June 20, 2023 • 39 mins
Richard quit tech to do stand-up… Oops! He talks about his experience as a first generation Indian immigrant, mental illness, and his time in Silicon Valley. Watching Richard perform is hilariously unpredictable. One minute he's talking about a taqueria that serves fortune churros, and the next minute he's bringing up Bitcoin. He has a half hour special on Dry Bar Comedy and more than a million followers on TikTok. He is also the owner of The Setup, one of the most popular indie live comedy brands. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Oh, dude, Tharn and Richardin the house. Dude, I am
so excited to to even see you. Man. Yeah, this is great,
man, it's fun little chat inthe morning. I got some Indian
suites here eating for our meeting.Here, dude, meeting. First of
(00:24):
all, I mean, before westart, I just want to introduce you
to because I have a few peoplewho actually watched this. But Richard is
hilarious comic filmmaker. And man,if you're not aware of Richard, you
gotta go watch his stuff, becausedude, I was watching your stuff before
I even met you. Like,but you made a web series called Out
(00:48):
of the Living Herons. I watchedall all the episodes less on a TikTok,
and you're a talented filmmaker. ButI watched your I became aware of
you from your stand up HM,and I was like, man, this
guy is so funny, like naturallyfunny. Oh thank you man. When
did we first meet? You?Know what? I met you the very
(01:11):
first time was I saw you atVenice Underground and at the at the Townhouse.
It was a Bronson show and wewere both on the same lineup.
We may have just met briefly thatnight. But that's the first time I
remember seeing you. Was I doingBobby Cone back then at the show or
something, right, I remember thatvery vividly. You must have been like,
(01:34):
what's this heck Indian guy doing onstage? I mean, I think
it's a dude, I think it'sthe Indian superpower to be able to do
the Indian accent on stage, Likeit's so funny and we're the only people
that can get away with it,like we got a milk it. But
you don't really do it though,my dude, your act. What I
loved about your act though, iswhen I watched it's like you have this
(01:57):
natural like I think I told youyou're face, Like it's the essence of
being funny and the jokes are overit and you have that thank you very
quick, which I mean you've beendoing comedy over a decade, right,
But yeah, I feel like Iwatched your earlier stuff. I went through
your Takeok, you're earlier. Idon't know when you first started. The
(02:20):
TikTok's like your earlier early stand upand you have that built into Yeah.
I feel it was funny because Istarted originally like my dreams were like I'm
gonna be a rock star, andso I I you can see I have
my guitar back there. I've hadthat since I was eighteen and I just
started playing, and like all myfriends they would like, come watch me
(02:43):
play it open mics and they listento my songs and they'd be like,
yeah, songs are all right,They're like, but you're kind of funny.
And so I was like, sopeople have been telling me that I'm
like funny or have some sort offunny essence for a long time. So
I was like, all right,let's let's let's give it a shot.
You know. And you were aprogrammer, right fo yeah, Oh my
(03:05):
god, so I used to mYeah. So back in college there was
Okay, I have a computer sciencedegree. I worked at various startups,
and I worked at Yahoo as aYahoo Mail engineer. But I only did
that because I thought comedy would beimpossible. And it wasn't until like,
you know, ten years ago thatI was like, Okay, I gotta
(03:27):
I have to give this a shot. So would you like the funny guy
in the office essentially? Yeah,But like, dude, I the thing
is like, yeah, I'm notlike a class clown or like like I'm
funny but unintentionally like, and Iwas more of like a weird energy,
like the way like like I wouldjust have anger bursts and I would just
(03:51):
yell at all of my co workers. So that was more what I was
bringing to the table. It's hilariousbecause even you're because now you're posting some
more CrowdWork stuff and I see yourCrowdWork stuff and you're good at the audience
interaction. But what I liked aboutyour act though, man, because I
you know, I'm not afraid totrash people, but like you don't do
(04:13):
like generic like Indian stuff, likeI feel like you would be even if
you weren't Indian. I feel likeyou still arise. So I mean I
put chips behind you. Man.I think I think you got a great
future in terms of I mean,you're already building a huge fan base.
M yeah. And the thing is, uh so, I think it's like
when I first started, I wasleaning on the Indian crutch. Then I
(04:35):
started being like, oh, I'mnot gonna do any Indian material. I
just started writing regular material, beinga regular comedian, and now I'm back
to where like, no, I'mIndian like and I want to talk about
it. So I think I'm talkingabout it now not as a crutch,
but like as in like I likebeing Indian and I want to talk about
(04:56):
it. Do you feel like itserves you in any way way or like
right now with the diversity thing,because I feel like it's bigger in the
acting world. I don't know ifit carries over in the stand up world.
I don't think so. Um,well, you know, I mean
there's definitely Indian people that want tosee themselves represented in stand up comedies,
so you know, and I havea bunch of Indian fans, so there's
(05:21):
that aspect, so it helps alittle. But um, there's definitely no
like there's no gatekeeper being like weneed an Indian person, you know,
there's none of that. Give meyour opinion on this because I feel like
I don't spot I don't make expotbeing Indian, but I feel like the
barometer for for like Daisy people likethey just want to see someone do comedy
(05:44):
on stage versus like comedy fans likethere's more of like you're kind of nuancing
comedy, but Indians, you know, like, oh my god, he's
Indian. I'll support this guy justbecause he's Indian, which is why,
without naming names, a lot ofguys have mass appeal. They're not funny,
but they can you know they're brown. Yeah, No, I definitely
(06:04):
get a lot of people being like, wow, it's so cool to see
and a brown person on stage likedoing this, like it's so cool.
So I do think there is that. I mean, that's how it works
in anything, you know, That'show it works in sports. You're like,
you just root for your home teamjust because it's your home team,
you know. So, But Ido think it's getting to the point now
(06:24):
where it's like people are not gonnaI think there's enough Indian comedians now where
you can find one that you likerelate to more than the other. I
mentioned his specials. Did I watchyour special? Ant texted you or a
messaged you from Nice and Filthy?Is that what it's called? Yeah,
(06:45):
he has this great special. It'slike it's a half hour, right that
you self produced on your own therean hour. Nice and Filthy is about
an hour and it's a compilation oftwo years of footage from a show I
used to produce in San Francisco.So every single joke is filmed at the
same venue and it's for me.It's so cool because I see my progression
(07:09):
over two years and it's on thatsame stage and it's the you know,
it's the first show I ever produced, so and yeah, I just love
it. And I'm sorry, I'mlike getting all my my facts right about
your stuff. But what I figuredout why I liked it because you have
this fearlessness, which I think Itotally your face you tap into like this
(07:32):
like just that what every Indian guylike feels like that sexual like frustration.
Yeah, and you say it andit's like there's no filter, which is
how I am. I have nofilter, but you say, you know
through your comedy and you like filterthrough this lens. And that's why I
love your kind of snarky stuff.Yeah without yes, I just yeah,
(07:58):
I've definitely noticed that about myself,where like I definitely consider myself someone who
overshares and but I think it's fine. Like I think I've gotten to the
point where like my ego is outthe door and if I have a thought,
I'm just gonna give it to youcompletely raw, and just because I
(08:18):
want to see, like does thisconnect with other people? But it does
make some people uncomfortable to be like, Wow, this guy like really just
says like the most good tails.You know, it's great. And I
think that's why I was watching LivingCarrons and I laughed because you also have
(08:39):
that in your films. I'm surewas that a collaboration with somebody else?
Was that just you? Yeah?And the Living Carrens I did with my
friend Zach schapalone. But but youcan see like your lines from your stand
up, you know, in whenthe dog was like licking you, He's
like he's attacking me. He waslike, yeah, I like that character
(09:00):
because that character is part of likewho I am, Like it's my like
it's just unfiltered, like like Ihave a lot of anger inside and it's
always good to play a character thatcan that I can use as a filter
to get that out. And youknow, I think you know for you've
(09:20):
you've experienced as well, like goodacting is when you can like use something
that you really feel and then putit into the character and it becomes this
catharsis sure, And I was mostimpressed because you're a good filmmaker, Like
I'm watching like your shots and theway you like drop in music and act
and I was like, I wasreally impressed because you know, and this
(09:43):
is my problem, Like I couldeasily like just like, oh, I'm
just not going to do stand up. I'm not going to do this,
but you're very focusing you stand up. But I was like, this guy
could easily be a comic actor filmmaker, which takes an inordinate amount of time
to do that. Yeah, Sowas that like a cautious decision of like
saying, hey, I'm gonna putthis as i'd and just do stand up.
