the comic's comic

Meet Me In New York: Nikki Glaser

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

I first met Nikki Glaser in Montreal, where she was one of the "new faces" at Just For Laughs in 2007, but you may have first heard and seen Glaser either as a contestant on Last Comic Standing, her performance on The Tonight Show (Leno edition), or her role in the 2010 documentary, I Am Comic. Unlike many comedians, she moved to NYC from Los Angeles, instead of the other way around. She has a weekly podcast with Sara Schaefer called You Had To Be There, and this summer, Glaser will release a stand-up comedy CD through Rooftop Comedy. If you're not a fan of her, you soon will be. Let's get to know more about her!

Name: Nikki Glaser
Arrival date: September 2010
Arrived from: LA via St. Louis
When and where did you start performing comedy? I started comedy in the Midwest (St Louis and Kansas City, MO) in 2004.
What was your best credit before moving here? The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I moved to LA right out of college, and after nearly three years there, I wanted to try something different. I loved the scene there and the group of comics I came up with, but I feel like LA is a place to go after you've either a) have a job, b) figured out exactly what you want out of the business. I wasn't there yet. So I moved back home to St. Louis where I worked the road steadily for over a year and built my act. Eventually, I needed more than the Midwest comedy circuit could offer, so New York was an obvious choice. I had visited there a ton and had a lot of friends who made the transition onto the NYC scene fairly easy.

Meet Me In New York: Tom Shillue

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Tom Shillue likes to tell stories, and he's good at it. So good he won the ECNY Award this year for Best Storyteller. The year before, he won the ECNY Award for Best One Person Show, Supernormal, which he has revived for a current run at PS 122 that extends through this Saturday, April 9. In my initial review of his show, I called him "our generation's Garrison Keillor." I meant that in only the best way. You may have seen him in the movie, Mystery Team, or in any number of nationwide TV commercials. But let's let Tom (photographed below by Seth Olenick) tell us more about himself.

Name: Tom Shillue
Arrival date: Feb. 28, 1991
Arrived from: Norwood, MA

When and where did you start performing comedy? I attended Emerson College, where I would watch guys like Anthony Clark and David Cross doing comedy, but I did not get up. I was doing sketch with Emerson Comedy Workshop. After a while I started hanging around Catch a Rising Star in Cambridge, and I got up on a few Monday nights. I didn't break into the Boston stand-up scene. Perhaps I should have, but I moved to NYC. Then it took me years to get a footing here.

What was your best credit before moving here? Hosting a live show at Universal Studios in Florida. It was a professional job, and paid salary and benefits. That's where I met Aasif Mandvi. We moved to NYC at the same time, and were show business buddies, trying to crack into the NY scene the old fashioned way.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? The "If you can make it there..." ethos cried out to me. New York! I fancied myself like Jack Lemmon in the apartment, minus the complicated work environment and the suicidal girlfriend.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I was a real go-getter. Aasif and I hit the pavement, answering ads in backstage with 8x10's and cover letters. Within a week I was cast as "the big spender" in an asian karaoke video of the song "Hey, Big Spender". I was paid $100 cash. Off and running!

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from?

Meet Me In New York: Team Submarine

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Two-man comedy can be a tricky thing to pull off, especially if the two men are not brothers, or do not possess an obvious physical dynamic (a la Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello). Team Submarine manages the feat quite well, though. Nate Fernald and Steve O'Brien, pictured here with friends in ICP makeup by David Angelo, are New Englanders who met in Chicago and formed Team Submarine before moving to NYC. David Cross and Bob Odenkirk asked them to open for them when they reunited for live sketch comedy at the Just For Laughs Chicago festival. And starting this Saturday, Team Submarine will host a monthly show at the Creek and the Cave in Long Island City.

Let's get to know them in our first team edition of Meet Me In New York, shall we?

Arrival date in NYC: May of 2008.

Arrived from: Chicago.

When and where did you start performing comedy?
STEVE: I started a sketch group in NH when I was in 8th grade with some friends.  We started doing a monthly show in the basement of a church and then played community centers and opened for a few local bands.  Nate and I met in Chicago and started doing a weekly show that we ran out of a small classroom.

NATE: I started a sketch group in college. The group was called "Sketch 22." And I'm pretty sure there are about 30 other college sketch groups with the same name.

 
What was your best credit before moving here? 
STEVE: I think our best credit was probably performing on The Sound of Young America.

NATE: I still think it was opening up for an improv troupe made up entirely of women over 60 called "Over the Hill-arious." 

 

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else?

STEVE: NY was our choice because we knew we wanted to perform live as much as possible.  We are also closer to our families in New England.  A lot of people don't know this but Nate has five children living Massachusetts.

NATE: I honestly just didn't want to have to deal with owning a car.

