February 21, 2025 • 19 mins
Macy Kwok is a stand up comedian in NYC, originally from Hong Kong. Macy has stopped by Chanel in the City to chat all things stand up comedy with host, Chanel Omari, and how stand up coomedy can be a cut throat business and how challenging it is for female comedians to be successful in a male dominant industry.
Make sure to come out and show love and support for Macy Kwoks Women Uninterrupted Show at St Marks Comedy Club at 8:30 PM. WWW.STMARKSCOMEDYCLUB.COM FOR TICKETS
About Macy Kwok Bio
Macy is a New York based, Australia educated comedian. She is originally from Hong Kong.
She adds a unique voice in the comedy scene based on her AAPI heritage, and Multicultural experiences.
She was featured in multiple comedy festivals including the NY Comedy Festival at Caroline's on Broadway and Crazy Woke Asians in 2020. In 2022, Macy has qualified for the World Series of Comedy Competition and has placed in the top three at the World Series of Comedy Minnesota Satellite at the House of Laugh Minnesota Comedy Club. She also won the Joke Off Competition at the Very Big Very Asian Comedy Festival held in 2023. She produces all-female show - Women Uninterrupted and it was featured as part of the 2023 New York Comedy Festival.and recently opened for comedian Joe Wong.
Make sure to come out and show love and support for Macy Kwoks Women Uninterrupted Show at St Marks Comedy Club at 8:30 PM. WWW.STMARKSCOMEDYCLUB.COM FOR TICKETS
About Macy Kwok Bio
Macy is a New York based, Australia educated comedian. She is originally from Hong Kong.
She adds a unique voice in the comedy scene based on her AAPI heritage, and Multicultural experiences.
She was featured in multiple comedy festivals including the NY Comedy Festival at Caroline's on Broadway and Crazy Woke Asians in 2020. In 2022, Macy has qualified for the World Series of Comedy Competition and has placed in the top three at the World Series of Comedy Minnesota Satellite at the House of Laugh Minnesota Comedy Club. She also won the Joke Off Competition at the Very Big Very Asian Comedy Festival held in 2023. She produces all-female show - Women Uninterrupted and it was featured as part of the 2023 New York Comedy Festival.and recently opened for comedian Joe Wong.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, everyone, welcome back to another episode of Chanel in
the City. I'm your host, Shanell Omari, and we got
such a special guest here today. She's one of my
really good friends and she's hilarious. She is a stand
up comedian. You've seen her perform all over the city.
She's also been featured in New York Comedy Festival and
is always a regular at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, one
(00:23):
of our favorite comedy clubs. One of my favorites, Siper
Format and also to go check out. They have comedy
shows seven nights a week. You can go on their
website right now, Saint Mark's Coomedyclub dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
And she produces a lot of shows there.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
One of them which I will be joining her with
called Women Uninterrupted, which is an amazing show supporting women,
part of Knockout Festival in March March sixth, So make
sure you get your tickets on the Saint Mark's Comedy
Club website.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
That's the only way you can get your tickets.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Please help me welcome the beautiful, the hilarious Macy Quawk.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How are you, hie hie, Thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you for look how pretty my friend is.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Right, guys, you need to get her skincare routine, which
we'll get into soon. First of all, welcome to Chanel
in the city. This is a major cause. You know
that I always have like special guests on the show,
and you've been such a good friend to me and
such a supportive woman, like a real deal person in
this comedy world. You know, a lot of times we
(01:24):
lose ourselves. And I want to give a shout out
to also your boyfriend who is one of the owners
at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, Danny Carbgno, who's a hilarious
comedian as well, and his brother Alex Carbgno. If it
wasn't for the three of you, I probably wouldn't be
able to play at Saint Mark's because it's such a
tough industry.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So let's get a little bit into that.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Like, I feel like you have a really good balance
of balancing the politics in comedy and you know how
to you know, you know where to ask for spots,
you know how to like deal with people Like what
got you, like what what made you want to get
into comedy in the first place?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Oh yeah, Oh, thank you so much for having a Chanel,
I'm so excited, like I enjoy talking to you and
I'm being able to be on this podcast just super special.
I yeah, I got into comedy. Actually a few years ago.