Uh No, it's just because producinga film or a series just takes
(10:07):
so much effort in time for sofor so little. But um no,
it's definitely something that I want todo more of because I love, like
I love sitting down with an hourof footage and just cutting out the best
parts and assembling it together and doinglike sound design. Also like I love
(10:31):
like interesting sound effects, um thatlike accentuate moments, like I'll spend I'll
spend an hour listening to different kindsof like horror noises to be like,
oh, which one like really feelsthe which one really sets the tone here?
Yeah, I could see that,Like you had the piano like notes
on the effects, but you hadthese little and then you you'd have,
(10:52):
like like the review doing a lotof the comedy stuff, like you'd like
reveal the thing after you'd have tohear like that someone say the dialogue cut
man, this guy's like a goodfilmmaker, thank you. Yeah, I
um, well, yeah, Ithink that's a that's such a basic little
trick that really goes a long waywhere it's it's called an L cut,
right, So yeah, you hearthe person talk, then you cut to
(11:13):
them, and it can go theother way too, where you cut to
them and then you hear them talk, like so they both have they both
create like a different kind of vibewhat you know, which brings me to
um, you know, I thinkand correct me from Iran, but I
think you you really like just capturedlike like the I guess the essence of
twenty twenty three I being, youknow, an entrepreneur, you're you know,
(11:37):
you're you're you're capitalizing a technology likeyou're using it as well, And
I'm wondering if if that was somethingwhich you understood early on, like because
I have a hard time I feellike I'm old like, but I feel
like you you're just on it.Um. Yeah, I think, Um,
I think whenever I see an opportunity, I just go for it.
(12:01):
And I'm like, I'm kind oflike a leave no stone unturned kind of
guy, where it's like I wouldnot feel okay with myself if I didn't
try to get like a huge TikTokfollowing, Like it would just be I
couldn't tell everyone that, hey,I tried to make it an entertainment and
I tried as hard as I could. I wouldn't feel okay having any regrets
(12:26):
with that. So when I sawTikTok, I was like, Okay,
here's an opportunity, let's just see. And yeah, it actually created an
interesting an interesting format for me becausethe videos were only one minute long,
but I wanted to make a series, so I had to make one minute
(12:46):
episodes and that was like such aninteresting limitation that actually made the series better,
which was kind of interesting. Well, also, this is the subject
matter, like like the Karen thingwas just a huge you know that whole
progressive like hitting that note. Yeah. Um, like I feel like you
were one of the early guys tolike really capitalize on you know, making
(13:09):
content or about it. Yeah.Yeah, And and I'm looking for,
you know, what's the next thingin the zeitgeist that's that I want to
capitalize on. Um. But yeah, I think I think that was so
topical um and and it's you wantto create something that's topical but also simple,
and you don't want to beat theaudience over the head with something that's
(13:33):
like has too much of a message. So whenever I find that sweet spot,
that's the kind of work that Ilove the most, Like, yeah,
good, I was just gonna ohyeah, I mean, I was
just gonna say that. Like theworst kind of performer is the one that
you're like, oh, I it'slike this guy's got a message, you
know what I mean, Like Ihate that. Yeah, I know,
we too. I know. Theworst is like when they have like applause
(13:56):
breaks. They don't even have anyjokes, but it's like an applause at
the end, like Norm McDonald's saying, why are we This is in comedy
it's like a Pepper rally or something. Yeah, I mean, go to
a Pepper rally. It's fine,just don't do it in a comedy club.
Yeah, Because you know, Iwatched your web series. By the
way, Richard has like one pointfour million or something on TikTok and another
fellow on Instagram. But like Iwatched that and I was like, this
(14:18):
is a guy, and I knowtimes have changed. You know those comics
who like filmed a series on theirown and they sent into Comedy Central or
whatever. I was like, thisRichard could easily be in his own series,
like make a whole show and sendit. And I could see like
as a lead as like a showbecause you're also a pretty good actor as
well, like playing that character likeit's and it's connected to your stand up
(14:41):
character too, which is even better. That's interesting for me because I actually
didn't make that connection. Do youthink the way I do stand up is
like, yes, you're like abitchy, angry character. Well, you
can tell you're acting, but youcan that that subtle layer is beneath it,
(15:01):
like when you're you know, whenyou're yelling about the you parked over
the line and stuff. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you're yelling like
yes, definitely. It's almost likethis guy's like in on the joke himself,
but it's just it's funny as hell. Yeah, I think, uh
yeah, I just want I thinkthat is kind of my character is like
I'm like, I'm so angry,but it's harmless and it's kind of like
(15:26):
you're like looking at like an angrypuppy. I think maybe, well,
let me believe this in your standuff a little bit, because you've done
like specially special for dry Bar forpeople don't know, Dry Bars a squeaky
clean comedy thing filmed about a Utahto make a shit ton of money,
and you can only do it's hardto get on it because you got to
be clean and I know we talkedas dirty stuff. But so you can
(15:48):
play to like just generic white peoplein Utah. Yeah, how is that
transition from like who you are?That just from my audience? Yeah,
I mean I think, you know, I think the limitations are actually fun.
You know. So it's like ifyou perform at a comedy club,
(16:08):
like I noticed that, like mycomedy starts adapting to whatever audience I play
for. So if I'm doing allcomedy clubs, like my comedy gets filthy
and uh, you know it's soit's great for me to have the balance
to be like, you know,go play for the dry bar crowd.
So the dry bar crowd. It'sfilmed in provo Utah, it's a lot
(16:30):
of people that went to like bringthem young. Um, A lot of
Mormons in the audience has to besqueaky clean, so clean that you can't
even say, oh my god,yeah you know, oh my gosh is
okay, but frowned upon. Sofor me, I just it was kind
of interesting, like it was likepanning all my material to see like,
(16:51):
okay, I have, you know, two hours, and what can I
actually do on this? And uh, you know, I barely got to
twenty five minutes and that's funny,that's funny. Yeah, And I had
to like I was tweaking some ofmy material in the hotel room on the
day of the taping, being like, man, how am I going to
get this joke to be clean?Can? I? Like? And I
(17:11):
did one punchline completely new on thetaping, which was, you know,
so nerve wracking. Did you dothat by yourself or did you have the
stack comics like halfwy five with thesame audience. Yeah, they do.
They tape three comedians in a night, uh two shows, so yeah,
(17:33):
we all do twenty five. Andthey were so nice to me. They
gave me the middle spot, sogreat. Yeah, do you feel like
your second show was tighter because youhad that first show to warm up the
second. Um, I think thewe used about half of the material from
(17:55):
I think we use most of thematerial from the first uh show and like
a core order of the material fromthe second show. So the first show
is actually better for me. Okay? And how does that connect to performing
for like, because we were talkingand you make money sometimes from these total
daisy on you fly out into theseIndian shows, Like, how does that
relate to that? On? BecauseI'm I did that in my man the
(18:18):
first decade of comedy, and Icame like, how do you do in
front of those audiences? Yeah?Well, I've only recently realized that if
you play for an all daisy audience, it's got to be mostly crowd work.
They're you know, they're because usuallyan Indian event, Like I've performed
at engagement parties. Um, idid one for the Lawyers Association of Dallas
(18:44):
South Asian Lawyers Association of Dallas.Yeah, and you know, I do
the material, they're kind of lappingand then but the minute you just talk
to somebody, what's your name?Oh, who's this? Where's your wife?
Oh? Why is she at thattable. You're here, she's at
that table. This guy's ingenius.How does he do it? It's like,
(19:12):
but that's what that's just what theywant. They don't I think,
I don't. I don't know ifit's just like, um, Indian audiences
are newer to stand up, butthey love the crowd work, especially even
when I went to India. Um, it was like you would not believe,
(19:32):
like you do crowd work and peopleare standing in the audience and clapping,
They're like running up and down theaisles like it was. And then
you do material and everyone's just lookingat you blank in the face. Dude,
I'm sorry, but I watched likethese guys from India people, you
know, people are trying to meto come in India, like ten years
or fifteen years, a guy said, I'm not doing com it's ridiculous.
