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Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest: Inside the Rise with Steve Capers
Episode 158 • 30th July 2024 • TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective • TonyTidbit ™
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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest: Inside the Rise with Steve Capers

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In this episode of the Black Executive Perspective podcast, hosts Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed interview Steve Capers, CEO of Knock Knock Comedy Productions. They discuss the growth and cultural impact of the Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest, from its modest beginnings in 2010 to becoming a global phenomenon. The conversation delves into the evolution of African American comedy, highlighting key historical figures and the influences of various comedic styles. Capers shares personal anecdotes and insights, emphasizing celebrating and promoting African American humor. The episode also explores the creation of Black Comedy Month in August and its various associated events. Throughout the discussion, Capers offers advice for aspiring comedians and entrepreneurs, emphasizing patience, perseverance, and the importance of positive associations.

▶︎ In This Episode

  1. 00:00: Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts
  2. 00:41: Welcome to Black Executive Perspective
  3. 01:34: Today's Special Guest: Steve Capers
  4. 02:17: Steve Capers' Journey in Comedy
  5. 06:23: The Evolution of African American Comedy
  6. 15:04: Impact of Def Comedy Jam and Comic View
  7. 19:11: Building the Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest
  8. 24:19: The Art of Comedy: Intellectual Humor
  9. 25:16: Celebrating Black Comedy Month
  10. 28:21: Martha's Vineyard: A Cultural Hub
  11. 33:07: Building a Comedy Festival
  12. 34:33: Advice for Aspiring Comedians
  13. 37:02: The Role of Support and Partnership
  14. 41:39: Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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Transcripts

Steve Capers:

It was a Dave Chappelle, uh, show and we were doing a focus group

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and this is when he was applying KKK

and he was throwing out the N word and

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I'm around all these white people and

it was funny, you know, but I thought, I

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didn't know it was uncomfortable for me.

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And so I did stand up and I explained

to them that, you know, Dave

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Chappelle is a genius in this comedy.

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He's funny, but I said, I think

what's happening is that you're

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missing the context of the joke.

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He's, he's telling you

that racism is taught.

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It's a learned behavior.

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We'll discuss race and how it plays

a factor, and how we didn't even talk

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about this topic because we were afraid.

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A black executive perspective.

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Welcome to a black executive perspective

podcast, a safe space where we

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discuss all matters related to race,

especially race in corporate America.

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I'm your host, Tony.

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And I'm your co host Chris Perry.

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So again, we are live at WNHU 88.

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7 on the Richter dial, the

university, new Haven podcast studio.

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We want to thank our partners for

being so gracious and allowing the

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black executive perspective podcast to.

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Promote this important topic.

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So go chargers continue to have a

good time over the summer Also, let's

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remember to check out our partners

at code m magazine whose mission is

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saving the black family by first saving

a black man That is code m magazine

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code m magazine two m's Thanks, Chris.

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Yeah, definitely check them out.

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So today we're going to have some fun.

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All right.

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Uh, in this episode, we're going

to chat with Steve capers, CEO of

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knock, knock comedy productions about

the rise of the Martha's vineyard

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comedy fest from a modest gathering

to a global cultural phenomenon.

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Steve will share insights into

the festival's beginnings.

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Its growth and its

significant cultural impact.

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We will also explore key moments, how

the festival supports emerging talent

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and the creativity and challenges behind

making the Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest

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a pivotal event in the comedy world.

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So I wanna set the stage by

first giving a little bit about

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Steve and and his antics, right.

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So Steve Capers founded Knock

Knock Comedy Productions, uh,

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and launched his career in comedy

while at Martha's Vineyard in:

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He envisioned a comedy festival

spotlighting up and coming African

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American comedians leading to the

first Martha's Vineyard Comedy

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Fest in 2010, which starred Damon

Williams, Chicago's own, and A.

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J.

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Jamal.

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This event eventually evolved into

the Black Comedy Month, that's

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trademarked by him, in 2017, a

prestigious celebration of black comedy.

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Before founding this company, Steve

worked for Comedy Central and BET,

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where he organized events with top

comedians and promoted iconic shows.

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In 2003, he began producing comedy

events for various organizations,

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significantly impacting Chicago's comedy

scene alongside comedian Damon Williams

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with their monthly show, Funny First

Saturdays, inspired from a young age

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by his Tony award winning aunt, uh,

Virginia Capers, shout out, uh, Virginia.

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Um, Steve has been pivotal in promoting

African American comics and talent,

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offering both laughter and cultural

appreciation throughout his work.

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Steve Capers, welcome to a Black

Executive Perspective Podcast, sir.

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Well, Chris and Tony, it is my pleasure.

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Thank you for the introduction.

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Uh, I want to really get at it

and just talk all about comedy

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and how African American humor is

something we need to celebrate.

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We need to continue

laughing and just have fun.

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Sometimes we've got to

make light of situations.

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Uh, just to kind of cope and,

uh, it is a good medicine.

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It's a good remedy.

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And you know, the comics I deal

with, they turn this whole comedy

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thing into a great art form.

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And for me to have a stage, a platform

for them to showcase their talent,

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their originality, their uniqueness,

uh, it's unbelievable what they do

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on Martha's Vineyard every August.

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So currently you and your family.

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Uh, where do you reside and, and, and

give me a little bit more about your

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family connections to Martha Vineyard.

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So we're actually all over the map,

you know, so we've lived in Chicago,

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New Orleans, um, currently live in DC

or really outside of DC and Maryland.

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But, uh, we've been vacationing in

Martha's Vineyard for the past 20 years.

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And so with that.

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The notion of doing comedy came up, you

know, as an activity, and we wanted to

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start it kind of small at first, but

it has grown into this, uh, awesome

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experience, this awesome comedy festival.

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And so, uh, You know, but we've been

doing the show for now, this is our

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13th year and we're excited about it.

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We got big names coming.

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We have everyone from D.

