Mark Masters talks about comedy with anyone he thinks can teach him something, usually while driving to a far away comedy event.
John Novosad In this episode Mark Masters talks to John Novosad, our third Comedy Works headliner on the final episode of Season 1. Mark drives John from Boulder, CO to the Downtown Comedy Works location. The episode starts and closes with a (video) conversation between Mark Masters and John Novosad, while on quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis. This is the final episode of season 1 of Mark Masters, the podcast and web series. Thank you everyone for tuning in. Please reach out through www.markmasters.co contact form for a free signed copy of Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. Stay tuned for season 2 in the future! In this episode: [Mark intro to close out Season 1] - www.markmasters.co - www.vailcomedyshow.com - www.notgoodyet.com Please send me a note at www.markmasters.co/#contact and include your mailing address, and while supplies last I will send stickers and books and hand written notes. Also tell your friends about the podcast and web series, you can find all the links here: www.markmasters.co/podcast-and-web-series.html [Mark intro with John Novosad] - recap of our drive - set for Late Night TV discussion - working with Roseanne - great episode coming up and then we will talk again [Regular episode] - Heading to downtown Comedy Works - New Talent Night, John doing 5 minute pro spot set - Second week in a row doing same set - Crowd size of dubious value in determining laughs - Janeane Garofalo - Festival submission video - Boxes of old notes, first time doing comedy was 1980! - 3 weeks road work, full time stories during the 80's - First time on stage in 1980 - Comedy class drop out - John started comedy before Comedy Works existed - Comedy opening for bands - Set breaks and the Settle Up story - The difference between 80's and now - Weird eyes - Casino gigs in NM in April - Organizing old jokes from boxes - TV bookers feedback helped a joke pivot - Grouping jokes - Writing jokes, paper and notebook - Write down physical movement reminders - Bad mic habits - Set goals on an index card - Rick Kearns, Denver legend - Laughing at own jokes - High likability factor - Enjoying comedy still - 10 shows in a week - "If I was doing this for the money I would have quit after five years" - Pete Holmes, 450 people at Comedy Works South - After his closer did 8-10 minutes during check drop - Surprise extra time - 1.5 hour commute to Comedy Works South - Comedy Writing, Self Taught book by Gene Peret - Hosting tip: be positive about everything - Lara Beitz (Pete Holmes feature, David Spade show) - Crashing TV show - Comedy Club condos - Roseanne, Basin's Up, shows with her - Joey Diaz - Wit's End, Westminster comedy club - Josh Blue (winner Last Comic Standing) - Performing at Paramount Theater - Movement on stage - Performing at Red Rocks - Divorce, break from comedy - Answering machine message from Wende Curtis - Headlining Comedy Works - Back on the road - The value of taping and listening to sets - Writing on stage - Get laughs as fast as I can - Showcases with small crowds - Ex-wife show business advice - "don't do the show for the empty seats, do the show for the people who are there" - Vince Valenzuela - "don't give up", "keep fouling off pitches" - Getting stiffed story - Jokers in Oklahoma - Comedy festival in Vail - Steve McGrew - Promoter without a clue - Small claims court - Late night TV, Craig Ferguson - Opened for Craig at Comedy Works - Standards and Practices - Approved set - Taping logistics, transcript back and forth - Second time on Craig Ferguson - Chuck Roy - Dirty joke got through Standards and Practices - Los Angeles comedy - Small world in comedy - Time travel machine question - Take more risks - Festivals and industry - Go for bigger stages - Working hard - Late night bookers - Good festival submission set - Aaron Urist - Noah Reynolds - Allison Rose, Zeke Herrera - Richard Jenny book, Comic Insights - watch other comedy - Seth Meyers (Closer Look), Jimmy Kimmel (Monologue) - That 70's show - Goodbye [Mark outro with John] - Last show with live people - Cancelled headlining gigs - Most recent comedy festival - The last shows at Comedy Works before Pandemic shut down - Zoom stand-up shows - Facebook streaming with Eugene Kenny shows - Mark's Go-To Meeting comedy experience - Pandemic lock-down best place to be - Grocery store workers, tip the heroes - When will things go back to normal - Doing comedy after tragedies, 9/11 - David Letterman - Jokes about the pandemic - The April New Mexico casino gigs update - Bigger markets, NYC and LA - Top five comedy markets - Parting words of advice for comedians getting started - hippieman.com for live dates in future - John Novosad on Facebook - Facebook live stream events Mon, Wed and Fri during crisis 3PM Colorado time And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com Also check out: www.markmasters.co (send Mark a note, join the best comedy mailing list) www.vailcomedyshow.com www.parkercomedyshow.com
