HOW TO: Get Out of Your Own Way and BE FUNNY! (w/ Kenzie Gross)

[00:00:00] Speaker A: When it came to videos, I made a separate account called ratinthesewer1234 where I would post my comedy videos because I didn't want people seeing that I was making comedy videos. Yeah, yeah. And then they started doing well, and my manager was like, what are you doing? Like, put them on your main Instagram. Like, that's so weird. [00:00:16] Speaker B: You have all these followers. People know you. People want to support you. Why would you like. [00:00:20] Speaker C: And I was like, why would you want to me anymore? It's like, shut up. I'm Luke Steinfeld. [00:00:28] Speaker B: And I'm Wyatt Sarkissian. [00:00:30] Speaker C: We made the 5050 podcast to support you on your filmmaking journey. [00:00:33] Speaker B: 50% business, 50% creative. [00:00:36] Speaker C: Every Tuesday, a new how to. [00:00:37] Speaker B: This week, we talk with Kenzie Gross. The actor. Comedian joined us in the studio a couple weeks ago, and let's just say the Portlandian brought it. We touched on everything from retirement home theater troupes to following Mark Norman at the Comedy Store, to playing Rooftop in Newsies, to making Adam Sandler laugh while seating him and his family at a restaurant. We really touched it all. But what makes Kenzie who she is is not her slew of daily comedic interactions. It is truly a combination of persistence, wit, and diving into the deep end, even if it's terrifying at first. Enjoy the episode. [00:01:20] Speaker C: So you play Wii is what? That's what. [00:01:23] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm. I'm not very good at most games on Wii, though. On Wii. [00:01:28] Speaker C: But you love. You love, like, Wii Sports. [00:01:31] Speaker B: Which one was the one? [00:01:32] Speaker A: Wii Sports was the big one. [00:01:33] Speaker B: Well, because I know you're a tennis person. [00:01:35] Speaker A: Huge sports person. [00:01:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:01:36] Speaker C: Huge sports person. [00:01:37] Speaker A: Yes. [00:01:38] Speaker B: Luke and I also come from sports. [00:01:39] Speaker C: We come from sports. [00:01:40] Speaker A: What sports did you all play? [00:01:41] Speaker C: What sports did you play? [00:01:43] Speaker A: I asked first. [00:01:44] Speaker C: I played soccer and lacrosse. [00:01:46] Speaker B: Soccer and cross country running. Oh, my God, you bet you hate those. [00:01:50] Speaker A: You're definitely. [00:01:50] Speaker C: No. You definitely played soccer? [00:01:52] Speaker A: No. [00:01:53] Speaker B: Volleyball. [00:01:54] Speaker A: My older sister is a pro volleyball player. Whoa. And then that's a whole. [00:01:58] Speaker B: That's a whole. [00:01:59] Speaker A: That's a whole can of worms. And then my younger brother is a college basketball player. And then my parents were both D1 tennis coaches for 30 years. My dad still is at the University of Portland. And then my mom was like, she like, all American tennis player and now runs tennis. The tennis program at a country club in Camarillo. [00:02:20] Speaker B: That is amazing. [00:02:21] Speaker A: And then I played tennis my whole life. Yeah, basketball. [00:02:25] Speaker B: My dad played tennis in college and was at Stanford and. [00:02:29] Speaker A: Right. [00:02:30] Speaker B: And he was. [00:02:31] Speaker A: Oh, of course he would admit this [00:02:34] Speaker B: too he was like getting water for the tennis players at Stanford. Like he was on the team. [00:02:37] Speaker C: But like, you don't have to say that. [00:02:39] Speaker A: Yeah, you. That's. [00:02:40] Speaker C: Yeah, just. Just stop at Stanford. [00:02:41] Speaker A: But then she's going to like, try [00:02:43] Speaker B: to get in touch with my dad about like, you know. [00:02:45] Speaker A: I was already in touch with your dad. [00:02:47] Speaker C: Whoa. [00:02:48] Speaker A: I'm sorry about that. Hey, guys. I'm sorry about that. [00:02:51] Speaker B: That's good though. [00:02:51] Speaker A: I'm sorry. I get a little. [00:02:53] Speaker B: Yeah, sometimes. [00:02:55] Speaker A: Yeah, no problem. [00:02:55] Speaker C: Okay, well, you guys are talking outside for like an hour, so. What? [00:02:58] Speaker B: Right? Waiting. Waiting for Luke. [00:03:03] Speaker C: That's crazy. So you're. You're from like an, like a real athletic family. [00:03:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:07] Speaker C: That's super cool. That. That sounds like work ethic for breakfast, you know, like, was it crazy? Was it super competitive at home? What was that like? [00:03:17] Speaker A: My sister and I shared room in Portland. [00:03:18] Speaker C: Right? [00:03:19] Speaker A: Yeah, in Portland. My sister and I shared a room for a long time and on the walls of our bedroom. [00:03:24] Speaker C: How much older is she? I'm sorry? [00:03:25] Speaker A: She's four years older than my younger brother's four years younger. [00:03:27] Speaker C: Okay. [00:03:28] Speaker A: And we had posters on our wall. We had one of Steve Nash when he broke his nose and got a bloody nose and then played the rest of the game. It was an incredible game. We had a poster of Steve Nash's bloody nose face on our wall. We had one of Maria Sharapovo, who's like a famous tennis player, like screaming like this. [00:03:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:46] Speaker A: We had another poster of. This was our like mantra. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. [00:03:53] Speaker B: Like your family mantra. [00:03:54] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I mean like matching like wristbands, like [00:03:56] Speaker B: the T shirt your whole family did. [00:03:58] Speaker A: It was mostly my dad's thing because he was also a coach of like a junior. [00:04:02] Speaker C: Coaches, Right? [00:04:04] Speaker B: Coaches. A whole other level. [00:04:06] Speaker A: So he was our coach like growing up for tennis until he realized we were ass and we all quit. [00:04:12] Speaker B: He kind of gave up on you guys. [00:04:14] Speaker A: Yeah, it was. [00:04:14] Speaker C: When did you start playing? Was this like an immediate? Like you pick up a racket straight from the canal? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. [00:04:21] Speaker A: Immediate. [00:04:22] Speaker C: Yeah, Straight from the canal. It's crazy. You're like, give me a racket. Thank you. [00:04:26] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:04:27] Speaker C: Thank you so much. [00:04:27] Speaker B: Two handed backhand or one handed? [00:04:29] Speaker A: Two handed. I'm quite weak generally. I did two handed forehand for a long time. [00:04:34] Speaker C: How tall are your parents? [00:04:36] Speaker A: My dad is like six three ish. And then my mom is six foot. [00:04:39] Speaker C: Oh my God. [00:04:40] Speaker A: And then. So your sister's six three and my brother's like six six Six, seven. [00:04:45] Speaker B: How tall are you? [00:04:46] Speaker A: Five seven, I think. [00:04:49] Speaker B: And that's why you're in college, and [00:04:50] Speaker A: that's why I'm so pretty and so funny. [00:04:52] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure. You got. You got all the other stuff. [00:04:55] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:04:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:56] Speaker A: Like, I. Yeah, I read books in full and. [00:04:59] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:59] Speaker A: You know. [00:05:00] Speaker B: Right. [00:05:00] Speaker C: At what. At what point did you know that maybe you weren't gonna be like them? [00:05:06] Speaker A: When I stopped growing. [00:05:07] Speaker C: Honestly. [00:05:08] Speaker A: Honestly. When I stopped growing, also, I realized that when I would, like, playing a basketball game or play tennis, I was doing it for the crowd. Like, I was like. I was trying to make the crowd laugh while I was in the games. [00:05:22] Speaker C: Laugh? [00:05:22] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:05:23] Speaker C: Like, when I would be, like, falling. [00:05:25] Speaker A: Like, it's kind of. No, it would be like a breaking the fourth wall sort of thing, where it's like a girl would, like, do something stupid or she'd get blocked, and I'd look at the crowd and be like. [00:05:34] Speaker B: Like a gym from the office. Exactly. [00:05:36] Speaker A: And the crowd would go crazy. [00:05:38] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:05:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:05:39] Speaker A: And that's kind of when I realized, wow, I should probably stop doing this. [00:05:43] Speaker C: Were you doing theater and at the time as well? [00:05:46] Speaker A: Yes, I was. I started doing theater when I was, like, 6 or. But it was because I, like, grew up a classical pianist, a singer and a dancer. [00:05:57] Speaker B: Right. [00:05:58] Speaker A: And so they were like, you have to do the thing that combines all. [00:06:02] Speaker B: So you were just doing everything? [00:06:04] Speaker A: Everything, Yeah, I was. Yeah. After school. I had, like, three extracurriculars after school. [00:06:08] Speaker B: Crazy. [00:06:09] Speaker C: What, were your siblings doing this as well, or was strictly, like, sisters playing volleyball? 24. I guess it was tennis, though, at the time. I mean. [00:06:15] Speaker A: Yeah, it was tennis and basketball. She didn't even start playing volleyball until, like, eighth grade. [00:06:19] Speaker C: Oh, my God. [00:06:20] Speaker A: And now she's, like, pro. It's, like, stupid. [00:06:22] Speaker B: Crazy. [00:06:23] Speaker A: And then. Yeah, like, we were just encouraged to try everything, do everything, put everything you have into everything. And so it was kind of. [00:06:32] Speaker B: I mean, hard work beats talent. If talent doesn't work. [00:06:34] Speaker A: If talent doesn't work hard. And also, ttp. Trust the process. [00:06:40] Speaker C: USC Trojan Transfer Plan. [00:06:41] Speaker A: Ttp? [00:06:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:43] Speaker A: Are you familiar? [00:06:44] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, I'm not familiar, but that's different. [00:06:46] Speaker B: That was early. But that was also early instilled in you. Right. [00:06:50] Speaker A: Transferred to fdfo, the whole thing. [00:06:52] Speaker C: Fdfo? Come on. That's wild. What a cool environment to grow up in. [00:06:58] Speaker A: It was really cool. It was also sometimes a little bit. I wouldn't say isolating, but, like, other kids in my class, like, I grew up, I went to, like, a really small school. Like, no one else was really doing that? Like, really. I don't know, like, going balls to the wall on a bunch of extracurriculars or whatever. And so sometimes it felt like, am I weird for doing this? You know? [00:07:24] Speaker C: Did you enjoy the. I know you mentioned in sports, I was like, I'm performing for the crowd. Like, when you were playing piano or dancing or acting, did it feel different in the way of, like, oh, these are my people, or like, I feel at home on stage? [00:07:39] Speaker A: Yes. [00:07:39] Speaker C: Okay. [00:07:40] Speaker A: Like, especially in theater, Musical theater, like the children's theater I grew up in, that was like, okay, so this is what I'm gonna do for the rest of my life. [00:07:48] Speaker C: Why was there a moment of like, oh, I'm here, Annie. And I just. [00:07:52] Speaker A: Literally. I was Annie. It was that. [00:07:54] Speaker C: It was literally scrubbing the floor with your toothbrush. That's the music. You're like, wait a second. [00:07:58] Speaker A: I think that's, like, a general. Most little girls, Annie is the one that. It's like, I've gotta pursue this forever. But it's true. Like, that was my first, like, kind of professional role was Annie. And doing that was like, every time I close my eyes, I'm like, I'm chasing the high of being Annie at 12 years old. [00:08:17] Speaker B: Yeah, that'll do it. [00:08:17] Speaker A: Yeah. That's why I'm an actor. [00:08:20] Speaker C: Wow. You just want to return to that? [00:08:22] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:08:22] Speaker C: Yeah. Wow. [00:08:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:08:23] Speaker