Hey, comedy fam.

We're back.

Welcome to Hot Breath, your weekly comedy tune up.

This is the weekly show we host here with comedians Joel Byers and Yoshi.

So.

And we have some very exciting updates for you today.

This is week two back since we took our little hiatus of I did a little paternity leave, Yoshi did some soul searching and we decided we're gonna keep doing this.

So now that we've done the soul searching.

Yeah, let's keep it.

Yeah, we used to.

We live streamed this for a long time.

We're gonna get back into the live streams, we promise.

But in the meantime, in between time, we want to at least stay connected with you and help continue to answer your comedy questions, share what we're learning out on our journey as full time comedians as well.

And we have a lot of exciting things to get into today in that sphere for sure.

Let's go.

Some of it involves a comedian we mentioned last week.

So a little teaser there for you, comedy fan.

But as always, if you do want to get weekly updates on comedy tips and the show and all of that, I would say join our Facebook group, really, where we do daily joke writing contests and people are asking questions and sharing feedback and all sorts of fun, positive, supportive community of comedians which we are all about here.

So that'll be linked in the show notes.

But really, Yoshi and I did some show together this weekend.

Yoshi traveled to California.

I fulfilled my lifelong dream of doing a show in the morning.

Let's go.

You gotta put some air horns for that, baby.

How about a loud clap?

That works.

That works.

Yeah, absolutely.

A lifelong dream of mine as a comedian, I was always wanted to do noon shows.

I want to do shows at noon.

I don't want to be out late now, especially with a kid.

I don't.

I want to just keep doing shows earlier and earlier until I don't even have to do them.

And I think that is the goal.

That'll be when I know I've made it, when I stop it.

I think that is what I know.

No, it's great.

But I did a senior citizen center @ not noon, 10:45 in the morning.

Let's go, baby.

10:45 in the morning.

And when I tell you they were ready to rock, I mean, this started right on time.

Right on time.

Maybe even a minute early.

Like they were chomping at the bit.

And this was like their My Funny Valentine event is what they called it.

And I'm basically just standing in, for lack of a better term, like a Cafeteria with a bunch of old people.

Yep.

And it went great.

It went great.

Did 45 minutes.

I booked this.

For anyone curious.

They just found me on Google.

I really set up my website to, you know, I'm a clean comedian.

So I just, I'm going all in on clean.

And anyone looking for clean or thinking clean comedy, I want them to think Joel Byers.

So my website is positioned that way.

When people search clean comedy, I want them to be able to find me.

So they just found me just through I guess, googling clean comedians or something.

I can't remember what specifically I did ask her what, how she found me.

That's always important.

When you do book a show randomly, especially something like this, you want to make sure you learn one how they found you.

So that'll help you to maybe double down on that marketing strategy and also getting a referral to someone else they may know that would like this event.

So there's other senior citizen centers that I reached out to them today actually as a follow up, thank you email about any referrals and for them to also leave a review on my, my business page as well.

But that's the, that's the, the stiff business side of it.

But I know some people out there like to learn, well, how do you even book something like this?

And that's basically it.

They found me on Google and had a credible website that was worth seeing.

Like, oh, we would give him our money.

And it felt, the show felt like I was like babysitting for an hour.

Like the staff was just standing in the back of the room just loving that they weren't having to put up with any of like from the jump, people were heckling.

There was one lady on her phone, she was filming the audience.

I thought she was like playing a game or whatever, but she was literally just filming the audience.

She was just sitting on the side kind of where I was.

It was kind of in like a half horseshoe, I would say.

And it, but it was all fun.

Like I had fun with it and you know.

Yeah.

And I feel like you thrive in those kind of environments.

Yes.

Yeah.

You seem to like, I don't want to say, like it's not like when it's tough, but it's like when things aren't going right.

I feel like your best kind of comedy comes out because you become very, very present.

Yeah.

So it was.

Yeah, I can imagine that.

I could see that happening with that set.

And I need something, I need something to like go wrong or I need a surprise to kind of Shake me out of this.

Like, okay, here I am doing comedy now.

Like, getting that robotic mode.

Like, that's why whenever I do a show and, like, they asked me what song.

Like, if they play music, they're like, what song do you want?

I.

Yeah, unless they make me tell them one.

Because sometimes you're like, no, I need to know.

But, like, I just want to be a surprise.

I need some sort of surprise to kind of, like you said, put me in the moment and just being able to react and connect instead of being in my material mode, which I can become robotic and have to catch myself.

Myself doing that a lot of times if I'm not being present.

So them basically immediately, like, yelling out when I get up there.

I was like, okay, cool.

Okay, we can just kind of.

And it was a wireless mic, so I could.

You know, you can kind of go in and out and move around.

So, yeah, that.

That.

That helps too.

In those kind of settings, we can go out and kind of touch the people.

So, yeah, I mean, several.

One lady fell asleep, and I had to.

I called a nurse.

I was scared.

And then they said, this lady literally falls asleep everywhere.

That's what they said.

She.

They go.

She falls.

They weren't even concerned.

I was like.

I, like, walked up to her.

I was like, ma'am, are you okay?

And then one lady was like, oh, she always does that.

She's just asleep, like, in the middle of the show.

But it wasn't till the end that I noticed it, I guess.

So it was kind of a good way to, like, close of, like, oh, I guess it's everyone's nap time, so I better get out of here.

It was.

They were a lot of fun, though.

It really was.

Like, if it was fun.

