What's goody?

Hot breath verse.

Welcome back.

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

So today is a very special episode.

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

We are sharing our favorite pins.

We're going to nerd out on pins today.

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

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

We're still gonna talk comedy, but we.

Are still gonna talk comedy.

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

We need to get that AVD up.

That's average view duration.

So hang out with us.

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

Absolutely.

And we felt like on election day that we would.

We would lighten it up a little bit.

Yeah.

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

Let's go, baby.

This is what we're gonna go today.

Yeah.

Oh, my gosh.

And Aditya just commented.

Love from India.

Very cool.

Yeah.

For hanging out.

Yeah.

We got.

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

All over.

Feel free to comment with your questions.

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

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

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

So people in the live chat have some pins.

They've already posted.

I have a pin.

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

This is the pin that started it all.

The OG pen.

This is the OG pen.

And it all happened.

It was a dreary Monday evening.

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

Oh, my God.

That place brings back so many memories.

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

Amazing.

Amazing.

Yeah.

They would do this show at like, 11.

It started at like, 11 on a Monday.

Yeah.

And they did not want to be there.

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

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

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

Like all respectful comics do.

You should listen.

You learn by studying others.

It is valuable to Pay attention.

But.

And then she said she had no idea.

Like, this is.

I.

I'm like some kid.

Who kind of pin is that?

She's like, I don't know.

I found this.

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

And I.

I got the.

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

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

And it's just very durable and affordable.

Yeah.

And it is the big Atlantis.

The big Atlantis Atlantis.

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

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

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

And it also comes in different styles as well.

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

They have a gel pen version.

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

And you don't mind you losing it.

Yep.

Yeah, that's a.

That's important part about pens.

Yeah.

Attached.

Yeah, Dude.

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

Now, they make real expensive pins.

This was, like 20 bucks.

It was a Parker jotter.

My foray into a nicer, elevated pin.

For sure.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're a penis sewer now.

And you were trying to add to the collection.

Yes.

And then I lost it.

Yeah.

So guess what?

This big Atlantis, it will not go away.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Somehow, some way, it just appears.

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

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

My favorite pen from the beginning and till now.

And I have one left.

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

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

And it's a simple pen.

It's a.

It's the Sharpie S gel.

Oh, yeah.

Like.

And the fine point just sticks.

Right?

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

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

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

It's been there since day One.

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

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

And it is seriously, like just a reliable pen.

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

It's an infinite pin.

Yeah, it's literally never ran out.

I'm such a fan of this pin.

Yeah.

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

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

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

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

But the S gel, you.

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

It's already dry.

It doesn't smudge.

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

No smudge.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It is a.

Yeah.

It's just a reliable pen.

Like, it doesn't.

I've never.

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

This is like they're taking orders pen.

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

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

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

Like kind of the fine point one.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

Zebra.

This is one.

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

It's a good mobile pin.

It's good on the go.

Yep, it's.

It's like a fine point.

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

It's like a smaller pocket sized notebook.

So I like a finer point.

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

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

It was like a Bic stick.

Like the generic.

Yes.

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

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

He's like, that's mine.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I keep the BCK for the peasants.

Yeah.

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

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

This.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You get this dollar tree special.

I'm keeping the target for myself.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I caught him, though.

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

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Corey said they're a sharpie guy.

Yeah, I'm definitely a sharpie guy.

Yeah, I like the sharpies.

And I'll mix it up, too.

Yeah.

Are you a fine point or you a.

Are you a ballpoint kind of person?

You like the fine or you like the thicker?

I'm a 0.38, like, point.

Anything less than 0.5 is what I'm doing.

Yeah.

I'm on the finer side.

I do.

I do like being on the finer side.

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

It is.

It's a different.

It's a different level.

I don't wanna.

My voice just changed.

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

Yeah, yeah.

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

Yeah, you don't want to be there.

Yeah, you definitely don't want.

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

That's hilarious.

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

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

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

Yeah, it's a whole new world.

I went to if anyone in Greenville, South Carolina.

And I know there are.

I know we got hop brethers in Greenville.

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

It's one of these.

And this is like an entry they had.

I mean, they have.

They had pins in there.

They're like 20 grand.

It was ridiculous.

Like, these fountain pens are crazy.

Wow.

I think this was 30.

30.

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

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

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

And so far, I've been able to.

But I've.

I've been converted due to fountain pen hits.

Different.

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

Just user experience.

Have you ever used one?

A fountain pen?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've used it.

I use it.

It just took me, you know what it was.

It took me longer to write what I needed.

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

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

I go a little slower.

You know what I'm saying?

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

Like journaling.

