THE ONE THING THAT WE WANT MOST OF ALL FROM OUR 52 JOKERS COMEDY PODCAST IS QUALITY. AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE RUN ON A VERY SMALL BUDGET. TO COMPLICATE THINGS FURTHER, WE DO NOT RECORD IN A STUDIO, BUT ON THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE COMEDIAN IS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOUND OF OUR PODCASTS RIGHT NOW ARE NOT THE QUALITY WE ENVISIONED IN OUR PLANS. WE CONTINUE TO LEARN AND WILL RAPIDLY GET BETTER. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO RIDE OUT THIS LITTLE ROUGH PATH. THE COMEDIANS ON EACH PODCAST WERE FANTASTIC.

   THE GREAT ENIGMA

     Stand-up comedy is an enigma, like a Chinese finger trap. Finger traps look like a colorful bamboo woven, short, fat straw. They cost very little and are usually found in the toy section or with other gag gifts. In name, they sound menacing (Finger Traps), but when you see them all anxiety goes away. You can’t fathom the scenario where that flimsy cylinder could ever restrain you much less slow you down. That is until you stick a finger in each side. Your smile instantly dissipates when you realize you can’t get out of them without pulling your fingers out of the socket. You also become painfully aware that your friend who insisted you try them on is a demented jackoff. The fun seems to drag on as you struggle to free your poor little digits. You’re thinking to yourself, “Whoever thought of these was a real asshole!”

Many grew up loving stand-up comedy and those that did at least once thought of how much fun it would be. The freedom of traveling, living in hotels, room service, performing a little each night for a few minutes, people laugh you get applause, then you get hella paid, pick up a groupie, then back to the hotel. Well, I am here to warn you, it’s not like that at all. Comedy is a job just like any other. A professional comedian will come across the same difficulties they would have faced at a job near their house. Sometimes comedians have more workplace problems because they are self-employed, with many expenses including the big one, travel.

True, stand-up comedy is most definitely a lot of fun until it’s not. In those moments, your drive to continue is tested by fire. Running into family and friends discouraging them to give up this “silly dream” and get a “real job”. Also, they do not call what they discouraging, they call it being real. Many people seem to be of the opinion that if you’re laughing at work, if you love your job, then it can’t be a job. These people are wrong. If they tried to be more wrong they could not. It’s always my pleasure to meet a comedy veteran still having fun on the job.

THE PAYOFF

52 JOKERS COMEDY PODCAST, episode 002 features the incomparable stand-up comedy veteran, Sean Peabody. His presence is commanding, but his personality and laugh are inviting and contagious. A Marine instructor, known for his unique and humorous way of teaching, was encouraged to try stand-up. Little did he know that comedy would become such a big part of his life. Through hardships and tumultuous times, he persevered to realize his goals. According to Sean, there are new goals to shoot for. After talking with him for almost 2 hours I am convinced he will see all those goals and more materialize very soon. 

 Like the finger trap, pursuing a career in comedy brings with it a lot of pressure. Fighting the problems only intensify the pressure. Sean is a great example of how to escape pressure. Don’t panic and struggle, that only makes it worse. The only real way to escape and be free is to stop struggling, focus, relax and Voilà! The real payoff won’t be when you can say ‘I told you so’ to those who tried to sway you. The real payoff comes each time you get on stage and hear a wave of laughter come over you.  Because it never was about money, it’s just a love of the laughter.