Brandt Tobler In this episode Mark Masters talks to Brandt Tobler, our second Comedy Works headliner on the second to last episode of Season 1. Mark drives Brandt from the RINO neighborhood in downtown Denver to the South Comedy Works location. The episode starts and closes with a (video) conversation between Mark Masters and Brandt Tobler, while on quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis. Next week will be the last episode of season 1 with another amazing Comedy Works headliner. Tune in to find out who’s next on Mark Masters! In this episode: [Mark intro with Brandt] - Corona virus quarantine - Five questions preview - Stay tuned for answers after episode [Regular episode] - Heading to Comedy Works South club - Brandt is featuring tonight but headlines the club on other nights - Video tape of first ever performance - Didn't know you could re-do jokes - Wrote enough material for first five performances - Used a book to start, now would use podcasts - Repetition and time is key to getting better - Hoop dreams - Mark's first open mic set - Doing college gigs as a 42 year old - Recording sets on older technology - Recording discipline - Talk out loud walking around - Remembering jokes - 5 minute set for Conan - The 31 podcast (Quick Question for you) - The Content Factory - Podcasts are the future (and the present) - Podcasts sell tickets - Vegas open mics: Boomer's - Open mic comraderie - Shuley (Howard Stern), Mad Dog - Potter - Wende Curtis, Amy at Improv - Denver culture of comedy vs. Vegas - Entitlement in comedy - Dangerous Vegas open mic stories - Hannibal Buress - Doug Stanhope blog - DIY comedy shows - Tig Notaro - Steve Agee - Morgan Murphy - Doug Benson - Doug Stanhope, 300 people in backyard - Ari Shaffir, Joe Rogan, Russell Peters - The Killers, Imagine Dragons - moved to Denver - Comedy Works Downtown, Comedy Store, Comedy Cellar best clubs - Grew up in Wyoming [Mark outro with Brandt] - last live show before lockdown - last comedian to headline downtown Comedy Works - spacing in showroom - people scared of getting sick - perfect timing for payout - the goodbyes after show - comedy clubs may resume later than restaurants - podcast every single day - built a podcast studio, very fortunate - Brandt bet on himself - Brandt's book sales helping get through financial challenge - misses live standup - surviving with podcasts and book - The 31 is podcast name, interviews with athletes rock stars and interesting people - Brad Garrett interview - Dead to us podcast with girlfriend - Craigslist Chaos - get the book by contacting Brandt directly Brandt at brandt tobler dot com or social media - get five stickers, a personal note and a fresh joke with book for direct orders - Sebastian Maniscalco - best place to be during quarantine - drinking hiatus - gluten allergy - teddy the long hair dachshund - date things will be back to normal - could be at a Thick Skin - Red Square, Russian restaurant near Comedy Works - Four Seasons - sober October on steroids - pedialyte - Brandt's book is Free Roll - The 31 podcast - Content Factory brand - brandttobler.com - YouTube channel for Brandt Tobler - comedy over video is awful - good stand up requires an audience - writing jokes during quarantine - importance of trying jokes with live audience - low ceiling, dark room - comedy after 9/11 - practicing in front of a mirror, unsure of value - sometimes what is funny isn't what you write - if you are thinking about doing comedy these videos help - study the game and just get up there And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com Also check out: www.markmasters.co (send Mark a note, join the best comedy mailing list) www.vailcomedyshow.com www.parkercomedyshow.com
Brent Gill In this episode Mark Masters talks to Brent Gill, the first of three consecutive Comedy Works headliners to finish off season 1. Mark joins Brent by telephone as he drives from Denver to Boulder for a Dentist appointment the day after Brent headlined Comedy Works downtown. Brent is an expert comedy show producer and runner and gives up all the secrets of his successful shows in multiple states and especially the Boulder Comedy Show. The episode starts with an introduction from Mark Masters and closes with some final thoughts from Mark as well, while on quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis. Next week will be the 2nd to last episode of season 1 with another amazing Comedy Works headliner. Tune in to find out who’s next on Mark Masters! In this episode: [Mark special intro] - Producing comedy shows - 3 weekly shows in two states - Boulder Comedy Show, Sundays, 7 and 9:15 - Canter’s Deli, Mondays, Kibitz Room - Pasadena (Highland Park), Sundays at 7, The Arroyo Comedy Show - Nicole Blain - Trish Hadley - Chris Charpentier - Esther Povitsky - Comedy Store - Control vs. Letting Go - Guns n’ Roses and the Kibitz Room - Wide vs. Long rooms for comedy - Using video camera to show stage on another screen - Marc Canter - TVs on during comedy show - Posters - The Squire (“Squire-ish”) - Cabaret license required to charge money - Using a show for stage time - Jeff Ross - Clayton English - Kyle Kinane - Dead shows, postmortems - Better comics - Improve customer experience - Why the Boulder Comedy Show is so good, a perfect storm - On the roster at Comedy Works - Treat Boulder Comedy Show like a comedy club - Wende Curtis - What not to do at a comedy show - No TV in the room - Seating, lighting, sound - bouldercomedyshow.com - building a relationship with a venue - door deals - never cancel a show - Wit’s End (Westminster comedy club) - consistency - vailcomedyshow.com - pre-show music - music between acts, good - funk music is good mood music - James Brown Funky Drummer - comedy hosting tips - first comedy show ever for crowd members - avoiding cold open for host - Deacon Gray: don’t one up comics - clear the plate after a comic destroys - cool the energy vs. ride the wave - @iambrentgill on Instagram - youtube.com/brentgill - brentgillcomedy.com - Boulder Comedy Show 7 year anniversary show in 2020 - 10,000 total audience members at the Boulder Comedy Show milestone - you might not know the comics, but you know they are going to be great because I’m bringing ‘em [Mark special outro] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com Also check out: www.markmasters.co (send Mark a note, join the best comedy mailing list) www.vailcomedyshow.com www.parkercomedyshow.com
