Matt Smeltzer

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But always goes back to like remembering to enjoy what we're doing.
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100% of it that could be the theme of this whole interview.
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Honestly, it really could be.
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I have an amazing comedian with me, uh, comedian Pastor Matt or Matt Smelter.
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Uh it's good to see you.
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Thanks for joining us from Rochester, New York, right?
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That's where we're from.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Okay.
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Very cool.
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Yeah.
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So we're we're talking uh cross country right now.
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And uh this is our first time meeting in person.
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We've had some email interactions and some social media interactions, and we're actually on a show together here in Nashville at Zany's in October, which we'll talk about a little bit more later.
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This is the Clean Comedy Chats.
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Uh, what we do each week is we interview a different comedian who's part of the Clean Comedy Collective, uh, which is a virtual network.
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Uh, and we can now, Matt, we can actually say we're an international network.
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Uh we do have one comedian from Switzerland uh who's part of I hope to get him on the podcast eventually.
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It was very funny because I remember when I saw that you know I had an entry from Switzerland and I went to look into it.
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Uh, I was like, oh, yeah, what's someone from Switzerland look like, or whatever?
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Uh definitely just like looks like like the frat boy bro, dude, like hilarious, very cool, but like, but now uh in my brain, every guy from Switzerland looks is is is a frat boy.
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Um and I don't that's probably not accurate, but um but yeah, this podcast we we interview a different uh comedian every week from the Clean Comedy Collective, and uh we always encourage people to check out our website, cleancomedycollective.com.
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Uh Matt's in the New York section, I'm in the Tennessee section.
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Uh we have but we have comedians from all across the country, maybe someone really close to you, and it might be a great way to discover your new favorite comedian, or check out uh our earlier episodes.
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Uh, we've we've interviewed comedians from all across the country, and I believe this is episode 23 or 24 now.
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So we're still we're still going strong.
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We bring a different comedian every week.
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So uh, but thank you all for listening.
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Uh super excited about Matt is a uh he is a comedian, uh obviously because he's on this podcast.
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He is a cartoonist, uh, he is a actor, uh, he is uh he is a producer, show producer, and talk about some of the shows he produces.
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And uh, as you might uh know already from the episode title, he is he is a pastor, he's pastor Matt.
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So yeah, yeah, spinning a bunch of different plates.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So um, do you have a plate that's like your favorite or that feels the most normal for you?
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Like doing all those things.
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I don't know if it's like you're in certain moods and certain things, or if there's one thing that just really like um yeah, man.
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I I I think it's more like kind of like a a kid mentality where it's just I'm enjoying it all, like a playground, and um the the worlds collide very often, you know.
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So I mean it's there's there's wonderful aspects of all of it for sure.
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But but I I love it mostly w when there's overlap and it just all all just works together.
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Yeah, talk to me a little bit about um because this is a shared experience.
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I'd love to hear from you.
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Um what a pastor and comedian.
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And so how do your how do your church people feel about you being a pastor?
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Do they come to your shows?
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Do they love do they love having a pastor that's like a comedian?
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Do you do jokes on stage?
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Like what tell me about the combination.
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And and yeah, yeah.
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Well do they ever the other part of it too?
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Yeah.
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No, I'll I'll take a couple of those.
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So um, so yeah, they they've they're very supportive.
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I I love them so much.
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It's it's Grace Covenant Church in Rochester, New York.
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If anyone is uh driving by and wants to check it out.
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Um, but they're such a great church family, and some of them have come to the shows.
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And I think I think there's a huge trust aspect that they know that you know when I'm doing a sermon, I'm not trying to be a clown or anything like that, right?
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So um, but sometimes just who you are, it'll just come out, right?
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So, you're right.
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I mean you just just being authentic, just being authentic.
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But but no, I I never plan on on telling any jokes when I'm doing a sermon.
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Um, but very often it's just just being authentic, you know.
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And um so but but they've come to shows, they they love it, they know who I am.
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So, you know, I I think one of the the ways I operate, and it fits really good with the clean comedy collective, is you know, I always operate clean.
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So it doesn't matter who comes in.
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Um I'm never having like a gulp moment where it's like like bride.
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Yeah, that's good.
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Because like any of your shows and they won't be shocked by the pastor saying whatever the pastor's saying, yeah.
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So right, right.
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They they can trust me.
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That's cool, that's good.
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And that and that also makes you, as a comedian, very marketable.
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The just the there's something to be said about uh this I'm gonna say like this is a safe comedian to put on the show.
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They'll they'll be funny, but they also won't say something that you know runs people off or whatever.
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So for sure, for sure.
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So well, and that that answered one of the questions I was about to ask, which was like, Do you, you know, do you only work clean?
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Uh it sounds like you do, like you only Yeah, yeah.
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It's it's a rule that I have.
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Like I want to be, and it's just my own personal integrity.
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I want to be comfortable with whoever walks in the door.
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So, you know, even if my wife brought the kids or like whoever, it's just you know, I I I I don't want somebody to see a side that's not really authentic to me.
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So yeah.
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And that's so important to learn like to be like with the material that we make that that we're okay with it.
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Because at the end of the day, yeah, you're gonna you're the one that has to live with it and say those jokes every time, right?
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Like, so for sure, for sure.
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So yeah, and I I feel I oh I'm sorry, go ahead.
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Oh, and I was gonna say it's also easier, it's it's easier to be me than trying to fake it, right?
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Oh, absolutely, yeah.
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And that's the most being being your using your authentic voice is a really important as a comedian.
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A lot, I know like, and and maybe you you get this from people when talking about do because you work clean and stuff like that, and a lot of people um will come up to you like, oh, I could never, I could never do clean.
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And I'm like, that's okay, you don't have to.
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Now you are also uh you are also a show producer.
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Uh I see I see you post a lot of shows.
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I you actually had one maybe this past weekend, uh, and there were like several clean comedy collective comedians on it, and then I saw pictures of it.
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What was that?
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Tell me about that show.
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So that was um in a town called Victor, New York.
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So it was at Forte Studios, um, and it was a whole clean comedy collective set.
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So um Michael Salt, he was uh he was the headliner, and and Johnny B and myself uh were the other feature acts, and it was it was amazing, great show, really good turnout.
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And uh I I always gauge the night just by by the laughter, right?
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So and it was laughter all night, so it was cool.
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It was really cool.
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Yeah, that that's awesome.
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And like I I only know the three of y'all through like a little bit of interaction, but I was like, man, that seems like that seems like a fun lineup, and that's isn't that so much fun when like you're on a great lineup with like friends where it kind of feels like you're just hanging out and there happens to be an audience around, right?
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Well, Johnny B is right in my area, so so we'll collaborate a lot.
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But this was our first time working with Michael, and he and he he's hilarious.
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So I I would encourage people to go check him out on the comedy collective New York section too.
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But um, but yeah, you know, just check out check out Michael and Johnny B.
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Both are both are very funny.
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I love that.
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And uh everyone who's listening, you can go to our site, cleancomedycollective.com, you can go to New York, and then you can see the the we have little cards for each comedian, almost like I in my brain, it's like baseball cards for each comedian, and then when then when you hover over it, it switches, and then you can go straight to their website and learn more about them that way, which is awesome.
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Um, now, but you you produce a lot of fundraiser shows, right?
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Um, yeah, yeah.
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I mean, that's really where my heart is at.
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You know, in some ways, I I find it it's almost like a win-win, right?
