Latest / Carmedy / Episode #7 - Interview With Leo Fontana!

Transcript

Episode #7 - Interview With Leo Fontana! · Carmedy

0:00
SPEAKER_00: What's up, everybody?
0:02
SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the comedy podcast.
0:03
SPEAKER_00: We're comedy meets your slash Mike Camute.
0:05
SPEAKER_00: I am your host, Dave Thompson, and I'm here with how we describe them.
0:11
SPEAKER_00: We're talking about a legend to the Inland Empire comedy scene, ladies and gentlemen.
0:19
SPEAKER_00: An I.e.
0:20
SPEAKER_00: legend.
0:22
SPEAKER_00: He has one of the names of the cities in the Inland Empire in his name, ladies and gentlemen, Leo Fontana.
0:29
SPEAKER_00: Leo, what is up, my man?
0:31
SPEAKER_01: What's up, dude?
0:32
SPEAKER_01: I wish I was a legend.
0:34
SPEAKER_01: I'm not a legend.
0:36
SPEAKER_00: You're a legend, Leo.
0:37
SPEAKER_00: You're a legend of my bug, dude.
0:38
SPEAKER_00: Hey, hey, by the way, what is your sign, by the way?
0:41
SPEAKER_00: Because your name's Leo.
0:41
SPEAKER_00: What's your sign?
0:42
SPEAKER_00: Is your sign a Leo?
0:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is, dude.
0:44
SPEAKER_00: No way, dude.
0:46
SPEAKER_00: That's crazy.
0:48
SPEAKER_00: That's crazy.
0:49
SPEAKER_00: Well, Leo, first of all, I want to thank you because you are a faithful listener to the pod.
0:55
SPEAKER_00: And I appreciate you.
0:56
SPEAKER_00: And that's wonderful.
0:57
SPEAKER_00: You're always a pleasant person to be around.
0:59
SPEAKER_00: And you're very funny.
1:01
SPEAKER_00: You're a very funny guy.
1:02
SPEAKER_00: I enjoy seeing your set.
1:04
SPEAKER_00: If you guys have never seen Leo perform before, check out Leo.
1:09
SPEAKER_00: If you're a producer listening, reach out to him and get this guy booked on a show.
1:14
SPEAKER_00: Don't take no for an answer.
1:15
SPEAKER_00: Okay?
1:16
SPEAKER_00: Go to his address and grab him and take him to your show because this guy's very funny.
1:20
SPEAKER_00: But Leo, uh, tell me just tell me a little bit about how you got started in comedy.
1:24
SPEAKER_00: How long have you been doing comedy for?
1:26
SPEAKER_01: I've been doing comedy like on and off for four years, but I've been a fan of i comedy for like since like 2015-ish.
1:36
SPEAKER_00: Man, so you've been going to local shows and stuff for 11 years?
1:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, dude, for real.
1:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:41
SPEAKER_00: Let's go, dude.
1:42
SPEAKER_00: So can you tell me this?
1:44
SPEAKER_00: And this might be kind of broad, so answer however you you you would like.
1:48
SPEAKER_00: But over these 11 years, and then obviously now you being directly involved, being a comedian yourself now.
1:56
SPEAKER_00: How do you think the scene has kind of been shaped from where you first found it when you were just uh a fan of going to the shows to now where you're actually seeing the behind the scenes and you are a comic and you see the different producers now?
2:12
SPEAKER_00: Do you think the scene has changed a lot?
2:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it seems like there's way more comics and more shows and more mics now.
2:21
SPEAKER_01: Okay, yeah, because back in the day it I didn't see that many mics and shows that often.
2:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
2:29
SPEAKER_00: Alright, I feel that.
2:31
SPEAKER_00: Now, what where when you first started going to shows, where was like the first place you went to see a comedy show?
2:40
SPEAKER_00: Do you remember?
2:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was uh I think it's called the South 40.
2:45
SPEAKER_01: It's off Mariloma off Lyman Knight.
2:48
SPEAKER_00: Oh shoot, Mariloma, that's my stomping grounds.
2:50
SPEAKER_00: I grew up in Mariloma.
2:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's by the San Ana River.
2:55
SPEAKER_00: It's in the river, dude.
2:56
SPEAKER_00: So it's just a just a show, a show down by the river.
3:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh but the the South 40 San Ana River, like behind the houses.
3:09
SPEAKER_01: Uh-huh.
3:10
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I remember there was some dude, his name was Rick Rome.
3:14
SPEAKER_01: He ran a Leon Irish pub comedy show for like 10 years.
3:20
SPEAKER_00: Is he is he black?
3:22
SPEAKER_01: Nah, he's a Mexican guy.
3:24
SPEAKER_00: Oh, okay.
3:25
SPEAKER_00: Cause I was gonna say, I because I I didn't hear the first name a little bit.
3:28
SPEAKER_00: I thought you said Macrom, and I was like, Oh, I know Mac Rome.
3:31
SPEAKER_01: Oh, Mac Rome's been doing comedy for a long time, too.
3:35
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
3:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Macroman.
3:38
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, that guy Rick Rome, he ran a popular show at Liam's, and then he ran a show at the South 40.
3:45
SPEAKER_01: And then that was the first show I think I ever went to.
3:49
SPEAKER_00: So, so you you were a fan of local comedy for seven years, and then what made you jump in to doing it yourself after kind of being a part of going to local shows for seven years?
4:04
SPEAKER_01: Dude, I always wanted to try it, and I always try to get my friends to try it, and like they never wanted to, and then eventually I eventually I was like, fuck it, I'll just do it by myself.
4:15
SPEAKER_00: Do it, freaking do it.
4:17
SPEAKER_00: Now, how how do you feel like because obviously you were watching shows for that long locally, and then now you you still watch shows, you still go to shows and you pull up and support.
4:30
SPEAKER_00: I just saw you the other night in Riverside put pull up to a show.
4:34
SPEAKER_00: And uh how how do you how do you feel that this has been now for you at least?
4:40
SPEAKER_00: Do you still feel like the same appreciation for the shows now that you know everyone?
4:49
SPEAKER_01: It's weird.
4:51
SPEAKER_01: It's weird because when you don't know like comedy, it's like you appreciate it more.
4:56
SPEAKER_01: And then I sort of become more like snobbish once you start doing comedy and stuff.
5:02
SPEAKER_01: It's not the same.
5:06
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so do you do you feel now then that let me try to see?
5:13
SPEAKER_00: I'm trying to phrase this the right way.
5:14
SPEAKER_00: So basically, what I'm trying to get at is like, do you do you do you regret at all the like jumping in to being a comic, considering how many years you were just enjoying it?
5:25
SPEAKER_00: Like, do you still enjoy it as much as you used to?
5:28
SPEAKER_00: Like, apart from you performing it, is kind of like sorry, that's what I was trying to say.
5:32
SPEAKER_00: I was trying to get there.
5:36
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I still enjoy it, but it's like you know, like you like hot dogs, but then you find out how the hot dogs made, it takes away from it, you know.
5:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, I feel that.
5:47
SPEAKER_00: All right, so who do you think's a hack?
5:50
SPEAKER_00: Um, all right.
5:55
SPEAKER_00: All right, okay, okay, no, no, no, cool.
5:58
SPEAKER_00: This is this is all good.
5:59
SPEAKER_00: So uh that's also I had no idea you had been on and off doing comedy for that long and and that you were a fan for so long.
6:06
SPEAKER_00: I mean, for for myself, like I've been a comedy fan, you know, my whole life.
6:12
SPEAKER_00: You know, my my brothers used to let me watch, you know, late night HBO specials with them, you know, when I was when I was young.
6:19
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then you know, I'd watch like little comedy central things, and and they used to be really big into, and this is something I want to ask you about, if you also liked these, into like the the comedy cartoons.
6:30
SPEAKER_00: So like South Park, Family Guy, um uh Metalocalypse, um, anything that was like on Adult Swim, they used to watch.
6:41
SPEAKER_00: Um, did you used to be into any like particular like cartoon comedy shows?
6:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, dude, I liked all those, but also Comedy Central used to have a cartoon where they animated like comedian sets.
6:54
SPEAKER_01: I forget what it was called.
6:56
SPEAKER_00: I don't remember what that's called either, but I do know what you're talking about.
6:59
SPEAKER_01: I really like that show.
7:00
SPEAKER_01: That show is cool.