And I guess I didn't know what to expect, but it kind of did feel like I was performing and, like, a high school and having to basically just manage these children.

And the staff was paying me basically just to hold their attention so they could get some rest.

In the best way, though, like, the show was set up great.

The lady that booked me gave me an amazing intro.

She had, like, a slide up on the screen behind me of like, he's done this and that.

Like, it was all very well done and set up for success.

You just never know with some of these events what you're getting into, and that's why it's so important.

And you and I walked into an event we didn't know we're getting into that we'll also talk about today.

That went it went, the show went well, but the setup was to be less desirable.

Well, yeah, we'll, we'll get into that in a minute, but this will set up great.

And I think it's important for anyone when you're doing events like this especially is making sure you, you can't ask too many questions.

You can't make sure.

Like when someone says they have sound, make sure, okay, what is the sound?

Because like, I did a corporate event last year where they're like, yeah, we have sound, don't worry about it.

And it's me talking to a karaoke machine by the buffet.

So when I say like, you know, wireless mic, you can go out and like kind of interact with the crowd some, especially in those kind of shows, you, you know, you pull out all the tricks.

But I'm just tethered to this like five foot microphone that's at like a karaoke machine that's lighting up every time I say something, you know, and I didn't get all the details of the show ahead of time.

And that's, These are, these are how you learn those lessons.

But you want to make sure you get all the details ahead of time.

So I was very thorough with this lady and we talked on the phone.

That's another important, another important thing you want to do is talk to the clients on the phone because things get lost in translation.

And I, you know, I learned that the hard way this year.

I think I missed out on an event just because we're going back and forth in email instead of just getting on the phone, which these are things I say out loud to remind myself of as well, that just get on the phone with them.

All this back and forth email, over a week or two or three, you can get it all done in one call and you set a rapport.

So, you know, I learned that lesson this year like, like last week, but that's how we learned.

So the show was amazing.

The old people were like, it was like performing for teenagers.

They were so much fun.

I think my favorite heckle was a lady.

All of your dreams and desires of doing it.

Dude, being done before noon was even better.

Being done before noon was like a dream come true.

I was just floating out of there, like, oh man, I can take a nap.

I've already worked today.

It felt so good, dude.

Like, it was, it was the Valentine gift that I needed, which is, honey, I gotta go to work.

10:45, I'll be back by noon.

It's just blessings.

Yeah.

So honestly, it was everything I wanted and I look forward to doing more.

I, I, these early shows.

I'm really, I think there's something to them.

I want to do more of them.

Yeah.

I think the only, I was gonna say the heckle that stood out to me the most was a lady told me because I got off, I got off on some tan.

Somehow I got off talking about some, talking about baby stuff a lot right now.

And they were loving it, you know, and hit love hearing about grandkids and all that, you know, so they were, I was kind of riffing a lot on that and I got into somehow like baby farts and how they're full size, like they're adult farts, you know, it's.

I did not expect that.

So somehow got off on that tangent of my quote clean show.

So that was good.

But one lady yelled out, you need to Alexa your farts.

That's what she yelled out.

That was her helpful hint.

You need to Alexa your farts.

A grown woman attached to an oxygen machine.

Oh, my God.

Yelling, you gotta Alexa your farts.

But it was funny.

It was all good fun.

Oh, that is so good.

And fart humor can be clean, kids.

If you do it, if you do it the right way and don't get graphic, it still falls in the clean in the right context.

They were into it.

They were into it all.

So, yeah, it was a lot of fun.

That's.

Yeah.

And that was at 10:45 in the morning.

And then you and I did that show that night and you were, it was like a last minute fill in the comic that was gonna do it.

Apparently their flight or something.

It, all the details I got ahead of time.

I was like, I need to call him back up.

That I was like, I need, I need a teammate in this because I don't know what I'm walking into, but I know Yoshi and I can turn it into content.

So I was like, we.

And it was, it was another My Funny Valentine event.

And it was just one happening at night.

It was in the PM instead of AM which was.

But.

Yeah, no, that's.

It was, it was, it was good.

I mean, just definitely like a setup was.

I mean, just like I've been to many of shows where setup was like that.

Definitely the building was a government building, which is not something I've, that was a first for me.

I don't know if it was for you to perform at a courthouse.

Yeah, it was like a.

Yeah, it was the government's courthouse.

Yeah, it was interesting.

And I think even, like, I think even when it started.

Somebody else was already doing time right there.

Yeah, there was a guy who had never done comedy before, and he goes up.

Great guy.

He worked.

He worked for the government.

He, like, worked for the city.

So they were like, oh, yeah.

The city was putting the event together, so I guess they were like, sure.

But basically, before they serve dinner, this guy goes up and does 15 minutes.

He's never done comedy before.

And we were talking beforehand.

His name was Kelly.

Super nice guy.

Like an old.

Like an older guy, maybe in his 50s or 60s.

He'd always want to do comedy.

And he's like, well, I just got married, so I can probably talk about that for 50, 15 minutes.

I'm just like, we'll see.

And to his credit, he didn't do bad.

No, he got laughs.

He got laughs for that setup especially.

Yeah.

Like, the odds were stacked against him, for sure.

But he did well.

And, yeah, basically, he did time, and then they served dinner, and then you and I did our time.

So it was kind of.

They just put him up in the middle of this event.

We're like, all right, go for it, Kelly.

For sure.

And he did well.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I was happy for him.

It was a big, big step.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was.

Yeah, it was a fun show.

Like, definitely, like.