And now and then I started seeingthe influx. Yeah, some of those
(19:53):
comics are terrible. I know they'rereally popular, but like I even translated
into England, so I'm like,these jokes are awful. So but then
I'm like, maybe it's a culturalthing. So I wonder how people actually
have you performed actually in India?Yeah, yeah, I did. Back
in February twenty sixteen, I wentto a Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai and
(20:17):
we I did a lot of Idid like a lot of shows, like
a lot of like ten to twentyminute spots. I did, like I
did like thirty of those, andso I really got like a real good
idea of what the Indian audience was. Like here's the thing, Like,
I think my job as a comedianis just to entertain whoever's in front of
(20:38):
me. Like at the end ofyou know, I could be I could
sit here at home and be like, you know, I'm an I'm an
artist, like you know, butif people pay money, you just you
have to make them laugh. Soah, you know, I felt like,
yeah, the stand up I wasn'tso nuanced like I am in America
if I'm playing some like alt comedyroom. But audiences were having fun,
(21:02):
and you know, it was adifferent muscle and I had to tweak my
jokes a lot to get them towork in India. And when I came
back to the US, the tweakedversions were actually doing better than the old
versions. And I think that's whyI think you're really strong, because I
mean just talking to you, You'vedone every It sounds like you're very versatile,
(21:23):
like a Spiss army knife, fromlike Utah to India to Indian audiences
here. Yeah, the LA audiences, I mean, that's going to make
you strong in general. Yeah,it's so interesting. Yeah. At first,
when I started doing audiences outside ofCalifornia, I was like, oh,
man, road road audiences are sodumb or like. And then I
(21:47):
started realizing that it was just myown ego. And I was like,
because I used to think that ifyou do well in too many rooms,
I thought that meant you're too broad. But then I started realizing that,
like, no, that just meansif you do well in more rooms,
that just means you're able to communicatewhat you're saying to all sorts of different
types of people. So you're actuallystrengthening your articulation. Yeah. Yeah,
(22:12):
it's it's it's interesting. You know, I don't really play to you know,
outside of you know, Florida andCalifornia. But it's it's you have
to adapt for sure. You knowwho said that, Well, you just
said Jay Leno, Like Jen Lenosaid that, he goes you know,
it's a job at the end.Yeah, you gotta you gotta do the
job. Otherwise what are you doingdo the job? Yeah, I mean
(22:32):
I have plenty of jokes, whichare you know, just for me,
But like at the end of theday, it's well stand up comedy,
it's you and the audience, andit's whatever happens with that interaction. So
it's like you can't ever really youcan't really ever get to like, um
precious about your material like it's it'sgot people don't laugh missic question. I
(22:55):
mean, did girls like throw themselvesat you like after the shows in India
or was it were you like BillHicks and like India that would have been
awesome. I uh, you knowwhat, Actually, I've made like a
recent transition in my comedy where mycomedy used to be like very like,
oh I'm such a loser and stufflike that, And I think that really
(23:17):
kept me from getting like panties thrownat me on stage for a long time,
you know, Like but U soI actually made a very like I
made like a real decision to juststop doing anything that's like too self deprecating
and now much better, Like nowI'm I'm actually getting women coming up to
(23:37):
me and being like just giving metheir number and stuff like that, and
that was such a like it wassuch an important thing I did for myself
because I I just decided, likeI'm not going to talk shit about myself
on stage anymore. Like it mightbe funny, but like the lasting effects,
like if you say something about yourself, eventually your brain just processes it.
(24:00):
Yes, you know, so nomore of that, Like, no
more of that. That's great.I love that. I love that.
I think it's also that was aline from the movie Funny People m Adam
Sailor, Like that was actually runningyou go. You know, you come
across like a loser. People lookingI think you're a loser. So but
I never thought you were. Youcame across like that, but I do.
(24:21):
I'm very conscious about that too now, not just jicks or girls after
the show, but just my youknow, mental psyche, because otherwise you
do too many shows. You're like, man, what am I doing?
I'm in this hotel room. Iam a loser of the fucking and I'm
sitting here hellow by myself. Yeahno, people don't want loser of comedy
anymore. Like, like, it'sdefinitely funny. It has a play self
deprecation is great, but what peoplewant now is they want to see somebody
(24:45):
because they see themselves reflected in you. So like Kanye West said it best,
he said, if you're a fanof me, you're a fan of
yourself. So you know, likeI try to, you know, I
want I think I'm trying to putthat mentality forward, Like if if you
see me on stage getting laughs andlike I talk about like you know,
you know, all these like funexperiences I'm having. I think people can
(25:07):
look at that and be like,man, I see myself in that,
like I'm gonna do all that,And I think, you know, I
don't know, self replicating still hasa place, but I think you know
what we're seeing. You just wantto be like you want to be more.
You want confidence. I think isgoing further these days, right,
especially as you find your voice,like you don't need to like pan pander
(25:30):
to the audience like you can,you know, double down on who you
are and you know the audience willconnect and go with you. Yeah,
I think, And honestly, Ithink it's it's just more about truth.
Like you know, like I I'mnot a loser, you know what I
mean? And you're not a loser, like it's so many yeah, you
know, so it's like it's disingenuousif you go like, oh, I'm
(25:51):
texting this girl and she's not textingme back. It's just like the audience
is gonna like sense that disconnect onsome level. Dude. One of my
biggest pet peeves to come when Isee something that's not authentic. You can
just tell when someone's not authentically.We try to create like a fake character,
and which we all do. Iget that in comedy, but it's
frustrating to watch that as a comic, which I can't even watch comedy anymore,
(26:11):
to be honest with you, likestand up unless it's like, you
know, really unless like they're reallylike centered who they are as people,
which takes you know a long timeto find. Yeah. I actually here's
the thing. I do like towatch stand up because I really like seeing
what new people are doing because it'sso because comics that are new, like
(26:34):
we're talking you know, maybe oneyear or two years, like they're doing
something completely from a raw, authenticplace. And after you do comedy for
more than a decade, you youstart losing touch with that authentic place,
and it's always good to see,like a new comic trying because there's no
filter. It's the same way likewatching a baby play or something like that.
(26:59):
You know, you get in touchwith like discovering life for the first
time. So so I still dowatch stand up for that reason. That's
great. Um, how do youfeel about like this because you know you
actually inspired me? Actually, Itotally I upgrade all my camera stuff because
awesome. Like you're like, doyou feel like the state of comedy now
versus back then? I think Iknow you're gonna say, but do you
(27:22):
think this is a better time forcomedy or like a worse time in terms
of just the you know, anybodycan make it. You know, that's
actually a really interesting question because Ican't tell if it's better or worse.
Where we are slaves to the algorithmright now, and I think it's just
(27:44):
so I think it's so interesting becauseI, like you and me, we
can see how it works, butmost people don't. So all the algorithm
does for any of these platforms isthey just see does the person who we
serve this video too? Do theywatch it to the end? Because attention
is the biggest commodity in the world. Right now. So if a video
(28:08):
commands attention, meaning you watch itto the end, they go, great
video, give that to another person, and then watch it to the end,
give it to another person. Soif you look at people like,
okay, who's the biggest comic rightnow, Matt Rife, Okay, hot
guy telling competent jokes, all thesewomen are going to watch it start to
(28:30):
finish, right, So the algorithmkeeps on serving it to more and more
people, and so it just keepson going. If you go to his
shows, you just when he goeson stage, you just hear a very
high pitched, shrill scream. Soyou know who the algorithm has given his
videos to and you know who's watchingit. So it's just so interesting to
(28:52):
me when people don't understand like whycertain people are becoming famous though. But
that's the problem with this time isthat you just you have to make that
algorithm happy if you want to blowup on social media. So I don't
know if it's a great thing,because it's gonna you know, it's gonna
make you cater to that, whereasback in the day, like you know,
(29:17):
if what's better catering to the algorithmor catering to some gatekeeper at a
comedy club, you know, likeit's it's just changed. So I don't
know that like it's gotten any Ithink it's the same. I think it's
just you know, chooser evil.Yeah. Um, that's a great comedy
special name. Slave to the algorithm. Yeah right, yeah, I mean,
(29:40):
I mean, look, it's it'sit's I feel like you're benefiting from
it because at least um, atleast you get to you know, find
an audience. And you know,that's the one thing that's frustrating about when
I do commedy. I'm like,man, am I even like appealing to
people like Jesus Christ. I'm like, oh no, it's the algorithm because
sometimes clips will blow up, sometimesit won't, you know, But I
think it's your consistency yeah out there. Yeah. And it's just so funny.
