Interview with Comedian and Blogger: Brian Mollica

While in Vegas, I got a chance to meet up with Mr. Brian Mollica, who is a 10 year vet in the comedy scene--and he's only 29, folks! He was generous to donate his time and indulge me with my adolescent comedy questions. I have a bit of the interview scattered throughout today's post. I will try and learn FTP so that it's a little more user-friendly. Until then, enjoy!!!

Quest: So comedy, in general, how did you get started? How did that crazy idea enter your head?

Brian: I've been obsessed with comedy for a really long time. It's true. When I was a kid, my grandma had cable, we didn't have cable. My grandmother had cable. It was coming up during sort of the comedy boom in the 80s, where there were literally, I mean, for 24 hours there was comedy on somewhere. And I don't know something about it just really took to me. And I would watch from about five years old. I just watched it constantly. When I figured out that it was a job, that's when I really wanted to do it.

Quest: And that was what age?

Brian: That was probably around 6 or 7. I mean, I was the shyest kid ever and really nervous about doin' that sort of thing. So I guess I never really thought that I would.

And then when I was 17 in high school, I knew a guy who was working at the comedy club in Tucson [Arizona], where I was growing up. He was just workin' the door. And I don't know, he was having problems with his grades and he needed someone to pick up two nights during the week. So I did. I picked up two nights during the week. And I mean, it paid almost literally nothing. For two weeks, my paycheck was thirty dollars. That's what I was taking home. But I got to watch all the shows for free. And I did. And I watched every single night that I could, I would watch the show.

I just got so into that I finally probably about a year and a half, after I started, about 19, I started doing a couple open mics and it went, it went really well. And it sorta when from there.

Quest: Can I ask your age now?

Brian: I'm 29.

It probably didn't get serious until I was about 21. I did some open mics then I did some guest spots and some hosting. And then when I was about 21, I started taking opening jobs and going out on the road, while I was finishing up college.

Quest: Going out on the road?

Brian: You know, just local SouthWest stuff: New Mexico, Texas...

Quest: That's still a lot of experience at such a young age.

Brian: Yeah, no it was. It was good. It was good and bad, sometimes I think about it. It's great that you start young just because I got... I got a lot of attention first of all because I was young and I look even younger. I really did look like I was about 14 years old when I started, so you kinda get a little extra attention when you look like that. But at the same time, comedy is one of those things that if you go too fast you can kinda burnout. And there was definitely sometimes where, that's why I sort of weaned away from the road recently. It's just not really... It's not really what I wanted to do anymore, work the road.

Quest: I heard roadgigs are good pay-wise.

Brian: Can be. Yeah, can be, absolutely. It's the whole spectrum. The road, that's one of the big problems with the road too, is the money has sort of been the same. In the 8 years I've been workin', as far as the club circuit, the money is pretty much the same in eight years, which is insan--it's ridiculous! It costs me more to get there and to eat and everything else. Everything else is the same.

You can get good gigs on the road. You know, a lot of the Casino's I've worked pay well. You get corporate stuff. So yeah, there's money to be made out there. And if I, I always say, you know, as far as my career goes, if I was going to be a fulltime comic, I would have to be a road comic. And, yeah, it's just sort of not... I did it for two years and it was great. Nawh. Now I'm kinda done with it.

Quest: So now you want to focus on...?

Brian: Now it's more trying to set up something for me. The road in and of itself, I think, is dying a little bit. And that's sad, at least with the club scene. If you're a bigger name and you can pack a theatre, you can make tons of money. But I know I'm not there and I probably can't get there. For a club comic, a road club comic, I mean that's just. I think that's going to dry up really soon. So I want to start focusing more on local comedy. And maybe start bringing a package of comedy out to places. You know it's easier to book yourself as a comedy show so you sort of solicit rooms. You don't necessarily have to contact clubs anymore. You can go to colleges and say, "I do this Las Vegas comedy show." You know something along those lines. That's kinda where I am right now sort of trying to produce something a little bit more unique and get away from sort of the cookie cutter club industry that's not doing so hot.

Quest: Interesting. And what have seen throughout the years with regards to relationships with managers, bookers...

Brian: Absolutely. I think the biggest thing is and this is one of the things I try to do a lot on Behind The Bricks is... you have to understand that at some point it's not just writing jokes that make people laugh and gettin' the nerve to go up on stage. So much is focused on that and everybody thinks that's what you have to do to be a great comic. That is two percent of it.

Quest: Wow! So talent?

