BACKSTORY
COMEDY OF CHICAGO: In
your interview with “Backstage Chicago #33”, when asked who your comedy
influences are, you said how you don’t follow mainstream comedians. Why is
that?
MIKEY MANKER: HAHA! I forgot I said that. I don't like
to keep myself too concerned about what mainstream acts are doing. When I do
that I start to get a little jealous and mad at myself for not yet being at
that level. That's never healthy and very stupid. But I always remind myself
that comedy, like everything else in life, is a process. You'll get there when
you get there. Don't rush it, enjoy the trip.
COC: Who are some comedian friends of
yours that you look up to?
MM: It’s different for different attributes. Mike Lebovitz, because he is
instantly likeable on stage. I wish I had Emily Galati's writing and work
ethic. Dale McPeek, because he just doesn't give a fuck on stage, and he’s cool
and laid back off it as well. Kevin White's drive. But overall, I think it’s
Sean Flannery. I think he is one of the funniest people I have ever seen do
comedy. The fact that he isn't on TV or touring theaters and not insanely
famous is a crime. But, I'll drop whatever I am doing and run into the room if
I hear Bobby Budds’ name called. Just ridiculous.
COC: Why did you choose Chicago of all
places after St. Louis?
MM: I've always, at least since I discovered comedy, wanted to live here.
I originally moved up here for improv and to study at the iO Theater. Chicago
is great because I am 5 hours away from St. Louis and my family. Going and
visiting them isn't too expensive and time consuming. And I realize as I answer
this question that I need to start doing that more.
COC: You’ve been doing stand up since
2005. Do you think you’ve “found your voice”? What does that phrase mean to you?
MM: I don't know if I've found my voice yet. I hope so. If not, I think
I'm pretty close. I think the phrase "finding your voice" just means
finding your place in comedy and writing the material that makes you the most
comfortable and confident as a performer and as a person.
COC: You began with improv, and then you
got into stand up. What was it about stand up that appealed to you more than
improv? Do you still do improv? And if not, why not?
MM: When it comes to performing, I'm very selfish. I want to be the only
person on stage at a given time. I also like to take full responsibility on how
well my set goes. Stand up is amazing because of the rush you get. It's so
dangerous and scary. I love when people say, "I can't believe you do
stand-up! I could NEVER get up there in front of people!" I love hearing
that. I love hearing that I can do something that scares a majority of people. I
also love the creative evolution of a stand up bit. I love thinking about
something in the shower in the morning, jotting it down on a piece of paper in
the afternoon, and doing it on stage that night. I haven't done improv in
over 5 years. I just want to do stand-up.
COC: Stand up & improv don't seem to
mix well—for the most part, people either do one or the other. Why do you think
there’s so much separation between two comedic art forms?
MM: I think it’s because the goal of each is to make people laugh.
They’re two very different art forms, but the end goal is the same. I think
performers have a ton of pride in what they do so naturally they will side with
their craft. Its the same reason why Cubs and White Sox fans bicker. Its all
about pride. That being said, if T.J. Jagadowski called me tomorrow and
said "Hey, do you wanna do a two-man show with me?" I'd say,
"Yes. When is call-time?" Of course I would. I'd be stupid not to.
COC: What were some major obstacles you
had to overcome throughout your pursuit to becoming a stand up?
MM: When I was growing up, I had a terrible stuttering problem. The thought
of public speaking scared me to death. But I got tired of living in silence and
fear that I just went out one day and auditioned for a school play. I willed
myself to speak and it worked and I got a part. The next challenge was improv
comedy. Did that. The next step was going on stage with a microphone. And I did
that. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the stutter comes back. But not like it was
when I was a teenager. Nothing makes me prouder than beating that disability.
COC: What annoys you the most about open
mics & open-mikers?
MM: Honestly, probably the only thing is when comics don't thank the
host(s) afterwards before they leave. Being an open-mic host can be awful. You
spend upwards to 4-6 hours out of your night doing what is pretty much a
thankless job. They don't have to put you up, but they do. After your set, just
say "Hey, thanks!" It goes a long way. Really.
COC: Is there such thing to have a joke
that “kills” anywhere, any night? If a joke works wonderfully one night, but
another night it gets zero response, what is that?
MM: Nope. Even if you think you've written the perfect joke, with the
perfect timing, perfect beats, perfect set-up, and perfect punch. And you've
done it every night for a year and get a standing ovation, you will eventually
run into a crowd that just doesn't like you, or the joke. That's the law of
averages.
COC: Follow up to the previous question: Is
there such thing as constantly “killing” night after night? Or, is the comedian
still bound to bomb, no matter what level of experience / success they
reach?
MM: Still bound to bomb. Again, there is going to be a time when the
audience is just not into you. Great example is Dave Chappelle. When he
returned to stand up a few years back after his hiatus or whatever it was, he
was getting heckled at venues by his own fans because he wasn't quoting lines
from his TV show. He walked off stage a few shows. Dave Chappelle, one of the
greatest stand-up comics to ever live, and he was forced to walk off stage.
COC: I understand that you must do the
same joke(s) over & over to be nice & polished. But, how long is too
long to be doing the same joke(s)?
MM: Once the performer stops caring about the joke. An audience can tell
when a comic doesn't care about something he/she is talking about. If the
material doesn't mean anything to you anymore and you're not excited about it
when you write it on your set list, then give it the ax. Or put it away in a
box until you are ready to do your "Farewell Special" in 2045.
