Michael Kosta
Los Angeles, CA
Male, 30s
I'm Michael Kosta, stand-up comedian (yes, that's what I write on my tax returns). I've performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, and Comedy Central, and I tour all over North America and Australia. Ask me anything about life as a stand-up.
Comis groupies are waaaay different than music groupies. I have had very little and the ones that I have had, you wouldn't want to sleep with. Partying after a show is fun, common and usually a great way to unwind. But to be honest it usually happens with the club workers, waitresses, other comics. Groupies tend to be annoying and expect you to make them laugh all night which I always think "I already did this, now I want a break"
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Your going from music to acting? WOw almost as risky as going from professional tennis to stand up comedy! I hate to sound negative but if you are "deciding" if you should do comedy or not, it probably isn't for you. Go with what is burried deep in your heart (cue soft music). Think back to your kindergarden class when the teacher asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. I remember I said "Pro athlete or comedian". The odds are always against you but if you are really doing what you want to do, and what you are made to do, it doesn't matter if you make it big, little, rich or poor. Hopefully that helps but I guess it doesnt ;(
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I think you never feel like "OK I got this" but you do start to have more confidence that you can get yourself out of trouble if something wrong happens. I remember when I was starting I would have all my jokes memorized in an ACRONYM and I would have to go in that exact order... now as I have more experience I am moving things around and adjusting based off of what the crowd likes, or how I am feeling, etc. my experience with comedy is once you get cocky and think you have it figured out, you bomb your ass off and it bring s right back to "Man, do I have a lot to learn still".
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You just need stage time anywhere. Clubs, bars, colleges, bridal showers, etc. College circuit can be good but don't put too many limits on where you get stage time. If you are brand new, which it sounds like you are, just go up go up go up, over and over again. Different audiences, different ages, different environments.
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Hospice Nurse
Which terminal diseases are the most painful to watch people go through?
Basketball Referee
Do you think the nets should be lower for girls?
Air Traffic Controller
When would you order fighter jets to be scrambled?
All the time. Comedians get booked for corporate, private events, colleges, fundraisers, all that shit. Agents that book the clubs also book the private stuff, some agents specialize in just private stuff.
Corporate gigs are the most profitable but you have to be the cleanest (in general) and wear a tie at some of them which makes me vomit.
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Oh we are getting personal now!?!?!? First it was "How much do you get paid" and now its "what kind of boyfriend are you?" Whats next "Why did you abort that baby in high school?" Touring can be very fun with all types of distractions but as you do it more and more it becomes less and less "party" time. Netflix streaming has killed many a late night parties on the road. Now how is your relationship?
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I want the show to kick ass, from start to finish. The better the show from the MC to Feature to Headliner the better the crowd pays attention, and is more likely to come back again and support the comics. When I have a shitty opener or a hacky opener I find that the crowd respects the show less, respects me less and the club. If all the comics are kicking ass, the show is awesome and actually makes my job easier as headliner. The only real problem is when the feature act (the act before the headliner) has a very similar style to me. That can get complicated. Im a cocky, tall white guy who yells a lot on stage. If the opener is the same, the show gets old fast. The good clubs pay attention to who they are booking and make sure that doesn't happen.
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