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L.

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Hughley, Sherry Shepard, Kemp Whitley.

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We have a comedy legend, Marshall

Warfield and so many others.

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And it's always hosted by my best,

one of my best friends, my dear

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friend, uh, comedian Damon Williams.

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Wow, buddy.

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I mean, I'm excited.

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Actually, I'm going to be there, Steve.

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Um, you know, we're heading out, uh, July

19th, so I'm going to be there, buddy.

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So you just got my mouth watering.

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Uh, I, I, I know I got

a ticket waiting for me.

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I, I'm pretty sure I do.

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I hope so, right?

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Oh, I tell you, boy, it's real.

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Ain't all of a sudden

nobody know you, right?

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Nobody know you right.

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. But listen buddy, we got a ticket for you.

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It sounds so exciting, my man.

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So, real quick though, tell us a

little bit of why did you want to

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come on a Black Executive perspective

podcast to talk about this topic?

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Well, one of the things, this is a

safe environment, you know, and I

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think, you know, the fellowship of, uh.

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Black men getting together, able to

talk business, able to talk shop.

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I think that's very important.

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And so, you know, we all come

from different backgrounds

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and, you know, and experiences.

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So I think what I have is really unique

and what I like to do is provide, maybe

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inspire or whatever the case may be to

other black men and women for that case.

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But, uh, you know, I've been doing

this thing for 20 something years now.

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And so, uh, I feel that

I have a lot to offer.

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Hey, this is a great

platform to showcase this.

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Well, listen, buddy, I

really appreciate that.

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So look, let's, let's, let's

get to the nuts and bolts, man.

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Are you ready to talk about it?

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Let's talk about it.

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All right, buddy.

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Let's talk about it.

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So you know what?

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One of the things that stuck with me

with you, uh, Steve was it amazed me how

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much of a historian you are, have become.

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And so when you think about the history

of African American comedy and humor, what

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are some of the unique characteristics,

some of the unique pioneering

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figures, you know, how do you see?

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How we are now and where we came from.

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Well, I mean, that's a huge title.

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You gave me a kind of a

story on black comedy.

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Uh, you know, I looked at D militant.

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He was the one that was carrying the

torch for us in terms of documenting.

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He has a book called how we

laugh or what made us laugh.

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I can't remember the title of

him, but it's a great book.

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It documents everything.

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And it goes way back to the Burt Williams.

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Uh, and even further than that, I

mean, my role model, believe it or

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not, as a guy named Pat Chappelle.

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Pat Chappelle was in the early

:

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did the whole vaudeville thing and

just taking black entertainers and,

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uh, and traveling throughout the

South, you know, segregated South.

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But yet he did such a great job where

he was able to go into mainstream.

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So he was attracting the

white audience as well.

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And so it's always impressive

when you could see someone like

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a Kevin Hart who can cross over,

but still be black, you know.

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Maintain his African American humor,

but it can be on the main stage when

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you look at a Dave Chappelle, you

know, those guys are huge, but, you

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know, it's only so many of those.

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And so what I like to do with my festival

is actually provide that platform

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to showcase the variety originality.

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And, you know, and be a Dave, be a

t Chappelle, you know, of the:

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if you will, but then there's other

people like Mary Lindsay, uh, you

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know, with, with all jokes aside in

Chicago, Raymond Lambert, you know,

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these, these some guys that, you know,

basically built a road for the Bernie

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Macs of the world, um, George Wilborn.

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I mean, that list continues, you know,

everybody kind of got their start.

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And this kind of small 200 seat club.

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So now that I have a theater, you know,

I got the footprint and Martha's Vineyard

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is actually going to be the Mecca.

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That's what we're branding it as

the Mecca of black comedy, you know?

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So now this time we kind of control

the narrative, if you will, and

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don't have to wait for Hollywood.

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We're looking at different platforms, like

with shares, though, where we could put.

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Uh, content on there and,

and, and, and be worldwide.

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So there's so much we're trying to do

and so much to do and, uh, and people

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like you give them, you know, BUP give

me the opportunity to talk on this

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platform just helps us spread the word.

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So Steve, let me ask you this.

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I mean, number one, thank you for that,

my friend, you, you, I mean, you there's,

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when we think about it, you know, the

African American has been pivotal.

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In the history of comedy, right?

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And you just talked about

it, you know, Vaudeville.

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You, you named a few individuals

that I didn't, I'm not even aware of.

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But we can talk about Moms Mabley.

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We can talk about Red Fox.

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We can talk about, you know, Bill Cosby.

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We can, Richard Pryor.

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We can just keep going and on and on.

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And you just, you mentioned

today, you know, Dave Chappelle.

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Yeah, Dave Chappelle and

Kevin Hart and others, right?

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Talk to us real quickly, a little bit

about how the styles have changed from

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the times when you, from vaudeville

to where we are in:

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comes to African American comedy.

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So back in the day, um, you probably

were actually more talented because

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you sang, you dance and you told jokes.

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So you know, when the era of Dick

Gregory came about, that's when you

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stood flat footed and that's when you,

you know, you had to have some delivery.

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And so there's different

styles in terms of.

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Like I could go to, um, you know,

so if you look at Dick Gregory,

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his style is very political.

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Uh, he's intentional with trying to, you

know, not only tip your funny bone, but

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actually hit your heart and hit your mind.

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So that's kind of more of

that intellectual comedy.

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But then you got more slapstick,

you know, or, um, you can have that,

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what they call that raw comedy.

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You know, it's just different styles.

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What we have at Martha's Vineyard is

something we call cultivating comedy.

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You know, we're here to uplift, you know,

uh, you know, I don't censor comics,

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but what I do tell them is that they

can't use any derogatory terms, you

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know, so you're not calling women bees

and you're not using N words and stuff

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like that, unless it's part of the joke.

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So we're not Christian comedy.

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We're not corporate comedy.