7:02
SPEAKER_00: What about celebrity deathmatch?
7:03
SPEAKER_00: Did you ever used to watch that one?
7:05
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, dude.
7:06
SPEAKER_01: I was a big fan of Celebrity Deathmatch.
7:08
SPEAKER_01: I remember that Robot Chicken 2, dude.
7:11
SPEAKER_00: So I used to watch when I was like a little little kid, I used to watch Wallace and Gromet.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: Have you ever heard of Wallace and Gromet?
7:18
SPEAKER_01: What that sounds super familiar.
7:20
SPEAKER_00: So it it Wallace and Grommet uh and uh Sean the Sheep are made by the same British company.
7:27
SPEAKER_00: Uh I think it's British.
7:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's British.
7:29
SPEAKER_00: Uh and it's Claymation.
7:31
SPEAKER_00: And and and they not them particularly, but because I used to watch those that were claymation, when I saw Robot Chicken and saw that it was all claymation, like I naturally liked it because I was like, oh, this is like claymation like this.
7:46
SPEAKER_00: But it was just, you know, people getting ripped to shreds and just crazy stuff happening, you know what I'm saying?
7:54
SPEAKER_00: Um but yeah, that I think that's funny.
7:57
SPEAKER_00: I always like to ask like about you know the lore of like certain shows people used to watch.
8:02
SPEAKER_00: I mean, the first like comedy stuff that I used to watch was The Muppets.
8:07
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, yeah.
8:08
SPEAKER_01: That's I saw the Muppets too.
8:10
SPEAKER_01: That is comedy, you're right.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, because I mean you like freaking Fozzie Bear was a stand-up.
8:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's dude.
8:16
SPEAKER_01: I think it'd be so cool to have like stickers like Fozzie Bear, like comics make their own Fozzie Bear sticker.
8:26
SPEAKER_00: Uh you mean like uh like dressed up like him?
8:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, or like a cartoon version of you looking like Fozzie Bear.
8:33
SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
8:35
SPEAKER_00: That's freaking funny.
8:37
SPEAKER_00: Well, do you see you're familiar with the Muppets and Fozzie and stuff?
8:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I haven't seen in a super long time.
8:44
SPEAKER_00: What is your um like if you could choose who would be your favorite Muppet?
8:49
SPEAKER_01: Dude, the the two old guys that are always talking shit and dude, that that's dude, look, that's me and Johnny Gold at every comedy show.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: You and Johnny.
9:04
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so now tell me this, because Johnny, uh, if it for any of you hearing all the noise right now, you hear the dogs and stuff.
9:10
SPEAKER_00: I I'm doing DoorDash and delivering something.
9:12
SPEAKER_00: Um when did you first meet Johnny?
9:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm assuming you saw Johnny perform and met him before you started comedy because you were already in the scene watching shows.
9:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, dude, the first time I met Johnny Gold, it was during COVID.
9:25
SPEAKER_01: It was in a backyard comedy show in San Bernardino, dude.
9:28
SPEAKER_01: Oh shoot.
9:30
SPEAKER_01: And like I was with my brother, and like my brother and me were gonna do stand-up for the first time, and Johnny Gole heard, and the show was over.
9:37
SPEAKER_01: Johnny Gold went up to the to the guy, and he's like, put this guy up, and he put my brother up, and my brother did good, dude.
9:44
SPEAKER_00: Oh, nice.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: I don't think I've ever met your brother.
9:47
SPEAKER_01: Nah, he he only did comedy that one time, though.
9:51
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I see.
9:53
unknown: Okay.
9:54
SPEAKER_00: He he never had aspirations to kind of get back into it or anything, just you.
9:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I've been telling him, but I don't think he he he's well, he says he's more of a funny rider than like a performer.
10:06
SPEAKER_01: Oh shoot.
10:07
SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, he could always hit you with hit you with a good written joke, right?
10:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I always tell him, like, yeah, if you think of something funny, let me know so I could do it.
10:16
SPEAKER_00: Say, yo, bro, give me some premises, dog.
10:19
SPEAKER_01: For real.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: Like, my my brothers don't like have at least as far as I know, don't have any aspirations or anything to get into comedy.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: But you know, I I try and just look at our lives as a whole and draw inspiration.