I did a couple of improv classes. I actually moved
(02:19):
to New York City about nine years ago now, And
when I first moved here, I didn't have I didn't
know anyone. I didn't I just have my day job,
and I spent a lot of money like going out
drinking and then I and then I just like woke
up one day, I'm like, I really want to do
something that I'm passionate about. And I always find I
(02:40):
always want to find something that I feel very like challenging,
like I did skiing. I did all that, but like
when I stepped into I started doing improv. I took
some classes and I also was dating a lot, and
I feel like I was always like waiting around, like
I don't want to do that. I want to find
something and I it's you know, I own it, like
(03:03):
and I feel really in the beginning when I did
classes like improv classes, I did it at a pit.
I did like three levels, and I was like, you know,
I enjoyed it, but then I feel like I was
still being in like a scene with someone, so I
wasn't really me like showing myself one hundred percent. Because
you have seen partners when you do improv, and I like,
(03:25):
I used to just like kind of responding rather than
like taking the lead. So I was like, I need
something else. So then I saw this class like stand
up comedy class like all women, and then I just
thought I would sign up. And initially I thought, you know,
I'll just sign up. I mean this is a five
class like course, and I just like, yeah, I'll just
(03:46):
shopped at the one class and I say, I'll do
it like I did it and that's it, like tick
the box kind of thing. But then like I started,
and then the teacher, you know, it was very nice,
and I really enjoyed it and did my course and
the whole thing, and I did the class show and
I really enjoyed it because and then I was like, oh,
actually performing stand up is it's actually quite because it's
(04:10):
so dark, so I feel like I can't see anything.
I just just like do my materials, and I was like, oh,
that's where I found my passion. I was like, oh,
I can talk in the dock and I not really
see anyone and people in my lave, my love, but
like I enjoy it. So that's how I started.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
And I love that, And that's so interesting that you're
like I wanted to do something that made me feel
authentic to myself and showcase my solo art.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, like you're really funny.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I always tell you and I and it's not just
because like I'm being fake or you're really probably one
of the funniest comedians. But then amongst the comedians, because
it's such a boys club, it's female comedians, right, because
we have to talk about you know, and you're really
one of the funniest. Talk to us about what goes
into your material, like a little bit about what it's about.
But if you guys want to hear about Macy's material,
you got to sign up for the show Mark Shicks
(05:05):
Women Uninterrupted. You gotta sign up for it eight thirty pm.
Get your tickets signing. You guys have to roll in
at eight to be seated. But Saint Mark's Comedy Club
dot com. But talk to us about like what makes
you I feel like every time I see you. You
don't really care about what the popular kids are doing
or what the popular comedians are doing. You're really focus
on what you're doing and what your life is about.
(05:26):
And of course a little bit of the material is
from you know, for people who don't know. You're from
Hong Kong, which is really cool, and you came to
this city, which is the hardest city in the world,
and you made it, if you think about it in
a way, by performing at this at Saint Mark's every night,
almost like that's really hard to perform on house shows
every night. So talk to us a little bit about
you know that, like the inspiration behind your material.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, I I feel like comedy, a stand up comedy
is such an individual performance. So which helps me to think,
like dig deeve into like you know, who I am
and my background and what experience have led to who
I am now. And I you know, I was such
(06:08):
a shy kid, like i'm you know, I hate it
when I was growing up, I was like five years old.
I remember I hated going to family gathering. It's like
Chinese New Year, a new year, Like I have a
big family, Like on my father's side, there's like twelve
siblings and the cousins. And I remember I was like
five six years old, I dreaded like going to those
(06:31):
gatherings and I'll hide behind my dad and my mom
wouldn't talk to any aunties uncle, and like I was
labeled so shy that you know that my my parents
would be like, yeah, just leave her alone, like she's
not like really, she's just so shy. And then that's
like kind of my label, Like I carry it through
my you know, working and in college, so pretty much
(06:55):
like label as introverts. So so during a steartup is
like completely like allows me to be self expression, you know,
like and and I feel like, but you mentioned about
being myself. You worry about like trends, and I just
feel like I don't have it in me to be
(07:16):
like following the crowd, you know, like I because it
wouldn't be me. It wouldn't be it wouldn't be funny.
