We’re here to chat about "Sorry 4 Da Weight" featuring Drew Jemison, Dre Gray, and Mike Gamble, alongside a surprise guest host and standout featured performers, 9/21-9/24.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b572f4e6-326b-4029-947f-b22aaa1aa9b4/

Each show will be a wild ride of laughter with a unique mix of sets and improv, ensuring no two performances are the same. We’ll also touch on the importance of engaging with the audience and how crowd dynamics can turn a good show into a great one. So grab your tickets at rochesterfringe.com and join us for some fun and laughter in the heart of downtown Rochester!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

Behind the Glass

Podcast and gallery focusing on underrepresented artists utilize the space to amplify their work. Curated by @Richardbcolon @qua.jay. Check out the podcast or join them in person first Fridays at 240 E Main St, Rochester, NY! https://behind-the-glass-gallery.captivate.fm

Well, that music means it's time for another episode of Just Can't Not.

Go to rochesterfringe.com to get your tickets for all the events.

There's so many events.

Well over 500.

And I'm here with some guests.

Guess why don't you introduce yourselves and tell us about your show.

What's up?

What's up, guys?

This is Drew Jemison from.

Sorry for the wait.

I'm here with Mike Gamble and your boy, Dre Gray.

Nice.

So the shows are over at the Focus Theater at the Duke at the Mercantile, Maine.

We'll talk about that in a second.

And the shows are September 21st at 8.

All the shows are at 8 o'.

Clock.

September 21st, the 22nd, the 23rd, and 24th.

Tickets are [email protected].

Get your tickets today.

I do have to say, I love.

I love that venue.

Yeah, right.

It's.

It's a beautiful new venue.

Shout out to the whole Aveeno team and all the other things they do.

Tim and Janine, just really cool people.

Oh, yeah, Great.

You know, having this, you know, new space downtown for events and for Jazz Fest and other things.

But I'm so glad they're doing part of Fringe, too, because they do a great job making a space.

Yeah.

Interesting.

It kind of looks like.

I love that chandelier.

It's like, regal.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, they, you know, they're bringing some of those, you know, New Orleans vibes and some of those, you know, classic style, too.

Yeah.

Listen, the styling of it is gonna be great.

You got this.

The.

Basically, the back.

The back window is where the stage is.

You can see the street.

So it's beautiful the way the windows are.

Oh, yeah, it's gorgeous in there.

Well, there's something about.

I know for me, there's something about doing shows or being involved in this in downtown that I think I find is really important.

One of the shows we work with here on the Lunchadore Podcast network is the behind the Glass gallery that quadjetanelle and Rob Bell run along with Richard Colon in abstentia in St. Louis.

But they started doing their main shows over at Farmhouse Table in that, you know, that glass building downtown with the thing that goes over.

And now they do the artist things where they put their photos up on the glass walls in that overhang walk.

So when you're looking at the pictures you're looking into downtown and like we were, we were in the mercantile before and the mercantile was great.

It was awesome to work with them.

But that, that feeling of vibrancy that you're in the middle of, you know, in the middle of what's going on in, you know, the city and things feel a little bit more lively.

Like, what a, what a great place to be doing a show, to see the streets too.

Oh, for sure.

It's going to be classic, man.

I'm telling you, you don't want to miss this show.

No, sir.

Bring your date down, get some food, get a hamburger.

You don't want to miss the show.

Grab a slice of pizza, something, you know.

Pizza?

Yeah.

Come on.

So why don't you guys tell me about, tell me about the show and then how you guys started working together.

All right, so I'll start.

So the show, it's.

It's going to be like all three of us, we're going to be doing sets each night.

We're going to be doing a different order to the point where every show might be different from, from the fact because we're all stand up comedians and we might start doing, we might do a little bit of improv just because, like, there's so many things that happen, like in real time.

So never.

The show will never, ever be the same because we're all guys that can play off the crowd, we can improvise.

We're able to like kind of go fast, you know, I'm saying stuff happens, we're able to address it and then you just make it funny, you know.

Also there's like a crowd work element too.

So like there's.

And that's.

No crowd is the same, you know.

Yeah, we've been talking about that a lot with the shows, especially the improv shows and the one person shows and the like, the clown, the clowning shows of all the different types and how much audience interaction is part of that.

Is that something you've become comfortable with over time is not just playing to the crowd, but playing with the crowd?

Oh, yeah.

I say like a lot because a lot of work we do, like is out of the Syracuse funny bone.

So like a lot of the professional work that, that we do and that like you have to have the crowd.

Each show is always different because the crowd is never the same.

The crowd is always its own entity.

So it has its own personality, its own being that you kind of have to kind of navigate and work your way around.

But that's the beauty of It.

Because once you figure them out, you know, the crowd's always on your side.

Yeah, yeah.

And I think that's one of those, like, that's one of those things that for, you know, new people trying stand up comedy, people that do, you know, they do a bringer show.

They do a, you know, they do the other style, you know, you might do.

You might do a five, right?

You know, just do a show where you're just popping up and doing that.

It always feels that you're fighting the crowd until you get that confidence and that comfortability.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Because that's why I love.

I've always come to onstage since we first started, I've always played the crowd since I first got into comedy.

So what about that, what about that made you comfortable before starting, you know, in earnest?

What, what part of you, as your personality made that more comfortable?

Me, I'm just, I'm cool with being, you know, the person that I can look at in the room.

Like, I've always been like that.

I did plays in school and stuff like that, so no problem getting from a crowd and talking and interacting with people.

I don't know, maybe it's just like I grew up in a black household.

It's like, you know, you have to talk to these relatives.

Like, well, you guys, I mean, I had unfortunately, the characters, right.

Like, you have so many characters that are in your life.

I'm like, you know, the ball busted uncle.

Like, you gotta keep up or else he's never gonna stop.

Yeah, yeah.

You gotta stand up for your.

Huh?

Yeah.

So you mentioned Syracuse, you guys.