10:36
SPEAKER_00: Um now, I know for you, for for those that that don't know you, you are a master class when it comes to the one-liners, okay, Leo?
10:48
SPEAKER_00: Don't be I know you're blushing over there.
10:51
SPEAKER_00: Okay, you know what I'm talking about.
10:52
SPEAKER_00: Okay, very like you are the one-liner guy out here in the Inland Empire.
10:56
SPEAKER_00: You you are the one-liner guy, and so like uh as far as like your life, how do you feel like you draw inspiration for writing?
11:09
SPEAKER_00: Like, do you draw any inspiration from your life, or do you just think of something that you think is kind of funny and you make it into a one-liner?
11:17
SPEAKER_00: Or how does your process work with with getting to the one-liners?
11:20
SPEAKER_00: Because one-liners are hard to write.
11:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I try to make my comedy like introspective, like how I feel, like my experiences, or like my point of view of stuff.
11:36
SPEAKER_00: Like, do you ever write a joke that's longer and then and then shorten it down to the one-liner?
11:44
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
11:45
SPEAKER_01: I'll I try to edit it down as much as I can.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
11:49
SPEAKER_00: What do you what do you feel like is your is your like because you you're like diehard ie.
11:58
SPEAKER_00: What do you feel like is your most ie joke?
12:00
SPEAKER_00: Is it the joke about the malls?
12:02
SPEAKER_01: I have a lot uh Route 66.
12:05
SPEAKER_01: Have you heard that joke?
12:06
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if I can remember that one off the top of my head.
12:09
SPEAKER_01: Well, it's just how like when you're growing up and I eat they make a big deal about Route 66 when you're a kid at school, and then when you're an adult, it's like, oh, you mean foothill?
12:20
SPEAKER_01: Like 5th street for if you're in San Mardino.
12:25
SPEAKER_00: Man, dude, that history is so funny.
12:28
SPEAKER_00: That is, and that is so like IE centric too, because I knew exactly what like what you were talking about.
12:33
SPEAKER_00: I know, but I'm just like, it's so ghetto, yeah.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: For real.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: I did you know, and it's so funny too because it goes on like for like for so long, because like I did this show at uh Route 66 Tavern, but it was like towards Pasadena, and it's still technically on Route 66.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, if I keep driving on this street, I will hit San Bernardino.
12:56
SPEAKER_00: Like, and it's just that that part's so funny.
12:59
SPEAKER_00: But uh have you have you you grew up in the IE?
13:03
SPEAKER_00: Did you move out here?
13:04
SPEAKER_00: You grew up out here?
13:05
SPEAKER_01: Okay, yeah, I I grew up out here.
13:07
SPEAKER_00: What what city were you born in?
13:10
SPEAKER_01: Uh I was born in uh I I actually I was born in the East LA County Hospital.
13:16
SPEAKER_00: Oh shoot.
13:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I grew up in Bloomington.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: Did you guys live in LA for a little bit?
13:21
SPEAKER_01: Nah, I just grew up in Bloomington.
13:24
SPEAKER_00: Okay, a little Bloomington.
13:26
SPEAKER_00: My father-in-law works in Bloomington.
13:28
SPEAKER_00: He works at the uh UP yard for the trains.
13:31
SPEAKER_00: Oh shit, nice.
13:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so if you ever see the trains working, that's his fault.
13:36
SPEAKER_00: Uh, because he he fixes the trains when they don't work.
13:40
SPEAKER_00: Uh that's a good job, dude.
13:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's a union, a little union.
13:44
SPEAKER_00: Um sorry, I have bad blood toward them because I've tried to get on there like seven times and they always say no.
13:51
SPEAKER_01: Uh dude, I've tried to.
13:53
SPEAKER_00: Dude, they don't like us, dude.
13:56
SPEAKER_00: They're looking for white boys now.
13:57
SPEAKER_00: They're looking for white boys to explain.
13:59
SPEAKER_01: Probably, dude.
14:00
SPEAKER_01: Probably.
14:01
SPEAKER_00: All right.
14:02
SPEAKER_00: Well, Leo, let me let me tell you, let's let's let's shift the conversation here.
14:06
SPEAKER_00: So we we kind of get to know you a little bit, a little bit better now.
14:09
SPEAKER_00: So let's talk about the scene where it stands, like right now.