I mean, I would say probably the only, like, feedback I had was just being conscious of, like, the microphone, but outside of that, I still felt pretty good about it.

It was just like, you know, they.

I think.

I think it also helps.

We thought we knew what we were getting into, and then it changed throughout the night.

We were like.

We thought it was one thing.

We thought it was an event for the city.

It's just an event that the city puts on.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like, it wasn't employees.

It wasn't, like, a group.

It was just people that just bought tickets to a comedy show.

Yeah.

At the city's courthouse.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

And that's what I.

Because Kelly was an employee of the city, So I was like, oh, he's performing for his peers.

And then after the set, it was clarified that, no, he didn't know any of those people.

And I was like, bro, that's even more bold, those people.

Yeah, yeah.

He's like, comedy stage.

I've never done it before.

Let me just ask the question.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

He was in a suit.

Yeah, he.

He went all out.

It was funny.

But, yeah, it was.

It was just kind of a random comedy show for Valentine's Day that the city had been putting on for like, three years, I think she said.

Yeah.

My only big thing was just there was a dance floor in the middle of the stage.

I mean, in the middle of the room.

So one that had stage, they had sound, they had lighting, so they had a lot of the accoutrements of a good show.

But the setup was a dance floor in the middle and then tables on each side of the dance floor.

So there's just like a big chasm right in the middle of the show.

And that's tough because you're basically having to perform for two different audiences.

And one side was getting way more laughs than the other side.

Yeah.

Way more into it.

Yeah.

But, you know, people laugh differently at different shows.

And I think when.

If all those people were together, I think they all would have been laughing super loudly.

But I think, like, one side, they were a little more maybe conservative or a little more reserved.

So they all kind of sit.

Set that barometer.

That was the temperature of that side.

They were still having fun, but they just weren't as, like, loud about it.

The other side was much more.

So them together, it would have become like a super show, really, for sure.

But as a performer, you could hear the difference.

Yes.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You could hear the difference.

And because there's this giant, gaping dance.

I mean, it's huge.

It was huge gap.

Yeah.

So, yeah, I think.

I mean.

I think just being up there, I mean, you called it out.

And I called it out, too, because I was getting on a roll.

And then I'm just recognizing, like, these people are so into this role that I'm getting into, and then I'm not hearing as much from this side.

Like, you could hear them laughs.

They just didn't laugh as loud.

Even some of the guys afterwards were like, oh, we were laughing.

We were laughing.

We were definitely laughing.

It was great.

I was like, oh, you guys could have done it more audibly, for sure.

That would have been great.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I think that's important.

Sometimes comics, I mean, especially younger comics, and I know I was guilty of this for years, but if they're not laughing as loud as you want them to, as a desperate junkie comedian, and you want a hundred decibels every time you say a word, it's important to not demean the crowd or make them feel like they're doing something wrong or.

Because, like you said, they were laughing.

So we were able to comment on it and make light of it, but not like, oh, what's wrong with you?

Or like, what happened to this Crowd or like, this crowd's awesome, you guys suck and things like that.

That's just a trap.

Yes.

It's an easy trap to fall into.

Yeah.

And I think, I think that's where our, you know, I don't want to call it veteranism, but, like, I think that's where our veteran mindset goes, is not to poop on the side that's not laughing.

Yeah.

Because we recognize they were laughing this crap.

I mean, I think just the people that were there, either they were drinking a little bit more or they just connected with the material a little bit more.

I think even we talked to them afterwards, they're like, oh, my God, Joel, when you said something about the new baby, it was a couple that just had a new baby.

Yeah.

So they were just into it.

They're like, oh, my God, I can relate to all of that.

So they're just cackling at this where the other side just.

They didn't have a new baby, so that it just didn't hit them as hard.

They thought.

Still thought it was funny, but it just didn't hit and resonate with them.

Where the people that just had a new baby, they were like, almost like fallen over about.

We're talking about.

So, yeah, it's, It's.

It's wise not to demean the audience and just pivot to just highlighting.

Right.

Because I think you said something about this side.

This.

This.

This side is doing that.

And then I mentioned, oh, I just want to take this side everywhere I go, because this is just entertaining.

I.

I'd love to have you guys everywhere, like, you know, I mean, and actually help me jump into another piece of material as well about some crowds that just weren't great.

Because I think, I think I then talked about.

I haven't performed in front of a strip club before, and that was a jump off is because of the actual two separate kinds of laughs that I was getting.

And it sets a bad vibe for the show if you do.

Dude.

I mean, I think maybe I mentioned this last week when I did a show and the host.

I did a show last week or two weeks ago, and the host was clearly just mining for clips the whole time he started the show.

Like.

Yeah, like, clearly he was just going.

He wasn't even.

Like we talk about with hosting.

Welcome, people, introduce yourself, set expectations for the show.

Like, just create a connection with the audience.

He just goes up there.

Oh, yeah, I did.

Because I kept saying he or she.

I remember now it was a he.

Next week I'll say his Name?

No.

But, yeah, he was just mining for clips the whole time.

And then almost.

And it wasn't going great, really, because it's like a weird way to start the show.

And then, like, he kind of demeaned the audience and, like, what's wrong with y'all?

Or what?

Like, and it kind of set a weird environment, and then the next comedian goes up, and they kind of had that same energy of like, oh, this is weird.

What's going on with y'all?

Like, these people who left their homes, paid to sit at a comedy show and laugh.

And then even for me, I was.

And then I went up third.

I was very mindful to not have that energy.

