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In the three years I’ve been in Chicago trying desperately to make a living as a comedian/writer/actor, I’ve slowly come to the realization that the comedy/improv scene in this city is very comparable to high school. Who could forget those quality days that were rampant with jealousy, gossip, and phoniness? And, don’t deny that you have tried to forget them.
I know from my other “real” jobs that jealousy and gossip can be found in pretty much any profession; however, I see an unmistakable prevalence of pettiness in the entertainment industry. Not that surprising when you think about it, considering the nature of the work we do allows us to remain childish and unprofessional unlike people in other professions who have to at least pretend to be adults. The parallel between the social hierarchy in high school and the social dynamic of this business can be frustrating. As in high school, the comedy scene contains cliques, comedians who work and run rooms together and rarely let in outsiders. This practice has positive and negative aspects.
Obviously, comedians want to create a clique of talented people with whom they can collaborate in hopes of moving ahead in this business. The down side is that new comedians have to kiss ass and jockey to get to sit at the cool kids’ table, and this barrier keeps some good comedians from getting booked at the better rooms in the city. In this sense, we are unwittingly keeping the Chicago comedy scene from realizing its full potential, which doesn’t help any of us in the big picture.
A high school flashback occurs in the form of jealousy, which becomes evident among comedians when one of our brethren gets a break and jumps ahead in the game. We all love each other and share something unique in the sense that we are a part of a very small percentage of the population that is willing to get on stage alone and try to make people laugh. We have an innate understanding of what drives a person to risk ridicule and rejection to pursue a passion even though the odds of being successful are steep. We get each other, and we support each other to a degree; however, because we are competitive by nature, it is hard for us to avoid becoming jealous when one of our peers gets a break we think we deserve. Hopefully, we will handle our jealousy in a more proactive way than we did in high school.
Jealousy is a complex emotion, and it can be unhealthy or it can become an asset. Unhealthy jealousy is evident when comics try to minimize the accomplishments of fellow comedians. Most comics are competitive and feed off a need to be the center of attention, so it is only natural that we get a little jealous when another in our ranks catches a break whether it is earned or not. A healthy way to deal with the jealousy you may feel welling up inside is to use it as a motivator. Convince yourself that if someone who is at a similar comedic level as you are has done well, that is a sure sign that you have a chance to do the same thing. Consider the other person’s success as a testament to the possibilities on your horizon. Then go out and work your ass off to get your piece of the pie.
The business of stand-up comedy is not unlike high school because with the absence of an established management system, we are left to our own devices in dealing with advancement within our profession. Sadly, at times, we revert back to the social hierarchy of high school with its emphasis on the clique mentality, and that hurts our business. The way to promote Chicago comedy is to do away with the cool kids’ table and let the talent rise to the top. It is time to graduate and leave the petty bullshit behind. With all that said I have compiled my “Senior Superlatives” list of local comedians you may or may not have heard of.
Most Likely to Succeed:
-Male: TJ Miller, with Carpoolers being picked up for ABC’s fall line-up you could argue he’s already succeeded. The sitcom penned by a Kids In The Hall alumni Bruce McCulloch features this popular Chicago comedian.
-Female: Lauren Bishop, besides being a hilarious stand-up comedian she is also a great actor and singer and regularly performs at rooms like The Improv and Zanies.
Personality Plus:
-Male: Nick Lullo, one of the nicest people you’re ever going to meet. Runs The Blu Mic at The Apollo Theatre on Lincoln Ave every Thursday and Friday night right here in Chicago.
-Female: Hannah Gansen, this local female favorite is as sweet as she is funny and can be seen all over the city at rooms like The Lincoln Lodge and Chicago Underground Comedy
Mr. and Ms. Sex Appeal:
-Male: Daryl Amendes, this guy is hilarious and drives the female comedy fans crazy with is comedy, rapping, and improv skills.
-Female: All the female comedians in this city ooze sex appeal. What’s hotter than a funny girl?
Best Dressed:
-Yeah right, we’re comedians we all dress like shit.
Where do I fit in? It wouldn’t be fair for me to make that assumption but I’m sure any comedian in the scene would be willing to tell you. The good news is that as a fan of stand-up comedy you can enjoy good shows and comedians without being caught up in our often times petty and cut-throat world. So come out and enjoy the great shows and comedians this city has to offer.
• "The Struggling Comic" appears exclusively in Lumino Magazine. Dustin White is a comedian/writer/actor living in Chicago. You can reach him through his Web site at www.dustinwhitecomedian.com. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
