All right, good Monday. Happy Monday. Oh, good
Monday too. Mike Brindisi here. Good news York
kicking off the week brought to you by ads on
the go get ads on the go calm Shout out to our
man Zach. I am flying solo this week Matt went
on vacation I don't know some some island that
some socialite used to go to it's been in the
news I don't know he's visiting so it's gonna
be me and Danny producing and I'm gonna get right
into it One of my favorite people is coming on
the show today He's a friend of mine. He is the
founder of Homebrewed Comedy, the Homebrewed
Comedy Circuit, which I'm very honored to be
a part of. Mr. Mike Peters is here. Let's bring
him on. Bring him on. That is a lousy applause.
I love that. Thank you. I know. It's such a weak...
I just... I watch these shows where they bring
the guests on and everybody, but they have a
full crew and it... Yeah. It's almost like if
someone tips you... like 50 cents if you're a
server and you're like, you know what? No tip
would have been better than 50 cents. Maybe I
shouldn't clap. You know what? I am a sucker
for any adulation. Yes. So, like, if you give
me... Oh, listen, not every clap is good to have.
But if you give me a small one, then I'm happy.
So I'm fine with it. Mike, as you and I both
know, comedians have holes inside of us that
can never truly be filled. No, no. Dude, I just
did a show outside of a racetrack at Tiger Downs.
Okay. And, like, we had, like, I mean, there
were a bunch of people there, but, I mean, they
just lost money on a horse race, and they don't
expect to see a comedian. So, like, a few people
paid attention, and all I needed was a few people
to pay attention to me. And I had a fantastic
night. Dude, that's right. And, uh, that is a
hilarious... Just when you think you've heard
all the stories... of like stand -up comedy shows
and all the different crazy shit that can happen.
I never thought of doing one post -horse race
where everybody wants to kill themselves because
they lost their money. That is... No man, neither
did I and the guy got a hold of me and he was
like, I organized it for him last time and all
it is like for for six people last time they
had to do like three minutes between horse races
like And so I'm like, well, I'm busy, so I can't
do that. And he got to hold me this time. He
was like, hey, we're thinking about changing
up a little bit. And if you're free, we need
someone to headline it. And I'm like, yeah, I
can do that. So I got 20 minutes between races
eight and nine. And I'm like, you know what?
That's fine. The other two guys got three minutes,
which is harder to do. And that's shorter than
the horse race. Pretty much, yeah. And so what
they did is they had the horse race, and they
replayed the horse race. And then they had the
comedian on the big screen. And then, you know,
they were basically, you had to stay isolated.
You can't move around. You can't do crowd work,
really, because nobody can hear you and the horses
don't talk back. So that's useless. So like that
three minutes done and then they'll give you
a wrap up side of done. So I, I walked down there
and I've got like, I'm headlining it. So my picture
is the only one down there and they're advertising
to go stay for headline and Mike Peters. Which
is really nice. But I'm thinking like, they do
not care about me. But not at all. You can say
my name. I can be Jim Gaff again. And suddenly
they're not going to be like, they're going to
be mad. Yeah. Like they just lost race eight.
Yeah, right. I'm just going to let them out next.
But it was fun and they paid me and I'm good.
So, you know, I get to go home. I saw your pictures
from that. I was wondering what the video screen
was. So were they performing to a crowd in front
of them or were they just alone in a room? What?
Yeah, so we were on the track and they were in
front of a cameraman. Oh, and there's like a
director there who gives you the microphone and
they're broadcasting us like we're telling jokes
to the people on the track like the. Yes, in
the grandstands. Yes, now I get it. And then
like a few people are coming down to watch like
I had like maybe ten people come down the stairs
to watch me closer. So which is whatever a compliment,
but we're also broadcast on the big screen the
jumbotron in the you know where they do the replays
of the horses and everything. Yeah, so they're
gonna be following everything and then we're
also broadcast into the casino not the casino
part, but like the the dining room right and
everything else. So like we can be heard. But
like, that means almost nothing to any comedian
who just wants to hear the feedback of the audience.
I love you. I mean, you want to talk about paying
your dues. You've done anything and everything
you can to make shows work. And this goes back,
and we've probably talked about this. I know
I've talked about it countless times on the show.