And the reason why I enjoyed stand up is also
because I think I can be myself, and you know,
I feel like some people might not maybe not like
(07:37):
I'm not their cup of tea, and maybe like you know,
for some people, I am like exactly they can find
my materials relatable and I'm okay with that. I feel
like most important is to find my audience, which I'm
I'm building. I'm you know, doing some social media and
I know, you know, it can be challenging because I'm
(08:01):
also like i am my day job and I'm doing
stand up at nighttime like you said, and now you know,
obviously marketing social media's think, but which I'm so happy
we were doing a few.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, you guys check out our reels too. They can
follow you, right Macy, We're at Macy quock k.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yes, that's my handle on instagrams ma c k yes.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And at chanel A Mari We've you know, And I
want to know, like what you think about that, like
how important it is because you know, you produce a
lot of shows at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, You're you're
working with the bookers a lot, And I want to
know for other comedians listening, like what do you think
is important? Do you think doing sketches or collaborating with
other comedians is important? Do you think you know, you know,
(08:47):
what are these steps that we take in comedy Because
people don't understand that, like you said, like you've taken classes,
I've taken classes. I think people don't realize the work
that you put in really behind the scenes to get
to the you know, on stage.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
But what do you think it takes.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I guess yeah, yeah, I think there's no like like
like twelve steps. It's not like a skincare routine like.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You a anonymous here.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah we should be with the comedians anonymous because it
couldn't industry.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
But yes, go on the.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Bible or like you know, because I'm just so used
to following rules, like in my culture, following steps like oh,
you know, in the workplace, if you like, if you
do these in a description, then you get promoted, then
you'll get this. But in comedy it's completely different. As
you agree that you mentioned, there's no like rules, there's
(09:41):
no steps, so it gets a little creative. So it's
so like I think networking is is most important in
this industry, which I'm still learning, Like I'm appreciated you
mentioned like you think. I'm figure it out a little bit,
but I'm still very new. Like I think I I,
(10:05):
like you said, I produce shows, so it allows me
to book other comics on my show, and that create
opportunity for myself and other comedians like yourself. And I'm
also doing women focused show, which is my show's Women Uninterrupted.
And I remember like two years ago I submitted Women
(10:27):
Uninterrupted to the New York Comedy Festival. I didn't expect
any like you know, you know anything. They did come
back and say, oh, my show. I remember I saw
the email. It was like, oh, you know, your show
is accepted in the New York Comedy Festival. And I
was two years ago, and at the time, I was like,
oh my god, Like I just feel like, oh, there
(10:49):
is a chance for me to create more stage time
for myself and other female comedians. And then I turned
the show into like a monthly so that interns allowed
to again, you know, develop relationship with the club because
I'm working to bring audience, bring building the brand of
(11:10):
my show. So that's like I think otherwise, you know,
another approach can be like showing up for other people's show.
There's like tons of shows every day, so so going
to other people showing support, which you know, when people
come and support my show, it makes me feel special
(11:30):
and I'll try to do for others. And also, like
with women, I think I found I'm still not asking
like enough. I think like men, I think they they
will be so you know this still comes so natural
for them.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
To be like, hey, I'm like or you could ask.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
You could be like me and ask and then get
rejected a lot, except for that's why I love you,
because like you will take You will see talent in
women and be like, Okay, she's not getting so much
of a chance. I'm gonna take the chance on her,
you know, which I think is so important to like,
even if people don't say you're funny or this person's
not funny, I think we all have to develop our
own mind of like what's funny and who's funny and
(12:13):
who deserves a chance? You know, I don't think it
helps the industry if you create hierarchy constantly, like you
keep on booking the same people the time, or you're
not giving other people a chance. So that's what I
like about you, is that, like you're very honest about
who you are on stage, but you're the same person
off stage. And I don't know if a lot of people,
you know, you can let me know if you think
(12:34):
a lot of comedians are like that, Like they're the
same on stage or the same off stage. Should they
be the same on stage as off stage? You know,
because it's such a male dominant industry, right.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So yeah, I think, yeah, I think you're right, Like
it's sometimes it's hard to balance, like how much asking
is too much? Like it's all DM like every day right,
because then you have to check in like it's all
responding right, Like I remember, I recently went back to
Australia and I also study in Australia and I stayed there,
(13:06):
so I'm I my mom is there. And I went
back and I was I have never before this trip.