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

And so it didn't feel as fast.

Yeah, yeah.

It's a different.

Because it also has a cap, and I never.

I never use pins with a cap.

I was always averse to it until this fountain pen.

So it is a different kind of experience.

Yeah.

It's a totally different feel.

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

What if it just, like, exploded?

Yeah, you should.

You should have one fountain pen in your collection.

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

A collection.

Yeah.

Yeah.

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

When I started, I.

I was nothing but pencils.

I used a mechanical pencil on all my set lists.

Yep.

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

That's the worst.

But I use, like, these Papermate sharp writers.

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

I'll use these, but not lately.

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

But now I'm just.

I'm on that.

I'm on that pin game now.

Really?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I like writing.

Even if I write a joke in my.

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

Yeah.

And it makes a big difference there.

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

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

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

And it's.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What also helps me is I'll mix up.

All right.

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

I'll mix it up that way as well.

I'll write on cardstock sometimes.

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

Nice.

Yeah.

Heartburn.

It came back.

It does that.

It snuck back up on me.

Yep, it does that.

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

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

Right?

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

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

Absolutely.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like, my body, it.

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

Like, hangovers were just a different level.

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

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

Or have anxiety and now food.

It always.

I guess I could power through it all.

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

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

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

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

Not so fast.

Pizza party.

Not so fast.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Your body's.

Your body's connecting.

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

Speaking of which, we are different now.

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

Which y'all should go watch.

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

Absolutely.

Go watch that.

We premiered that last week, so go watch that.

Get the views out.

We trying to spread that.

Them comedy goodies.

Hell, yeah.

So, yeah, that's.

I think it's.

Sometimes it can help when.

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

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

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

Let me get these.

I never open them.

I'll be honest.

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

Oh, yeah.

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

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

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

Very possible.

Yeah.

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

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

And it sparked new ideas.

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

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

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

Absolutely.

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

Absolutely.

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

Yeah.

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

So it's great accountability.

Absolutely.

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

Go sit in your car and write.

Go to a coffee shop.

Go to a park library.

I used to write in the library all the time.

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

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

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

And the more you do that.

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

Sitting down to the page.

You gotta.

You gotta show up to the page there, kiddos.

To the page.

I like that.

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

I mean, there's.

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

Perfect.

You know what I mean?

So, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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

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

I really do believe that.

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

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

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

Really good idea.

I like that.

That's really what it comes down to.

Just.

Yeah.

How can you lower barriers?

Yeah.

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

Breaking writer's block.

Available now.

I'll link that in the show notes there.

Boom, bow got a baby.

Due in December.

No big deal.

No big deal.

No big deal.

Money, diapers, everything is free and very affordable.

So we're putting in work, baby.

We are available.

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

No, the ticket sales are high.

There are a lot there.

Amen.

My heartburn is high.

I'm gonna stop complaining.

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

So we got it.

We got it.

We got it.

There are some questions, though.

There are some questions.

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

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

The politics.

Let's just.

Let's just have some fun.

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

Really.

Yeah.

It's the Pentateuchs.

That's what we're doing.

Yes.

Oh, yeah.

And, Zach, I don't.

I don't even know what you said.

I feel like that was a pentateuch.

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

That sounds like something.

Pentateuch.

Pentateuchs.

Yeah.

That's what we're doing.

It's the Penitex day.

Oh, pin.

Oh like the word.

Yeah.

That is what you call a pun.

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

She didn't say that.

So she was right.

I, I, I love fountain pens now.

So the bug hits you.

She got you with the bug.

She got you with the pins.

You got me.

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

Interesting.

But there are all types you can get in.

But I love, I just love pins.

Could do a whole show on them.

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

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

Will you please answer my question?

Yeah, let's get it.

Because they're in India so.

Which we appreciate so so much.

Which we do appreciate.

Yo, the hot brer is strong in India.

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

So we appreciate that.

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

First Type five.

Probably.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

They followed up.

Oh did they?

Okay, cool.

Yeah.

So basically getting that type five together.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Let that heart hit you.

Let it.

Yeah.

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

Right from an order perspective.

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

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

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

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

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

Now if you can get to more, even better.

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

And that's usually a good gauge.

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

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

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

But honestly like Transcribing your set.

Boom.

And bolding or underlining annotations where all the laughs are.

Yep.

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

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

Boom.

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

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

And three is a great starting point.

That's a good.

Every 20 seconds you're getting a lap.

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

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

Where are the laughs?

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

Absolutely.

Yep.

And then when you transcribe, you're really.

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

That's how you take out the filler words.

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

Right.

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

So yeah, it, it happens.

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

You have evidence of the words that you actually say.