Are you guys in Rochester?

Yeah, we live here.

Okay.

You know, doing some work in Syracuse though, too.

Yes.

That's where that, that's just like, so with the clubs, you know, just getting in because, because we're new, so we're, we're new to the comedy scene.

It's been really about 18 months, you know, since we've.

Since we've been in.

In comedy in Rochester.

So just kind of breaking into the scene like that was one of our first, like, premier spots as far as getting into the clubs on a professional level was the Syracuse Funny Bone.

Yeah.

So just trying to, you know, trying to get quality time.

Right.

Quality time's the thing.

Right.

It's not just time, it's quality, quality, quality time.

Because you want, either.

You want people around to give you real feedback.

Yeah.

Because even if you're filming your set, like, you need somebody to be honest with you.

Yeah.

You need somebody not, not to be Blowing smoke up your ass.

Like, you need somebody to be real with you to say, hey, that bit didn't work.

But it could have.

Yes.

If you did blank, blank, and blank.

And then you don't have to listen to everything, but you got to learn, like, hey, how do you develop something?

So let's.

Let's talk about that.

So when it comes to.

Like, you mentioned, y' all have been stand up for, like, a year and a half.

Yeah.

Is that when all of you started?

Was about the same time.

So we started on the same day.

Me and Gamble, we started.

It was, like, March 4, I believe, something around there.

And so we started on the same day, and then Dre.

I actually seen the video.

Dre started on my birthday.

He did a set, I think, right before Mike went up.

And listen.

And Mike.

All right.

And Mike's up there, and he's talking about a comedian that was up prior who had, like, note cards.

So, like, Mike's kind of riffing and kind of, like, razzing the guy.

Right?

And I'm just like, this is why he disappeared for a while.

I was like, you razz him.

And then he talks about, like, being.

He's like, I'm not the biggest guy on stage tonight.

He roasted me.

Yes, he roasted Dre.

And this was Dre's first time on stage.

And he's, like, talking to him.

He's like, bro, you know you're big.

He's like.

He's like, you know you didn't wake up big.

Like, he's like, don't get mad at me.

So, like, I just went back.

We just seen that last night.

We just seen that video.

And I was just like, sorry.

I remember being on stage and, like, talking like, yeah, I was big.

And it's like, hold on.

I'm like, wait, did you see?

I'm like, oh, it's you.

Yeah, just shine down on.

Oh, all right.

And then the very next day, he came to our.

We.

We have.

We have an open mic on Thursdays, and Dre came to the mic the very next day, and we, like, just hit it off immediately.

Yeah.

Where are you hosting your open mic?

Is that.

Is that here in town?

So right now it's on a hiatus just because.

But, like, we.

We normally host it on Thursdays, but it's currently on a hiatus.

Okay.

But we were at Filgers.

Oh, yeah.

East Alexander.

So that's where we all.

That's where we kind of solidified right here was on Easton Alexander when we did the mic over there.

And that's, that's not, that's a tough area to be like.

It's a tough area to be doing stand up because it's also like that site specifically has been so many things over the years.

Yeah.

And like, I don't know, it does, it doesn't seem like, you know, the kind of area that's like, oh, stand up.

Ready.

Right.

To be going in there.

Because it's, I don't know, it doesn't feel like that area.

Like, I know the, you know, the coffee shop shows you like Boulder and, and those kind of place.

Even Firehouse.

Yeah.

You know, over there.

But that's got to be an interesting place to do that.

Yeah.

I mean, what's, what's great about it is there's no one there.

Yeah.

So if you're going to bomb, you know.

Exactly.

So, so like my first time going up, I'm reading off the paper at Rock Cinema.

I'm nervous.

Yeah.

You know, shaking in my boots.

Markel calls me Drew.

Yeah.

You know, because they always mix up our names, but all my brother's names have these.

So I'm, you know, I'm like, that's fine.

Right.

And then so I go up and read off the paper.

I'm nervous.

And then I'm like, you know what?

I'm going to their mic, I'm going to Filgers, and I'm just gonna do it off the top of my head.

And that's, you know, when I finally started to just kind of like just say, you know, screw it.

I'm just gonna relax, you know, and just enjoy the process.

And I just kind of been following along with them.

And yeah.

You know, we just been having fun, man, producing shows and, you know, stretching out.

I mean Erie, I mean, Drew was just down.

Like we came from Cape Cod, we did Philly, so we just did Cape Cod last weekend.

We did Philly the week before.

Drew, you just came from what, New York and Connecticut with AJ Wilkerson.

So it's been, it's been a crazy like year and a half.

Yeah.

Like this is like a most unprecedented, I think this is like an unprecedented year.

Like cuz now I'm in year, this is like now the start of year two.

And like I, I, if you ask me seven months ago, what I was going to be doing, I would have been like, I don't know, maybe, maybe we have a fringe fest, like date.

Like maybe we have one date.

No, we have four, you know, and.

It's the world premiere.

It's one.

I Also, I also love that, like, hey, this is.

It's one of the great things about Fringe is, hey, if you.

If you apply and nobody wants you, okay.

You don't get a show.

But if someplace wants you and thinks it's a good idea, I mean, they might give you four shows.

Like, it's, okay, great, let's do it.

Like, this is.

It's one of those opportunities where it's not the most loaded thing, it's not the biggest profile, but there are a lot of people that just go to shows at Fringe.

Yeah.

And you're going to get people that are coming out for your shows that you might have never had at your shows before.

That's wonderful.

And how.

New fan base.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And it's one of the best things about it, too, is, like, you get to.

Hey, you might have people showing up that have never seen your work.

Yeah.

Or don't even go see stand up that much.

Some people just go to shows, right?

Some.

Yeah.

We.

I was at a show on Saturday night, and the couple have never been to a show.

Yeah.

They were going just because they, like.

Brandon was doing a lot of promotion.

Yeah.

And he just happened to just, like, snag two people that's never been to a show, and they came through and they enjoyed the heck out of themselves.

