February 19, 2023 • 48 mins
On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with the incredibly talented stand-up comedian Pat House. A Philly native, Pat has been a regular performer at comedy clubs, casinos and theaters all over the country. He’s also opened for Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Segura and most recently, Dan Cummins and Brad Williams. His second album, I Heard Enough Yesterday reached #1 on iTunes and his third album, I’m Here peaked at #2 and you can hear both of them on Sirius XM.
On the podcast, we talk about Pat’s journey from doing his first open mic in 2004 to touring the country performing standup professionally. We also dig into his creative process, and how much of it comes down to a daily writing practice which has culminated in over 100 notebooks of material so far. But the other half of it is getting that material in front of an audience as much as possible. Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or not, there’s a ton to be learned from Pat when it comes to craft, putting in the work, and loving what you do.
For more information on Pat House, visit: pathousecomedy.com.
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SHOW NOTES:
0:00—Introduction
2:10—How we met
3:58—Growing up watching SNL, Letterman and Leno
4:48—Pat’s first time doing standup
6:30—Looking up to Dave Atell, Steven Wright and Chris Rock
8:16—The only way to work on new material in comedy
9:30—On standup becoming more and more fun
10:17—Pat’s definition of creativity
11:00—The comedian’s creative process
11:45—Finding the humor in everything, even sadness
15:00—Pat’s journey to to doing comedy professionally
17:00—On finding inspiration from bartending, his parents, and life
18:30—”Nothing to me is funny without me being angry, annoyed or mad first.”
19:00—On the joys of writing in notebooks
21:30—Pat’s writing routine
23:30—A big misconception about standup comedy
24:44—Throwback to that time we saw Woody Harrelson
25:40—Keep writing and gold strikes
27:15—It took Bill Maher 10 years to get his first hour
28:49—What makes a great set for Pat
30:00—The challenge of the Friday late show
31:37—The worst thing that ever happened on stage
34:42—The rise of internet comedians
38:28—What’s something a non-comedian wouldn’t understand?
40:32—Pat’s top three moments from touring in the last year
43:36—What goes into creating a comedy album?
45:35—Advice for aspiring comedians
46:16—What’s next for Pat
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jennifer Logue (00:10):
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode
of creative space, a Podcastwhere we explore, learn and grow
and creativity together. I'myour host Jennifer Logue and
today we have the pleasure ofspeaking with the incredibly
talented and hilarious stand upcomedian Pat house, a Philly
native Pat has been a regularperformer at comedy clubs,
(00:33):
casinos, and theaters all overthe country. He's also opened
for Sebastian Maniscalco, TomSegura, and most recently, Dan
Cummins and Brad Williams. Hissecond album, I heard enough
yesterday reached number one oniTunes, and its third album, I'm
here peaked at number two, andyou can hear both of them on
(00:54):
Sirius XM. Welcome to CreativeSpace, Pat.
Pat House (00:58):
Thank you. That was a fantastic intro.
Jennifer Logue (01:00):
Oh my gosh.
Pat House (01:01):
Thank you. Thank you.
Jennifer Logue (01:03):
You have a fantastic journey. So far. It's
Pat House (01:06):
never ending but yeah, but no, thank you. Thanks
for having me. It's awesome tochat with you again. It's been a
while.
Jennifer Logue (01:11):
It's been a while. I mean, I think I've
gone. Okay, so out of every oneI've had on the podcast so far.
I'm pretty sure we go back thefurthest.
Pat House (01:22):
Okay, we probably do.
I mean, we had to have met whenwe were 14 or 15. Freshman year
of high school. Yeah. So. Sothat's a round the 25 year mark.
Jennifer Logue (01:33):
Oh, my gosh.
Pat House (01:36):
I'm sorry. I apologize.
Jennifer Logue (01:39):
No, it's fine.
It's awesome. Because you wereboth in band? Yes. In band. I
played the flute. You were
Pat House (01:47):
I played the trumpet, which I have no idea why because
I played the saxophone allthroughout grade school. So why
did I switch it up? And do atotally different instrument? I
have no idea why I did that. Ihave no idea. But yes, we did
the band freshman year and thenyou and I jumped ship
immediately.
Jennifer Logue (02:05):
Oh my gosh, I know. I forgot that. We were
both quitters.
Pat House (02:09):
Yeah, yep. We were you. We up sophomore year, we
had to take Jim and health classwith the freshmen.
Jennifer Logue (02:17):
Oh my gosh.
Pat House (02:20):
Yup. And look at us now. So bad? Not at all. Not at
all.
Jennifer Logue (02:30):
Sometimes you got to try new things.
Pat House (02:33):
Absolutely. You know, I'm on and I'll have you on my
podcast. Once I get that upagain. The two way street. Oh.
Awesome. I'd
Jennifer Logue (02:41):
be honored. So Pat, your career? You're
hilarious. And thank you. Iwould love to know more about
your journey. I think a lot oflisteners out there would love
to know. How did comedy firstcome into your life.
Pat House (02:58):
It's just my dad would watch stand up when I was
a kid. And I would watchSaturday Night Live and
Letterman and Leno. And eversince I was very, very young. I
was aware of stand up comedy andhumor in general, mostly TV and
movies. But I rememberspecifically, watching my dad
(03:20):
watch stand up and I was justdrawn to it. Like I didn't
understand what the jokes were.
I was always like, I was a youngkid, like four or five, six
years old. I don't comprehendwhat these adults are talking
about. But I just rememberseeing these people on TV like
holding a microphone and makingpeople laugh. And that really
stood out to me, even at thatyoung of an age. So cool. I
didn't realize it was thatearly. Yeah, it was it was
(03:43):
embedded pretty early.
Jennifer Logue (03:47):
Well, when did you first try stand up?
Pat House (03:50):
October 13 2004. At the last house in Philadelphia,
la FSW was a comedy club onSouth Street. And I signed up
for the open mic Jeff King whowas in our grade. Yes. went with
me. And he watched me do my veryfirst set.
Jennifer Logue (04:07):
Wow. So that was sophomore year of
Pat House (04:13):
sophomore year. Yeah, the very beginning. Yeah.
Unknown (04:18):
How did it go?
Pat House (04:19):
The first two times I would do the open mic on a
Wednesday. It went very well. Myfirst time went very, very well.
My second time went very well.
And then I bombed for months andmonths after that. But that's
pretty normal for a lot ofcomedians, as I find out like on
my podcast, a lot of comics. Dowell the first time because
you're excited there's energythis is something brand new.
(04:41):
It's like a high you'd you justhave all this adrenaline and
then like, you get your asshanded to you the next the next
couple of times. But that's whenyou learn to figure stuff out.
Why isn't this going well? Isthis not funny? Am I doing these
jokes in the wrong order? That'swhen you start to put it
together. that, you know, you.
(05:03):
You take a couple of beatingsand it makes you better
basically.
Jennifer Logue (05:06):
Yeah. Because you're getting to that next
level to Yes.
Pat House (05:10):
And you stay at the bottom for a while, you know,
doing open mics and all thatkind of stuff. But it was it was
a lot of fun and I think aboutthose days all the time.
Jennifer Logue (05:17):
Oh my gosh. So who your you taught? He touched
on a few of them. But who areyour earliest comedic
inspirations, especially when hefirst started, you know, going
on the circuit
Pat House (05:29):
went? Dave Attell is one of my favorite comics of all
time. He's actually inPhiladelphia this weekend. I'm
going to go catch him on Sunday.
I haven't seen him since beforeCOVID I was a huge Dave Attell
fan. I love his standup I lovedhis shows that he had on Comedy
Central Insomniac, I was so coolthat in college I had a David
tell poster in my college dormroom. But I can name a million
(05:50):
comics. I love Steven Wright isone of the first comments I saw
on TV that I laughed at and youknow, tried to remember his
jokes and would quote them. And,you know, it goes without saying
I love Chris Rock. I love ChrisRock stand up. I remember
watching him when I was young,and he's still getting better
and better to this day. I'veseen him a couple times. I've
(06:10):
seen him a couple times in smallintimate venues, which is cool,
like, not the big 3000 seat 5000seat theater. Like I've seen
Chris Rock work on stuff at theComedy Store in Los Angeles and
the comedy cellar in New YorkCity. So those are just three to
name a start, but yeah,
Jennifer Logue (06:28):
I saw him at the comedy cellar by accident. I
was. He wasn't on the line up inlittle pop. Yeah, it was my
friend's birthday. And me and mybest friend were sitting at the
very front like at the stage.
And like, ladies and gentlemen,welcome Chris Rock. It was
crazy.
Pat House (06:49):
The Comedy Store in Los Angeles and the comedy
cellar in New York City areknown for like the Poppins. They
don't advertise it. But I sawRay Romano do a pop in at the
comedy cellar. And there's beenlike, Marathon nights where it's
like, everybody's in town andlike Chris Rock will go on and
bring up Seinfeld. And thenSeinfeld brings up Dave
(07:10):
Chappelle. And it's just like,it's rare. But it happens.
Jennifer Logue (07:15):
That it's helpful to for them to test new
material.
Pat House (07:18):
Yeah, because it doesn't matter how famous or
successful you are, as a comic,new material is still new
material, and it needs to beworked on. And there's only one
way to work on it. And that isget on a stage in front of
people. That is the only way Ican say stuff out loud in my
hotel room. Doesn't meananything until you get up there.
Jennifer Logue (07:37):
Wow. So getting back to your early experiences.
I got to ask when you wereyounger. Did you like
performing? Did you know youwanted to be a performer?
Pat House (07:49):
Not at all. I never acted. I never did any theater.
I never did anything. I neverstepped foot on a stage until
that night. I tried to stand up.
Well, were
Jennifer Logue (07:59):
you nervous? No, I
Pat House (08:01):
was excited here. I wanted it. I was I was I it was
something I really wanted to do.
It had been on my mind for awhile. It been on my mind for
like two or three yearsprobably. So once the time once
I finally got the courage andthe ability to go to the laugh
house open mic. I was excited.
So no, it was not nerves. It wasa let's do this kind of thing.
(08:22):
Yep.
Jennifer Logue (08:23):
Rock on. It's awesome. If you could pick one
defining moment in your lifethat has helped shape you? What
would it be? And why?
Pat House (08:33):
One defining moment in my life, I don't know. Well,
I guess it would be making thedecision to do stand up. I mean,
that's certainly something thatbecause I started doing stand
up, it'll be 19 years this year.
I'm 38. That's officially halfmy life. And it's getting more
and more fun every year. So Iguess that would be the defining
moment, I guess that time. Thevery first time I stepped on
(08:56):
stage at an open mic and it wentwell. And I could hear the
audience laugh and I just hadthat power and command and I was
just hearing the laughter and Iwas like it was a game changer.
And I'm still chasing that soundand that high in that euphoria
every single night.
Jennifer Logue (09:13):
Oh, that's awesome. So this is creative
space. And I asked this questionof everyone. But what is your
definition of creativity?
Pat House (09:24):
Creativity to me would be like, just I guess,
showing the world who you are. Imean, there's all sorts of
creativity there's obviouslystand up and there's writing and
there's drawing and there'smusic. I think creativity just
comes from everybody'suniqueness and putting it out
there how they see the world.