I never performed stand up in Australia Sydney because I
only just started doing calmly when I moved here. After
I moved here in New York. So then I was like, okay,
now I don't know anyone there, and I then what
(13:26):
did I do? I reached out to and Ozzie Comic
in that I met in New York and see if
he I mentioned to him like I'm going to visit
you know these other days, like who do you think
I can speak to? And then he helped me, you know,
connect to a couple of people. And then some club
didn't respond, and then you know, and then I did
have the challenge like I feel like, oh, should I
(13:48):
follow up and then I follow up and nothing and
then you know, so there's like some hidden miss and
I feel like, like you said, we just have to
keep trying and not take things personally, and and I
know there's always you know, just people not not responding,
and I think you're just checking like maybe three months
(14:13):
and then maybe show author. I guess Neil take. I
don't know if that helps, But at the end of
the day, I understand it's so hard. I'm still I'm
still navigating. I think you're doing a better job than
me because you're like you're like opening for like yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
But I have to beg.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I have to bet, like literally, I literally have to
like strap them.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
In my basement.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Everyone's like that joke is old, and I have to
be like please mean like I beg. That's the thing
I wanted to ask you, like, how do you not
compare to these younger comics, you know, because the industry
people don't realize it's a very ageist.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
It's entertainment.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
So when comedy, you're selling a product. You're selling stick,
even if the person is really funny or not funny,
You're selling a product like on stage and who you
want to come see and why you're gonna want to
come see them, whether they have a big social media following,
or they're hot or they're really funny, you know. I
feel like popularity is the common denominator, Like popularity is
the word, Like if you're popular in the scene, you'll
(15:11):
get more. But my point is is like I feel
sometimes I have to beg because I'm forty and I'm
a woman, and I'm also a Jewish like woman of
a different nationality, like different roots, and so that also
makes the pool smaller.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Now, maybe I'm creating a narrative.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I don't know, because I look at you and I'm like, wow,
you are very positive about how you create the narrative
of your journey. I feel like you don't get mad
at people. You don't resent people, and that's the way
to go. It's the cutest thing. It's like you're very like, Okay,
I'm coming from love and you get and sometimes you
get rejected. Sometimes you get good stuff, but you don't
(15:48):
take it out like I feel like sometimes I'm like
I take it personal. So I think, what's the answer,
Like how do you not compare yourself? Because you don't
compare yourself. You're very confident in your stand up, your material.
I've seen you many times crush a room, like crush
a room. I don't even think you've bombed. I don't
think i've ever seen bomb. By the way, there's a
(16:09):
good thing to bomb also, But I'm saying I don't
think i've seen you.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I really think I've seen you crush.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
And I think you inspire me to be who I
am no matter what, because I'm like, you know, not
everybody's gonna like me. I don't know what to say
about that, because I want everybody to like me, but
not ever because I was like, yeah, I was like
a really shy kid, and I was a people pleaser.
I think most comedians are they come from that cloth,
or they come from abusive backgrounds or traumatic backgrounds, so.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
They want this like.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Yeah, like you want to express yourself and get it
out and heal. So like for me, I'm like, oh,
I thought we all were in this together, but it
is really hard for me and a lot of people
that are listening to accept the rejection. So what do
you think, Like, how do you cope with Like let's
say somebody is like Macy, I chose the younger person,
Like how.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you deal with that? Like what do you do?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I mean there's always like yeah, when you look on
social media, there's always like people getting different opportunities and
oh wait, how's that come about? But like yeah, I
mean obviously I have. I'm a human, so like I
feel all the emotions right, like you know, the comparisons,
like you know, like telling you know, oh, maybe because
(17:22):
of age, because where I'm from, maybe they don't understand
I have an accent. Maybe it's the way I look,
maybe you know, whatever it is. Maybe I'm not like
networking enough, like people don't know me. I don't have
a big following. So so I think it's so normal,
Like what.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
How you feel?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
How I feel? I think it's about you know, supporting
each other. Like you said, like we just have to
uh find out all opportunities. I think abundance right, Like
it's just so hard.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
It's hard, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Like yeah, so so even like you we opportunities. I think,
like you know, I was, I've been listening to a
lot of self development stuff, Like there's this one idea
about like create your own destiny, so so like you know,
we think about maybe we can still if we don't
(18:17):
perform in the club setting, maybe we perform at a
you know, there's a lot of different meetings like meetups,
and there's a lot of tech tech theme shows. So
it's like kind of non non traditional, you know, like
in a comedy club or in a theater. But but
(18:38):
there's still an audience that maybe they're more tied to
a industry teg or so, which we do have a
show as Marks called Snot Tank and that's like a
pitch Rose show and you know, founders of a company
pitch for two minutes and then we have a panel
(18:59):
of medians and vcs who rows the pitch, not the
not the not the present. So then you so, I
actually find that show allows me to practice like thinking
on the spot, right, like writing jokes on the spot
because I hear the pitch for the first time and
I need to find what might be weird funny when
(19:21):
I love about it and turn it into like a joke.
