonants.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Hard consonants, boys.
Speaker A:That's hack, son.
Speaker A:Why are you doing crowd work?
Speaker A:We're at the dinner Table.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So what are you recording?
Speaker B:What do you do for a living real quick?
Speaker B:Oh, nothing.
Speaker B:You don't do anything for.
Speaker B:All right, cool.
Speaker B:So you're unemployed.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker A:That's hilarious.
Speaker A:That's a good.
Speaker A:That's a good note.
Speaker A:To land the plane on family table.
Speaker B:That's so great.
Speaker A:That would be a funny sketch of.
Speaker B:God, yeah.
Speaker A:Everything.
Speaker B:Comedians doing crowd work at.
Speaker A:At family dinner, at the dinner table.
Speaker A:And they're like, clip that.
Speaker A:Oh, dude.
Speaker A:I did a show this weekend locally.
Speaker A:I won't name names, but the host was clearly just mining for clips at the beginning of the show.
Speaker A:Like, he's opening the show.
Speaker A:He or she.
Speaker A:I won't say names.
Speaker A:They're opening the.
Speaker A:They're opening the show.
Speaker A:Just like, doing super pointed crowd work.
Speaker A:Not even, like, welcome to the show.
Speaker A:I'm so.
Speaker A:And so we're here to have, like, all these little things we talk about when hosting just to set the tone and the environment and the energy for the show.
Speaker A:It was literally just like he was just going.
Speaker A:Or she was going around clearly, like, trying to get clips as the opening set of this entire show.
Speaker A:And it set, like, a weird tone for the show that now the audience feels like they're kind of a part of it.
Speaker A:It just.
Speaker A:It was.
Speaker A:It was interesting that.
Speaker A:Yeah, I had not.
Speaker A:I'm sure that happens a good bit now probably more than ever, but that's something I hadn't really observed.
Speaker A:I don't think of just seeing a host clearly mining for clips at the beginning of this show, and I'm just like, what are you.
Speaker A:What are you doing?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But anyway, I digress.
Speaker B:Yeah, have fun.
Speaker B:Don't listen to us.
Speaker B:What do we know?
Speaker A:This is a good one.
Speaker A:This is a good one to get back into.
Speaker A:I'm glad we're ending on a positive note of have fun.
Speaker B:Have fun.
Speaker A:Have fun this year, kids.
Speaker A:And we're gonna.
Speaker A:We're going to keep doing these podcasts.
Speaker A:We're going to get back them into them on a weekly basis.
Speaker A:We're not sure about the live streams yet.
Speaker A:We're going to figure that out.
Speaker A:We.
Speaker A:We can no longer do them at the time we did them last year, which I'm sure you can all understand.
Speaker A:So we're not sure about the live streams yet, but we are going to get back into the podcast routine.
Speaker A:And of course, here to help you all in any way, we're going to just want to get the community as involved as possible this year.
Speaker A:And all that we're doing and all that we're Trying to do.
Speaker A:So that's really it.
Speaker B:Yeah, man.
Speaker A:We'll be back next week.
Speaker A:You can, of course, join this month's contest.
Speaker A:If you're listening to this, the day of or the week of, you know, you can join this month's clean comedy contest.
Speaker A:I'll link that in the show notes.
Speaker A:And you can also join the wait list for my clean comedy course that I'll be doing later this month.
Speaker A:I'm gonna start the first one, but if you want to join that wait list, I can send you more details there for sure.
Speaker A:Anything from you, Yoshi, you want to leave the hot breath of verse with?
Speaker B:Yeah, I got some stuff coming up.
Speaker B:I will be in the Boston Comedy Festival happening in April.
Speaker A:So if you're gonna be big deal.
Speaker B:Out of this big deal, come holla at your boy.
Speaker B:I'm super excited.
Speaker B:Boston Comedy Festival has been on the bucket list.
Speaker A:That's a big one.
Speaker B:Comedians in town who have recommended it, but also, just like, people that I admire, they've been on it.
Speaker B:People that I wanted my the homie.
Speaker B:Learn more.
Speaker B:Genasi want it.
Speaker B:What's Scaramucci?
Speaker B:The comedian from Canada.
Speaker B:Toronto.
Speaker A:The Spanish.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Oh, okay.
Speaker A:I know you're talking about.
Speaker A:I don't know her first name, but I know you're talking about super funny.
Speaker B:I think she won it last year.
Speaker A:It's a big festival.
Speaker A:$5,000 cash prize for sure.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Top three comics get money.
Speaker A:It's a big one.
Speaker A:A lot of industry there.
Speaker A:It's a big one.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Super excited about that.
Speaker B:So that will be in April.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then I've got shows coming up.
Speaker B:Check it out on yoshi.com.
Speaker B:yeah, locally.
Speaker B:Here.
Speaker A:Yay.
Speaker A:Well, there you go.
Speaker A:Hot breath verse.
Speaker A:Remember the big takeaway.
Speaker A:Have fun this year.
Speaker A:Join us in the Facebook group if you want to ask more questions and join the daily writing contest and stuff, but otherwise, we'll be back next Monday.
Speaker A:We love you all.
Speaker B:Yeah, clip that.
Speaker B:Clip that part right there.
Speaker A:Clip it.
Speaker B:Bye.