You know, yes point of view, andstand up or a story or you know,
(09:47):
putting your emotions into asong or a poem. I feel like
creativity is just showcasingwho you are.
Jennifer Logue (09:57):
Yes, and something I'm really curious.
It's about what's the creativeprocess of a stand up comedian.
Pat House (10:05):
It's different for everybody. And I will say most
comics are lazy. I try to writeevery single day. And I don't
always do that. But I'm trying,I'm doing so far good so far
this year. But I feel like ingeneral, comedians need to just
report what we see in theeveryday world. You know what I
(10:27):
mean? Like, if the cashier atCVS was rude, or if you're going
through a breakup, or you know,something crazy happened to you
on vacation, or your parents,whatever. The creative process
is just filtering that andfinding what's funny in everyday
life situations. And even a lotof horrible, sad, tragic stuff
(10:52):
can actually be really, reallyfunny. Like, I mean, my stepdad
is 83, he had a major healthscare. A year ago, it was a very
scary time. And like he was in acoma. And we didn't know if this
was it. But I walk in hishospital room, and on his
patient information board, itsaid, caution, high fall risk,
(11:12):
and I'm like, he's in a coma.
He's like pulling anywhere. Solike, so there's, there's humor
in everything, even in stuffwhere there's like, sadness and
pain, you know what I mean? Andit's our job to make that funny.
Jennifer Logue (11:28):
Like, as a stand up comedian, you're really, I
think all artists are doing aservice for the world, because
we're helping people deal withtheir emotions, maybe people who
don't create day to day. But asa stand up comedian, it's even
more so because you're able totake really difficult subjects,
or if someone's going through atough time. I know when I'm
(11:48):
having a tough time. The onlyremedy is watching Senate
comedy. I'm just laughing mybutt off, you know. Yeah. And,
Pat House (11:56):
and I hear that a lot from people. And I forget that
too, because I get lost in thefact that it's a job. And I like
travel and right. I forget that,like people actually watch stand
up to laugh and enjoy it andforget about their problems,
because I'm so focused on itbeing a job that I typically
forget that so I'm glad you saidthat, because that's a reminder
that I needed.
Jennifer Logue (12:16):
Yeah. Oh, I'm glad I could bring that up.
Because yeah, you guys are doinga service for people. And now
the world is so crazy right now.
Pat House (12:26):
Yep. That's one way to phrase it. Yeah. Yeah.
Jennifer Logue (12:29):
And something else I wanted to bring up. It's
also tough to be a stand upcomedian now, because I feel
like it's so easy to offendpeople. But that's part of what
makes setup comedy. Awesome,too. It's like when you're like,
Oh, my God, that's totally me.
Pat House (12:48):
Yeah. Yeah, the point is, I mean, at least for me, all
comments are different, but Iwant to make it relatable. You
know, whether it's somethingfunny or embarrassing or quirky,
I love when people relate tosomething I'd say or be like,
Oh, my God, I do that too. Orthat happened to me a couple
years ago, that's making itrelatable is the most fun.
Jennifer Logue (13:09):
How do you know what's too far?
Pat House (13:12):
Um, I don't know, I don't really push the envelope
of stuff. That's too crazy. Imean, I like I curse. And I talk
about sex or whatever. But Idon't like I don't do anything
political. I don't get vulgar.
So that's not really an issueI've ever had some comments for
sure. But that's really nothingthat ever came my way. I really
can't even think of a time wheresomebody was truly offended or
(13:36):
anything by supply something Isaid, Because I mean, I just
talked about bartending. Italked about fast food I got,
you know, I'm not pushing theenvelope here. I'm just trying
to make my awkward storiesfunny.
Jennifer Logue (13:53):
But it's relatable. And, you know, do you
want to talk about your journeyto doing this professionally?
Pat House (13:58):
Yeah. I mean, in a nutshell, I just started doing
open mics. And aroundPhiladelphia, where any lunatic
can sign up and open mics are ayou get everything across the
board. You get people who aretruly actually talented. You get
people that are absolute insanenutcases. You get everything
(14:23):
across the board. So once I haddone a couple open mics and got
my feet wet, I started to makesome friends. And just like
everything else, networking, youknow, I met my friendship
Chantry and and he was like, Oh,they have an open mic at here on
Mondays and I'm doing this showon Friday. Come hang. So
everything just started tosnowball, but it just really
comes down to getting out thereand networking and then I
(14:47):
eventually worked my way into acouple of comedy clubs and then
met some bigger more. notfamous, but comments with bigger
names, bigger notoriety, andthen a couple of those guys took
me on the road like Sebastianand Tom segura. Wow. So
everything was just a gradualsnowball. And it's still doing
(15:07):
that to this day. I'm startingto headline more. And it's a
never ending. Grind, but thegrind is fun. It looks
Jennifer Logue (15:15):
like so much fun. You're always touring. It
seems like
Pat House (15:19):
I travel a lot. Yep.
Come on. You live from amiserable day in Buffalo, New
York right now.
Jennifer Logue (15:28):
Apple is not so bad by but it's pretty cold.
Pat House (15:30):
Actually, it's really not that bad for January and
buffalo. It's like, it's like inthe 40s. Today, it's really not
bad. I've been here before wherethe high was like five. So I
lucked out by getting atolerable weekend here. It's
just gray and miserable. ButI'll take that over sunny and 12
degrees where I can't doanything.
Jennifer Logue (15:48):
True. Yeah. When it's cold. I don't want to be
anywhere outside. Yeah, it'slike a
Pat House (15:53):
cool physical city of the really, there's a lot of
cool spots in Buffalo. And thecomedy club here is great. It's
a helium, the same club thatstarted in Philadelphia. So
awesome. They got a good, goodclub up here.
Jennifer Logue (16:04):
So these days, where do you draw inspiration
from
Pat House (16:08):
out my front door? I mean, I still have a day job
where I bartend a couple coupledays a week, and I get a lot of
material. From there. I get alot of material from my parents.
Yeah, it's just everyday lifeman that that's that's what's
intriguing to me. I just becausewe all see annoying or
frustrating stuff every singleday. And I just enjoy you know,
(16:35):
talking about that kind ofstuff. Like my act is 100%. Or I
should say 95% autobiographical.
So I just find inspiration bywalking out my front door or
walking out my hotel, andwalking outside. Just seeing the
world
Jennifer Logue (16:53):
and having an opinion about it.
Pat House (16:56):
I mean, I need people to do annoying or stupid stuff.
So I can also I can have a jobbut yeah, so I need as much as I
can't stand a lot of people Ineed them to do stupid stuff, so
I can go to work.
Jennifer Logue (17:12):
I see sometimes, like I feel like inside of all
of us is a little Larry David.
Pat House (17:17):
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Jennifer Logue (17:21):
Not all of us are brave enough. Or talented
enough to make it funny to otherpeople to hate it. You know?
Pat House (17:28):
Well, here's something that is just
indigenous to me, but I guess alot of comments as well. Like
nothing to me is funny withoutme being angry or mad or like
annoyed first, like somebodywill do something. And I'm like,
look like that woman is being somean to that guy or whatever.
And then I get like mad. Andthen like five minutes later
(17:49):
when I calm down, I'm like, oh,it's actually kind of funny. So
that's how pretty mucheverything works for me. I have
to be angry or annoyed first,then when I pull the curtain
back I'm like, oh, that's kindof funny. Do you have a little
book I guess? Oh god. Oh, yep.
Yep, I go through notebooks allthe time. I still hand right 90%
of my act. You know I havepapers everywhere. That's part
(18:13):
of a setlist from last night.
And then here's like the printedlist of stuff I'm working on now
that I can cross off what I wantto do so this guy No I love and
I love when I'm hanging out withwith other comics or other
artists in general. And I seetheir notebooks I love asking
people the method to theirmadness because some people like
(18:33):
only write in Sharpie somepeople write bullet points.
People write in all caps. Sopeople write I love it. I love
looking at people's method totheir madness.
Jennifer Logue (18:41):
Oh my god. Same here. And with handwriting. I
need to write things by handtoo, because I just feel like
it's not the same. I don't havethe emotional reaction if I'm
right if I'm typing. So I just Imy notebooks. I look like a
crazy person. I owe
Pat House (18:58):
two books. Me too. I have a ton of them. I travel
with them. I'm also obsessedwith buying them everywhere I
go. I love buying notebooks andI usually give a ton away like
when I work with with othercomics. I just give them
notebooks. I went to Irelandthree years ago, I bought 40
notebooks. Oh my gosh, okay, youhave maybe four zero on one
(19:18):
trip. But I mean, I could go tolike, like I'm in Buffalo. I'll
probably come home with anotebook. I'll go to a bookstore
tomorrow. Like, oh, this isreally cool. And come home with
it. I'm pretty obsessed withbuying notebooks.
Jennifer Logue (19:31):
Love it. Yeah, it's just that physical
connection to the paper.
Pat House (19:35):
Yes. It's very cathartic to Yeah, like Yeah, I
really like to see people handwriting stuff as opposed to just
throwing it all in the computer.
Now I do have stuff in mycomputer like more organized
lists, but I mean, I love thesimple act of writing stuff out.
Jennifer Logue (19:53):
Yes. And then that's nice going back to like
if you date stuff. What was Ilike? What Thinking back then
about this? Do you write everyday? Yes, I am crazy. I love it.
Like, I don't know, it's just, Iguess my medium has always been
(20:14):
writing, whether it's likewriting songs or writing, you
know, articles or essays or, youknow, short films, whatever. But
now Yeah, I mean, I start everyday with just writing
Pat House (20:29):
it really? I'm trying to do it first thing in the
morning. It's not Do you like,No, we both went to Catholic
school. Do you like date? Thetop of the page? Oh, my gosh, I
do. I do, too. And I normally, Ijust realized this recently, and
I'm talking within the lastmonth, I start off every single
day by like writing about theweather. I have no idea why. I
(20:50):
will write like January 20. Iput my location I wrote buffalo
downtown Starbucks this morning.
And I'm like gray and dreary,light rain. I don't know why I
do this every day. But that'show I start. It's weird.
Jennifer Logue (21:03):
I think that's nice. Because then you have
context. You're setting thescene?
Pat House (21:08):
Yeah, just for myself, though. Like, if I
scroll through this notebook,two months from now, I'm not
gonna give a give a crap that itwas gray on the Thursday I was
in Buffalo, but that's how Istart my page every single day.
date, location? Sometimes thetime not always. And then the
weather.
Jennifer Logue (21:26):
Okay, yeah, for me. Like usually
Pat House (21:29):
gonna gonna ask you How does your page start and the
first thing in the morning, it'sthe date.
Jennifer Logue (21:34):
And then I just do this three things that I'm
grateful for, just to get me outof my funk in the morning. To be
like, for some reason, my brainis very much like a jumps ahead,
I jump at too much. Like, that'sjust me naturally. So it gets me
grounded, like, Okay, right nowis three things. And they're
(21:55):
always different. And it's niceto like, think about three
things in the present to dothat. And then that's like a
separate section. And then Ijump into the rest whatever's on
my mind. And I write throughoutthe day, like if I have an idea,
like if someone says something,you know, I'm an advertising
right now for my day job. Solike, you know, we're working on
(22:17):
a concepting project, like itjust constant imaginative play
all day long to figure out theseto how to tell these stories.