And now you're responsible for.

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

How do you take out the words?

Are there is this needed for the joke?

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

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

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

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

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

Yeah.

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

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

Laughs per minute is usually like what a headliner gets.

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

Right?

Somebody like Ali Sadiq.

Right.

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

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

It was deep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

So it's just important to work that out.

Yeah, great question there.

Great, great question.

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

Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

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

Sheet and clipboard.

I want to get one for the bootstrap.

Om I go to open mic, I go to.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean just normal paper.

I wouldn't overthink it.

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

That's typically what I use for open mics.

But clipboard and a piece of paper works.

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

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

Right?

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

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

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

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

That's.

That's just time, whatever.

So you just gotta break that down.

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

Going, doing the time in between.

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

Yeah, dude, I.

I did a.

A patio open mic this weekend.

Felt good.

Felt good to get back in there.

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

Yeah, you went from the rooter to the tutor.

I see you went back to the trenches.

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

No, but it was.

It was dope.

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

So you got good feedback.

It was.

It was fun.

So I just.

Open mic made me think of.

Yeah, that patio.

Yeah, patio show, which is.

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

You did?

Yep.

Did all.

All the weird there.

All the weird.

That's the beauty of an open mic.

Rubbing the walls at all.

I remember there was a.

We would.

Did the patio even during the winter time.

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

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

I got a tab there.

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

You know, I'm a mogul around here.

I'm a mogul.

We make it.

We make.

And we make a money moves around here.

Fam.

Starting to double it up.

I think the funny thing is, I think.

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

They didn't even fight.

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

But it was great reps.

I learned how to host.

I learned how to run a show.

I mean, it's absolutely.

Every comic should host a show at least once.

Just at least.

So you learn the other side of this game.

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

Can I go up early?

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

Or when am I going up?

When am I going up?

And like, it's.

It's show up, go up.

It's annoying.

All that is annoying.

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

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

They're doing the Lord's work.

You can make money work, like running a show.

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

It's.

They don't all.

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

So for the love of exposure.

Oh, I went up.

I did a.

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

And the open mic was over.

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

I was just feening for it.

Really, really ruined the brand with that one.

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

This is just so funny.

Oh, okay.

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

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

Oh, okay.

So basically, is it better?

How many times?

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

Or 300.

Wait, 100 a year?

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

I mean, definitely 300 a year.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

If you can do more, right?

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

Right?

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

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

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

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

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

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

So that's what I'm gonna do.

And then I can do two on a separate day.

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

Yeah.

The more you can perform, the better.

That's really what it comes down to.

Numbers game.

It is a numbers game.

Yeah, that's the.

Yeah, that's.

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

Get on stage.

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

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

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

She asks first time hosting advice.

Just have fun.

Yes, I'd probably say probably.

The big thing with hosting is.

First.

Of all, get there early.

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

That always is helpful.

Get there before any of the comics get there.

Make sure you check in with the venue.

Ask them if they need anything.

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

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

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

That's an important factor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

That's your goal.

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

Yeah, you want to be calm.

You don't want to be rushed and jittery.

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

Who's there, who's walking in.

Yeah, connect with the venue.

The venue.

You're basically co workers.

Like, the venue is like your co worker.

You want to be working together on this show.

So, yeah, that's a.

That's a great point there.

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

Just read their names.

Yeah, don't.

If it's like.

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

Be like, all right, cool.

What would you like me to say?

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

Absolutely.

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

I was just about to say that.

Yeah, like, just skip it.

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

Do not take a break in between that energy.

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

Just move the show along as quickly as possible.

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

And if you're spending.

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

So just be precious about.

And be conscious about the time in between sets.

For sure.

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

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

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

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

But yeah, keep it.

We don't.

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

Host lining.

Host liner.

That's liner.

Host liner.

You don't go between each comment liner.

That is not something you want to be at all.

No, no, no.

So which I would never do.

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

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

Or you learn the rules before you break them.

Oh, of course, of course.

Yeah, yeah.

And then you.

You learn things that are associated with certain comics.

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

And then I'm recognizing.

Oh, that's what hostlining is.

Yes.

See, I'm just leading by example.

And here's what not to do, kids.

That's the key.

Here's what.

I wouldn't.

I wouldn't do that anymore.

I want to get out of there.

I want to go home.

What you mean?

Oh, my God.

My.

My favorite stuff that you said.

We came out just to get back in.

That's.

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

That's my new.

I love that joke.

That's such a great line.

Dude, I love that joke.

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

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

Let's get back.

We don't want to go out and about.

Let's, you know, let's.

Let's have a game plan here.