It might have been with you. How just certain
people think that you can just do a comedy show
anywhere, anytime, and it's completely going
to translate. Man, I saw this past, I don't know,
six months ago, three people from SNL, Colin
Jost, headlined at Cornell. And they did it in
this big airplane hangar called Barton Hall.
Amazing place to go see concerts. But as you
know, a lot of times, comedy is intimate. Like
you hear about comedians that, like a Bill Burr
type or, you know, back in the day, Dane Cook,
who went on to do stadiums, right, or arenas.
And they're like, you know, even at my level,
I hate doing arenas because you don't a lot of
times you got to be in like within proximity
to see facial expressions and it just it doesn't
connect. So being on a horse track, just like
talking to a camera. I mean, I just feel like
that is you are up against it, man. God bless
you guys. Yeah, it's a little different because
like any more like I'd say within the last six
or eight months, I. I haven't changed my act,
really. I mean, it's always evolving, and I've
got different material. But like, me as a comedian,
the biggest change I've made is that I now talk
to the audience a little bit more to set up a
joke, or to like, maybe I don't know how to start
a joke. And I'm like, all right, well, if I talk
to the audience, I'll have a conversation, maybe
it'll be funny, and then I can dive into that
joke, and they will know I don't have a beginning
to it. Right, right, right, right. Like I'm working
a bit now and I didn't do it on Saturday, but
I, I do host trivia now and like I had to do
Star Wars trivia and I don't know Star Wars.
So I didn't have a beginning to this joke. And
like, how do I get into that? Like, do you like
Star Wars? Do you not? Has anybody not seen it?
So I'm like, I just figured screw it. I'll ask.
And I asked the audience like who here has never
seen Star Wars and like very few people. will
raise their hand. And somebody will. I'm like,
why? And I'll ask a question because I want to
know, like, the reason I haven't seen it is because
people keep telling me I have to see it. And
I like it's like that punk rock, like anti. Yes.
I don't want to be part of the trend. Yes. So
I'm like, that's why that's because this reaction,
because you're mad right now. That's why I'm
never going to see it. That's it. And the joke
I wanted to start with is like, you know, and
I think it's a good joke, but like I've never
seen Star Wars, but I've seen Spaceballs, which
is the Cliff Notes version of Star Wars. Yeah,
it's great. Like, if I'm quizzed on it, I think
I could pass the test. But if we get the conversation,
I'm screwed. Yeah. So what happened was, at the
trivia, the joke is like, if you ever want to
make a Star Wars fan mad, all you have to do
is... mispronounced something from their little
fantasy world. And it's like, so I'm like joking
around and I'm like, they have a thing, like
a town or a borough or whatever called Tatooine.
I don't know what it is, but I think of the planet
or a city on the planet, whatever. And the first
thing I did at a trivia night, where I didn't
write the questions, I hadn't written for me,
was I had to say Tatooine, but I mispronounced
it and I called it Tatoonie. Which like everybody
was mad at me. Yeah, you had a riot right right
away and So like it's just I'm like you haven't
felt the you haven't lived until you felt the
ire Yeah, he dorks dude. I'm a hundred percent
with you I Every time like a lot of the guys
I work with here are big Star Wars fans, and
I don't make fun of them. I almost envy it I'm
like it's like religion like I envy anyone's
really like I wish I could love Star Wars, but
I just don't Do you know? Okay. So I don't think
it's our fault necessarily. Okay. I think you
and I, because we're, you're 42, right? Yes.
Same age. Yeah. Allegedly. So I think we missed
it. I think we missed it. We, because if you
think about it, Star Wars, like they were really
big in the mid seventies, like to early eighties,
right? It is true. We were born in 83. Right.
So like, and then we, obviously the moves are
always there, but like the resurgence. was when
we were in high school. So if we didn't latch
on there, we were too old for the toys. Hundred
percent. So I think like we were like really
in the baseball. Dude! Or women or whatever.
And Star Wars even then was still like a dork
thing for me at least. It was. So I think we
just was like my brother is six years younger
than me. Loves Star Wars. Because he was like
the prime age for the marketing. You are so -
I think that's part of it. And then there's always
that, like, oh, I don't need to watch it. If
I don't want to watch it, you can't make me.
Right. But we absolutely could have gone back.