And like, as the day goes on, Ijust write every idea that
comes. And it's not always like,yeah, it doesn't always have. It
(22:40):
wouldn't make sense to mostpeople probably, it's not like
worse. It's not always like ajournal of like, do your diary.
Today XYZ happened and XYZhappened. It's like, it could if
it was a memorable enoughexperience. And, but,
Pat House (22:55):
but to you, it's just you going about your day, like
it's, I feel like a bigmisconception about stand up is
like in my, in the past 20 yearsor so. I have probably filled
close to 100 notebooks. And Ifeel that only less than 5% of
what I write is actually usable.
Yes. And I feel like that'spretty indicative of comics, and
(23:17):
probably most writers ingeneral. I mean, I have been
doing stand up for almost 20years, but I only have three
albums. So that means in 20years of writing, I have three
hours of usable stand up that Ireally like.
Jennifer Logue (23:32):
But you have to do it every day because it keeps
your muscle. Yeah, strong. Youdon't get to the good stuff
without you actually youremember Calvin?
Pat House (23:43):
We went yeah, we went to lunch. We saw Woody Harrelson
that day. Yeah. Oh. Oh, that'syeah. He was leaving the
restaurant when we when wewalked in, because okay, I'm
obsessed with the movie Kingpin.
It's one of my favorite moviesof all time. And I was like,
There's Roy Munson. Like he'sdone Natural Born Killers and
White Men Can't Jump. I don'tcare about any of that. I was
standing right next to WoodyHarrelson. I was like that is
(24:06):
Roy Munson from Kingston.
Jennifer Logue (24:08):
Oh, my God. Oh, Calvin brought up on the podcast
about creativity. Like it's likea hose. And when you first turn
on a hose, you have like, youknow, some of the old water like
the dirty water comes out. Andthen you know, as it as you keep
running the hose, fresh watercomes out. It's more forceful.
And it's like, every time youstart the engine backup, you're
(24:31):
not every idea is gonna begreat. Yeah, and it's
Pat House (24:34):
totally true. I wouldn't even say most aren't
the most are every now and then.
Now, do you have this thing withyour writing to like, do you
know when you're writingsomething good? Do you feel
differently? Because every nowand then, and it's it's rare?
It's infrequent, but every nowand then an idea will strike or
I'll figure out a way to word ajoke differently and I'm like,
this is going to work. I don'thave to mess around with this
(24:57):
anymore. I don't have to tinkerwith it. This is good. By the
way it is, you know,
Jennifer Logue (25:01):
yes, there have been a few, like, intuition for
me is what tells me like, we'lljust ideas with projects to
pursue. Like, with this podcast,it wouldn't the idea wouldn't
leave me alone. Yeah, so that islike, oh, man, a lot of work,
then I had to get over that. Butthen it's like, I know I have to
(25:23):
do this. So when something won'tleave me alone, I think it could
be a good idea.
Pat House (25:27):
But then yeah, if something's gnawing at you,
yeah. Yeah. But then sometimes
Jennifer Logue (25:32):
with certain songs or words, it'll, you know,
maybe one out of like, 5000 I'llhave that feeling.
Pat House (25:43):
Like, I didn't say it is very infrequent. I mean, this
notebook is half full. I'mhalfway through it. And I think
I'm only saying two or threethings, two or three things in
it on stage. The rest is justkind of crap, really. But that's
just how it goes. Keep writingand gold strikes.
Jennifer Logue (26:00):
Yeah, yes.
There's gold in there. You gotin mind for it, though?
Pat House (26:04):
Absolutely.
Absolutely. It's work. It is.
Work when people you know, gosee a stand up. They just see
them for one hour. Well, it wasBill Maher, famous comic Bill
Maher. He, it took him 10 yearsto get his first hour. So you
see him, you know, 2030 yearsago, the comedy club do that
(26:26):
hour that took him 10 years tobuild. Wow. And I'm so that's
the creative process, you know?
And same thing with a band likeit took Queen forever to record
Bohemian Rhapsody. It's a sixminute song. You know what I
mean?
Jennifer Logue (26:44):
It takes work.
We don't see the process of it.
No,
Pat House (26:47):
you don't you just see the final product, or the
live show? And you're like, Oh,that was cool. Well, they spent
half their lives preparing forthat two hours, you know? Yes.
But it's worth it. It is totallyworth it. And that's something
that you can't explain to peoplethat don't do what you do. You
(27:07):
know what I mean? It's like, thesacrifice. Because it's also the
reward the sacrifices typicallyworth the reward?
Jennifer Logue (27:17):
Yes. Because you do have to take time out of your
day to do this. Oh, yeah. Andours. Yeah.
Pat House (27:23):
And then that's hours out of your week, and then out
of your month, and then out ofyour life. And next thing, you
know, you're like, holy shit,I'm 40. And, you know, I mean,
we're not there yet. But youknow, we're
Jennifer Logue (27:33):
not not yet.
Don't remind me, oh, my God. I'mtaking my collagen supplements
and like, keep myself together.
So, for you, Pat, what makes agreat set.
Pat House (27:55):
A great set is obviously when the crowd is with
you, when there is when you havegreat timing and great pacing,
and the crowd is with you. Andthey're laughing at all the
right spots, and they'relaughing at the little nuances
and smaller jokes. All of thatis part of a great set. But I
find that of course you want biglaughs That's the literally the
(28:20):
sole purpose of being a comic isto get laughter. I love when I'm
having a great set. And when I'mdoing the setups, the crowd is
dead quiet. I love when they'rehanging on every word. And then
the laughter hits and it'sthunderous. And then you get
into the next thing, and they'requiet again, because they're
(28:40):
hanging on every singlesyllable. You're saying, that is
the best. I love them quiet andlistening just as much as I love
the reaction when they startlaughing.
Jennifer Logue (28:52):
Oh my gosh, I want to pay attention. That's
next time I go to see comedy,like different types of audience
reactions.
Pat House (29:01):
Oh, there's I mean, last night, I had a woman burp
in the front row just out loud,like an animal. You have it on
video. I'm going to I'm going topost it later. I'm going to edit
that video down and put that onsocial media later. I'm like,
What is wrong with you?
Jennifer Logue (29:13):
Let's do that in your podcast show notes. They
were
Pat House (29:17):
they were a good crowd. But they weren't one of
those crowds where they wereperfect and hanging on every
word. They were great. Lappersand they were fun. But yeah,
there's the audience reactions.
It's different every single showevery crowd every night, every
single show.
Jennifer Logue (29:35):
Yeah, I just never thought about that. Like
the kinds of experiences youmust have on stage having done
this for so long.
Pat House (29:45):
And yeah, it's been a while. Yeah, to see I mean, I've
had you know, bad crowds are outthere just like anything else.
Sometimes they're just not withyou. Maybe they're drunk.
Tonight, today's Friday, so wehave two shows to Night, and
there's a good chance that that10pm or 1030 show tonight is
going to be drunk. They were atwork all day. Now it's 1030 on a
(30:08):
Friday and the show is justgetting started. They might be
tuned up Friday, late shows.
Steve Martin famously said,somebody asked him why he quit
stand up. And he said, becauseof the Friday late show. Oh,
that's a that's a quote. He saidforever ago. So yeah, they're
not, uh, they're not allwinners. But that's how you get
good. You deal with the roughcrowds. If it's not going well.
(30:28):
And you'd have to do 40 minutes,you got to stay up there and do
your 40 minutes and figure itout. So it's
Jennifer Logue (30:36):
what's the worst thing that's ever happened to
you? On stage?
Pat House (30:42):
I was had three beer bottles thrown at me and I was
almost punched in the face. Oh,my God. March 7 2008, at the
townhouse in media,
Jennifer Logue (30:51):
and the idea is don't go.
Pat House (30:56):
That's that's not a shocking Delco story that's
almost natural for them.
Speaking of Delco, like I said,I'm in Buffalo, New York right
now, there was a couple in thefront row last night from Drexel
Hill. Oh my gosh, I'm like, Thisis unbelievable. You can't make
this up.
Jennifer Logue (31:10):
You can't escape Delco? No.
Pat House (31:15):
Oh, yeah, I was attacked on stage that was
probably actually that that waslike the worst. I mean, I've had
bad sets where I feltemotionally worse than when I
felt when I was physicallyattacked. Oh, man, but that's
part of the deal. You know,bombing and having rough sets
make you a better comic. So inorder to become a good comic,
you really have to have a lot ofthose bad nights. But then you
(31:36):
learn your you learn every timeyou have a bad set, you learn
what to fix for next time. Soyou know, it's not all bad. And
I'm sure it's the same thingwith writing or being a musician
and having a rough liveperformance or whatever, you
know,
Jennifer Logue (31:51):
is a constant evolution and just learning how
to be gentle with yourself toand to like reframe how you're
looking at the experience, likeit's not a failure, it's just an
experience. It's a teacher.
Pat House (32:06):
Yes, absolutely. But, you know, most artists and
creative people, we tend to beatourselves up. So I'm trying to
be a little more forgiving withthat this year, than I have been
my whole entire life.
Jennifer Logue (32:17):
Oh, my gosh, I hear you on beating yourself up
like that is? Yeah,
Pat House (32:23):
that we all do.
Because it would be weird. If wewent through life or our
creative endeavors thinking it'sgreat all the time, then there
would be nothing to fix. Youknow what I mean? There's always
something to work on.
Jennifer Logue (32:35):
And it gives you depth to it does. You know,
Pat House (32:39):
we need to not be so hard on ourselves if we don't
like something or if it wasn'texactly how we wanted.
Jennifer Logue (32:45):
Yes. I was talking to another artist on the
podcast, and she talks about howshe burns. She's a visual
artist, okay, and she's workingon something. And the painting
just not going in the directionshe wants it to. She burns it.
She has a burn pile.
Pat House (33:02):
That's just badass, actually. That is. I mean, I
save everything though. As muchas I would love to be like, oh,
there's nothing funny in thisnotebook. And like Chuck it in a
dumpster? I can't. They're likemy babies still. You know,
Jennifer Logue (33:16):
there might be an idea in there for writing is
a little different, I think.
Yeah, everyone's different. But,but a burn pile does sound
pretty cool. It sounds cool,right? It's very cathartic to
just, I'm going to start fresh.
Pat House (33:29):
Yeah, if you don't like this, that's like one of
the most destructive ways to getrid of it. You're like, this is
trash. I'm actually going to setit on fire.
Jennifer Logue (33:36):
It's what you she said that I was like, Oh my
gosh, I love this. What is thegreatest challenge you faced in
your career so far? Um,
Pat House (33:48):
I don't know if there's, well, okay, I could say
that. I don't if there's anychallenges, per se, it's always
a grind. You want to get biggergigs, better gigs, more gigs,
more money. Okay, I made Xamount of money on this gig last
year. Can I ask them for doublethe pay, there's always little
challenges along the way. Butthat's part of the process and
part of the grind. I will saynow, and probably ever since
(34:12):
COVID. A very interestingdynamic and comedy is comedians
moving to like, tick tock andInstagram. Like it used to be,
you know, you go to the comedyclubs to see the comics but
everybody was making videos athome and like there was a rise
(34:32):
of like internet comedians. Sothose people that had huge
massive followings are nowperforming in comedy clubs and
less of the comics like myself,who were just born and bred
stand ups, you know, arecompeting with them to get in
the comedy clubs. So that'ssomething since the pandemic
that is a shift, but I'm luckyenough to you know, be busy and
(34:56):
have a great network of comedyclubs that that use me and all
but A lot of people are doingputting their standard clips
online. And it's just weird, andoddly frustrating, I guess.