But even at the end of my set, I was about to close and then saw some lady on her phone, and I like, it just, like, it rubbed off on me.

And I called her out about, like, oh, you don't like my set?

Or whatever.

And I kind of ended my set on that energy.

So I was kind of.

I was.

It was a.

Another good lesson and reminder of, like, no, just do the show.

These people came here to laugh, and I did that my whole set.

And in the end, just that energy, I was just absorbing being in the room, like, just kind of rubbed off on me at the very end of my set.

And I was a little.

A little disappointed.

I let that get the best of me.

It happens to all of us, but it's something to be mindful of that it's just.

It's a.

It's a contagion in a comedy show.

You don't want to be there.

Yeah.

And I also think it's also, like, important to not take what you are feeling sometimes, like, from the audience as the truth if you're not hearing all of the laughs.

I recognize even at that show, there were moments where I was like, okay, I don't know whether they're not resonating with it or it wasn't, like, popping.

And then at the end, they were like, people come up and said, oh, I love that joke.

And I was like, that's the joke.

I didn't hear, like, a lot of laughs from.

But to your point, they just laugh differently.

It wasn't like a, you know, sustained for, like, four seconds, which is what we all want, but it was just, huh.

That was great.

And then they reset kind of thing.

Yeah.

So, yeah.

I mean, even if you're not getting belly laughs, the laughs that you are getting are still significant and are important.

But just make sure they are laughs, though.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But that's all part of just, yeah, being on stage and developing that stage presence and confidence to be able to be in the moment and to be able to decipher and kind of analyze laughs in real time and get a temperature, engage the room.

You know, these are all just things you learn from being on stage a lot, but habits to form.

Now when you are doing an open mic where it is 15 comics and a barista and you could easily just phone it in to treat those shows as if they are like real sold out shows and start to build that muscle and that mindset.

So when you do get on the real shows, it's just, it's just second nature.

You don't have to turn on or turn off anything because that's just who you are as a performer now.

But it takes discipline and repetition to really hone it in.

It's something we still have to remind ourselves of.

But the show was a lot of fun and great networking.

You know, got to connect with the lady and be like, hey, I think we could work together in the future on this and help you make this an even bigger success.

Because she said that was.

They'd done the show for three years, she said that's the most laughs they've ever gotten.

Oh, wow.

And.

And at that for like their event, she's like, yeah, that's the most laughs we've ever had.

And I was like, you know, we do this, I mean, we can just help you produce and all you have to do is put it together and we'll make sure the comedy side of things is taken care of.

So, yeah, hopefully that'll lead to something.

You never know.

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, we got a lead for another lady who maybe wanted to book us for something.

So you just never.

That's why you always want to perform up.

Even if it's five people, you never know that one person may be looking to book, you know, a birthday party or a corporate event or just, just want to become your fan.

So never phone it in.

Never phone it in.

Yeah.

And that takes time and repetition.

But starting with that intention will certainly help for sure for it to become second nature.

Yeah, yeah.

It was just a great.

It was a good show.

Like at the end of the day, just.

Yep, yep.

I was trying to think.

Yeah.

And we told them.

Well, we didn't tell them this was booked through like an agency.

There are a few, like comedian agencies that'll book you, get on like a list and they'll send out a bunch of events kind of daily or Weekly that you can kind of pitch yourself for.

So that's kind of how I booked this.

And it was.

It was booked like the night before.

And that's why I was just like, yoshi, I need your.

I don't know what we're walking into, but it'll be better if I have a.

If I have a friend to walk into this together, just in case.

You never know.

And in all honesty, like, at the end of the day, they put on a really good show.

Yes.

Like, meals, and they were on time.

And the person who was hosting it was just like, we didn't even host the show.

Right.

So.

Which was something that we're used to doing.

Right, right.

They handled the hosting of the show, and she had great stage presence and just like, you know, move the show along.

And that is also so important is to have someone that, you know is like, oh, yeah, no, no, we got this.

We can figure all of this stuff out.

And you don't.

And you just.

We kind of just showed up and we were the entertainment.

But they treated us so well.

Right.

And it was just like, oh, yeah, we got this.

We'll take care of this.

Put us inside of a room.

Here's your green room.

If you need anything, let us know.

So it's.

I mean, like, all those things are, like, super important.

But it was great show overall.

Absolutely.

It was in a courthouse outside of Atlanta, which is just the first.

It's just the first.

There's just for sure.

So funny.

You know, I know I walked in and I thought, for sure I had to go through some metal detectors, but I think they moved them for the evening.

Surprised they didn't still make you go through one.

Surprised it's the safest you've ever felt in the courthouse, I bet.

Yeah.

I mean, in that county, I think it's more like you coming through there, for sure.

Oh, for sure.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

They're like, oh, we've seen your kind.

We've seen.

But yeah, overall, yeah, great, awesome show, for sure.

Yeah, it was good.

It was very good.

And then, like, literally the next day, you went to California.

Yeah.

To do a show.

I mean, this is a crazy comedy weekend.

Yeah, yeah.

Do a show in Paso Robles, California, which is a winery out there called Cass Wineries.

And man, I tell you, this place was top notch.

Just they had everything set up for success.

Jim Gallagher, who lives out in San Diego, and.

Jim Gallagher, you said?

Yeah, Jim Gallagher.

Nice.

Very funny.

We met at the World Series of Comedy.

We've been connecting over the years he was going to bring me out for another show but we just couldn't make it happen.

And so he had this one.