But I really think our generation, our age especially,
kind of missed it a little bit. Dude, that checks
out because I've also said before that, do you
ever notice that all your heroes, whether it's
athletes or actors, whatever, singers, If you
go back, you're like, oh, man, all the ones that
I'm, like, truly, like, obsessed with, right,
are when I was, like, from 12 to 17. Oh, yeah.
Yeah. So if you miss that window with something,
it's never gonna catch on like it does with some
people. I'll do you one better. If you could
think about it, like, let's pretend that you
love your wife and your family, okay? Whatever.
Let's pretend. Let's just pretend I do. But,
okay. Okay. What do you think your favorite years
of, like, if you can go back and repeat a couple
years, what do you think it would be? You could
go live them again. Well, certainly not the newborn
years. I would say, like, right now, my son is
five or six. So I would say from, like, three
to six, seven, like, you know, with the innocence
and the, you know, hilarity. Yeah. I think for
me, it's like... that it's the 12, that's 10
to 12. Okay. Because if you think about it, and
it's kind of like that, we had no responsibility.
Like all we had to do was go to school, come
home safely, hopefully, uh, and then play with
all your friends, watch TV. We had, we had no,
no girl problems. Nope. We had no bills to pay.
We had no job. I mean, those are my favorite
years. And then you go back and you're like,
okay, well that for me, it was like 1993. So
like, let's say 96, 97, like that era, it's where
all of my favorite TV shows are. That's where
all of my favorite music is. That's where all
of my favorite movies are. I mean, it's like
that, I think we hold onto that so dearly. You
are, you're dead, I screwed up. That's one of
our favorite years. I thought you were asking
me as a parent, what are my favorite years of
my kid? Oh, no, no, no. No, and I'm not just
saying this to hop on. If, if I had... answered
that correctly I would have said anywhere from
like 8 to 12 years old because I'm too young
to get all caught up in chicks you know I just
want to play with my friends watch TV listen
to music and I've always said if I could relive
from like 1992 to 1997 over and over at this
age I totally would I mean everything everything
was in its prime I've said this before like music
every genre was in its prime pop you had Mariah
Carey Whitney Houston country you had Garth Brooks
Alan Jackson Hip -hop, Dre, Snoop, I mean, the
movies, the box office movies, Independence Day,
you know, Jim Carrey was, like, everything was
just fucking awesome, man. Sandler, I mean, you
think about 94, like, for music and TV, music
and movies, I mean, those are glorious, 92, 94,
96. Yep. Like, I am a firm believer that the
90s were probably the best decade, and... We
peaked. I don't know... It's really pathetic,
because I go back and I'm arrested there. I'm
just there. So my girlfriend and I will talk
about pretty celebrities, like sexy celebrities.
I will always go back to the 90s. Jennifer Aniston.
I don't know why. Is it always Jennifer? Yeah.
It's the Jennifer of some sort. But Alicia Silverstone.
I cannot... Kelly Cabal or Tiffany Ann Batista.
But I cannot... not think of somebody from the
90s. That's such a, you know, my grandfather
used to do that. Like, I remember being a kid
and being like, you know, he'd be like, oh, I
remember Scarlett Grace Johnson. She was a real
hottie. And I'm like, she was a hottie. What
are you talking? She used to show her ankles
on camera. You know what I mean? You have grandma.
Yeah, exactly. So I think we're just doing what
our parents and grandparents did, which is like,
our time was the best time. But I really think
the 90s were. I really do. I don't know. Anyway,
I could talk. I could do it. By the way, this
just means we're old. I know. I fucking know.
I know. Dude, I walked an 18 hole golf course.
I did a charity golf event with some Buffalo
Bills media guys a couple of weeks ago. Walked
18 holes as a caddy and the next day I woke up
and I was like an old German Shepherd with hip
dysplasia like I I Couldn't like I couldn't move
and I'm like all I did was walk like what the
fuck is going on Anyway, I don't like my girlfriend.
I just went to a concert last night. We saw newfound
glory. Yeah has an all swing and So good, but
like we got we were in the field like the lawn.