C: Punk. [00:08:24] Speaker B: Chasing Annie. [00:08:24] Speaker A: Chasing Annie. The title of my memoir documentary. [00:08:28] Speaker C: That's not a bad. That's not a bad title. [00:08:30] Speaker B: So what. [00:08:30] Speaker C: What was the. [00:08:31] Speaker B: You said that was your first, like, professional job. What was the theater scene like in Portland specifically? And, like, at what point were you like, I want to be at a higher level with this and, like, move to LA and go to school for this and all that? [00:08:44] Speaker A: For sure. The theater scene in Portland was amazing. It was really cool. We had, like, one of the largest regional theaters in the country, was, like, at the heart of Portland. And so we had a lot of access to see, like, incredible shows, which helped a lot. And then also, the children's theater scene was, like, through the roof. Like, that was. If you got in there, if you were on a main stage show at Oregon Children's Theater, Northwest Children's Theater, like, you were hot shit. And so that was kind of the hierarchy that I was following was like. Like, the first little thing that I did was called Kids Company, which is we put on a terrible show for, like, 30 retirement homes over the course of a month and a half, and people. What did you say exactly? That's. Exactly. And then you have to talk to them after. And they're like, I didn't understand it. And it's like, me neither. [00:09:35] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:35] Speaker A: I'm 11. [00:09:36] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:38] Speaker A: And people were like, you're both just like, I don't know what. I'm like, I'm never going to see you again. Like, I don't know why I'm here. [00:09:44] Speaker B: You're both at the same level. [00:09:45] Speaker A: Yeah. It's like 11pm on a Tuesday night. [00:09:48] Speaker B: I've got like, we should not be in the same room right now. [00:09:50] Speaker C: No shot. [00:09:52] Speaker A: And so probably had some good, like, [00:09:53] Speaker B: dining halls in those retirement homes. I feel like they do have like, [00:09:58] Speaker C: sages and stuff, probably. [00:09:59] Speaker A: Yeah, it was mostly cafeterias. Mostly cafeteria. Mostly pushing table after or something. Yeah. A lot of coughing. Oh, yeah, yeah. [00:10:09] Speaker B: Oxygen machines. [00:10:10] Speaker A: Yeah, It's a couple CPAPs. [00:10:12] Speaker C: But I. No, it's true. It's done. Yeah. [00:10:14] Speaker A: Yeah. It's. It's not easy. Yeah, it's not easy, for sure. But, like, people were. I was. I didn't get in the first time I auditioned. And that was like the saddest I've ever been probably in my life. Like, people were like, cutthroat over getting into this retirement home performance circuit. [00:10:29] Speaker C: Okay. [00:10:30] Speaker A: Then when I finally got in, my mom pulled me out of class and was like, you did it. Like, you made it and saw me. Oh, it was awesome. [00:10:38] Speaker B: It's a great moment. [00:10:39] Speaker A: Yeah, it was great. [00:10:39] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:40] Speaker A: So that was like. That was how kind of cutthroat and, like, exciting it was to be in the theater scene in Portland at that time. [00:10:47] Speaker B: For sure, for sure. [00:10:48] Speaker C: But so then when did Stand up start? Or maybe the question before that is, like, comedy, because you're talking about musicals and I assume you guys weren't performing comedies. I mean, maybe you were, but. [00:11:00] Speaker A: But I was always the comic relief character in high school. In every show I did, I was the funny, freaky friend that was like. Like, you go get him, girl. You know, that sort of thing. Like, I would also like newsies. I was like one of the dance captains, but I didn't have a real role, so I went out of my way to make myself a role that people would know. [00:11:26] Speaker B: That's so fun. That's exactly what I did, weirdly, in Importance of Being Earnest. [00:11:31] Speaker A: Great show. [00:11:32] Speaker B: Great show. [00:11:33] Speaker C: But. [00:11:33] Speaker B: But I was. I was given, like, there's, like. I forget what the butler's name is. There's a butler. [00:11:39] Speaker A: Yes, yes. [00:11:40] Speaker B: And then there. And then there's. I was given the butler, like the butler's butlers type role. Like, the side. [00:11:46] Speaker A: Not even the butler. [00:11:48] Speaker B: Definitely not the butler. I was, like, a freshman, and it was like a show where it was just all seniors. [00:11:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:52] Speaker B: Me qualifying, like, I promise, like, I was good. [00:11:54] Speaker A: No, it's actually all seniors. [00:11:55] Speaker B: It was just like, just kind of a seniority thing. And I made this whole. I, like, wrote to the. To Ms. Savage, the theater director. I wrote to her. I was like, hey, I've been thinking for my character. My name is Elbert E L B E R T. Albert the Butler. And. And I'm an alcoholic. So you might see me constantly in the background of scenes. Like sneaking a glass of sherry. [00:12:21] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:21] Speaker B: Which I, like, did. And I think, like, maybe, like, three audience members saw and loved it, that I was, like, sort of sneaking stuff in the background. But, like, that's. I. I get that. I get like, the sort of creating it. You have to create, like, the scene behind the scene always. [00:12:34] Speaker A: And it makes it so much more fun for you. [00:12:36] Speaker B: So who was your newsies character? [00:12:38] Speaker A: So my newsies character, his name was Rooftop, named him Rooftop. [00:12:43] Speaker C: Rooftop. [00:12:44] Speaker A: Rooftop. [00:12:44] Speaker C: Rooftop, yes. [00:12:45] Speaker A: Which is based off of the fact that my sister didn't want a younger sister. And so my mom was like, what should we name our new girl? And she goes, rooftop or tree stump, because she did not want me to be born. So as an homage to my sister, I was roofed on. [00:12:59] Speaker B: Wow. Like reclaiming. [00:13:00] Speaker A: Yes, exactly. It was. Became empowering. And it was. It was similar to the basketball thing. We're, like, kind of breaking the fourth wall. Like, what. What's this guy on about? You know? And, like, I. Of course, I was an orphan. Right. I'm an orphan. No brothers or sisters. Haven't been socialized at all whatsoever. Kind of have to be led around. It's a very. It's a very nuanced. Nuanced character. Not a lot of people understand. [00:13:27] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:13:28] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:13:28] Speaker A: But I had a great time. [00:13:29] Speaker B: But when it's up there, like, you just get it. [00:13:30] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in high school, and I had to play, like, a spy. And I made her blind. And I brought my own glasses. I wore glasses on stage and I was blind, and I had, like, a cane. No one told me I could. No one told me I couldn't. [00:13:49] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:13:52] Speaker A: Highlighted my career. [00:13:54] Speaker B: Crazy. So you. You're playing these sort of, like, comedic side characters. Comedic relief. And then at what point were you. I mean, what came first? Like, acting, performing? Like, you go to USC and you're thinking, what was your vision for yourself? I guess, sort of graduating high school, heading into college. [00:14:15] Speaker A: Totally. I mean, I. Musical theater was, like, what I wanted because I was also a singer. Like, that was like. [00:14:21] Speaker C: Which is Broadway. Like, is with that. Was that the dream at the time? [00:14:25] Speaker A: The dream was Broadway. I grew up mostly as like, A, jazz R and B. Like, more kind of mainstream music. And. [00:14:34] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:35] Speaker A: I don't know. And so, like, it's not very. [00:14:37] Speaker C: I mean, like, it's not the most mainstream. Like, that's pretty unique. It's a. That's a unique path to. Were you putting out music? [00:14:46] Speaker A: Yeah. So that is. [00:14:47] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel like that's not really mainstream for, like, high schoolers. [00:14:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:14:51] Speaker C: If you're. If you're going down the artist path. Sure. As in, like, musician path. [00:14:55] Speaker A: Totally. [00:14:56] Speaker C: But from what you're saying, it sounds. Was it comedy? Was it like parody music? [00:14:59] Speaker A: No, it was like I was writing my own. I had like a. I was running my music Instagram account was like, posting all the time. [00:15:06] Speaker C: Like, you and a guitar or like, what was that? [00:15:07] Speaker A: Guitar, piano. Good for you? Nuke. Like, it was one of those things where whatever worked out is the thing that I'm gonna do. So I tried to give myself as many options as possible. So I had no. My siblings were so talented, and it was set from the beginning that they were going to succeed at what they were going to do. And so I tried to give myself as many options as possible to succeed in whatever. [00:15:36] Speaker B: You're like, one of these has to do. [00:15:37] Speaker A: Has to do something, you know, so. [00:15:40] Speaker C: But those all seem. It wasn't. And we've spoken about this before, but, like, when guests talk about, like, oh, I was doing all these different things at once. A lot of times it's like, well, those are all pretty similar, you know, it wasn't like you're doing two completely or five completely different things, you know, like, the musician absolutely taps into the musical theater piece. So that checks out. Like, that makes sense. [00:16:03] Speaker A: Totally. It felt like it all fed into each other for sure. But that also leads me to, like, I did musical theater training my whole life, and that's what I was going to do. And my dream was to go to New York. I did not want to go to la. Absolutely not. My mom's family grew up here. I. My. For every summer and Christmas since I was born, I would come to LA to see my mom's family. L. A. I absolutely hate it. I was like, no. Granted, my only experience was in the Valley, which is like, who likes it over there? [00:16:36] Speaker B: Listeners out there. [00:16:37] Speaker A: I'm sorry, I'M sorry, you guys too harsh on them. But. But I was like, I do not want to go there. And the dream was New York. I auditioned for all these like BFA programs in New York. And I got into NYU for Steinhardt for their like musical theater Steinhardt program, which was a bachelor of music, which by the time I was finishing high school, I was like, I don't think I love music enough. And the theory of it and all those, like, that's my least favorite part of music is the theory. And that's what I'd be studying for four years. Like, I don't know. And so it was that. And then the only school I applied to on the west coast was usc. [00:17:19] Speaker C: And you had to go. [00:17:21] Speaker B: Oh, no. [00:17:22] Speaker A: Well, it was during COVID So it was like I could either live in New York, take online music school in the freezing cold. [00:17:31] Speaker B: That program is so not performance based. [00:17:33] Speaker A: No. Also we had no money, like, and they gave me like $4 in financial aid. So do you guys want me to go there? [00:17:40] Speaker C: That doesn't pay for. [00:17:42] Speaker B: Yeah, $4. That's not a lot. [00:17:44] Speaker A: No, I mean that's like a kind bar at the bodega. [00:17:47] Speaker C: Yeah. Nice. [00:17:51] Speaker B: But you've been to New York though, because you know about bodegas. [00:17:54] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, yeah. Pretty familiar. But usc, I also didn't want to go because my sister went there. [00:18:01] Speaker C: Oh my God. She played Vol. I guess she's a pro. So I'm like, wow, okay. [00:18:05] Speaker B: I'm sure that's a great team. [00:18:07] Speaker A: It was incredible. It was so great. Is she beach indoor? [00:18:11] Speaker C: Indoor, yeah. [00:18:12] Speaker A: But every school I'd ever been to, my sister had been there first. [00:18:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:18:15] Speaker