Pat Treuer In this episode Mark Masters talks to Pat Treuer, a comedian from Colorado presently based in Chicago where he runs an open mic at The Irish Oak in Wrigleyville and a terrific showcase called Joke at the Oak. Mark drives Pat from Denver to Steamboat, then to Vail, and then to Boulder. Pat performs to capacity crowds at a Steamboat Comedy Club show, at the very first Vail Comedy Show, and at the Boulder Comedy Show. There is almost 4 hours of footage but you will only see a fraction of that due to technical issues. You will hear a special message from Mark as we approach the home stretch of Season 1 of Mark Masters, filmed during COVID-19 quarantine about our next three episodes that all feature Comedy Works headliners. Tune in! New episodes every Monday. Who knows what Season 2 will hold, but Season 1 is almost over. Enjoy it while it lasts! In this episode: [Mark special intro] - Mark and Pat run into cows on the way to Steamboat - Working dogs - Ghost Boy book and TED talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_pistorius_how_my_mind_came_back_to_life_and_no_one_knew - Guns Germs and Steel - Dave Chappelle - Bill Burr [Mark special outro] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Alan Bromwell In this episode Mark Masters talks to Alan Bromwell, a 6 year comedian on the Comedy Works pro list based in Denver, CO. Mark drives Alan from Castle Rock to a ticketed show at Carter Payne in Colorado Springs, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - driving to a show, guest spot driving - six years comedy - on the pro list, paid to perform at Comedy Works - worked 2.5 years unpaid - Almost Famous, 10 minute host spots Sundays and Wednesdays (sometimes Saturdays), 7 minute spots - Dana Gould, Joey Diaz (blacklisted), Pete Holmes - Joey Diaz stories - Not paid host spots at Comedy Works for double show nights you get 20 minutes stage time and perform in front of sold out show - First mic was Lion’s Lair (Roger Norquist, Sam Tallent) - Alan was missing teeth - Time travel advice first mic - warning - The Improv, Future Legends (like NTN but no more) - “Boulder kids”: Codey Spiker, Jacob Rupp, Alan and Harry - Tonight’s show at former church, Carter Payne, co-headlining with ShaNae Ross - Goals: have fun, work out new material (7 minutes in middle), connections - 3-4 shows and 3-4 mics a week - Sold out Comedy Works South show, Chad Daniels, 450 people - Casino shows - Comedy Works Entertainment gigs - PG-13 material, “light R”, nobody knows what that is - Alan is a provocateur, a troll, a curmudgeon - Corporate gigs pay well - Cruise ship comedy - Tobias Livingston tour to Oregon - Aaron Maslow - Not Good Yet, the book - Wende Curtis - List for spots comes out on Wednesdays by email, sign up is in person - Better paying gig cancellations - Worst gig story - Merch talk - Full time comedian for 2-3 years, open mic is helpful income, not glamorous - Animal sex bit timeline, 6 months at mic, then into shows - Writing process, handwritten then computer - Social media discussion, YouTube - Kallan Reese in the Vail Daily [Show] - Did Mark get a spot? - Alan challenge review - Thick Skin - Contest material, keep it short - Reviewing video - Listening to sets to see what works - Hippieman (John Novosad) is a big listener to sets - Robin Williams on listening to sets - The trap of listening to your material - Alan’s album on Bandcamp - Venue discussion, lighting, crowd - Austin Brinker (Matt Gabriel) hosts - Comedy Central Up Next showcase - Filmed projects for Netflix, Nice & Naughty - Sammy Anzer - Burning material that is filmed - Joke theft, Carlos Mencia, Louis CK, Dane Cook, Amy Schumer, Patrice O’Neill - David Cross, Maria Bamford Comedy Death Ray comedy album - Archetypes and local comedy thievery - Immitation and starting out in comedy - Gratifying to see a stolen Hedberg joke bomb at an open mic - Crazy open mic stories, homeless and down on their luck rappers - Ambush comedy at the Karaoke bar, “stage time’s stage time” - Not getting paid / stiffed, harder in the time of the internet - Good show and venue, Buttermilk Boys - Palmer Lake shows, Sterling, Colorado Springs - Ben Kronberg had a show in Castle Rock - AlanBromwell on Twitter and Instagram - Alan is doing a show at Laugh Lines comedy club in Boulder soon And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Jacob Jonas In this episode Mark Masters talks to Jacob Jonas, a 2+ year comedian who started in Durango, CO and now based in Denver, CO. Mark drives Jacob from the Capitol Hill neighborhood around Denver to a number of open mics, and in-between to Comedy Works as they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - an intro from Mark, Hannibal Buress mention - Jacob Jonas joins - Breakfast King, old restaurant, new mic - Deadroom, LLC - Brunch comedy show, There - Almost 3 years in comedy - Durango comedy scene - Mark’s history with comedy - Freak train, Bug Theater - Mistakes on stage - Audience visibility - Syntax Physic Opera - Be nice to newer comics? - NY and SF scenes nicer than Denver - Gotham bringer show NYC, Andrew Schulz - Set goals - Building a set, Jacob process - Joke documents in Google docs - Recycling old jokes into new material - 8 hour comedy shift - Mark challenge: not