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Right, because it's like you mean you people are coming, it's for a great cause, and um, you know, already you have the win of supporting something that you believe in.
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So I I I I run a homeless shelter, so I've done some shows for that.
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Just a lot of different ones.
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Um, but but yeah, I I I gravitate towards that.
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It's um, and you know, and sometimes I get a little extra boost of passion when I'm coming up with um all the work that it takes to produce a show, but when it's for a cause that I really believe in, you know, there's like a little extra motivation.
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I love that.
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I love when I get to do a fundraiser show or show for a good cause or like a charity, because you're right, in addition to, I mean, any comedian when they're performing, it's like, well, you get to help these people have a great time and a cool experience of fun, give them, but then there's also the additive, oh, and like the work we're doing is helping this cause, and that's just an added, yeah.
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So that you you can't beat that.
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Um, I'm impressed with your fundraiser shows.
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I'm gonna use the because the we're on one, uh, we're we're on one in October 27th at Zany.
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I think it's October 27th, yeah.
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Yep, yeah.
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At Zany's, uh, it's a fundraiser show for the uh Nash Nashville Rescue Mission.
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Yeah, and and I'm really impressed that like like you got one going at like our top comedy club, like and not just Nashville's top comedy club, but Zany's is the top in the South, right?
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And so, and I I see a lot, um, I see a lot of cool places that you run shows.
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So I'm interested in the process of like, like, how do you go about like creating such a big event?
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They don't just let anyone, you know, like start a show there, as well.
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They shouldn't, by the way.
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But like, so I didn't I was I that was something I was interested.
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Like, man, he's he's not just doing fundraiser shows, he's doing at fundraiser shows at like comedy clubs, and I think yeah, yeah, I think that that's cool, and that's something worth talking about.
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Like, I don't know if you had uh oh no, sure, sure.
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I I think I'm trying to there's not an exact formula, uh, I think it's um caring for all of the parties.
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So, you know, first it's you know talking to the the group that we're fundraising for, so the the rescue mission, is this something you'd be interested in?
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And usually that's a no-brainer, like you know, so so so they they they were good with it, but approaching Zanies, I I think the the mindset was is there like a night where you know maybe it's a little bit slower, you know, where it wouldn't conflict.
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So so on this particular one, I I chose um we landed on a Tuesday.
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It's Tuesday, October 27th.
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Um, it's in the lab.
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And um and I think another thing we started planning it months and months ahead so that we can anticipate selling it out.
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Um right, so it so I guess just making it good for all of the parties, yeah, right?
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So it's not just calling them up where where the interest is just on me, right?
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You know, right that's that's a good way to look at it.
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Whenever we're doing something like producing a show, make sure everybody's winning.
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Um sure, yeah, yeah.
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So yo, and it's such a cool lineup.
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I mean, I think we're I was just about to say that.
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Yeah, we mentioned that.
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This lineup is really cool.
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Yeah, uh, it's Rick Roberts is headlining.
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No, no, no, he's he's featuring and then Brian Bates is headlining, right?
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Yeah, I mean all of them are are gonna be doing about like 40 minutes, yeah.
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You know, okay, so yeah, they um I'm so excited about the show, and um, and by and so by the way, people listening from Nashville, October 27th, go ahead and get your tickets now.
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It's gonna be a great show, it's gonna be a lot of fun.
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Uh but what's super fun, what's super fun for me is uh so way back, I mean, probably like a decade ago, maybe more.
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Um, I took Rick Roberts like comedy classes.
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Like I did two out of three of them.
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I uh I was young enough at the time I was like, I don't need to do the business class in hindsight.
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I should have done the business class, but um, but I did the I did the writing and and then I did the performing class.
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Um, and I remember uh Brian Bates was uh kind of always there, and I think he like helped out with the class, but like I think he probably is also there to to learn as well, just kind of you know help out in areas.
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But I mean him and Recon friends were friends, and and so are great guys.
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Just I'm yeah, I'm so excited to uh because yeah, they're kind of staples in the Nashville comedy scene.
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And so uh it's fun for me because they have been um you know instrumental to my own comedy development, uh literally taking classes or just you know, watching or talking, and so so like yeah, it's it'll be a cool show.
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Like uh I'm I'm just hosting, but I'm excited to be around, you know.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Well, I'm also a graduate of Rick Roberts, so yeah, so so when I first got it into comedy, um I I took all his classes.
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I mean, I I yeah I started absorbing just classes, but Rick's was he's so um like methodical with like just the stuff that he teaches.
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If anyone because I think he saved a lot of his um podcasts, you know.
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Yep, there's I think it's called School of Laughs.
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I think it's an amazing resource, it really is.
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But but I I got his whole curriculum and I I took all his classes and uh but him and Brian are just amazing, they're they're really just great individuals.
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I mean, they're also outstanding comedians, but just great individuals, very cool guys, which those are exactly the guys like like this is the kind of show for them.
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They they you know they're the good cause and they they're they'll be funny and it's great.
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Um, I I remember my favorite random piece of knowledge that I learned in Rick Roberts class.
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Uh, we're talking about different uh different kinds of jokes, and so we got to put talking about puns and and how puns are the lowest form of humor, and how like when you laugh at a pun, you you involuntarily kind of like sigh and like get like your chest gets down because it's almost like you're ashamed that you just laughed at it.
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And so so the trick that Rick Roberts would tell us was so the trick in your when you're organizing your routine, do a pun and then follow it with one of your most heavy-hitting jokes because people are like down, like they're like I it's hard to explain, but like you're you're breathing wise, you're down, and you have to literally work harder to get that big laugh.
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And he's like, And if a room full of people does that, that's what creates the belly laugh effect, and so like it'll get a bigger laugh in the room, and then especially like in a little comedy club, you know, there people are laughing, and the club owners like back, you know, handling ticket sales or whatever, accounting or whatever.
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Uh he's gonna hear all these like laughs, and he's like, Man, I should really book that guy again.
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Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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It was like such a it was like the science of laughing, and I was like, That's super helpful, right?
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You know, well, I mean he's he's a master, you know, like he really is.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So yeah, so you produce shows, you're a pastor.
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You also I got a show.
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I got a show coming this Friday in Rochester.
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It's at uh Focus Theater.
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Um, I organize um a clean comedy contest.
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Oh, cool.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So it's uh 13 comedians, each one has uh four minute spots.
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Um, and uh it's great.
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And so and some of these comedians they don't always work clean, but they they're excited about it and they're yeah, they're gonna try it out, and it's you know, they they see it as a challenge and it's gonna be cool.
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I love that.
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I love creating space for not usually clean comedians to work clean if they want to.
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Uh I because I I teach as well, um, and I always encourage all comics.
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Hey, get yourself at least 10 at the very least, get yourself 10 to 15 minutes of clean material.
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Uh and I love love and natural when we run open clean open mics and we encourage the the not clean comics to come and try, come and learn.
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And uh, and I think it's so important.
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And you know, a four-minute set is a great space to because a lot for a lot of comedians who are like, Oh, I could never do clean.
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I sometimes push back.
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I'm like, I bet you, yeah, obviously that you probably have some jokes that aren't clean jokes, and don't do those for like a clean set, but like I bet you a lot of your stuff could be clean, you know.
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Well, 100% everyone on this lineup is hilarious, so it's like it's like, man, I know you got four minutes of clean in it for sure.
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So, how are they gonna um is it like an audience vote?
00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.159
Do you have judges?
00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.840
Are you gonna are you gonna just pick the winner?