Because I'm like, I don't likedoing that I like I don't mind
posting a clip here or there.
But like, I feel like I had tobe like Steven Spielberg. Now I
have to like, film a set, edit aclip, put the captionings put a
(35:19):
goofy logo, and then put 50hashtags, hashtag funny. Hashtag
stand up hashtag French onionsoup, whatever the hell. And
then, and then just watch it sitthere and get like 12 views?
Yeah, I mean, it's like soulcrushing.
Jennifer Logue (35:38):
Yeah, it's like in the age we live in now, every
creator needs to have thisunderstanding of the algorithms.
And
Pat House (35:45):
yes, and so sick of that word. But you're I mean,
you're right. And I say it 10times a day. It's like, I've had
videos get a substantial amountof views. And it's always like
the ones that I don't care ifthey do well or not. But the
videos that I take time, let'ssay this joke took five years to
get where I want it. And then Ifinally put the clip online. And
after like, a month, it just haslike, 100 views on like, that's
it?
Jennifer Logue (36:05):
Oh my gosh, yeah. And it's just so much to
do on your own to. Yeah, allthese steps.
Pat House (36:12):
I know. Like, I feel like half of my career now is
like watching myself, andlistening to myself and editing
stuff to put online and I'm noteven focusing on the real act
that I have to do twice tonightlive. Right,
Jennifer Logue (36:27):
right. There's just all this extra extra stuff
that we have to worry about ascreators, and it takes away from
the art itself. And that'ssomething that frustrates me
over and over again, but I'mtrying to embrace it.
Pat House (36:38):
I'm trying to, to I hear Yeah, it's a hard
adjustment. But a lot ofcomedians have gotten popular on
Tik Tok. So I'm making sure topost like two or three videos a
week and give it a shot. Becauseit's it can't hurt. It's just
annoying. It's frustrating.
Jennifer Logue (36:58):
It's time consuming. You know, if you have
someone to help do that.
Pat House (37:02):
I, you know, I have some people that I'm trying to
learn it myself. So I don't haveto use other people. But like,
sometimes I just have friendsthat told us do such a better
job. Yeah, yeah. So sometimesit's worth paying somebody to do
something to just get it offyour plate, and have it done the
right way, as opposed to somehalf assed crap that I'm gonna
throw out there.
Jennifer Logue (37:22):
That is so true.
That's a lesson that I need to Ineed to learn. So we talked
about this a little bit. Butwhat's something about being a
comedian, that someone who's nota comedian wouldn't understand.
Pat House (37:35):
Probably the fact that like, we touched on a
little bit that it just takesyears to get an act together.
Like it's everyday writing.
It's, it's also like, also,people are different in
different places, like thecrowds in Buffalo, here are
different from crowds inPortland, Oregon. And the people
in Portland, Oregon, aredifferent from the people in
Florida. So I like I'm notsaying I'm good here. But like,
(37:58):
I didn't think I became a goodcomic until I was on the road
for a couple of years. Becauseyou see so many different
demographics and audiences andyou, you can become a good comic
in your hometown, but you becomea much better comic once you
start working the road. So Idon't think people realize how
much goes goes into it. Butlike, like we said, you know, I
have 100 notebooks filled andall and, you know, three albums.
(38:21):
So I don't think people realizehow much actually goes into it.
And like they see the good stuffyou're doing on stage. They
didn't see the 3000 Horribleopen mics that you did to get
there. He's not just going up onstage and stuff works the first
time. It's not how it works, youknow?
Jennifer Logue (38:42):
How do you adjust? Do you just you're set
for different audiences like,
Pat House (38:47):
sometimes, but I feel like all the stuff I do now is
pretty universal. I mean, I havea giant. I have Wendy's story, a
Domino's story. Like I can dothose anywhere. Because people
you know, because they'reeverywhere. I feel like what I
do now is pretty universal. ButI do like to open up with some
local stuff right off the top,like I have. Once you've been to
a cities a couple times each,you get more material, but like,
(39:10):
I could do a minute or two offthe top, you know riffing about
the city or something thathappened that day in that city,
you know?
Jennifer Logue (39:16):
Oh, cool. That's a way to bring people in.
Pat House (39:18):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's a good way to get the showstarted.
Jennifer Logue (39:22):
Awesome. So you're always touring now, I
always see you, you know,Facebook in different places.
And what have been your topthree moments from touring in
the last year?
Pat House (39:35):
Oh, man. Oh, in the last year. I love the Pacific
Northwest. So I love anytimewhen I get to perform out there.
One of my favorite comedy clubsis Tacoma comedy club in Tacoma,
Washington right outsideSeattle. And I'm obsessed with
Mount Rainier. It's it's I'vehad this obsession with that
(39:56):
mountain since I was a kid andfrom your hotel room them that
the comedy club puts you up at.
You can see Mount Rainier fromthe room. So I just sit in that
hotel room and just stare outthe window. Any time I'm there.
That's a lot of fun. In the lastyear, last year, my last album
went to number two on iTunes. BoBurnham was number one, and it
(40:18):
was like impossible to knock himout of the top spot. I mean,
there were way way moresuccessful comedians than I am
that could not come out of thatnumber one spot. So I knew I
wasn't going to get to numberone again. But that was still
pretty cool. I'm just happy tobe doing this actively. I love
traveling. And I I'm lovingstand up more and more. I think
(40:39):
I'm getting better at it. I'mhaving more fun. I'm getting
better gigs and moreopportunities. And I'm having
more fun. The longer I do it.
Jennifer Logue (40:52):
That is so beautiful. Oh my gosh. And also
you charting like number onenumber two on iTunes pet that's
such a big deal. It's such a Itwas
Pat House (41:00):
cool. Yeah, it was cool. Yeah, it was wild. I'm not
gonna lie. It was when my secondalbum was number one. It was
crazy to see that. Ahead of itwas Jim Gaffigan. John Mulaney
and weird owl two through four.
And I was I was at number onefor almost a week. That was
pretty wild. Okay, somethingelse people might not realize.
(41:24):
I'm glad you said that. Yeah. Sowhen my albums were at number
one, and number two, I was on myphone. Constantly. I texted I
think every single person I knewI was constantly on social
media. Can you share this? Canyou share this, I emailed all
the comedy clubs I work on like,Can the comedy clubs Facebook
account share this can thecomedy clubs Twitter, retweet
(41:45):
this, so it was cool. And it wasawesome. But it's also super
stressful when successful stufflike that happens because I want
to capitalize it and bank andget the word out. But I was on
my phone like 16 hours a daythat week just trying to get
people to share it. So it's notlike I was sitting back with a
(42:06):
cigar in a whiskey on the rocksenjoying it, like I was hitting
up every single person under thesun. Yeah, but as part of don't
get me wrong, I enjoyed it. Butit's not like, you know, I'm not
sitting in a comfy chair. Like Isaid, enjoying a drink, I'm
hitting the pavement even hardernow, because I have to jump
while the iron is hot strikewhile the iron is hot.
Jennifer Logue (42:28):
We can evolve the language jump strike while
the iron saw it all. So yourecorded three albums. And we
just talked about your last toreach number one number two on
iTunes respectively, what goesinto creating a comedy album,
Pat House (42:47):
just all the material that I like at the time. And
then once I get enough material,good material that is around
like the 45 to 60 minute rage,it's time for me to throw it on
an album and record it. It'sjust a matter of when I get that
amount of material. And Iperformed it enough around the
country and it's time to throwit on an album. So it's just a
(43:10):
combination of and then everytime I release an album, I go on
like a writing team because Idon't want to do too much of
that stuff anymore. So it'salways fun to start a new after
an album has been released. Imean, III still, I still do
those jokes sometimes and keepthem in my back pocket. But I
mean, when an album comes out, Itry not to do that material.
Because I want new stuff. Soit's like a fresh page after an
(43:34):
album comes out. Oh, oh, thatmakes
Jennifer Logue (43:37):
sense. Because people are buying your album,
they're gonna be familiar withall of that.
Pat House (43:41):
Yeah, and I'm not famous enough to where like, I
have a huge following that'sgonna know my jokes verbatim.
But I mean, it's still, youstill always want to get better
anyways, and you get tired ofdoing the same jokes after you
know, a year, two years or threeyears of doing the same act.
You're building an act andyou're working on something. But
doing the same stuff night afternight does get pretty boring and
monotonous. Okay, so
Jennifer Logue (44:02):
then when you're ready to create the album, how
do you choose a venue?
Pat House (44:08):
Well, I am a coward.
And I did all my sets in frontof a hometown crowd here at
helium. Like, I mean, I have alot of friends that are like,
I'm gonna record a Boston I'mgonna record in San Francisco
and like, I can't draw people inthose cities. I'm doing my stuff
at home, in front of my friendsand family who are supportive.
And I'm doing it at my homecomedy club because they're
(44:28):
supportive. It's like I've doneall all three of my albums were
done at the helium in Philly.
Jennifer Logue (44:35):
What advice do you have for aspiring comedians
out there?
Pat House (44:39):
The only and the best advice is you have to keep
writing and you have to keepgetting on stage. Like I said
earlier, I'm working on newstuff right now. I will practice
in my hotel room before the showtonight. But you have to get on
stage you have to get on stageever since I started and I will
(44:59):
say asking people for advice.
That's all I heard was keepwriting get on stage as much as
you can keep writing get onstage as much as you can. That
is literally it. That is thebest advice. That is the most
helpful advice and it'sshortened to the point, keep
writing and get on stage.
Jennifer Logue (45:15):
What's next for you?
Pat House (45:18):
Next for me, I have a couple fun ideas in mind, I have
a couple of cool things I'mgoing to announce later this
year, I'll divulge one of themnow. I am on a personal mission
to do stand up in all 50 states.
Cool. I'm at 32 right now. Butin November, I am doing stand up
(45:38):
in Hawaii. I am going to openfor my friend Dan Commons in
Honolulu on my birthday, oddlyenough. So just I'm working the
grind more, I'm getting betterat business stuff. I have a list
of stuff I need to do every day.
(46:00):
And I look at that list everyday. Even though I've been doing
this for 18 years, I kind ofhalf assed stuff sometimes. But
so far in 2023, I've been verygood and diligent about doing
stuff every single day to helpmy career. So I'm just going to
keep that on the up and up. Ilove it. And then I'm going to
do shows in Hawaii, and it'sgoing to be I'm not making money
(46:24):
on this deal. I'm spending I'mgoing to spend a lot of money,
but I'm not going to make avacation out of it. So it's
going to be worth it.
Jennifer Logue (46:28):
Oh heck yeah, the trip took the opportunity to
go to Hawaii that's like,absolutely. And then your
happiness to
Pat House (46:35):
it is and it's probably going to be a once in a
lifetime thing. But I mean,Hawaii is really, really far
away. So this is going to youknow, this is cool opportunity
to help me get closer to doingstand up in all 50 states.