(30:03):
It's like, look if if ifif a thousand people posted a video
today, then the album is goingto be like okay, we need to
choose one of these to serve up. So you know, you might be
part of some like random generated youknow, a lottery. And so it's
like, so I do think consistency. I think you've got to be consistent,
just so the algorithm can pick youonce in a while, right,
(30:26):
Um, I also want to getto Richard. You know you're a guy
who understands business. Well, youhave a great show in sand Frind which
I want to plug. It's calleda setup. I've never done it,
but like I've heard great things.You have a sister show here in La.
Yeah. Also part of like likethe battle plan going to comedy,
Like I'm gonna create my own space. Yeah. Yeah. I always say
(30:49):
like stand up comedy is the mostdifficult career in the entire world, because
not only do you have to workout all the time, but you also
have to build the gym. Soit's like I was just like, Okay,
I need to get good in aplace where I can just go there
all the time and I can andthere's no stakes. Also, like like
(31:11):
if you perform at some comedy club, you have to do well and otherwise
they don't ask you back. Sobut then you don't get better because you
just stay in these like rigid frameworks. So yeah, I'm definitely building my
own show with my uh you know, my good buddy by not Carney he
uh him and I we just builtthis thing um in San Francisco just because
(31:34):
we were like, we need tojust get great at comedy and we need
to do it in a no stakesenvironment. Yeah. So it's called set
Up. We have shows in SanFrancisco and Los Angeles www dot set up
comedy dot com. Yeah, yousell t shirts too, right, Still
merchandise? Is that some merch Yeah? Yeah, check it. You gotta
(31:55):
check out that show. I mean, I make some even if I'm not
on it, I've got to gocheck it out because I heard it's like
like the seller of like saying France, like you guys pack it in and
just hm, great dude, IndianJane and you well yeah, I mean
when next time you're in San Francisco, let us know and you can come
do a spot. Yeah, whichleak when I'm out of all the things
(32:19):
you've done, Like, what areyou most proud of? Because I feel
you already have this, you requireYou've done a lot of things that comics
twenty years in haven't done twenty threeyears in. Yeah, I mean,
I I think just sticking with thislong enough, just being just doing this
for so long, I think issomething I'm proud of because I always knew
(32:42):
like starting that this is a marathonthat's going to be extremely difficult, and
every year that I'm in it,I'm like WHOA, Like I can't believe
I did another year of this,like because it's it's such a it's it's
enough battle, you know, becauseI used to be a computer programmers,
so I'm always like thinking about like, like whoa, I gave up like
(33:06):
a like a high paying tech careerto like pursue my arts, which is
like, you know, most peopledon't do that. So I think just
the fortitude of having that decision alreadyto me, that's like already that's probably
my biggest win in terms of like, you know, specific things. Yeah,
(33:28):
I don't know. I think it'slike, um, I think some
of the jokes I've written that whereI've really found the right angle to do
them, I'm just so proud of. Like I have one joke now that
makes me very happy where I talkabout how I don't care about politics like
my like, I'm a comedian.I just have to make people laugh.
So my politics are the same asthe owner of the comedy club where I'm
(33:50):
performing and then I and then itgoes on. But I'm so proud of
that joke because, like you know, usually you're playing you know, people
have such strong feelings about politics,and then I was able to come in
and be like, I don't careabout any of that, Like I just
cater like you want to believe somethingstupid, I'm on board with you,
(34:15):
and I think it just like diffusedthat like political weird tension that's always there.
So yeah, yeah, I thinkjust getting to this level where like
I'm finally being able to write,the kind of where my voice is finally
coming out and people are accepting it. I think I'm really proud of that.
I'd be interesting to see you,like, yeah, I've seen yourself.
(34:35):
I've never seen you like provoked.I feel like even if you were
to say something that's kind of complaymatory, people wouldn't take you serious because you
have you say everything with like atongue of cheeks smile. Yeah. I
feel like people be like, oh, he's just going with a bit somewhere
because you can't really read. That'sI think that's a great thing about your
talking to a lout and you can'treally read where you're gonna go with the
jokes because you know, like amagician like, oh, he used to
(34:55):
reveal, but you don't know wherethat bit's going, you know, so
you drive. Yeah. Actually,and people have said that to me that
where it's like they just cannot tellif I'm serious or joking. And you
know, it's like that's good becauseit's like it's there's always like a wait,
(35:15):
what, like does he care aboutthis or does he not like?
And yeah, it's it's a littlebit difficult because sometimes in stand up like
people want to put you in abox just so they know like what they're
getting and stuff like that. Sowith me, there is like a little
bit of like the audience is alwayskind of like slightly unsure. Yeah,
(35:37):
but you know I'm not. I'malso not in control of this. You
know, I'm not doing anything onpurpose. I'm just going up there and
talking. Well, just from myown observation, it's like this smooth like
jazz ride because you're never pushing.You're never pushing. I see comments like
push on stage, but I neversee you rush. I think that's the
appeal that I have when I watchyour act, like you're just kind of
(36:00):
like like this pilot just like takingthem on a ride, like you're never
like trying to like get a bitin and I appreciate that as as just
a viewer consumer of comedy. MYeah, I'm like the ASMR of comedy.
I'm just like just laid back.Yeah. I think, you know,
(36:20):
it's a good Uh. I thinkyou know, that's like a sort
of a zen lesson for life.Like you always let people come to you,
and you know, it's like andyou can't. Like it's it's the
same thing that you can't make someonebe your friend, you can't make somebody
love you, you know, Soit's like you can't make somebody laugh.
They have to come to you.So it's it's almost, um, it's
(36:45):
futile to push. So that's whyI don't push, you know. Um
this wrapping up here, is thereanything that you learned that like jumping into
comedy that you're like, holy shit, like into something I do not expecting.
Comedy passed, you know, howeverlong you've done it. Yeah,
(37:07):
I think uh, I think,uh, well, well, one thing
is like I realize the importance ofjust uh connecting with people off stage.
Like I used to think that youcan just go and be funny and that
would be enough, but it mostcertainly is not. Like so now I'm
(37:30):
just enjoying, uh, you know, being friends with comedians and like really
just getting to know people. It'sit's so funny, Like I think it's
just like you know, yeah,it's it's not the funniest comedians that are
getting the furthest you know, it'sthe people that are the most connected.
(37:51):
Yeah. Well, I mean Ihope, I hope that's. I hope
you're incorrect, because I think you'resuper funny. Um, and I hope
I seriously think man, like likea lot of comics are one dimensional,
but I totally I told your face, like I can see you like branching
the act if you wanted to.I mean this, I think that's also
why you're successful. It is becauseyou're focused. Like, man, this
guy's got incredible focused to get goodat stand up. So I feel like
(38:13):
the world is your oyster, youknow. I think, yeah, I
definitely have a lot of focus.But that's just something that's just in me.
I think, you know, itcomes from the like you know,
my dad just like standing over mebeing like, you know, finish,
like after the homework is done,Like he was like, you know,
okay, now you got to doextra homework, like during you know,
(38:34):
or during the summertime, just makingme stay home. And and I used
to he used to come home fromwork and be like he'd be like,
Okay, show me what you didtoday. I mean, this is what
we're talking. This is like July, and so I think it's like it's
just in me now. I justhave like this like crazy focus to just
do whatever I need to do.That's great. Well, Richard, we're
wrapping up with man left, soI'll let you go. But hey,
(38:57):
everyone, please check out his stuff. He's larious Instagram TikTok. You haven't
seen Richard's stuff. Watch it.You're not going to regret it. And
thanks you. This is a thisis a lovely little chat in the morning
here. Yeah, man, Iappreciate you doing this, and we'll link
up and when I'm back in La. Yes, let us do that.