00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.759
Like, how how do you how do you win the contest?
00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:36.639
It's gonna be um based on on audience, yeah.
00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:54.080
So I I have a scorecard, and uh so uh there's a guy that's gonna be doing a guest spot, um like a like a 15-minute spot while I'm counting up the votes, but um but it's gonna be tallied uh based on the audience and a deduction if they go over the four minutes, and that's good.
00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.480
And a deduction if it's not clean.
00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.159
Oh, that's good.
00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.360
It's win-win.
00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:08.640
I mean, like they're gonna be having a good time, and um it's a hundred dollars cash prize, but yeah, you know, the the Rochester comedy scene is so supportive.
00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:16.000
I mean, we're we're everyone on the lineup, we're all friends, and uh, you know, we we all we all want to see each other succeed.
00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:18.720
So I really love the Rochester comedy scene.
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.920
Yeah, that's awesome.
00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:23.680
Yeah, do you do you all have a uh nearby club?
00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.279
Are there are there many clubs around you?
00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.759
Yeah, yeah.
00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.200
So I think local like bars and stuff, or sure, sure.
00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:33.119
The the the main club is is the Carlson comedy at the Carlson.
00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.279
That that's the main one around here.
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:41.440
Um close to us in Buffalo is Helium, but uh Carlson is the big one.
00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.960
And uh very cool.
00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.400
Yeah, and those guys are great.
00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:51.759
You know, Brian Bates, uh, he came in uh in April, and then we did two shows there, sold out both shows.
00:17:52.000 --> 00:18:10.480
So that yeah, that no now that I think of this is random, but I I literally I did I was on a show with Brian last Monday at Zany's, and he had mentioned knowing he was mentioning knowing you and medium comedians from the clean comedy collective, and and so you must have been talking it must have been talking about the show any because we were also like, Oh, yeah, we're on that show in October with him too.
00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.319
So I completely forgot about that.
00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.279
That was just a few days.
00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.279
It's been it's been a long week already Wednesday.
00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:19.119
I'm forgetting what was going on on Monday, but like I saw the line above that show.
00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.400
That looked like a really cool show.
00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.000
Oh, it was so much fun.
00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:33.680
It was uh so so, of course, of course, the way that the the so um for anyone listening, uh especially in the Nashville area, every Monday uh at the lab, Zanys has a a Natel, they call it the Nat Land show.
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.680
It's a it's a clean comedy showcase.
00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:43.680
Um, and what's really cool about it is you can you can kind of assume that you're gonna see a couple in our area bigger clean comedians.
00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:48.720
So, like right off the bat on that show, John Christ opened it up and Brian Bates closed it out, right?
00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:52.720
So, like they're already like already that's that's I don't I don't think it's an expensive show.
00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.400
I think it's like five dollar tickets or whatever, but like that's already worth it right there, right?
00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.599
For sure, for sure.
00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:29.519
But but what was super fun for me was uh the whole lineup was just friends of mine, people also aside from uh the like people that are also in the clean comedy collective, and um, and everyone had everyone a good set, but it was like it was a cool hang in the green room, like people were so yeah, so it was um I left just thinking like, man, that was I I I think I even I I might have said I I alluded to this earlier, but it felt like I was just hanging out with my friends, and then like there was an audience there too, and we took turns out.
00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:29.920
I love it.
00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.240
I love it.
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.960
Yeah, so so a little plug, I'm gonna be doing that before our show.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:38.960
So I I'm on uh Monday, the 26th of October.
00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.480
I'll be doing okay, very cool.
00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:42.160
So yeah, literally the night before.
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.519
So um, that is awesome.
00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.640
You will have so much fun.
00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:51.279
Um, I've done that that showcase a few different times, and it's always the audience um is always into it.
00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:56.799
Uh the the you know it's a very low-key, low pressure kind of thing.
00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.640
So um enjoy it.
00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:04.079
So I'll I'll it I don't know what I I don't know right now what I'm doing on October 26th, but I'll try to make it if I can.
00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:09.279
So right, either way, but uh yeah, yeah, I'm excited to be there.
00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:18.640
And my my first time in Nashville, but it's and you know what's cool is there's several people from Rochester that they said, uh man, I always wanted to come to Nashville, they're planning trips to be there.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:21.200
Oh, that's so cool! That's awesome.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.559
That's great.
00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.599
Um, I love that.
00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:30.319
So, and then you you do a couple non-comedy related, uh but still very creative fields.
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.480
Uh, so talking about like acting, and we're also talking about being a cartoonist.
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.039
Um, so uh talk to me a little bit about those.
00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:43.599
Those are and I'm um I'd love to hear a little bit more about acting, but like I you are the first, I think you're the first cartoonist we've had on this podcast.
00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.559
So I've done and maybe the first cartoonist I've ever talked to.
00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.480
Like, so I'd I'd love to hear more about that too.
00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.039
Sure.
00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.079
So cartooning was probably my first love.
00:20:52.240 --> 00:21:02.079
I mean, but that's actually what helped me get into comedy because you know, with cartooning, you're like always writing gags and you know, just trying to put a twist on something so you have the surprise.
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:12.880
But I used to work at an animation studio called Animatus Studio here in Rochester, so we would do commercials and special effects for low budget films and things like that.
00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:25.519
Um, but I've been teaching cartooning and doing you know freelance comic strips and character design just for about 30 something years, um, and teaching classes, but so so yeah, that was always like a first love.
00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:42.480
Um, and I think honestly, between doing that and being a pastor, that's where I saw the almost like um a permission to try to do stand-up because being a pastor, you're in front of people all the time.
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:47.119
So I I didn't have that inhibition like like a stage fright, right?
00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:56.400
So it was like I I was already good with with that aspect, and then the writing gags, I I I could kind of feel like these puzzle pieces coming together.
00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:58.400
So and you know what?
00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.759
Honestly, I think my age.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:09.279
Age has given me some some uh an element of success because I'm not trying to live for anyone's approval.
00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:09.759
Right.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:21.839
That is listen, I I can speak to that personally about like when I started comedy in my early 20s, there was so much just trying to get everyone to like me, whether it was the audience, the other comedians, at times myself, like just this.
00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.839
This is it was such a motivating factor.
00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:32.400
And I've seen just even you know, once you get to your 30s, and as you get close, like for me, closer to the 40s, yeah, the older you get, the less that kind of stuff bothers you.
00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.359
So it is a gift, right?
00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.519
Right.
00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:37.599
Like, like I always want to work with excellence.
00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:46.079
I'm I'm writing every day and practicing, but at the end of the day, it's like, you know, you know, if you don't like me, then like whatever.
00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:59.200
You know, so yeah, yeah, and so like the the acting, you know, so so that's been, you know, I've I've done I did a commercial for Comedy Central back in the 90s.
00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:05.599
Um uh and uh I did some I I was I played Satan on a Christian film.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.559
Oh, nice.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:10.400
That that's gonna be an interesting thing to tell your friends.
00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:16.960
Yeah, were you also a pastor at the time where you could say actually I was I was a youth pastor at the time.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.319
That makes more sense then you get a lot.
00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.920
That that was a cool role.
00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.680
I mean, I I was glad when it was over.
00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.039
Yeah, oh I'm still here.
00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.400
I accidentally turned off my video.
00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.960
Sorry about that.
00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:27.599
Yeah, yeah.
00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.519
Uh you know, because giving it the character, I was glad when that role was over.
00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:38.880
Um, but uh, but no, just but but it was uh it was good, man.