repeat any jokes tonight - The Goods mic, Chuck Roy, Mike Langworthy - Michael Isaacs, repeating material - Secret Comedy Works offices [Breakfast King] - good crowd, early mic - diner friendly material - Mark hand motion and mic in the stand - Body language - An advantage of comic turnover (old jokes can be new again) - Show at the Breakfast King (after midnight) - Documentary (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCujNO4Cz42WodqT89GhR0Jw - Jacob Jonas on YouTube - Video editing tools, Sony Vegas - First ever mic, Irish Embassy back bar, underground - Time machine question - Be open to bombing - Be conversational - Washington Park - A well deserved bomb - Streets of London, Lion’s Lair, 3 Kings (the meanest mics in Denver) - Mark is old and gets tired - Are there mics that are not worth it? - Goals and challenges for next mic, movement, longer set - Nervous about act-outs and voices - Impersonations - Contest comedy and getting judged (Durango example) - Merging two bits together [Tea Street] - Heading to Comedy Works - Host at start - 3 “surprise” audience members Mark bombed with - Mark up to 16 minutes, Jacob up to 11 on the night - Burger King jokes - 3rd year of comedy lessons - how to use open mics - Mark’s first open mic - It feels good to see a terrible open mic comic if they are brand new - Megan and Laura open-mic hosts - New Talent Night at Comedy Works - Kelsey Cook - Working out material - Psychedelic mushrooms - Combining random topics - Jokes like a puzzle - Jeff Stonic, David Leipzig, Josh Grambo - Basement open mics (like in the home) - Driving solo and working out material - Watching stand-up - Louis C.K. in Denver last Thursday, Joe List opener - Analyzing amateur stand-up - The book, Not Good Yet - Writing process - Writer square parking lot - Talking about 2nd book [New Talent Night at Comedy Works, watching only] - Newbies crushed - Kelsey Cook drop-in - Salma Zaky 5 minute spot - Running an open mic, Friday night mic Polycarbonate - Derek Walton, a role model for running a mic - Finding a venue for an open mic - Important things about open mic success [Irish Snug] - Derek Walton - Mark past 20 minutes of material - Graphic design - Good and bad comedy posters - Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro - Social media by proxy - Facebook and comedy - Email and young people - Creating your own stage time - Not on Facebook, a pro for mental health - Alec Flynn, Kira MagCalen (artist and comic) - Goals, crowd work - Mutiny [Mutiny Information Cafe] - Mark up to 28 minutes, now 11:46PM - Show running tips, promotion - Voodoo Doughnuts - Oren Be, Irish Rover - Harrison Garcia, Jagged Mountain - Mark’s secret to promoting comedy shows - Cortez, CO - Mark is tired - Mark is cold - Mark is old - Mark love note story - Unusually attentive audience - Jose Macall, Jim owner of Mutiny - The value of open mics - The number of open mics - Cliffhanger [Kynga’s] - Mark kind of made it to 40 minutes - Spreadsheet of mics - Jacob got to 24 minutes - Got up quickly, nice surprise - Jacob on doing the same joke five times in one night - Jacob is tired, but still not old! - Mark is angry about one of the open mic comics - A bunny - The end of an epic run - https://www.instagram.com/papar_mosxas/ (Jacob Jonas) And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Hannah Jones In this episode Mark Masters talks to Hannah Jones, a 6 year comedian based in Denver, CO. Mark drives Hannah from an open mic in Denver to a pro show at Comedy Works, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - 6+ years since started comedy, almost 2 years in Denver - first Denver open mic - Voodoo Comedy Club - Improv, tech’g at an Open Mic - Nikolai Rosco, Ben Bryant - Very funny comedians - Michael Isaacs - Time travel advice - Social difficulty when breaking into Denver scene - College comedy in front of 200 people - Kinder, gentler but 30+ weekly hours of comedy on top of day job - Not everyone deserves friendliness - Facebook beef segment - Michelle Wolf at downtown Comedy Works - Working out new material, insight into her process - Not remembering names and faces, an open mic story - Anthony Crawford guest appearance - Goodbye And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Jacob Rupp In this episode Mark Masters talks to Jacob Rupp, a 6 year comedian who started in Boulder, CO, but lives in Denver now. Mark drives Jacob from Denver, CO to a show in Aspen, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. [Note: This video starts mid conversation because of bad file management and ends mid conversation because the battery dies, apologies] They discuss: - Writing and deciding what is funny - Modifying material based on audience - Watch comic before to try to call back for an audience member - Hosting at Comedy Works - First interaction with Comedy Works - Buffalo sighting! - Johnny's Cigar Bar, Boulder - Deacon Gray - Comedy Works timeline, from newbie to hosting - Finals of New Faces, Janae Burris - Tips and tricks for comedy contests - Noah Reynolds, Korey David - Be a person in the room, acknowledge events - Greg Hutt, Austin, TX - Loonee's Comedy Club, Colorado Springs, CO (hosting, clock) - The Improv - Nebraska shows - Border City Comedy Festival, Windsor Canada - Mountain shows are for stretching - Vail has a great audience - Denver showcases - 7 and 9PM vs. 8 and 10:30PM show times - Adam Cayton Holland, The Grawlix - Dave Chappelle at a Denver showcase (Too Much Fun above City o' city) - Validation of showcases - Call to Arms show, Katie Bowman, Brad Galli - Denver Underground, Ben Bryant, Irish