Like any new stand up comic, perhaps the biggest challenge I've faced in reaching that all elusive "next step" is finding my voice.
To put it shortly, I really don't think I have one.
Though a lot of the comics I perform with are just as new to the scene as I am, I feel they, unlike me, have a surer sense of who they are as comics. If I was forced to describe my voice/sense of humor/style I would say my humor consists of medium form observational bits informed by my experience growing up as a middle class black guy (succinct, I know).
Now, with a background/perspective like that, one would feel my humor would be more distinctive than it is but more times than not I feel like I'm telling Dave Chappelle jokes if Dave Chappelle had a humanities degree and sounded like a mattress salesman from an Oasis Bedroom commercial.
When you listen to the bigs, your comics like Louis CK, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Daniel Tosh etc, you get the feeling they are telling jokes only they could tell. No one but Louis CK could do his bit about the awesome possum t shirt, no one but Chris Rock could do his bit about the difference between black people and niggers and so on and so forth.
I can't say I feel the same about my jokes. I'm not sure if I will ever be the sort of comic who spends an entire 30 minute set talking about his girlfriend and family but I feel like I could be doing more on stage to reveal what sort of person I am. My favorite comic Louis CK isn't my favorite b/c he is the funniest (if we are talking exclusively about who makes me laugh the most it's without a doubt Dave Chappelle who is definitely my 2nd fave comic), but because he is the most real (semireal recognizes and appreciates real). Though he isn't one of those political comics who is railing on about American imperialism and capitalism 24/7, I feel that when I listen to CK, I am finding out something new about the human condition.
Ultimately I guess it isn't fair for me to compare myself, a 22 year old black man who just started doing stand up comedy a little less than a year ago to a stand up vet, but sooner rather than later I would like to not just be making jokes about weird facebook ads, my white sounding voice and sandwich boxes.
"my experience growing up as a middle class black guy"...you just eluded to what you could/should dig/explore deeper into w/ your standup (jus n opinion). You hint at it often but somtimes I feel that you never fully break it down. I've (kinda) figured out that my comedy is tied to observations that Ive experienced (a lil like CK) but thier also mocking/poking fun at my hardships like weight, not having "game" & being bullied. And I think the funny is connecting the crowd to MY topics. Personally deep comedians like that seem more enjoyable (and less hack). I guess I can think up a bunch of "redneck jokes or "gay ghost" stuff but I'm in this for the long and I think my material will be to.
ReplyDeleteO and this "..I feel like I'm telling Dave Chappelle jokes if Dave Chappelle had a humanities degree and sounded like a mattress salesman from an Oasis Bedroom commercial." is hilarious!!! Z$