Are We Human, Or Are We Comedians?

Brian Gray
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Weekly

"C’mon, I just wanna be a comedian.” We’ve often heard this kind of response any time tough topics (like ethics or abuse) arise in the comedy world. This podcast attempts to answer the age-old question: can someone be both human AND a comedian? LA-based comedy writer and performer Laurie Bolewitz and Pittsburgh-based improviser and comedy producer Brian Gray examine their own little corners of the comedy world in the hopes of understanding the bigger picture. No strangers to exploring these sorts of questions: Laurie and Brian have participated and learned/unlearned from many great workshops on challenging topics such as equity and inclusion, racial justice, unconscious bias, and trauma. However, with this introductory series, we’re starting with some pretty gentle questions like, “What does it mean to be welcoming in a comedy scene?” and, “Is it okay to make money doing this?” While we may not have all the answers, we do have a feeling some of these issues are deeply intertwined. We hope this project helps connect us with humans and/or comedians asking similar questions. This limited series will feature thoughtful chats, research, and special guests! https://linktr.ee/humancomedians

Episodes

  1. 04/12/2022 ·  Bonus

    Cliques BONUS

    We had so much fun recording our Cliques episode that we couldn’t fit all the conversations in. Here’s a bonus episode with some extra conversations between Laurie and Brian. Featuring: * A significant but interesting detour about sketch packets * Stand-up in rural communities * Brian’s experience running a comedy festival and attempting to staff outside his friend network * Small market theaters where producers equal friends * Introverts in cliques * A reflection on how our high school experiences show up today, e.g. are we mean? * Indie teams vs house teams * Welcoming significant others at comedy after parties Support AWHOAWC artists and contributors: * Written and recorded by @LaurieBolewitz and @BrianDoesImprov * More from us at https://linktr.ee/humancomedians * Edited by @BrianDoesImprov * Podcast art by josienorton.com * Main theme by Neil Newton

  2. 04/05/2022

    Money

    In Money, Laurie and Brian explore the old adage, “There is no money in improv”–its truths and the ways it hides or reinforces inequalities. The episode features a fascinating conversation with Mona Thompson and Shara Tonn, improv performers and teachers who built careers in improv tell their stories, offer practical advice, and play a money-themed game called “National Currency or D&D Monster.” Featuring: * Brian's money journey, making money in his first team, a professional zag, and reflections on privilege * Laurie's money journey, college, overseas head school, self taught improv, returning to the US comedy scene, and reflections on privilege * Brian's interview with Mona and Shara– * Their journey to improv as a full time career * Expanding their training, doing a bit at a time (e.g. trying it for a year) * Their reflections on privilege * Planning and executing a national and an international tour, making their offerings enticing for small market theaters and festivals * Practical advice for folks following in their footsteps * We play "currency or D&D monster" * Follow @msdimprov on Instagram * Laurie and Brian debrief after the interview * Brian mentions this book’s influence on him: https://bookshop.org/books/how-to-be-an-artist-without-losing-your-mind-your-shirt-or-your-creative-compass-a-practical-guide/9781581573671 Support AWHOAWC artists and contributors: * Written and recorded by @LaurieBolewitz and @BrianDoesImprov * More from us at https://linktr.ee/humancomedians * Edited by @andy_sell * Podcast art by josienorton.com * Main theme by Neil Newton Includes sound effects: * Bell, Candle Damper, A (H1) from InspectorJ (https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/411089/) under an Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) * Bicycle Horn from AntumDeluge (https://freesound.org/people/AntumDeluge/sounds/188039/) under a Creative Commons 0 License (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