Snug - Boulder Comedy Show, Brent Gill - Mark swears on camera! - Plug for Not Good Yet, the book - Clean comedy - Interpreting laughter at open mics - Open mic laughter - Las Vegas open mic story - Dead stop driving, Colorado mountain driving tips - Dealing with bad rooms (don't mention it) - Hell drive story - Aaron Maslow, Miriam Moreno - Vail Brewing Company, good beers - The ins and outs of booking - 50 first jokes Timmy Lasley, Karen Wachtel from High Plains - Running a mic, Alan Bromwell - The Irishman - Eeland Stribling calls - Favorite movies, Alamo draft house - Movie theaters - Film school and movie talk - Streaming shows - Watching stand-up online - Jacob's favorite comics, John Mulaney, Rory Scovel, Daniel Tosh - Selling jokes - What is the end game? - Film making, phone it in film festival, Zac Maas - Michael Isaacs, "comedic genius" - Kevin Clapman, Boulder, CO - Re-telling old jokes - Screenwriting tips for joke writers - Harris Alterman - Patrick Richardson - docu-series Wow Colorado HaHa Wow - Jacob Rupp episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czVGANd1_xM [Battery dies] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Jake Hovis In this episode Mark Masters talks to Jake Hovis, a new comedian from Denver, CO. In high school basketball he led the state of Colorado in blocked shots his senior year! Mark drives Jake from Avon, CO to a show in Aspen, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - Aspen Comedy Show at Silver City Saloon - Colorado driving conditions - Lincoln, NE showcase - How Jake got into stand-up, improv, church - Tracking open mics in spreadsheet - Favorite Denver open-mics - Finn McCool's Friday night mic - World Series of Comedy - Audio recording open mic sets - Feedback from wife, teamwork - "Blacking out" on stage - Books - Starting Standup, Serious Guide to Writing Jokes - Not Good Yet by Mark Masters - Check from Tattered Cover, Daron - Media Mail - Vail Comedy Show, Aspen Comedy Show - Jake's first time to Aspen - Big Jake, football, basketball - Megan O'Neill, Larry Sanders, Sarah Silverman, Blake Griffin - Surprises in comedy - Improv - 8 bit kids: Brenna Bigelow, Sean Wissing, Aaron Maslow, Lauren DuFault, Bonnie - Challenges - Steve Rannazzisi - Jessica Michelle Singleton - Ben Roy - Jake's next steps - Clean comedy, PG-13? - Accents - Digital marketing - John Crist - Elliott Woolsey, Brent Gill, Sam Tallent - crazy open mic stories and Jake's mom - Annual open mic goals - High school teacher summer - Laura Thompson - New Talent Night at Comedy Works - Denver open mic comedy scene - Earn your keep show at Irish Snug, Edward Bell, Michael Sayedian - Fresh & Clean with Big Jake - Ben Dailey - Show running, marketing [Show] - Reviewing the show, great! - High fives, handshakes, tips - Crowd work, focusing - Sheriff - Mixing dirty and clean jokes - Jake's set - Big pay day - Forgetting tags - Nathan Lund - Ryan and Jeremy at Silver City Saloon - Venue relationship - Taking pictures at shows - Next goals - 50 minute set for Jake - 70 people in audience - Youtube.com/bigjakehovis - Eeland Stribling - Sign off And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Scott Schnurr In this episode Mark Masters talks to Scott Schnurr, a 7 year comedian based in Los Angeles, CA. Mark drives Scott from Comedy Works South to an open mic at Scruffy Murphy's in Denver, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - Derek Walton host of Scruffy's Open Mic - Scott's first terrible open mic experience in Philadelphia - You don't deserve anything in comedy until you get it - Scott moved to L.A. at 25 and has been doing comedy for 7 years since - Comedy in Philadelphia - Comedy in NYC - Comedy in San Diego and Las Vegas - Introvert - Celebrity sightings - open mic host at Westside Comedy Theater for 4 years in Santa Monica, CA - Roast Battle at the Comedy Store - Competitive scene in L.A. - Crazy open mic stories - Stay humble, be open to the process - Writing - Recording sets - Video analysis - Lowlights and highlights - Open mics 5 nights a week - Asking to be on shows - Denver open mic order frustration - Denver open mic strengths And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Nate Brown In this episode Mark Masters talks to Nate Brown, a 7 year comedian who hosted the Hodi's open mic for 2.5 years, which was the destination of many of the Mark Masters season 1 episodes. Mark drives Nate from Lonetree to an open mic at Loonee's in Colorado Springs, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. [Note: This episode ends abruptly because the camera battery ran out] They discuss: - Nate an important part of Season 1 - Nate no longer hosts Hodi's open mic - Ft. Collins comedy scene - Hosting an open mic and comedy skills - Luke Gaston, new host of Hodi's - Greeley, CO comedy - Outriders Thursday mic - Comedy teaches patience - Ten year anniversary of Hodi's mic coming soon - Open mic tweaks, lighting, sign-up rules, difference makers - Brutal Denver mics good for growth - David Rodriguez - Kyle Pogue - Captain Jason (show runner) - Public transportation rules - Loonee's comedy club - Loonee's open mic strategies and details - Jacob Rupp - Wende Curtis, State of New Talent meeting - Castle Rock, the eponymous structure - Nate a full native - Comedy Travel, Austin, Pat Dean, Avery Morris - Wyoming overnighter, Tobias Livingston, Derrick Stroup - Derrick Stroup - Tyrell Hartman - Rollins, WY - Rough room - Elliot's Martini Bar Sunday night monthly show in Ft. Collins - Chris Munoz - Kallen Reece - Austen Brinker - Oskar Blues Colorado Springs show - Dab Lounge Colorado