Yeah cheap we were in the lawn for Newfound glory
and you know we were there for a storm and everything
and then somebody came around with upgraded tickets
because they wanted to fill the amphitheater
so we got in there and so we're in seats now
and i mean we're we're standing to watch gme
world we're standing to watch the offspring but
like every four or five songs we sat down and
my girlfriend we're in the car she goes yeah
i wanted to stand up but i couldn't i go babe
We're just not young anymore Like it's it's not
that like we're out of shape, which you know,
I need to lose weight for sure But it's like
we're just our bones. So yes, it's not working
You know, it's not you know, we don't we don't
want to stand we don't we don't want to get up
and get the remote You know, it just it it's
just science really. I'm so glad you went to
that show That's another amazing thing about
the 90s was the pop punk era which you and I
are in love with So if you had to, I hate doing
this, but if you had to pick, so it was Newfound
Glory, Offspring, and Jimmy E. World, right?
Yeah. So who was your, like, who do you think
was the best? Or like, was it just all perfect?
I think, man, it's hard to say because... Who
were you there to see, really? All of them or
was there a... I, in order, I would have gone
to see the Offspring, then Newfound Glory, then
Jimmy E. World. Okay. I think Jimmy E. World
probably sounded... Man, it was Jimmy World and
Newfound Willard's Time of the Best. Offspring,
they really needed to raise Dexter Holland's
vocals. Okay. Because we couldn't hear a few
songs. They're older. At least two of them, like
Noodles and Dexter are in their 50s at least.
They didn't want to be standing either. They
were old. No, Dexter brought us a piano so you
could sit for like four minutes. Exactly. So
we're vibing there. My favorite of the three
bands is the Offspring. Okay. And I think maybe
if Newfound glory could have played a headline
set, you know, they probably would have been
the best band of the night, but they only played
eight songs. Right. So and Jimmy world, I'm just
not as big a fan of their music. I love the music.
I just don't know it as well. So I know three
albums pretty well. And the other was I'm like,
all right. And I tried to track set lists that
I'm like having to like hang on to like three
or four consecutive words. Yeah. Then Google
that with Jimmy world on the song. Yeah. So But
they were great. I made a joke on Facebook, but
I was watching GMA World and one of the, I don't
know if he's a regular member or a touring member,
but he had like a horseshoe ball pattern. Oh.
And I'm like, I think the joke was like, there
comes a point where all of our favorite musicians
look like our 10th grade history teacher and
nobody's ready for it. It's true because it seemed
like if any of your teachers were going to be
like, Semi hip and edgy. It would be the history
teacher Like if they were gonna have any sort
of it wouldn't be the English teacher It wouldn't
be the math. It would be it would definitely
be the history. It certainly wouldn't be the
math teacher No, hell no. They're all girls dorks.
No. Yeah I I'll be honest Jimmy world. I I found
them late when they came out with it was a bleed
American. Yeah Yeah, that that is what I that
might be in my top ten favorite albums of all
time. I so good they are That album is unbelievable,
and I heard a rumor I should fact -check it now
that we have the the interweb But I had heard
that that Tom DeLong from blink 182 Actually
had found them like I don't know if he discovered
them and got him signed But he was like a fan
himself and like he invited Jimmy World to play
his own birthday party and then they ended up
blowing up but Yeah, I'm a big blink fan and
and Jimmy World's amazing I know they, I think
they timed along Mark Hoppus' list, Jimmy Eat
World's influences, so the timeline probably,
it might sync up, but I'm not sure. But they're
both from California, I believe. No, Jimmy Eat
World's Arizona. Oh yeah, you're right, you're
right. They're Arizona, but yeah, I got a chance
to see an Alan Blanken out, as I always do. I
forget the singer's name for Jimmy Eat World,
but - Jim Eakins. Thank you. He came to Ithaca
in like 2011, maybe 12, 13, somewhere in there.
On a Sunday night, he came to play The Haunt.
It was a Sunday night show. There was probably
40 people there. And he, it was just the coolest
move. He walks in, like literally walk, there's
no opening act. There's one little light on him.
He walks in. sets his amp down, plugs it in,
takes his guitar out of the guitar case, puts
it on, tunes up, and just plays. No roadie, no
intro music. It was just like he came in off
the street, and I just thought, and it was a
great show, and I just thought it was the coolest
fucking move, man. And then after the show, he
came out and just was talking to everybody, and
I was just like, this is amazing. I saw Elko
and Trio years ago in Baltimore. So good, live.
