22-Jun-23
[00:00:00.000 –> 00:00:23.890] by day Joe Rogan podcast by night. Finally you’re here finally finally you’re one of the most requested guys ever. I was like I gotta see him somewhere. I gotta run into him. We’ll make it happen. So we made it happen. Excited to see your brother.
[00:00:23.890 –> 00:00:37.890] It’s a pleasure finally. I mean we’ve run in so many similar circles for so many years. We ran into each other at the Canelo fight. Yeah. But I mean God I’ve been seeing you for 20 years. Yeah. Well you were always the hero of the Ice House.
[00:00:37.890 –> 00:00:48.890] We’d go down to the Ice House. How the fuck does he sell out so many shows? Gabriel’s doing like a two in the afternoon show, 4pm show. How many shows did you do in a day at one point in time? The most I ever did in one day.
[00:00:48.890 –> 00:01:03.890] Like full sets not just like 10 minute spot. Four shows. Four full one hour shows. But yeah we were doing matinee shows at the Ice House. It’s wild. Like you know we’d go down there and see the signs and all the it was like this is crazy.
[00:01:03.890 –> 00:01:16.890] Like who the fuck is doing that? You know because I was doing they were calling them kid shows because I was allowing all ages. Bob Fisher was betting the rules to let me have. That’s great. Because your act is perfect for that.
[00:01:16.890 –> 00:01:25.890] But you know I mean I tailored it. I tailored it. So of course you take a cuss words in certain topics but for the most part it was a friendly show. Well you can do that is what I’m saying.
[00:01:25.890 –> 00:01:37.890] You could you float in and out of that world. You know you can be clean and then you can fuck around. A little bit yeah. Little cut loose. So the set that you would hear at two o’clock probably isn’t the set you’d hear at you know the 1030 show.
[00:01:37.890 –> 00:01:51.890] Yeah so you go from that to doing Dodger Stadium. Well there was a couple shows in between. I know but what the fuck dude. What is that? That had to be a trip. What the fuck was that like? You know what?
[00:01:51.890 –> 00:02:06.890] I thought that I was going to be super nervous doing that show but it was probably one of the most calm experiences for me as far as like not feeling pressure because it felt more like a celebration versus me having to perform.
[00:02:06.890 –> 00:02:19.890] Like all these people are already here because they know what I’ve done over the years. And it’s not like oh I gotta make sure. I hope I have a good set. Right. There’s I forget how many people told her but there were so many people there that
[00:02:19.890 –> 00:02:33.890] all they want is for you to do good. They want to see you succeed. They want this to go well for you. Bro that’s so crazy. And to feel that energy of people wanting you to succeed, wanting you to do good.
[00:02:33.890 –> 00:02:49.890] People that were there for the ride back at the ice house 20-some-odd years ago. Look at all those people. That is insane. That’s insane. It was a beautiful moment. I was choked up in the first 30 seconds walking out there because they just kept cheering.
[00:02:49.890 –> 00:03:04.890] Like you know and then I said we did it. And it was over after that. So it was a big emotional show for me. On Netflix it was an hour and almost two hours but the actual night I was on stage for over three. Wow.
[00:03:04.890 –> 00:03:17.890] And they could not get me off that stage. Because then I broke out a bottle of tequila and then I turned it into a big quinceañera is what I did at the end. And I got fined by Dodger Stating for going over the time. That’s hilarious.
[00:03:17.890 –> 00:03:28.890] If you run the light of the club it’s like alright come on maybe you mess up. How much did they find you? Well you don’t have to say. It was over 100. Oh Jesus Christ Dodger Stating. Come on guys stop being cunts. Is that like operating costs?
[00:03:28.890 –> 00:03:39.890] What is that? Well you got to figure all the costs that go into like the union, the staff. I mean there’s so many people that work there. Out of your worth though. Yes I do it all over again. It was the greatest night of my life
[00:03:39.890 –> 00:03:54.890] and so happy to pay the fine. That’s amazing. When I saw Bill Burr do Fenway Park it was a similar sort of situation. Holy shit. And to do it in your hometown. That’s the best part. I think it’s always harder to get love at home.