Jennifer Logue (46:48):
Yes. And I will be at 3933
Pat House (46:52):
Well, I'm it's 32.
Now, I think I'm no no 3032 Now,so I think I think I'm going to
Kansas and Oklahoma before I getto Hawaii, so I don't know what
number that will be, but it'scertainly a big one to cross off
the list.
Jennifer Logue (47:10):
That's so cool, Pat. I love it.
Pat House (47:13):
Thank you.
Jennifer Logue (47:14):
For more on Pat house, visit Pat house
comedy.com. And thank you somuch for tuning in and growing
and creativity with us. I'd loveto know what you thought of
today's episode. You can reachout to me on social media at
Jennifer Logue or leave a reviewfor creative space on Apple
podcasts so more people candiscover it. I appreciate you so
much for being here in thebeginning stages of this. My
(47:36):
name is Jennifer Logue andthanks for listening to this
episode of creative space. Untilnext time
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode
of creative space, a Podcastwhere we explore, learn and grow
and creativity together. I'myour host Jennifer Logue and
today we have the pleasure ofspeaking with the incredibly
talented and hilarious stand upcomedian Pat house, a Philly
native Pat has been a regularperformer at comedy clubs,
(00:33):
casinos, and theaters all overthe country. He's also opened
for Sebastian Maniscalco, TomSegura, and most recently, Dan
Cummins and Brad Williams. Hissecond album, I heard enough
yesterday reached number one oniTunes, and its third album, I'm
here peaked at number two, andyou can hear both of them on
(00:54):
Sirius XM. Welcome to CreativeSpace, Pat.
Pat House (00:58):
Thank you. That was a fantastic intro.
Jennifer Logue (01:00):
Oh my gosh.
Pat House (01:01):
Thank you. Thank you.
Jennifer Logue (01:03):
You have a fantastic journey. So far. It's
Pat House (01:06):
never ending but yeah, but no, thank you. Thanks
for having me. It's awesome tochat with you again. It's been a
while.
Jennifer Logue (01:11):
It's been a while. I mean, I think I've
gone. Okay, so out of every oneI've had on the podcast so far.
I'm pretty sure we go back thefurthest.
Pat House (01:22):
Okay, we probably do.
I mean, we had to have met whenwe were 14 or 15. Freshman year
of high school. Yeah. So. Sothat's a round the 25 year mark.
Jennifer Logue (01:33):
Oh, my gosh.
Pat House (01:36):
I'm sorry. I apologize.
Jennifer Logue (01:39):
No, it's fine.
It's awesome. Because you wereboth in band? Yes. In band. I
played the flute. You were
Pat House (01:47):
I played the trumpet, which I have no idea why because
I played the saxophone allthroughout grade school. So why
did I switch it up? And do atotally different instrument? I
have no idea why I did that. Ihave no idea. But yes, we did
the band freshman year and thenyou and I jumped ship
immediately.
Jennifer Logue (02:05):
Oh my gosh, I know. I forgot that. We were
both quitters.
Pat House (02:09):
Yeah, yep. We were you. We up sophomore year, we
had to take Jim and health classwith the freshmen.
Jennifer Logue (02:17):
Oh my gosh.
Pat House (02:20):
Yup. And look at us now. So bad? Not at all. Not at
all.
Jennifer Logue (02:30):
Sometimes you got to try new things.
Pat House (02:33):
Absolutely. You know, I'm on and I'll have you on my
podcast. Once I get that upagain. The two way street. Oh.
Awesome. I'd
Jennifer Logue (02:41):
be honored. So Pat, your career? You're
hilarious. And thank you. Iwould love to know more about
your journey. I think a lot oflisteners out there would love
to know. How did comedy firstcome into your life.
Pat House (02:58):
It's just my dad would watch stand up when I was
a kid. And I would watchSaturday Night Live and
Letterman and Leno. And eversince I was very, very young. I
was aware of stand up comedy andhumor in general, mostly TV and
movies. But I rememberspecifically, watching my dad
(03:20):
watch stand up and I was justdrawn to it. Like I didn't
understand what the jokes were.
I was always like, I was a youngkid, like four or five, six
years old. I don't comprehendwhat these adults are talking
about. But I just rememberseeing these people on TV like
holding a microphone and makingpeople laugh. And that really
stood out to me, even at thatyoung of an age. So cool. I
didn't realize it was thatearly. Yeah, it was it was
(03:43):
embedded pretty early.
Jennifer Logue (03:47):
Well, when did you first try stand up?
Pat House (03:50):
October 13 2004. At the last house in Philadelphia,
la FSW was a comedy club onSouth Street. And I signed up
for the open mic Jeff King whowas in our grade. Yes. went with
me. And he watched me do my veryfirst set.
Jennifer Logue (04:07):
Wow. So that was sophomore year of
Pat House (04:13):
sophomore year. Yeah, the very beginning. Yeah.
Unknown (04:18):
How did it go?
Pat House (04:19):
The first two times I would do the open mic on a
Wednesday. It went very well. Myfirst time went very, very well.
My second time went very well.
And then I bombed for months andmonths after that. But that's
pretty normal for a lot ofcomedians, as I find out like on
my podcast, a lot of comics. Dowell the first time because
you're excited there's energythis is something brand new.
(04:41):
It's like a high you'd you justhave all this adrenaline and
then like, you get your asshanded to you the next the next
couple of times. But that's whenyou learn to figure stuff out.
Why isn't this going well? Isthis not funny? Am I doing these
jokes in the wrong order? That'swhen you start to put it
together. that, you know, you.
(05:03):
You take a couple of beatingsand it makes you better
basically.
Jennifer Logue (05:06):
Yeah. Because you're getting to that next
level to Yes.
Pat House (05:10):
And you stay at the bottom for a while, you know,
doing open mics and all thatkind of stuff. But it was it was
a lot of fun and I think aboutthose days all the time.
Jennifer Logue (05:17):
Oh my gosh. So who your you taught? He touched
on a few of them. But who areyour earliest comedic
inspirations, especially when hefirst started, you know, going
on the circuit
Pat House (05:29):
went? Dave Attell is one of my favorite comics of all
time. He's actually inPhiladelphia this weekend. I'm
going to go catch him on Sunday.
I haven't seen him since beforeCOVID I was a huge Dave Attell
fan. I love his standup I lovedhis shows that he had on Comedy
Central Insomniac, I was so coolthat in college I had a David
tell poster in my college dormroom. But I can name a million
(05:50):
comics. I love Steven Wright isone of the first comments I saw
on TV that I laughed at and youknow, tried to remember his
jokes and would quote them. And,you know, it goes without saying
I love Chris Rock. I love ChrisRock stand up. I remember
watching him when I was young,and he's still getting better
and better to this day. I'veseen him a couple times. I've
(06:10):
seen him a couple times in smallintimate venues, which is cool,
like, not the big 3000 seat 5000seat theater. Like I've seen
Chris Rock work on stuff at theComedy Store in Los Angeles and
the comedy cellar in New YorkCity. So those are just three to
name a start, but yeah,
Jennifer Logue (06:28):
I saw him at the comedy cellar by accident. I
was. He wasn't on the line up inlittle pop. Yeah, it was my
friend's birthday. And me and mybest friend were sitting at the
very front like at the stage.
And like, ladies and gentlemen,welcome Chris Rock. It was
crazy.
Pat House (06:49):
The Comedy Store in Los Angeles and the comedy
cellar in New York City areknown for like the Poppins. They
don't advertise it. But I sawRay Romano do a pop in at the
comedy cellar. And there's beenlike, Marathon nights where it's
like, everybody's in town andlike Chris Rock will go on and
bring up Seinfeld. And thenSeinfeld brings up Dave
(07:10):
Chappelle. And it's just like,it's rare. But it happens.
Jennifer Logue (07:15):
That it's helpful to for them to test new
material.
Pat House (07:18):
Yeah, because it doesn't matter how famous or
successful you are, as a comic,new material is still new
material, and it needs to beworked on. And there's only one
way to work on it. And that isget on a stage in front of
people. That is the only way Ican say stuff out loud in my
hotel room. Doesn't meananything until you get up there.
Jennifer Logue (07:37):
Wow. So getting back to your early experiences.
I got to ask when you wereyounger. Did you like
performing? Did you know youwanted to be a performer?
Pat House (07:49):
Not at all. I never acted. I never did any theater.
I never did anything. I neverstepped foot on a stage until
that night. I tried to stand up.
Well, were
Jennifer Logue (07:59):
you nervous? No, I
Pat House (08:01):
was excited here. I wanted it. I was I was I it was
something I really wanted to do.
It had been on my mind for awhile. It been on my mind for
like two or three yearsprobably. So once the time once
I finally got the courage andthe ability to go to the laugh
house open mic. I was excited.
So no, it was not nerves. It wasa let's do this kind of thing.
(08:22):
Yep.
Jennifer Logue (08:23):
Rock on. It's awesome. If you could pick one
defining moment in your lifethat has helped shape you? What
would it be? And why?
Pat House (08:33):
One defining moment in my life, I don't know. Well,
I guess it would be making thedecision to do stand up. I mean,
that's certainly something thatbecause I started doing stand
up, it'll be 19 years this year.
I'm 38. That's officially halfmy life. And it's getting more
and more fun every year. So Iguess that would be the defining
moment, I guess that time. Thevery first time I stepped on
(08:56):
stage at an open mic and it wentwell. And I could hear the
audience laugh and I just hadthat power and command and I was
just hearing the laughter and Iwas like it was a game changer.
And I'm still chasing that soundand that high in that euphoria
every single night.
Jennifer Logue (09:13):
Oh, that's awesome. So this is creative
space. And I asked this questionof everyone. But what is your
definition of creativity?
Pat House (09:24):
Creativity to me would be like, just I guess,
showing the world who you are. Imean, there's all sorts of
creativity there's obviouslystand up and there's writing and
there's drawing and there'smusic. I think creativity just
comes from everybody'suniqueness and putting it out
there how they see the world.
You know, yes point of view, andstand up or a story or you know,
(09:47):
putting your emotions into asong or a poem. I feel like
creativity is just showcasingwho you are.
Jennifer Logue (09:57):
Yes, and something I'm really curious.
It's about what's the creativeprocess of a stand up comedian.
Pat House (10:05):
It's different for everybody. And I will say most
comics are lazy. I try to writeevery single day. And I don't
always do that. But I'm trying,I'm doing so far good so far
this year. But I feel like ingeneral, comedians need to just
report what we see in theeveryday world. You know what I
(10:27):
mean? Like, if the cashier atCVS was rude, or if you're going
through a breakup, or you know,something crazy happened to you
on vacation, or your parents,whatever. The creative process
is just filtering that andfinding what's funny in everyday
life situations. And even a lotof horrible, sad, tragic stuff
(10:52):
can actually be really, reallyfunny. Like, I mean, my stepdad
is 83, he had a major healthscare. A year ago, it was a very
scary time. And like he was in acoma. And we didn't know if this
was it. But I walk in hishospital room, and on his
patient information board, itsaid, caution, high fall risk,
(11:12):
and I'm like, he's in a coma.