Springs show - Tips on performing for very high audiences - Haley Driscoll - First open mic (Hodi's) - Eric, owner of Loonee's - Advanced sign up at open mics, unfair? - Adam Cayton-Holland, WTF with Marc Maron, book - Grawlix - America the Beautiful view, Pikes Peak - Deacon Gray, host, New Talent Night - Social circles in comedy in Ft. Collins and Denver, feeling invisible - open mic scene and diversity - Janae Burris - First mic advice: filming at home - Practice with a mic stand, smile and have fun on stage - Writing structure - Pomodoro technique - Structuring your open mic set - Ari Shaffir - A good five minutes - World's worst audience member - George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor - Driving by yourself, the zen of comedy - Quitting drinking - Open mic challenges - Tiny bladder - Not drinking at a mic - Matt Gabriel - Punched in the Face [Got to Loonee's] - Recap,up 4th and 5th - Recap challenges - Weirdest comedy stories - Strip club comedy story - Improv and stand-up - Sam Tallent - Anthony Jesselnik, most copied comic - The Comedy Store - Joey Diaz, Joe Rogan - Los Angeles open-mic pro tip: have a car - William Montgomery - CJ Willard, Gallagher Festival - Tony Hinchcliffe - Matt Besser - Cliffhanger ending - Nate who is going to make it next in local scene? (Battery dies, I'll never tell what he said) [battery dies in camera] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Eric Shee In this episode Mark Masters talks to Eric Shee, a 17 year old comedian from Wyoming now in Denver, CO. Mark drives Eric from Aurora to an open mic at Hodi’s in Ft. Collins, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. [Note: This episode ends abruptly because the camera battery ran out] They discuss: - 69 miles to Hodi’s - Laramie Wyoming - 5 hour round trips for 3 minutes of stage time - Home at 2AM and high school the next day - Summer camp talent show mic - Ben Bryant - Being under 18 and doing mics - 3 times a week from Wyoming, Hodi’s, Colorado Room, Tune up or Voodoo - Voodoo is one of the most professional mics - In first year of comedy - Favorite comedian is Norm Macdonald - Mics that suck are dope - Recording sets - First mic thoughts - Not Good Yet, the book - Denver areas - Chinatown, Sketchy parts - Storytelling - Mark was at Eric’s 2nd open mic at Voodoo - Getting roasted by host is good - Eric hosts a mic at Kynga’s, Tuesday’s at 10:30PM - Mutiny open mic, Jose Macall, mentor - Take the bullet spot at open mics - How to learn from a bad open mic room - Mike Stanley, joke struggles after the first time you tell it - The magic of comedy spontaneity - Sammy Anzer, natural on stage, feedback - Denver Comedy Underground - Irish Snug on Saturdays - Brandt Tobler - Wyoming, This is Not Happening on Comedy Central - Meeting a famous comic, fanboy - Thick Skin show at Comedy Works - David Leipzig, the hustler - Andreas, your comedy class - Laramie, WY not very diverse - Go to college or full time comedy, that is the question - Gap year after finishing high school early - Parents - Being a square - Vail Comedy Show (www.vailcomedyshow.com) - Eric guest spot in Vail experience - Gabby Gutierrez - Byron Graham - Stephanie McHugh headliner, true professional with callbacks to other sets - Show pay structure - Walk up music, Riot! by Earl Sweatshirt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh7a5hfh7-Y) - Church for weed show - Eeland Stribling - Writing style, on computer - David Nihill - Do you talk funny - Sebastian Maniscalco, book - Jack Dorsey (Dick Costolo is the name I was trying to remember) - Challenges for the mic - Vail Comedy Show again - Last thoughts about the mic - Back from Hodi’s mic - Bullet spot - crowd work - act-outs (set up vs. punch) - forgetting material on stage - Nick Nemeroff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRb6HRxN-vg) - Low key stage presence - Comedic voice - Story writing - Nic Dean scuba story - Sammy Pisciotta (Ft. Collins) - Advice for first mic - Enjoy yourself on stage - Pictionary - Crashing with Pete Holmes - Gap between setup and punch (logical jump) - Not a joke reasons - Comedy goals - Callbacks - Robotic delivery - Los Angeles - Kill Tony - One minute set - Andrew Schultz, The Cellar - Louis C.K. - Gary Gulman, Norm Macdonald - I have no Chappelle stories (not true anymore!) - Hannibal Buress - Joke stealing - Parallel thinking - Sam Kinnison [battery dies in camera] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Jeff Koen In this episode Mark talks with Jeff Koen, a 7 year comedian from Denver, CO. They drive to Comedy Works South to watch a round of the 23rd annual New Faces comedy contest, before heading to Lion's Lair, Denver's longest running open mic, they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - Jeff made the semi-finals! - Noah Reynolds - Evan Johnson - 7 years, started 2012 - Solid Ground coffee showcase (first gig) - 2014 got serious - High Plains open mic - Red Clay Comedy Festival - Go up on stage a lot - Real me vs. comic persona - PJ Johnson - Theater or touring band experience - Austin Black, Sam Gates - Titus Milan - Fresh talent crop - Hannah Jones - Sam Tallent - Sarah Benson - Meghan DePonceau - Transplant comics - Comic community - Bovine Metropolis Improv Theater - Time travel advice - record every set, get out every night - Laura Lions (now in Seattle) - 3 mics on Wednesdays - Rising Sun, Voodoo, Streets of London / Streets Denver - Thick Skin (Monday night Comedy Works show) - Running longer sets - Squire lounge - meanest mic in America - Anthony Crawford - end of open mic value - Denver scene