[00:03:54.890 –> 00:04:06.890] You know that’s why you go out on the road and you do your thing and I think that getting that love at home. I never got to perform at a comedy club at home until I became successful on the road. I didn’t get the laugh factories
[00:04:06.890 –> 00:04:21.890] or the comedy stores or the improvs until I went out and did. That doesn’t make sense though. Why would that be true? Were you hanging around? 20-some odd years ago maybe they had a Latino night. You had to really know somebody. Somebody had to really vouch for you
[00:04:21.890 –> 00:04:37.890] or you just… It was weird. Most of my shows were at bars. So what year did you start? I started in 97. 97. So most of those years you’re hopping around doing bars. One-nighters and stuff like that. Oh so and so has a room.
[00:04:37.890 –> 00:04:49.890] Joey Diaz took me into a lot of those places. Joey Diaz would tell you come on motherfucker you want to go to the real place. He would take you to some Chinese restaurant in the middle of nowhere. It’s run by Mexican people. It was amazing.
[00:04:49.890 –> 00:05:00.890] Joey would take you to… You knew Escobar would spend his weekends. He would go to all these fucking crazy shows but he had a philosophy behind it. He was like, you know, I want to go everywhere. I want to go everywhere.
[00:05:00.890 –> 00:05:12.890] I want to get in front of these fucking momos. I want to go down to the east side and rock those motherfuckers. He just like… He wanted to do all kinds of different shows like just to like feel it out. You know and I think he’s right.
[00:05:12.890 –> 00:05:26.890] They’re like those dingy bar shows. There’s something about those shows that teach a little extra… It’s humbling. Yeah. But the cool part was is that I was used to performing in places like that before I actually got an audience that was willing to just be quiet and listen.
[00:05:26.890 –> 00:05:37.890] Yes. So I felt like, oh wow that was hard. You know because you have to come out the gate swinging to get people in a bar. People that are focused on the game focused on trying to hook up. Having a drink trying to wait,
[00:05:37.890 –> 00:05:51.890] you know, waiting for somebody. There’s all kinds of different things happening. And so the fact that to be able to go out there and get their attention, you know, that was like a… It was school. Yeah it is school. It was school. It is school.
[00:05:51.890 –> 00:05:59.890] It’s a school that no one is going to give you a lesson plan. You got to kind of do it all yourself and you got to learn from the other people that are doing it like Joey. But it’s like I did the same thing in Boston.
[00:05:59.890 –> 00:06:11.890] We mostly we got road gigs because those are the ones that they would pay you to drive for two hours and do some 40 minutes in front of them. And you were excited to do it. Oh my God, yeah. It was amazing.
[00:06:11.890 –> 00:06:23.890] Just the fact that you were making money doing comedy was amazing. And you’re learning how to do it. You’re learning how to do it the hard way in restaurants and bars and pubs and just weird little outdoor venues. There was no social media back then.
[00:06:23.890 –> 00:06:34.890] No YouTube, no TikTok video clips, no nothing that you could post. You just had to go out and… But honestly that’s great because that gave you this chance to first of all know you really wanted it because if you were going to really
[00:06:34.890 –> 00:06:45.890] going to grind it out every night going all these weird shitty places for no money for years. For years you’re not making any money. You got to be committed to that because a lot of people they got half one foot in, one foot out.
[00:06:45.890 –> 00:06:59.890] They have one good set and they’re like yeah maybe I’ll give comedy a try but guys like you and guys like me we’re out there every fucking night. Every night. I knew that with time money would come as long as I stuck it out.
[00:06:59.890 –> 00:07:18.890] I was in a very cushed position when I started doing stand-up. So it was a little challenging to say goodbye to security. I had a great gig selling cell phones I was making about 5k a month and in 1997 working in sales making that I never had insurance
[00:07:18.890 –> 00:07:33.890] I had a nice little PPO plan Couldn’t you work there during the day? I did. For how long? I did, I lasted about a year because I found out that I couldn’t just do my job and then go do shows at night and then go home.