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We're just straight funny without

having to be using derogatory terms.

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But now with the internet.

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You know, you got so many

people who are doing skits.

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So it's almost like we're coming

back to the vaudeville era, you know?

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But stand up comedy is where my heart is.

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And that's where I look at it as a

true art form to make people laugh.

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Got it, buddy.

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So look, we talk in art form.

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You just went through from slapstick

to stand up, you know, to politico.

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So now let's talk about

decades, my brother.

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Uh, Eighties and nineties, right?

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Where do you stand in terms of, you

know, the best decade for comedy?

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Well, the best decade for me,

I would say it was the late

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eighties and early nineties.

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Uh, that's when I kind of came into

the comedy scene, you know, having the

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opportunity to be in Chicago at all jokes

aside, that was just something you did.

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It was kind of a cultural thing, you

know, cause you were able to see, and this

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is at the time, the height of the bull.

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So you can see Michael Jordan.

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You can see a Scottie Pippen,

a Dennis Robin at these clubs.

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Uh, so it was kind of

like, who can you see?

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While doing that I was able to

see different comedians come,

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you know The label Crawford's of

the world that Chris rocks of the

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world before they became big names.

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And so

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You know, it's just one of

those things where wait, i'm

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almost kind of blanked out.

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What your question?

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No, no, no So look at that question.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, so 80s 90.

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So look, you know, I eddie murphy,

you know, uh, um Robert Townsend,

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you know, I think of them more the

80s type, you know, stuff, right?

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And then you had 90s where you had

DL Hughley You had a bunch of those

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individuals come up and and take it

So I was just like from that time

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frame who what do you think was the

best time from a comedy standpoint?

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This is kind of say who's the best

ballplayer ever, you know, or,

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you know, or our team is at the

Boston Celtics back in the day, or

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I mean, things have changed, but

I tell you, I had an interview the

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other day with Marsha Warfield.

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Uh, and one of the things, one

of the questions that we had for

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her was, if it wasn't for you,

would there be a Tiffany Haddish?

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If it wasn't for you, would

there be a Whoopi Goldberg?

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If it wasn't for you,

would it be a Monique?

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And so, or some more, I mean, the names

continue and, and they're humbling.

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And her response was, if it wasn't

me, it was going to be somebody else.

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I was like, Whoa, that's, that's deep.

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But you know, we looking at you as

a comedy legend and you had to, you

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know, she's gay, you know, so she

had more obstacles, but yet she was

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still able to get on stage, stand

flat footed and make people laugh.

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So, um, but just hearing

her humble opinion, cause.

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It just depends on what

generation you grew up in.

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I mean, because Eddie Murphy was funny.

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No, not was, but is funny.

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Uh, Martin Lawrence, funny.

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You know, so all of these guys have

done movies, they've done sitcoms.

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So it's kind of hard, but I know I'm most

familiar with the eighties and nineties.

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That was my era.

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Had a good time.

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And then in the early 2000s, stand

up comedy for African Americans

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kind of took a drop because

there were limited comedy clubs.

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So, you know, so now what's happening is

comedians have to create their own space.

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So they were getting running out

their own rooms and trying to promote.

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And.

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You know, what comedians,

they just want to be artists.

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They don't really want to

be out there promoting.

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They don't want to be organizing.

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They don't want to do any of that.

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So someone like me,

that's where I come in.

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And so, my relationship with

Damon Williams is that he's

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the face of my festival.

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I'm behind the scenes.

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You know, so we're not

stepping on anybody's toes.

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You know, they come to see him.

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They're not necessarily coming to see me.

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So, you know, from an

operational standpoint, you

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know, I do an excellent job.

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And as a comedian, artist, Damon,

you know, has that front row.

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So, you know, I do have favorite comics.

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But I just don't have one, you know, so

again, it's who, what's the best era.

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I mean, It's just hard to tell, but

Dick Gregory back in the 60s was tough.

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Then you got Flip Wilson.

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You had Moms Mabley back then.

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Pig Meet Martin.

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Uh, I mean, it's just, it's hard.

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And then, and then I'm kind of giving

you my political answer, basically.

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You know, I'm not trying to, you know,

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Let me ask you a different

perspective on the same question.

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So, obviously, when I was young,

young, you know, you had stand up

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specials, you know, you had Damon

Williams and, and, uh, or Damon Wayans,

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excuse me, Damon Wayans and, and,

uh, Eddie Murphy and folks like that.

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And they would do the hour

long joints and you see it on

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HBO and everything like that.

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And then there was the evolution of

deaf comedy jam and comedy, right?

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And now you have more comics top to bottom

that you were able to see per capita.

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And that, you know, they went

through the crucible and made

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their way onto the mainstream.

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And then that kind of dropped off was,

in my opinion, or in my history, that

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seemed to be The heyday because you

just every night you turned on Miss

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Laura was cooking in the kitchen and you

had all these people whether it be D.

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O.

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Hughley, you had so many

different people that hosted it.

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Uh, uh, even my man, Gary Owens, you

know, you have folks that could get up

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there and you could see them on TV and you

didn't have to go into the back rooms or

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the clubs and, and all this other stuff.

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Um, was that good for comedy

or did that turn out to be

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bad for the black comedians?

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Because for whatever reason,

you know, That didn't maintain

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itself like I thought it would.

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So when we started getting TV exposure

like that, that kind of eliminated

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the black comedy club because what's

happening now is that these, these

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guys got their visibility and so

now they can sell out theaters, you

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know, now they can sell out arenas.

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So the small guy kind of got pushed

aside, but now you have the internet.

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So, Now you got so many different

platforms, digital platforms for

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people to showcase, I mean, whether

it's YouTube and then if you look at

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someone like Netflix, they've done a

great job of, uh, doing a lot of standup

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comedy, you know, special, um, then

you got Peacock, I mean, there's Hulu.

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I mean, it's just so

many different avenues.