Brian: Yeah talent, I mean, please. And I'm sure if you're a comedy fan you've seen people either on TV, or big names. And you're just like, "They're just not that funny." Talent is a part of it. And a small part of it, unfortunately. I've hung out in small comedy clubs for ten years. And the funniest people I've ever see in my life have never been on TV and probably won't ever get a deal. It's just the way it goes. So much of it is marketing yourself. And trying to get set up with the right people. And luck is a huge part of it. You have to keep in mind that... there's a business aspect of it. And the business aspect is more important in a lot of ways than the comedy aspect.

A lot of the people in comedy now hate Dane Cook. Everybody hates Dane Cook.

Quest: Wait! Let me get this on tape.

Brian: Every comic you talk to hates Dane Cook. And regardless of whether you think he's funny or not they hate him because he's Mega-famous. As a comic, it's hard to actually become famous as a stand-up comic, not a lot of people have, you know, maybe oh they got TV--anhhn-yaa! now they have a good comedy career. But he became famous as a comic. And the reason why is because he marketed himself in the most unbelievably brilliant ways. I mean, any avenue that he could, he put his name out there. And he had a following. And by the time he already was on TV, he had a huge following. People look at this Comedy Central special that he had 6-7years ago and from that he's a full-fledged movie star now. And there's a lot jealousy there. Regardless of whether or not you like his comedy, I don't understand how you can't respect a guy that's done that.

Quest: Exactly. I agree. I agree. He was purely a businessman in that sense. And I think a lot of people don't--not a lot of comedians want to invest in the time, I guess, in having to market themselves and having to package themselves.

Brian: There's this idea that, "I'm an artist. That's what I'm here for. I write jokes and I make people laugh." And that's great if you have some sort of really aggressive management team. Or an agency. Then yeah, you can afford to just be an artist. But I mean, I've been with two different agencies. And even when you're with an agency, you still gotta get out there and you still gotta market yourself because they can only do so much for you.

Quest: You have two blogs. (one comedy, one sports show) Please explain the sports show.

Brian: It was kind of a weird thing. I used to do a poker show. That was the first time I ever got involved in any podcast or internet radio. And I only took it because I really wanted to get into radio. And I had interned a little bit in New York and I wasn't really happy with my experience. So I kinda wanted to do my own thing and this seemed like, you know, It was the only place that was offering my anything. So I took it even though I wasn't all that into poker. It just sort of morphed into more of a radio show. And then had a little bit of stuff mixed in. And people were kind of into it. But it got to a point where I was completely unqualified to be talking about any of it.

So I wanted to get out and I met somebody. I got a part-time job when I moved out here. And I met a guy who was really into Sports and Sports betting. So we kinda just started talking and we came up with this idea to sort of a Vegas Sports show and it's morphed from there. It started off just once a week. And we're doing it three times a week now. And we've picked up a couple sponsors. So it's actually working out, okay.

To be continued...

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Talkback: Questions from the audience

In my foray throughout the blogosphere, I often seem to encounter during my webtravels "the wannabe comedian" --someone who's written jokes, thought about stand-up comedy, but has yet to take the plunge. And since I've been in the game for less than a year, clearly I'm an expert. (Eh-hem!)

Be that as it may, I am always willing to shed a little light on all that is related to comedy. (You know, dispel rumo(u)rs and add commentary when necessary)

With this blog, I am sort of setting myself up as an expert. So I feel I should divulge my opinion on some comedic issues and give leeway/heads up to those that are aspiring as well. I would never steer you in the wrong direction. Consider me like Papa Smurf. (Man, that guy was wise!)

So I'm fielding questions from the audience, like James Lipton.

Today's question comes from capitolgirl, residing in Vermont, USA.
(If you have a StumbleUpon account, you can trip on over to her Stumble page. Otherwise, you'll just have to take my word for it and trust that she actually exists.)

capitolgirl asks:

When you have a gig for a few days, do you perform the same show in much the same way?

Eh-hem! (clears throat) Although, I'm not actually touring quite yet, and it's not the horizon anytime soon, I would answer this question by saying...

Every stand-up comedian is different. Every stand-up is going to handle their set with their own method. I, personally, would like to get my routine to the point that I memorize my set, but at the same time, I'm flexible and comfortable enough to go in and out of the routine--address current topics, talk to the members of the audience, and then perhaps go into a joke. I like to keep it fresh. But there are some stand-up comedians that are very 'routine' with their routine, if you catch my drift. Some people just want to do their act and get out, often operating like a machine or an assembly-line. "To each their own," I guess.