That'd be great. All right,Thanks for Richard. Thanks than see you soon.
Oh, dude, Tharn and Richardin the house. Dude, I am
so excited to to even see you. Man. Yeah, this is great,
man, it's fun little chat inthe morning. I got some Indian
suites here eating for our meeting.Here, dude, meeting. First of
(00:24):
all, I mean, before westart, I just want to introduce you
to because I have a few peoplewho actually watched this. But Richard is
hilarious comic filmmaker. And man,if you're not aware of Richard, you
gotta go watch his stuff, becausedude, I was watching your stuff before
I even met you. Like,but you made a web series called Out
(00:48):
of the Living Herons. I watchedall all the episodes less on a TikTok,
and you're a talented filmmaker. ButI watched your I became aware of
you from your stand up HM,and I was like, man, this
guy is so funny, like naturallyfunny. Oh thank you man. When
did we first meet? You?Know what? I met you the very
(01:11):
first time was I saw you atVenice Underground and at the at the Townhouse.
It was a Bronson show and wewere both on the same lineup.
We may have just met briefly thatnight. But that's the first time I
remember seeing you. Was I doingBobby Cone back then at the show or
something, right, I remember thatvery vividly. You must have been like,
(01:34):
what's this heck Indian guy doing onstage? I mean, I think
it's a dude, I think it'sthe Indian superpower to be able to do
the Indian accent on stage, Likeit's so funny and we're the only people
that can get away with it,like we got a milk it. But
you don't really do it though,my dude, your act. What I
loved about your act though, iswhen I watched it's like you have this
(01:57):
natural like I think I told youyou're face, Like it's the essence of
being funny and the jokes are overit and you have that thank you very
quick, which I mean you've beendoing comedy over a decade, right,
But yeah, I feel like Iwatched your earlier stuff. I went through
your Takeok, you're earlier. Idon't know when you first started. The
(02:20):
TikTok's like your earlier early stand upand you have that built into Yeah.
I feel it was funny because Istarted originally like my dreams were like I'm
gonna be a rock star, andso I I you can see I have
my guitar back there. I've hadthat since I was eighteen and I just
started playing, and like all myfriends they would like, come watch me
(02:43):
play it open mics and they listento my songs and they'd be like,
yeah, songs are all right,They're like, but you're kind of funny.
And so I was like, sopeople have been telling me that I'm
like funny or have some sort offunny essence for a long time. So
I was like, all right,let's let's let's give it a shot.
You know. And you were aprogrammer, right fo yeah, Oh my
(03:05):
god, so I used to mYeah. So back in college there was
Okay, I have a computer sciencedegree. I worked at various startups,
and I worked at Yahoo as aYahoo Mail engineer. But I only did
that because I thought comedy would beimpossible. And it wasn't until like,
you know, ten years ago thatI was like, Okay, I gotta
(03:27):
I have to give this a shot. So would you like the funny guy
in the office essentially? Yeah,But like, dude, I the thing
is like, yeah, I'm notlike a class clown or like like I'm
funny but unintentionally like, and Iwas more of like a weird energy,
like the way like like I wouldjust have anger bursts and I would just
(03:51):
yell at all of my co workers. So that was more what I was
bringing to the table. It's hilariousbecause even you're because now you're posting some
more CrowdWork stuff and I see yourCrowdWork stuff and you're good at the audience
interaction. But what I liked aboutyour act though, man, because I
you know, I'm not afraid totrash people, but like you don't do
(04:13):
like generic like Indian stuff, likeI feel like you would be even if
you weren't Indian. I feel likeyou still arise. So I mean I
put chips behind you. Man.I think I think you got a great
future in terms of I mean,you're already building a huge fan base.
M yeah. And the thing is, uh so, I think it's like
when I first started, I wasleaning on the Indian crutch. Then I
(04:35):
started being like, oh, I'mnot gonna do any Indian material. I
just started writing regular material, beinga regular comedian, and now I'm back
to where like, no, I'mIndian like and I want to talk about
it. So I think I'm talkingabout it now not as a crutch,
but like as in like I likebeing Indian and I want to talk about
(04:56):
it. Do you feel like itserves you in any way way or like
right now with the diversity thing,because I feel like it's bigger in the
acting world. I don't know ifit carries over in the stand up world.
I don't think so. Um,well, you know, I mean
there's definitely Indian people that want tosee themselves represented in stand up comedies,
so you know, and I havea bunch of Indian fans, so there's
(05:21):
that aspect, so it helps alittle. But um, there's definitely no
like there's no gatekeeper being like weneed an Indian person, you know,
there's none of that. Give meyour opinion on this because I feel like
I don't spot I don't make expotbeing Indian, but I feel like the
barometer for for like Daisy people likethey just want to see someone do comedy
(05:44):
on stage versus like comedy fans likethere's more of like you're kind of nuancing
comedy, but Indians, you know, like, oh my god, he's
Indian. I'll support this guy justbecause he's Indian, which is why,
without naming names, a lot ofguys have mass appeal. They're not funny,
but they can you know they're brown. Yeah, No, I definitely
(06:04):
get a lot of people being like, wow, it's so cool to see
and a brown person on stage likedoing this, like it's so cool.
So I do think there is that. I mean, that's how it works
in anything, you know, That'show it works in sports. You're like,
you just root for your home teamjust because it's your home team,
you know. So, But Ido think it's getting to the point now
(06:24):
where it's like people are not gonnaI think there's enough Indian comedians now where
you can find one that you likerelate to more than the other. I
mentioned his specials. Did I watchyour special? Ant texted you or a
messaged you from Nice and Filthy?Is that what it's called? Yeah,
(06:45):
he has this great special. It'slike it's a half hour, right that
you self produced on your own therean hour. Nice and Filthy is about
an hour and it's a compilation oftwo years of footage from a show I
used to produce in San Francisco.So every single joke is filmed at the
same venue and it's for me.It's so cool because I see my progression
(07:09):
over two years and it's on thatsame stage and it's the you know,
it's the first show I ever produced, so and yeah, I just love
it. And I'm sorry, I'mlike getting all my my facts right about
your stuff. But what I figuredout why I liked it because you have
this fearlessness, which I think Itotally your face you tap into like this
(07:32):
like just that what every Indian guylike feels like that sexual like frustration.
Yeah, and you say it andit's like there's no filter, which is
how I am. I have nofilter, but you say, you know
through your comedy and you like filterthrough this lens. And that's why I
love your kind of snarky stuff.Yeah without yes, I just yeah,
(07:58):
I've definitely noticed that about myself,where like I definitely consider myself someone who
overshares and but I think it's fine. Like I think I've gotten to the
point where like my ego is outthe door and if I have a thought,
I'm just gonna give it to youcompletely raw, and just because I
(08:18):
want to see, like does thisconnect with other people? But it does
make some people uncomfortable to be like, Wow, this guy like really just
says like the most good tails.You know, it's great. And I
think that's why I was watching LivingCarrons and I laughed because you also have
(08:39):
that in your films. I'm surewas that a collaboration with somebody else?
Was that just you? Yeah?And the Living Carrens I did with my
friend Zach schapalone. But but youcan see like your lines from your stand
up, you know, in whenthe dog was like licking you, He's
like he's attacking me. He waslike, yeah, I like that character
(09:00):
because that character is part of likewho I am, Like it's my like
it's just unfiltered, like like Ihave a lot of anger inside and it's
always good to play a character thatcan that I can use as a filter
to get that out. And youknow, I think you know for you've
(09:20):
you've experienced as well, like goodacting is when you can like use something
that you really feel and then putit into the character and it becomes this
catharsis sure, And I was mostimpressed because you're a good filmmaker, Like
I'm watching like your shots and theway you like drop in music and act
and I was like, I wasreally impressed because you know, and this
(09:43):
is my problem, Like I couldeasily like just like, oh, I'm
just not going to do stand up. I'm not going to do this,
but you're very focusing you stand up. But I was like, this guy
could easily be a comic actor filmmaker, which takes an inordinate amount of time
to do that. Yeah, Sowas that like a cautious decision of like
saying, hey, I'm gonna putthis as i'd and just do stand up.