Yeah.

Well, that's got to be such a fascinating feeling too, right?

Like.

Like with your process right now, with all of your press, I kind of want to get it from each of you, is how do you feel about where you are right now in your standup journey?

And it's.

It's because it's.

It's a loaded question.

Right.

Because the answer is often at an earlier stage in your career, you feel better than you.

You feel you're better than you are.

Right.

But I think it's also a fascinating time to talk about it because it's like you're learning how to be the most you on stage you can be while still doing the bit of standup comedy.

And that's like.

It's the hardest thing to do, is be the most you possible.

True.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, like, you know, how are you feeling about where you are right now?

I was.

You know, it's funny.

Cause I was thinking about that today, like.

Cause we getting up on, like, the anniversary of the Bleak show.

Yeah.

So from last year when Calamar White was here, shout out to Good News man for putting that show together with Bleak and his birthday.

But we got Reg Thomas coming.

And I remember, like, last year, like, not even really.

I was in comedy, maybe, and I was telling a friend of mine I was in comedy 30 days.

Wow.

Like, when I had went to that show and Mike was on that show, and, like, for it to come full circle and be featured now was kind of like, wow.

You know, it was just one of those things.

Like, I wouldn't have thought that, you know, me and Drew would be in Cape Cod or.

Right.

We'd all be in Philly, you know, or, you know, doing so many shows at the Funny Bone, you know, as a feature or as a host.

I couldn't have told you that a year ago.

Yeah.

I couldn't have said it to you.

That's awesome.

I like where I'm at, like, right now.

Like, it's been going on.

It's been going good.

Like, I've seen videos of me from last year, and I'm just like.

It's like, cringe, almost, like, oh, yeah.

Oh, what was I saying?

Oh, what do you feel like you've.

Gotten better at, honestly?

Overall, everything.

Stage presence, talking to the crowd, Just the.

I guess, like, the substance of my jokes have gotten way better.

Like, actual.

Like, it's not just, like, a loose kind of, like, thought.

It's actually some actual structure behind it.

And, like, my writing's gotten way better and just.

I love it all.

I love.

I love being in stand up.

It's like a whole new, like, kind of like therapy.

I was telling Drew it was just like, feel better my life doing stand up.

Like.

Yeah.

Well, it's also such a big thing, too, is like, when you're new, you know, the first thing is like, hey, are you a funny person?

Is kind of the start.

Oh, yeah.

And then the writing comes in, and that's where you start to develop that depth, too, because.

Yeah.

That presence on stage is not just comfortability.

It's managing the audience.

It's bringing them up and down.

Because if they're up all the time, you have to be so dense with jokes, right?

And that's.

That's a very different thing.

Like, if you're, you know, if you're trying to do, you know, Todd Berry and just be joke after joke after joke, or even somebody, Mark Norman, who can do, you know, tons of jokes back to back, or if you go back in history and you look at, like, Mitch Hedberg or, you know, even David Tell, right?

Like, those guys were just bam, bam, bam, bam.

Joke after joke.

It's so much writing.

My memory is not good enough for that.

Yeah, it's not.

I Watched.

I'm burnt out.

I watched the.

Rodney.

Rodney Danger.

Oh, God.

And he had.

He brought jokes per minute.

Oh, my God, he did.

He had Bob Saget come up.

Bob Saget did like a three minute.

So he probably told like 27 jokes in three.

In three minutes.

Yeah.

Like, just rattling them off.

And that stuff that Rodney was doing was just unbelievable.

So it's like, I love that you talk about the process of writing too, because that's where you get to bring more of you.

And it's that the start of finesse.

Right.

It's not like you're not just brute forcing it, because you can brute force an audience to a point.

Right.

You can bust balls, you can do that.

And that stuff you can do on the fly.

But when you really get them is when you're controlling their emotions.

Oh, yes.

Yeah.

A real curated joke.

Like, I love, like, I got this one and it's just perfect from where it started to, like, where it's at now.

It's just like, dude, it's one of my, like, closers.

I love it to death.

Yeah.

Because like, it really brings people on a ride of like, where's he going with this, actually?

And then, like, it just hits him.

It's like, oh, my God.

Yeah.

And that's those.

Those are the moments that you don't forget.

Right.

It's the, oh, I brought him down and then I brought him back up and I did.

I knew I had him the whole time.

And that's that like, oh, it just ticks another box that you can use in your.

In your skill set.

Right.

So where I'm at.

Yeah.

So I've been very real with myself.

I'm like, I've got a lot of work to do.

Yeah.

Like, I'm.

I feel comfortable where I'm at, but I know there's like so much more.

Like, because we, like, we've seen headliners that's been like 35 year vets, 25 year, even 15 year vets.

And you're like, there is a difference from where I'm like, infantile.

We're just crawling right now, you know, I'm saying we're like, we're still like in the diaper, you know, so we're.

We're just getting started.

And just to know that where we were a year ago wasn't even, you know, that was not like, oh, my God.

I looked at what I considered a joke a year ago and I was like, oh, my God, that's disgusting.

Oh, my God.

Yeah.

But now it's like I, I'm at the point where I, I, I just respect the process and I realized the more we, like, the more we advance, the less I know.

Yeah, that's like, I don't know, like,.

No, yeah, go for it.

I don't know anything, you know, I don't know a darn thing about, like, what is actually going on.

You know what I'm saying?

Well, and I, I think that's part of the, that's part of the.

You just broke both of these guys.

I'm sorry.

You just broke both of them.

He tried, he tried up with a.

D, me and Michael.

It's over.

It's already out there.

He's like, I don't know a darn thing.

Cat's out the bag.

But wait a second, here's, here's your clip for that.

So I got to say, like, you know, the first thing, right.

The first thing when you're starting is if you want other people to watch you, theirs to be a good hanging.

Right.

You don't have to be the best hang.

You got to be a good hang.

That's, you still got to be a professional.