He's like, hey, can you come out?

It worked out because I have family and so I didn't have to worry about at least like the hotel part of this.

And they put us up for the evening as well, so.

Amen.

So all of it was just kind of set up for success.

Right.

So you know, I always look at the logistics and the financials and this was yeah, so much better than me doing something in town at a show because I did get offered to do something in town.

I was like, nah, this one is just a much better, much better financial.

So went out to the show, used my in laws car to drive down there.

It was like a three hour drive from the city.

There was no cell service but luckily he sent instructions on how to get there.

Like it is in the mountains.

In the mountains.

That's awesome.

Yeah, no cell service and dude, this place had like 200 maybe to 225 people packed out in this barrel winery looking thing and man it was lit like just crowd was into it.

They came for comedy.

They've done a couple of these before and yeah, like we tore the roof off.

It was a very good show.

Fun show.

Greatly run, greatly produced.

And the audience was like amazing as well.

Yeah, I've done, I've done a few shows out in like wine country over there with there's like a company called Laugh Seller.

The lady that runs is Lisa Pidge and I mean all of her shows are sold out money.

Oh, I love performing for rich people.

You know that's my demo.

No, that's my, I'm all, I'm all about that this year.

I love performing for rich people because rich people love being made fun of.

Oh my God.

Yes.

And their laughs are just, ah, they laugh.

It's.

Dude, it's fun to make fun of rich people in front of them.

I'm gonna go on a tangent real quick.

I have a joke, I did a country club maybe like a month ago in town and I have this joke about an HOA joke.

And the like the punchline of the joke is that this lady bought this other lady's house.

Dude, I did that joke at this country club.

They didn't laugh and I was like, oh, you guys would do that, wouldn't you?

And the room just exploded.

I was like, why are you not laughing?

I get laughs all the time on this joke.

And I said, oh, you guys would do that.

And they're like, ah, yeah, we would.

We would buy that other person's house.

That's so funny, dude.

I was like, oh, my God.

Context is everything.

Never have I ever done that joke at a place where they could actually do it.

Right.

Like, the average home in that place was like 2.1 million.

I was like, oh, y'all live a little differently out here.

Yeah.

And the.

The vibe out there and like, on the west coast and, like, wine country, it's like, more laid back.

It's very.

It's like old money.

It's just like, yeah, yeah, chill.

Yeah, it is.

I mean, still conservative.

It was still pretty much a clean show, but I dropped a couple, like, curse words.

But it was still like, PG13ish.

But they were, like, just into it, and it was just great all around.

Lots of comments afterwards.

But, yeah, it was a solid show.

And that you booked through just networking.

You know, through networking.

Like, absolutely, yeah.

Just a straight up networking.

Yeah.

Me and Jim, we've been doing World Series for a couple years now.

We always hang out afterwards.

We literally met at a show that.

We were both on together at World Series of Comedy.

At World Series of Comedy.

Yeah.

It's the best festival for networking.

Like, it's just all work there.

Yeah.

All.

Like, there's so many people that I met and so many shows that I've gotten through that.

And then also I think on Friday, I think after our show, I went to go see the homie A.J.

wilkerson at the Helium Comedy Club.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Crushed as usual.

Met him at the World Series as well.

He was like, yoshi, what's up?

Oh, yeah.

Met him when he was living in a van still.

Yeah, when he was living in the van.

Doing the World Series here before he.

Blew up on Social.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Absolutely.

So, yeah, you just never know, man.

That's why the mantra, be nice, be funny.

Boom.

Be nice, be funny.

So what did you do Saturday, buddy?

Well, you know, speaking of networking, something really cool came across my desk.

What?

What?

Something just based on my years of networking, and I got to work with Matt Rife this weekend.

Let's go.

Let's go.

And.

Boom.

The guy we mentioned last week who cleared 60 miles in ticket sales.

But he's.

He's someone.

And I'm actually working with him tonight and this Saturday, and I'm actually performing on his show tonight.

Let's go.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys.

I'm so great.

Let's go, baby.

But it's all.

It's all really thanks to networking and being nice and being funny.

I mean, Matt and I first met years and years ago when we were the only two white guys doing like the hood rooms here in Atlanta.

So we connected then and just kind of kept in touch whenever we saw each other or whatnot.

We were always cool, you know.

And then when he came through Atlanta last, this was literally.

He had just popped, but was doing a comedy club here in Atlanta.

Yeah.

And his opener was actually also a fan of the podcast Alex Kuro, who I had met out on the road in New Orleans a few years prior to that.

But long story short, we got to hang out after and I got to meet his video, Matt's videographer, Kyle, who's known as the clip cowboy on Instagram.

But he worked.

He's worked with everyone.

Like he's the video guy in the comedy game.

And now he's Matt's full time guy.

Yep.

So I got to meet him backstage.

So we kept in touch as well.

And then Kyle was looking for a videographer to help film.

Matt's just to say they're calling these pop up shows.

He's selling out three theaters.

Just a pop up theater show.

You know, he was talking before the show with his.

His opener, Paul Elia, who they've been friends forever and they just dropped a comedy special together actually called Low Key.

But he was talking before the show about his open mics are now theaters where he's like.

He was like workshopping jokes before the show and he's like, I have to go out and try this in front of like 1100 people.

Yeah.

But basically I got to film.

I got to help film his show.

Awesome, man.

And Matt didn't know I was the guy that Kyle had hired.

So when we connected backstage, he's like, oh, you've got to perform on the next show.

So that'll be tonight.