He's like pulling anywhere. Solike, so there's, there's humor
in everything, even in stuffwhere there's like, sadness and
pain, you know what I mean? Andit's our job to make that funny.
Jennifer Logue (11:28):
Like, as a stand up comedian, you're really, I
think all artists are doing aservice for the world, because
we're helping people deal withtheir emotions, maybe people who
don't create day to day. But asa stand up comedian, it's even
more so because you're able totake really difficult subjects,
or if someone's going through atough time. I know when I'm
(11:48):
having a tough time. The onlyremedy is watching Senate
comedy. I'm just laughing mybutt off, you know. Yeah. And,
Pat House (11:56):
and I hear that a lot from people. And I forget that
too, because I get lost in thefact that it's a job. And I like
travel and right. I forget that,like people actually watch stand
up to laugh and enjoy it andforget about their problems,
because I'm so focused on itbeing a job that I typically
forget that so I'm glad you saidthat, because that's a reminder
that I needed.
Jennifer Logue (12:16):
Yeah. Oh, I'm glad I could bring that up.
Because yeah, you guys are doinga service for people. And now
the world is so crazy right now.
Pat House (12:26):
Yep. That's one way to phrase it. Yeah. Yeah.
Jennifer Logue (12:29):
And something else I wanted to bring up. It's
also tough to be a stand upcomedian now, because I feel
like it's so easy to offendpeople. But that's part of what
makes setup comedy. Awesome,too. It's like when you're like,
Oh, my God, that's totally me.
Pat House (12:48):
Yeah. Yeah, the point is, I mean, at least for me, all
comments are different, but Iwant to make it relatable. You
know, whether it's somethingfunny or embarrassing or quirky,
I love when people relate tosomething I'd say or be like,
Oh, my God, I do that too. Orthat happened to me a couple
years ago, that's making itrelatable is the most fun.
Jennifer Logue (13:09):
How do you know what's too far?
Pat House (13:12):
Um, I don't know, I don't really push the envelope
of stuff. That's too crazy. Imean, I like I curse. And I talk
about sex or whatever. But Idon't like I don't do anything
political. I don't get vulgar.
So that's not really an issueI've ever had some comments for
sure. But that's really nothingthat ever came my way. I really
can't even think of a time wheresomebody was truly offended or
(13:36):
anything by supply something Isaid, Because I mean, I just
talked about bartending. Italked about fast food I got,
you know, I'm not pushing theenvelope here. I'm just trying
to make my awkward storiesfunny.
Jennifer Logue (13:53):
But it's relatable. And, you know, do you
want to talk about your journeyto doing this professionally?
Pat House (13:58):
Yeah. I mean, in a nutshell, I just started doing
open mics. And aroundPhiladelphia, where any lunatic
can sign up and open mics are ayou get everything across the
board. You get people who aretruly actually talented. You get
people that are absolute insanenutcases. You get everything
(14:23):
across the board. So once I haddone a couple open mics and got
my feet wet, I started to makesome friends. And just like
everything else, networking, youknow, I met my friendship
Chantry and and he was like, Oh,they have an open mic at here on
Mondays and I'm doing this showon Friday. Come hang. So
everything just started tosnowball, but it just really
comes down to getting out thereand networking and then I
(14:47):
eventually worked my way into acouple of comedy clubs and then
met some bigger more. notfamous, but comments with bigger
names, bigger notoriety, andthen a couple of those guys took
me on the road like Sebastianand Tom segura. Wow. So
everything was just a gradualsnowball. And it's still doing
(15:07):
that to this day. I'm startingto headline more. And it's a
never ending. Grind, but thegrind is fun. It looks
Jennifer Logue (15:15):
like so much fun. You're always touring. It
seems like
Pat House (15:19):
I travel a lot. Yep.
Come on. You live from amiserable day in Buffalo, New
York right now.
Jennifer Logue (15:28):
Apple is not so bad by but it's pretty cold.
Pat House (15:30):
Actually, it's really not that bad for January and
buffalo. It's like, it's like inthe 40s. Today, it's really not
bad. I've been here before wherethe high was like five. So I
lucked out by getting atolerable weekend here. It's
just gray and miserable. ButI'll take that over sunny and 12
degrees where I can't doanything.
Jennifer Logue (15:48):
True. Yeah. When it's cold. I don't want to be
anywhere outside. Yeah, it'slike a
Pat House (15:53):
cool physical city of the really, there's a lot of
cool spots in Buffalo. And thecomedy club here is great. It's
a helium, the same club thatstarted in Philadelphia. So
awesome. They got a good, goodclub up here.
Jennifer Logue (16:04):
So these days, where do you draw inspiration
from
Pat House (16:08):
out my front door? I mean, I still have a day job
where I bartend a couple coupledays a week, and I get a lot of
material. From there. I get alot of material from my parents.
Yeah, it's just everyday lifeman that that's that's what's
intriguing to me. I just becausewe all see annoying or
frustrating stuff every singleday. And I just enjoy you know,
(16:35):
talking about that kind ofstuff. Like my act is 100%. Or I
should say 95% autobiographical.
So I just find inspiration bywalking out my front door or
walking out my hotel, andwalking outside. Just seeing the
world
Jennifer Logue (16:53):
and having an opinion about it.
Pat House (16:56):
I mean, I need people to do annoying or stupid stuff.
So I can also I can have a jobbut yeah, so I need as much as I
can't stand a lot of people Ineed them to do stupid stuff, so
I can go to work.
Jennifer Logue (17:12):
I see sometimes, like I feel like inside of all
of us is a little Larry David.
Pat House (17:17):
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Jennifer Logue (17:21):
Not all of us are brave enough. Or talented
enough to make it funny to otherpeople to hate it. You know?
Pat House (17:28):
Well, here's something that is just
indigenous to me, but I guess alot of comments as well. Like
nothing to me is funny withoutme being angry or mad or like
annoyed first, like somebodywill do something. And I'm like,
look like that woman is being somean to that guy or whatever.
And then I get like mad. Andthen like five minutes later
(17:49):
when I calm down, I'm like, oh,it's actually kind of funny. So
that's how pretty mucheverything works for me. I have
to be angry or annoyed first,then when I pull the curtain
back I'm like, oh, that's kindof funny. Do you have a little
book I guess? Oh god. Oh, yep.
Yep, I go through notebooks allthe time. I still hand right 90%
of my act. You know I havepapers everywhere. That's part
(18:13):
of a setlist from last night.
And then here's like the printedlist of stuff I'm working on now
that I can cross off what I wantto do so this guy No I love and
I love when I'm hanging out withwith other comics or other
artists in general. And I seetheir notebooks I love asking
people the method to theirmadness because some people like
(18:33):
only write in Sharpie somepeople write bullet points.
People write in all caps. Sopeople write I love it. I love
looking at people's method totheir madness.
Jennifer Logue (18:41):
Oh my god. Same here. And with handwriting. I
need to write things by handtoo, because I just feel like
it's not the same. I don't havethe emotional reaction if I'm
right if I'm typing. So I just Imy notebooks. I look like a
crazy person. I owe
Pat House (18:58):
two books. Me too. I have a ton of them. I travel
with them. I'm also obsessedwith buying them everywhere I
go. I love buying notebooks andI usually give a ton away like
when I work with with othercomics. I just give them
notebooks. I went to Irelandthree years ago, I bought 40
notebooks. Oh my gosh, okay, youhave maybe four zero on one
(19:18):
trip. But I mean, I could go tolike, like I'm in Buffalo. I'll
probably come home with anotebook. I'll go to a bookstore
tomorrow. Like, oh, this isreally cool. And come home with
it. I'm pretty obsessed withbuying notebooks.
Jennifer Logue (19:31):
Love it. Yeah, it's just that physical
connection to the paper.
Pat House (19:35):
Yes. It's very cathartic to Yeah, like Yeah, I
really like to see people handwriting stuff as opposed to just
throwing it all in the computer.
Now I do have stuff in mycomputer like more organized
lists, but I mean, I love thesimple act of writing stuff out.
Jennifer Logue (19:53):
Yes. And then that's nice going back to like
if you date stuff. What was Ilike? What Thinking back then
about this? Do you write everyday? Yes, I am crazy. I love it.
Like, I don't know, it's just, Iguess my medium has always been
(20:14):
writing, whether it's likewriting songs or writing, you
know, articles or essays or, youknow, short films, whatever. But
now Yeah, I mean, I start everyday with just writing
Pat House (20:29):
it really? I'm trying to do it first thing in the
morning. It's not Do you like,No, we both went to Catholic
school. Do you like date? Thetop of the page? Oh, my gosh, I
do. I do, too. And I normally, Ijust realized this recently, and
I'm talking within the lastmonth, I start off every single
day by like writing about theweather. I have no idea why. I
(20:50):
will write like January 20. Iput my location I wrote buffalo
downtown Starbucks this morning.
And I'm like gray and dreary,light rain. I don't know why I
do this every day. But that'show I start. It's weird.
Jennifer Logue (21:03):
I think that's nice. Because then you have
context. You're setting thescene?
Pat House (21:08):
Yeah, just for myself, though. Like, if I
scroll through this notebook,two months from now, I'm not
gonna give a give a crap that itwas gray on the Thursday I was
in Buffalo, but that's how Istart my page every single day.
date, location? Sometimes thetime not always. And then the
weather.
Jennifer Logue (21:26):
Okay, yeah, for me. Like usually
Pat House (21:29):
gonna gonna ask you How does your page start and the
first thing in the morning, it'sthe date.
Jennifer Logue (21:34):
And then I just do this three things that I'm
grateful for, just to get me outof my funk in the morning. To be
like, for some reason, my brainis very much like a jumps ahead,
I jump at too much. Like, that'sjust me naturally. So it gets me
grounded, like, Okay, right nowis three things. And they're
(21:55):
always different. And it's niceto like, think about three
things in the present to dothat. And then that's like a
separate section. And then Ijump into the rest whatever's on
my mind. And I write throughoutthe day, like if I have an idea,
like if someone says something,you know, I'm an advertising
right now for my day job. Solike, you know, we're working on
(22:17):
a concepting project, like itjust constant imaginative play
all day long to figure out theseto how to tell these stories.
And like, as the day goes on, Ijust write every idea that
comes. And it's not always like,yeah, it doesn't always have. It
(22:40):
wouldn't make sense to mostpeople probably, it's not like
worse. It's not always like ajournal of like, do your diary.
Today XYZ happened and XYZhappened. It's like, it could if
it was a memorable enoughexperience. And, but,
Pat House (22:55):
but to you, it's just you going about your day, like
it's, I feel like a bigmisconception about stand up is
like in my, in the past 20 yearsor so. I have probably filled
close to 100 notebooks. And Ifeel that only less than 5% of
what I write is actually usable.
Yes. And I feel like that'spretty indicative of comics, and
(23:17):
probably most writers ingeneral. I mean, I have been
doing stand up for almost 20years, but I only have three
albums. So that means in 20years of writing, I have three
hours of usable stand up that Ireally like.
Jennifer Logue (23:32):
But you have to do it every day because it keeps
your muscle. Yeah, strong. Youdon't get to the good stuff
without you actually youremember Calvin?
