Hello, Friend! It’s episode 119 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast. In this episode, I chat with the hilarious Hal Wilson about his journey from teaching to tackling the comedy stage. We dive into his first open mic in Hollywood, the art of clean comedy, and the unexpected challenges of crowd work. Hal also shares his comedic influences and offers advice for aspiring comedians. Plus, we explore the unique vibe of performing in Savannah, GA and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Hey, before you tune into the episode, let me share a short story with you. About 18 months ago, I went to an open mic in Hawai’i. Not a single actual audience member showed up. The room was just filled with other comedians, arms crossed, waiting for their turn. Maybe you’ve encountered something similar. Anyway, since all these comedians had already heard my material several times, I decided to throw my jokes out and use my 7 minutes to practice crowd work. Yes, crowd work on other comedians.
It pissed one guy off so badly that he started cussing at me, while I was on stage, in front of the booker and other comedians. He was furiously telling me to “do real comedy” and to stop wasting everyone’s time. The fact is, he was wasting my time on the mic. Y’all, comedy can be cutthroat, and even open mics can be a battlefield!
The truth is, many comedians operate on a toxic, “limited good” mindset. They believe that if you get stage time or fame, you are stealing it from them. So, they try to stop you. They criticize you to weed you out. It sucks!!! I’m trying to create the opposite: an environment of encouragement and camaraderie. Anyway, I confronted that guy in the parking lot that night right to his face, but the real victory came months later. We ended up booked on the same lineup for a weekend string of five real shows for Don’t Tell Comedy. Afterward, he came up to me, shocked that I had actual jokes and that I completely killed. He actually apologized, which is rare in comedy.
In that moment, I realized something vital: I could’ve shrunk back during that set where he interrupted me weeks earlier. I could’ve been a weasel in that parking lot. I could’ve quit. But I didn’t let his criticism determine my ending, nor did I let his apology determine my future. Why? Because I was sure of myself. And I was sure of myself because I know joke mechanics, joke structure, and I have an unmatchable work ethic.
I left the open mic scene about a year ago. It’s just not for me. Maybe you want to get out of that scene, too. Well, you can. If you are tired of toxic open mics and want access to the exact, field-tested tools I’ve used, tools that have helped me bypass the gatekeepers, haters, and critics and turn raw thoughts into great jokes and sets, I want to invite you to upgrade to a paid subscriber of MichaelHalcomb.Live today.
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