A: And just crushed. And I really didn't want to do that again. [00:18:20] Speaker B: Sure. [00:18:22] Speaker A: But usc, since my parents both worked for university for so long, I was able to get like the tuition exchange scholarship for like teachers, whatever. And so it became just a no brainer of like, you're going here. Which I'm like, no, please don't make [00:18:38] Speaker B: me go to usc. Shut up. [00:18:40] Speaker C: Such a relatable. That place is the worst. [00:18:43] Speaker A: Yeah, it sucks. It sucks. But yeah, I ended up loving it. And it's perfect and amazing. [00:18:49] Speaker C: But. [00:18:50] Speaker A: But I definitely. I still wasn't even set on comedy by the time I got there. Like, I was just like, I'm going to be an actor and this is what actors do. [00:18:58] Speaker C: Like a serious actor or what was the. [00:19:00] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, because that's a bit of respect. [00:19:03] Speaker C: I don't mean it like that, but I guess a dramatic is. Is the. [00:19:06] Speaker A: Exactly Yeah. I mean that. [00:19:10] Speaker C: Because you already were. You're going into school as a serious actor. Like you knew that. I just. I guess I meant more in the. You're thinking, like drama. [00:19:17] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, in my mind, that's what garnered the most respect in acting, is like, oh, you can cry on command, and you're killer at Shakespeare and, like, all these things. [00:19:27] Speaker C: They definitely had so much Shakespeare in Portland. [00:19:30] Speaker A: A lot of Shakespeare in Portland. In Oregon, generally. Yeah. [00:19:33] Speaker B: You know, a couple hours away from Ashland. [00:19:35] Speaker A: Yeah. Which I've never been to. Yeah, I should. But I don't care that much. [00:19:40] Speaker B: It's like the Shakespeare festivals over there. [00:19:42] Speaker C: Okay. [00:19:43] Speaker B: We talked about on the podcast before. Luke just doesn't. [00:19:46] Speaker C: I was thinking Phil Knight. [00:19:48] Speaker A: Oh. [00:19:48] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. That's Eugene. [00:19:50] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:19:51] Speaker A: And he's connected to Shakespeare. How? [00:19:54] Speaker C: Nike, not Shakespeare. [00:19:56] Speaker A: Okay, Different. Okay. [00:19:58] Speaker B: So Nike's the Greek goddess of who. And there's a lot of Greek references. [00:20:04] Speaker C: Nike's like a clothing. [00:20:06] Speaker A: Brad. [00:20:06] Speaker C: Shoe brat. Yeah, I know. [00:20:08] Speaker B: You're probably like Adidas does forward. [00:20:10] Speaker C: No way. [00:20:11] Speaker A: No, strictly. [00:20:12] Speaker B: Oh, that's Nike. Sorry, girl. [00:20:15] Speaker A: Sorry, girl. No, we had the world headquarters in Portland for Nike. [00:20:18] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:20:19] Speaker A: And then. [00:20:20] Speaker B: Right. Beaverton. [00:20:21] Speaker A: Beaverton. [00:20:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:20:22] Speaker C: You know your stuff. [00:20:23] Speaker B: I've been there. [00:20:23] Speaker A: Okay, you've been there. How was it? [00:20:25] Speaker B: The best Nike campus. [00:20:27] Speaker A: No, just Beaverton. [00:20:29] Speaker B: Yeah, I went to the Nike campus. [00:20:31] Speaker A: I thought you just went to Beaverton. [00:20:32] Speaker B: I was like, no, they have like. Like Ronaldo Field. [00:20:35] Speaker C: Like, whoa. [00:20:36] Speaker B: You know the Phil Knight track. The track is amazing. Because he's a big track. [00:20:39] Speaker C: It was. I mean, he still has. He runs a lot. [00:20:41] Speaker B: Thank you, Luke. You can tell the track. The track is. It's. Okay. The track is. There's trees. There's redwood trees in the middle of the track, so you can't see the other side of the track. So it makes for a very interesting run where you actually don't know how. [00:20:58] Speaker C: Oh, in the. You know, in the middle. [00:21:00] Speaker B: In the field. In the middle of a track, there's just trees. So you're going around a track in the middle of the woods. It's like the most beautiful thing ever. [00:21:06] Speaker C: Beautiful. [00:21:06] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:07] Speaker A: And it's like. Stupid money. Yeah, stupid money. [00:21:10] Speaker C: Well, Nike's like a. Up there, massive company. [00:21:12] Speaker A: Yeah, Nike's up there, probably. I mean. No, Phil Knight's grandson went to my high school classic. And so all of our. Was sponsored by Nike. [00:21:21] Speaker C: Oh, my God. [00:21:21] Speaker A: So, like, my sister's volleyball team had, like, 12 different uniforms. Like, we had the tennis team. Like, we had, like, 10 different uniforms. [00:21:28] Speaker B: What a Dream. [00:21:30] Speaker A: That was the main reason why I played tennis in high school. [00:21:33] Speaker B: I can only assume. [00:21:34] Speaker C: I'm sure. I'm sure. [00:21:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:35] Speaker C: Okay. So usc. [00:21:41] Speaker A: Loved it. Had a great time. Yeah. I mean, first semester, I was living at home, taking these classes online, working full time at Salt and Straw. [00:21:51] Speaker C: Nice. [00:21:51] Speaker A: Shout out. Cool. [00:21:52] Speaker B: Is there one near campus? Are you working, like we. [00:21:56] Speaker C: No, she was working. No. In Portland. [00:21:58] Speaker B: Oh, sorry, sorry. Oh, that's so. Yeah, Sorry, sorry, sorry. [00:22:02] Speaker C: Oh, right. [00:22:03] Speaker A: Yes. Salt Straw is from Portland. [00:22:04] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [00:22:05] Speaker A: But, yeah, so I was taking my classes online and working at Salt and Straw, and I was like, this sucks ass. This is so ass. Why am I taking improv at 8 in the morning in my childhood bedroom? But then when I finally moved to USC and started to meet all these people, it was like, okay, so this is actually exactly where I'm meant to be. [00:22:25] Speaker B: That's great. Community. You find your people. [00:22:28] Speaker A: My village, if you will. Yeah, yeah. And then once everything got on campus, like, truly, I would not trade my. Trade, my college experience for anything. It was. I hate to be that guy, but, like, damn, that shit was awesome. [00:22:41] Speaker B: I feel the same. I would assume when you say that, like, when I say that, I think about the people. People who I, you know, can continue to. [00:22:49] Speaker C: Why? Why? It's college experiences. Nuts. [00:22:52] Speaker A: Tell me more. [00:22:54] Speaker B: Who can they. They know enough about my college experience. But. But the people who I continue to, like, work on stuff with and collaborate with and all that, and I. I sense you have that as well. [00:23:04] Speaker A: 100%. I mean, especially with. Most of my friends weren't in theater. Like, most of my close friends were not involved in theater at all, but now are somehow involved in entertainment in one way or the other. [00:23:17] Speaker C: How did you parlay that? Like, how did that happen? [00:23:20] Speaker A: So on the USC 2024 Instagram page, freshman year, they were like, everyone's posting like, I'm Kenzie, I'm from Portland. [00:23:28] Speaker C: And, yeah. [00:23:28] Speaker A: Love quiet nights in and also going out. [00:23:31] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [00:23:32] Speaker A: And there was this one guy who posted and I was like, oh, my God, he's literally so cute. I love him. Started DMing. We became very close friends, but in my mind, I'm like, oh, I'm actually in love with this boy. [00:23:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:23:44] Speaker A: And then he calls me and he's like, hey, just want to let you know, I'm gay and I have a boyfriend. I was like, awesome. No worries about that. No problem. But he introduced me to all of my best friends and he became one of my best friends as well. And so that was how that came to Be and he was like in the science program. So like he introduced me to all these people that I never would have met otherwise. But what's crazy now is like one of those people is now my manager. [00:24:09] Speaker B: Like, wow. [00:24:11] Speaker A: It's so like cuz he like interned at a management company and by senior year he was like, I'm gonna represent you. And since then he's been my manager for like two years. Granted he has like someone above him who's like the main person, but he's like, you know, the one who's pitching me out. And like, it's so cool to have someone who like believes in you down. [00:24:32] Speaker B: Like. Yeah. [00:24:34] Speaker A: Is pitching you because they know you and they love you and they know you would be great in this. And that I think is probably the greatest thing I got from USC was like, wow. [00:24:41] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:24:42] Speaker A: Like, wow. Shout out Charlie. [00:24:44] Speaker B: Shout out Charlie. So what is like, you know, your relationship and your growth in the comedy scene? Specifically at usc, were you doing improv? Were you doing. I know you do stand up too. Like, how were you sort of refining yourself at usc? [00:25:00] Speaker A: My sophomore year I got into musical that was like supposed to be for like BFA kids. And I was like one of the BA kids that got in to play the comedic role. It was A Chorus Line and it was this girl, Bebe, and she's just a weirdo and I made her super weird. And from that point forward, like my professors and people who came to see it, they were like, you're so funny. Like you have to keep doing like these comedy skits, like, come take my class. And I always wanted to do improv, but it scared me so bad because all the people I knew that did it were so good at it. And the catch 22 of having parents that are coaches is that I don't want to do something I'm not good at. It will make me hate it. And if I try to do something and I'm bad at it initially, I'm going to quit for sure. [00:25:51] Speaker C: As in like, because your coach, your parents are people that their job is to be like, you can get better, you can get better at this or something. [00:25:57] Speaker A: Well, I'm just so hard on myself and like, I want to live up [00:26:00] Speaker B: to a standard you equate fun with. [00:26:03] Speaker A: With doing well and winning. Yeah. And so. And the whole premise of improv is like, there's no winning, you're just having fun. And that's a really foreign concept to me. [00:26:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:12] Speaker A: And so I'm still kind of grappling with that. [00:26:14] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:16] Speaker A: Which is why I appreciated so much, like, the sketch space and like writing my own skits. Because I'm in full control of when the audience laughs my character and all those things. [00:26:26] Speaker C: Right. [00:26:27] Speaker B: There's fewer variables you have to worry about. [00:26:29] Speaker A: Exactly. Like, I need to be really in control. [00:26:32] Speaker B: Yeah. And I also think, like, coming. Luke and I have talked about this before, like coming from teams and team sports, like, it is an important part of it to like, you know, differentiate yourself and individualize yourself and really define even when you're in improv and even some sketch groups, like, you don't get to have that, like, personal identity that you now get to have on instagram and on TikTok and all this stuff. [00:26:56] Speaker A: For sure. [00:26:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:58] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, like the comedic scene workshops and things that I would do in college, like, that was where I felt most at home and most excited. And that's what. [00:27:07] Speaker C: Building characters or more developing your own voice, like, Persona as a stand up. [00:27:12] Speaker A: I honestly didn't start stand up until like this last year. [00:27:17] Speaker C: So it's characters. Characters. [00:27:19] Speaker A: It was mostly characters or finding my own voice. In terms of. Of writing. I wrote like a short series with some of my friends. [00:27:26] Speaker C: Cool. [00:27:27] Speaker A: And that was so exciting to