[00:07:33.890 –> 00:07:42.890] You couldn’t go home. You had to stay out. We had to wind up at a Denny’s you had to wind up at some freakin’ taco shop or whatever at 2, 3 o’clock in the morning talking to other comics because that was the only other way
[00:07:42.890 –> 00:07:53.890] you were going to find out about another show. You couldn’t send a tweet you couldn’t send a text because you didn’t have that as an option you had to talk to people and hey, so-and-so has a room oh really? Okay give me that number
[00:07:53.890 –> 00:08:04.890] and you had to learn to write numbers and save numbers and information and learn how to follow up what do you think about you know and then yeah, yeah can you vouch for me? That meant a lot back then someone calling on your behalf
[00:08:04.890 –> 00:08:20.890] hey, so-and-so’s got a tight 10 Yeah it’s huge you know? That’s huge So staying out late at night coming home at 4, 5 in the morning and then having to be up at 7 to go do my 9 to 5 fortunately I was young and I was able to hang for about a year
[00:08:20.890 –> 00:08:34.890] and then I just couldn’t I was falling asleep at work and I got caught I got caught you know? I was working inside of a little kiosk selling cell phones in one time I just kinda let me do some inventory here on the floor
[00:08:34.890 –> 00:08:47.890] and then I guess I was snoring and somebody caught me Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God That’s a beautiful story though That’s an American dream And I thought that because I had done a couple of television shows
[00:08:47.890 –> 00:08:57.890] and I saw the money that I could make doing stand up at that time I said oh well and then you start doing the math the delusional math well if I get one of these a month and I do this and this and this
[00:08:57.890 –> 00:09:10.890] I don’t need this much to pay my rent this much to pay my car note I’m gonna be fine and I quit my day job and I got evicted from my apartment because I ran out of money so fast they came after my car
[00:09:10.890 –> 00:09:22.890] the repo guy was looking for the car I got evicted I went to go sleep on my sister’s couch it was one of those and then everybody’s like well go get your job back and I’m like if I do then then I’m not gonna pursue this
[00:09:22.890 –> 00:09:34.890] How old were you at the time? 20, 21 Yeah, you could still kind of fuck up a little bit at 20, 21 I had no problem sleeping in a car at that age now I’m like now it’s suck Maybe I gotta get that day job back but no
[00:09:34.890 –> 00:09:45.890] back then I was willing to do whatever it took But that’s what you’re supposed to do you know I’ve met a lot Tony did that I know a lot of people did that a lot of people slept in their car Brian Simpson was homeless yeah
[00:09:45.890 –> 00:10:24.890] it’s like if you really believe in it You know what yeah what are you willing to do what are you willing to sacrifice to make it happen because there’s a path it can be done it’s just not easy and if you need a little help with that
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[00:11:03.890 –> 00:11:17.890] and you gotta hope you have talent and hope you’re not delusional and hope you can figure it out maximize that talent there’s a lot of people say that they want it but do they you know it’s like how do you say a lot of things
[00:11:17.890 –> 00:11:33.890] people are scared of being uncomfortable that’s really what it is they’re scared of challenges they’re scared of being uncomfortable and I get it but you know the key is like being around a bunch of other people that are also taking risks it helps you a lot
[00:11:33.890 –> 00:11:43.890] you see them do it and then you want to do it too if you’re around people that are trying to bro listen to me get your fucking job back stop being a moron you’re not going to make it I never thought you were that funny
[00:11:43.890 –> 00:12:02.890] if you’re around guys like that a lot those of your buddies that’s a drag that’s a drag well a lot of those voices I heard were family not necessarily friends it’s like even closer yeah but they’re just looking out for you you know they’re worried they didn’t know
[00:12:02.890 –> 00:12:12.890] you know if they had a magic crystal ball they’d be like oh oh okay oh I should have been more supportive you would have bought me something nice in the beginning they’re also like oh oh you want to do that how cool yeah yeah
[00:12:12.890 –> 00:12:25.890] you can do it go for it chase your follow your dreams happy for you and then you do it and you’re like oh okay well when they see the reality like the homeless part in the like the not having any money part not having any healthcare part
[00:12:25.890 –> 00:12:37.890] when you used to and then the uncertainty of it all that’s not like going to law school you graduate the bar there’s a certain there’s a path we don’t even have a school for it you have to figure it out on your own it’s like every other