Yes.

But if you're, if you're a good hang, people watch you around, if you're out there, like, if you're just like, if you're attacking people all the time and you're not good to other comedians, you know, you don't care about the craft.

You know, people don't want you around.

Yeah.

And when you, when you're around those vets, right, you're around a 15 year pro, a 30 year pro.

They want people, one who can hang out.

They're going to do their job when they're told to do it and you're going to show up on time and deliver what you're supposed to deliver and that matters.

They don't care that you're the most experienced.

Yeah.

They care that you give a shit about what you do.

Go ahead, Jefferson, go ahead.

Because he was talking about it earlier.

Yeah, yeah.

It's his speech to have.

Go ahead.

Oh, so, so, so what it is like to be a good hang.

Like, it literally pause these guys.

See, this is now the comic, now the commute, like the funnies coming out.

But like when you're in these rooms, like, we realize, like, the one thing I realize is when Yvette is talking, I need to shut up and just listen because they will tell you so much stuff just because like you're there.

They see that you're eager and you're hungry.

They will give you the gems on, like.

John Morgan pulled me to the side.

After my set, I was doing a guest spot on a show that he was on, and he pulled me to the side, and he told me.

He's like, this joke that you have, that's an hour.

Yeah.

And I'm like, what do you mean, he.

And then he's, like, showing me how to attack it and, like, the layers and all that stuff, and I'm like, oh, my God.

And that was.

And that meant so much to me.

Right.

Like, I mean, that's.

That's also seeing a person, too.

Right?

And I think that's.

That's the biggest thing is, like, when somebody's really seeing you, they can see this matters to you.

Yeah.

Then you want to mine that, right?

Mind it for as much as it's worth, and maybe you'll find, hey, maybe that's 15, maybe it's 20, maybe it's 30.

And maybe that dovetails into something else that means something to you as well.

So.

So to.

To that point, right?

Because I thought Drew was going to say this.

This is like, Drew did something that was very smart with the AJ Wilkerson thing.

And, like, we do a lot with helping each other out and trying to, like, get each other, you know, forward, right?

And when he got with A.J.

Wilkerson, he showed value other than, you know, doing the jokes.

You know what I mean?

And I'll let Drew talk about it because, like, he was able to show that, hey, I can help you here.

I can help you here.

I don't have to just be a host for you.

I can also help you while we're out on the road.

But if you want to tell.

So I have my own camera, so he's seen that I shoot, I edit, so that.

That helps for him.

He's, like, shooting and editing.

He doesn't have to worry about setting his cameras up.

Also, the merch table.

We got to the first show.

They.

They got there early.

They didn't have it set up, but I'm like, hey, the merch is right there.

He comes out.

I. I'm telling the crowd, like, hold on a second.

I'm getting AJ Back out.

So as he's, like, talking to them, I'm selling.

I'm, like, talking up the merch.

So he's selling.

I'm talking up the merch.

Hey, what shirts you want?

No, you need to get two of these.

You know?

You know, I'm over here just, like, just talking it up to them.

So, boom, the next show.

I told him straight up.

I said, hey, if you want, I'll run your merch.

Like, I'm gonna.

I'm gonna do the same.

I'll set it up for you.

Have it.

And I did that.

So we're at the Brooklyn Improv, and I have the table set up as soon as the show's over.

Like, all they have to do is, like, AJ just comes out from the back now he's able to do his photos, and I'm running pos and selling all the shirt, like, selling the merch for him.

And that's just off the strength.

That's off of, like, hey, they're here to see you.

They want to.

You know, And I'm also getting FaceTime with people because now they're talking to me.

They're like, oh, my God, like, you were great.

Because I'm just hosting.

I'm just getting it.

Like, I'm just setting the stage.

Like, I'm just doing my job.

That's it.

Like, I'm here to learn everything I can from you and then assist you tonight.

You're there to make everybody look good.

Right?

That's.

That's the host job.

It's not about you.

Right.

Of course, you want to get yourself some pop.

You want to get yourself a little bit of shine on it, but in the end, you're there to do the bit.

You're there to do the bit for the performers, for the.

You know, for the lead ins, you know, for the opener, and then for the.

For the headliner, and then anything you can do.

It's.

It's one of those things when especially I'm talk.

We're talking to younger people.

Yep.

Yeah.

And the thing that, you know, you're very insecure.

Right.

You don't know who you are yet.

The thing that so many times they're like, oh, I'll use photography because, like, and we hear the story a lot in behind the Glass is somebody will say, like, hey, I want to be part of the community.

I don't know how.

I don't know how to start.

I don't know how to be part of this.

And something that almost everybody says is, one, show up.

Yes, show up.

Be there and help however you're asked to help or however is valuable to help.

Don't ask for things.

Do things.

Be a part of the community, and the community will accept you.

You're not there trying to get right right away.

You're trying to be part of it.

And it's.

It's a real ass adult Thing to do.

To say, hey, I think I can help.

Yes.

And I'm gonna help.

Yes.

And just ask, like, hey, how can I help you today?

That's your ticket in.

People overlook it.

Yeah.

And you're gonna get some people.

You're gonna get dicks.

You're gonna get, you know.

You know, annoying people that are going to, you know, demean you and do all these other things, because it's a rough industry.

But the people who are going to be valuable to you, their advice is going to be valuable.

They're going to be ones that value that you're trying.

Yes.

That you care about what you do.

But that's.

In the end, what.

What do we all have in life is this is how we comport ourselves as adults.

This is how we comport ourselves as men.

As we show up, we do the thing we said we're going to do.

Yeah.

Because.

And that's the thing you can defend.

Yeah.

Yeah.

What was the question?

No, no, it's no question.

We're just chopping it up to back that up, though, you know, I was like.

And that's why I brought that up with Drew, because that was one of the most crucial things for me.

Like, how can I bring value, you know, to these headliners as we're meeting them?

Because, you know, you want to be a good hang, but, like, you know, they got friends.