vs Los Angeles for discovery / industry (Denver best in country to learn in) - Group 2 lineup - Jeff’s picks - Korey David - We’re back! - Driving to Lion’s Lair - Reviewing the show - Fashion on stage - More sleepy than having fun on stage - Stage energy - Value of watching shows at Comedy Works - Mic stand usage trick - Open mic goals for Lion’s Lair - Ben Kronberg - Troy Baxley (founder of Lion’s Lair open mic) - Deacon Gray - Jerry Corley - Goodbye And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Harrison Garcia In this episode Mark Masters talks to Harrison Garcia, show runner and almost 5 year comedian out of Denver, CO. Mark drives Harrison from Castle Rock to an open mic at Lulu's Downstairs in Manitou Springs, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - 48 mile drive - Ben Verbeck, open mic host - Comedy in Colorado Springs - Traveling jokes - Sam Tallent - Nimble comedy - Sandy Colfax band - Korey David show in Arvada - How Harrison got started in comedy - First comedy set - 5280comedy.com - Zac Maas and John Wilkins - the importance of a punchline - be yourself, don't be the idea of a comic in your head - five years ago less comics - creative momentum requires goals - producing music shows helped with comedy - jagged mountain brewing comedy show, 3.5 years old - comedy show up top announcement - marketing a comedy show - good and bad crowds - crazy show story featuring Janae Burris and Jordan Wieleba - start mic or show for stage time - travel comedy story with Kyle Pogue - travel comedy story with Ed Bell - anchor gig (big money gig) - Yakima Washington, Bill's Place - Trapped in the snow! - Portland, OR - Liquid Lounge in Boise, ID - Twin Falls, ID - Junction Springs, KS - Vail Comedy Show - Derrick Stroup, Kallan Reese, Andy Hamilton, Pat Treuer - music show disaster - opening spot difficulty, daylight - Room orientation - MC and hosting tips - tell do not ask - Deacon Gray MC class review - goals for mic - flat punchline that usually works - Lulu's downstairs - notgoodyet.com - crowd work discussion - construction zone (I got a flat tire the next day from this) - great mic for stretching - shows - joke workshop - laying pipe in a joke writing context - Lincoln, NE And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Sammy Anzer In this episode Mark Masters talks to Sammy Anzer, originally from Queens, NY but now in Denver, CO. Mark drives Sammy from Denver to an open mic at Hodi’s in Ft. Collins and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. [Note: This episode starts mid-drive due to camera operator error] They discuss: - Comedy Works’ New Faces contest - Comedy contest preparation - Videotaping sets - Cody Ullrich - Getting paid to do comedy - the pyramid scheme of stage time - comedy in NYC and Memphis - comma comedians - Michael Isaacs, Knoxville - What makes a good open mic - Writing tips - Comedian bad habits - Grit by Angela Ducksworth - Englewood - Oxygen Advantage - Ali Wong rom com - A system for open mic sets - different performance if paid - Trust yourself - Eating kiwi - A show disaster story - pro shows - a joke writer vs. a comedian - Aziz Ansari at Comedy Works - Fortune Feimster - The Growlix - Those Who Can’t - Adam Cayton Holland (book) - City of Thieves (book) - Denver as a place to live - The Comedy Gym at Open Media - You can’t rush progress - Get personal in comedy - Showers and public pools - Germaphobes - Disguise the punchline - Sam Tallent - Challenges - Kory David - Eeland Stribling - Challenges recap - Act outs - personal tone And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Melissa Douty In this episode Mark Masters talks to Melissa Douty long time comedy veteran from the east coast. Mark talks to Melissa on site at the World Series of Comedy near St. Louis and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. They discuss: - Started comedy in 1994 - Roanoke, VA - Opening for Pauley Shore, Arsenio Hall (Comedy Zone) - Clean observational comedy - Writing strategies - What is clean comedy? - Blue vs. clean comedy - Marketing and merchandising - Social Media - World Series of Comedy - Travel tips for comedians (Ignite Services is a game changer for road comics) - Travel stories - Open mic stories - Following the worst intro - Small show - Getting paid - Write down your ideas! - Video recording tips - Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan, Kathleen Madigan - Comic relationships are bad - Vail Comedy Show (vailcomedyshow.com) - Jamie Ward - Joke traveling - Fidgeting on stage - Subjectivity of comedy competitions - WSOC contest structure - Mark’s challenge - Mark is disease free - Seeing the light And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
In this episode Mark Masters talks to Phil Corridor, six year comedy veteran out of Denver, CO. Mark drives Phil from Denver to an open mic at Loonee's Comedy Club in Colorado Springs, CO and they talk comics, comedians, and stand up comedy. They discuss: - The Bug Theatre - Freak Train (monthly show) - Bad drivers - taking time off - repeating jokes - Joke traveling - Loonee's Comedy Club - Substitute hosting the Irish Rover open mic - Dangerous Theatre - I don't think so, honey - Writing - Glendale, CO - Jim Gaffigan - Voodoo Comedy Open Mic - Crazy open mic stories And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