At what point do you modify or throw out the current material?

Hmm...I suppose this is also very subjective, and again the answer will vary with each comedian. I, personally, would throw it out whenever I've gotten tired of it, which will probably coincide with whenever I feel the audience has gotten tired of it. But some comedians have been using their jokes for years and years and years.

If you watch Sarah Silveraman's Jesus is Magic and then compare and watch Silverman in old episodes of Dr. Katz (from Comedy Central) you'll definitely see some overlap. But that's not to say that her jokes aren't progressing.

I endeavor to say that you should see a joke as a living breathing entity. It changes and grows night after night until it is perfected.

I suppose the time when you throw out a joke (at least out of your routine) is when it just doesn't work any more. It's much like a songwriter throws out lyrics or a melody. It's visceral. They can just "feel it." So the answer, "when the joke becomes stagnant," I suppose.

At the same time, I've been told by several veteran comics never to completely throw away a joke. You never know when it may work it's way in another routine.


Thanks for your question, capitolgirl!

And I hope you eventually make that transition from avid comedy connoisseur, to master comedian. Good luck!

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EDIT: Sarah Silverman on Dr. Katz -- you're wrong -- ANONYMOUS! (hehe, heh!)

Dr. Katz
DVD Exclusive - Sarah Silverman's Session
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

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Two day streak...

...I'm in a comfortable for once...

The moon is that weird color where it's sort of resembles a peach, but low in the sky--kind of apocalyptic. Uranus went into retrograde Saturday, June 23rd, 2007, and will last for awhile. (I think until August.) What am I trying to say? Things are getting weird, but in a good way.

I met a comedian who is pushing me to get on stage, which actually motivated me. And so far I'm on a two day streak. Whoa! I know! (sarcasm). But I'm getting into a groove. Not just with comedy, but also this LSAT thing. The weird part is that things are working out--well! And I'm not fearing that things will fall apart either.

[You know how things are going well in your life and the minute you begin to get used to things swinging in your direction for once, you fear them falling apart. I'm emphasizing that I don't have that fear and I'm in a comfortable for once.]

Anyway, I feel good. That's all! Good, real good!

Why?

I've been sending out these emails for comedians, creating a database/contact list. In a way, I'm sort of a list-serve manager. Well, I used to hate when I somehow mysteriously got on a listserve in college, without any prior notice or permission from me.

Well, I performed that very act to these comedians. So I was worried someone would be pissed and approach me at one of the next comedy shows. The thing is, I did get approached. But, I received good feedback.

Next thing: I randomly went to this open mic and got on, not scoping out the scene ahead of time, which is typically my protocol. And it was successful. (Perhaps, I have a knack for this comedy thing after all.) I mean, I didn't kill, but I ended with an enthusiastic applause. (Perhaps, they wanted to see my get off-stage.)

Anyway, the point being, "it was fun." I enjoyed it.

Last relatively good thing:
I'm scoring waaayyy low on my LSATs, but I'm not worried having a talk with my instructor. I have to put the work in. And I'm confident it'll work out. My scoring accuracy is high, but I need to ramp up the speed. But again there's a protocol with this as well. But it's time I do my part to do well on this test.

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Comedy Rules of Etiquette

...don't piss off your fellow comedians...

Comedy Rule of Etiquette #1: The "Host - Comedian - Host relationship".

When attending most any booked show, as an audience member, you may not notice the subtleties that carry on amongst the comedians throughout the show.

For one, "the handing off of the mic," like a baton in a relay. You can't just hand it off when you finish your set and jump off stage. You can, but immediately you're telegraphing to every comic in the room that you're an amateur. (And believe me this is a habit I'm trying to work on.) But you need to think of the mic as a very fragile Fabergé egg. In essence, you, as a comic, need to always hand it off with a lot of soft fluffy pillow in between.

Think of it as filler.

The host introduces you, "Hey, and now for your next comic..." [The audience claps.]
Then the comedian walks up to the stage and gives props to the host, "Give it up for your host..."[The audience claps.]

Pay attention, this is what most amateurs miss!
Then when you finish your set, you re-give it up for your host, "Once again, give it up for your host..."

And your host obliges by showing respect for you by giving the audience your last acknowledgment. "[Comic's name], everybody!" [Again, the audience claps.]

By this time, I'm saying in my head, as an audience member, "Alright, alright already. Enough with the ass-kissing. We get it. You're all great, friendly, and courteous comedians." But actually, I don't think it's fair to say it's ass-kissing. Just space filler.