me. I was like, whoa. I could actually. I really could do that for the rest of my life. And then my senior thesis was a one woman show and that was also then the most fun I've ever had in my life. And so by the end of college, like, I really felt like I knew who I. Who I was and what I wanted to do. But it took me a year to get the courage to like, do it. Like, I don't know, living in Brentwood and working a restaurant. [00:27:57] Speaker B: This was after trying to survive. Yes. Right. That was a survival which takes up a lot of time and it can become the thing you're only focused on. [00:28:04] Speaker A: Exactly. I mean, I was working two jobs and what. [00:28:07] Speaker C: What restaurant were you at here? [00:28:08] Speaker A: Farm Shop. [00:28:09] Speaker C: You were? [00:28:10] Speaker A: Yeah, I. [00:28:11] Speaker C: That could be. I don't know. I feel like we probably saw each other Farm Shop at some point, I'm sure. [00:28:17] Speaker A: Yeah, Yeah. I was a host there. [00:28:19] Speaker C: Oh, at like the restaurant. Whoa. [00:28:22] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:22] Speaker C: That's awesome. That's an amazing. But that's like one of. That's like a really cool, pretty coveted job. [00:28:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:28] Speaker A: Oh, it's amazing. [00:28:29] Speaker C: It's like the industry spot. [00:28:31] Speaker A: I mean, the people I met were like. [00:28:32] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:28:32] Speaker A: Unbelievable. Like, David Mamet was like one of my regulars. [00:28:37] Speaker B: Wow. I didn't even know he lives. [00:28:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Dude. [00:28:40] Speaker C: Farm Shop is like, it's a Such a monkey guy. [00:28:43] Speaker A: I think, actually he lives really close. I'm pretty sure I've heard that. Like, I would have his plays in the back of my car and, like. [00:28:50] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:50] Speaker A: And then I would, like, go to work and he'd slip me a 20 to give him his favorite table on a back. [00:28:54] Speaker B: Where am I? Like, what's going on? [00:28:55] Speaker A: What the fuck what you do? I'm so good. I love you. Render my car. [00:28:59] Speaker C: I have. [00:29:00] Speaker A: I have your play. [00:29:00] Speaker B: I have to show you. [00:29:01] Speaker A: No, exactly. It's like, sign it, sign it, sign it. No. And I was talking about, like, Adam Sandler used to come in and, like, he was one of my comedy icons [00:29:08] Speaker B: my whole life, of course. [00:29:10] Speaker A: And, like, I made him laugh once, and it was like, I've been right. [00:29:15] Speaker C: I'm good, I'm good. [00:29:16] Speaker B: What did you say? What did you say? [00:29:18] Speaker A: He showed up wearing a truly terrible outfit. Like, one of the worst I've seen. It was, like, neon orange with birds on top, and then bright blue shorts and then, like, green socks. Like, something truly, like, he got dressed in the dark and he. It just was unbelievable. And he walked in and I go, I like the fit today, Adam. It's real subtle. [00:29:38] Speaker C: Oh. [00:29:39] Speaker A: And he was like, good one. I was like, really? Yeah. I was you twice for Halloween, and I have a picture of you above my bed. I didn't say that, but should have. Maybe I'll see this. But, yeah. So anyways, worked at farm shop and then also worked retail at. Still work retail at this sunglasses shop in Venice. And so, like, those survival jobs in itself, I didn't know how to balance, like, creating my own stuff and then [00:30:06] Speaker B: also just surviving such a hard thing to balance. [00:30:09] Speaker A: So ass. [00:30:10] Speaker C: How did you start balancing that? Or are you still in that process of figuring it out? [00:30:14] Speaker A: When I moved to Santa Monica, I. Well. [00:30:19] Speaker C: Well, give us a timeline. Right? [00:30:20] Speaker A: So you graduated in 2024, huh? Lived in Brentwood from 2024, summer 2024 to 2025. Okay, now. Oh, this is what I skipped over. [00:30:32] Speaker C: And you were working those two jobs during that year. [00:30:35] Speaker A: During that year. [00:30:35] Speaker C: And you were, like, not doing improv. You weren't really. Right? It was just like, I gotta make money. I gotta survive. Okay. [00:30:41] Speaker A: But my senior year. What? I forgot to say, spring semester, senior year, I interned at the Groundlings. [00:30:45] Speaker C: Okay. [00:30:46] Speaker A: Which is like a, you know, comedy school, whatever. And my job was mostly clerical, like, ticket sales and, like, getting Diet Cokes for the main cast. But even being in that space was like, oh, this is so cool. [00:31:01] Speaker B: You felt the history. [00:31:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:31:03] Speaker A: I mean, it's everyone I've ever known and loved on stage. Like there, like Kristen Wade, Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, like, and it was the 50th anniversary there as well, so all these, like, old, like, legends were coming back. [00:31:17] Speaker C: What a cool time to be there. [00:31:19] Speaker A: Oh my God, it was the best. And so coming off of that high from college really is where I felt so stagnant. Stagnant that year I was like, well, what do I do now? Like, I don't have money, I don't have connections. None of my friends are really in theater. Like, so I'm not exactly like, creating with the people around me. And then when I moved to Santa Monica, I was like, why did you move? [00:31:44] Speaker C: You just like, want to get out [00:31:45] Speaker A: of Brentwood or getting out of Brentwood and. Yeah, yeah, like, my best friend was like, moving. [00:31:50] Speaker C: Yeah, it was time. [00:31:51] Speaker A: It was time. Yeah. And well, at that time, we were sharing a room that was like a shoebox. And we're living two twin beds that were like three feet apart from each other. We could like, hold hands as we were going to bed every night. [00:32:01] Speaker C: That's sweet. [00:32:03] Speaker A: Sorta. Yeah, sort of sweet. [00:32:06] Speaker C: Kind of threw you back to those Annie days, maybe. [00:32:07] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. It's a hard knock life for us. So just mopping the floor. [00:32:13] Speaker C: Literally. [00:32:14] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:32:15] Speaker C: Like a vet. It's just so you could broom that. We got him off. Yeah, it's a rug. [00:32:20] Speaker A: It was a rug story for sure. But yeah. [00:32:25] Speaker B: So we're just waiting for your Daddy Warbucks, right? [00:32:27] Speaker A: Oh, I'm still. [00:32:28] Speaker B: I don't know. [00:32:29] Speaker A: Let me know if you find to hear of anybody. Yeah, I don't know. But yeah, I moved to Santa Monica and I was like, okay, Kenzie, like, boss up. Like, this is the year that you're gonna do shit that scares you, which sounds so annoying. Like, this is the earth. [00:32:44] Speaker B: No, I mean, believe, believe me, I understand that. [00:32:47] Speaker A: Yeah. And so I took my first class at Groundlings, did improv so hard. It was like a humiliation ritual every class. But it was so rewarding, you know? So I was like, okay. Like, I know I can do this. You just. You have to suffer first. You have to suffer. But yeah, so I did that first with one of my good buddies. We were in it together, so that was really helpful. And then by Christmas time of 2025, I was like, okay, you're going to start posting on Instagram and you're going to write stand up. Like you have to. [00:33:29] Speaker B: We'll be right back. [00:33:35] Speaker C: I want to play like a scary Song from, like, a horror movie before this, but all the copyrigh stuff. So I can't but imagine there's like a scary song playing right now. And it's like, oh, the 5050 horror festival is coming up. You need to submit your short film soon, by August 7th. August 7th is the deadline. You have two months to submit your short film. You have two months. And then after that, there's another deadline. Read it here first. Submit down. Submit down if you dare. No, but for real, we have our horror festival coming up in October. October 18th is the actual day. Get your short in by August 7th if you want to be a part of it. We look forward to viewing your submission on film freeway 5050 horror. Those are the numbers. 505 0, horror. [00:34:37] Speaker A: And so I started doing all this basically in, like, January when it came to videos. I made a separate account called Rat in the sewer 1 2, 3, 4, where I would post my comedy videos because I didn't want people seeing that I was making comedy videos. Yeah, yeah. And then they started doing well and my manager was like, what are you doing? Like, put them on your main Instagram. Like, that's so weird. [00:34:58] Speaker B: You have all these followers. People know you, support you. [00:35:00] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:35:02] Speaker C: Why would you do this anymore? [00:35:05] Speaker A: It's like, shut up. So I finally, like, started posting on my main. That was really scary. And then I did my first couple standup gigs about, like, being a server. Like stupid natural wine. [00:35:20] Speaker C: And so Instagram started first and then came stand up. [00:35:25] Speaker A: They came around about the same time. [00:35:27] Speaker C: About the same time. Can you talk about the prep, if there was any regarding clips? And I guess stand up too, but specifically, if we talk about Instagram for a sec. You said you made the separate account. Like, were you going in at the top of the week, you know, being like, okay, I'm gonna write, you know, five. I don't know, five bits this week or something to. To talk about. Or was it just very heat of the moment, like, pull my phone out. You know, Johnny Marks talked about that. [00:35:53] Speaker A: That's exactly what it was. [00:35:54] Speaker C: It was. [00:35:55] Speaker A: It's free balling it, just sitting on the couch. I have a notes app of, like, things that I think are funny. [00:36:00] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:36:00] Speaker A: And then if I have time, I'll go through them and be like, oh, I could do this right now. Or if I'll just think of it in the moment and just start recording and then just splice it up. [00:36:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:36:08] Speaker A: And like, that's how I make all my videos now. [00:36:10] Speaker C: And you sit there for, like, a few hours, just Looking at yourself on [00:36:12] Speaker A: your phone, it maybe takes 20 minutes at first. I rarely do multiple takes of a clip. It's just awesome. Touch and go, like. And. But the third video I ever posted went viral. [00:36:28] Speaker C: Whoa. [00:36:30] Speaker A: And that was the most anxious I have ever been in my life because I was like, well, that's the last funny thing I'm ever gonna do. And then nothing will ever be as good as this, and I should probably drown, you know? So that week after, I was like, fuck. Like, what's gonna do well next? [00:36:46] Speaker C: Like, were you trying to post daily? Were you trying to post weekly? Was it like a. [00:36:50] Speaker A: They were like, post. My manager was like, now that this one went viral, like, you should be posting like, twice a week. Yeah, twice a week. [00:36:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:36:57] Speaker B: No, right. [00:36:59] Speaker A: Like, because the next one's gonna, like, inevitably flop. [00:37:02] Speaker C: So it really was just trying to really, like, get a sense of the, like, your. Your mentality with it. At the beginning, it. What it seems like, was very. Just more of like, oh, it's Friday. I gotta pull up my phone and post. Not like, the whole week I'm thinking about this video, and then I'm going to. I'm going to ideate it, and then I'm going to block my schedule and do it. Like, it was just very. [00:37:23] Speaker A: Oh, it was. If I. [00:37:24] Speaker C: You were doing other stuff with this. [00:37:26] Speaker A: It sounds like if I had time after work, I would film for half an hour. [00:37:31] Speaker C: Yep. [00:37:32] Speaker A: And then I'd wake up the next morning and I'd watch it and I'd hate it. And then I'd be like, well, there