Meet Me In New York: Louis Katz

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Louis Katz (pictured below by Mindy Tucker) hit the daily double this week, releasing both a digital album via Comedy Central Records and his first half-hour Comedy Central Presents. I first got to see him live a couple of years ago when he came to New Jersey to film a set for HBO's Down and Dirty with Jim Norton. Doug Stanhope gives him a testimonial for his new CD. Katz also has a seal of approval from Dave Attell, and that should be good enough for you. And like Attell, Katz is a New Yorker now. Before you see him on your TV tonight and stay online to buy his album, let's get to know him!

Name: Louis Katz
Arrival date: April 2009
Arrived from: Los Angeles
When and where did you start performing comedy?  Summer of 2001 in San Francisco/Oakland CA 
What was your best credit before moving here? HBO's "Down & Dirty with Jim Norton"
Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I was living in LA (my hometown) for about three and a half years before I moved to New York.  I was unhappy with the limited amount of stagetime I was getting, and when I tried pitching a show around, no one seemed to take me seriously because I was so unknown.  I thought maybe if I got some more heat doing stand-up, the industry might pay a little more attention to me.  So I decided to move to NY, the best place to live if you want to become a better comedian. 

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I had already worked as a feature act a few times at Gotham before I moved here.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? STAGETIME!!! There's soooo much stagetime in NY, and more often than not, it's quality stagetime, in front of real people and not just other, bitter comedians.  That being said, I'm not one of those people who thinks all LA comedians suck, because they don't.  There's a lot of money to be made there and that attracts some of the best comedians in the business.  One problem with the NY scene, and NY in general, is that people tend to be a bit close-minded, and have little if any awareness of the world outside of NY.  Comedians here seem to be somewhat oblivious to the larger entertainment industry, and for better or for worse, getting into bed with that industry is what's going to raise your profile enough to headline nationally.  Getting passed at a club or booked in the hot alt room of the moment isn't.

Meet Me In New York: Hari Kondabolu

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Hari Kondabolu and I shared a condo in Aspen four Februarys ago. Wait. That sounds weird. Hari Kondabolu is a funny stand-up comedian who's from New York City, but spent time away from the city to develop his comedy skills before coming back. Now look at him. Specifically on Friday, you can look at him when Comedy Central debuts his first half-hour Comedy Central Presents. Let's get to know him better. 

Name: Hari Kondabolu
Arrival date: December 2008
Arrived from: Seattle
When and where did you start performing comedy? I did standup for the first time on January 14, 2000, when I was a 17-year old senior at Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, Queens. I started a comedy night called "Comedy Night" and closed it out with approximately 20-25 minutes of horrible standup comedy. I continued doing horrible comedy during my college years at Bowdoin College and Wesleyan University and during trips back to New York City on breaks from school. I started to perform regularly around October 2005 after I moved to Seattle and discovered a burgeoning alt-scene and a supportive home club in the Comedy Underground. I learned to be funny and hone my skills in Seattle.
What was your best credit before moving here? I performed at the 2007 HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen and Jimmy Kimmel Live (also in 2007) and then Comedy Central's Live at Gotham in 2008.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I grew up in Queens, so moving to NYC was me finally coming home. My parents and brother are here, so I knew I'd be well-supported. It's not quite the same as someone starting fresh in a new city.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? Don't remember. Maybe a couple of months. It was maybe in the range of $5-$20.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from?There are more performance opportunities each night in New York City, but I was definitely getting more consistent, higher quality stage time in Seattle each week. By "higher quality," I mean shows where I could do longer sets (15 minutes or more) in front of decent-sized audiences who were attentive and supportive. Seattle audiences can be really thoughtful and fairly well-read, which worked to my strengths. Polishing a joke in NYC seems to take a lot longer than it did in Seattle and I so I relish every trip back there. Practically speaking, NYC has industry and Seattle does not, so you're limited from a business standpoint. (Though not creatively.) Also, you can't be lazy if you want to make it in NYC and the talent level here is extremely high, so once you kind of know what you're doing, it speeds your development into a more serious comedian.

What tip would you give to any comedian who moves here? Be patient. There are many comedians, and lots of really good ones, in New York City and you have to earn stagetime. I had 2 TV credits and a major festival appearance before I moved back here and my first year in New York kicked my butt. I was doing 5-minute sets in the back of a tea house in Chinatown trying to figure out what went wrong. The best advice I could give a comedian is to NOT start in NYC. Start in a place where you can get lots of stagetime early, build confidence and develop an act. I learned how to feature and headline in Seattle, as well as how to do a tight 7 minutes. I developed my voice and learned how to perform for different audiences. Obviously, there are amazing comedians who started in NYC, but since stagetime is harder to get, you don't get as many opportunities to do long sets early. You have to be better faster here if you want to move up. The comics I've met from Boston, SF and Chicago definitely seem to have a leg up when they get to NYC. (Boston comics are particularly good with their short game and I think Rick Jenkins and the Comedy Studio has a lot to do with that.)