14:13
SPEAKER_00: So, right now, there's there's uh a slew of producers, there's open mics most days.
14:19
SPEAKER_00: Pretty no, yeah.
14:22
SPEAKER_00: So Monday through Thursday, there's open mics.
14:25
SPEAKER_00: Uh, Sunday, there's the occasional one, uh, Friday and Saturday are like the show days that we have out here, but there's usually shows somewhere out here in the IE on both of those days, if not multiple on both of those days.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: So, how do you feel about the scene where it's at right now?
14:42
SPEAKER_00: And what would you want to see, like kind of moving forward?
14:46
SPEAKER_00: Do you have any vision for the scene kind of moving forward about what you'd love to see?
14:51
SPEAKER_01: Dude, I I like what I'm seeing now, but the thing I've always noticed about IE comedy, it's always like a revolving door, like comics don't last that long, so it's always like newer comics running mics and shows.
15:05
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like Mike Baker.
15:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like so, but now it seems like these com comics now are going for the long haul, but I noticed it's always like around like comics like under five years.
15:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
15:20
SPEAKER_00: I feel like we don't we don't have a lot of like veteranship out here, like a lot of it.
15:27
SPEAKER_00: And look, and and like I'll start name-dropping people right here, to be honest with you.
15:32
SPEAKER_00: Like, there is veterans out here, but they don't like come hang.
15:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's like a different generation and stuff, yeah.
15:40
SPEAKER_00: Like, there's there's there's people out here that are like the 20 to 40 year comics, and they they don't come out and hang with us.
15:47
SPEAKER_00: Like, once in a while I'll get hit up for a spot and someone will ask me for a spot, but but they don't come to mics and they don't come do stuff, you know what I mean?
15:57
SPEAKER_00: Like they they're not they're not like communicating with us like that.
16:02
SPEAKER_00: Like, I wouldn't even consider them to really be a part of the scene.
16:05
SPEAKER_00: They're they they're residents out here, but they don't they don't mess with us like that.
16:10
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think it might be like you know, older comics like have a superior superiority view of shit.
16:18
SPEAKER_01: Maybe that's why.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: Maybe, and you know, I know some of them they might be on cruise ships or they might be doing their own thing or whatever.
16:25
SPEAKER_00: Um, but there is certainly, in my opinion, a thriving scene of younger comedians out here, you know.
16:34
SPEAKER_00: And I think in our group, meaning like this whole community in our group, I think the buddy system guys are the most veteran in this group.
16:44
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I I like I I I really like kind of where we're at personally, because there's just so much to choose from.
16:57
SPEAKER_00: And I think there's our community's so big.
17:01
SPEAKER_00: I mean, the inland empire is Riverside and San Bernardino counties, which makes up 50 cities.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: I mean, there's 50 cities here in in the IE.
17:11
SPEAKER_00: Like that's it's there's so many, there's so many places, and and I know comedy's been done in every city at this point.
17:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, um but but there's there's so many uh people in these communities that love to see local comedy.
17:27
SPEAKER_00: I mean, you yourself went to go see local shows for seven years before you decided to try it.
17:33
SPEAKER_01: Dude, I remember I went to a buddy system show at the hideaway in 2017, dude.
17:39
SPEAKER_00: Wow.
17:40
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, they've been around for a while.
17:42
SPEAKER_00: That was back when I was in diapers, dude.
17:46
SPEAKER_00: No, nine years ago, dude.
17:48
SPEAKER_00: Nine years ago, I was I was 23.
17:51
SPEAKER_00: Uh, what was I doing?
17:53
SPEAKER_00: I had just had uh I was getting ready to have a second baby.
17:58
SPEAKER_00: Daddy's I was getting ready to have a second baby.
18:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, I was I was a comedy fan at the time.
18:02
SPEAKER_00: I was listening to comedy.
18:04
SPEAKER_00: You know, I I gotta say, uh what once I like got married and stuff, my wife, she's not a huge comedy fan, especially of my comedy.
18:12
SPEAKER_00: Um, but uh she like we're we don't sit down and watch comedy specials together.
18:17
SPEAKER_00: That's kind of a me thing, but podcasts are really the thing that have like kept me in the know with this the scenes of comedy at large, but also just like being tapped into listening to funny things.