00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:44.720
You know, and I'm trying to think of you know any any other ones, but you know, doing skits with people and things like that.
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.759
It's always been something I always enjoyed, you know, for sure.
00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.039
You know, yeah.
00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:54.000
And I love that it sounds like you are good at having fun, right?
00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:58.400
Like all these roles here, I can hear that you enjoyed it, like, or this was a cool thing about it.
00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:05.279
Uh, and I know for entertainment, for comedy, for probably for any any realm of creativity, the importance of just enjoying yourself.
00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.319
Oh my goodness.
00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:11.519
Yeah, so yeah, like like if if I'm not if I'm not having fun, then why am I doing this?
00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.480
Right?
00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:22.160
That's right, you know, and I mean, especially if you start calculating the amount of hours that you're putting in to performing, but also writing and practicing and doing stuff like that.
00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:25.680
It's like if this isn't fun, I don't want to, I don't want to do it at all.
00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.559
Right, you know, it's not it's a lot of the struggle, yeah.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:35.680
No, and I think uh and this might be where some of that um my faith component comes in as a pastor.
00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:40.319
Like I think it's so special to help people laugh and have fun, right?
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:50.559
So, like, like even before I go into a show, a lot of people that know me in the area, like they know that I'll say like a little prayer just to to help me help me bring joy to some people.
00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:55.920
Like, like because I I I often think there's some people out there, they're just having a hard day.
00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:58.319
You know, you know, I mean just having a hard time.
00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:02.480
And if you can make them smile or laugh, then it's like job done, man.
00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.319
I did good.
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:10.160
It is it is so like, yeah, they're laughing is so healing or so healthy.
00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:20.640
And you know, you know, as a as a pastor, oftentimes we will come to you and uh your words or listening to them is a way that you can help heal and help them and stuff like that.
00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:24.960
Um but sometimes we don't need words, we don't need someone to listen to it, yes.
00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:29.680
But like what we need is to sit down and just laugh and have a good time, you know.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:38.000
And so they it's like a mental, like a little mental vacation, you know, like absolutely like you got you got me away from the problems that I was facing for a little while.
00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:41.839
Actually, I'll I'll I'll uh put a little uh kudos your way.
00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.880
I'll give you some flowers.
00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:50.160
So I I keep a journal of just really uh I guess intrical things that I that that help me.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:55.599
And you you said something in an interview, I think a couple weeks ago that I I put in my journal.
00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:01.359
And you said, yeah, you you said uh is the juice worth the squeeze?
00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:08.480
And and I thought it was so cool because it's like it's talking about like is this effort really worth the output?
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.200
Right?
00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:13.519
So if the output's not fun, then I don't want to do it, right?
00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.799
Yeah, absolutely.
00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:33.279
And that was I um man, I don't know, I don't remember the context of what I said that, but like I do feel like sometimes with uh I there was a point where like I was really pushing hard full-time entertainment, and I kind of that the question was like, is it really worth all of what I'm all the stress and the struggle and stuff like that?
00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:41.680
Uh and for me, I was like, I'm gonna step back a little bit and then it's gonna be more fun, and I've seen that to be true a little bit, so I think that's important.
00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.720
Um, and thank you for that.
00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.200
That's cool.
00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:48.000
Um, I I'm glad I'm glad something I say here makes sound.
00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:54.319
Well, you know, it it it was a really cool statement, but I think it's also it's indicative of my approach.
00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:57.680
Like, I'm always trying to just uh I don't know, man.
00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.200
It's like it's like just absorbing.
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:05.519
Like I just I just I love this um this this comedy journey so much.
00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:07.440
Like like it's just an obsession.
00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:12.720
So yeah, it's it's and the it's just it's like a like the uh rabbit hole.
00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.400
The more you get into it, the more that there's there.
00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.440
It's so fantastic.
00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:19.440
So um I let me talk to you a little bit about your comedy journey.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:21.359
And here's the first question I have about that.
00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:25.519
Um because I'm I'm relating to my own experience.
00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:28.480
I'm wondering if you've had a similar experience, and it's totally okay if you haven't.
00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:36.319
Um, but um I feel like when I look back to when I started doing comedy, and I was a I was a youth pastor at the time as well.
00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:43.599
Uh, doing comedy and every all the like everything I learned through stand-up comedy ended up helping me be a better pastor.
00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:52.079
Uh not and I'm not even I'm not even talking about like uh preaching and adding jokes and knowing and you know that kind of stuff, uh just being naturally funny.
00:27:52.160 --> 00:28:00.720
I'm talking about uh through the process of comedy, for me, it helped me be more accepting and more tolerant and more loving, just more understanding of people.
00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:15.680
Um, and I so I was wondering if you feel like being in some ways the process of following comedy, doing comedy, learning comedy, this this entire like like you said, this whole thing of comedy, if if that's impacted your ministry positively.
00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:19.039
Yeah, yeah, the uh if the opposite is true as well.
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.319
So sure.
00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:24.240
No, no, I think it definitely has helped, and that's what I was saying in the beginning.
00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:27.359
Like I really love the overlaps on just the different ways.
00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:36.880
But but I think to your point, right, about um not even just like the delivery, but just helping you uh do it better.
00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:42.799
Approach I have with comedy is I keep remembering it, it's it's not really about me.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:46.400
And that's kind of a shift of perspective because you you're in front of everyone.
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:56.559
So sometimes you you think it's all about you, but really I have to be uh attuning to the audience and and and it's and it's about them, right?
00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:11.519
And so I I I had that's taken me a while to really get a hold of and learn, but the more I can keep in mind that it's really about the audience and it's not about me, then my performance is always better.
00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:19.200
And and so if I keep that same perspective with anyone that I'm teaching, then then yeah, it's it's good.
00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:34.079
But um, but but I think even in the way I approach writing, you know, because if you have a premise for a joke that's not even really understandable, you know, like people are gonna be like, I don't know what he's talking about, right?
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:34.880
Right.
00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.119
Yeah.
00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:43.039
And then if if I if I delivered a sermon and they're driving home and it's like, you know, nice guy, but I don't know what he's talking about, right?
00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:49.519
So it helps me like always um sometimes I put myself in like the audience perspective, right?
00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:51.119
Or or the congregation's perspective.
00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:54.000
Like, like, okay, how is this coming across to them?
00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.720
Right.
00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.759
And you're probably more aware of it than other pastors.
00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:05.119
Like, there, it's so it's especially, I mean, church congregations, so their pastors on Sunday morning are so nice, you're not gonna get a heckler, probably.
00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:40.559
You're probably not gonna get like like so, like it is, and and yeah, sure, some people might send you an email later, be like, Well, this is what I thought about your message, but the majority of them are just just kind of accept it, like that was the Sunday message, and like I it's it is so easy to just go through an entire ministry and preach every week, teach every week, and do a you know, say a lot and also say a lot of nothing for the longest, and just everyone's kind of cool with it, he's doing his thing, so but I feel like comedy and the the importance of like reading the room, reading the audience, picking up on people's reactions.
00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:56.480
Yeah, I know when I was preaching, it kind of helped me, and when I was teaching, it helped me be more cognizant of when I'm losing people or when I'm like, is this something that actually applies to, you know, because you just yeah, you can't explain it, but you can just you just know it better because you're better at reading the room, you know.
00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:12.799
Do you do you know uh something that I think really helped, and it might even be the other way around, is where the the preaching actually helped with this because I I first started preaching with um through a street ministry, so it wasn't it wasn't even uh tough audience, yeah.