Additionally, NYC is a hard place to live, especially if you're an artist, so you better have your shit together before you come here. Come with a plan and lots of strong videos of yourself. If you're killing it in your old scene, tape yourself as much as you can. Have something to show people when you move. Build relationships with other comics. Try to avoid starting from the ground up again and if you have to start from the bottom, go up a lot and stay focused. If you're here to do this, there's no use getting discouraged and not performing...even if it's the shittiest spot in the world. You came here to do comedy, so do it whenever and wherever you can.

How did growing up in NYC shape your desire to be in show business?

Meet Me In New York: Sheng Wang

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Fun Fact: Sheng Wang was the inspiration for the launch of the "Meet Me In New York" series! When I saw Wang in NYC in the fall of 2009 and learned he had made the move here, I realized that I needed to have a way to spotlight so many of the comedians who come to the big city but may not be making headlines everyday to otherwise cover. Of course, Sheng Wang has made plenty of news recently -- winning NBC Universal's seventh annual Stand-Up For Diversity competition and earning a one-year holding deal with the networks. And this Friday, his first half-hour Comedy Central Presents debuts on Comedy Central. Let's get to know a little bit more about him. Cue the Q&A!

Name: Sheng Wang

Arrival date: Sept. 1, 2009

Arrived from: San Francisco (although I spent two transitional years in LA before arriving in NYC).

When and where did you start performing comedy? In the summer of 2002, I took a joke-writing class that culminated with a showcase to which you invited all your buddies. With friendships on the line, my set went pretty well, and I was emboldened to explore the bustling comedy scene in San Francisco. My first set actual set at an open mic was near the end of the night at a laundromat/cafe called the Brainwash. It was a sobering experience with lots of painful silences. But I made friends with comics already entrenched in the community, and they encouraged me to keep at it. It was a great scene with crazy characters and a number of rooms where anyone could sign up and get stage time throughout the week. Once I saw a guy smoke crack on stage and strapped what looked like a homemade bomb onto his chest. Comedians started barreling for the exits. I stayed seated and stoned. Apparently, it was just a "joke."

What was your best credit before moving here? Live at Gotham

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else?  The traffic in LA is a heartbreaker. I realized that I was getting too comfortable with the culture and the pace of life in the West Coast and wanted a change of scenery to shake things up for myself. I love the conveniences of living in a city where you always have access to cool things happening and you don't have to do some drunk driving at the end of the night. Plus, sometimes when you happen to line up a string of road gigs, you find yourself spending only a few days out of the month actually at home. Given the higher density and late night nature of life in New York, I figured that a few days in NYC goes further than a few days in LA.

Meet Me In New York: Ann Carr

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

One of the great things about this city is that you might never know that the person who lives next door to you could be a genius of some kind. Ann Carr lives a few doors down the block from me, but she is definitely great at being a character actress. She has proven that in multiple one-woman shows -- I reviewed her 2009 piece, "Use It," which has inspired a spin-off web series called The Actress. You can also see her acting in commercials such as Oral-B and Monster.com, as well as her debut tonight on the season finale of Louis CK's FX comedy, Louie. Let's find out more!

Name: Ann Carr
Arrival date: June 1999
Arrived from: Washington, D.C.
When and where did you start performing comedy? In the cradle. And then not until I came to the city and realized I didn't like how overly serious and pretentious so many actors around me were (I spent a LOT of $$ on studio classes when I first came here). And then met my fiance Warren Holstein, who's an amazing stand-up and all-around lovely, goofy fellow. We would get stoned and I would create all these characters and he kept encouraging me to create something with that. So when I got up the nerve to perform in front of crowds I played open mics at Surf Reality and Collective Unconscious when I could get a spot (usually at 1 a.m.). I LOVED discovering that I was a character actress.
What was your best credit before moving here? I played the 40-something Kate Mundy in our college production of 'Dancing at Lughnasa' to much fanfare. Then Meryl Streep blew me out of the water.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I don't like driving and I'm a momma's girl (my family is on the East Coast). Also, because I have a tiny Jewish grandmother in my heart, I had nightmares of being the big-eyed hick from Iowa fresh off the bus in a pill-box hat, holding my baby blue Samsonite and then falling for some smooth talker's schpeel and then suddenly finding myself on the set of a porno.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? Hmmm... a LONG TIME :)

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? There was a scene but I wasn't part of it. I moved up under the premise of auditioning for the League schools. I auditioned for Tisch and Yale, but they didn't want me! I remember walking down Broadway with tears streaming down my face and making a vow to the city that I was here to stay and that I would stick it out until I 'made it'. Of course I had a vague sort of 'somewhere over the rainbow' idea of what that meant.

Meet Me In New York: Jesse Popp

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

You can look around in the so-called alt or indie scene in New York City and ask just about any of the comedians who makes them laugh but doesn't get enough attention for it, and odds are they'll mention Jesse Popp. And that's even after he got profiled by The New York Times?!? Well, this cannot stand. More people should know who Jesse Popp is. So let's get to it. If you go to the big Big Terrific show tonight at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, you'll see Popp on the lineup. And if you go to Beauty Bar in the East Village on Sunday nights (free, 9 p.m.), then you'll see him there, too, since that's his weekly show. You can also follow him on Twitter @jessepopp. Want to know more? Read on...