You know what I mean?

So it's.

How can I bring value to you?

Well, I can do this for you.

I can run your merch table while we out on the road if you need that done.

And that is something that helps you become and show you're a good hang.

Yeah.

Now, you.

You don't want to be weird, though.

Don't be weird.

Yeah, yeah.

Steal the money.

I was gonna say, like, not being a fanboy.

I mean, maybe not stealing the merch money.

Yeah.

But, yeah, don't.

You know what?

It's fun.

It's funny.

You said.

And that's a good point.

Don't be a fanboy.

You know, like, you know, Drew.

Me and Drew used to talk all the time as we started getting into, like, doing the clubs.

And we really realized that the headliners, like, they're not talking to you about comedy.

They're asking you, well, hey, how are your kids?

You know, how.

How was your day, man?

You know, what do you do for work and stuff like that?

Like, it's the most, you know, normal, basic things.

And, like, once you take that side of it that, you know, listen, if they got some advice for you, for comedy.

They'll give it to you, but they just want to talk to you as a regular person.

Don't be a fanboy.

Well, and I think that's the same thing with.

With a good interview, too, is like, you can.

You can go into the minutiae, you can write out every question, but you're going to lose those moments.

Yeah.

And in the end, those are the things that end up mattering, are those, like, it's the moment you didn't plan for that you got something out of.

And even if it wasn't like a instruction, you just want to see how they do business, how they.

How do they manage themselves at a club?

How do they manage themselves on the road?

Are they taking care of themselves?

Yes, on the road.

And you're learning the different versions of professionalism.

Yeah.

Which is a big deal.

Right.

I mean, that's like.

That's part of the thing.

It's not just showing up for the show is.

Then you need to be able to show up the next day in another city, the next day in another city, and then the next day in another city or the next week and still be professional and still deliver, even if you're tired.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Straight off the plane, no sleep.

You got to get on stage.

Go ahead.

And it's.

It's a different kind of thing.

So what I kind of want to pivot to is.

So did you guys already know each other before starting to get involved?

Each other, like, doing shows together.

Were you already familiar each other, or is this part of just being around the scene?

This is part of.

This is the wonderful part of the Rochester comedy scene is that these two knew each other.

Yeah, we know each other.

They know.

See, Drew knows my little brother, so that's kind of what brought us in is when I found out he knew my brother, I was like, oh, okay.

Yeah.

Well, I'm going to be the old guy around, you know, you know, with the young guys.

But it worked out because their energy kind of, you know, like, with the Sorry for the weight thing, it really just injected some life into what I was trying to do with comedy.

So just, you know, getting roasted by Mike that first day.

Okay.

I'm happy I didn't deter you from comedy, man.

Well, you know, listen, we got.

Because you get made fun of in school, so, you know, like, we was talking on WXXI earlier, like, listen, you know, the way you protected yourself is, you know, you told the joke about you.

You can't make fun of me if.

I already said I'M took the power away from.

I took the power.

Some people, they kept going.

Yeah, yeah, I might have took the power.

But it's like, why did you have to go harder?

Right?

If you're dedicated, if you're dedicated to meanness, you can go all the way.

All the way.

He's like, I'm not crying.

You're crying.

No.

I'm glad you guys got to do Connections too, because that's one.

It's a fun show to do.

Like, Evan's such a good host and, you know, it's a different experience.

Right.

We're going to get, we get a chance to extend and reach and do some different stuff.

And I love what Connections does because it's such an important show for the community because they represent all different aspects of the community all the time.

It's something I've valued and like, I always try to learn something from a show like that.

And I'm a regular listener because it's an important show.

And, you know, to see you guys, you know, working on a show that is specifically mentioning weight.

Yeah, right.

And that's something like, you know, as somebody who has struggled with that, like, they're my whole life as well.

And it's a, it's one of those insecurities that is, you know, you can't hide it.

Right.

And people mention to you, like, yeah, I know.

Yeah, I get it.

Yeah.

I know where I'm at.

I know what's going on.

And it's something that's always sitting, it's always sitting on my head.

When you're thinking about like one, making that the name of the show and how you, you know, keep that as part of your set but without it being the pure focus.

Because there are, there's amazing comedians that.

That was their career.

Yeah, right.

Like John Panett.

Right.

So an amazing talent.

One of the most talented stand up comedians of the last 40 years.

You know, so good and so unbelievably funny.

You know, the tragedy of like Ralphie May.

Yeah, Ralphie, Right, the tragedy of Ralphie May.

Right.

So talent.

Nobody could follow Ralph.

Right.

And then like, you know, Panette, I think, was even more talented.

And then, you know, somebody like, wow, am I forgetting his name?

The guy who was, he was on Bobby's World and he did the show with Galifianakis where he played the mom, Louis Anderson, and then, you know, the late, great Patrice o'.

Neill, so.

And he knew he was gonna die.

That was.

Oh, and I, I got, I got to see him once.

I got Seen once in Rochester at the old, you know, the old comedies, you know, comedy place over on Empire.

I got to see him there and just.

Man, that mastery of just like, destroying an audience member with no.

With no regard for human life.

Reckless abandonment.

I mean, it was like, oh, and it was just like an aside.

And he just destroyed them.

Yes.

But he.

It was like, there's nobody I've ever seen on stage that was more themselves than Patrice was for that hour.

And as somebody who's a huge fan of his and you listened to him on the radio forever and his podcasts, and just seeing that completeness of thought.

But that side, you know, the weight part of that, you know, he was always defined as a big person.

Yeah.

How is that.

How has that been using that as part of your tool set?

But, you know, how has it been working with that and then around that.

Because you want to stretch and be you too.

And not just that.

So for me, it's like.

Like, I might have a couple jokes about talking about my weight, but, like, I'm more.

Like I said, I'm more.

I'm might be a guy who's fat, but I'm still a guy, you know, saying.

So, like, I talk about all the, like, my POV of the world.