00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.680
Right, right, right.
00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:27.279
Because you could have someone just yelling at you from the from the street, you know, or or like yeah, I remember one time someone was yelling something from a window in a building, but but but if you can like not let that rattle you, right?
00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:30.319
And just can uh and being willing to shift gears.
00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:35.920
I remember one time I was preaching at a homeless shelter, and and someone said, Yeah, but what about this?
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:41.599
And I I put down my sermon and I said, Okay, well let's talk about that, right?
00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:50.240
I love that, you know, and uh but I but I think that has helped me a lot in in the comedy world too, you know.
00:31:50.960 --> 00:32:15.599
And I and I feel like ministry and or just the I I don't it's I'm sure it's more than just folks that work in ministry that can apply this, but like I feel like it's a skill set that you have when you're in ministry, really helps you to relate to people and to connect to people and talk to people and understand people, and that helps so much when you're interacting in comedy, especially like at open mics with like other comedians with others, you know, and I feel like it gives insight.
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:21.519
Um I feel like that's helped me with the just connecting with people a little bit.
00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:24.559
Um, but so now I'm interested in your comment.
00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.799
Also, how long how long have you been doing comedy?
00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:30.720
I I want to say in my brain, you're like a a a bit newer to it.
00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:43.039
I you know, I never you know it's interesting because it's like when I landed, it was almost like I've been here for a while because of you know it was almost like the right lane and it's just been going, but it's it's been a few years.
00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:46.720
I I would say maybe like two and a half, two years.
00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.839
You know, yeah.
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:55.440
But you've hit the you've really hit the ground running, like you found the things that are you're doing well at and you're leaning into those, and that's something really cool.
00:32:55.599 --> 00:33:01.759
So yeah, so and it it was honestly, it was it was like some of the pieces were already there.
00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:09.920
Um, but you know, there's a there's a mantra that I keep telling myself where I just want to be the best white belt that I can be.
00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:17.680
Right, you know, so like if I look at it like karate, you know, it's just like you know, there's always something to learn.
00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:30.160
And every time I'm hanging out with like some seasoned professionals, you know, I can just tap into just their expertise and I and I realize how much more I still need to learn, right?
00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:32.079
Um, so I so I keep saying that.
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:40.400
I I just want to be the best white belt I can be, but also that premise really helps me because and this is where I think I have found some success.
00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:43.359
I I don't overextend myself, you know.
00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:56.880
So I think for a long time I only wanted to do five to ten minute sets because I I didn't want to set myself up and just like say, okay, well, I'll I'll go out and do 30 or 40, right?
00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.160
Right, absolutely.
00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:08.000
Right, you know, and because because right now it has taken me about two years to get to that point where where I can where I where I can do that.
00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:20.239
And I appreciate that about you because when I first started, uh especially my first year, but even my second year, yeah, uh, probably my attitude was well, because I started preaching when I was like 16.
00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:24.000
So I was like, oh, I've spoken for longer, 30, 45 minutes.
00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:33.039
But in comedy, the skill is yeah, anyone can speak in for 30 minutes, but can you be funny and get laughs regularly for 30 minutes?
00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:44.800
And for for newer comedians listening, um, the it's not an absolute science, but the the the the the the statistics that people do go with are like trying to get a laugh every 10 to 15 seconds, you know.
00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.280
Yeah, yeah.
00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:48.079
And and if it goes longer, it just needs to be a bigger laugh.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:52.880
But like that's and that is harder than just speaking for 30 minutes, you know.
00:34:52.960 --> 00:35:03.679
And so yeah, so so even though uh I'm relatively new in it, um I I think uh my foundation has been really good.
00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.599
And and that's helped me a lot.
00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:16.559
And I have really taken my time just trying to be an opener, you know, like you know, it talking to comedians and and finding out, you know, you know, do you mind if I open for you?
00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:19.599
And um not even caring if I'm getting paid.
00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:22.159
Like, like just I just want stage time, right?
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:33.840
So like just that hunger for real stage time, yeah um, you know, and just having you know that gratitude and and humility and just being coachable, I think that helps a lot, right?
00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:34.960
Makes such a difference.
00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:40.000
And it is that is a fun part about doing comedy is when you surround yourself with like when you're on a show.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:58.239
I actually like being on a show where it's very obvious to me that I am not the most experienced or most skilled or because then you then you get to look around and you learn like you learn you see how people are doing it who are maybe like that next level, and it's like, oh, that's what I I want to learn how to do that, or I see that yeah.
00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:10.000
I did um I was on a show several years ago, um, and it was a very formative moment for me because uh I was I was just I was I was the opener, I wasn't the host, but I was like just the first one.
00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:13.199
And then uh following me was a com a local comedian.
00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:17.360
He I don't think he does it as much here, but his name's Jim Seward, and he was absolutely hysterical.
00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:20.880
And then following Jim Seward was Dusty Slay, absolutely hysterical.
00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:29.039
And um, but I got up, um, so I went first before them, and I I did have a really good like 10-15 minute set.
00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:31.599
Like in my head, it was like one of the best I'd ever, you know.
00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:35.679
I I remember getting off, you know, being like, Man, I just absolutely killed, like that was so good.
00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:48.480
And then uh with both the following comedians, there was just so much more laughter from their routines because they were just so much more experienced, and it was a great room, and they were working it.
00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:56.719
And I remember my takeaway from that show was like, okay, I did good for where I'm at right now, but there I can get better, you know.
00:36:56.800 --> 00:37:07.280
I oh my god, yeah, you know, like I can and I thought and and I think back to that show frequently because uh I've I'm sure there's been other times where I've walked out like that, I was just the God's gift to this room.
00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.639
That was that was the best, you know.
00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:15.280
And like it's I think as a comedian, it's important to have that objectivity to be like, okay, this was good, but how do we make it better?
00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:15.840
kind of thing.
00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:20.400
And so and I don't I don't know if you'll ever get to a point where you'll be like, Well, I've made it.
00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:24.159
This is the best it's gonna get.
00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:25.840
So I don't know, man.
00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:27.440
I probably not.
00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:28.719
Yeah, so I don't know.
00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:31.199
Yeah, but I I have I haven't gotten to that point yet.
00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:34.639
Uh, I don't think I've listened to any comedian who said they've gotten to that point yet.
00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:39.039
But um so so uh a question about your comedy journey, and it's twofold.
00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.960
I like is that you can give me two answers.
00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:51.599
Um, I want to know like this the coolest and most exciting and awesome moment uh that you've had since you've been doing comedy, comedy related.
00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:58.320
Um, and then I'd also love to hear like what's one of the biggest challenges you've had to deal with in your two or so years of doing comedy.
00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:02.239
Yeah, so uh I'll start with one of the coolest things.
00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:08.719
So so this is gonna be uh about Brian Bates, you know, right?
00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:18.320
So he was scheduled to come to Rochester for a show, and he actually came with Nate and performed at one of our arenas around here, you know.
00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:26.480
And I so I my wife and I went and saw him, and and I think I messaged him or something and just said, man, the show was fantastic.
00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.840
He hit me back right away.
00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.880
You know, I mean, just so personable, just so personable.
00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:48.239
And I saw that he was performing about five hours from me in Canada at a church, and and the whole church, the the it was a function about Guatemala because the the church was doing some kind of mission work there.
00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:59.199
And I told him, I said, look, I used to live in Guatemala as a missionary, and um I'll go there and open for you if the pastor agrees, and I don't even need to get paid.