[00:12:37.890 –> 00:12:49.890] even if you want to I mean there’s many many many self-taught musicians right but you could learn you could learn on YouTube how to play guitar you can learn on YouTube how to play the piano you could learn you can take lessons they’re available everywhere
[00:12:49.890 –> 00:13:04.890] someone could teach you how to maximize your voice whatever singing voice you have there’s nothing that anybody can show you about comedy because it’s such a broader spectrum like you know what works for one person will definitely not work for another yeah
[00:13:04.890 –> 00:13:17.890] you know and I think it’s all in and what you put out yeah that makes it makes it work yeah for sure the only thing like a comedy class is good for is it actually gets people on stage getting you on stage is the first thing
[00:13:17.890 –> 00:13:34.890] one thing that I feel like I had an advantage when I started doing stand-up was I took speech classes in high school and so I was very comfortable getting up in front of the class and just talking just talking there was no jokes back then
[00:13:34.890 –> 00:13:47.890] it was just can you get in front of the crowd can you convey a message can you talk about whatever so I got very comfortable with people being quiet a lot of times people don’t they freak out when the audience is quiet
[00:13:47.890 –> 00:14:02.890] and I like it when they’re quiet because it means they’re listening they’re listening to you at this point if the crowd is quiet they trust that whatever I’m going to do is going to work because they’re paying attention and you know yeah so it’s one of those like
[00:14:02.890 –> 00:14:15.890] it took a long time for me to get used to that yeah getting used to talking to people that’s huge just getting used to being like the center of attention that’s huge having eyeballs in because a lot of times you know it’s like people say
[00:14:15.890 –> 00:14:27.890] oh the scariest thing in the world jumping out of an airplane or doing this or you know go cliff diving but you know most people cannot handle being in front of a crowd most people get uncomfortable they’re like you know what Whitney told me Whitney Cummings told me
[00:14:27.890 –> 00:14:39.890] that originates from the ancient tribes that we used to live in when you were brought in front of the tribe to be judged that’s why they were all looking at you like when there’s all these people looking at you it’s not
[00:14:39.890 –> 00:14:53.890] it’s either there’s some sort of a dilemma that you have to warn people about or you’re being judged both those things are riddled with anxiety yeah so we have like a natural instinct and I’m like oh look all my friends what’s up guys it’s just like oh Jesus
[00:14:53.890 –> 00:15:05.890] everyone’s like holy shit yeah I used to I was teaching martial arts so I was used to people listening to me so I was used to I did that it helped me a lot because I had a lot of social anxiety when I was young
[00:15:05.890 –> 00:15:17.890] like just talking to people but then when I had to learn how to teach people you know so I teach classes all the time so I always have like groups of people that I was demonstrating things to so I got used to talking to people that way yeah
[00:15:17.890 –> 00:15:29.890] then you get a you get a microphone and you hear your voice for the first time on a PA and you’re like oh wow that’s you know I remember like hearing myself and like that’s what I sound like to people you know like
[00:15:29.890 –> 00:15:42.890] let me put some bass in there yeah also you want to use the mic you know and there’s the dilemma do I keep it in the stand do I hold it there’s so many factors someone taught me about mic technique you know the way you hold it
[00:15:42.890 –> 00:15:51.890] do you hold it tight high up do you know there’s some comics that ride the mic really lower keep the mic really lower and there’s some that choke them you know have it right here like the wrapping or something like a little wrap
[00:15:52.890 –> 00:16:02.890] Joe Ideas keeps it in the stand and that works for him that works great for him Kevin does the same thing Kevin Hart will keep it in the stand and you know I’ve tried that it does not work for me I need to be mobile with it
[00:16:02.890 –> 00:16:12.890] yeah I feel like I have too many hands you know I want that right there and then I want to be able to switch hands or move it around and then I’m one of those that tell stories with their hands so I’m always you know
[00:16:12.890 –> 00:16:27.890] I gotta be able to be mobile and move and just you know alright here we go it’s crazy that you made it and then started getting in at the clubs in LA that is crazy yeah so first time out on the road I was doing a comedy club
[00:16:27.890 –> 00:16:40.890] called Bart Reed’s comic strip in El Paso Texas and I was there as an opener and that was the first time I did a comedy club was Bart Reed’s comic strip El Paso that’s where I had to go and I’m from LA you know what I mean