But the opener was Cursive. I don't know if you've
ever heard Cursive. No. But they're awesome.
They're an indie band from, like, I think Omaha.
Okay. And they're now the ugly organ that is
just a masterpiece. And they're just, like, a
little bit prog, but, like, they're dark, just
fantastic. But they came on and didn't say a
word. And then they played, like, 12 songs. 14
songs, whatever, like you're on stage for like
a half an hour, 35 minutes, and then didn't do
any banter at all. And if you're used to like
a blank shell, like we grew up to that, like
they're going to say fuck every once in a while,
they're going to swear. Hey, Mark, your mom jerked
me off. You don't say nothing. Nothing. So the
only words they said outside of the songs were,
thanks, good night. And I thought that was awesome.
You know, like Oh my god, that's like the the
quiet cool thing, you know You don't need to
impress you you make a good point cuz like when
I was playing music with my band I was always
a banter guy like blink, you know, I love Yeah,
I know I love to interact with the audience the
whole thing, but then I would go to shows like
Incubus and Dave Matthews band where they barely
talk and they kind of keep this mysteriousness
about him and I always thought that is such a
cool fucking move But I just I could never do
that I could never do that. I don't think I could
either. If I was, I know I couldn't. You couldn't.
No way. Not with a comedian in you. There's no
way. But I think like, it's not even that. It's
like, I don't like silence at all. Like, and
yeah, that's hardly okay. Well, I need laughter,
but like, if I'm in my house, I need sound. Yeah.
I need TikTok video. I need, I need TV in the
background. Something. I need something. Music.
Yeah. If I edit a podcast, I am watching... a
Mets game that I haven't seen or Boy Meets World
is on. Like, I need something to draw my focus
away. Like, it's something that I've seen before
or whatever. Like, I just have to have something
where I look down at my phone and I don't want
to hear nothing. Right. You're not, like, watching
Law and Order SVU or you got to really pay attention
to the plot. Well, now I would because I've memorized
every episode. Oh, you're one of those? Yeah.
My girlfriend and I would go to sleep to it.
Dude. We actually, I wish I had known, we have
it here. Matt surprised me with a, he got me
the Law and Order gavel that goes bom bom when
you hit it. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, yeah. But
I do have this. I have the... He got me a sad
trombone as well. Dude, I used to say I could
write a pop punk song at any moment. Like, I
used to do it in the van with the band. I would
have my guitar and I'd be like, give me a topic.
Actually, give me a topic. Just give me a topic
real quick. It could be anything. Hardwood floors.
Great. All right. I was riding around on my hardwood
floors, hardwood floors. Hardwood, hard the floor.
Hardwood, it's hardwood floor. All right, maybe
that wasn't great, but... Well, you had the spirit.
You just got to get the hook in there and then
you're set. But... Also, I thought of a good
way, if you do another Star Wars joke, just be
like, maybe this is kind of hacky. I don't know.
Just be like, hey, who here are Star Wars fans?
And then whoever raises their hand be like, well,
now we know where the virgins are. I mean, that's
a softball. But anyway, let's talk about what
you actually came for. It used to be. That used
to be it. Now people watch Star Wars. They get
laid because they've seen Star Wars. They actually
fuck while watching Star Wars now. No. OK, wait,
my amazing producer Danny just brought this.
Oh, wait, hold on. Is it broke? Oh, did you hear
it? Oh, the coughing. I got to get you one. I'm
going to get you one and send it to you. Oh,
that's fantastic. But anyway, enough about my
bullshit. Oh, I'm sorry. So you can see this.
I forgot I had this. It's a hat that says executive
producer dude That hat is way cooler if you know
what that's all about because in that era every
great crime show every great drama Finished with
executive producer Dick Wolf, and I'll go a step
further music by Mike Post You know okay, so
do you know what other famous show Mike Post
did oh? I do I do There's a bunch, but like the
one that I'm thinking of is I go ahead go ahead
Doogie Howser Lum Doogie, dude, he was a fucking
wrecking ball He gets paid for don't don't dumb
the whole thing makes money. Yeah. Oh I dropped
it But he's getting royalties every time he had
that gavel. It's amazing. Um, oh to be Mike Post
so The reason we're having you on other than
because we love you and we love homebrewed comedy,
which seems to be going great. You've you've
you know, I've watched the homebrewed comedy
circuit kind of keep growing. I mean, I've been
a part of it. So I I've experienced it firsthand,
but also watching from social media, seeing how
much the roster of comedians has grown and the
venues and how you're traveling farther. But
you started to do these. I think I'm saying it
right. These don't tell comedy shows. Is that
what's been going on? Yep. Don't tell comedy.