00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:01.599
And yeah, yeah.
00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:05.840
So he he reached out and he messaged me back and he said, Yeah, it's a go.
00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:11.599
So I drove five hours to do five minutes, but but it was amazing, right?
00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:19.920
I mean, so it's kind of like one of those things is like yes, for me it's worth it because I got to work with someone at that caliber, right?
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:33.039
And um and it was a whole different kind of environment because be before that I was doing like just clubs, and and that that is a little bit about one of the difficulties.
00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:37.119
So as a preacher, I I can usually see people, right?
00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:43.760
And at a club, that was an adjustment where it's it's all dark, you know, and the light is on you, right?
00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:50.480
And I was like, oh my goodness, like that was such a strange adjustment because I like seeing people's faces and relating and relating to them.
00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:56.480
So the first time I started doing that in the complete darkness, that that that was hard for me.
00:39:56.719 --> 00:40:01.199
Um, and some clubs just vary in their level of darkness, right?
00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:02.800
Yeah, yeah, that's very true.
00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:07.599
Some comedians, like some of the headliners, sometimes that we're in up to hey, turn on the lights, let me ask these people.
00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:15.440
Oh man, I've never done that myself, but they I've I've heard comedians I've been on a show before we're like, you know what, just let me look let me look at these people real quick.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:17.360
I'm like, I think that's a headliner move.
00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:20.559
I don't think you can just do that when you're like opening or featuring.
00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:21.840
I hate that.
00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:47.039
I uh so so that that's always been an adjustment for me where I can't see anyone, I just see a light, and I don't like that at all because because part of it is is is I like seeing your expressions, I like seeing you laugh, or if I said something in a recent show, I said something and the wife nudges the husband, and and it was like that was that was cool because it's like I could tell that he maybe was doing some of the same things that I was mentioning or something, right?
00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:49.199
Yeah, you know, absolutely, you know, yeah.
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:58.159
So that that's that's a good point, and you're right, and then you get to a point where like with when you're doing you know dark clubs or you can't see anyone, or even like theaters where you can't see everyone, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:21.519
Like you learn your jokes well enough to know the reaction that people are probably having, so you can play off of it where you can look into the darkness like you're looking at someone, seven people think you're looking at them, and then you can like react to what people normally react to with that joke, and then they think it's super cool because they feel like you've seen them, but then it it's not the same as performance, like it's not like you're actually seeing and connecting with the people, though.
00:41:21.599 --> 00:41:24.239
So yeah, but so I I think so.
00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:32.000
I think that was probably one of my coolest moments, and then there's um there's another, I think, Tennessee comedian, um Brad Stein.
00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:39.519
He came to town and um I opened for him in Rochester and Buffalo, so that was really cool too.
00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:50.159
Um, so yeah, I mean, just a lot, a lot of cool opportunities, and there's some amazing local comedians that I've had the pleasure of of being on their shows as well, you know.
00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:55.360
So yeah, I love yeah, you get to do a lot of cool things doing this.
00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:01.440
You get to meet a lot of cool people, you get to go to a lot of cool or weird places that make fun stories.
00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:07.440
Um, but yeah, it always goes back to like enjoy remembering to enjoy what we're doing, you know.
00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:11.599
Um 100% that that could be the theme of this whole interview, honestly.
00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:25.840
It really could be, and and but what I've seen as I as I've grown, like what I've seen as I've worked with more professional comedians is remembering to enjoy yourself, the further you go, the more important it is to keep that.
00:42:26.079 --> 00:42:33.519
Because I I feel like I I actually I started teaching a new session of my stand-up class just yesterday, and I was telling this to them.
00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:39.679
Uh, I feel like I know plenty of comedians that have been doing it for a while and they have successful careers.
00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:43.280
And I frankly, they probably feel they're too far in to quit.
00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:47.920
Like, I know a lot of us at some point is like, well, I've been doing this for over a decade, I'm gonna stop, you know.
00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:56.159
Like I put wait, but like they've maybe lost some of the like ability to enjoy it and they're just you know miserable.
00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:57.599
But well, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:42:57.679 --> 00:42:59.679
You're doing cool things, you know.
00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:12.880
I I what I've seen a lot is when someone finds or what when they they make this their identity, um, then if things aren't going well, very often they get threatened, right?
00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:20.960
Right, and then like like fear will come in, envy will come in, uh, because it's like attacking the their whole being, right?
00:43:21.039 --> 00:43:48.719
So I think you're in a better place when you're just having fun with it, and you realize it's a cool thing you're doing, but who you are is much more important than the jump and you know, and you're you're so much more than just the comedian, and that's uh that's sure what a lot of us, you know, doing comedy is our favorite part of our identity, so we're really leaning into it, and then we're like I know I know that's that's something I've uh grown in my own understanding.
00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:54.639
Uh I feel like my mantra this year is like not to let any one thing define me.
00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:57.039
Uh, I've been guilty of doing that with jobs.
00:43:57.199 --> 00:43:59.599
Like, if it wasn't stand up comedy, it was being a youth pastor.
00:43:59.679 --> 00:44:03.440
That Like my one thing, and it's great when that's going great, but you're right.
00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:06.320
When it's a rough week, then you're like, Well, what do I do now?
00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:07.840
So right, right.
00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:11.679
Well, we're gonna jump to the uh ask a comedian part of our show.
00:44:11.840 --> 00:44:16.639
So this is where um uh uh we already talked about this uh before the interview, Matt.
00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:24.400
But for anyone listening, uh, this is a section where I'm gonna pick uh Matt's gonna help me pick three random questions on my list, uh, and I'm gonna ask him.
00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:27.840
And these all these questions have come to me uh via social media.
00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:40.000
Uh people um uh at Drew Davis Comedy for like Instagram or threads or people that are connected with me uh on Facebook, um, or you can even send I've even had people email me questions or respond to episodes or whatever.
00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:48.880
Uh but basically you send me questions and then I add them to a list and we eventually ask it to a comedian, and it's really fun to hear their answers to your questions.
00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:53.760
Um, so uh if you're listening to this episode, uh feel there's a send mail option.
00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:57.039
You can if you're on YouTube watching us, you can comment below a question.
00:44:57.199 --> 00:45:00.239
If you're on any of our social medias, you can ask it that way.
00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:06.400
If you know me in person, you could just like show up or text me uh to add a question to a list and I'll I'll do it.
00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:10.239
Uh it preferably if you know me, not like if you show up to my house and you don't know me.
00:45:11.119 --> 00:45:16.960
I mean, I'll still add your question to the list, but uh I'll be adding you to a list as well.
00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:19.039
So restraining order.
00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:20.239
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:45:20.320 --> 00:45:23.039
No one's done that yet, and we don't need to we don't need to start that.
00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:29.440
That's not so so uh Pastor Matt, I have uh give me a number between one and twenty.
00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:34.800
Oh, actually, give me three numbers between one and twenty-seven, and that's gonna dictate the questions we're gonna ask you.
00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:43.920
All right, so we're gonna go with three, and we'll we'll go with uh 12 and 15.
00:45:44.480 --> 00:45:46.800
Three, twelve, and fifteen.
00:45:47.039 --> 00:45:50.159
All right, let's see what we got here.
00:45:50.480 --> 00:46:00.639
Um, oh, this is a good one for you because we were talking, we were uh you were commenting earlier about my superhero poster, my Marvel poster in the back of our both we bought it over, we're both superhero fans.