Pat House (23:43):
We went yeah, we went to lunch. We saw Woody Harrelson
that day. Yeah. Oh. Oh, that'syeah. He was leaving the
restaurant when we when wewalked in, because okay, I'm
obsessed with the movie Kingpin.
It's one of my favorite moviesof all time. And I was like,
There's Roy Munson. Like he'sdone Natural Born Killers and
White Men Can't Jump. I don'tcare about any of that. I was
standing right next to WoodyHarrelson. I was like that is
(24:06):
Roy Munson from Kingston.
Jennifer Logue (24:08):
Oh, my God. Oh, Calvin brought up on the podcast
about creativity. Like it's likea hose. And when you first turn
on a hose, you have like, youknow, some of the old water like
the dirty water comes out. Andthen you know, as it as you keep
running the hose, fresh watercomes out. It's more forceful.
And it's like, every time youstart the engine backup, you're
(24:31):
not every idea is gonna begreat. Yeah, and it's
Pat House (24:34):
totally true. I wouldn't even say most aren't
the most are every now and then.
Now, do you have this thing withyour writing to like, do you
know when you're writingsomething good? Do you feel
differently? Because every nowand then, and it's it's rare?
It's infrequent, but every nowand then an idea will strike or
I'll figure out a way to word ajoke differently and I'm like,
this is going to work. I don'thave to mess around with this
(24:57):
anymore. I don't have to tinkerwith it. This is good. By the
way it is, you know,
Jennifer Logue (25:01):
yes, there have been a few, like, intuition for
me is what tells me like, we'lljust ideas with projects to
pursue. Like, with this podcast,it wouldn't the idea wouldn't
leave me alone. Yeah, so that islike, oh, man, a lot of work,
then I had to get over that. Butthen it's like, I know I have to
(25:23):
do this. So when something won'tleave me alone, I think it could
be a good idea.
Pat House (25:27):
But then yeah, if something's gnawing at you,
yeah. Yeah. But then sometimes
Jennifer Logue (25:32):
with certain songs or words, it'll, you know,
maybe one out of like, 5000 I'llhave that feeling.
Pat House (25:43):
Like, I didn't say it is very infrequent. I mean, this
notebook is half full. I'mhalfway through it. And I think
I'm only saying two or threethings, two or three things in
it on stage. The rest is justkind of crap, really. But that's
just how it goes. Keep writingand gold strikes.
Jennifer Logue (26:00):
Yeah, yes.
There's gold in there. You gotin mind for it, though?
Pat House (26:04):
Absolutely.
Absolutely. It's work. It is.
Work when people you know, gosee a stand up. They just see
them for one hour. Well, it wasBill Maher, famous comic Bill
Maher. He, it took him 10 yearsto get his first hour. So you
see him, you know, 2030 yearsago, the comedy club do that
(26:26):
hour that took him 10 years tobuild. Wow. And I'm so that's
the creative process, you know?
And same thing with a band likeit took Queen forever to record
Bohemian Rhapsody. It's a sixminute song. You know what I
mean?
Jennifer Logue (26:44):
It takes work.
We don't see the process of it.
No,
Pat House (26:47):
you don't you just see the final product, or the
live show? And you're like, Oh,that was cool. Well, they spent
half their lives preparing forthat two hours, you know? Yes.
But it's worth it. It is totallyworth it. And that's something
that you can't explain to peoplethat don't do what you do. You
(27:07):
know what I mean? It's like, thesacrifice. Because it's also the
reward the sacrifices typicallyworth the reward?
Jennifer Logue (27:17):
Yes. Because you do have to take time out of your
day to do this. Oh, yeah. Andours. Yeah.
Pat House (27:23):
And then that's hours out of your week, and then out
of your month, and then out ofyour life. And next thing, you
know, you're like, holy shit,I'm 40. And, you know, I mean,
we're not there yet. But youknow, we're
Jennifer Logue (27:33):
not not yet.
Don't remind me, oh, my God. I'mtaking my collagen supplements
and like, keep myself together.
So, for you, Pat, what makes agreat set.
Pat House (27:55):
A great set is obviously when the crowd is with
you, when there is when you havegreat timing and great pacing,
and the crowd is with you. Andthey're laughing at all the
right spots, and they'relaughing at the little nuances
and smaller jokes. All of thatis part of a great set. But I
find that of course you want biglaughs That's the literally the
(28:20):
sole purpose of being a comic isto get laughter. I love when I'm
having a great set. And when I'mdoing the setups, the crowd is
dead quiet. I love when they'rehanging on every word. And then
the laughter hits and it'sthunderous. And then you get
into the next thing, and they'requiet again, because they're
(28:40):
hanging on every singlesyllable. You're saying, that is
the best. I love them quiet andlistening just as much as I love
the reaction when they startlaughing.
Jennifer Logue (28:52):
Oh my gosh, I want to pay attention. That's
next time I go to see comedy,like different types of audience
reactions.
Pat House (29:01):
Oh, there's I mean, last night, I had a woman burp
in the front row just out loud,like an animal. You have it on
video. I'm going to I'm going topost it later. I'm going to edit
that video down and put that onsocial media later. I'm like,
What is wrong with you?
Jennifer Logue (29:13):
Let's do that in your podcast show notes. They
were
Pat House (29:17):
they were a good crowd. But they weren't one of
those crowds where they wereperfect and hanging on every
word. They were great. Lappersand they were fun. But yeah,
there's the audience reactions.
It's different every single showevery crowd every night, every
single show.
Jennifer Logue (29:35):
Yeah, I just never thought about that. Like
the kinds of experiences youmust have on stage having done
this for so long.
Pat House (29:45):
And yeah, it's been a while. Yeah, to see I mean, I've
had you know, bad crowds are outthere just like anything else.
Sometimes they're just not withyou. Maybe they're drunk.
Tonight, today's Friday, so wehave two shows to Night, and
there's a good chance that that10pm or 1030 show tonight is
going to be drunk. They were atwork all day. Now it's 1030 on a
(30:08):
Friday and the show is justgetting started. They might be
tuned up Friday, late shows.
Steve Martin famously said,somebody asked him why he quit
stand up. And he said, becauseof the Friday late show. Oh,
that's a that's a quote. He saidforever ago. So yeah, they're
not, uh, they're not allwinners. But that's how you get
good. You deal with the roughcrowds. If it's not going well.
(30:28):
And you'd have to do 40 minutes,you got to stay up there and do
your 40 minutes and figure itout. So it's
Jennifer Logue (30:36):
what's the worst thing that's ever happened to
you? On stage?
Pat House (30:42):
I was had three beer bottles thrown at me and I was
almost punched in the face. Oh,my God. March 7 2008, at the
townhouse in media,
Jennifer Logue (30:51):
and the idea is don't go.
Pat House (30:56):
That's that's not a shocking Delco story that's
almost natural for them.
Speaking of Delco, like I said,I'm in Buffalo, New York right
now, there was a couple in thefront row last night from Drexel
Hill. Oh my gosh, I'm like, Thisis unbelievable. You can't make
this up.
Jennifer Logue (31:10):
You can't escape Delco? No.
Pat House (31:15):
Oh, yeah, I was attacked on stage that was
probably actually that that waslike the worst. I mean, I've had
bad sets where I feltemotionally worse than when I
felt when I was physicallyattacked. Oh, man, but that's
part of the deal. You know,bombing and having rough sets
make you a better comic. So inorder to become a good comic,
you really have to have a lot ofthose bad nights. But then you
(31:36):
learn your you learn every timeyou have a bad set, you learn
what to fix for next time. Soyou know, it's not all bad. And
I'm sure it's the same thingwith writing or being a musician
and having a rough liveperformance or whatever, you
know,
Jennifer Logue (31:51):
is a constant evolution and just learning how
to be gentle with yourself toand to like reframe how you're
looking at the experience, likeit's not a failure, it's just an
experience. It's a teacher.
Pat House (32:06):
Yes, absolutely. But, you know, most artists and
creative people, we tend to beatourselves up. So I'm trying to
be a little more forgiving withthat this year, than I have been
my whole entire life.
Jennifer Logue (32:17):
Oh, my gosh, I hear you on beating yourself up
like that is? Yeah,
Pat House (32:23):
that we all do.
Because it would be weird. If wewent through life or our
creative endeavors thinking it'sgreat all the time, then there
would be nothing to fix. Youknow what I mean? There's always
something to work on.
Jennifer Logue (32:35):
And it gives you depth to it does. You know,
Pat House (32:39):
we need to not be so hard on ourselves if we don't
like something or if it wasn'texactly how we wanted.
Jennifer Logue (32:45):
Yes. I was talking to another artist on the
podcast, and she talks about howshe burns. She's a visual
artist, okay, and she's workingon something. And the painting
just not going in the directionshe wants it to. She burns it.
She has a burn pile.
Pat House (33:02):
That's just badass, actually. That is. I mean, I
save everything though. As muchas I would love to be like, oh,
there's nothing funny in thisnotebook. And like Chuck it in a
dumpster? I can't. They're likemy babies still. You know,
Jennifer Logue (33:16):
there might be an idea in there for writing is
a little different, I think.
Yeah, everyone's different. But,but a burn pile does sound
pretty cool. It sounds cool,right? It's very cathartic to
just, I'm going to start fresh.
Pat House (33:29):
Yeah, if you don't like this, that's like one of
the most destructive ways to getrid of it. You're like, this is
trash. I'm actually going to setit on fire.
Jennifer Logue (33:36):
It's what you she said that I was like, Oh my
gosh, I love this. What is thegreatest challenge you faced in
your career so far? Um,
Pat House (33:48):
I don't know if there's, well, okay, I could say
that. I don't if there's anychallenges, per se, it's always
a grind. You want to get biggergigs, better gigs, more gigs,
more money. Okay, I made Xamount of money on this gig last
year. Can I ask them for doublethe pay, there's always little
challenges along the way. Butthat's part of the process and
part of the grind. I will saynow, and probably ever since
(34:12):
COVID. A very interestingdynamic and comedy is comedians
moving to like, tick tock andInstagram. Like it used to be,
you know, you go to the comedyclubs to see the comics but
everybody was making videos athome and like there was a rise
(34:32):
of like internet comedians. Sothose people that had huge
massive followings are nowperforming in comedy clubs and
less of the comics like myself,who were just born and bred
stand ups, you know, arecompeting with them to get in
the comedy clubs. So that'ssomething since the pandemic
that is a shift, but I'm luckyenough to you know, be busy and
(34:56):
have a great network of comedyclubs that that use me and all
but A lot of people are doingputting their standard clips
online. And it's just weird, andoddly frustrating, I guess.
Because I'm like, I don't likedoing that I like I don't mind
posting a clip here or there.
But like, I feel like I had tobe like Steven Spielberg. Now I
have to like, film a set, edit aclip, put the captionings put a
(35:19):
goofy logo, and then put 50hashtags, hashtag funny. Hashtag
stand up hashtag French onionsoup, whatever the hell. And
then, and then just watch it sitthere and get like 12 views?
Yeah, I mean, it's like soulcrushing.
Jennifer Logue (35:38):
Yeah, it's like in the age we live in now, every
creator needs to have thisunderstanding of the algorithms.