Name: Jesse Popp
Arrival date: January 2006
Arrived from: At the time I was living in an apartment with my friend Paul in Dearborn, MI. He is now happily married with a kid, but I bet he wishes we were still eating White Castle and setting mousetraps together!
When and where did you start performing comedy? In 2000 I did an open mic at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, MI. I also went up a lot at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.
What was your best credit before moving here? I did Premium Blend in 2002.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? Truth is, it was all pretty slapdash. I’d gone out to New York a few times for shows and had fun, then my friend Vince Averill and I hatched a plan to move out here at the same time and that’s about it. We put on a few one-off shows in some bars when we first got here and then, in August of 2006, we took over the Beauty Bar Comedy Show on Sunday nights when Josh Haness moved to LA. Somehow it’s still going!

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I don’t know if this counts, but one of my first nights in town I did an open mic and won a DJ light kit in a raffle at the end of the show. I lugged it around with me for the rest of the night and then sold it on Ebay for $15.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? Michigan is good because there are a lot of clubs and one-nighters within driving distance so you can sort of work the road without leaving town or skipping work, which allows you to actually make a little money. And Metro Detroit as a whole is pretty diverse, so you get experience with all kinds of different crowds. New York has a more opportunities for stage time in general, though. Also, there are a lot of funny comics here out doing the same shows and looking for more spots, so you always have to keep working on stuff. And just in general, NY forces you to focus more on stand-up, otherwise you feel like a heel for moving all the way out here and spending money just to fart around. Although, I still like to fart around sometimes.

Meet Me In New York: James Smith

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

James Smith is one of my favorite people to talk comedy shop with, because he does not hold back his opinions about anybody. Why not get to know a little bit more about him. Before he was a comedian, Smith was a lawyer in Australia. Since moving here, he has appeared on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, performed at Montreal's Just For Laughs, and even done a gig on the Mayercraft. Tonight, he headlines at Carolines as part of the club's weekly "Breakout Series."

Name: James Smith
Arrival date: March 9, 2005
Arrived from: Sydney, Australia
When and where did you start performing comedy? I started performing at a venue in Sydney called the Comedy Cellar, which no longer exists. It was there for a very short time. And simultaneously, I began performing at the Sydney Comedy Store, which is very much still there, and is probably the premier club in Australia, and that is certainly where I made my bones, came up, as it were, at the Comedy Store.
What was your best credit before moving here? My best credit before moving here would have been Rove Live, which is an Australian Tonight Show format, very successful show. And Tough Crowd (with Colin Quinn), which I managed to acquire before I moved here. So those two.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I chose New York City over Los Angeles, having always had a desire to live in New York, and, extremely intrigued by the excitement of, and the 24-hour schedule that it runs on, so yes, the excitement of New York. It being the city that never sleeps. That sort of drew me to New York. In terms of comedy, it would definitely be the stage time and the comedy scene. There's just ample stage time here. The comedy scene flourishes here. There's really an abundance of venues, and too, I think the crowds here are some of the best crowds in the world. They're extremely engaged in the shows and they give you a good verdict on whether or not your material is funny. And I think they're really truly prepared to listen to whatever ideas you might be exploring. So they're very much up for it, as we would say in Australia. They're up for it. Or a more sophisticated way to say that it is they're certainly prepared to be engaged by any ideas whatsoever, and you can literally say anything to a New York audience and they will generally at least hear you out. They might not laugh, and they might not support you, but they will at least let you have your say. And they're connoisseurs. They're really good crowds here. They're very good crowds. They're comedy fans. Comedy enthusiasts. So for those reasons: the stage time, the excitement, 24-hour lifestyle and the crowds that you get here, the fully-engaged crowds, they really are a good barometer, they give great feedback. For those reasons I chose New York City over Los Angeles.

Meet Me In New York: Ryan Hamilton

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

When I first became aware of Ryan Hamilton, he was a cross between Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, because he told me and the audience so. When I learned he had grown up in Idaho, I, as an Idaho resident for two prime years of my life, felt he was OK in my book. Now let me share him with your book. He has updated his website just in time for you to see him here, or perhaps on the NBC television network's Last Comic Standing. Here's two scoops of knowledge on Ryan Hamilton.