So I'll keep everyone updated on how this show goes and the one upcoming, one Saturday as well.

Yeah.

Insane.

And the biggest, you know, I'm always learning and always asking questions.

And I got to really kick it with Kyle.

And as we were setting up the cameras and all that around the theater, I think it was like four cameras.

I think he had four cameras set up.

And I was just doing the one that's like tracking.

This thing looks like a bazooka, dude.

I'll have to take a photo tonight.

This camera is insane.

The lens is insane.

But I think.

I think next week I'll be able to do more of a lens, dude.

The lens had Legs, it was like arms.

Had a whole body, had a tail.

It was just an appendage.

Oh, I've got to get a photo of this thing.

It's like the first thing I noticed when I walked in the room.

I was like, is that legal?

What are we doing here?

Is that a kid on the camera?

You just put a child on the camera, dude.

It was insane.

But I'm all the way in the back of the room and this thing is like tight on Matt in like super age, like 4K.

Like you know, the cat it was in quality was insane.

But it's kind of the angle he used a lot of his clips for because it's that tight angle.

But what I think next week I'll have a lot more takeaways just from working with him three times and just being around him a lot more.

But a huge thing, a takeaway just from working with him this time.

Well, I mean, number one, I mean Matt is like the nicest person you'd ever meet and he always has been.

And it's, it's insane that he, you know, I mean clearly no one has to be nice.

But someone at his level, like we're saying the second highest grossing comedian in the world last year, just as nice as he's ever been.

His whole team was super nice as well.

And I was, Kyle and I were talking and he was like, yeah, we've basically been working together non stop for three years and like there's never been like an argument or there's never been a thing where he kind of.

Because Kyle knows a lot.

We were talking about some bigger name comedians who.

He was like, you'd be surprised like how they kind of have treated their team and stuff.

But he was saying Matt has never been like that.

And the craziest thing I would say I picked up on from this was that Matt still edits his clips.

Like he, he, he does the first pass.

Say it for the people in the back.

Matt rife the $60 million man.

Yeah.

Still edits his own clips.

So for, for me saying, oh, I want to post more, I want to do.

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

And what's even funny, I was telling Kyle about my show at, at the retirement center and he's like, did you film it?

And I was like, no.

And he's like, ah.

He's like, that's the, he's like, that's the game, man.

He's like, he's like, that's the kind of stuff that people would love.

Yeah.

So you know, that's, that's my own.

That's my cross to bear.

Yeah, but yeah, Matt's still.

He still does the first pass on his clips.

Like he'll cut it all together for timing and all of that.

And then Kyle goes back in and adds the captions and the multiple camera angles and stuff like that.

But Matt is still the one deciding and like touching every single clip.

He puts out billions and billions and billions of views.

Yeah.

Millions and millions and millions of dollars.

He's still that hands on with it.

So that was the big thing for me of me even like with this podcast thinking, oh my gosh, there's so many interviews that would be great clips X, Y and Z.

It's like, well, I mean do it.

I mean.

What do you mean?

Yeah, because I've probably been saying that.

I mean maybe two years, maybe three years, maybe forever.

Yeah.

I should be.

I could be.

This would be.

Yeah.

But hearing that Matt Rife still edits all his clips, it's like, what are we.

What excuse do we have?

You know what I mean?

Like, yeah, yeah, there's.

Yeah, there's no excuse.

That was just very inspiring one just how nice he is, but also just that, I mean he's still that hands on man.

Still hands on it.

Yeah, I'll.

I'll have a lot more, I think insights and takeaways.

We can do like a more overview of it.

But that was just something that happened all because of networking years and years ago when, when we met, we were just both nice, both funny, just like just being good people and that'll get you a long way in this game.

And then it all comes full circle over 10 years later type deal.

So that's a big testament to just being nice, being funny and just continuing to get better.

And these opportunities will kind of present themselves when you're ready for them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, that's awesome.

Yeah, I'm excited for you, dude.

So excited.

That's so freaking awesome.

Yeah, I'm excited just to do the show tonight.

I, I just, I'm just gonna do the hits.

I'm gonna be up there.

I'm not even.

I'm gonna go into the bag on this one.

I'm not gonna try to do anything fancy.

Yep.

Just do what I can.

This will probably be the second biggest.

The biggest audience I performed for was a church that was 1500 people.

Nice then I think the theater tonight is 7.

I don't know what it is.

Tonight it's gonna be up there is one of the bigger shows I've ever done.

So, yeah, it's gonna play the hits.

Yeah.

Oh, of course.

We all give them the goods.

Yeah.

But that just showed like the comfort level because like Paul, his opener and this run in Atlanta, like Paul was up there, we were talking after the show and he was trying jokes he thought of like last week, you know, so that just to open the show.

So I mean, that just kind of shows the, the comfort level and experience level of like, oh, I've done many of these shows in front of this many people.

I'll.

I can try some things, but I'm just like, I'm just gonna go up there and just play the hits and then we'll just get out of there, you know, so for sure.

But yeah, good people.

All thanks to just networking over the years.

So I think, wow.

It's been a big takeaway of the podcast and so many interviews is like, everyone has said most of your opportunities are going to come from other comedians.

It's not going to be from an agent or a manager, the vast majority from just the network you build over the years.

Absolutely, absolutely.

And then the reality is like, those people also remember you.

And it's not like, it's not like he was planning on putting you up.

He just saw you and was like, Joe Byers.

Yeah, I know you won't.

You just do kind of thing.