  3. 03/29/2022

    Cliques

    In Cliques, Laurie and Brian explore the “in” groups and “out” groups of comedy, the purposes they serve and the impacts they have on new and long-time performers. Featuring: * POP QUIZ on our favorite high school movies * Tear Down the Boys’ Club that Protected Louis C.K. by Guy Branam: https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/tear-down-the-boys-club-that-protected-louis-ck.html * Cliques in various comedy scenes - improv, stand-up, comedy theaters * Late Night with Jimmy Fallopian Tubes: https://www.facebook.com/JimmyFallopianTubes * PLEASE read Laurie’s Birdbox Conan O’Brien sketch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eh36k9CRcZck_qp7QrLJqLnrczbK7Xj_/view?usp=drivesdk * How cliques in one sense (who is our audience) affects the sort of comedy that is welcome on stage, which in turn affects who is our audience * Tao Comedy Studio in LA: https://taocomedystudio.com * Laurie and Brian’s initial clique experiences in school, and the defense mechanisms they developed * Laurie and Brian’s specific experiences with, challenges of and triumphs around cliques and community in comedy * T.J. Mannix / LimboLand: https://www.facebook.com/LimboLandMusicalImprov/ * The intersection of welcoming generally and welcoming specifically improvisers from historically marginalized backgrounds Sooo much came up during our conversation that we couldn’t fit it all in! There’s a bonus episode with all that extra content, including: sketch packets, rural stand-up, and introverts in cliques. It will be released next week! Support AWHOAWC artists and contributors: * Written and recorded by Laurie Bolewitz and Brian Gray * More from us at https://linktr.ee/humancomedians * Edited by Brian Gray * Podcast art by Josie Norton * Main theme by Neil Newton

  4. 03/22/2022

    Dignity, Always Dignity

    Laurie and Brian explore what it means to play at the height of your dignity, and whether dignity is a worthy comedic value. Featuring: * Bob Odenkirk on playing to the height of your dignity * Deconstructing “play to the height of your intelligence” * For all the music nerds, here’s more reading on schenkerian analysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenkerian_analysis * Singing in the Rain, “Dignity, Always Dignity,” slapstick and “low brow” humor that requires a lot of training and practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SND3v0i9uhE * The Superiority Theory of Comedy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories_of_humor#Superiority_theory * Taking away your own dignity by looking down at your character or the audience * When you are anxious, you are more likely to say something sexist or racist * Mr. Rogers was offended at kids’ TV shows featuring people getting hit in the face by pies: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/12/what-would-mister-rogers-do/600772/ * “Comedy can either help us work through very difficult things or it can help us take our minds off of very difficult things.” -Laurie Bolewitz * Dignity and the dangers of self-deprecating humor. “When marginalized people are self-deprecating in comedy, it becomes self-abuse.” -Hannah Gadsby * Laughter as a type of physical control, and what it means for white dudes to give up that control to people who don’t look like them Support AWHOAWC artists and contributors: * Written and recorded by Laurie Bolewitz and Brian Gray * More from us at https://linktr.ee/humancomedians * Edited by Andy Sell * Podcast art by Josie Norton * Main theme by Neil Newton

  5. 03/15/2022

    Welcome

    Hosts Laurie Bolewitz and Brian Gray introduce each other, the show and our Season 1 theme: “Welcome.” Featuring: * INTERVIEW: Each other! * QUIZ: Human or Comedian? * Delightful banter Support AWHOAWC artists and contributors: * Written and recorded by Laurie Bolewitz and Brian Gray * More from us at https://linktr.ee/humancomedians * Edited by Brian Gray * Podcast art by Josie Norton * Main theme by Neil Newton * Additional music: Danse Macabre - Busy Strings by Kevin MacLeod. Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3591-danse-macabre---busy-strings. License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

  • 5 Episodes

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

"C’mon, I just wanna be a comedian.” We’ve often heard this kind of response any time tough topics (like ethics or abuse) arise in the comedy world. This podcast attempts to answer the age-old question: can someone be both human AND a comedian? LA-based comedy writer and performer Laurie Bolewitz and Pittsburgh-based improviser and comedy producer Brian Gray examine their own little corners of the comedy world in the hopes of understanding the bigger picture. No strangers to exploring these sorts of questions: Laurie and Brian have participated and learned/unlearned from many great workshops on challenging topics such as equity and inclusion, racial justice, unconscious bias, and trauma. However, with this introductory series, we’re starting with some pretty gentle questions like, “What does it mean to be welcoming in a comedy scene?” and, “Is it okay to make money doing this?” While we may not have all the answers, we do have a feeling some of these issues are deeply intertwined. We hope this project helps connect us with humans and/or comedians asking similar questions. This limited series will feature thoughtful chats, research, and special guests! https://linktr.ee/humancomedians

Information