So so I'm just saying like I'm now thinking a
little bit more creatively, Like if the club they don't
book me, or they you know, I'm not in front
of them enough, then maybe there's other types of I
can create a different audience
Hey, everyone, welcome back to another episode of Chanel in
the City. I'm your host, Shanell Omari, and we got
such a special guest here today. She's one of my
really good friends and she's hilarious. She is a stand
up comedian. You've seen her perform all over the city.
She's also been featured in New York Comedy Festival and
is always a regular at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, one
(00:23):
of our favorite comedy clubs. One of my favorites, Siper
Format and also to go check out. They have comedy
shows seven nights a week. You can go on their
website right now, Saint Mark's Coomedyclub dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
And she produces a lot of shows there.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
One of them which I will be joining her with
called Women Uninterrupted, which is an amazing show supporting women,
part of Knockout Festival in March March sixth, So make
sure you get your tickets on the Saint Mark's Comedy
Club website.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
That's the only way you can get your tickets.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Please help me welcome the beautiful, the hilarious Macy Quawk.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How are you, hie hie, Thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you for look how pretty my friend is.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Right, guys, you need to get her skincare routine, which
we'll get into soon. First of all, welcome to Chanel
in the city. This is a major cause. You know
that I always have like special guests on the show,
and you've been such a good friend to me and
such a supportive woman, like a real deal person in
this comedy world. You know, a lot of times we
(01:24):
lose ourselves. And I want to give a shout out
to also your boyfriend who is one of the owners
at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, Danny Carbgno, who's a hilarious
comedian as well, and his brother Alex Carbgno. If it
wasn't for the three of you, I probably wouldn't be
able to play at Saint Mark's because it's such a
tough industry.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So let's get a little bit into that.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Like, I feel like you have a really good balance
of balancing the politics in comedy and you know how
to you know, you know where to ask for spots,
you know how to like deal with people Like what
got you, like what what made you want to get
into comedy in the first place?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Oh yeah, Oh, thank you so much for having a Chanel,
I'm so excited, like I enjoy talking to you and
I'm being able to be on this podcast just super special.
I yeah, I got into comedy. Actually a few years ago.
I did a couple of improv classes. I actually moved
(02:19):
to New York City about nine years ago now, And
when I first moved here, I didn't have I didn't
know anyone. I didn't I just have my day job,
and I spent a lot of money like going out
drinking and then I and then I just like woke
up one day, I'm like, I really want to do
something that I'm passionate about. And I always find I
(02:40):
always want to find something that I feel very like challenging,
like I did skiing. I did all that, but like
when I stepped into I started doing improv. I took
some classes and I also was dating a lot, and
I feel like I was always like waiting around, like
I don't want to do that. I want to find
something and I it's you know, I own it, like
(03:03):
and I feel really in the beginning when I did
classes like improv classes, I did it at a pit.
I did like three levels, and I was like, you know,
I enjoyed it, but then I feel like I was
still being in like a scene with someone, so I
wasn't really me like showing myself one hundred percent. Because
you have seen partners when you do improv, and I like,
(03:25):
I used to just like kind of responding rather than
like taking the lead. So I was like, I need
something else. So then I saw this class like stand
up comedy class like all women, and then I just
thought I would sign up. And initially I thought, you know,
I'll just sign up. I mean this is a five
class like course, and I just like, yeah, I'll just
(03:46):
shopped at the one class and I say, I'll do
it like I did it and that's it, like tick
the box kind of thing. But then like I started,
and then the teacher, you know, it was very nice,
and I really enjoyed it and did my course and
the whole thing, and I did the class show and
I really enjoyed it because and then I was like, oh,
actually performing stand up is it's actually quite because it's
(04:10):
so dark, so I feel like I can't see anything.
