I get asked a lot ‘Should I start my own show’. I assume I’m asked this since I’ve run so many fricken shows, past and present.

I used to say ‘Yeah, you get more stage time.’ then I started saying ‘No, it drives you crazy’. Now I don’t even have an answer. Because the art of producing is a tricky one.

I get asked for spots all the time. By phone, email, on the street while I’m trying to go see my sick grandmother. ALL THE TIME. One time as I was getting off stage at a club show, where I didn’t do well and was obviously agitated(because everyone kept saying ‘dude, what’s wrong, it’ll be okay) the host soon as he got of stage was like ‘Great Job, you run that Brooklyn comedy thing right? I wanna get up.’

Not. The. Time.

People think that I’m a dick. ‘Elon doesn’t book me.’ Does it matter I haven’t seen you perform? Does it matter that I have seen you perform and you tanked? Does it matter that I book months in advance a lot of times and you KEEP bothering me and now frankly, I don’t want to deal with you? No, of course not. I’m a dick. Its starting to get to me. Because people are really starting to identify me as a producer and I hate that.

I am NOT a producer.

I’m a comic who desperately wants stage time. I’m not a fan of barking (although i do it for my own shows EVERY WEEK) and I’m not a fan of bringing. So once these 2 lovely ways to get stage time are eliminated, what is a comic to do? You produce.

But then why don’t I just throw everyone and anyone up? If I just want stage time so why do I care who goes up?

Because If I’m going to continue to have stage time i.e. continue having a venue, I need shows that are good. I’ve learned that producing comedy is a crap shoot. Sometimes it hits, sometimes it doesn’t. So what you have to do, what your absolute bottom line needs to be, is that the show itself is good. When a show is good, that means the staff and maybe a regular or 2 who are there when your audience is not, recognizes the show is good and they speak highly of it. A lot of times venues will roll with you just because they know the show is of quality. if you don’t have people AND your show sucks, then your in trouble.

Argh.

Also, lets not forget the producer idea that ‘Most times if you produce you suck.‘ I hear it all the time, and I’ll admit, I see evidence of it quite frequently around town. I know a few producers who want to trade spots with me and I just wont do it.

Actually, as of this day, I have yet to trade spots. Never. Ever. Ever.

Yes. I am stupid. I’ve been told by more than a few pro’s “That’s the point of producing”

I don’t like owing anyone a spot. Especially if you aren’t good.

But when I first started producing I just wanted to get up. I didn’t know a lot of people and I just wanted stage time. And, fact is, I grew a lot. Getting up multiple times a week every week does a number to you. Especially when you’re doing weekly shows at neighborhood bars or venues. that means you get repeats. That means you have to write new stuff or you will die.
Die screaming.

I have died screaming.

I mean one time, i got lit by my neighborhood bar. Like the WHOLE bar. Everyone picked up candles and started lighting me. But I got better; I also got a thick skin. Heckler? Whatever. 3 people in the crowd? So? Lets do it. I’m not some comic genius, but now a days there’s very little that throws me (except another comic fucking up a show. that’s UNACCEPTABLE)

I may not kill but I’m at least entertain and I’m professional.

I say all this and still haven’t answered a key question. Is it better to produce? I still don’t know. But I’m in too deep now. I got people who don’t like me, and me not producing wouldn’t change that. I’d just be a non-producing comic who doesn’t get up much.

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