And
Pat House (35:45):
yes, and so sick of that word. But you're I mean,
you're right. And I say it 10times a day. It's like, I've had
videos get a substantial amountof views. And it's always like
the ones that I don't care ifthey do well or not. But the
videos that I take time, let'ssay this joke took five years to
get where I want it. And then Ifinally put the clip online. And
after like, a month, it just haslike, 100 views on like, that's
it?
Jennifer Logue (36:05):
Oh my gosh, yeah. And it's just so much to
do on your own to. Yeah, allthese steps.
Pat House (36:12):
I know. Like, I feel like half of my career now is
like watching myself, andlistening to myself and editing
stuff to put online and I'm noteven focusing on the real act
that I have to do twice tonightlive. Right,
Jennifer Logue (36:27):
right. There's just all this extra extra stuff
that we have to worry about ascreators, and it takes away from
the art itself. And that'ssomething that frustrates me
over and over again, but I'mtrying to embrace it.
Pat House (36:38):
I'm trying to, to I hear Yeah, it's a hard
adjustment. But a lot ofcomedians have gotten popular on
Tik Tok. So I'm making sure topost like two or three videos a
week and give it a shot. Becauseit's it can't hurt. It's just
annoying. It's frustrating.
Jennifer Logue (36:58):
It's time consuming. You know, if you have
someone to help do that.
Pat House (37:02):
I, you know, I have some people that I'm trying to
learn it myself. So I don't haveto use other people. But like,
sometimes I just have friendsthat told us do such a better
job. Yeah, yeah. So sometimesit's worth paying somebody to do
something to just get it offyour plate, and have it done the
right way, as opposed to somehalf assed crap that I'm gonna
throw out there.
Jennifer Logue (37:22):
That is so true.
That's a lesson that I need to Ineed to learn. So we talked
about this a little bit. Butwhat's something about being a
comedian, that someone who's nota comedian wouldn't understand.
Pat House (37:35):
Probably the fact that like, we touched on a
little bit that it just takesyears to get an act together.
Like it's everyday writing.
It's, it's also like, also,people are different in
different places, like thecrowds in Buffalo, here are
different from crowds inPortland, Oregon. And the people
in Portland, Oregon, aredifferent from the people in
Florida. So I like I'm notsaying I'm good here. But like,
(37:58):
I didn't think I became a goodcomic until I was on the road
for a couple of years. Becauseyou see so many different
demographics and audiences andyou, you can become a good comic
in your hometown, but you becomea much better comic once you
start working the road. So Idon't think people realize how
much goes goes into it. Butlike, like we said, you know, I
have 100 notebooks filled andall and, you know, three albums.
(38:21):
So I don't think people realizehow much actually goes into it.
And like they see the good stuffyou're doing on stage. They
didn't see the 3000 Horribleopen mics that you did to get
there. He's not just going up onstage and stuff works the first
time. It's not how it works, youknow?
Jennifer Logue (38:42):
How do you adjust? Do you just you're set
for different audiences like,
Pat House (38:47):
sometimes, but I feel like all the stuff I do now is
pretty universal. I mean, I havea giant. I have Wendy's story, a
Domino's story. Like I can dothose anywhere. Because people
you know, because they'reeverywhere. I feel like what I
do now is pretty universal. ButI do like to open up with some
local stuff right off the top,like I have. Once you've been to
a cities a couple times each,you get more material, but like,
(39:10):
I could do a minute or two offthe top, you know riffing about
the city or something thathappened that day in that city,
you know?
Jennifer Logue (39:16):
Oh, cool. That's a way to bring people in.
Pat House (39:18):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's a good way to get the showstarted.
Jennifer Logue (39:22):
Awesome. So you're always touring now, I
always see you, you know,Facebook in different places.
And what have been your topthree moments from touring in
the last year?
Pat House (39:35):
Oh, man. Oh, in the last year. I love the Pacific
Northwest. So I love anytimewhen I get to perform out there.
One of my favorite comedy clubsis Tacoma comedy club in Tacoma,
Washington right outsideSeattle. And I'm obsessed with
Mount Rainier. It's it's I'vehad this obsession with that
(39:56):
mountain since I was a kid andfrom your hotel room them that
the comedy club puts you up at.
You can see Mount Rainier fromthe room. So I just sit in that
hotel room and just stare outthe window. Any time I'm there.
That's a lot of fun. In the lastyear, last year, my last album
went to number two on iTunes. BoBurnham was number one, and it
(40:18):
was like impossible to knock himout of the top spot. I mean,
there were way way moresuccessful comedians than I am
that could not come out of thatnumber one spot. So I knew I
wasn't going to get to numberone again. But that was still
pretty cool. I'm just happy tobe doing this actively. I love
traveling. And I I'm lovingstand up more and more. I think
(40:39):
I'm getting better at it. I'mhaving more fun. I'm getting
better gigs and moreopportunities. And I'm having
more fun. The longer I do it.
Jennifer Logue (40:52):
That is so beautiful. Oh my gosh. And also
you charting like number onenumber two on iTunes pet that's
such a big deal. It's such a Itwas
Pat House (41:00):
cool. Yeah, it was cool. Yeah, it was wild. I'm not
gonna lie. It was when my secondalbum was number one. It was
crazy to see that. Ahead of itwas Jim Gaffigan. John Mulaney
and weird owl two through four.
And I was I was at number onefor almost a week. That was
pretty wild. Okay, somethingelse people might not realize.
(41:24):
I'm glad you said that. Yeah. Sowhen my albums were at number
one, and number two, I was on myphone. Constantly. I texted I
think every single person I knewI was constantly on social
media. Can you share this? Canyou share this, I emailed all
the comedy clubs I work on like,Can the comedy clubs Facebook
account share this can thecomedy clubs Twitter, retweet
(41:45):
this, so it was cool. And it wasawesome. But it's also super
stressful when successful stufflike that happens because I want
to capitalize it and bank andget the word out. But I was on
my phone like 16 hours a daythat week just trying to get
people to share it. So it's notlike I was sitting back with a
(42:06):
cigar in a whiskey on the rocksenjoying it, like I was hitting
up every single person under thesun. Yeah, but as part of don't
get me wrong, I enjoyed it. Butit's not like, you know, I'm not
sitting in a comfy chair. Like Isaid, enjoying a drink, I'm
hitting the pavement even hardernow, because I have to jump
while the iron is hot strikewhile the iron is hot.
Jennifer Logue (42:28):
We can evolve the language jump strike while
the iron saw it all. So yourecorded three albums. And we
just talked about your last toreach number one number two on
iTunes respectively, what goesinto creating a comedy album,
Pat House (42:47):
just all the material that I like at the time. And
then once I get enough material,good material that is around
like the 45 to 60 minute rage,it's time for me to throw it on
an album and record it. It'sjust a matter of when I get that
amount of material. And Iperformed it enough around the
country and it's time to throwit on an album. So it's just a
(43:10):
combination of and then everytime I release an album, I go on
like a writing team because Idon't want to do too much of
that stuff anymore. So it'salways fun to start a new after
an album has been released. Imean, III still, I still do
those jokes sometimes and keepthem in my back pocket. But I
mean, when an album comes out, Itry not to do that material.
Because I want new stuff. Soit's like a fresh page after an
(43:34):
album comes out. Oh, oh, thatmakes
Jennifer Logue (43:37):
sense. Because people are buying your album,
they're gonna be familiar withall of that.
Pat House (43:41):
Yeah, and I'm not famous enough to where like, I
have a huge following that'sgonna know my jokes verbatim.
But I mean, it's still, youstill always want to get better
anyways, and you get tired ofdoing the same jokes after you
know, a year, two years or threeyears of doing the same act.
You're building an act andyou're working on something. But
doing the same stuff night afternight does get pretty boring and
monotonous. Okay, so
Jennifer Logue (44:02):
then when you're ready to create the album, how
do you choose a venue?
Pat House (44:08):
Well, I am a coward.
And I did all my sets in frontof a hometown crowd here at
helium. Like, I mean, I have alot of friends that are like,
I'm gonna record a Boston I'mgonna record in San Francisco
and like, I can't draw people inthose cities. I'm doing my stuff
at home, in front of my friendsand family who are supportive.
And I'm doing it at my homecomedy club because they're
(44:28):
supportive. It's like I've doneall all three of my albums were
done at the helium in Philly.
Jennifer Logue (44:35):
What advice do you have for aspiring comedians
out there?
Pat House (44:39):
The only and the best advice is you have to keep
writing and you have to keepgetting on stage. Like I said
earlier, I'm working on newstuff right now. I will practice
in my hotel room before the showtonight. But you have to get on
stage you have to get on stageever since I started and I will
(44:59):
say asking people for advice.
That's all I heard was keepwriting get on stage as much as
you can keep writing get onstage as much as you can. That
is literally it. That is thebest advice. That is the most
helpful advice and it'sshortened to the point, keep
writing and get on stage.
Jennifer Logue (45:15):
What's next for you?
Pat House (45:18):
Next for me, I have a couple fun ideas in mind, I have
a couple of cool things I'mgoing to announce later this
year, I'll divulge one of themnow. I am on a personal mission
to do stand up in all 50 states.
Cool. I'm at 32 right now. Butin November, I am doing stand up
(45:38):
in Hawaii. I am going to openfor my friend Dan Commons in
Honolulu on my birthday, oddlyenough. So just I'm working the
grind more, I'm getting betterat business stuff. I have a list
of stuff I need to do every day.
(46:00):
And I look at that list everyday. Even though I've been doing
this for 18 years, I kind ofhalf assed stuff sometimes. But
so far in 2023, I've been verygood and diligent about doing
stuff every single day to helpmy career. So I'm just going to
keep that on the up and up. Ilove it. And then I'm going to
do shows in Hawaii, and it'sgoing to be I'm not making money
(46:24):
on this deal. I'm spending I'mgoing to spend a lot of money,
but I'm not going to make avacation out of it. So it's
going to be worth it.
Jennifer Logue (46:28):
Oh heck yeah, the trip took the opportunity to
go to Hawaii that's like,absolutely. And then your
happiness to
Pat House (46:35):
it is and it's probably going to be a once in a
lifetime thing. But I mean,Hawaii is really, really far
away. So this is going to youknow, this is cool opportunity
to help me get closer to doingstand up in all 50 states.
Jennifer Logue (46:48):
Yes. And I will be at 3933
Pat House (46:52):
Well, I'm it's 32.
Now, I think I'm no no 3032 Now,so I think I think I'm going to
Kansas and Oklahoma before I getto Hawaii, so I don't know what
number that will be, but it'scertainly a big one to cross off
the list.
Jennifer Logue (47:10):
That's so cool, Pat. I love it.
Pat House (47:13):
Thank you.
Jennifer Logue (47:14):
For more on Pat house, visit Pat house
comedy.com. And thank you somuch for tuning in and growing
and creativity with us. I'd loveto know what you thought of
today's episode. You can reachout to me on social media at
Jennifer Logue or leave a reviewfor creative space on Apple
podcasts so more people candiscover it. I appreciate you so
much for being here in thebeginning stages of this. My
(47:36):
name is Jennifer Logue andthanks for listening to this
episode of creative space. Untilnext time
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