I just just like do my materials, and I was like, oh,
that's where I found my passion. I was like, oh,
I can talk in the dock and I not really
see anyone and people in my lave, my love, but
like I enjoy it. So that's how I started.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
And I love that, And that's so interesting that you're
like I wanted to do something that made me feel
authentic to myself and showcase my solo art.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, like you're really funny.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I always tell you and I and it's not just
because like I'm being fake or you're really probably one
of the funniest comedians. But then amongst the comedians, because
it's such a boys club, it's female comedians, right, because
we have to talk about you know, and you're really
one of the funniest. Talk to us about what goes
into your material, like a little bit about what it's about.
But if you guys want to hear about Macy's material,
you got to sign up for the show Mark Shicks
(05:05):
Women Uninterrupted. You gotta sign up for it eight thirty pm.
Get your tickets signing. You guys have to roll in
at eight to be seated. But Saint Mark's Comedy Club
dot com. But talk to us about like what makes
you I feel like every time I see you. You
don't really care about what the popular kids are doing
or what the popular comedians are doing. You're really focus
on what you're doing and what your life is about.
(05:26):
And of course a little bit of the material is
from you know, for people who don't know. You're from
Hong Kong, which is really cool, and you came to
this city, which is the hardest city in the world,
and you made it, if you think about it in
a way, by performing at this at Saint Mark's every night,
almost like that's really hard to perform on house shows
every night. So talk to us a little bit about
you know that, like the inspiration behind your material.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, I I feel like comedy, a stand up comedy
is such an individual performance. So which helps me to think,
like dig deeve into like you know, who I am
and my background and what experience have led to who
I am now. And I you know, I was such
(06:08):
a shy kid, like i'm you know, I hate it
when I was growing up, I was like five years old.
I remember I hated going to family gathering. It's like
Chinese New Year, a new year, Like I have a
big family, Like on my father's side, there's like twelve
siblings and the cousins. And I remember I was like
five six years old, I dreaded like going to those
(06:31):
gatherings and I'll hide behind my dad and my mom
wouldn't talk to any aunties uncle, and like I was
labeled so shy that you know that my my parents
would be like, yeah, just leave her alone, like she's
not like really, she's just so shy. And then that's
like kind of my label, Like I carry it through
my you know, working and in college, so pretty much
(06:55):
like label as introverts. So so during a steartup is
like completely like allows me to be self expression, you know,
like and and I feel like, but you mentioned about
being myself. You worry about like trends, and I just
feel like I don't have it in me to be
(07:16):
like following the crowd, you know, like I because it
wouldn't be me. It wouldn't be it wouldn't be funny.
And the reason why I enjoyed stand up is also
because I think I can be myself, and you know,
I feel like some people might not maybe not like
(07:37):
I'm not their cup of tea, and maybe like you know,
for some people, I am like exactly they can find
my materials relatable and I'm okay with that. I feel
like most important is to find my audience, which I'm
I'm building. I'm you know, doing some social media and
I know, you know, it can be challenging because I'm
(08:01):
also like i am my day job and I'm doing
stand up at nighttime like you said, and now you know,
obviously marketing social media's think, but which I'm so happy
we were doing a few.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Yeah, you guys check out our reels too. They can
follow you, right Macy, We're at Macy quock k.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yes, that's my handle on instagrams ma c k yes.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And at chanel A Mari We've you know, And I
want to know, like what you think about that, like
how important it is because you know, you produce a
lot of shows at Saint Mark's Comedy Club, You're you're
working with the bookers a lot, And I want to
know for other comedians listening, like what do you think
is important? Do you think doing sketches or collaborating with
other comedians is important? Do you think you know, you know,
(08:47):
what are these steps that we take in comedy Because
people don't understand that, like you said, like you've taken classes,
I've taken classes. I think people don't realize the work
that you put in really behind the scenes to get
to the you know, on stage.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
But what do you think it takes.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I guess yeah, yeah, I think there's no like like
like twelve steps. It's not like a skincare routine like.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You a anonymous here.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Yeah we should be with the comedians anonymous because it
couldn't industry.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
But yes, go on the.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Bible or like you know, because I'm just so used
to following rules, like in my culture, following steps like oh,
you know, in the workplace, if you like, if you
do these in a description, then you get promoted, then
you'll get this. But in comedy it's completely different. As
you agree that you mentioned, there's no like rules, there's
(09:41):
no steps, so it gets a little creative. So it's
so like I think networking is is most important in
this industry, which I'm still learning, Like I'm appreciated you
mentioned like you think. I'm figure it out a little bit,
but I'm still very new. Like I think I I,
(10:05):
like you said, I produce shows, so it allows me
to book other comics on my show, and that create
opportunity for myself and other comedians like yourself. And I'm
also doing women focused show, which is my show's Women Uninterrupted.