Name: Ryan Hamilton
Arrival date: October 2007
Arrived from: Salt Lake City, UT, but I'm originally from Idaho.
When and where did you start performing comedy? 2001 in Utah. I also spent a little over a year early on in Seattle, and I also consider Boston a comedy home. I grew up in Idaho.
What was your best credit before moving here? Live at Gotham or Last Comic Standing

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I had come here for a couple of days to tape Live at Gotham a year before and I had a great time. I'd spent a lot more time in L.A. and probably had a little more going on there. But, I think I wanted to see for myself if I could make something happen in NYC. I was curious.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? By some magic, the first night I was here a friend got me on a paid show. I didn't know it was paid and the booker called me the next day to tell me I forgot to pick up my money. At that moment, I started to think NYC was going to be easier than I'd expected. No one in comedy anywhere ever had called me before and said, "Hey, you forgot your money." It felt like that thing when someone has never gambled before and then somehow wins big on their first game, I mean wins like a lot too, like $25 or something, it was like that. The show went under the next week, and I didn't get paid again in NYC for about a year probably.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? Salt Lake City to NYC? No difference. Actually, Salt Lake City was great for me. There are three comedy clubs all within about 35 minutes of each other, and I could get a lot of good weekend stage time early on in those clubs. If I mixed it up with some road work, I could get a lot accomplished there. In NYC, of course, there is a big step up in the sheer number of amazingly talented comedians I'm surrounded by every day. That pushes me and forces me to work hard in my own specific direction. Also, when I'm home in NYC, even if I don't have a set planned, I can go out and still meet someone new or learn something new every night. I love that.

Do you already have an "only in New York City" moment yet? I enjoy carrying large pieces of furniture down the street in the middle of a summer night. I think that's a very New York thing to do. In the midst of it you're thinking, "This is great. I love New York. My arms hurt. Why isn't anyone helping us? How long are these blocks?" all the while maintaining a slight smile because of the obscurity of hauling a couch down the street in the middle of the night. I like things like that.

Meet Me In New York: Matt McCarthy

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

The first time I encountered Matt McCarthy (pictured here by Anya Garrett), he was wildly ranting out of a giant book in a tiny room in Mo Pitkin's for a show he ran called "Max." I never learned if he named the show after a person named Max, but I did figure out that this McCarthy (no relation) took his comedy to the max, so to speak. And now you most certainly recognize him either as the "cable guy" from the Verizon TV ad campaign, or from his Front Page Film shorts with Pete Holmes and Oren Brimer. He also hosts AMC's "Action Pack" with fellow comedian Nick Stevens. You'll soon see him in a role in the new Will Ferrell film, The Other Guys.

Matt McCarthy released a new CD this month, Come Clean. His greeting track, a series of character introductions, is one of those bits that's structured in the way that just when you want to stop laughing and think enough, he gets you laughing again, or harder, for four minutes straight. He's also a redhead who won't date a redhead or celebrate St. Patrick's Day, is prone to screaming and sweating, and will do that and more to entertain you. He even dedicated a preview track just for iTunes, and closes by answering 25 questions to know someone better. Here he is answering just a few more for your reading pleasure.

Name: Matt McCarthy
Arrival date: August 31, 1997 (Goodbye England's Rose).
Arrived from: Rumford, RI.
When and where did you start performing comedy? My father's retirement party, I did an impromptu set on my old man. Then I started doing open mics at NY Comedy Club and wanted to kill myself.
What was your best credit before moving here? Captain of my high school swim team.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? There is no choice when New York City is involved.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I don't know, I still don't get paid.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? I started in NYC. There are shows in Providence I guess, but I've never done them.

Do you already have an "only in New York City" moment yet? I was here for 9/11, but that could've happened anywhere like DC or Pennsylvania.

What tip would you give to any comedian who moves here? Perform every night you can, go to as many shows as possible.

Where do you see yourself five years from now? On a hoverboard saving my kid.

If you'd like to see Matt McCarthy live, he'll be starting up a new monthly show at Comix, The Matt McCarthy Stand Up Comedy Comedy Show, debuting May 27. Here's a video promo for his CD, Come Clean, an earlier look at track #15 "abortion" from his Live at Gotham appearance, and CD purchasing info:

Which NYC comedian would you like to see me style and profile next for Meet Me In New York? Send your nominations to: thecomicscomic AT gmail DOT com

Meet Me In New York: Baron Vaughn

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Baron Vaughn (pictured by Anya Garrett) is what we call in the business, one of those quintuple threats. He can write and tell jokes, yes, but he also can act, dance, sing, rap, and has an intangible other quality that probably will revealed to you when you least expect it. You've seen him on Live at Gotham, Black Dynamite, as a talking funny head on VH1. He did HBO's Aspen festival in 2006. You'll see him Friday when The Awkward Comedy Show debuts on Comedy Central, Monday on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, later this month at Bridgetown in Portland, this summer at Bonnaroo, on the big screen in The Other Guys with Will Ferrell, the small screen with Russell Simmons Presents, and this fall in the USA series Facing Kate. So, yeah. The guy's going places. Tonight, you can even see him live in NYC co-headlining at Comix! Let's get to know more about him.