And though I might.

I might touch on fat stuff, but I'm also touching on dating.

And I'm touching on just all different aspects, like, just even having to go get your car fixed and like.

And just stuff like that.

It just like, I can take a mundane thing and just make it super funny.

So it's like, I don't have to rely on myself, but I understand that I can do an act out that's going to get a bigger laugh because I am a bigger guy.

Yeah.

You know what I'm saying?

Like, if I. I can play, like, the aloof almost and just kind of.

Like, well, there's space for that too.

Right?

Like, you're using it as a.

Hey, you're trying to, you know, lull them into a false sense of security.

Like, oh, you're expecting this?

I'm like, no, we're gonna go another direction.

Exactly.

Same here, man.

And I like it because, like, it's almost like a body positive type of show because, like, I've been fat my whole life, and it's like, I love it, dude.

Like, but, like, I don't think about it my mind that I'm fat until, like, something happens.

I'm like, oh, wait, I'm a little too big for that.

I was like,.

Going to tie your shoes.

Yeah, bro.

Like, you've been down real quick.

It's like, ooh, you can't do it.

Can't be on that side too long.

And I had white friends growing up, so I was doing skinny.

I mean, skinny guy shit.

Anyway,.

That's the second one.

Almost, like, almost made it.

He was close.

Prestige.

As it slid out, he was like, it's gonna be.

That's gonna happen at some point.

I was close.

He was like, I was close.

Nice.

I was going,.

I'm a big wrestling guy, man.

That.

That.

That Vince McMahon moment.

You play that back.

Like, who, man, that.

That was coming for you.

Oh, my.

Oh, no.

But, yeah, it's like, if my whole set isn't built around me being big, it's gonna talk about it, because that's who I am.

Yeah, but, like, that's what it is.

That's the reality I live in.

I'm big.

Sometimes I wake up out of breath.

I wake up out of breath.

You get sweaty.

It's just like, oh, man, I wasn't planning for this.

Nap's a lot of work.

Listen, I wake up winded.

I, I. I agree with Mike.

Listen, I've always been fat.

I think that it's.

I like to invite people into the experience.

So, you know, like, there's different levels of fattery.

You know what I mean?

So, like, everything isn't the same.

So I just want to give, you know, just an experience.

But I get people who come up to me after the show, and they're like, oh, my God, I feel so bad.

And I'm like, but you're laughing.

You know what?

Tell me what the lady said.

Oh, my God.

Listen, I had a lady come up to me in Syracuse at the funny.

Boom.

And she goes, dre, you're so handsome.

You're so handsome.

Get on Neozempic.

And I looked at her, I'm just like, I love you fat, but I want you skinny.

Oh, you know, listen.

But they listen.

It was an old Italian lady, but she means the best.

Absolutely.

Because to her, she's like, listen, you're so funny.

I want you to be around.

And I listen, I hear what she's saying.

I got my Planet Fitness membership, and I go to the gym, you know, like.

But I embrace, you know, being a big guy, you know, Like, I don't run from it.

I take my blood pressure.

You see?

That's horrible.

I was waiting for it.

That's horrible.

I'm sorry.

I was waiting for it.

Another one.

Oh, that's horrible.

But it's, you know, look, it's the truth, man.

We can't get away from if we get on stage.

Yeah.

The obvious thing you're gonna see.

Right?

Yeah.

So if I pull your attention into that, then I can go into some of the life stories.

Now we can, we can peer into my life in the roller coaster.

You know, look, I had.

I was doing a don't tell in Geneva and I'm talking about my airplane stories, right?

And then I go, you know, what seat shouldn't fat people be sitting in?

And somebody yells from the crowd, roller coaster.

I'm like, what?

So I, I got a whole story.

Yeah.

Of in the 9th grade getting kicked off the Superman for being too fat, you know?

And it's like same.

You listen.

Oh, man, I held that back of my mind.

I just opened up some trouble.

I was at the front seat.

Look, that's what I said, the front seat.

I was at the front.

Yes, you're ready for that big ass steel drop right in of front, ready to go down.

It's a ninth grade trip.

You got all the girls in line watching.

I'm up front.

You're waiting for the click.

You're waiting for one click.

You just.

One click.

I just want one click.

I don't need five.

I just want one click.

He said on three.

Hold your breath.

Hold.

Yes, hold your breath.

Oh, we know this too well.

You see why I say fat is funny?

This is real.

So if we can bring like a real side of life, right.

It'll make people more calm because everybody know a fat person.

Yeah.

You may not know somebody that's been in jail, but everybody knows somebody that's obese.

Yeah.

And I think that's the other thing too, is like, it's the specificity that's funny.

If you're just saying, that guy's fat, that's funny.

Fuck.

No, it's not.

That's not funny.

It's not.

That's not funny.

Right?

It's like everybody's saying this is the easiest time to do comedy with all the political stuff going.

I'm like, no, that's low hanging fruit.

Yeah, that's not funny.

You have to.

You have to defy expectations.

You have to do that other thing.

Specific is funny.

It's something we talk about a lot.

Like when new hosts are joining the network, right?

Is they have an idea.

I'm like, you either have to be specific but general or general but specific.

And it's that little difference of it's not like, oh, I'm A big guy.

It's that.

How many clicks?

How many clicks does it take?

And then that pivots over to another thing, right?

Then it might.

Oh, you pivot into a Tootsie Pop thing, right?

A Tootsie Pop.

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Pop?

I know that I don't know how many clicks because I haven't gotten there.

How many clicks.

I never went back to the.

To the roller coaster again.

I am exclusively water, right?

6Th grade manatee, 6th grade screaming eagle didn't come down.

So I was one of those kids.

I was one of those kids, man.

I was at the Screaming Eagle.

I was able to not come down.

I was like, what?

In the sixth grade, I was riding roller coasters.

Yeah.

Well, no.

And then I slimmed out right after that.

Oh, yeah.

I never slimmed out.