goes that. Like, have to wait for something else funny to happen to me today so I can make a video about that. [00:37:41] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:43] Speaker A: But after that first video did well, I made that week, I probably made like, 10 other videos, being like, what's gonna be the next one that does really well. And they were all ass. They were terrible. [00:37:54] Speaker B: Did you post any of them? No. Wow. [00:37:56] Speaker A: Because I was so stressed out. [00:37:57] Speaker B: What was that viral video? [00:37:59] Speaker A: It was your mom calls you when you're hungover and it's like, you know, are you free for a dentist appointment in four years? I just booked you, like, that sort of thing. Yeah. Which my mom was initially not very happy about. When she came around to it, when she saw it did well. [00:38:14] Speaker B: But she's like, oh, I take that. [00:38:16] Speaker A: She's like, you're welcome. [00:38:18] Speaker B: I am funny. [00:38:19] Speaker A: Exactly. I was like, you are. [00:38:21] Speaker B: You are. [00:38:23] Speaker A: But, yeah, the. The other videos I made, you could tell I wanted it too bad, and I was desperate for it. And Stressed. And it just wasn't fun. [00:38:32] Speaker B: But that's so the process. Is it? [00:38:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:35] Speaker B: Especially with this relationship with social media. Like, it's, it's so audience based and like, then you're, if you're trying too hard, they won't like it. Like they can sniff out. Totally try hard. You know, like, also there's so many [00:38:47] Speaker A: people on the Internet doing it. Yeah, everyone's doing it. [00:38:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:38:50] Speaker A: So it's like, it's, it's a thing where it's like, nobody cares. Just post it. But it's also like, nobody cares. [00:38:56] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. [00:38:58] Speaker A: So that was a big perspective shift for me. But like the one that I eventually posted after that, it just came to me in the car and I hit record and I just posted it and it was like your indie friend trying to show you, like, new bands and it's all like made up fucking words. [00:39:12] Speaker B: That one's so funny. [00:39:13] Speaker A: I look, it was. And I had fun making it and then I posted it and I was like, oh, this actually isn't supposed to [00:39:20] Speaker C: be at all at this point. This was on your personal account or this personal account? It was. [00:39:24] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:25] Speaker C: And when did you make that jump? [00:39:27] Speaker A: After the third video went viral. [00:39:29] Speaker B: Very quickly. [00:39:30] Speaker C: The viral one hit on that. [00:39:32] Speaker B: On rat. [00:39:33] Speaker A: On rat. [00:39:34] Speaker C: On Rat. [00:39:35] Speaker A: And then I had to make a, make it a collab. [00:39:37] Speaker C: Of course. Everyone's like, who's, who's the rat? [00:39:41] Speaker A: Who's the rat in the sewer? 1, 2, 3, 4. [00:39:43] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:39:43] Speaker A: Which. [00:39:45] Speaker C: But you're so you're bummed you made that. That. Yeah. That's fun though. It's like a. Yeah. [00:39:52] Speaker B: Luke and I were just having this. We were right before about, about literally, like how, you know, we want to get back into posting sketches and stuff. [00:40:01] Speaker C: Wyatt, Wyatt wants to start doing comedy again. I do more, more front facing stuff. [00:40:06] Speaker B: Front facing. Right. Luke likes to act too, sometimes, but everything. And I was like, well, I should probably like make a separate account. Right. To like just sort of. Because we've already. This is so in the weeds. But like, we've curated this sort of [00:40:20] Speaker C: like we're breaking the fourth wall a little bit. [00:40:22] Speaker B: I, I, as a, I, as a. We've done this podcast. [00:40:25] Speaker A: Talking about the podcast on the podcast. Yeah. [00:40:26] Speaker B: Which is, you know, leans more serious than comedic. Like, it's not just a bunch of comedians hanging around. It's like, has a purpose to it, this show. So I'm like, okay, like, I'm part of 5050 in the show. [00:40:37] Speaker C: And also your job, right? [00:40:39] Speaker B: My main job, My main day job. Which is in the industry, in a career. So I was like, oh, like, is it weird if I just start like posting? Like all. Are all these people who are literally work at agencies and production companies and know me as like the guy who works at this X place gonna be like, what the fuck is this guy doing? Like, is this part of his day job? Or like, there's gonna be like a sort of inconsistency. There was my thinking. So I was like, what if I just like linked the account in my main Wyatt bio and then I have that account for just sketch comedy stuff? [00:41:10] Speaker A: Yes and no. [00:41:12] Speaker B: It's similar to what you thought of. [00:41:14] Speaker A: Exactly. But also I suppose maybe it's different because what I like want to do in life is like be an actor. And like, this is part of the brand that I've had to build is like, you have to connect these two. Like, you're not allowed to. There's no point in keeping it separate. And so, like, it depends, I guess, for you in terms of. But here's what I think. I think anybody that follows you in the professional realm that sees you posting comedy, it's like, yeah, he's hustling. Like, that's, that's what everybody's doing. You have to. [00:41:46] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:41:47] Speaker A: So like, I just, I don't see any judgment coming from that. [00:41:50] Speaker B: Right. [00:41:51] Speaker A: And if they do, it's like, oh, you're like, they're not funny and they're old. [00:41:56] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:41:57] Speaker A: I think it is the point. [00:41:59] Speaker B: It's so funny. Like, remember we asked the guest one question at the end of each episode, which I'm not going to get into now with you. [00:42:08] Speaker C: We're not there yet. [00:42:08] Speaker B: But we're not there. We're definitely not there. But I talked about my answer to that question was at one point. I have the business and I have the creative and just connecting those things at some point would be awesome. And I think for me right now with thinking about getting back into performing and all that, I do think it could be the time for me to actually connect those dots. [00:42:29] Speaker C: Well, you're the through line. It's like you have the business and you have the creative. Creative. And like the thing linking. It's like you're both of those things. [00:42:37] Speaker B: Right. That is the thing linking. Right? [00:42:39] Speaker C: Yeah. Like you said with, you know, the, the clip that popped off that third clip and then it was like, ah, like all these don't feel like me. It's like, it's enough. It's not immediately. [00:42:49] Speaker B: The advice that your manager had was to be, yeah, you Know, people need to associate you with that. [00:42:55] Speaker C: It's. Own it, man. There's. You can't have a plan B. You know, it's like, if you want to do it, do it. That's my. But again, if it's a comfort thing, maybe you would have never posted those first three videos if you didn't create that sound. [00:43:07] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:43:08] Speaker B: That is. That is part of it. [00:43:09] Speaker C: Right. [00:43:09] Speaker A: Well, because I've seen so many people do it and not succeed, and then all of a sudden, those are tied to them. [00:43:16] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:43:17] Speaker A: And that's on the Internet forever. And that goes back to the thing of, like, I don't want to do things that aren't going to do well. [00:43:24] Speaker B: Why do you think people have not succeeded with that? Because I might have a theory which is similar to our theory with podcasting, which is, like, consistency. Like, if you are consistent, you'll get good. [00:43:37] Speaker C: Yeah, right. You'll get good. But good doesn't. [00:43:39] Speaker B: I mean, obviously some of it is. Is about, like, inherent humor and ability to do that, but I don't know. [00:43:48] Speaker A: One of my fears about doing Instagram comedy in the first place, me talking about, like, it's an art form, but, like, doing Instagram comedy in the first place. [00:43:56] Speaker B: I mean, absolutely. [00:43:58] Speaker A: I've seen it's. It's a triumph in itself to put yourself out there. And that is something that I felt like I was too cowardly to do in the first place. But mixing that with also the judgment of, like, well, they should have changed this about the sketch, or they whatever. Like, I just pictured other people doing that to me, what I was doing to other people, and I was like, oh, well. Like, I could never do that. Like, it just opens the door to too many people. Like, it's so vulnerable. Like, people seeing you try to be funny on the Internet, like, laugh at me, please. Please laugh at me. [00:44:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:44:34] Speaker A: And it's the same with stand up. Like, getting up on stage to do stand up implies that I think I'm funny enough to make you laugh and make you pay money to watch me. [00:44:45] Speaker C: Right. [00:44:45] Speaker A: Like, ooh, Ooh. That gives me shivers. [00:44:48] Speaker B: Right. It implies a specific personality type that maybe at some point you don't fully align with, or you're not fully like, guys. [00:44:56] Speaker C: When you're in the crowd, though, and there's a standup that gets on stage in our peer group and below, for the most part, because there are a lot of folks who are trying things out. You can feel it immediately when they're hesitant, and it's like, ooh. Like, I don't like that you're up [00:45:11] Speaker A: there, they're not having fun, you're not having fun. [00:45:14] Speaker C: But when I, I, I know for a fact I'm confident you're up there. And when you are up there and the lights on you, you're home. Like, this is like, hey, I'm welcome to my house. And it's like, yeah, like, I feel comfortable laughing because it's like, jeez, I want to, I want to laugh with you, you know? [00:45:34] Speaker A: Yeah. That has been the biggest thing for me in terms of making content is now. And I've talked ad nauseam about this, like, with my other friends and my dad and like, all these things. Like, making what I think is funny first has, has to be the root of everything I post. Or else it just, there's no point. Or else I might as well post it on another account because it's not me. [00:45:57] Speaker C: Exactly. And that's, that's where it, like you said, like, oh, if you're not hitting an X amount of time, it doesn't matter if you're making stuff that you think is funny, because then no matter what, it doesn't matter. It's like, well, I think it's funny. So, like, it. [00:46:12] Speaker B: I'm gonna, shouldn't be stand behind this one. [00:46:14] Speaker C: There's, there's like, real. And I, I remember going, like, I, I go to stand up and when I go to New York occasionally. And the last time I went, I went to this show and like, the standups, the, the crowd was pretty almost off, it seemed. And each standup that got up there, you could tell was just so seasoned and just like, like, it's just a different level. I mean, they're doing it three times a night. Right. Whatever it is. And like, you could just feel that and they're missing, like, it just, you know, jokes, not hitting, not landing. And it's like they don't even. Like they're so present, but they're also, they're so not phased. And it's like. And by the end, everyone's laughing and it's a crazy. It's interesting. Like, there's a real. [00:47:02] Speaker B: Because I think that it's fully on themselves. Yeah, they're like, there's like an internal validation going to, right. I'm gonna own this and I'm gonna keep going. I'm gonna push through. And by the end, I will have won you over. It's like, it's almost saying that to them in the beginning without saying that. [00:47:18] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, it's this. When I started Doing stand up also at the beginning of this year, I. The