Right.

That just comes from just, oh, you've been putting in the work.

You're getting seen.

Not that you can just like rely on that and be like, all right, I'm just try to be nice to everybody.

And then hopefully one of them sees me and then boom.

But it doesn't hurt.

Like, you just never know who's going to be who.

You never know.

You never ever know.

Yeah.

Some poker you were rude to at an open mic may be running the biggest show in the city in three years.

And they'll never forget.

Never forget.

Yes.

That you were rude to them three years ago.

That's for sure.

For sure.

Yeah.

We all got a list.

I think it's just natural.

Just be like, nah, nah, that's not gonna happen.

But yeah, that's awesome, man.

I'm excited to see like, like the second part of this in terms of like what you learned from the shoots, how the show goes and like what else you see from a big time comedian who's in town filming a movie but has decided, let me just do pop up shows because this is my jug of choice kind of thing.

Right.

He said he's doing 14 hour days, like, and then he's still doing these shows, so, I mean, killer.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's insane.

Yeah.

So, yeah, that'll be a fun update next week.

I just.

We're talking about networking and it's like.

Yeah, you just never know where it'll.

Where it'll lead you.

Absolutely.

That's awesome, dude, because I'm excited to continue to learn more behind the scenes too, because we're all media companies now.

We're all having to film our sets and figure out clips and whatnot.

So to be able to work also hands on with, I mean, essentially the Matt rife of that world.

I was just jazzed about that.

Yeah, I would have done it for free, you know, So, I mean, so to get paid to do it, I mean, I mean, you know, if you insist, but I mean, it's insane.

Yeah.

You're putting on the table, of course.

Yeah.

Well, I'll have.

Yeah, I'll definitely go into more detail next week.

But it.

Yeah, just.

Yeah, you know, look at that level.

Make sure you record the show.

I know.

I felt like I let like, like let down a parent when he was like, did you film it?

And I was like, no.

He's like, ah.

It's like that Stab, who's like, yeah, yeah.

I just told him I had filmed so many other shows.

I never even, like, edited that.

I was like, I'm not gonna film anything else until I edit those.

He's like, yeah, but those are the ones.

Yeah.

When you're in a weird environment like that and me getting heckled and playing with the crowd, like, for sure, I could see that.

But yeah, it's all hindsight, so.

All hindsight.

We learning.

We figuring it out, baby.

We're learning.

That's why we like doing this every week, to share what we're learning in real time, you know?

Absolutely.

That's awesome.

So, yeah, that was a lot of.

A lot of, a lot of comedy this weekend.

We had big comedy weekend, so.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I hope you all did as well.

We love hearing from y'all.

I got some great messages last week about the show and then also just comics reaching out saying how helpful everything is and celebrating their wins.

So we're really excited about that and you guys can really keep up with us.

In the Facebook group is probably the easiest way, I would say.

The email list, I just haven't gotten back into it yet.

So I am excited about getting back into the email list and doing more in depth stuff there.

But for the meantime, in between time, I'd say the Facebook group is the best way for us all to stay connected.

And some people did join the wait list.

I talked last week about me doing like a six week clean comedy class.

And I will link the wait list in the show notes of this episode as well.

And I'm planning to start that in March, so I'll probably limit it to just a handful of spots.

So if you want to kind of apply to it, you can click the link in the show notes.

But otherwise, I mean, Yoshi, do you have anything you want to promote or anything?

This was a good one.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm trying to think if I've got stuff this week, you know, since we out here on a weekly basis.

But definitely, yeah, reach out to us on social media.

We love hearing from y'all.

We love connect.

Like we talk about networking, we love connecting with the hot breath verse.

That's why we do it for the community and comics helping comics.

So please don't hesitate to reach out to us on social media.

Share the show as well.

We're kind of.

We're all in this together.

We're all making this happen together.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

I don't have anything this weekend.

Actually.

This is a more family filled weekend because my kids have like soccer games and all kinds of stuff.

Yeah, that's the balance.

One week is super busy, the next.

You kind of got to balance it out with.

Yeah, that's the name of the game, my friend.

Yeah.

And the class is going good.

Yeah.

You're still doing the one at Helium Comedy Club, which is incredible.

We're about to dive deep and set up these five minute sets and start like just diving in.

So the first two weeks was mostly just about like writing how to just get ideas out.

And so did lots of prompts, lots of just, you know, getting them into their authentic voices.

So super excited.

I mean, like, honestly, last week just felt magical from a classroom perspective because they just got like super into it.

And like the last exercise I did was just, just give me like two minutes and just talk about anything.

Just for two minutes straight.

Just talk about anything.

It doesn't matter what it is, it doesn't have to be funny.

And we just were able to mine a lot of details, data about them and like where they went to as soon as you ask somebody to talk for like two minutes.

And it was just great.

Like good just to get that stuff.

Out and in their voice too.

Like their voice.

That's.

Yeah, that's the key when you take a class.

Like I, I think that was my favorite feedback because you you took my class years ago as well.

Speaking of networking.

Yeah.

And that was my favorite feedback from audience members at the grad show is that, like, everyone sounded like themselves.

Some classes, they graduate sounding like the teacher.

I mean, a lot of classes, that happens.

And yeah, it's, that's the, that's the key.

That's the key to taking a class is you come out in your voice.

So I'm loving to hearing you stealing everything you learned from me and applying it to them.

No, I'm, I'm literally kidding.

I'm totally kidding.

No, I mean, I'm not gonna.