Just in case you missed that, here's the sped up version, the pattern you'll notice throughout the night at a booked* show:

Host: Give it up for our next comedian!
Comedian #1: Give it up for our host! [Finishes his/her set] Give it up for our host!
Host: [Comedian #1's name], everybody! [Host may or may not tell jokes] Give it up for our next comedian!
Comedian #2: Give it up for our host! [Finishes his/her set] Give it up for our host!
Host: [Comedian #2's name], everybody! [Host may or may not tell jokes] Give it up for our next comedian!

...and so on, and so forth...

What I mean to say about the ass-kissing is that I believe it's a falsified notion. In actuality, I believe it's filling the space in time when no one is speaking. It's like radio. Radio stations don't like any dead-air. But this is all just speculation. I haven't done the research yet. I need to ask hosts why they do it.

I, personally, hate excessive and superfluous clapping--like at awards shows. It could be just plain indolence on my behalf. (I don't like having to do more than necessary.) But again, it fits in with the false compliment post I mentioned early. I may have enjoyed the set. But do I need to clap twice to show my appreciation. And what does my clapping prove?

As a comic, when I approach the stage, I enjoy the silence. It lets me know people are paying attention and it's time for me to get "into the zone."

Ahh, the zone! I miss the zone. I used to enter the zone in basketball, soccer, and other sports in high school. And of course you can do no wrong when you've entered the zone. You're in lockstep with that special vibration in the air. It's like you hit all the electromagnetic waves and they do the work for you. The magic just happens and it flows out of you. I can't wait to do this enough times, where I can "enter the zone" on stage. When it happens, watch out! You'll be hooked!

Rule of Etiquette #2: Watch for the light!
Don't go over the allotted time given to you. More specifically, watch for the light! (Again a habit I have yet to ingrain into my comedy persona.) If you go over your time, the people in line after you, now have to wait even longer (the difference of the time you went over by) to get on stage. This "running over your time" can become extremely irksome if other comics have another show to head off to or have a job they need to get to early next morning. My point is, just be conscious of this. And you can even ask, "How much time do I have?" in the middle of your set just to make sure.

Again, I'm still learning. So to avoid this I always try to be the "headliner," which if you haven't figured out the irony by now is fairly funny to be called at the open mic. In open mics, I ask to be last on the list. That way if I go over, no one really cares because they've already their time on stage.

It's very necessary that you don't piss off your fellow comedians. This also goes for club owners, GMs (general managers), and Hosts, respectively. Hosts may very well be your fellow comedian buddy that was coming up the rankings with you at those many open mics you attended.

Rule of Etiquette #3: Stick around after your set!
Make every effort to stay after your set. Every comedian needs an audience to perform in front of (even if the audience is comprised of other comedians). Note: Comedians typically make the worst audience because they're so cerebral and partly because they're probably not even paying attention to you on stage. (They're probably thinking about their own set.)

But once you head off stage, stick around. Say you can't stick around the entire show, but you do have the flexibility to stay a little bit. Comedy etiquette says "3 comedians after you." What does that mean? Stick around and wait until after 3 comedians after you have performed. Simple is as simple does.

* I mention a booked show versus an open mic, which are two completely different structures all together.

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All the makings of a comedian...

...mental imbalances and lost souls...

Ingredients:

1 bitter or oppressive upbringing with a smattering of no viable emotional outlet.

Mix in nuanced phrases and societal pressures

Sprinkle mental imbalances and lost souls

Stir 'til boils over

Serve Hot, preferably on a warm well-lit and well-mic'd stage.
Serves: Millions of adoring fan and viewers

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Categorizing comedians...

...Grow a backbone...

I'm not a fan of categorizing comedians. Like she's a "black female" comedian. Or he's a "gay" comedian.
It's smacks of Brown v. Board of Education. Separate is inherently unequal.

So the minute someone approaches me and says, "Hey, you should do our Women's Comedy show," already I'm thinking, "You're comedy show probably sucks."

You're basically saying, "I don't stack up with those guys, so I need to create my own playroom where no one will hurt me." And it's the whole 5th grade "Boys have cooties" theory. Am I right? Do I have any takers?

So you're no longer playing with the big boys. You can't hold your own. If you feel you need your own separate category, you're probably not that great a comedian. The way I see it, you're a comedian who happens to be gay. Or I'm a comedian who happens to be female. That's it. No special category. No special show. The uniting factor is that you're a comedian, first--adjective later.