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But now, again, you know,

what's the pinnacle?

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Is Netflix the pinnacle

with streaming services?

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You know, everybody

wants a Netflix special.

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So, you know, when I came in, or when I

started thinking about being cognizant

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of Black comics, we talk about the Eddie

Murphy delirious, we talk about the Damon

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Wayans, uh, The Last Stand, and, and

these type of specials that were hour

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long specials, even the Chris Rock, From

a long time ago to me, and I know you

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had your own perspective of the heyday.

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It was when Def Comedy Jam and comic

view, when you had the Gary Owens and,

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and, uh, DL Hughley roasting people

on the stage and that kind of stuff.

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That seemed to be when it really

picked up and started to move

334

:

where every day I could turn in

and see somebody beyond the Apollo.

335

:

Um, what did you think that translated to?

336

:

What you guys do and how that affected

the ecosystem of black comics.

337

:

Yeah.

338

:

So when you look at the comic views of

the world, the deaf comedy jams, you

339

:

know, they were getting all this exposure.

340

:

Uh, it was almost kind of like a

marketing tool for these comics.

341

:

So then what happened, they kind of

got too big for the small comedy club,

342

:

you know, cause they could sell out

the aiders, they could sell out arenas.

343

:

And so It was a good thing,

but it was also a bad thing.

344

:

But now you have the Internet, so

now you have different platforms.

345

:

So that's the beauty of it.

346

:

So you do have the Netflix.

347

:

You do have the Hulu.

348

:

You do have something like Scherzo,

which is a black owned streaming

349

:

service, which is everything comedy.

350

:

So, Uh, it's just interesting how things

change, but they kind of stay the same,

351

:

but the thing you're, you're, you're,

you're pretty much your materials is

352

:

exploited because once you put it out

there, somebody can look at it and

353

:

try to do a variation of your joke.

354

:

And so now it's tougher

on stand up comedian.

355

:

They have to be original.

356

:

They have to be the first to

come out with something so they

357

:

can claim it as their joke.

358

:

But I mean, there's, Everybody pretty

much kind of tells the same joke.

359

:

It's just your delivery.

360

:

It's your style and you know,

it's your, your comfort level.

361

:

So, um, but yeah, but.

362

:

You know, it's still amazing.

363

:

It's still exciting.

364

:

And so I look forward to

whatever comes, you know, our way

365

:

through the digital technology.

366

:

And you know, my friend, you, you

know, you'd spoke about it earlier.

367

:

You have, uh, you've built up the Martha's

Vineyard comedy fest from nothing, right.

368

:

Uh, a place where, you know, the upper

class go and vacation and, and play

369

:

golf and, and, and the whole nine yards.

370

:

And now it's a cultural phenomenon.

371

:

Yeah.

372

:

Okay, where now people go and while

they're on vacation, they can laugh,

373

:

they can have fun, but they can also meet

new comics or they can meet some of the

374

:

people that been around for a long time

that they may have had a hard time being

375

:

able to go to a club to see now they

can see him here in Martha's Vineyard.

376

:

So tell us a little bit, you know,

we're going to, we're going to

377

:

play a clip of one of your, your

comedians, but tell us a little bit

378

:

how you got this off the ground.

379

:

And what was the vision in terms of

where it started to where it is today?

380

:

Well, the thing is, I wanted to be,

this festival to be embedded into

381

:

the culture of Martha's Vineyard.

382

:

I mean, I wasn't there to make

any kind of transaction to

383

:

get rich fast kind of thing.

384

:

I, I had a purpose.

385

:

And so, uh, When I was at Comedy Central,

I'll tell you this quick little story.

386

:

Uh, it was a Dave Chappelle, uh,

show, and we were doing a focus group.

387

:

And this is when he was a blind KKK,

and he was throwing out the N word,

388

:

and I'm around all these white people.

389

:

And it was funny, you know,

but I thought, I didn't know,

390

:

it was uncomfortable for me.

391

:

And so I did stand up and I explained to

them that You know, Dave Chappelle is a

392

:

genius in his comedy, he's funny, but I

said, I think what's happening is that

393

:

you're missing the context of the joke.

394

:

He's telling you that racism is taught,

it's a learned behavior, but you guys are

395

:

laughing at his throwing, you know, the

N word, and why does he have to do that?

396

:

So if he was doing a skit where he's

using derogatory terms about your

397

:

race, your sexuality, or something

like that, how would you feel?

398

:

And so You know, weeks later, we all

got laid off from Comedy Central.

399

:

And so I hope that story, I

hope that, that, that it's a

400

:

little quick, you got somebody.

401

:

So you got everybody got laid off.

402

:

No, we, we had done our job

and we exceeded our goals.

403

:

Uh, it was no more growth

for us for Comedy Central.

404

:

But so one of the things I did was like,

well, shoot, I mean, I know all these

405

:

comedians, let me start my own company.

406

:

And.

407

:

I wanted to make sure that

I wasn't being a hypocrite.

408

:

So that's why I came up with

this cultivating comedy.

409

:

Again, just no derogatory terms, but

you know, we're not, we could be edgy.

410

:

We could be.

411

:

a little corporate here and there,

but it's all about the culture.

412

:

And so that's where we are.

413

:

And so when you show clips of, uh,

Alonzo Bolden, whoever, uh, you'll

414

:

see that he gets into the culture.

415

:

So we're embedded in the culture

of Martha's Vineyard, and we're not

416

:

there for any kind of transactional

type of scenery, and right now we

417

:

celebrate 13 years and I look forward

to another 20, 30, 40 years of this.

418

:

Well, yeah, well, let's play that clip.

419

:

Let's play that clip that we have.

420

:

And then we'll explore kind of,

uh, how you are able to incorporate

421

:

that into the next evolution of

where black comics are going.

422

:

We did, we've come up with a vaccine.

423

:

We are going to open up the world.