00:46:00.719 --> 00:46:07.119
So this question comes to us uh on threads from James Mack, who's a comedian uh up north.
00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:10.079
I don't think the Rochester area, but he might be a New York comedian.
00:46:10.159 --> 00:46:11.519
But he he's one I've known for a while.
00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:19.039
And his question was um, um, what is one superpower you would want and why?
00:46:19.840 --> 00:46:20.639
Wow, man.
00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:23.840
So I I'm such a superhero nerd.
00:46:24.159 --> 00:46:32.400
So I I'll put it out there that my my favorite, one of my favorites is Green Lantern, just because he can do it, right?
00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:35.599
Just because he's only limited by his imagination.
00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:46.159
Um, but but lately I I keep imagining such a cool superpower would be to just absorb information from books.
00:46:48.880 --> 00:46:51.760
I know, like if I could just touch a book and just absorb it.
00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:55.920
Um I just keep thinking, yeah, just keep thinking.
00:46:57.440 --> 00:47:00.400
I recently rewatched the whole heroes series.
00:47:00.880 --> 00:47:05.199
And uh, and of course they have a bunch of different uh superpowers in it.
00:47:05.440 --> 00:47:16.079
And one of the ones I thought looked really cool that like I don't feel like it's in enough of these kind of shows, is like they had a power where like if you touched something, you suddenly learned its whole history.
00:47:16.320 --> 00:47:24.320
Yeah, like and so you just and and I was like, man, what a that would be an interesting thing to it would be, it'd be like a download, a downloadability.
00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:26.320
Yeah, so all right.
00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:30.000
So this next question comes to us on Facebook from Shanti Hughes.
00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:40.559
He's actually another comedian here in the Clean Comedy Collective, and even more than that, he is one of the founding people of the Clean Comedy Collective, and uh he is the balloon guy, he's the balloon guy, yeah.
00:47:40.639 --> 00:47:42.239
He does a lot of balloons, yeah.
00:47:42.320 --> 00:47:43.840
He was in our very first episode.
00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:44.960
Uh cool guy.
00:47:45.199 --> 00:47:48.400
Um, so uh it's just like a very serious question.
00:47:48.480 --> 00:47:50.960
It's just like a complete tone shift completely.
00:47:52.320 --> 00:47:53.119
So here we go.
00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:54.480
Answer this out, everyone.
00:47:54.559 --> 00:47:56.880
Or if you're like, I don't know, that's that's okay too.
00:47:56.960 --> 00:48:02.400
It's like, what was your lowest point in your comedy career, and how did you get over it?
00:48:03.840 --> 00:48:07.440
Um you know, okay, I I I think I do have one.
00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:18.559
So I I organized a big show, and a lot of my family came and um I intentionally, and this is a lesson I I had to learn.
00:48:18.960 --> 00:48:24.480
I intentionally wanted to do something that they haven't seen.
00:48:24.719 --> 00:48:33.519
Um, so I was I was trying to just bring something new, and but I didn't spend enough time with it, so it wasn't as good.
00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:43.039
And then after and so it went okay, but it just wasn't it felt like it landed more at a C that an A.
00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:51.280
And then I was talking to uh the headliner comedian, and he said, Matt, just just give them your A material, you know, like that that's what they want.
00:48:51.360 --> 00:48:55.519
So even if they heard it before, just you know, it it gets better every time you do it.
00:48:55.760 --> 00:48:58.880
Yeah, so so I had to keep that in mind.
00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:07.039
But I think as a there was a like a performer element in me where I wanted to like give them a surprise, give them something new.
00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:20.000
Um so I I put a burden on myself that I didn't have to do, and I think there was another part that that I've had to be really intentional, um, not going too fast.
00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:21.199
Right.
00:49:21.679 --> 00:49:30.960
So, you know, and so actually my wife came to a show and and I love her to death because like she is probably the most authentic person that I've ever met.
00:49:31.119 --> 00:49:34.480
So she came to a show and I said, I said, well, so what do you think?
00:49:34.559 --> 00:49:36.239
And she said, I hated it.
00:49:36.559 --> 00:49:41.760
Oh and she said, she said, at home, you're hilarious.
00:49:41.840 --> 00:49:50.000
And I I got tears in my eyes because you're so funny, but that particular show, you were just going so fast and it it didn't seem natural.
00:49:50.159 --> 00:49:54.000
She said, I I I just want you to do what you normally do.
00:49:54.239 --> 00:49:54.400
Right.
00:49:54.719 --> 00:49:57.119
So so I I understood what she was saying.
00:49:57.199 --> 00:49:59.440
It was it was like really cool feedback.
00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:03.840
It was yeah, because she seemed the authentic, the funny, the real version, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:05.519
What you could be, and yeah.
00:50:05.760 --> 00:50:08.559
So she didn't want she didn't want the artificial.
00:50:08.800 --> 00:50:09.440
Yeah, right.
00:50:09.679 --> 00:50:10.559
Yeah, that's true.
00:50:10.800 --> 00:50:20.880
Man, and I I do, I know I that's a struggle for comedians when you're you know, when you're on you're performing somewhere and it's like, do you do you do your best stuff?
00:50:21.039 --> 00:50:23.679
Do you do the stuff that I know needs to be worked?
00:50:23.840 --> 00:50:33.440
And like I feel I feel like I do, I have tears of like, and depending on the show, like I so it there's the shows where I'm like, well, absolutely I'm gonna do my best stuff.
00:50:33.519 --> 00:50:41.039
Uh if you know, like that absolutely like and or sometimes it's like, well, so there's someone here I want to impress, so I'm gonna do my best stuff, that kind of thing.
00:50:41.280 --> 00:50:55.440
Um, but I also give myself permission um on like sometimes with local shows, like if it's a free local show with an audience, um if there's been stuff I've been trying at open mics that has been doing well.
00:50:55.679 --> 00:50:56.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:50:56.719 --> 00:50:59.840
But maybe it's like my B list material BC list.
00:51:00.079 --> 00:51:02.000
But I'll I'll put it in the middle of my act.
00:51:02.079 --> 00:51:06.239
I'll say, you know what, we're gonna try some stuff that might not work, you know.
00:51:06.480 --> 00:51:15.119
Um, but like, but still for me, like if it's a show, I'm I'm I'm not I I don't feel super comfortable trying brand new stuff.
00:51:15.280 --> 00:51:16.719
Um like and just going for it.
00:51:16.880 --> 00:51:24.400
Now I have friends and and and in their defense, they are they have less time to go to open mics and work stuff out because they're traveling and touring so much.
00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:33.599
So they actually have a significant, like a special part of their routine each night where they're gonna try out some new jokes, but then they get right back onto the stuff that they know works.
00:51:33.679 --> 00:51:42.400
Um and that's how they kind of yeah, and so there's a skill to that, but um yeah, yeah, but yeah, so but I'm always I'm always second guessing myself, wow, should I do my show the best stuff?
00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:43.440
Should I try something new?
00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:47.679
Um and yeah, but there's so much to learn, you know, all the time.
00:51:47.920 --> 00:52:00.800
And that's what I mean about just being the best white bell, because even if even when I'm hanging out with C's and pros and I see and I've seen some of their sets like a hundred times, but then I'll see them mixing it up, right?
00:52:00.880 --> 00:52:07.840
Yeah, and they're like you know, changing up their whole lineup, and it's like, oh, but there's like a whole different thought process that they're going through, you know.
00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:12.000
And so sometimes I'll play with you know all that as well, you know?