[00:16:40.890 –> 00:16:52.890] like I’ve done a million bars yeah and dives and little holes in my wall the first real comedy club actual comedy club and then I remember I went on the road actually with Joe Ideas and with Marilyn Martinez and so I did a show
[00:16:52.890 –> 00:17:05.890] with the two of them and getting a comedy course from Marilyn Martinez and Joe Ideas at the same time is something I will never forget because the two of them are so like they were just ying and yang you know I remember how awesome that friendship was
[00:17:05.890 –> 00:17:20.890] and they were just so real and raw with me and I’m just sitting there and I’m this 21 year old kid and I’m just like oh my god if you knew the two of them you’d know like wow that’s a hell of a lesson that you would get
[00:17:20.890 –> 00:17:32.890] yeah well that is a beautiful thing about people when they think you’re funny that they will take you under their wing they will give you some advice and we’ll talk to you about stuff both of them are super nice yeah they’re both super nice yeah I miss Marilyn
[00:17:32.890 –> 00:17:48.890] she was always cool to have hang around at the store she was hilarious oh it’s sitting in the back and listening to Marilyn critique the comics like oh look at him he thinks he’s gonna make it her and Joey together too what a one two punch yeah
[00:17:48.890 –> 00:18:01.890] yeah like having relationships with those comics that are already gone through the gates and they can tell you what’s going on like hey I was right where you were at you can just keep going you’re gonna be alright hang in there yeah keep doing sets
[00:18:01.890 –> 00:18:13.890] you’re working on it and the beauty of it back then which I think that you know is missing now is because social media is so strong you know everybody would rather just talk through the phone whereas back then I felt like it was a lot more
[00:18:13.890 –> 00:18:24.890] I’ve met so many comics online that I haven’t met face to face yet which I think is crazy yeah you know well we’re a little scattered now you know it’s like not like a home base anymore you know it used to be home bases
[00:18:24.890 –> 00:18:37.890] where New York and LA now LA is kind of like fucked and Austin is more of a home base for a lot of comics than LA and New York is different than it used to be you know a lot of guys kind of moved to different places
[00:18:37.890 –> 00:18:48.890] during the pandemic mm-hmm so it’s weird it’s weird it’s like this like I guess the seller is a great place to go and hang out with people and the store is still a great place if you know who’s gonna be there to hang out with people
[00:18:48.890 –> 00:19:00.890] but that’s half the fun for me I mean I know it’s like in the early days you were getting phone numbers and learning about gigs but it’s also you’re hanging out with comics you know that is my favorite thing because you’re all talking about comedy
[00:19:00.890 –> 00:19:12.890] and you can’t talk about comedy with people that don’t get it exactly trying to talk to my brother about it he’s like oh yeah it sounds cool like you don’t understand and it’s just like ugh yeah you have to talk to people who are actually doing it
[00:19:12.890 –> 00:19:26.890] and you know they’re just the most fun to talk to like when we have shows at the mothership and then afterwards we’re hanging out in the green room we’re just laughing just laughing and talking shit and slapping the couch and having a good time and everyone’s just
[00:19:26.890 –> 00:19:39.890] getting on everybody and it’s just it’s fun it’s really fun man it’s a good time music’s playing you know it’s like one of the coolest parties you could ever be a part of and it happens like almost every night we’re always laughing like god damn we’re so lucky
[00:19:39.890 –> 00:19:57.890] yeah cause we could be doing something completely different but do something that sucks you gotta appreciate it the beauty of just laughter and just being able to hang out and be real and just hang out yeah yeah no it’s amazing it’s a we’re very fortunate we found it
[00:19:57.890 –> 00:20:08.890] you know it’s the one job where it’s like normally when you’re done you punch out and you go home but like once you get off stage like okay no no just hang out and watch everybody else and get a drink you know hey how come you’re not
[00:20:08.890 –> 00:20:21.890] at your club just sorry I just put that up why do I not want to have fruit in my club because it’s a distraction do you want to look down and see people eating while they’re watching a show they’re there for a show I get it yeah
[00:20:21.890 –> 00:20:33.890] I get it with you I get it I get what you’re saying but yeah no it gets in the way it used to be no food at the store and then they started adding food and it was just like I think it just gets in the way
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