Uh No, it's just because producinga film or a series just takes
(10:07):
so much effort in time for sofor so little. But um no,
it's definitely something that I want todo more of because I love, like
I love sitting down with an hourof footage and just cutting out the best
parts and assembling it together and doinglike sound design. Also like I love
(10:31):
like interesting sound effects, um thatlike accentuate moments, like I'll spend I'll
spend an hour listening to different kindsof like horror noises to be like,
oh, which one like really feelsthe which one really sets the tone here?
Yeah, I could see that,Like you had the piano like notes
on the effects, but you hadthese little and then you you'd have,
(10:52):
like like the review doing a lotof the comedy stuff, like you'd like
reveal the thing after you'd have tohear like that someone say the dialogue cut
man, this guy's like a goodfilmmaker, thank you. Yeah, I
um, well, yeah, Ithink that's a that's such a basic little
trick that really goes a long waywhere it's it's called an L cut,
right, So yeah, you hearthe person talk, then you cut to
(11:13):
them, and it can go theother way too, where you cut to
them and then you hear them talk, like so they both have they both
create like a different kind of vibewhat you know, which brings me to
um, you know, I thinkand correct me from Iran, but I
think you you really like just capturedlike like the I guess the essence of
twenty twenty three I being, youknow, an entrepreneur, you're you know,
(11:37):
you're you're you're capitalizing a technology likeyou're using it as well, And
I'm wondering if if that was somethingwhich you understood early on, like because
I have a hard time I feellike I'm old like, but I feel
like you you're just on it.Um. Yeah, I think, Um,
I think whenever I see an opportunity, I just go for it.
(12:01):
And I'm like, I'm kind oflike a leave no stone unturned kind of
guy, where it's like I wouldnot feel okay with myself if I didn't
try to get like a huge TikTokfollowing, Like it would just be I
couldn't tell everyone that, hey,I tried to make it an entertainment and
I tried as hard as I could. I wouldn't feel okay having any regrets
(12:26):
with that. So when I sawTikTok, I was like, Okay,
here's an opportunity, let's just see. And yeah, it actually created an
interesting an interesting format for me becausethe videos were only one minute long,
but I wanted to make a series, so I had to make one minute
(12:46):
episodes and that was like such aninteresting limitation that actually made the series better,
which was kind of interesting. Well, also, this is the subject
matter, like like the Karen thingwas just a huge you know that whole
progressive like hitting that note. Yeah. Um, like I feel like you
were one of the early guys tolike really capitalize on you know, making
(13:09):
content or about it. Yeah.Yeah, And and I'm looking for,
you know, what's the next thingin the zeitgeist that's that I want to
capitalize on. Um. But yeah, I think I think that was so
topical um and and it's you wantto create something that's topical but also simple,
and you don't want to beat theaudience over the head with something that's
(13:33):
like has too much of a message. So whenever I find that sweet spot,
that's the kind of work that Ilove the most, Like, yeah,
good, I was just gonna ohyeah, I mean, I was
just gonna say that. Like theworst kind of performer is the one that
you're like, oh, I it'slike this guy's got a message, you
know what I mean, Like Ihate that. Yeah, I know,
we too. I know. Theworst is like when they have like applause
(13:56):
breaks. They don't even have anyjokes, but it's like an applause at
the end, like Norm McDonald's saying, why are we This is in comedy
it's like a Pepper rally or something. Yeah, I mean, go to
a Pepper rally. It's fine,just don't do it in a comedy club.
Yeah, Because you know, Iwatched your web series. By the
way, Richard has like one pointfour million or something on TikTok and another
fellow on Instagram. But like Iwatched that and I was like, this
(14:18):
is a guy, and I knowtimes have changed. You know those comics
who like filmed a series on theirown and they sent into Comedy Central or
whatever. I was like, thisRichard could easily be in his own series,
like make a whole show and sendit. And I could see like
as a lead as like a showbecause you're also a pretty good actor as
well, like playing that character likeit's and it's connected to your stand up
(14:41):
character too, which is even better. That's interesting for me because I actually
didn't make that connection. Do youthink the way I do stand up is
like, yes, you're like abitchy, angry character. Well, you
can tell you're acting, but youcan that that subtle layer is beneath it,
(15:01):
like when you're you know, whenyou're yelling about the you parked over
the line and stuff. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you're yelling like
yes, definitely. It's almost likethis guy's like in on the joke himself,
but it's just it's funny as hell. Yeah, I think, uh
yeah, I just want I thinkthat is kind of my character is like
I'm like, I'm so angry,but it's harmless and it's kind of like
(15:26):
you're like looking at like an angrypuppy. I think maybe, well,
let me believe this in your standuff a little bit, because you've done
like specially special for dry Bar forpeople don't know, Dry Bars a squeaky
clean comedy thing filmed about a Utahto make a shit ton of money,
and you can only do it's hardto get on it because you got to
be clean and I know we talkedas dirty stuff. But so you can
(15:48):
play to like just generic white peoplein Utah. Yeah, how is that
transition from like who you are?That just from my audience? Yeah,
I mean I think, you know, I think the limitations are actually fun.
You know. So it's like ifyou perform at a comedy club,
(16:08):
like I noticed that, like mycomedy starts adapting to whatever audience I play
for. So if I'm doing allcomedy clubs, like my comedy gets filthy
and uh, you know it's soit's great for me to have the balance
to be like, you know,go play for the dry bar crowd.
So the dry bar crowd. It'sfilmed in provo Utah, it's a lot
(16:30):
of people that went to like bringthem young. Um, A lot of
Mormons in the audience has to besqueaky clean, so clean that you can't
even say, oh my god,yeah you know, oh my gosh is
okay, but frowned upon. Sofor me, I just it was kind
of interesting, like it was likepanning all my material to see like,
(16:51):
okay, I have, you know, two hours, and what can I
actually do on this? And uh, you know, I barely got to
twenty five minutes and that's funny,that's funny. Yeah, And I had
to like I was tweaking some ofmy material in the hotel room on the
day of the taping, being like, man, how am I going to
get this joke to be clean?Can? I? Like? And I
(17:11):
did one punchline completely new on thetaping, which was, you know,
so nerve wracking. Did you dothat by yourself or did you have the
stack comics like halfwy five with thesame audience. Yeah, they do.
They tape three comedians in a night, uh two shows, so yeah,
(17:33):
we all do twenty five. Andthey were so nice to me. They
gave me the middle spot, sogreat. Yeah, do you feel like
your second show was tighter because youhad that first show to warm up the
second. Um, I think thewe used about half of the material from
(17:55):
I think we use most of thematerial from the first uh show and like
a core order of the material fromthe second show. So the first show
is actually better for me. Okay? And how does that connect to performing
for like, because we were talkingand you make money sometimes from these total
daisy on you fly out into theseIndian shows, Like, how does that
relate to that? On? BecauseI'm I did that in my man the
(18:18):
first decade of comedy, and Icame like, how do you do in
front of those audiences? Yeah?Well, I've only recently realized that if
you play for an all daisy audience, it's got to be mostly crowd work.
They're you know, they're because usuallyan Indian event, Like I've performed
at engagement parties. Um, idid one for the Lawyers Association of Dallas
(18:44):
South Asian Lawyers Association of Dallas.Yeah, and you know, I do
the material, they're kind of lappingand then but the minute you just talk
to somebody, what's your name?Oh, who's this? Where's your wife?
Oh? Why is she at thattable. You're here, she's at
that table. This guy's ingenius.How does he do it? It's like,
(19:12):
but that's what that's just what theywant. They don't I think,
I don't. I don't know ifit's just like, um, Indian audiences
are newer to stand up, butthey love the crowd work, especially even
when I went to India. Um, it was like you would not believe,
(19:32):
like you do crowd work and peopleare standing in the audience and clapping,
They're like running up and down theaisles like it was. And then
you do material and everyone's just lookingat you blank in the face. Dude,
I'm sorry, but I watched likethese guys from India people, you
know, people are trying to meto come in India, like ten years
or fifteen years, a guy said, I'm not doing com it's ridiculous.