Name: Baron Vaughn
Arrival date: October 2003
Arrived from: Boston, MA via Las Vegas, NV
When and where did you start performing comedy? Boston, MA. A room called "The Vault" beneath Remington's Restaurant on Boylston right in the Emerson College area where every other comedian ever went. It was the summer of 2002. Just got back from a semester abroad watching stand-up and improv every week at the Comedy Store in London and was finally ready to give it a shot. I had wanted to for a while, but I knew that bombing and being awful was a part of the process. Once I got over myself and accepted that I wasn't gonna be a genius the first time I did 5 minutes, I was doing it well like a hook in an LL Cool J song. That song is about comedy, right?
What was your best credit before moving here? Probably "regular around town." A credit of which I was very proud even though it had nothing to do with anything.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? Well outside of saying "New York is the place to BE," I knew, at least for me, that if I wanted to get better there was no other place to go. It's grad school for comedy. I didn't want to go to LA because most things there always seemed more industry focused rather than craft focused. That's NYC vs LA in my opinion. If I moved any place else, it would have been to die.

Meet Me In New York: Victor Varnado

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Victor Varnado (photographed by Rafael Fuchs) is many things. Yes, he is a black albino and he'll be the first to joke about that. Varnado also is a talented comedian, actor and filmmaker. You may have seen him on Conan, or perhaps Julien Donkey-Boy, End of Days, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, or My Name is Earl. And he is the brains behind the camera and sometimes in front of it, helming the stand-up documentary film, The Awkward Comedy Show, which debuts on TV April 9 on Comedy Central, and comes out later this year on DVD. (See my early review, when it was called the Awkward Kings of Comedy) But before all of that. He was just another comedian moving to New York City to make it. In 2007 he was profiled on the cover of the Village Voice. Let's learn more!

Name: Victor Varnado
Arrival date: August 27, 1998
Arrived from: Minneapolis, MN
When and where did you start performing comedy? I didn’t really do a lot of standup until I reached New York. Before that I was working mostly in the exciting field of comedy improvisation. I started with ComedySportz in Minneapolis. Lots of lights and games and generally a good time.
What was your best credit before moving here? Before coming to NYC my biggest part in a movie was starring in an exercise video that was a full-length movie (yeah, I know) and it was based on the wizard of Oz. The woman who played Dorothy was a body builder. (Yeah… I KNOW) I played the tin man.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? It was pretty simple, I had more friends in NYC than I did in LA. I was determined to go out and see if I could “make it” and my buddy Colton was willing to move to NYC with me. We moved into a tiny apartment in the Lower East Side that had a mouse. If only he was a sassy-talking mouse, it wouldn’t have been so gross.

Meet Me In New York: Mike Lawrence

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Mike Lawrence (pictured by Mindy Tucker) may not have won either the Comix "March Madness" nor the Carolines "Final Four" competition this year, though he gave it a good run. Lawrence also was nominated for an ECNY as an emerging comic. And he's definitely got an interesting perspective on life, which shines through in his stand-up. Get to know him! He's emerging!

Name: Mike Lawrence
Arrival date: Jan. 14, 2007 (My birthday, and boy did I bomb that night. The place I ate it at has at least closed down but my memory of that night will always remain open)
Arrived from: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
When and where did you start performing comedy? I started at the Chocolate Moose Coffeehouse on Nov. 5 2005. I'm a very sentimental guy and remember it well. I had done poetry at that place for a few years and just decided that maybe comedy was the better option to artistically express what I was feeling. I had just lost part of my roof in Hurricane Wilma, wrote my first few jokes on a manual typewriter (What idealistic English major doesn't own one of those) and the rest as they say is open mic history.
What was your best credit before moving here? I was the runner-up in a contest at the Miami Improv. I won a turkey.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I picked New York for 2 reasons. The first is that I can't drive because of a motor-skill impairment and this city has great public transportation and doesn't make me feel like a useless cripple the way Florida did. I'm still an emotional cripple, but at least I don't have to beg and fork over tons of gas money to get to gigs. The second is that I'm a gigantic comic book fan and I grew up loving the Marvel Comics version of New York. I live ten minutes away from Spider-mans childhood home in Forrest Queens and have done stand-up across the street where Dr. Strange's Sanctum Santorum is. Well, you know...It means something to me!

Meet Me In New York: Morgan Murphy

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

Everyone has a different reason for coming to New York City to pursue a career in comedy. Just like regular people, some comedians arrive here with a gig already in hand. Morgan Murphy made the trek (back) last year to take a job as a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. She's also up for an ECNY Award for best female stand-up comedian. I think she's very deserving of such honors and praise. Certainly you'd like to know more about her!