The class years ago, it's completely different.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, but also, like, I think that's the other key.

I mean, I'll be honest when I tell people this, that, like, I've taken things from so many different classes.

I'm a connoisseur of this game.

Yeah.

Still take classes.

I took a class last year to get up a new, A new five minute set.

Probably take another class this year to do it.

It's great accountability.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, it's like, oh, I pay money.

I'm gonna get something out of it for sure.

I have someone who can be accountable for me and make sure that I do it every single week.

Oh, it's great for like, new material.

I actually know somebody in the class who's doing that to write new clean material as well, which I think is just a smart move.

But yeah, I think just learning so many different styles and sharing that because I don't have like my own methodology.

It's like just a combination of stuff that I've learned from everyone that I've taken class from every workshop, done all the virtual stuff that I've done.

Your class stuff that we've seen on the podcast, stuff that people talk about in the podcast.

I've been like, oh, that's a gym.

I want to use that to teach classes.

And I do.

And so, like, it's been great.

So, yeah.

Excited for you, man.

That's at Helium.

That's like the top club in the Heliums of the best clubs in the country.

So that's a big deal.

Dude.

I'm, I'm such a big fan of their system.

Big fan of the club.

And they've been giving your boys some opportunities to shine and I'm not going to let them down.

I love it.

Let it go.

Because this is just a.

It's just a good spot, good people.

The, the staff is freaking nice.

Green room has a PlayStation in it.

I mean, there's like just.

It's so nice.

It's like, oh.

I was like, every time I walk in a place, I'm like, I don't think we deserve this, but it is nice to have.

We deserve it.

We deserve it.

I like to be there.

Thursday with Mike Godwin, actually.

Oh, baby.

So, yeah.

Hell yeah.

Actually, now that we mentioned that.

Yeah.

Yay.

Yay.

Babies bringing blessings.

So.

Should have done this years ago.

Yeah.

But yeah.

Thank you to everyone that reached out celebrating the birth of my child as well.

It's been amazing.

Yeah.

And the jokes, the new kid jokes.

Great, dude.

Oh, thank you.

I'm excited about them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Very.

I'm really.

And the fact that that couple came up after and was talking about how relatable they are, you know, that's the.

That's when you know you're finding some jokes to keep digging.

When someone comes up after and is like quoting specific things you talked about, that's when you know you're getting into topics that run deeper than just people laughing.

That makes your material memorable.

So really be mindful of that.

When people come up after and like, quote a joke of yours, and they may be.

They haven't yet.

Maybe it'll be in a year or whatever, but whenever it does start happening, just know, oh, I need to start going more in that direction because that's when you start to create that memorable material that people connect with and want to become a fan.

Fan of yours with.

Absolutely.

Y.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Rich.

Yeah, that's the.

That's the key, man.

We just out here doing stuff, making things happen, working the network, working the system, working within our means, but also just working hard, man.

This is not an easy game.

Comedy has ups and downs.

This weekend was obviously up, right?

Like, just a lot of stuff, but, man, some of them weekends, you got nothing going on.

Yeah.

And I mean, it's.

You know, I missed out on a well paying gig last week and I was kind of down about it and it was like that gig I referenced, I was like.

We just kept going back and forth in email and then they were like, we're just gonna go with a different option.

Like, I just.

I should have just jumped on a call and ironed out all the details and just, boom, would have been done.

And it was a very well paying gig and I was disappointed in myself and down about it.

And then boom, all of a sudden, you know, sitting with Matt Rife two days later.

So it's.

Yeah.

Comedy is just.

It is such a roller coaster, dude.

And it's It's.

That's why it's.

Just let him.

Comedy dads use you.

There are so many.

Yeah.

Another comes by.

That's.

That's just how it is.

Right?

Like, yeah, I was.

I actually had a show on Friday before you called me, and it slipped out and they didn't have the show anymore.

And then you just called.

I was like, yeah, that's so weird.

I am open.

I'm so free right about now.

I'm so glad you were, too.

Oh, my gosh.

Yeah.

So it's.

Yeah.

That's why the.

This community is so important just to you have a supportive group for the highs and the lows, because they're at every level.

I mean, you know, I've interviewed comics 30 years in the game, and they're still figuring things out.

There's still highs and lows.

They're still like, I don't know, or, why did this happen?

Or it's like, it's at every level that there's those moments of highs and lows and insecurities and doubts, and that's why it's so important to have such a positive community like this just to help be there for you so you realize you're not alone in this game because it's.

It's a marathon.

Yes, it is.

That's why we do it, baby.

But, yeah, man, I'm excited about the show tonight, dude.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'll let everyone know how it goes.

I'll get a picture of that camera, too.

That bazooka.

Insane.

But, yeah.

And I'll have more updates on next week's episode, but very exciting.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm glad we.

Before we started recording, I was like, should we even.

It's week two.

And I was like, should we just not?

But I'm always glad we do.

So, yeah, it's kind of like working out.

No one enjoys it, but at the end of it, you're like, I'm glad we did that.

Feel better after.

Yeah, feel great after.

So we appreciate you hanging out.

Hot breath, verse.

Hope you have a great comedy week out there.

Go join the wait list for that clean comedy class I'm doing in March.

And feel free to reach out to us on social media with any questions or just share the show.

Just.

We're all in this together, right, Yoshi?

We are, baby.

Let's go.

We'll see y'all next Monday.

Hop, breath, the verse.

Bye.

Dabbing on him, dabbing on him.

Dab, dab.