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I just saw that HBO will air bad Boys of Comedy next month. What's everyone take on the state of urban comedy? I for one think it's kinda getting old. With the popularity of Chappelle and Rock, where are the comedians who are going to follow an intelligent black POV? I for one don't plan on going the urban route because I've been told my style just doesn't fit that. Plus I've talked to several comedians and they have said that if you are an intelliget black comedian there is a ton of work out there be it writing or performing. What do you folks think?

chelcie3, someone I started off in comedy just called me and said they were going to be on that special..being that we just started last summer, I'm looking forward to seeing if he really is. Cause if he is, he's kicking ass being that we just started last summer. I like urban rooms my self, I can get more buck wild on stage, but man when you have a bad set, they let you know you sucked. Everyone tells me that taking your comedy that rout is limmiting yourself and your ability to get booked though.

Murphdogg,
That's the same thing I've been told. Limitation. I'm not saying do a squeaky clean set but do a set that can cross a few barriers. Thus there are no limitations. That's why urban comedy is in my opinion drying up. Because black people who frequented those types of clubs are looking for something different and not wanting to be pigeoned holed into having comedians giving them only one type of act.
Just my opinion.

chelcie3,

Me, myself and I being a comedian blessed with an abundance of pigmentation, (That is a brother with jokes for you GED MF's! )thinks you just got to do what you do! Be yourself.

Going to some of the "Urban Shows" you a certain style or niche of comedy just like you would with the Blue Collar Guys or Latino Kings or whatever. You just got to be yourself because in the end you got to make everybody laugh. As we know if you want to make real dough you got to make all people laugh.

amp-d,


well said....

chelcie3,

I would love to see what Robharris had to say on this one.

alot of comics are afraid to do urban rooms, so it's always a plus to be able to get over in one and not be afraid of it.

amp-d,
A request??? Well in that case, I will say I have been following this thread.
Well, I have been blessed, twice in the last 7 years I've been able to sit down with George Wallace and talk. One thing we talked about was his feelings on working just to a black audience (that is what we're talking about Black people). He said why would you limit yourself to one crowd, why would you only write material one group of people can relate to. When you write put together material that works with everybody. By doing that ALL doors are open.
Personally, I do the same act for everyone because I'm talking about me and what's happened to me. I will say, the times I'm asked to host or close out an open mic, nothing pisses me off more than seeing a cat that's only been on stage 2-3 times, taking his time to get to the stage with whatever the HOT song of the moment is, getting on stage and telling everyone its time to party. Unfortunately a lot of the so called urban rooms, this is what you do. You have the person in the booth play track 13 off of 50 Cent's CD and they use up 2 minutes of their 5 telling the audience to "put their hands together", then they disrespect the rest of the comics by going over their time. There is a lot to be desired as far as respect. Rules are different in Urban Comedy. I do turn down LOTS of "Black shows", because mainly I don't like the idea of labeling anything in comedy. I also know a lot of comedy clubs deal with these show differently, even changing club policies because of possible problems with the crowd, which is CRAP.
But at the end of the day, nobody Black or White goes to a comedy show to NOT laugh. When you work a room with a mostly Black crowd, just have fun!!! Be easy and be you. That's why we love Richard, he was himself and exposed his soul and gave up the things we usually spend our lives trying to hide from the world. Show a Black crowd who you are... and you'll always win.
In comedy funny is funny and race really doesn't matter... it's a wonderful world when we really think about it.
Sorry about rambling.

robfharris,

Good points, as expected. I did a show in ATL where the dude before me danced the first 4 minutes of his act trying to hype the crowd. He started the joke and got the light.

amp-d,
I spent some time in Atlanta last summer, I saw a lot of that. When a manager asked me what song I wanted to go up to, everyone looked shocked when I said "I don't care."
I can go up to no music, SAME ACT.
Unless it's System of a Down, then I might start moshing!!