How many times do you hear, "Man, I want to see/hear some good Latino comedy tonight? Any good Latino comics on tonight?" NO! But you do hear, "Man, I'm up for some good comedy! Any good comedians on tonight?" No qualifiers. No modifiers. Just comedy.

This is the same mentality that the parents of kids on little league teams have---where EVERYONE goes home with an award. No! NO! Little Billy isn't good at baseball. And he needs to know that, he doesn't have to be good at everything in order to exist in this world. Grow a backbone and move on!

I like to think of myself as the Tori Amos of comedy. For those who aren't familiar with Tori Amos and her bout with Lilith Fair--she refused to join the tour because she thought it was limiting.

"I'm not into the all-male, all-female thing," says Amos with growing agitation. "Where's Dionysus? Where's Hades? You can't cut out the testosterone. And we need some pansy-ass people, too, like little camp Hermes. Even though I'm sure some of those women have more testosterone then Hermes," she adds with a slightly unsisterly roll of the eyes. Quote from June 1998 Rolling Stone Article: Her Secret Garden.

"I don't think women and music are going to take the next step if it's got to be a constant comparison," she said. "It's hard to be individuals when you're grouped together all the time, and it bugs me that there's so much comparison going on."
Quote from a 1998 Iowa State Daily article: Cornflake Girl Tori Amos Overcomes The Odds.

I COMPLETELY and whole-heartily agree. More power to her.

And to all comedians... Do your thing, and don't limit your surroundings. Conquer all mediums and platforms. Take them all on, so that no one can say she's the best female comedian, she's the best black comedian. She's the best comedian-->period.


* I only use the spelling comedienne because I think it looks cute on paper. In all honesty, I think it's sort of feminist and stupid. (I personally think any "ism" or "ist" is stupid.) You're placing yourself into a category and in essence into an 'extreme' when you say, I'm an "ist." To me, it's everything in moderation. Except for recreational drugs--- I think ultimately drugs desensitize you from the world.

** Really life should be like Star Trek: The Next Generation, where we didn't really acknowledge sexual orientation, or gender, or whatever other modifier. They were all on a mission, and it didn't matter what they looked like (I mean c'mon look at Wharf-- (And I have to bone to pick with them because he was a black actor-- that's for another rant) They were only divided by what they did--what their position was on the ship, not what they looked like. I know... I know... weak analogy, but it clarifies my point.

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Evolution of the comedy set...

...When is the next great standup going to come along?...

On Home Box Office (which I am allowed another week of, before it gets shut off), a Seinfeld Special, an award show specifically made for Seinfeld was aired. I love anything Seinfeld appears on. If Seinfeld shows, I'm there. (If they would only invite me.) I happened to steal front row seats in my shack apartment to watch Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award, hosted by Anderson Cooper. The guests were Robert Klein, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling.

Here's a clip that is straight out of bootlegger's assemblage.

My impression of comedy after watching this award show has again changed. Not in a good way or in a bad way---just an emergence, a bit of a revelation--perhaps a different glimpse of what comedy really is. Like any other form of entertainment, comedy is evolving. It's constantly changing--constantly morphing into different forms.

After watching this 1/2 - 1hr show, I was inspired. I love to hear the "inside scoop." What are comedians really thinking? What do they think of [fill in the blank]?"

According to Jon Stewart, there's nothing more un-funny than hearing a comedian break down (explain) a joke. But to me, it's fascinating!

Speaking of Jon Stewart, I also saw not one, but two interviews with him. One was more comedic based than the other, so I'll make mention of that comedic one here. (Perhaps I'll mention the other in a later post.)

Jon Stewart, when he's not in character, is soooo charming. Within a moments notice, my pants would slip right off if he even accidentally glanced in my direction. His charm is evidenced in this clip, Sit Down with David Steinberg, a TV Land cable show. [You'll have to excuse the web ads--hey a business has to thrive, right?]

There's another great interview with Seinfeld on Sit Down with David Steinberg. Seinfeld asks the question, "When is the next great standup going to come along?... Where are the guys trying to push us out?"

But at the same time, I remember having conversations with comedians during my comedy runs, and they would bring up the same topic but argue it on a different slant--mentioning that comedy is saturated. There are too many comedians out there. This says to me that maybe you aren't that good, or that your comedy is basic and not though-provoking. Perhaps, you're not pushing the envelope. So in essence, I agree with Seinfeld-- who's comin' up?

It's my mission to be the one to fill their (the great's) shoes.

~Lucy

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