00:52:12.079 --> 00:52:18.239
Yeah, and uh and it's fun, it's like the the skill of comedy is a very uh fun thing to figure out, you know?
00:52:18.400 --> 00:52:20.159
Yeah, um, okay.
00:52:20.400 --> 00:52:21.039
Last question.
00:52:21.119 --> 00:52:26.639
This comes from a fellow uh clean comedy collective comedian who's also been on this podcast, Chrissy Isles.
00:52:27.280 --> 00:52:33.199
And her question is do you have an outfit that it you exclusively travel in?
00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:36.719
Like when you're traveling, do you have a specific outfit?
00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:40.400
Oh, you just just to go to the show, just go to the show.
00:52:40.480 --> 00:52:43.519
Maybe if it's a road gig, it's one you're gonna wear on the road, you know.
00:52:43.840 --> 00:52:57.039
Nah man, just just fellas usually don't like no, just I I I lean towards comfort, so so it'd probably just be just an old pair of baggy jeans and you know, whatever t-shirt feels comfortable, but yeah.
00:52:57.199 --> 00:53:00.719
But I you know, but no, I don't I don't have travel clothes.
00:53:00.960 --> 00:53:01.920
No, me neither.
00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:05.119
And I think part of that might depend on like what you wear to perform.
00:53:05.199 --> 00:53:08.239
Like for me, I'm mostly in jeans and t-shirts when I perform anyway.
00:53:08.320 --> 00:53:10.480
So what I travel in is what I could perform in.
00:53:10.559 --> 00:53:11.519
So yeah, yeah.
00:53:11.679 --> 00:53:18.800
Now, sometimes I I I have played with just the aspect that I'm a pastor, so sometimes I'll go in in clergy clothing.
00:53:19.119 --> 00:53:19.599
That's right.
00:53:19.760 --> 00:53:21.519
I for yeah, yeah.
00:53:21.760 --> 00:53:27.039
But um, but it's never making fun of clergy, it's just you know, it's who I am.
00:53:27.119 --> 00:53:30.239
So sometimes if I feel like wearing it, I I'll wear it.
00:53:30.480 --> 00:53:34.159
Um, but other times just t-shirt and jeans, or sometimes a suit.
00:53:34.239 --> 00:53:36.559
It just, you know, I don't no rhyme or reason.
00:53:36.639 --> 00:53:40.880
It's just if I feel like wearing something, then then I'll wear it, right?
00:53:41.039 --> 00:53:53.840
Yeah, well, Matt, this is uh the portion of the show where you get to uh promote yourself, tell everyone where they can find you or what just let them know anything you want them to know about you and your comedy and life.
00:53:54.159 --> 00:54:03.519
Okay, well, so you can find me on Facebook, just Matt Smelzer, um Instagram, uh pastor underscore Matt underscore comedy.
00:54:03.840 --> 00:54:09.679
But but check us out at Zany's in Nashville uh on October 27th.
00:54:10.079 --> 00:54:11.440
Uh spread the joy.
00:54:11.599 --> 00:54:17.760
Uh you can it's on their uh on their uh their calendar, but and also the 26th for Nataland Live.
00:54:17.920 --> 00:54:20.639
But um I look forward to to being there.
00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:23.679
Yeah, we're well I'm glad that's gonna be a super fun show.
00:54:23.760 --> 00:54:31.360
I'm super uh I appreciate you including uh and what I'll probably link uh on the episode notes.
00:54:31.519 --> 00:54:33.280
Oh yeah, and get tickets.
00:54:33.360 --> 00:54:42.239
Uh now if you're listening to this episode way in the future, past October, that link's not gonna mean it'll still be there, but like it won't be good.
00:54:42.320 --> 00:54:51.440
But but for anyone listening to this live when it comes out or in a few weeks later, check it out because uh for national folks, it look it's gonna be a great lineup, it's gonna be a lot of fun, and it's a good cause, yeah.
00:54:51.679 --> 00:54:56.800
Yeah, the rescue mission that they're already getting their tickets, and I started, you know, here's another cool thing.
00:54:56.960 --> 00:55:02.559
So, Compassion International has been a really big part of my life, just sponsoring kids, yeah.
00:55:02.800 --> 00:55:07.199
And recently I became a uh a comedian for them, so I went through it.
00:55:07.599 --> 00:55:18.480
I went through a training to tell the story about compassion, and then I was talking to one of the trainers, and she said, Well, where I'm at in Nashville, and I was like, Well, wait a minute.
00:55:18.719 --> 00:55:26.320
So, so now now she's coming to the show and uh bringing all her compassion people, so it's gonna be a good time, it's really gonna be cool.
00:55:26.639 --> 00:55:31.199
That's exciting, and then uh for everyone listening, uh, this is the Clean Comedy Chats.
00:55:31.280 --> 00:55:34.079
Uh, we you can find us on cleancomedycollective.com.
00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:35.519
Uh that's a great resource.
00:55:35.599 --> 00:55:37.760
You can check out uh all the comedians we have.
00:55:37.840 --> 00:55:42.800
We have about 250 comedians from uh 39 states and Switzerland.
00:55:42.960 --> 00:55:46.880
Um, and we uh and you can listen to previous episodes.
00:55:46.960 --> 00:55:49.039
Uh, we interview a different comedian every week.
00:55:49.280 --> 00:55:52.800
So uh if you like this interview, uh you know try try another one out.
00:55:52.880 --> 00:55:57.199
Maybe, maybe maybe, maybe you'll like all the interviews, and this becomes your new favorite thing.
00:55:57.280 --> 00:55:58.880
Uh, there is a donation function.
00:55:58.960 --> 00:56:11.440
Uh if you'd like to give to the Clean Comedy Collective, if if you'd like to join our Patreon, uh members get uh early access to episodes, and they also get um longer the uncut versions.
00:56:11.519 --> 00:56:20.000
Uh, oftentimes we just keep them to an hour or less, and then we put the full episode on Patreon and a lot of them, there's a lot more bonus content that you listen to.
00:56:20.159 --> 00:56:28.239
Uh, and I there's actually in the sometime soon future, we're gonna have a new function that uh Patreon members will be able to get.
00:56:28.400 --> 00:56:33.039
It's a little early to tell you what it is yet, but I promise you it'll be pretty cool and you might be into it.
00:56:33.119 --> 00:56:43.599
Uh, and lastly, for comedians listening to this podcast, if you're interested in joining the Clean Comedy Collective, uh, there is a submission process, and uh it starts with going to our website and sending in a submission form.
00:56:43.760 --> 00:56:47.119
So uh we'd love to hear from you if that's something you're interested in.
00:56:47.280 --> 00:56:52.639
Uh and you can also see what shows we have upcoming uh that are from all across the country.
00:56:52.719 --> 00:56:55.840
So, like I said, cleancomedycollective.com, great resource.
00:56:56.000 --> 00:56:58.159
Pastor Matt, thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:56:58.639 --> 00:57:00.320
It was a pleasure, it was an absolute pleasure.
00:57:00.719 --> 00:57:01.119
Great chat.
00:57:01.280 --> 00:57:04.159
It's good to uh meet you in person and chat a little bit.
00:57:04.320 --> 00:57:07.280
I'm excited to get together in October and perform.
00:57:07.440 --> 00:57:09.519
And uh thank you all, everyone to listen to us.
00:57:09.599 --> 00:57:11.920
And this is a great chat, and we hope to see you next week.
00:57:12.239 --> 00:57:13.280
All right, bye.