Jeopardy's on.

Jeopardy is on.

That's so fun.

So good, but so true.

Yeah, I got.

I.

That's my, my audience.

It's.

I like older rich people.

Now.

That's really.

Yeah.

Welcome to the club, baby.

I love it.

I love it.

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

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

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

Amen.

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

But we're talking to comics who do not.

Most are like, what?

Yeah, what is that a new cryptocurrency?

Is that a new.

It's a retirement fund, baby.

And the final question here from Adam.

Sorry, I just cut you off.

I'm sorry.

No.

So remember Corey K.

He says my crowd has spent their 401k.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, that's hilarious.

But, yeah.

The final question here from Adam vale.

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

Any suggestions?

Nah.

I mean, here's the thing.

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

Right.

Here's.

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

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

Let me see what I'm doing.

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

Use that time wisely.

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

Like, it's just.

It's an infuriating thing.

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

It's like, what are we doing?

What you're not working on crowd work.

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

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

That's the point of the open mic.

So now I sound like an old grandpa.

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

Yeah, it's.

It's very true.

Sometimes, sometimes open mics are Interesting.

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

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

Like three minutes.

Show up with a game plan.

What do you want?

That's your three minutes.

Yes.

You left the house.

And imagine.

Imagine you've been working.

Yeah.

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

Or you watch somebody else.

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

Did you just spend your time just roasting the bartender?

For what?

Yeah.

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

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It can be frustrating to watch.

Yep.

Have a game plan.

Have a set list.

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

Make the most of that time.

You.

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

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

Yeah.

And just.

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

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

Not to brag.

I know, I know.

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

Yeah, I used to wear a tie to work.

Yeah.

I used to wash cars in a tie.

I was rolling in it.

Yeah.

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

Yeah.

Like, it's still accountability.

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

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

Yeah.

I'll.

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

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

Say them, record them, repeat them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yeah.

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

In that mindset.

Yep.

Working on comedy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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

Like, I.

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

It's, like, inspiring.

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

And it's not.

I'm not Instagram strolling.

I'm literally writing.

Yeah, yeah, that's another good.

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

Oh, well, let's.

Let's land this plane here.

That was a man.

That was a good one.

Yeah.

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

Yeah, Tell us.

Your pants every Tuesday, 5pm Eastern time.

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

Bow, do you have anything you want to.

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

Wow.

Thank you for hanging out.

Yeah.

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

It's awesome.

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

It's in the burbs.

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

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

Yeah.

Pull up, Pull up, baby.

Yeah, Yeah.

I went to some weekend shows.

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

So the Helium things in it.

Yeah, about the helium.

Oh, yeah.

Dude, it's so nice.

It is, like, so nice.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

It's like it's next level.

It's like.

It's like.

It's got a.

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

You know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It was cool.

I went.

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

They were about that life.

Yeah, yeah.

They were in the Hot Breath.

It was very cool to see.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So I got that Thursday and then I'm.

I'll be.

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

Oh, my God, baby.

Yeah, that's gonna be fun.

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

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

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

Adam Mueller, baby.

Yeah.

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

Yeah, you got shows coming up.

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

They got canceled.

But guess what didn't get canceled?

That deposit.

That's why you do a deposit, kids.

It's exactly why you do a deposit.

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

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

Because this is.

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

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

You know what, what's funny?

I had a corporate gig Thursday where.

Yeah, we'll get you the deposit.

I followed up.

Sorry.

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

I follow up.

Oh, you know what?

We had a sponsor fall through.

We're gonna have to cancel.

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

This is a busy time.

Yeah, Book.

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

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

Absolutely.

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

It's.

It'll get done.

But.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

The check's usually clear.

Yes, absolutely.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Anybody.

That's part of the game.

Anybody can get it and anybody can cancel on you.

So, yeah, it's always important.

Get them contracts and get them deposits when you can.

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

You just gotta protect yourself.

50.

I do a 50% deposit.

Absolutely.

Is what I do.

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

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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

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

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

Any advice?

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

Right.

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

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

I know some people in the heart bre.

And in the comedy community, they do both.

I've got a friend up in Brazil.

She's a.

Sorry.

In Canada, she's Brazilian.

She does comedy in French, Portuguese, and English.

Just do it all.

If you got that skill set.

I mean, Stefan.

Stefan Dyer.

Yeah.

Dyer does it in both languages.

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

Yeah.

Like, don't.

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

Just do it in both if possible.

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

Exactamundo.

So let's land the plane.

Hot breath verse.

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

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

Yeah.

Let'S get out of here.

I got.

I gotta go treat this heartburn.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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

Bye, y'all.

Bye.