424

:

And they're like, no,

what the hell do you mean?

425

:

No.

426

:

They're not taking the vaccine.

427

:

What?

428

:

Why aren't they taking the vaccine?

429

:

Well, they said it'll make them magnetic.

430

:

What the?

431

:

How do you argue with someone who

says, I ain't taking the vaccine,

432

:

you know it'll make me magnetic?

433

:

What do you say to that?

434

:

I tell you what I say,

I say, you're right.

435

:

You shouldn't take the

vaccine for the rest of us.

436

:

We tried to thin the herd and we can

get rid of the anti magnetic first

437

:

world to be a better place.

438

:

You know, so it's interesting because,

uh, you know, obviously we, we a little

439

:

bit of ways from the pandemic, but hot

button topics, you know, the whole.

440

:

Essence of some of the greatest

comedic, uh, was, uh, comedians.

441

:

Was, uh, taking the pain and reshaping

it to find a bit of, you know,

442

:

light in it at some point, right.

443

:

Because it's always gonna be

struggle, it's always gonna be pain,

444

:

and we gotta find ways to kind of

forge through it in that regard.

445

:

Do you feel like that is still as, uh,

prevalent on the internet and some of

446

:

these services and platforms and things?

447

:

Because, uh, a lot of it is more,

in my opinion, not as much of that

448

:

social commentary, but it's just.

449

:

a bit of buffoonery at times.

450

:

So you need variety.

451

:

Uh, so because, because

comedy is very subjective.

452

:

So you like people who

like it raw and dirty.

453

:

You got someone like a Christian,

somebody like it clean.

454

:

So, you know, we embrace everything.

455

:

And that's when the reason why I trade

black comedy month, because, you know,

456

:

we celebrating African American humor

and pain can come in any kind of any way.

457

:

And so how an artist Projects

it, you know, you got to give

458

:

them the creativity to do so.

459

:

Uh, but you know, Alonzo Bolden, the

clip we just heard, I mean, he's more

460

:

intellectual, you know, he talks about

politics, he talked about something that

461

:

happened worldwide, nationwide, you know,

and everybody can identify with what,

462

:

you know, whether you're on this side

of the vaccine or that side, you know,

463

:

he was, he's still able to throw it out

there and make, uh, Someone who wasn't

464

:

back vaccinated, laugh at themselves,

you know, but whatever their reason is.

465

:

So sometimes you throw it in their face,

their faces and see how they react.

466

:

But he's such a pro that he's

been doing it for 20, 30 years.

467

:

So he's nothing but, but, but laughs.

468

:

You know, it was, uh, I was dying

laughing when I saw it, um, because

469

:

it was realistic too, right?

470

:

To your point, there was people that

was like, it was gonna make me magnetic.

471

:

Okay.

472

:

So, so he was just

speaking the truth, right?

473

:

But you just got to be saying

something about, you know,

474

:

national, you know, You know, August

being black comedy month, right?

475

:

And it's a campaign

that you're pushing out.

476

:

Talk to us a little bit about that.

477

:

What, what's the essence of

pushing or making August black

478

:

national black comedy month.

479

:

And then also what are some of

the key events and, and, and.

480

:

Things that's going on in

Martha's vineyard that highlight.

481

:

You know, August is black comedy month.

482

:

So basically how we came about it is,

uh, we were sitting in the kitchen, a

483

:

bunch of comedians that were performing,

uh, at our festival and we just happened

484

:

to talk and we just, I said, what

a black comedy month, you know, you

485

:

got pride month, you have a Hispanic

month, you got this, you got that.

486

:

So let's do, you have black music month.

487

:

And I was surprised no one had

trademark black comedy month.

488

:

So basically I did my little search and

what have you and saw it was available and

489

:

went through the process and here we are.

490

:

But the thing was, I needed some

fuel for the festival and you

491

:

know, some sort of marketing tactic

that can help push and drive.

492

:

But I wanted to be

inclusive with the festival.

493

:

Promoters, you know, black comedy

clubs, you know, comedians,

494

:

you know, the whole nine.

495

:

So it wasn't just for me.

496

:

Mm.

497

:

I wanted to extend it and open it up,

you know, worldwide and, and black

498

:

comedy month can extend to shoot Africa.

499

:

I mean, it could extend to Europe.

500

:

Right.

501

:

So basically what I was trying to do

is like, you know, let's take this

502

:

whole month of August, which is when

the festival is, and really celebrate

503

:

African, African American humor.

504

:

And just promote the, the, the, the

variety of talent that's out there and,

505

:

and make a little bit of change off of it.

506

:

You know, I just did

some research recently.

507

:

Uh, what was it?

508

:

Uh, Hispanic month, you know,

they generated like 20 million.

509

:

So, you know, we could spread that across

United States with black comedy month,

510

:

you know, so, uh, you know, so that's,

so that's, that's, that was my effort.

511

:

And, and, and any, so talk a little

bit about some of the key programs and

512

:

events that happened that you're going

to put together for black comedy month.

513

:

Well, basically it's the, the Marjory

Comedy Fest, you know, that's the fuel

514

:

that we use black comedy month for,

but we're also using it to share with

515

:

a streaming service called Sharezo.

516

:

Which is considered everything comedy.

517

:

So we're helping them promote and,

you know, get comedians and content

518

:

creators to put on their platform.

519

:

Um, but you know, it was, uh, Kevin

Hart and Heartbeat, they were actually

520

:

interested in using the campaign too,

to launch a particular movie they're

521

:

trying to, trying to, uh, push, uh, in

late August, so it's just, it's just.

522

:

You know, everyone can use it basically,

you know, but they gotta come through

523

:

through me to make sure everything's cool.

524

:

you got the train brother, right?

525

:

Man?

526

:

Absolutely.

527

:

You the switchboard operator.

528

:

Right, right, right.

529

:

Just switching it off.

530

:

That's right.

531

:

Lemme ask you a question.