And now and then I started seeingthe influx. Yeah, some of those
(19:53):
comics are terrible. I know they'rereally popular, but like I even translated
into England, so I'm like,these jokes are awful. So but then
I'm like, maybe it's a culturalthing. So I wonder how people actually
have you performed actually in India?Yeah, yeah, I did. Back
in February twenty sixteen, I wentto a Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai and
(20:17):
we I did a lot of Idid like a lot of shows, like
a lot of like ten to twentyminute spots. I did, like I
did like thirty of those, andso I really got like a real good
idea of what the Indian audience was. Like here's the thing, Like,
I think my job as a comedianis just to entertain whoever's in front of
(20:38):
me. Like at the end ofyou know, I could be I could
sit here at home and be like, you know, I'm an I'm an
artist, like you know, butif people pay money, you just you
have to make them laugh. Soah, you know, I felt like,
yeah, the stand up I wasn'tso nuanced like I am in America
if I'm playing some like alt comedyroom. But audiences were having fun,
(21:02):
and you know, it was adifferent muscle and I had to tweak my
jokes a lot to get them towork in India. And when I came
back to the US, the tweakedversions were actually doing better than the old
versions. And I think that's whyI think you're really strong, because I
mean just talking to you, You'vedone every It sounds like you're very versatile,
(21:23):
like a Spiss army knife, fromlike Utah to India to Indian audiences
here. Yeah, the LA audiences, I mean, that's going to make
you strong in general. Yeah,it's so interesting. Yeah. At first,
when I started doing audiences outside ofCalifornia, I was like, oh,
man, road road audiences are sodumb or like. And then I
(21:47):
started realizing that it was just myown ego. And I was like,
because I used to think that ifyou do well in too many rooms,
I thought that meant you're too broad. But then I started realizing that,
like, no, that just meansif you do well in more rooms,
that just means you're able to communicatewhat you're saying to all sorts of different
types of people. So you're actuallystrengthening your articulation. Yeah. Yeah,
(22:12):
it's it's it's interesting. You know, I don't really play to you know,
outside of you know, Florida andCalifornia. But it's it's you have
to adapt for sure. You knowwho said that, Well, you just
said Jay Leno, Like Jen Lenosaid that, he goes you know,
it's a job at the end.Yeah, you gotta you gotta do the
job. Otherwise what are you doingdo the job? Yeah, I mean
(22:32):
I have plenty of jokes, whichare you know, just for me,
But like at the end of theday, it's well stand up comedy,
it's you and the audience, andit's whatever happens with that interaction. So
it's like you can't ever really youcan't really ever get to like, um
precious about your material like it's it'sgot people don't laugh missic question. I
(22:55):
mean, did girls like throw themselvesat you like after the shows in India
or was it were you like BillHicks and like India that would have been
awesome. I uh, you knowwhat, Actually, I've made like a
recent transition in my comedy where mycomedy used to be like very like,
oh I'm such a loser and stufflike that, And I think that really
(23:17):
kept me from getting like panties thrownat me on stage for a long time,
you know, Like but U soI actually made a very like I
made like a real decision to juststop doing anything that's like too self deprecating
and now much better, Like nowI'm I'm actually getting women coming up to
(23:37):
me and being like just giving metheir number and stuff like that, and
that was such a like it wassuch an important thing I did for myself
because I I just decided, likeI'm not going to talk shit about myself
on stage anymore. Like it mightbe funny, but like the lasting effects,
like if you say something about yourself, eventually your brain just processes it.
(24:00):
Yes, you know, so nomore of that, Like, no
more of that. That's great.I love that. I love that.
I think it's also that was aline from the movie Funny People m Adam
Sailor, Like that was actually runningyou go. You know, you come
across like a loser. People lookingI think you're a loser. So but
I never thought you were. Youcame across like that, but I do.
(24:21):
I'm very conscious about that too now, not just jicks or girls after
the show, but just my youknow, mental psyche, because otherwise you
do too many shows. You're like, man, what am I doing?
I'm in this hotel room. Iam a loser of the fucking and I'm
sitting here hellow by myself. Yeahno, people don't want loser of comedy
anymore. Like, like, it'sdefinitely funny. It has a play self
deprecation is great, but what peoplewant now is they want to see somebody
(24:45):
because they see themselves reflected in you. So like Kanye West said it best,
he said, if you're a fanof me, you're a fan of
yourself. So you know, likeI try to, you know, I
want I think I'm trying to putthat mentality forward, Like if if you
see me on stage getting laughs andlike I talk about like you know,
you know, all these like funexperiences I'm having. I think people can
(25:07):
look at that and be like,man, I see myself in that,
like I'm gonna do all that,And I think, you know, I
don't know, self replicating still hasa place, but I think you know
what we're seeing. You just wantto be like you want to be more.
You want confidence. I think isgoing further these days, right,
especially as you find your voice,like you don't need to like pan pander
(25:30):
to the audience like you can,you know, double down on who you
are and you know the audience willconnect and go with you. Yeah,
I think, And honestly, Ithink it's it's just more about truth.
Like you know, like I I'mnot a loser, you know what I
mean? And you're not a loser, like it's so many yeah, you
know, so it's like it's disingenuousif you go like, oh, I'm
(25:51):
texting this girl and she's not textingme back. It's just like the audience
is gonna like sense that disconnect onsome level. Dude. One of my
biggest pet peeves to come when Isee something that's not authentic. You can
just tell when someone's not authentically.We try to create like a fake character,
and which we all do. Iget that in comedy, but it's
frustrating to watch that as a comic, which I can't even watch comedy anymore,
(26:11):
to be honest with you, likestand up unless it's like, you
know, really unless like they're reallylike centered who they are as people,
which takes you know a long timeto find. Yeah. I actually here's
the thing. I do like towatch stand up because I really like seeing
what new people are doing because it'sso because comics that are new, like
(26:34):
we're talking you know, maybe oneyear or two years, like they're doing
something completely from a raw, authenticplace. And after you do comedy for
more than a decade, you youstart losing touch with that authentic place,
and it's always good to see,like a new comic trying because there's no
filter. It's the same way likewatching a baby play or something like that.
(26:59):
You know, you get in touchwith like discovering life for the first
time. So so I still dowatch stand up for that reason. That's
great. Um, how do youfeel about like this because you know you
actually inspired me? Actually, Itotally I upgrade all my camera stuff because
awesome. Like you're like, doyou feel like the state of comedy now
versus back then? I think Iknow you're gonna say, but do you
(27:22):
think this is a better time forcomedy or like a worse time in terms
of just the you know, anybodycan make it. You know, that's
actually a really interesting question because Ican't tell if it's better or worse.
Where we are slaves to the algorithmright now, and I think it's just
(27:44):
so I think it's so interesting becauseI, like you and me, we
can see how it works, butmost people don't. So all the algorithm
does for any of these platforms isthey just see does the person who we
serve this video too? Do theywatch it to the end? Because attention
is the biggest commodity in the world. Right now. So if a video
(28:08):
commands attention, meaning you watch itto the end, they go, great
video, give that to another person, and then watch it to the end,
give it to another person. Soif you look at people like,
okay, who's the biggest comic rightnow, Matt Rife, Okay, hot
guy telling competent jokes, all thesewomen are going to watch it start to
(28:30):
finish, right, So the algorithmkeeps on serving it to more and more
people, and so it just keepson going. If you go to his
shows, you just when he goeson stage, you just hear a very
high pitched, shrill scream. Soyou know who the algorithm has given his
videos to and you know who's watchingit. So it's just so interesting to
(28:52):
me when people don't understand like whycertain people are becoming famous though. But
that's the problem with this time isthat you just you have to make that
algorithm happy if you want to blowup on social media. So I don't
know if it's a great thing,because it's gonna you know, it's gonna
make you cater to that, whereasback in the day, like you know,
(29:17):
if what's better catering to the algorithmor catering to some gatekeeper at a
comedy club, you know, likeit's it's just changed. So I don't
know that like it's gotten any Ithink it's the same. I think it's
just you know, chooser evil.Yeah. Um, that's a great comedy
special name. Slave to the algorithm. Yeah right, yeah, I mean,
(29:40):
I mean, look, it's it'sit's I feel like you're benefiting from
it because at least um, atleast you get to you know, find
an audience. And you know,that's the one thing that's frustrating about when
I do commedy. I'm like,man, am I even like appealing to
people like Jesus Christ. I'm like, oh no, it's the algorithm because
sometimes clips will blow up, sometimesit won't, you know, But I
think it's your consistency yeah out there. Yeah. And it's just so funny.