In this episode Mark Masters talks to Patrick Scott, six year comedy veteran out of Denver, CO. Mark drives Patrick from Denver to an open mic at Full Cycle in Boulder, CO and they talk comedy, comedians, and stand up comics. [Note: This episode cuts off at end because the battery died in the camera.] They discuss: - BK Sharad - Johnny's Cigar Bar (old mic) - Zac Maas - Dating apps - Eating ass - Zac Welch and assholes - Playing the role of comedian - Scruffy's - Derek Walton - Aaron Urist - Patrick's first joke (he still uses it) - Troy Walker, Kevin O'Brien - waiting at mics and list order - watching shows at Comedy Works - Orny Adams, Jake Johannsen - Clean comedy - Making friends in comedy and networking and community - Steve Van Der Ploeg - Working hard and getting better - Stage fright - Patrick had a baby - New Faces contest - Climbing the ladder at Comedy Works - Hosting and clean comedy - Open mic adjacent - Too good for open mics - Kansas comedy run - Mitch Jones - Making negative money (on comedy runs) - Russel Peters, Larry the Cable Guy, Gabriel Iglesias - Every comedy rule can be broken - Growing up in Pueblo - Calling the room - Sam Tallent - Crowd work - Saturday night open mics (RIP Niccolo's pizza) - Ambush comedy - Prepping for NTN by going to Colorado Springs, Ft. Collins and Boulder - Being considerate at open mics - Baby bits - Voice modulation - Robot voice - Analyzing the mic - New stuff not working - Productive open mics - Punching down? - Crowd work to material transitions - Andrew Schultz - Mark scares Patrick - The machine optioned to be a movie, Bert Kreischer - Great example of comedy story - Monitor speaker problems - Reviewing Patrick's material [BATTERY DIES IN CAMERA] And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
In this episode Mark Masters talks to Eeland Stribling, a newer comic who has been making big waves in Denver. Mark drives Eeland from Denver to an open mic at Hodi's in Ft. Collins, CO and they talk comics, comedians, and stand up comedy. This episode begins with a solo intro by Mark Masters. They discuss: - trapping bears - first open mic - learning curve in comedy - Thick Skin, Mike Stanley, Ben Duncan, Kallen Reece - Live comedy - Andrew Schultz, Inside Joke - Hannibal Buress, Chad Daniels, Bill Burr, Patrice, Dave Chapelle - Comedy goals - Nathan Lund, Janae Burris - Black Buzzard - New Talent Night at Comedy Works - Elliott Woolsey, Wende Curtis, Jake Johannson - Underdog comics - Baron Vaughn, Ryan Nowell, Tom Henry - Hosting at the Improv, Amy Hunt - Crowd work and riffs - Joke theft - Comedy Festival - Word maps and writing - Weird crowds - Small crowds - Deacon Gray - New Faces - Fly fishing And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
In this episode Mark Masters talks to Sarah Benson, a comedy transplant from upstate New York with seven years of comedy experience. Mark drives Sarah from Denver to an open mic at Hodi's in Ft. Collins, CO and they talk comics, comedians, and stand up comedy. They discuss: - transplant open mic comedians - 7 years of comedy - The Appalachian trail - Rejection - Orlando comedy scene - Confidence and being genuine - Rochester, NY comedy scene - The Comedy Works New Talent system / hierarchy - Relentless positivity - Bombing - Not being able to see the audience - Nate Brown, host of Hodi's open mic - Clean comedy - Thick Skin - Meeting famous people, Jerry Seinfeld - Does improv help stand up? - Walt Disney World employee lessons - A firing worthy joke on the jungle cruise - Crazy comedy stories, nudity and parents (not the same story!) - Attractive looks and comedians - Let's Talk About Sets podcast - What to wear for stand-up - Zeke Herrera - Sarah's podcast (with Megan Deponceau) - Vail Comedy Show - Elliot Woolsey - @sarahmben on Twitter for joke evaluation - Writing process - Categorizing and organizing old material - Ben Roy - Sam Tallent - Mutiny open mic - Jose Macall and sensible ambition - Thoughts on Denver comedy scene - Not Good Yet the book - Getting stiffed for a paid show - Steamboat comedy - Pat Treuer - Mark Masters is not on Facebook - Sarah opened for Pete Holmes! - Cowboys at the mic - Crowd work and never asking questions - Silence on stage - Michelle Herring And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
In this episode Mark Masters talks to Nic Dean, six year comedy veteran now in Denver, CO. Mark drives Nic from Denver to an open mic at Hodi’s in Ft. Collins, CO and they talk comics, comedians, and stand up comedy. Over two and a half hours they discuss: - why comedy can be difficult for beginners - the Omaha, Nebraska comedy scene - what Nic thinks about money and comedy after six years - common mistakes open mic comedians make - callbacks - the importance of originality - starting a comedy show - Bonnaroo - why a bad room is good - Facebook and other social media - Virtual Reality - the bullet spot - comedians Katie Bowman, Jacob Rupp, Georgia Comstock, PJ Johnson, Pat Treuer, Derrick Stroup - William Montgomery - Loonee’s Comedy Club - Irish Rover - The 31 podcast with Brandt Tobler And much, much more. Strap in. This is a good one. Brought to you by Not Good Yet, the book by Mark Masters. www.notgoodyet.com
Mark Masters introduces the podcast and web series. Season 1 episodes will be released every Monday starting with Nic Dean. Brought to you by Not Good Yet the book about getting started as an open mic stand up comedian. Not Good Yet. Created by Mark Masters a stand up comedian from Colorado that runs the Vail Comedy Show. Mark takes a break from a comedy road trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco to introduce the Mark Masters web series and podcast from Puckerbrush, Nevada. He looks sleepy but don't sleep on this capital C content coming at you every Monday starting with Nic Dean!
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