COC: What are your thoughts on comedy
festivals?
MM: I haven't done too many festivals, but I love the idea of them. You
get to meet a ton of new people and see old friends. You can sometimes travel
to a place you've never been to before. You get to perform comedy in front of a
brand new audience. Sometimes you will get put on a show with some awesome
comics.
COC: What about those application fees?
Worth it? Or are they a scam?
MM: I think some can be a scam. But the cool thing about comics is that we
watch out for each other when it comes to that department. I've heard plenty of
guys tell me NOT to apply for a certain fest because of that very reason. A
fest that takes money and fucks over comics is usually called out pretty
quickly. However, anytime you basically pay someone to watch a clip of you and
tell you if you are good enough to come to a festival is always a gamble.
COC: Do you think festivals make you
better as a comic?
MM: I'm not sure if festivals make you funnier, but any time you move
outside your comfort zone and perform somewhere new, with new people, new
audience, etc, it will always benefit you.
COC: What inspired you to come up with the
title for this album?
MM: Idiot, to me, is such a hilarious word. It perfectly describes the
theme of the set and myself at certain moments of my life.
COC: Beg, Borrow & Steal was
the name of your debut album. What inspired that name?
MM: My mom actually came up with the name. We were once talking about her
childhood and teen years, and how before she had a job she had to get money
from her mom. She said, "We'd have to beg, borrow, & steal
sometimes." I thought it was just a really cool phrase, so I
"stole" it.
COC: Beg, Borrow & Steal
debuted in the summer of 2011. How have you changed since then--both
comedically, and as a person in general?
MM: I've slowed down. I'm more calm and relaxed on stage. I've learned to
take my time. Back then, I would try to cram as much material into a set as
possible. I'd wind up talking too fast and stuttering, and not making any
sense. Now, I can spend an entire short set just talking about one thing. Personally,
I am more mature. Which is funny considering the title of the album. I'm much
more calm and relaxed off stage as well. I don't drink alcohol like I was, or
really ever. I'm not as self-absorbed as I was 3 years ago, or even last year.
I know that doing an album like this seems self-absorbed, but I can assure you
it’s because I want to do this and document my current material, hopefully get
my name out there, and then move on to the next project.
COC: What are some things you may not have
enjoyed about your debut album, that you hope to improve for the upcoming
album?
MM: It's short. 33 minutes, I think. I've only listened to it a few
times. There is some really solid material on it though. Part of me wishes I
would have held off on it and did it all in one go. That would have been
amazing. Also, I released it at a time when I didn't really have any kind of
marketing. Then again, people really enjoyed it. I got great feedback and I am
definitely proud of it, sure.
COC: By making the album recording a
scheduled event, does it add extra pressure to make it a “perfect” recording?
What would happen if your set does not record to your liking?
MM: It does. Believe me, I've been stressing like shit over it. I want it
to be perfect but I know that's impossible. If something happens where it
doesn't come out right, then that's fine. I'll still release it. Why not? Its a
live recording of a comedy show, and not all shows are amazing. That being
said, don't show up and heckle me.
COC: When do you think is the “right time”
for a comic to record an album?
MM: Whenever they are ready to. I believe there is no right or wrong time
for anything. It's all about then the person is ready, and wants to do
it.
COC: What would you like to accomplish
that you haven’t done already?
MM: Get a TV credit so my family will stop asking me when I'll be on TV.
COC: Is moving out to one of the coasts in
your sights? If so, what do you hope to accomplish by doing that?
MM: I definitely need sunshine and warmth. I think L.A. would be a good
fit for me. Even if comedy doesn't work out those first few years, I can still
spend my nights sitting by the ocean. You have to have other passions in life,
too. You have to remember to be a person and take part in other activities. As
much as I love Chicago, I dislike having 7-8 months of cold and overcast a
year. I don't like sitting inside.
COC: What goals do you have on improving
your act & your craft?
MM: I think my next goal in my writing and performing is going to try to
at least talk about my beliefs on certain things, without coming off too preachy.
I love telling stories on stage and if I can find a way to somehow combine the
two, I'll be happy.
MANKER WISDOM
COC: Final thoughts / words of wisdom for
other comics?
MM: Show up to mics, be thankful to the hosts, be generous to the bartenders,
and be grateful for life. The big one for me. We as comics get to do something
that brings joy to people. It's really easy to be cynical about things when
they aren't going your way, and I'm the worlds biggest cynic at times. But I've
learned this past year, and most people in the scene hopefully learned too,
that life isn't a guarantee. We only have a certain amount of days on this
planet. We need to make the best out of them and support each other. It doesn't
matter who gets booked for what show, or how much exposure a certain comic is
getting, or who get's named "Top Comics To Watch" or whatever. All of
that is arbitrary. The only thing we need to be worried about is how we treat
one another on and off stage. There is going to be a time when we aren't doing
this anymore. Whether it be a year from now or 30 years from now. And when that
day comes, none of this trivial shit will matter, and we'll be mad at ourselves
for wasting so much fucking energy on it in the first place. Also, do mushrooms.
Staff Writer: David Gavri
David Gavri is a stand-up comedian, writer and founder of the online comedy sites Gonzo Fame and Comedy Scene in Houston.
Staff Writer: David Gavri
David Gavri is a stand-up comedian, writer and founder of the online comedy sites Gonzo Fame and Comedy Scene in Houston.