And I remember like two years ago I submitted Women
(10:27):
Uninterrupted to the New York Comedy Festival. I didn't expect
any like you know, you know anything. They did come
back and say, oh, my show. I remember I saw
the email. It was like, oh, you know, your show
is accepted in the New York Comedy Festival. And I
was two years ago, and at the time, I was like,
oh my god, Like I just feel like, oh, there
(10:49):
is a chance for me to create more stage time
for myself and other female comedians. And then I turned
the show into like a monthly so that interns allowed
to again, you know, develop relationship with the club because
I'm working to bring audience, bring building the brand of
(11:10):
my show. So that's like I think otherwise, you know,
another approach can be like showing up for other people's show.
There's like tons of shows every day, so so going
to other people showing support, which you know, when people
come and support my show, it makes me feel special
(11:30):
and I'll try to do for others. And also, like
with women, I think I found I'm still not asking
like enough. I think like men, I think they they
will be so you know this still comes so natural
for them.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
To be like, hey, I'm like or you could ask.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
You could be like me and ask and then get
rejected a lot, except for that's why I love you,
because like you will take You will see talent in
women and be like, Okay, she's not getting so much
of a chance. I'm gonna take the chance on her,
you know, which I think is so important to like,
even if people don't say you're funny or this person's
not funny, I think we all have to develop our
own mind of like what's funny and who's funny and
(12:13):
who deserves a chance? You know, I don't think it
helps the industry if you create hierarchy constantly, like you
keep on booking the same people the time, or you're
not giving other people a chance. So that's what I
like about you, is that, like you're very honest about
who you are on stage, but you're the same person
off stage. And I don't know if a lot of people,
you know, you can let me know if you think
(12:34):
a lot of comedians are like that, Like they're the
same on stage or the same off stage. Should they
be the same on stage as off stage? You know,
because it's such a male dominant industry, right.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So yeah, I think, yeah, I think you're right, Like
it's sometimes it's hard to balance, like how much asking
is too much? Like it's all DM like every day right,
because then you have to check in like it's all
responding right, Like I remember, I recently went back to
Australia and I also study in Australia and I stayed there,
(13:06):
so I'm I my mom is there. And I went
back and I was I have never before this trip.