532

:

'cause we, we, we both,

we all met Midwest boys.

533

:

I'm sorry.

534

:

I was gonna say we both, but I forgot

about Tony Detroit all day, every day.

535

:

So.

536

:

How did, how did man listen

when I hear Martha's Vineyard,

537

:

I, you know, I have a

different thought in my head.

538

:

I think of orchards and whatnot, but

or grapes or something different than

539

:

what y'all, uh, you know, I'm not to do.

540

:

I'm not to do.

541

:

So how did the Martha's Vineyard become

so embedded from a cultural perspective?

542

:

Give me a little game, a little

history of people like myself.

543

:

They just don't know no better.

544

:

Educate us a little bit on Martha's

Vineyard, how it attracted you, why,

545

:

and what made you put your stake in

the ground there and say this is where

546

:

black folks will come and get you.

547

:

Well, I was sort of like you, Chris.

548

:

I was kind of familiar with Martha's

Vineyard, but I really wasn't.

549

:

And so it was my brother and my

sister in law who were vacationing.

550

:

One year out there, they liked it

so much, they purchased a house.

551

:

So then what they did, they invited

us, and then we invited friends,

552

:

and our friends invited friends,

and the friends friends invited

553

:

friends, so it just kind of grew.

554

:

So I already had a built in

audience before I really started

555

:

this whole comedy festival.

556

:

And so, you know, as I continued to

vacation there, you know, the family

557

:

would go there every year, I started

learning a little bit more about

558

:

the history of Martha's Vineyard

in terms of African Americans.

559

:

And there was, there's so many African

American, um, homeowners there, and then

560

:

there was African American businesses.

561

:

So, uh, then you got the whole

Inkwell Beach where that was the

562

:

beach that was, you know, segmented

to us, you know, back in the day.

563

:

So it has a lot of

historical significance.

564

:

And then, you know, just good people,

man, you know, just started popping there.

565

:

And you start to see this like upper

middle class, upper class African

566

:

Americans who are proud, everyone from

entertainers, to doctors, to lawyers,

567

:

and you know, and whoever else.

568

:

And You know, they come

to have a good time.

569

:

So we're there to provide

entertainment for them.

570

:

And there it is.

571

:

And like you, my friend

and Chris, no different.

572

:

Um, I've been going for 20 years.

573

:

I was, what is Martha's Vineyard?

574

:

So a friend of mine dragged me out.

575

:

I stayed on his, uh, they had

a house in Chappaquiddick.

576

:

I slept on the couch for the weekend.

577

:

And I remember taking the ferry back.

578

:

And I text my girlfriend,

who's now my wife.

579

:

And I said, she said, how was it?

580

:

I said, from now on, we're going

to come to Martha's Vineyard.

581

:

And we've been coming to

Martha's Vineyard for 20 years.

582

:

The kids grew up there

as the vacation spot.

583

:

We go there for two weeks.

584

:

And I think one of the things that

Steve and Steve, you can tell Steve,

585

:

um, definitely knows his history.

586

:

When you go there, you learn

the African American history.

587

:

There's an African American heritage

trail that you can take, and it'll show

588

:

you how African Americans came there.

589

:

It was, it started off more of

as a religious retreat, right?

590

:

Where people would come to be able.

591

:

To, to, to, you know, uh, celebrate

Christ and they would have these

592

:

different religious retreats and then

black people started buying up houses

593

:

and buddy, you know, next thing, you

know, that's one of the old fears.

594

:

Like we let one come in and they going to

bring everybody in reverse gentrification.

595

:

And it just, but Martin

Luther King was there.

596

:

I mean, you, you know, You get

a sense of the history, um, at

597

:

Mart in Martha's Vineyard, right?

598

:

And it's, it's, uh, and it's upper

middle class, but it doesn't even matter.

599

:

People come from all over the

country and people also come from

600

:

England and stuff to that nature.

601

:

They have a map in one of these stores.

602

:

I Steve, I'm pretty sure you saw it.

603

:

I don't know if it's in the, uh, I forget

what store it is, but they have a map.

604

:

And they put these little dots in the map

of where people come to Martha's Vineyard.

605

:

And obviously it's a lot of people

come from the East coast, but you'll

606

:

see all throughout the 50 States

people come, um, for the summertime.

607

:

Yeah.

608

:

If you look at our database, you know,

from people who come to our show, UCLA,

609

:

San Francisco, uh, I've had Toronto, I've

had, uh, France and England, South Africa.

610

:

So, you know, we, we, we attract people.

611

:

We're, we're, I consider

ourselves a global comic festival.

612

:

Yeah.

613

:

Yeah, absolutely.

614

:

It's, it's, it seems to be based on

just the energy that y'all brothers

615

:

has giving off and you could just tell

by the smiles and things like that.

616

:

In my mind, in the recess of

my mind, it's a hoity toity.

617

:

Freaknik, right.

618

:

So, uh, I appreciate just getting

this game from y'all and I'm

619

:

gonna have to make my way out.

620

:

I'm gonna have to make it happen now.

621

:

So y'all done got me excited.

622

:

Hey, Steve, I brother.

623

:

I invited them.

624

:

I even, you know, look,

you, I'm gonna pay homage.

625

:

Just like how I came on.

626

:

I said, you can come sleep on the couch.

627

:

You got to break them in slow.

628

:

Let them taste it a little bit.

629

:

Want to stay.

630

:

Then you kick them out and say, bro,

next year you get your own house.

631

:

All right.

632

:

That's right.

633

:

That's right.

634

:

Each one teach one.

635

:

Each one teach one.

636

:

I'll tell you an interesting story too.

637

:

I remember one, one year, my festival,

I think it was year three or four.

638

:

And, you know, there's the ferry issue.

639

:

You gotta have, bring your car

on, you know, if you're gonna

640

:

bring your car, you got You got

to make your reservation early.

641

:

So I may find a little later than normal.