only reason why I felt really confident with it is because it was all. It was all just snippets of conversations that I've had with my friends before. It wasn't like I was reinventing or like really generating a lot of new material because it was just things that I had already said. [00:47:41] Speaker C: Sure. [00:47:42] Speaker A: I would just record a voice memo and then it's like, well, that's your set. Like, that's it, right? [00:47:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:47:46] Speaker B: But there's a presentation part of it, definitely. [00:47:49] Speaker A: And I rehearsed it. [00:47:50] Speaker C: That. [00:47:50] Speaker B: That's the. Yeah, that's the art through the wazoo. [00:47:53] Speaker C: But so these were not open mics. These were like shows. [00:47:56] Speaker A: The first stand up I ever did was a show. [00:47:59] Speaker C: Whoa. [00:47:59] Speaker A: With. There was like 150 people in the audience. [00:48:02] Speaker C: Oh, my God. [00:48:02] Speaker A: It was at Saba Surf, which is that guy Gall, who was on Love Island. It's his coffee shop in Venice. But this was like back in January. And my friend from usc, Lily Ignon, she's the best she who worked at Saba, she was like, I want you to come and do this. Like, I believe in you. I think you would be really great at this. And this stand up set, it was called Girls aren't Funny. And it was all these women that are seasoned professional comedians with like people there to see them. Like thousands and thousands of followers. Like, I'd never. I barely posted like a couple videos online by that point. And I went up there and it was the most fun I've ever had. It went so well. I was like, wow. Like, this is incredible. [00:48:48] Speaker C: That was your first time ever doing. [00:48:49] Speaker A: First time ever doing stand up. [00:48:50] Speaker C: That is. [00:48:51] Speaker A: And it was like a 10 minute set. [00:48:53] Speaker C: Like, that is. I've never heard 10 minutes. I've never heard that in my entire life. It was a first set being like, it's usually you bomb so bad that it's like, I gotta do it again. [00:49:05] Speaker B: I've heard that the first set actually goes well. And then the second set in reality. [00:49:09] Speaker A: Yeah, the second set I did was at the Comedy Store. So my first set was at sa. My second set was at the Comedy Store. Once again, put together by usc. People who believed in me, who put like, went out on a limb for me. Mark Norman performed right before me. [00:49:25] Speaker C: Oh my God. [00:49:25] Speaker A: As like a pop in. And then I went on right after him. I'm also popping in for five minutes. I was the only girl on the set list. In the green room, a guy asked me for a water because he Thought I was a pa And I went up there and once again, like, it went pretty well. And I was like, okay, like, I'm starting to get a momentum here. [00:49:46] Speaker C: Same set, similar set, Same set, similar set. Yeah. Are you nervous before these? [00:49:51] Speaker A: Throwing up? Never been more nervous. [00:49:54] Speaker C: Are you, like, shaking on stage at the beat or. It's like, right when the light hits you, you kind of like, okay, I'm good. [00:49:58] Speaker A: Oh, I'm a gust of wind away from volume. Vomiting on stage. [00:50:01] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:50:02] Speaker A: Every time. [00:50:02] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:02] Speaker A: But it was the same with singing. When I used to sing. [00:50:05] Speaker C: This isn't. This is. It's a familiar feeling for you at this point? [00:50:08] Speaker A: Yes. Yeah. It's really bad. [00:50:10] Speaker B: And. [00:50:10] Speaker A: But then once I'm in it, I'm in it and it's okay. [00:50:13] Speaker B: Yeah. And it's the best feeling ever. [00:50:14] Speaker A: And it's the best feeling ever. And afterwards I'm like, wow, that was fun. In the moment, I'm like, I. I have to die. [00:50:19] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:50:20] Speaker A: Now. [00:50:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:50:21] Speaker A: But afterwards it's like, oh, wow. [00:50:23] Speaker C: Yeah, that was. That was pretty chill. Yeah. [00:50:27] Speaker A: The third time I did stand up was someone was like, it's time for you to. You should workshop. You should go to open mics. Like, this is what comedians do. [00:50:35] Speaker C: Right. [00:50:35] Speaker A: I went to an open mic in West Hollywood. It was all women. It was like. It was. It was recommended to me by some other people from the SABA show. I went up there. There was eight people there. They were all also the comedians. [00:50:48] Speaker B: Sure. [00:50:50] Speaker A: I have never bombed so hard in my entire life. It was truly crickets. And mind you, there was eight people there. But when the rest of them went up, we were all dying laughing. It was great. It was unbelievable. It was like a shock to the system because I had never experienced. [00:51:06] Speaker B: And it was a similar set. I would assume it was a similar [00:51:09] Speaker A: set, but I did add some new stuff, like trying to workshop new material, whatever, crickets. And that put me off. Stand up for. Legitimately four months. [00:51:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:51:20] Speaker A: I was like, oh, can't do that again. Because I was bad at it. And you know how I get when I'm bad at things. Like, I'm not going to do it anymore. [00:51:27] Speaker B: Right. It's the. The athlete in you. [00:51:30] Speaker C: So was it. Was it the manager that said, four months later, come on, let's go, or was it you being like, actually, let me try this again? [00:51:38] Speaker A: It was the confidence that I built from Instagram. [00:51:42] Speaker C: So Instagram was. Was popping in those four months. [00:51:44] Speaker A: Instagram was popping those four months. [00:51:46] Speaker C: And what popping is. And you're seeing an increment like, it's growing or it's gaining a following. [00:51:51] Speaker A: Gaining a following. Engagement's going really well. [00:51:54] Speaker C: And at that point, is it Daily Post at that point is it, you [00:51:57] Speaker A: know, it's like three times a week, maybe four. [00:52:00] Speaker C: And are you starting to find a kind of a certain, like, Persona of like, this is the type of story I'm telling on my phone or this type of character? [00:52:09] Speaker A: Exactly. I mean, it's. It's some sketches or some like that one friend who, you know. But most of it, Most of the stuff that has done really well for me is like, coming off of my serving shift and just talking to my phone in my car of like, this is all the weird shit I said to my customers tonight. Because I'm a clown and a freak and a weirdo. Yeah. [00:52:29] Speaker B: And people love that. [00:52:31] Speaker A: And people love that. [00:52:32] Speaker C: What, what's like, are you, like, are you practicing bits with customers? Are you, like, trying things? Are you doing voices? Like, what's. What can you get away with as. As a waitress? [00:52:42] Speaker A: Most things. Most things. But it really depends on what they're in the mood for. But, I mean, you've been to a restaurant where your server is kind of funny. It's like you kind of feed into it. [00:52:55] Speaker B: There's a balance. [00:52:56] Speaker C: There's sometimes, oh, my God. [00:52:58] Speaker B: Right? It's like, please just take my order exactly. [00:53:02] Speaker A: Like, it's not like, I'm on the way. What you guys do this weekend, like, [00:53:05] Speaker B: I went to immediately when they go on the table. [00:53:08] Speaker A: Oh, makes me sick. [00:53:09] Speaker B: Kneel. [00:53:10] Speaker A: Some of my co workers kneel, Kneel. And they're like, face to face Now. [00:53:13] Speaker B: Now you're spitting on the, on the plate. [00:53:18] Speaker A: It's like, it's. I. I throw in little things in there from time to time and that. [00:53:22] Speaker B: And I'm sure you balance it well. [00:53:24] Speaker C: You test the waters. [00:53:25] Speaker A: And people in my comments are like, you should quit your job. You're terrible at your job. I'm like, no, no, I'm. I'm much more charming. Yeah. [00:53:30] Speaker C: Trust me, if I sell to you. [00:53:32] Speaker A: No, you would actually love it. You would love it. But. And of course, it's all like a. Somewhat of an exaggeration of, like, how the delivery of it. Because in the moment, I don't know, like, I posted one like, a couple days ago that was actually. No, the one that is my most popular video on my page is there was like, this group of, like, 10 people. They were all drinking, and this guy showed up late, and I was like, oh, I've heard so much about You. And he was like, what have you heard? And I was like, oh, that you're just like a. Of part party animal. And you, like, love shots. And, like, you just, like, you're just so sick. [00:54:04] Speaker C: And he was in front of the table. [00:54:06] Speaker A: It was kind of an aside. It was kind of inside. It was just like, me. [00:54:10] Speaker C: Okay. [00:54:10] Speaker A: Because I was coming to, like, take his drink order, basically. [00:54:13] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:54:13] Speaker A: And I was like, oh, like, welcome. Like, heard so much about you. Whatever. And I was like, you're a party animal. These things. And he's like, well, that makes sense. Like, I am a recovering alcoholic. Oh. Oh, yeah. And. But of course, it was, like, totally fine. Like, he was chill. [00:54:30] Speaker C: What a great punchline, though. Of course. Right? [00:54:32] Speaker B: It's great for Instagram. [00:54:34] Speaker A: And that was the video that did the best. [00:54:36] Speaker B: In that moment. Were you like, oh, I gotta write this down. [00:54:38] Speaker A: Like, oh, petrified. [00:54:40] Speaker C: That's it. Yeah. [00:54:41] Speaker A: Or like, recently, I. When I was taking an order, I drooled on my tablet because I was so hungry and I was taking an order, I drooled on my tablet. [00:54:49] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:54:49] Speaker A: So sorry about that, fellows. Can you tell I'm hungry? [00:54:53] Speaker B: One of my favorite videos of yours is when you do the impressions of what you think people are seeing you as when you're at the beach that. I think it's so funny. [00:55:06] Speaker A: I filmed that on my birthday because I didn't want to go to the beach because I didn't like the way I looked in a bikini. [00:55:10] Speaker C: Right. [00:55:11] Speaker A: And I'm, like, almost whispering because I don't want my roommate to hear me. [00:55:14] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:55:14] Speaker A: And I. If I filmed that in two minutes, [00:55:16] Speaker B: it was so funny. [00:55:18] Speaker A: And it's like. But it's. That's the stuff that's, like, so fun to film and it. [00:55:22] Speaker B: And it's also like, clearly, it's obviously like, I'm sure the engagement is insane on that because, like, everybody feels like that to some extent when they, like, have their shirt off or whatever. It's like, I just think it's so. It's clearly from a place of, like, I feel this kind of bad feeling, and I'm able to flip it and make it the funniest thing that people watch in a day. [00:55:42] Speaker C: I mean, that's amazing. [00:55:44] Speaker A: It's also such a fine line of, like, making something that I think is funny and then somehow making it palatable for, or someone makes someone want to send it to their friend. [00:55:53] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:55:54] Speaker A: And I see a lot of stuff on the Internet that it's, like, I find so funny, but I'm like, I Can't send this to anybody. [00:55:59] Speaker C: Like, this is a little too much. [00:56:01] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, and so that's that you [00:56:04] Speaker B: think about that like making stuff that people can send to another person that [00:56:08] Speaker A: people can send to, which feels a little bit like a sellout, but it's also sort of strategy. [00:56:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:56:14] Speaker C: But yeah, I'm sure it's a bit more like subconscious now. You know, like you've kind of, You've seen how many clips