source: Wallace's Facebook
THE K.I.L.L. FACTOR
The world of Stand-Up Comedy is changing at a rapid pace. The dark smokey Comedy clubs of the 80’s has long been replaced with glitzy recorded specials with bank breaking production budgets and the floodgates of social media have inspired a new generation of joke slangers. Carlos Wallace, CEO of Sol-Caritas a top Comedy production company based in Houston, TX. Every Comic wants to kill it onstage, but being funny just isn't enough. Here are his hard hitting words of wisdom.
I'm Carlos Wallace. Welcome to my world.
I fell in love with comedy years ago. My first experience was Eddie Murphy’s ‘Delirious’ on HBO. I was 12 years old and had to BEG my parents to let me watch it. During his performance all I could think was how cool it was for everyone in the whole world at one time to stop and listen to what he had to say. His purpose was not to piss anyone off but to entertain them. He painted a picture so vivid of his world; his family & his daily life and it was loved it by everyone all at once. That was magic.
My relationship with this intriguing, creative, and beautiful art form is a commitment I expect to honor forever. It is not just a cursory fling. It's like any partnership really. There are stretches of time when comedy can do no wrong! It surprises me with untapped brilliance, astounds me with novel ideas; comforts me with classic style, reminding me why I care so deeply for the industry and the Comedians who take this discipline very seriously.
And then, there are days we are at odds. I am seldom disappointed by the craft itself. However outside forces that corrupt its purity and disturb its balance create discourse. The very nature of this specialty that I hold dear becomes unsettled. What was once sublime now troubled and chaotic. These transgressions are brief. I have yet to run across a force strong enough to corrupt comedy beyond salvation. I have encountered dishonesty, hubris, thievery, and betrayal. I've also met those who have used comedy for nothing more than personal gain; a vicious slight to those for whom comedy is life.
When all else fails laughter is great therapy. I’m often asked what elements make comedy and comics great. This is of course a matter of opinion. While I do not profess to be an authority on the industry, I have enjoyed my fair share of success, simply because I respect the art and subscribe to strict principles.
They are as follows:
PSYCHOLOGY
Your audience is there to be entertained. It’s up to you to determine what it will take to engage a room of people who expect you to make them laugh. It’s a mind game; all about psychology. Study your audience, and your surroundings. Identify with your environment and use what you learn to your advantage. Personalize the experience and you stand a good chance of winning over most of your audience. Allies are much easier to entertain than adversaries.
BUSINESS
It’s not a bad word. You have to eat. You want to be successful. Be prudent. Be focused. Be professional. Be smart. Read your contracts, be clear about your expectations, ask questions, discuss compensation ahead of your performance, request deposits when applicable and honor your commitments. Whether you are a manager, promoter, or comic, mutual respect and preparedness lays the groundwork for success. For those who see it as a quick paycheck or think that it's just about being "funny", understand, the industry has layers. It is complex and goes beyond the stage and the mic. There are contracts, negotiations, marketing, networking, and fair competition to consider. You must understand different demographics and promotional strategies.
PERSONAL LIFE
Talk about what you know. Make who you are, part of what you do. People relate more to personal experiences and it’s easier to write about and recall the details of intimate adventures. It’s less canned and more relatable.
STUDY
Watch fellow Comedians and study the humorists that laid the foundation for your journey. All of them; Cosby, Maher, Ball, Pryor, Hughley, Mabley, Seinfeld, Rock, Louis CK, Poundstone, Degeneres, Dangerfield, Rickles, Abbott & Costello, Rivers, Foxx, Murphy; you get the point. They may not reflect your style of comedy, but each brought something unique to the game. Watch their timing, expressions, physical manifestations, content and delivery. Learn, understand, develop, and progress.
HUMILITY
No matter how good you think you are, there is always room for improvement and chances are there is someone better. Stay humble. Nothing derails a career faster than ego and arrogance. The art commands respect and reverence. It can turn on you at a moment’s notice. Dues must be paid. Success comes to those who don’t expect it. It’s earned, not promised. It must be appreciated or it will be fleeting. There is a BIG difference between headlining and going last. Know the difference.
DON'T GIVE A DAMN
Speaks for itself. Be who you are, develop your own material, sharpen your style and OWN IT. Everyone is not going to like you. You need to learn to appreciate what you do, and stay true to your beliefs. You want to build a following without selling your soul. You’ll be judged by friends, colleagues in the industry, and even family. In the end, do what you need to do to survive, to sustain, to succeed honestly and ambitiously.
DEVELOP
Great comedy evolves. It can’t remain stagnant or your career will follow suit. Read the paper, magazines, headlines online, and trade publications. Study improvisation and drama. Work out consistently at small clubs or well known venues. Every moment on stage is an opportunity to hone your craft.
MAINSTREAM
Don’t limit your growth or be pigeonholed by a specific genre of comedy. The most successful comics were (are) the ones accepted by mainstream audiences. Stay true to your style, but make it accessible to a broad audience.
CREATE
Think outside the box. Be unique, be innovative and test limits. Don’t be confined by mediocrity, lack of information, or fear. Some comedy is a minefield; build up enough armor to navigate unexplored territory in an intelligent manner. It will make you more interesting, more appealing to all audiences, especially the high brow sect.
RESPECT
We must represent professionalism and business savvy; change the look of comedy from the inside out. Adopt principles that must be applied on the stage, at the negotiating table and in life:
K ING
I NTEGRITY
L EADERSHIP
L OYALTY
Some speak the words yet fail to comprehend that these characteristics are a mindset, a higher level of consciousness, a way of thinking embedded in the fabric of one’s identity. These attributes need no explanation nor do they require a constant barrage of disclaimers or reminders. They come with a degree of confidence so intense it precludes a need to prove “I am loyal”, “I have integrity”, “I am a leader”. You simply are. It's your truth.
Thank you for allowing me to share my love of comedy with you. If this has helped in any way, to pique your interest in, or further your understanding of this incredible art form, I am content.
In the sometimes cold and choppy waters of Comedy, always K.I.L.L. it.