18:31
SPEAKER_00: Um, are you a big podcast person?
18:34
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, dude.
18:35
SPEAKER_01: I used to listen to famous comics podcasts back in the day, but then I was like, man, like screw that.
18:41
SPEAKER_01: They're getting a lot of listeners and Patreons.
18:44
SPEAKER_01: So I just started listening to local comics podcasts.
18:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I do.
18:51
SPEAKER_00: I I freaking love local local pods.
18:54
SPEAKER_00: And there's I have friends in LA that that that have a show.
18:58
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, the Crimson comedy show, uh, the homie Andy.
19:01
SPEAKER_00: What up, Andy?
19:02
SPEAKER_00: What what what?
19:03
SPEAKER_01: Um shout out Andy.
19:05
SPEAKER_00: He doesn't listen.
19:06
SPEAKER_00: Um, but maybe he does, maybe he does.
19:08
SPEAKER_00: Um no, but I I do think it's cool that there are people that that run pods and do content and stuff, and all of that stuff is just it's it's it's it's it's good for for all of us.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: It really is.
19:22
SPEAKER_00: Like, if there's somebody out here that's popping, like that's a great thing.
19:26
SPEAKER_00: Like, I think a great example of this is like the the mobile homies, dude.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: Like, I don't I don't remember ever like rubbing elbows with the mobile homies at all, like a year and a half ago, or a year ago, maybe even like I don't really remember seeing them like all that often.
19:40
SPEAKER_00: And then next thing you know, they're just all around and they're and they're just getting booked on shows everywhere, and they have these videos with like millions of views on them.
19:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, it's badass.
19:52
SPEAKER_00: And that's and that's freaking great.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: And now they're a part of the uh scene builder show at the Ontario Improv.
19:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's super cool.
20:01
SPEAKER_00: It it's just it's cool to see, especially thank God that these people listened and did this.
20:06
SPEAKER_00: But like I was talking with them about the open mic.
20:09
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, what is this like really leading to for people?
20:12
SPEAKER_00: And and and Cameron and Perry were telling me that they were trying to get a show for the winners, so that they could actually be an actual showcase where they could invite their friends out.
20:25
SPEAKER_00: Because you you're not gonna invite your friends to an open mic that you're not gonna potentially get picked on, yeah, you know, like uh not not picked on, I mean, like like pulled from the bucket.
20:35
SPEAKER_00: Like if I if I know for sure that I'm gonna go up and it's like okay, I'm on this show, and it's being advertised as I'm on the show, then it's like, yeah, yeah, invite invite everybody.
20:45
SPEAKER_00: But like, if if you're like, oh, I'm going to an open mic where I might get pulled out of the bucket, like I'm not bringing my family for that.
20:52
SPEAKER_01: Some people do though.
20:53
SPEAKER_00: Some people do, and it's cool that they do, so we have an audience.
20:57
SPEAKER_00: But for me personally, I'm like, ah, I don't know if I want to do that.
21:00
SPEAKER_00: But it is cool that they have that show now and they turn are turning it into like a competition where somebody even beyond the winners can then win and then get even more opportunities to do spots at the club, and that's exactly what we need.
21:17
SPEAKER_00: Um is is is clubs out here doing stuff like that.
21:21
SPEAKER_00: You know, I I know the Rock Gallery gives, you know, spots to the to their people and above the iron, you know, they they also have spots to give and they give out producer spots and stuff like that.
21:33
SPEAKER_00: Um but we really do need that at like the the biggest club.
21:39
SPEAKER_00: Because the improv is the biggest club we have out here.
21:41
SPEAKER_00: The other ones are run, you know, 50, 40 seat rooms.
21:45
SPEAKER_00: They're they're not actual like official, like they're official comedy clubs, but they're not like like uh like a brand like a branded comedy club, like the improv is.
21:55
SPEAKER_00: Um so, but I'm I'm I'm glad we have that, and that's cool.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: Um but also another thing I I noticed about i comedy, it's all well now it's getting more connected, but for a while it's all separate, like High Desert, Palm Springs, like Marietta Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Riverside.
22:15
SPEAKER_01: They're not as interconnected as you think they'd be.
22:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I noticed that too.
22:21
SPEAKER_00: Like as I started traveling between the different scenes, I was noticing that there was a disconnect there.