642

:

So I couldn't get in.

643

:

I had to come in the day before

just so I can, you know, have my car

644

:

and I didn't have a place to stay.

645

:

I was just going to sleep in my car,

but the good, you know, you start

646

:

talking to people and before you know

it, they said, man, where are you going?

647

:

I was like, well, I'm just

going to chill for a little bit.

648

:

They're like, man, come

on, stay at our house.

649

:

I mean, that's how good the people are.

650

:

So friendly people are.

651

:

You meet people from around the country.

652

:

Everybody, and it's one of my pet

peeves, you know, the easiest thing

653

:

to say to somebody first thing in

the morning is good morning, right?

654

:

And when you walk around Martha's

Vineyard, there's not a person

655

:

that doesn't say good morning.

656

:

I mean, but it's just very relaxed

and very friendly, but more

657

:

importantly, you can have a lot

of fun and you can laugh too.

658

:

So Steve, we're going to wrap up my man.

659

:

So look, I mean, buddy, you sharing

your story here telling us, you

660

:

know, the epiphany you got when you

use that comedy central, you know.

661

:

You wanted to create something you

wanted to, you know, live by your code

662

:

and making it clean and making it fun,

but also letting people, uh, be be

663

:

themselves and be let them do whatever

type of comedy they want to do as long

664

:

as it felt within your expectations

and you built a powerhouse, my brother.

665

:

Talk, talk, somebody right now who's

watching this or listening to this,

666

:

who may be in their closet practicing

to be a comedian or who may want to,

667

:

you know, have the aspirations of

owning a production company and being

668

:

able to build out something that

you've built out and invite, have

669

:

comedians come from all over the world.

670

:

What type of advice would

you give them, my brother?

671

:

First thing I would say is that,

you know, you got to be patient.

672

:

Uh, you have to build a business.

673

:

Um, you know, Rome wasn't built in a day.

674

:

You got to be patient.

675

:

You're going to make mistakes.

676

:

You got to be okay with making

mistakes, but how fast can you rebound?

677

:

You know, when I first started, I

mean, I was my own website designer.

678

:

I was my own accountant.

679

:

I was on my own lawyer.

680

:

Uh, you know, I was, I was.

681

:

I'm trying to do everything, you know,

where, where, yeah, where many hats,

682

:

you know, I was trying to do PR, you

know, so, and I still wear many hats,

683

:

you know, now I'm cleaning bathrooms

and I'm sweeping floors at the theater

684

:

and making popcorn, but, uh, you know,

but that's part of the, part of the,

685

:

the role, I mean, you, you gotta get

down and dirty with it, but you gotta

686

:

be patient, uh, associate with positive

people like, you know, with BEP, you know,

687

:

uh, because you need the encouragement.

688

:

Right.

689

:

And, you know, there's going to be times

where you're going to be down, but,

690

:

you know, as long as you're around.

691

:

positive people and people who

have resources, that kind of thing,

692

:

you know, you, you, you'll be

fine, but it is, it is a journey.

693

:

It's not a marathon.

694

:

I mean, not a, not a sprint.

695

:

And so that's one thing I would

say to, you got to live your dream.

696

:

You don't ever want to live in

regret saying, man, I wish I

697

:

would have done that, you know?

698

:

Uh, and if one door closes,

another one opens, you know,

699

:

like you said, the epiphany with

comedy central, we got laid off.

700

:

And I said, well, maybe I can do, you

know, what comedy central is doing.

701

:

I was.

702

:

Doing events, um, with them,

let me do it on my own.

703

:

And so it was a mind

shift that I experienced.

704

:

And so, um, again, associating

yourself with positive people

705

:

and people who are like minded.

706

:

Uh, you know, another

thing is just do your best.

707

:

And be honest with yourself.

708

:

Did you do your best today?

709

:

If the answer is no, you know, just

know that it's always room for growth.

710

:

Oh, and then maybe one day, you

know, you can, you can start being

711

:

the next uh, big thing next to

the Mars is being a comedy fest.

712

:

There you go.

713

:

Right.

714

:

Absolutely.

715

:

One of the things we pride ourselves

on is making sure we shout out the

716

:

misses and, and uh, their influence.

717

:

Can you give us something that,

that, that Joe, uh, A young lady, uh,

718

:

inspired you to, to keep on keeping

on with this and, you know, anything

719

:

that helped you get to this point?

720

:

Yeah.

721

:

So, um, at this particular time, I

thought I was the expert in comedy,

722

:

you know, cause I had been doing

shows across the country and it

723

:

was her ideal to do a show here.

724

:

And I was like, no,

it's not going to work.

725

:

It's going to be too expensive.

726

:

Uh, you know, you don't know comedy.

727

:

Like I know comedy, you know, I had the

whole male ego kind of thing going on.

728

:

Yeah.

729

:

And it just kind of clicked.

730

:

So let me, let me see

what this can happen.

731

:

And so long story short, you know, here

we are 13 years later, you know, what's

732

:

her idea, but it was my initiative.

733

:

Yeah.

734

:

Right.

735

:

Right.

736

:

That's make, that's makes

a great every good man.

737

:

Right.

738

:

Right.

739

:

That's awesome.

740

:

That's awesome.

741

:

So listen, my friend.

742

:

Tell us how BEP can repay you.

743

:

How can we help?

744

:

How can a Black Executive Perspective

podcast help Steve Capers?

745

:

Well, I can always say, you know, continue

to promote, uh, the festival and all the

746

:

social outlets, social media outlets.

747

:

Um, but, you know, more important,

you know, let's create a partnership

748

:

where we help each other out.

749

:

You know, it's not just a

single sided thing where BEP is

750

:

going to do everything for me.

751

:

I want to be able to, you

know, support you as well.

752

:

And so, you You know, continued with

podcasting, come to the festival,

753

:

you know, uh, meet some more people.