(30:03):
It's like, look if if ifif a thousand people posted a video
today, then the album is goingto be like okay, we need to
choose one of these to serve up. So you know, you might be
part of some like random generated youknow, a lottery. And so it's
like, so I do think consistency. I think you've got to be consistent,
just so the algorithm can pick youonce in a while, right,
(30:26):
Um, I also want to getto Richard. You know you're a guy
who understands business. Well, youhave a great show in sand Frind which
I want to plug. It's calleda setup. I've never done it,
but like I've heard great things.You have a sister show here in La.
Yeah. Also part of like likethe battle plan going to comedy,
Like I'm gonna create my own space. Yeah. Yeah. I always say
(30:49):
like stand up comedy is the mostdifficult career in the entire world, because
not only do you have to workout all the time, but you also
have to build the gym. Soit's like I was just like, Okay,
I need to get good in aplace where I can just go there
all the time and I can andthere's no stakes. Also, like like
(31:11):
if you perform at some comedy club, you have to do well and otherwise
they don't ask you back. Sobut then you don't get better because you
just stay in these like rigid frameworks. So yeah, I'm definitely building my
own show with my uh you know, my good buddy by not Carney he
uh him and I we just builtthis thing um in San Francisco just because
(31:34):
we were like, we need tojust get great at comedy and we need
to do it in a no stakesenvironment. Yeah. So it's called set
Up. We have shows in SanFrancisco and Los Angeles www dot set up
comedy dot com. Yeah, yousell t shirts too, right, Still
merchandise? Is that some merch Yeah? Yeah, check it. You gotta
(31:55):
check out that show. I mean, I make some even if I'm not
on it, I've got to gocheck it out because I heard it's like
like the seller of like saying France, like you guys pack it in and
just hm, great dude, IndianJane and you well yeah, I mean
when next time you're in San Francisco, let us know and you can come
do a spot. Yeah, whichleak when I'm out of all the things
(32:19):
you've done, Like, what areyou most proud of? Because I feel
you already have this, you requireYou've done a lot of things that comics
twenty years in haven't done twenty threeyears in. Yeah, I mean,
I I think just sticking with thislong enough, just being just doing this
for so long, I think issomething I'm proud of because I always knew
(32:42):
like starting that this is a marathonthat's going to be extremely difficult, and
every year that I'm in it,I'm like WHOA, Like I can't believe
I did another year of this,like because it's it's such a it's it's
enough battle, you know, becauseI used to be a computer programmers,
so I'm always like thinking about like, like whoa, I gave up like
(33:06):
a like a high paying tech careerto like pursue my arts, which is
like, you know, most peopledon't do that. So I think just
the fortitude of having that decision alreadyto me, that's like already that's probably
my biggest win in terms of like, you know, specific things. Yeah,
(33:28):
I don't know. I think it'slike, um, I think some
of the jokes I've written that whereI've really found the right angle to do
them, I'm just so proud of. Like I have one joke now that
makes me very happy where I talkabout how I don't care about politics like
my like, I'm a comedian.I just have to make people laugh.
So my politics are the same asthe owner of the comedy club where I'm
(33:50):
performing and then I and then itgoes on. But I'm so proud of
that joke because, like you know, usually you're playing you know, people
have such strong feelings about politics,and then I was able to come in
and be like, I don't careabout any of that, Like I just
cater like you want to believe somethingstupid, I'm on board with you,
(34:15):
and I think it just like diffusedthat like political weird tension that's always there.
So yeah, yeah, I thinkjust getting to this level where like
I'm finally being able to write,the kind of where my voice is finally
coming out and people are accepting it. I think I'm really proud of that.
I'd be interesting to see you,like, yeah, I've seen yourself.
(34:35):
I've never seen you like provoked.I feel like even if you were
to say something that's kind of complaymatory, people wouldn't take you serious because you
have you say everything with like atongue of cheeks smile. Yeah. I
feel like people be like, oh, he's just going with a bit somewhere
because you can't really read. That'sI think that's a great thing about your
talking to a lout and you can'treally read where you're gonna go with the
jokes because you know, like amagician like, oh, he used to
(34:55):
reveal, but you don't know wherethat bit's going, you know, so
you drive. Yeah. Actually,and people have said that to me that
where it's like they just cannot tellif I'm serious or joking. And you
know, it's like that's good becauseit's like it's there's always like a wait,
(35:15):
what, like does he care aboutthis or does he not like?
And yeah, it's it's a littlebit difficult because sometimes in stand up like
people want to put you in abox just so they know like what they're
getting and stuff like that. Sowith me, there is like a little
bit of like the audience is alwayskind of like slightly unsure. Yeah,
(35:37):
but you know I'm not. I'malso not in control of this. You
know, I'm not doing anything onpurpose. I'm just going up there and
talking. Well, just from myown observation, it's like this smooth like
jazz ride because you're never pushing.You're never pushing. I see comments like
push on stage, but I neversee you rush. I think that's the
appeal that I have when I watchyour act, like you're just kind of
(36:00):
like like this pilot just like takingthem on a ride, like you're never
like trying to like get a bitin and I appreciate that as as just
a viewer consumer of comedy. MYeah, I'm like the ASMR of comedy.
I'm just like just laid back.Yeah. I think, you know,
(36:20):
it's a good Uh. I thinkyou know, that's like a sort
of a zen lesson for life.Like you always let people come to you,
and you know, it's like andyou can't. Like it's it's the
same thing that you can't make someonebe your friend, you can't make somebody
love you, you know, Soit's like you can't make somebody laugh.
They have to come to you.So it's it's almost, um, it's
(36:45):
futile to push. So that's whyI don't push, you know. Um
this wrapping up here, is thereanything that you learned that like jumping into
comedy that you're like, holy shit, like into something I do not expecting.
Comedy passed, you know, howeverlong you've done it. Yeah,
(37:07):
I think uh, I think,uh, well, well, one thing
is like I realize the importance ofjust uh connecting with people off stage.
Like I used to think that youcan just go and be funny and that
would be enough, but it mostcertainly is not. Like so now I'm
(37:30):
just enjoying, uh, you know, being friends with comedians and like really
just getting to know people. It'sit's so funny, Like I think it's
just like you know, yeah,it's it's not the funniest comedians that are
getting the furthest you know, it'sthe people that are the most connected.
(37:51):
Yeah. Well, I mean Ihope, I hope that's. I hope
you're incorrect, because I think you'resuper funny. Um, and I hope
I seriously think man, like likea lot of comics are one dimensional,
but I totally I told your face, like I can see you like branching
the act if you wanted to.I mean this, I think that's also
why you're successful. It is becauseyou're focused. Like, man, this
guy's got incredible focused to get goodat stand up. So I feel like
(38:13):
the world is your oyster, youknow. I think, yeah, I
definitely have a lot of focus.But that's just something that's just in me.
I think, you know, itcomes from the like you know,
my dad just like standing over mebeing like, you know, finish,
like after the homework is done,Like he was like, you know,
okay, now you got to doextra homework, like during you know,
(38:34):
or during the summertime, just makingme stay home. And and I used
to he used to come home fromwork and be like he'd be like,
Okay, show me what you didtoday. I mean, this is what
we're talking. This is like July, and so I think it's like it's
just in me now. I justhave like this like crazy focus to just
do whatever I need to do.That's great. Well, Richard, we're
wrapping up with man left, soI'll let you go. But hey,
(38:57):
everyone, please check out his stuff. He's larious Instagram TikTok. You haven't
seen Richard's stuff. Watch it.You're not going to regret it. And
thanks you. This is a thisis a lovely little chat in the morning
here. Yeah, man, Iappreciate you doing this, and we'll link
up and when I'm back in La. Yes, let us do that.
That'd be great. All right,Thanks for Richard. Thanks than see you soon.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.