22:28
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's one of the things that really inspired me to like start doing as many shows as I'm doing now and producing, is that I want to bring all of that together, you know, because there's so much talent out here, like even people that we might not necessarily think are like super funny, like in the right room in the right crowd with the right opportunity, with the right belief in them, like can be very funny, yeah, you know, and I and I think that everybody deserves to get some shots on the stage if they're actually you know going to open mics and writing jokes and stuff, like they should get opportunities to showcase they're funny, and dude.
23:10
SPEAKER_01: Also, like shout out Justin Fox and Justin Fox, dude and dude, because Justin always put people up.
23:17
SPEAKER_01: Shout out fucking uh what's the name of the Derbies in handed, bro?
23:23
SPEAKER_00: Dude, they put me up like really early on.
23:26
SPEAKER_00: He booked me for a spot, like less than a year in.
23:28
SPEAKER_00: He booked me for a spot on the big show, which the big show is actually, I mean I'm sure you've been there a bunch of times, but it's if you guys have never seen it, it's an actual above ground stage that's like I don't know, a foot and a half, two feet tall.
23:43
SPEAKER_00: You actually have to walk upstairs to get to it.
23:46
SPEAKER_00: It's in a big room that's a rolling, a roller skating rink, and they and they put lights on and they have a full uh stage setup with lights shining down on you.
23:55
SPEAKER_00: It's a very professional setup that they take like a whole day to put up and a whole day to take down.
24:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, because they have like a whole rig and stuff for the actual um stage.
24:06
SPEAKER_00: Like it's a it's an actual like professional looking stage.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, so yeah, freaking shout out Justin Fox, dude.
24:12
SPEAKER_00: Like I'm so sad he moved down there to freaking Carl's bed.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: I'm so sad.
24:17
SPEAKER_00: Or Oceanside, Oceanside, Oceanside.
24:20
SPEAKER_01: I think that's what the I has always missed.
24:22
SPEAKER_01: Like comics could be better developed if the scene was more interconnected with like giving you comics stage time and all that stuff.
24:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
24:33
SPEAKER_00: So is that something you you would kind of want to see more of moving forward?
24:37
SPEAKER_00: It's just more people getting more opportunities to get on stage, yeah.
24:41
SPEAKER_01: Like more producers giving chances on younger comics and stuff.
24:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
24:50
SPEAKER_00: How do you do you do you feel like people do that now?
24:53
SPEAKER_00: Or I think it's better.
24:55
SPEAKER_00: It's getting better now, but for a while, I I'm not asking for myself because I give everybody chances, but I'm asking like for other people.
25:03
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because for a while it seemed like you have to be in the inn, but I think now they're giving more newer comics chances than before.
25:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
25:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
25:14
SPEAKER_00: I I think so too.
25:15
SPEAKER_00: I think I have seen an increase of that, and and I hope to still see that because that's something that I'm gonna continue pursuing.
25:22
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, I love seeing new people at at mics and and seeing stuff.
25:28
SPEAKER_00: I I do think one thing with me is that I I I'm bummed that I can't just be in multiple places at once.
25:34
SPEAKER_00: Because like as much as I want to be at like every single mic that happens in the IE, like I also need to like network and get out other places towards LA and sometimes to go to San Diego and Orange County and stuff.
25:44
SPEAKER_00: So it is hard to like always be out here, but then you know it might be like a week or two, and then I come back, and then there's like somebody new that's like funny.
25:52
SPEAKER_00: Like I saw this this newish guy, Justin, the other day, and he did this joke about living in a mobile home park, like, and it was like really funny.
25:59
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, man, like I haven't even seen this, I like I never even met this guy before.
26:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I think that's I think that's cool that there are as many opportunities with open mics and stuff.
26:10
SPEAKER_01: Oh yeah, Justin Anderson, right?
26:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
26:14
SPEAKER_00: Justin Anderson.
26:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, he's he's a good guy.
26:17
SPEAKER_01: He's he's in New York Congress, he's getting funnier.
26:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:21
SPEAKER_00: What do you what do you think?
26:23
SPEAKER_00: Because we're we're getting on.
26:24
SPEAKER_00: I told you time is gonna fly, dude.
26:26
SPEAKER_00: We're almost at 30 already, isn't that insane?