754

:

We, we, we, we can do it all.

755

:

So, but I appreciate just again,

have been on this platform, have an

756

:

opportunity to present and hopefully

I'm able to inspire a future promoter.

757

:

You know, or entrepreneur.

758

:

Well, buddy, you know what?

759

:

You inspired us.

760

:

I'm really happy that you came

and shared your story today.

761

:

It's fabulous.

762

:

And you epitomize, you talked about it.

763

:

One door closes, an idea came,

you, you ran to that idea.

764

:

You had to do everything, wear all

the different hats, but you built

765

:

something, you know, slowly, but surely.

766

:

So you can count on the

partnership here from BEP.

767

:

We'll go, I'm going to be

there this, this summer.

768

:

You know, we definitely gonna get

Chris, you know, over eventually, right?

769

:

Yes.

770

:

We'll get him over eventually . Yeah.

771

:

Yeah, we'll get him over.

772

:

Absolutely.

773

:

We'll get him over.

774

:

Right.

775

:

But more importantly, my man, we are

looking to cement this partnership

776

:

and we wish you nothing but match.

777

:

It says we're gonna promote, you

know, August being Black Comedy Month,

778

:

we're gonna promote about the festival

that you have in Martha's Vineyard.

779

:

And when I come, I'm gonna

definitely bring some peeps

780

:

with me to come and, you know.

781

:

Fulfill and sit back and laugh and enjoy.

782

:

And at least to get to hang out

with you and see everything that

783

:

you put together, my brother.

784

:

So we want to thank you for attending or

excuse me, participating and being a guest

785

:

on a black executive perspective podcast.

786

:

Well, it's been my pleasure.

787

:

And just one more thing.

788

:

I just want to send a shout out to

code magazines, you know, but allow.

789

:

So he's exactly, he's, he's a

part, he's a partner of ours too.

790

:

And we're going to see,

he's going to be there too.

791

:

See, everybody's going

to be there except Chris.

792

:

We gotta get Chris there.

793

:

Blah is going to be there.

794

:

And, and look, Bilal is the

one that set us up, right?

795

:

So it just shows how all of us, you

know, work together and meet and,

796

:

and that's the beauty of family.

797

:

And that's how the African

American community started

798

:

in Martha's Vineyard, right?

799

:

It was just that same type of homage.

800

:

So again, my brother, we Love you a lot.

801

:

And I'll see you in a few weeks.

802

:

So, so I think it's now

it's time for Tony's tidbit.

803

:

So the tidbit is always, we always

have a tidbit, an inspirational quote

804

:

based on what we talked about today.

805

:

So the tidbit today is black comedy.

806

:

Isn't just about making people laugh.

807

:

It's about telling stories that resonate.

808

:

educate and liberate.

809

:

Okay.

810

:

And you can, my brother here, he's

built up a promotion of a business

811

:

of comedians that's coming in and

making people laugh, but they're also

812

:

doing those other things as well.

813

:

So again, we want to thank our brother,

Steve Capers from Knock Knock Productions.

814

:

So Hey, Hey, everyone, you

don't want to miss need to know

815

:

what Nasinga this Thursday, Dr.

816

:

Nasinga Burton on the Black Executive

Perspective podcast, where Dr.

817

:

Burton delves into timely, crucial topics

that shape our community and world.

818

:

You're going to tune in.

819

:

You're going to gain unique

insights and deepen your

820

:

understanding of issues that matter.

821

:

You don't want to miss it this Thursday.

822

:

Check it out.

823

:

Need to Know by Dr.

824

:

Nasinga.

825

:

So again, I hope you enjoyed

another episode of a Black

826

:

Executive Perspective podcast.

827

:

The Rise to Cultural Prominence.

828

:

Martha Vineyard's Comedy Fest Story.

829

:

With the CEO, Knock Knock, uh, CEO

Stephen Capers of Knock Knock Productions.

830

:

So I think it's now time for what, Chris?

831

:

It's the call to action, Tony.

832

:

We gotta always remember

to incorporate less.

833

:

Less is our call to action.

834

:

It means learn, empathize,

share, and stop.

835

:

Learn.

836

:

Educate yourself on racial and cultural

nuances to help others get there with you.

837

:

Exactly.

838

:

And then after you learn, you should

be at E stands for empathy, right?

839

:

Now you should be able to empathize

from what your fellow colleagues

840

:

and friends go through because

you've learned more about them.

841

:

And the S is for share,

share your insights.

842

:

Don't hide it, divide it, right?

843

:

Share your insights and enlighten others.

844

:

To what you've just become enlightened to.

845

:

And the other S stands for stop.

846

:

You, you want to stop

discrimination as it goes into

847

:

your, as it walks into your path.

848

:

So if you hear grandma at the Thanksgiving

table, say something inappropriate, you

849

:

say, grandma, we don't talk like that.

850

:

And you let grandma know not to say that.

851

:

So if everyone incorporates less.

852

:

L E S S will have a little bit

more understanding world and

853

:

everyone will be able to see the

change that they want to see.

854

:

And guess what?

855

:

We saw some change today, some loose

change from a man, Steve Capers here.

856

:

All right.

857

:

I'm going to pick some of that up.

858

:

Right?

859

:

So again, We really appreciate you

joining another episode of a black

860

:

executive perspective podcast.

861

:

You can watch our next episode wherever

you get your podcast and follow us on

862

:

our socials of LinkedIn X, YouTube,

Instagram, and Facebook at a black

863

:

exec for our fabulous guest, the CEO

of knock knock, uh, production, Steve

864

:

capers for the co host with the most.

865

:

Thanks for keeping it real and funny.

866

:

My boy, the woman behind the

glass that makes all this happen.

867

:

Our producer, Noel Miller.

868

:

I'm Tony tidbit.

869

:

We talked about it.

870

:

We laughed about it today and we love you.

871

:

And we're out

872

:

a black executive perspective.

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