I kept ballooning.

No, I was able to.

I was able to have, like, a good arc.

Like, at one point I got, like, real slim.

And I was.

But I was still kind of.

I was chubby fat.

Like, I was.

Or I was like, skin.

I was like, chubby skinny.

It was like, husky.

Husky.

I was husky.

That was husky.

And, like, Husky B was like.

I was like, man, I can't wait, man.

Like, I.

Like, I could see my johnson full time.

I don't need.

I don't need any mirror footage.

I was just like, here we go.

Like, this is dope.

You see it in real life?

Yeah, man.

That.

Man, that point of view is really something.

It's been a while, man.

I don't think I have ever seen my johnson with my natural eyes down there.

I think either.

Either a camera or a mirror.

It's like a friend that you don't see over time.

I know you're there, buddy.

It was like, are you seeing this?

I'm like, no, I can't see you down there right now.

You know you want.

I haven't seen Richard in a minute.

I haven't seen Richard.

He goes by Dick sometimes.

But you know what's funny?

It's like what people take for granted is like, seeing, like, I.

This is when I was like, I need to lose weight.

When I realized I couldn't sit.

Crisscross applesauce over.

Oh, yeah,.

I tried it.

My legs went right to sleep.

I went to stand up, and I just had to.

I had to fall over and, like, let my legs, like, uncross and then let the blood rush back to him before I could stand back up.

See, people don't know these things.

I was £475.

When.

What?

When it was like, oh, yeah, that's true.

Yeah.

This is skinny drink.

But when were you 475?

Three and a half.

Three and a half years ago.

Yeah, I had, I had him beat.

I was 5:75.

Oh, I got, listen, I got up there and shout out to working at Target and Amazon delivery Services.

You know, like those things took a lot of weight off of me.

And I worked management at Target doing fulfillment and I had to walk miles every day.

And just out of a necessity of needing money, I lost weight.

Well, and I think that's something too, right.

Like, I grew up working, right.

We had a small family business, meaning we had employees who were the children who did not get paid.

Right.

So that was my working at a small family business, but it was greenhouse Christmas trees and then we did sports card and gaming stuff.

But like I was outside working in the summer, right.

I was working.

You know, you're carrying pallets around, like, feel like we had tractors, but like I carried everything.

You worked all day.

You ran back and forth.

You gotta sell.

Yeah.

Be selling all day.

And then you gotta also do all the work.

Working in the greenhouse, filling flats, doing all that.

People don't realize, like when you're a bigger.

When you're someone who just holds weight or just a bigger person.

Yeah.

When you're.

When some people aren't always fat.

No, I'm telling you.

Because there's different levels to it.

Just waiting for somebody to give it to.

No.

For it.

It's like some people.

Somebody put.

Give it away.

I would.

Yeah.

Box up and send it off.

Like holding some weight.

I'm holding some weight.

Storing up for the winter time.

Yeah.

No, that's what it is.

It's like storing.

Some people get winter.

Like they, they do hibernate.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But I ain't never go away though, right.

It seem like I've been stacking for six winners.

Still looking out.

You still here, right?

But yeah, let me land this.

So like when, when you're active, when you're a big person who's active though, you're like your whole life.

That's what like stops the diabetes and the high blood pressure is because you are actively moving that weight.

So when the doc, when you go to a doctor, he's like, you got a clean bill of health.

Your doctor's looking at you like, get the fuck out of here.

He's like, you're not gonna die.

Like, he's upset.

He's like, he's like, he's got the lisinopril ready for you.

He's like, he doesn't need this.

Like, yo, they're gonna get that kickback if they get you on this.

On his pre diabetes medicine, my doctor.

Liter me, you're in great health.

You're just fat.

Yes.

Yeah, that's what those.

And I was like, well, I guess that's a good problem to have.

Yeah, yeah, it's a good start.

Yeah.

But I, I think it's, it's also the tough part, right?

Like, you know, as somebody who likes, I like being active, like, and like my sport is curling, so that's my sport.

But man, if I get over a certain number.

Yeah, man, during the season, my knee starts to go because it's a lot of pressure on your knee and it starts to go like, hey, and if you're, you're a Hooper or something, getting up and down the court, right?

He said Hooper?

Yeah, yeah.

Like, who's in here?

But getting, getting up and down the court, right?

Like, even if you want to play.

But that's like, hey, your knees hurt or your feet hurt.

And that's the thing.

That's like, those are the things that.

Because day to day, you know, you know where you're at.

Yeah.

You know who you are.

But it's some, there's moments, there's moments that hit you.

Those, those are the ones that feel personal.

Yeah, right.

Those are the ones that, like, it's not the random passerby.

It's those little moments that hit you, that hit you in the head.

You're like catching that.

Man, I feel bad, right?

That's.

I think that's the tough part is like, it's those moments.

Those are the ones that sit with you.

It's not, it's not the random thing.

I'll.

I'll tell you a story.

The moment that sat with me was, was actually two moments.

One, when I first started kind of that journey, like doing like the Amazon delivery and now getting kind of into somewhat shape, throwing my back out and spending Thanksgiving face first into the floor, you know, I recovered.

Thank God.

You know, we're good, right?

But that was like, it was a wake up call because I look, the step was this high and I was like, I'm just gonna, you know, I'm feeling good.

I jumped off the step.

Oh, no, you call down yourself.

Listen to me.

I want to say this in the camera to all you bigger sized people, do not jump off the step.

I know, exactly.

I know in your mind when you Start working out.

You feel excellent.

Your body is healed, you're feeling good.

Don't jump off the step.

It second story.

Right?

Now, this goes into your point, right?

So this is where you learn.

Where you at with the walking, like, with Target, I went through a pain right where it started in like.

Like down, kind of in the ankles as you doing that walking.

And it went up into the calves, then it hit my thighs, then it hit my hips, and then it kind of hit my core.

And then once it finished here, once, everything was good.

It took six months.