Name: Morgan Murphy
Arrival date: February something. 2009.
Arrived from: Los Angeles
When and where did you start performing comedy? Technically my first set was in the front room at the Gershwin Hotel in NYC (I was in the city doing an internship), during the summer of 2000. I think there were 3 people there. After the summer I went back to LA to start my sophomore year in college. That's when I started doing shows regularly.
What was your best credit before moving here? I spent a couple years writing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, but The Guys Choice Awards on Spike is pretty high up on the list.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I had spent two years traveling, doing stand-up for pennies, and going to therapy. Basically, I lived off savings and don't regret it, but just when I figured I'd start working again, the guild went on strike, and then the country plummeted into economic ruin. When the fine folks at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon offered me a job writing jokes in exchange for money, I couldn't refuse. The job happened to be in New York, and that's why I'm here. Not to say I wouldn't have come here otherwise. I always wanted to try it out, mostly for the "abundance of stage time" I've read so much about in the brochures.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I settled into my job for a couple months, then went to clubs and introduced myself. It was intimidating. I spent about 9 years in LA doing stand-up and moving up the ladder or whatever you want to call it, so starting over seemed a little daunting. When I moved, I had friends here at some of the "alt" rooms, but I wanted to do clubs too. I basically introduced myself to bookers, and asked if I could showcase sometime...some said yes, some said "send me an e-mail" and then never got back to me. Stand-Up NY gave me a short showcase pretty quickly, "passed" me, and was the first club to give me a paid spot.

Meet Me In New York: Mark Normand

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl yesterday, and to celebrate, I bring you a look at another stand-up comedian making the transition from Bourbon Street to the Big Apple. Get to know the wry comedic stylings of Mark Normand.

Name: Mark Normand
Arrival date: Aug. 25, 2007
Arrived from: New Orleans, Louisiana (Go Saints!)
When and where did you start performing comedy? The first time I ever did stand-up was in Lafayette, Louisiana, three hours from New Orleans. I was a waiter at a Mexican restaurant in college and a co-worker there did stand up and I thought he was the coolest guy in the world. He mentioned he was doing a spot one night in Lafayette and I asked if I could drive him. When we got there I put my name on the list and spent all the money I had on getting completely sauced and did a set. I bombed and ran the light so bad that they cut my mic and turned on the music. I remember the host did that joke: "Please turn off your cell phones and beepers. And if you still have a beeper. get with it!!" I thought that was brilliant! The hosts name was 'Special Ed'. Then eventually I started doing mics in New Orleans and that's where I met all the New Orleans Jews we all know today.
What was your best credit before moving here? Hmmm...I guess the biggest thing I'd done before I moved here was open for Tom Rhodes at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter. One Eyed Jacks is that type of venue where all the fun "indie" shows happen, every city's got one. It was the scariest show I'd ever done at that point. A huge room, cocktail waitresses, a balcony, even a green room!!! Not to mention, it's the first time my parents would see me perform. I also thought Tom Rhodes would immediately sign me and ask me to tour with him but I couldn't even get him to talk to me because he was too busy doing coke off a key backstage. The most I got out of him was a story about how Louie Anderson tried to seduce him.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I'd lived here before in 2006 because I went to film school at NY Film Academy. I lived in a two-bedroom in midtown with four Indian guys and loved it. I was really bummed when I had to move back. So after I started getting really into stand-up and talking with some other comics about the big move, LA wasn't even an a thought for me. To me, New York is where you get good and LA is that place you go when someone asks you to. I love New York.

Meet Me In New York: Sean Patton

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

I began Super Bowl week with a profile of an up-and-coming stand-up with ties to Indiana, so why not end the week with a look at someone who grew up in New Orleans. Especially when that somebody is making his network television debut tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon! Who Dat? Who Dat be Sean Patton. After performing in alt rooms around New York City, Sean Patton made a big splash in 2008 as a "New Face" at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. You can watch the video I shot with Patton in the hotel lounge a few hours after he became a buzzed-about comic by industry types in Montreal. Now he's ready to make an even bigger splash. So let's get to know more about him.

Name: Sean Patton
Arrival date: March 5, 2007
Arrived from: Los Angeles/New Orleans
When and where did you start performing comedy? In New Orleans years and years ago. It was a very DIY scene. We would all do 20 minute sets at bars that had stages that weren't occupied by shitty cover bands or hip hop groups or Zydeco bands or shitty comics. The scene was very small then, maybe 25 comics (ran the gamut from hack to savant) and you got up a max of 6 or 7 times a month IF you were good. The scene is much bigger and better now. There are more comedians and better comedians. There's a comedy theater and a club that is opening this summer. Who Dat?
What was your best credit before moving here? Surviving Hurricane Katrina

Meet Me In New York: Dan St. Germain

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

You know how they say sometimes you need to leave the city you live in to find success? Well, most comedians who move to New York City do that, but I bring it up because the first time I really saw the funny potential of one Dan St. Germain, we were both in Boston and not one of the many NYC shows at which I could have seen him. St. Germain might not have won 2009's Boston Comedy Festival contest, but under all of that hair there's some funny stuff coming out of his mouth. He also went to college in Evansville, Indiana, which is about as close as I can come to finding a funny Indiana transplant not named Jim Gaffigan in advance of the Colts trip to the Super Bowl. Fun facts. Let's find out more!