have you posted? [00:56:20] Speaker A: So like probably like 50, right? [00:56:23] Speaker C: So over the span of 50, you've probably seen like, okay, this one did really well. That one didn't do so well. And you start picking up on like just naturally, like, oh, well, this one about, you know, this amount of time or just me and this lighting or whatever it is. Exactly, exactly. [00:56:38] Speaker A: But it's. I don't, I don't know. I was. Johnny had mentioned this on the podcast. A little bit of like how stand up clips, like, weren't doing as well as, like this now new form. [00:56:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:56:49] Speaker A: And a lot of advice that I've received from professionals or the casting agents or whatever is like, if you have a video that pops off, make it a million times. Make that video a million times. Like, that will become your brand. Yeah, I don't want to do that. [00:57:04] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:57:05] Speaker A: I don't want to make server videos for the rest of my life. Like, I don't want to talk about how socially inept I am in front of customers. Like, if, when I quit this server job, inevitably, like, am I not gonna be funny anymore? Like, what kind of content am I gonna be able to make? [00:57:19] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:57:20] Speaker A: And so that's kind of something I've been. [00:57:23] Speaker B: Why do you think, why do you think they say that, though? [00:57:25] Speaker A: Because that's what works. I mean, there's. I have a lot of friends that like, did. Are now able to have more creative liberties because the first half of what they post on the Internet is just the same thing over and over. [00:57:38] Speaker C: I mean, it makes sense. It's like a, you know, we've spoken about this, like, success and as a creator means getting to do more of what you're currently doing. [00:57:46] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:57:47] Speaker C: And it's like, okay, I've posted 100 of these waiter videos and they've gotten 100 million views. It's like, wow, we got a caster as a waiter and let her just play with this. Then all of a sudden maybe you turn that into a show and you get to be some other character. I understand it, but it also is very limiting. For sure. [00:58:04] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:58:04] Speaker C: Yeah. And you Seem like someone that does not like to be limited. [00:58:09] Speaker A: No, I don't like when people tell [00:58:11] Speaker C: me what to do, which is great. That's a very positive attribute. [00:58:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, it's great until it's not. It's like I could be making my own life easier by maybe, you know, following some of the surefire steps. [00:58:26] Speaker C: Yeah, but what is. Sure, I mean, the amount of people that are doing exactly that and not doing nearly as well, like, as yourself on, in social media terms. But like, you know, I think you're making it work in a, in a way that like, you're excited about and passionate about, which is all that matters. And casting directors will see that and be like, I have a sense of who this person is through her Instagram. [00:58:48] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, that's, that's certainly the hope, but it's, it's like that thing I was talking about earlier with like being involved in a million extracurriculars or whatever. It's like I'm trying to give myself as much opportunity as possible. [00:58:58] Speaker C: So you're still thinking like that? [00:58:59] Speaker B: Yeah, like, I completely understand that mindset. It's, it's like scary to put all your eggs in one basket. I'm curious, like, what, what beyond Instagram is exciting to you? Like, do you want to, you know, parlay this into, you know, having your own show? Or like, is it tv, is it movies? Like, is it going back to theater and doing that or doing a one person show? I know you did that as your thesis. So, like, what is, what. What's exciting to you besides Instagram stuff [00:59:31] Speaker A: in that day to day live stuff is what I've always wanted to do. And like, my buddy and I, who's doing something similar to me, Alex Nimrod, you know him, but we're like working on a, doing a live show together. And that has brought me like a two hander. Yeah. Like, yeah, I'll get into it later. But it's even just the mere idea of writing something together that we're going to perform, that's a comedy that involves like characters and improv and all these things. Like, that is so. It just lights a fire under my ass and amazing. I mean, Instagram comedy, like, that's always gonna be there, you know, it's such a flexible medium. [01:00:14] Speaker B: It's like where you've developed your comedic voice to some extent. [01:00:17] Speaker A: Exactly. Which is. So why, like, it is. [01:00:20] Speaker C: It can be any. Can be in a trailer on set, you know, like, you're, you can shoot one of those videos. Like you've created that. [01:00:26] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is, you know, certainly a privilege [01:00:29] Speaker C: great for the brand. [01:00:30] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, I was home for a week and I was able to make family, like that sort of thing. [01:00:33] Speaker C: It's true. [01:00:34] Speaker A: But now the. With doing stand up, like, I have a new stand up show that I'm doing in a couple weeks and like where it's like a 15 minutes. I'm like, oh, like something else. And then like doing this live show, like that's what I want to end up doing. The dream would be to be on like a cushy sitcom that films in la that I can. Of course, you know, like, that's everybody's dream. [01:00:58] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:00:59] Speaker A: But in terms of things that like, really excite me, it's gonna be like live performance for sure. But it's. It's just so scary. It's just so scary. [01:01:09] Speaker C: It is really scary. Yeah, it's. It's scary to put yourself out there. It's scary to try. It's scary to have like a. A real dream that like, you want so bad, but it also, like, there's this gap where it's like this. I want it so bad and I'm doing everything I can to get there, but like, it's. I'm not there yet and there's still so much, you know. [01:01:33] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I don't know if you guys ever feel this, but it's like I feel like I could always be doing more and every ounce of free time that I have, I'm like, I should be finishing the Artist's Way or I should be writing a sketch. [01:01:43] Speaker C: You don't need to finish that. [01:01:44] Speaker A: But no, I tried. I really. [01:01:47] Speaker B: Actually, nobody has finished that. [01:01:48] Speaker C: No one's finished. It's a real thing. No one has finished it. [01:01:51] Speaker B: Nobody. Yeah. [01:01:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:01:53] Speaker B: Nobody's done it. [01:01:54] Speaker A: Thank you. Nobody's successfully completed it. [01:01:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:01:56] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, I spent 8.90 people don't lives on the shelf. [01:01:59] Speaker B: Yeah. You can tell Julia Cameron to just silence. [01:02:03] Speaker A: It's like I get where. I get where she's coming from. [01:02:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:02:07] Speaker A: I don't have time. [01:02:08] Speaker B: Unfortunately. Nobody's finished it. [01:02:10] Speaker C: Spend that time making that video instead of reading that book. [01:02:13] Speaker B: Exactly. [01:02:14] Speaker A: Yeah. So it's like, at least that's something that makes me feel productive. [01:02:17] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:02:17] Speaker B: Yes. [01:02:18] Speaker A: And something that, that I feel like I can be proud of. Cause before that I felt like when I would come home and people would be like, oh, do you have any big auditions coming up? What's going on? And I'm like, still work at a restaurant. [01:02:29] Speaker B: Still work At a sunglasses store. It's so, so hard. I think like one thing that I wanted to say a couple times is that like this thing you're doing, this two hander that you're writing with Alex, like that to me, like, I saw your eyes light up a bit when you talked about that. Because more than just the idea of performing with him, it's the idea of having another person there with you to support you. [01:02:52] Speaker A: What a dream. [01:02:53] Speaker B: Which is like. But that's part of it. And another poor person to be like, I believe in you and I believe you can do this. Because part of establishing yourself as a comedian is such. It's so isolating to some extent. So to now open yourself up to like, I know I can do this, I know I can build an audience, I know I can be funny. But this is my next level. I need someone to help me with that. And not a sign of weakness, a sign of strength, of knowing yourself and being like, I'm letting someone else in and letting. I'm allowing myself to like utilize the people around me, to help me and encourage me in a way. Like, that's, that's how I feel with my artistic journey that I'm on. Like, I need, I need Luke. [01:03:39] Speaker A: I need other you guys having each other like shorts. [01:03:41] Speaker B: So, so important just to like hold each other accountable, support each other emotionally, collaborate comedically. Like all of these things are so important to, to me, like that communal aspect is like, that's the only way [01:03:53] Speaker C: that you can do it on a, on a broader scale. Like you just said it like chasing a dream is isolating as well. Can you talk about your relationship with your manager and you know what those conversations look like if it is daily or weekly or monthly? [01:04:08] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, because he's one of my like best friends in the entire world. We talk like all the time. All the time. And now that social media has become a thing, he started fielding like these brand deals and like, how do you want to be associated? And you know, here are some ways that you could gear towards this audience or whatever. And so that level of collaboration has definitely made me feel like less alone in this. Just like, I don't know. I just, I truly don't know what I would do without him. My. He was at a different management company before the one that we're at now, and he basically took me with him to this one. But the first one I was at, I was auditioning all the time and like sending in self tapes and it, it felt like I was like really getting somewhere and, like, I got really close to some cool things, and that's always cool, but it's like, well, you didn't get them, you know, so. But at the very least, he's putting my foot in the door of all these casting directors, places that, like, I. I want to be in that room, you know? So at the very least, like, I know that somewhere out there, someone knows who I am, which is exciting. And then now at this new spot, it's. It's been much more focused on, like, the standup and the digital platform and that sort of thing, and I do really miss, like, auditioning for projects, and I think maybe just, like, for our age group or my type right now, it's, like, a little bit dry for, like, the type of projects that are available. But I'm just so lucky that he's. It's like I was saying, like, he's pitching me every single day, all day, for stuff that, like, no one would ever think of me for, but he believes in me so much. [01:05:56] Speaker C: That really special. [01:05:57] Speaker B: Amazing. Yeah, that is really special. [01:05:59] Speaker A: And I just. I used to think to myself, like, ugh, Like, I wish I was a Nepo baby. Like, I wish I had connections, whatever. And, like, all this time, like, my best friend was, like, at this covenant, and he begged me for. For years in college, like, send me your stuff. Send me your reels. Like, I want to send it to my boss so that, like, we could talk about this. And I'm like, no. Like, that feels like cheating. Idiot, Idiot, idiot. [01:06:23] Speaker B: That's just, like, how things work. [01:06:24] Speaker A: Exactly. And in my senior year, I was like, please take my