I never performed stand up in Australia Sydney because I
only just started doing calmly when I moved here. After
I moved here in New York. So then I was like, okay,
now I don't know anyone there, and I then what
(13:26):
did I do? I reached out to and Ozzie Comic
in that I met in New York and see if
he I mentioned to him like I'm going to visit
you know these other days, like who do you think
I can speak to? And then he helped me, you know,
connect to a couple of people. And then some club
didn't respond, and then you know, and then I did
have the challenge like I feel like, oh, should I
(13:48):
follow up and then I follow up and nothing and
then you know, so there's like some hidden miss and
I feel like, like you said, we just have to
keep trying and not take things personally, and and I
know there's always you know, just people not not responding,
and I think you're just checking like maybe three months
(14:13):
and then maybe show author. I guess Neil take. I
don't know if that helps, But at the end of
the day, I understand it's so hard. I'm still I'm
still navigating. I think you're doing a better job than
me because you're like you're like opening for like yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
But I have to beg.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I have to bet, like literally, I literally have to
like strap them.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
In my basement.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Everyone's like that joke is old, and I have to
be like please mean like I beg. That's the thing
I wanted to ask you, like, how do you not
compare to these younger comics, you know, because the industry
people don't realize it's a very ageist.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
It's entertainment.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
So when comedy, you're selling a product. You're selling stick,
even if the person is really funny or not funny,
You're selling a product like on stage and who you
want to come see and why you're gonna want to
come see them, whether they have a big social media following,
or they're hot or they're really funny, you know. I
feel like popularity is the common denominator, Like popularity is
the word, Like if you're popular in the scene, you'll
(15:11):
get more. But my point is is like I feel
sometimes I have to beg because I'm forty and I'm
a woman, and I'm also a Jewish like woman of
a different nationality, like different roots, and so that also
makes the pool smaller.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Now, maybe I'm creating a narrative.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I don't know, because I look at you and I'm like, wow,
you are very positive about how you create the narrative
of your journey. I feel like you don't get mad
at people. You don't resent people, and that's the way
to go. It's the cutest thing. It's like you're very like, Okay,
I'm coming from love and you get and sometimes you
get rejected. Sometimes you get good stuff, but you don't
(15:48):
take it out like I feel like sometimes I'm like
I take it personal. So I think, what's the answer,
Like how do you not compare yourself? Because you don't
compare yourself. You're very confident in your stand up, your material.
I've seen you many times crush a room, like crush
a room. I don't even think you've bombed. I don't
think i've ever seen bomb. By the way, there's a
(16:09):
good thing to bomb also, But I'm saying I don't
think i've seen you.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I really think I've seen you crush.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
And I think you inspire me to be who I
am no matter what, because I'm like, you know, not
everybody's gonna like me. I don't know what to say
about that, because I want everybody to like me, but
not ever because I was like, yeah, I was like
a really shy kid, and I was a people pleaser.
I think most comedians are they come from that cloth,
or they come from abusive backgrounds or traumatic backgrounds, so.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
They want this like.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Yeah, like you want to express yourself and get it
out and heal. So like for me, I'm like, oh,
I thought we all were in this together, but it
is really hard for me and a lot of people
that are listening to accept the rejection. So what do
you think, Like, how do you cope with Like let's
say somebody is like Macy, I chose the younger person,
Like how.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you deal with that? Like what do you do?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I mean there's always like yeah, when you look on
social media, there's always like people getting different opportunities and
oh wait, how's that come about? But like yeah, I
mean obviously I have. I'm a human, so like I
feel all the emotions right, like you know, the comparisons,
like you know, like telling you know, oh, maybe because
(17:22):
of age, because where I'm from, maybe they don't understand
I have an accent. Maybe it's the way I look,
maybe you know, whatever it is. Maybe I'm not like
networking enough, like people don't know me. I don't have
a big following. So so I think it's so normal,
Like what.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
How you feel?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
How I feel? I think it's about you know, supporting
each other. Like you said, like we just have to
uh find out all opportunities. I think abundance right, Like
it's just so hard.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
It's hard, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Like yeah, so so even like you we opportunities. I think,
like you know, I was, I've been listening to a
lot of self development stuff, Like there's this one idea
about like create your own destiny, so so like you know,
we think about maybe we can still if we don't
(18:17):
perform in the club setting, maybe we perform at a
you know, there's a lot of different meetings like meetups,
and there's a lot of tech tech theme shows. So
it's like kind of non non traditional, you know, like
in a comedy club or in a theater. But but
(18:38):
there's still an audience that maybe they're more tied to
a industry teg or so, which we do have a
show as Marks called Snot Tank and that's like a
pitch Rose show and you know, founders of a company
pitch for two minutes and then we have a panel
(18:59):
of medians and vcs who rows the pitch, not the
not the not the present. So then you so, I
actually find that show allows me to practice like thinking
on the spot, right, like writing jokes on the spot
because I hear the pitch for the first time and
I need to find what might be weird funny when
(19:21):
I love about it and turn it into like a joke.
So so I'm just saying like I'm now thinking a
little bit more creatively, Like if the club they don't
book me, or they you know, I'm not in front
of them enough, then maybe there's other types of I
can create a different audience
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