Name: Dan St. Germain
Arrival date: May 2006
Arrived from: College in Indiana though I’m originally from Jersey.
When and where did you start performing comedy? I‘d done standup three or four times before I came here. Once in college, three times in high school. I guess I really got my start in NYC, Sept 2006.
What was your best credit before moving here? As far as my best credit before NYC is concerned, I’ll go with the one show where I wasn’t heckled. I opened for my friend’s jam band. I think it’s cause everybody was tripping really hard and they were too scared to tell me I sucked.

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I picked NYC because I don’t have a car and cocaine was more expensive in LA at the time. In LA everyone’s act is just another way for them to show off their acting chops. “My Boss is meaner than Richard the 3rd! You don’t know who Richard the 3rd is? Let me refresh you… “Tis’ the winter of our discontent…

Meet Me In New York: Harrison Greenbaum

What do they say about New York City: There are eight million stories, and sometimes it seems as though eight million of the people telling them think they're comedians? No, that's not it. It is a fact, though, that America's biggest city is also its biggest comedy mecca. Hollywood may be Hollywood, but New York City is where comedians are born funny, become funny or arrive to thrust their funny upon us. I think we should meet some of these people. This is a new recurring feature, a mini-profile of newcomers, up-and-comers and overcomers of New York's vibrant comedy scene. It's called Meet Me In New York.

When I wrote about comedian Harrison Greenbaum co-hosting the first-ever official Times Square live New Year's Eve webcast, perhaps a few of you said, who's this kid? But if you lived in New York City's comedy scene in 2009, you probably knew exactly who he was, because he performed seemingly everywhere last year. Did you know, however, that he really is still a kid, fresh out of college? Did you know that he interned for the Internet's Julia Allison and NonSociety and lived to tell about it? Did you know he's already a member of the Friars Club? Hey. How about I stop asking questions without giving you answers. To the Q&A!

Name: Harrison Greenbaum
Arrival date: Dec. 29, 2008
Arrived from: Boston
When and where did you start performing comedy? I was actually a magician before becoming a stand-up comedian. I began doing magic when I was 5 and started doing comedy magic professionally when I was 12, performing at various private functions and public shows around Long Island, where I grew up. In college, however, I realized I was using magic as a vehicle for my comedy -- my passion was really for the comedy and the joke writing. If I use that as my starting point -- that shift from comedy magic to stand-up comedy -- I've been performing stand-up comedy since 2004. My development as a stand-up comic was definitely in Boston.

What was your best credit before moving here? While living in Boston, I performed in the Boston Comedy Festival and the New York Underground Comedy Festival, had a weekly show at the Sage Theater in Times Square (I started it while on summer break in New York and continued to co-produce it from Boston, booking the acts, managing the website, and helping with key decisions, sometimes doing the show by jumping on a 4 p.m. bus to New York the night of the show, getting back on the bus by 12:30 a.m., and being back in Boston by 5 a.m. so that I could make my 9 a.m. classes that day), and was a regional semi-finalist in RooftopComedy.com's National College Comedy Competition. I was also (and still am) writing for MAD Magazine (I had my first major article published while I was a senior at Harvard).

Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I was still trying to make up my mind between moving to NYC or L.A. post-graduation when I got the opportunity to go to L.A. as part of a school trip my senior year of college. We had nights free to do whatever we wanted, so I spent my nights performing at the comedy clubs in the area. While at the Improv, I had the opportunity to pick Joe Rogan's brain about whether or not I should move to NYC or L.A. and he had some really good advice: "You move to New York to create and develop your product (your comedy); you move to L.A., once you're ready, to sell it." (I'm paraphrasing a bit.) I think he was dead-on. Not only are there more comedy clubs and alternative rooms in New York than there are in L.A., but they're closer together and more reachable by public transportation. As a result, you can get more stage time here not only because there are more clubs and alt venues but because you physically/geographically can do more spots each night. I've done 10 spots on a busy Saturday while in New York (all without driving); that's just not possible in L.A. There are also mores places in New York to work on your stuff away from the eyes of the industry, which means you have more opportunity to take chances with your comedy. On top of that, my family lives in Long Island, so I can see my family whenever I want. That's definitely a huge bonus.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? I actually didn't make the move to New York City until I had enough paying gigs lined up for it to make sense to make the move. During the months leading up to my college graduation, I started lining up dates in New York, so I moved back home to Long Island with performances in and around the city already scheduled. That was June 2008. By December 2008, I was doing enough paid gigs that the move to New York City made sense financially, artistically, and career-wise. (Financially, I could do more gigs if I lived in the city, especially ones that were booked last minute, and this increase in revenue from those gigs balanced out -- if not exceeded -- the increase in living expenses I would have. Artistically, moving to New York meant I had an increased ability to get on stage, plus being able to live alone in my own apartment gave me the space and freedom to write more, to create more, and to live a comedian's hours without disturbing anyone. Career-wise, living in the city made it easier to have meetings, rehearsals, and auditions during the day and shows at night, which was important, too.) As a result, I moved to New York City with paid gigs already lined up -- in fact, the day I moved into my apartment, I had to take a break from unpacking to do a paid spot at a comedy club.