stuff. [01:06:27] Speaker B: Please cheat. Any sort of hurdles we can, you know, cross. [01:06:32] Speaker A: Like, oh, what a. Like, a privilege that is, you know? So, yeah, that is super rare. [01:06:37] Speaker C: And it's clear. Clear that you're aware of that. [01:06:39] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:06:40] Speaker C: And that's super special to have that relationship with a manager and someone that has seen you come up and have seen you grow and has been supportive since day one. It's dope. Yeah. [01:06:51] Speaker A: Yeah, he's the goat. We're seeing a show together tonight, actually, so it's been fun. He also loves comedy. Like, and so are you, though. [01:07:00] Speaker C: You know, when. When you guys get down to it, is it like, hey, so what do you want to be doing in the next year? Like, do you plan out months, or is it. Is it a. Let's focus on socials. And I know you want to do tv, and I know you want that. That sitcom. Like, trust me, just keep doing socials. And, like, when it's time. We'll push into that. [01:07:19] Speaker A: He. He is submitting me for more things that I know. [01:07:23] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:07:24] Speaker A: And so, like, we trust each other implicitly for, like, he trusts that I'm gonna keep grinding on socials until something else comes up, and that's where he comes in, you know, so we're. We're working independently but in tangent with each other. And so it's a very seamless thing. Like, if I have questions, I'll come to him, whatever, but he's. He's not breathing down my neck of, like, when are you gonna post this week? Or whatever. Because, like, we both trust that, like, we're working our asses off for each other. [01:07:54] Speaker C: Yeah. Great. It's a real partnership. [01:07:58] Speaker A: Seriously. [01:07:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:08:00] Speaker A: And, you know, that's not to say, like, he might work more in, like, editorial or fashion or, like, might move on to that space, and I'm gonna have to just, like, come to terms with that of, like, finding a different manager or whatever, but as of right now, like, I'm living in this, like, blissful state of. I don't feel like I have to answer to some, like, old guy who doesn't know me and doesn't care about me and has a million other clients. [01:08:24] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:08:26] Speaker A: So, yeah, it's great. [01:08:26] Speaker B: It's like, it seems like at. At our age, it's like the perfect manager client relationship to have because it's [01:08:32] Speaker A: not like I have a crazy resume to show, you know, like, building that. [01:08:36] Speaker C: And you are. [01:08:37] Speaker B: You do have a following. [01:08:39] Speaker C: Yeah, you do have a following. Like, you do have a resume. [01:08:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:08:43] Speaker C: And I know it's. It's uncomfortable to hear that, but, like, you do, you know, and it's. It's funny because we're similar in this way, too, but, like, we all. A lot of the guests that we have on our show, I'd say probably everyone. It's almost like we're reminding them, like, hey, like, you're doing so much. [01:09:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:09:03] Speaker C: Like, you really are. And you're. I know it sucks to hear whatever, but, like, you. You are doing. [01:09:08] Speaker B: Just listen, listen. [01:09:10] Speaker C: You're doing. You're doing the thing. You're on your way. Yeah. [01:09:13] Speaker B: And we wanted to talk to you for a reason. [01:09:15] Speaker A: I know. [01:09:16] Speaker B: Like, you know. [01:09:19] Speaker A: Yeah. That was silly. I was like, really? [01:09:21] Speaker B: Are you sure? [01:09:22] Speaker A: Are you sure about that? [01:09:23] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:09:25] Speaker C: But it's true, though. I mean, we were. [01:09:26] Speaker B: We were, like, texting about you this morning, and I was like, she is so castable. Like, I was like, she like, your look, your style, everything about you. I'm like, she is so like, I can just see you like immediately guesting [01:09:39] Speaker A: on a TV show the second you guys start writing sketches. Bro, Guest beat. [01:09:43] Speaker C: But like, we absolutely will. [01:09:45] Speaker B: We totally will. And like, you are such a unique performer and you're honestly doing something that I. That is so up my alley of humor that I do not see a lot of people doing. [01:09:57] Speaker A: Oh, I love that. [01:09:58] Speaker B: Like you are being so like vulnerable in such a beautiful way. So keep doing what you're doing, please. And if you, if you only did sketch comedy for the rest of your life, that would be totally. [01:10:09] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:10:10] Speaker B: You know. [01:10:10] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean that I used to say like SNL is my dream and like all those things and I now that I'm getting older, like how many more opportunities that we can make for ourselves that like, I don't know, I just, I have now realized I find that to be more fulfilling than like trying to reach this goal. [01:10:32] Speaker B: Totally. You're building like a very safe, secure foundation for yourself through sketch comedy. [01:10:36] Speaker C: And that's when that stuff comes to. [01:10:39] Speaker B: Exactly. And despite whatever studio or network gets interested in you and wants to develop with you and inevitably that thing doesn't work out. And your instinct just feel so sad about it. Like you will always have sketch comedy to come back to. Like that, that is, that's the beauty of being like a self starting comedian like you. We've talked to people who are like, you know, going through those cycles and [01:11:02] Speaker C: stuff and that is developing those first [01:11:03] Speaker B: features and that is their safety. That too of like coming back to, you know, the, the sort of profile they've built up. [01:11:11] Speaker C: Yeah, it's building that foundation. You said it. Yeah, exactly. We asked this question to everyone. I haven't asked in so long. You already answered it. Kind of. What is the dream? [01:11:23] Speaker A: What is the dream? I don't know. Quit all my jobs and fucking. Yeah. I mean, big house. Yeah. So big house. Daddy Warbucks mostly. No, the dream would be to write and perform in my own show. Whether it be on stage or on TV in a movie. Like the collaboration process in itself of creating a show is the most rewarding part for me. And so like, I don't know, like Phoebe Waller Bridge is like my hero in life, like that sort of thing. Or like, I mean everybody says this, but like Rachel Sennett, Iowa debris. Like those people who started off as stand ups and as writers that are now creating their own things with the people that they came up with. Like, that's my dream. [01:12:14] Speaker B: I thought you were gonna say Rachel Bloom, who would also Be a good person. [01:12:17] Speaker A: Who's Rachel Bloom? [01:12:18] Speaker B: Rachel Bloom. [01:12:19] Speaker A: Is that crazy of me? [01:12:20] Speaker C: I don't know Rachel Bloom. [01:12:21] Speaker B: She created Crazy Ex Girlfriend. Oh, yes, That's Rachel Bloom, right? [01:12:25] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't know her name. Yeah, she sounds lovely. [01:12:27] Speaker B: Yeah. But she's an amazing, like, amazing performer. Musician. [01:12:30] Speaker A: Yeah, totally. Like, to. To somehow marry all of those things with the community that pushed me up in the first place. [01:12:38] Speaker B: Yes. [01:12:38] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:12:39] Speaker A: And I. Yeah, I. I was talking to my friends about this recently. It's like, I don't. I can't think of a single person in my life right now that I don't think is going to be wildly successful. Like, and that's your surrounding stuff with the right people. [01:12:52] Speaker C: Amazing. I mean, it's seriously, that. That's, like, amazing. [01:12:58] Speaker A: It's maybe that's just like the USC thing of, like. I mean, granted, I met a lot of people at USC that maybe didn't work their asses off in this way, but, like, all the people that I'm really close to now are hustlers and, like, absolutely grinding. And that accountability we have for each other, like, I just. I just know in my heart and in my soul, like, those people are going to succeed and either carry my ass up with them or, like, whatever. Like, I. Yeah, I don't. No doubts that I have about my life right now are because of the people that I'm around. And I think that is something really [01:13:37] Speaker C: special with sports, is the last thing I'll say. But I think sports are a great example of. Because happened to me personally, where, like, I was gonna go play in school, in college. [01:13:47] Speaker A: What sport? [01:13:48] Speaker C: Lacrosse. I got injured. That one. I got injured. [01:13:52] Speaker B: Lacrosse. [01:13:53] Speaker C: It was my whole life. I was like, I'm gonna do this. I got injured. [01:13:55] Speaker A: You've got great hair for it. [01:13:56] Speaker C: Thank you. [01:13:57] Speaker A: Probably sick in the helmet. [01:13:58] Speaker C: You're missing the point. [01:13:58] Speaker B: I got. [01:13:59] Speaker A: For talking. [01:13:59] Speaker C: I got injured, by the way. I. I tore my hip flexor, and there are three heads of it, and I tore the first one. Yeah. I don't know. Doctors listening to this are probably like, what are you talking about? But there are three. [01:14:10] Speaker B: We do have a. [01:14:11] Speaker C: And I. Dr. [01:14:12] Speaker B: Audience. [01:14:12] Speaker C: And I tore the other two because I played on it in a tournament. I was like, screw it, I got to do this. And I ruined myself for that X amount of time. But I learned, though, from that years later of, like. Because, like, looking back at it, it's like, you can't control that. You can't control the outcome in anything. Yeah. Like I said my whole life, playing and dreaming about this is what I'm gonna do is what I'm gonna do. And I was doing it and I was. And it was like right there. And then I got flatlined, you know, and it's this crazy realization of, like, there is no guarantee. And so you might as well try though, you know, Especially if you love it. [01:14:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:14:49] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:14:50] Speaker A: And to think, like eight months ago I was like shutting the door of my like childhood bedroom. Like, no one come in here. Like, I'm filming something, like, super nervous about it. And now it has become such a great source of like pride and self esteem for me. And like. Yeah, just helped me as a person with confidence, let alone like as a performer. And I just. It's exactly what you're saying. Like, there's no reason not to try because the benefits are going to outweigh. [01:15:19] Speaker C: You can. You can fail. And anything you get fired from any job, might as well get fired or fail in the thing you love doing. [01:15:25] Speaker A: Exactly. [01:15:26] Speaker C: You know, and you're doing it seriously inspiring. [01:15:28] Speaker A: Brother, brother, brother, brother. [01:15:30] Speaker C: True. It's true. Keep going. [01:15:34] Speaker A: Yeah, we'll. We'll freaking see, man. [01:15:37] Speaker C: We'll see. We will. We'll see. [01:15:38] Speaker B: We'll see. [01:15:38] Speaker A: You'll see. [01:15:39] Speaker C: It's not great. No, no, as in, like, we'll see. Like, could work. Could not work, you know, like with us too. [01:15:46] Speaker B: We will see. [01:15:46] Speaker C: We're sitting there, we'll see. [01:15:49] Speaker A: We just don't know what you see. [01:15:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:15:53] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:15:53] Speaker B: Well, thank you for. For coming on. [01:15:55] Speaker A: Really appreciate it. [01:16:05] Speaker C: Did you learn something? I'm like your mom. Did you learn something in this episode? I hope so. Or not. That's okay. Thanks for hanging. Make sure you follow us at the 5050fest on Instagram and give us five stars because. Why not? Why not subscribe? Why not? You know why not? Okay, bye.