I was like, I never had any more pain walking because I was all strengthened.

No.

So, like, you kind.

Your body will tell you where you're at.

Yeah.

Oh, for sure.

And it'll tell you, yo, go to the gym.

Because, like, sometimes my body be like, yo, why are we not.

Yeah, we're not doing enough moving.

We're not enough calories.

So now, you know, it's yo, go to.

Go to Planet Fitness.

Because, you know, now I got a good job.

So, you know.

Yeah, do the bit, right?

And that's, you know, you feel better, right?

And that's.

It's the thing you hate to hear the most, right?

It's like, you know, during the pandemic, you know.

You know, they're saying just like, well, what do you do for mental health?

Take a little walk.

And then you do it and you feel better.

Like, God damn it.

Like, I can't.

I can't believe that that's the thing.

Like, you feel better after that.

But it's 100 true.

Just doing something, something, something.

Walk to McDonald's.

Yeah.

If you're gonna eat McDonald's, walk to it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's easier than it is.

Yo, I had to walk all the way to East Main street for that.

I gotta walk all the way to Culver for that.

Culver and East Maine for that.

Here, I wouldn't want that McDonald's.

It's not a good McDonald's.

That's walking the guidas up the street.

The street.

I'd rather walk over to Casa Campo, get some good Puerto Rican.

Right.

There we go.

Look at that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

What about you?

Food?

No, just like.

Or whatever.

I don't care.

Just like.

Have you had those moments that, like, hit you?

Like.

Oh, like, it feels different that day where.

Yeah, well, I just tore my ACL like, last.

Last year.

Oh.

As a big dude, I wasn't always.

I've been active, like, since a kid.

Like, I was always in sports and stuff like that.

And like, this Is the first time I haven't been active as much.

And, like, it shows.

I got diabetes now.

Like, damn, that came for me.

Like he was waiting, bro.

Like, he was waiting just a little bit.

So I got inactive to, like, I'm sick.

I'm gonna help.

The doctor saw that foot off too.

My foot are fine.

My feet are fine.

Necrosis.

I'm gonna be.

You're fine.

You're all right.

We're gonna be going he.

Ho.

Oh, man.

That's a dark joke.

That is a dark joke.

I always say this as a big man.

The one thing you don't want to lose is your walk.

Yeah, you gotta keep your walk.

Once you start that lean back and your mouth is open, that walk is over.

That's what people feel sorry for.

I said that, Teeter.

Yeah, it's dead.

Like, if we would have walked in like that, you would have been like, bro, I don't think it's the show that y' all need.

Say, I got good chairs, but I can't help you.

We gotta reinforce.

I'm gonna put it in the living room so y' all can sit on the couch.

We're gonna have to go wireless mics on this shit.

We need Ashley's furniture up in there for you.

They say we shout out to our new sponsors, Ashley's.

We need three lazy boys.

Yeah.

No.

Sponsored by dxo.

Oh, my God.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, my God.

You know, I hate this is what I knew for me, where it hit me is when I went to.

I was at, like, a.

Like a random party, and there's a bunch of other big guys, and we all have the same Tony soprano shirt from DXO.

It's a fucking $40.

Got the Harbor Bay special.

It's a $40T shirt.

And I was like, why do we.

All have this one?

Like,.

1999 On the clearance?

There's Gas Monkey.

There's damn near.

There's all these other ones, but we.

Henrietta, holla at me.

So we're all here for therapy.

We're all right here to go into the pool.

Yes.

And talk about ziti all day.

I go in the pool with my shirt on.

I don't know about you.

I go, I go.

I let the titties hang, man.

Really?

The titties hang on, cuz.

They're not jersey.

You do the mesh jersey.

You got a special pool shirt.

He got a dress.

Oh, my God.

He bought his own bra.

The same.

Letting that water move yeah, that's a water bra.

That's a. I could be clothed and free at the same time.

I go, listen, you come cuz like.

I've been there with a T shirt in the pool.

Come out heavy as hell.

Oh my God.

Y.

It's like, it's like be heavy than.

That kid looking like, what's that walrus doing this?

Don't touch that man.

He's in danger.

All right, so I do want to end up.

Let's end off with so one again.

The shows Monday the 21st, Tuesday 22nd, Wednesday 23rd, Thursday the 24th, 8 o' clock at the new Duke at the Mercantile in Maine.

The Focus Theater tickets [email protected].

I mean let's finish off with food.

I'm a food guy.

I've written about food.

I worked with tons of restaurants around Rochester, small minority owned restaurants.

I've done tons of work around this.

I'm a food guy.

So I'll start off so my, when I'm.

When I'm spiraling, when I'm doing bad, my, my thing is I'm a snacks person and a container is one serving as far as I'm concerned.

So I'd say for me, like when I'm spiraling and I'm doing bad, it's.

On the way home from work, I may have picked up some food.

You stop at the gas station, full bag Doritos.

That is the snack on the way home before dinner.

Oh, is a warm up snack.

Whole bag, whole bag.

And.

And then the bag gets thrown in the garbage can on the way up the driveway.

That doesn't go in the garbage can.

Like this work.

Real shame stuff.

Yeah.

So it's a whole bag of Doritos and then you eat dinner.

I got a whole meal before the meal.

Oh, I like that.

That's.

Listen, it's crazy.

Yeah, you gotta have a meal before the meal.

Yeah, yeah, the warm up.

Yeah, yeah, warm up.

I would suggest, you know, a McDonald's McDouble meal.

Oh, see the four for four in Wendy's.

That's.

I could.

That's a killer.

That's a killer.

Yeah, that's a good warm up.

Oh dude, the extra most bestest pizza from Little Caesars.

The whole, the whole pizza.

Yeah, yeah.

We really fatten this thing up dollars to calories.

You're not gon a better value than.

Like five bucks.

Yeah.

Put right to sleep.

Yeah, no, I was.

I mean it's hot and ready for you.

It's hot and ready.

It.