26:28
SPEAKER_00: Um what what do you think?
26:31
SPEAKER_00: Because we kind of talked a little bit about like the this the scene is the whole one, everything like that, but uh for for you personally, with where you are, what is some comedy goals that that you have for yourself?
26:42
SPEAKER_00: Like let's say even in just like a few years, is there anything that you kind of have your eyes set on that you would really want to achieve, or certain shows maybe that you'd want to do, or a certain club you'd want to perform at?
26:54
SPEAKER_00: Is there any goals that you kind of have in mind for yourself of things that you'd love to do?
26:58
SPEAKER_01: Well, I think just get more go more to OC and LA and San Diego mics, get more acquainted with all the comics out there.
27:08
SPEAKER_01: And I think all IE comics too, they need to get out the IE and do mics outside of the IE to get better.
27:19
SPEAKER_00: I like that, I like that more interconnected, more networking, more opportunities on stage.
27:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, more networking, more all of that.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, here's the thing though.
27:31
SPEAKER_00: When when you network with people, people are gonna think you're funny, and they're gonna try and book you on shows.
27:35
SPEAKER_00: And if you say no, I mean, come on, Leah, I need you on a show.
27:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've been lagging it.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: That's what I'm saying.
27:44
SPEAKER_00: So that's what we're talking about.
27:45
SPEAKER_00: But yes, I do agree.
27:46
SPEAKER_00: I I started doing shows and and mics in Orange County.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: Orange County has a really big thriving scene.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Although the other day, we're obviously not able to get into it on this episode, but the other day I heard some tea about the OC scene.
28:02
SPEAKER_01: I was like, yeah, y'all were beefing.
28:05
SPEAKER_00: I was outside of a mic and there was like 10 people just beefing.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: I was like, what's going on here?
28:09
SPEAKER_00: All these white people are just mad.
28:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was funny.
28:15
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, no, no, no.
28:16
SPEAKER_00: Uh uh I'm I'm assuming you know already about the Orange County stand-up page, Orange County stand-up.
28:21
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, yeah.
28:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
28:22
SPEAKER_00: So freaking shout out Daniels and Broad.
28:24
SPEAKER_00: That guy is freaking amazing.
28:26
SPEAKER_00: Every single day he's posting every single mic in the IE, in Orange County, uh in the Long Beach area, and in Los Angeles.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: I mean, this guy is actually a freaking G.
28:37
SPEAKER_00: Not only that, he hosts open mics.
28:40
SPEAKER_00: He also uh multiple a week, he also hosts multiple shows a week in OC.
28:45
SPEAKER_00: I mean, this guy's a freaking crackhead.
28:48
SPEAKER_00: Um and and we love him for it.
28:50
SPEAKER_01: He's also like a super nice guy.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: Like, I like that about him.
28:54
SPEAKER_00: Incredibly nice, incredibly nice guy.
28:57
SPEAKER_01: Also, I think he used to do buddy system mics back in the day.
29:00
SPEAKER_01: I think he was from Corona or something.
29:03
SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah?
29:04
SPEAKER_01: I think I'm not a hundred percent sure.
29:07
SPEAKER_01: Maybe.
29:08
SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, so freaking Leo, I I'm I'm so glad that you listen.
29:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm thankful for you that you're in the scene, that you listen, that you are a very funny guy.
29:21
SPEAKER_00: You're you're always a pleasure to be around.
29:24
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, one day, hopefully soon, we'll get to do some hard drugs together or something.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: That's I mean, that's just one can only hope.
29:33
SPEAKER_00: You know what I'm saying?
29:34
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, dude, dude, thanks so much for coming on and and and talking about the IE and telling us about yourself and stuff, and and and I hope you continue going, you know, as much as you are, and and and get continue to get funnier and freaking get as many opportunities as you want, man, because you deserve them.
29:52
SPEAKER_01: All right, thank you, bro.
29:53
SPEAKER_01: Thanks for having me on.
29:54
SPEAKER_01: I had a good time.
29:55
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, man.
29:56
SPEAKER_00: All right, you guys, we'll see you next time on the Comedy Podcast.
29:59
SPEAKER_00: It's been episode seven.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: See ya.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Goodbye.
30:01
SPEAKER_01: All right.