So tell me, so don't tell me, but actually tell
me about these don't tell comedy shows. So they're
secret shows. So they're running all over the
nation, say 150 plus cities, probably more than
that now. But basically what it is is like you
get a showcase, you got four or five comedians
on a show, sometimes more, but usually four is
the minimum. And you don't know where the location
is. You don't know what the lineup is. You buy
a ticket, 25 bucks, and on the day of the show,
like 24 hours, you will get an email saying,
hey, we're at Dunkin' Donuts on Main Street,
let's say. And then you show up there at 6 .30
for a seven o 'clock show and you've got sound
equipment, lighting, you've got a nice little
don't tell sign, and you've got 50 of your closest
comedy buddies. there to see the show. And it's
just a really cool environment. And we're basically
bringing comedy shows where they're not usually,
they usually aren't art. Right. Let me try that
again. Let me, in English, we're bringing comedy
shows to places that we're not used to seeing
them. Did you just have a stroke? Are you okay?
I had a lot of strokes. Yeah. Okay. It's been,
it's been rough. It's fair. Rough couple of years,
but no, it's... They're, they're fun. The energy
is usually really high. They show us their secrets.
So like the audience you get as a comedian, the
audience you get, they want to laugh. They want
to be part of this. They have no idea what they
expect. You could have comedians and I've booked
comedians on the shows from Philly, New York
city, Boston, and then Syracuse, like local guys
too. So you never really know who you're going
to see. And the good part would like. Like, I'm
bringing one of the shows to Syracuse. Good part
is, like, you might get comedians who are at
the FunnyVone at the show. Sure. Like, feature
acts, hosts, I mean, I don't know, headliners,
but we'll see if they have time. But, like, you
have no idea who's showing up. But what you do
know is that you're gonna get a really fucking
good show. That's awesome. And you know what
I love about it, too, other than, I mean, the
whole gimmick of a don't tell is awesome. But
it's very hard nowadays to create any sort of
anticipation. Unless you're like a crazy like,
again, like a Bill Burr or some huge comedian.
You know, at this level with up and coming comedians,
it's hard to create anticipation because not
everybody knows. So I just like that it creates
this natural anticipation of like, oh, man, who
are we going to see? Is this something you came
up with or is this a nation? Because you said
nationwide. How does that work? So I just. applied.
Like my buddy Paul Spratt is a very funny comedian
out of like the the Wilkes -Barre. I think it's
in Lehigh Valley now, but in Pennsylvania. He
started working with them and the business has
been going for a few years, but basically created
as a way to like, I don't know, bring some more
excitement to the comedy landscape. But he helped
get me involved with this. I just started working
with him in January and I started producing shows
in Binghamton. And I've done like two a month
in Binghamton and then I just got approved for
Syracuse. So they've been on, in fact, they have,
I think three of the board members on Don't Tell
has Syracuse ties. Like they grew up there or
went to school at college. So university, I don't
want to disparage it, but they, they're big proponents
of like just a party atmosphere and well, professional,
but they want to bring. They want to give people,
uh, an alternative to club comedy. I love it.
Like if you don't want to go to the funny bone
and I love the funny bone, I wish they'd booked
me more, but I love the funny bone. But like,
if you don't want to go there and, and buy, you
know, wings beer. And the cool thing was don't
tell a lot of them are BYOB. So you can bring
a sit back or whatever and go hang out in a yoga
studio. And yeah, I mean, I've done other shows
in yoga studios, coffee. shops, a jujitsu studio,
you know, some bars, but like, it's just so much
fun. Dude, you know, the irony, though, is that
don't they know that that's kind of what the
comedy scene has become, you know, at this level
is like, because you're ahead of the time. I
mean, you've done shows at breweries, you did
shows at diet bars, you know, you kind of did
that thing, you know? Yeah, but... Kind of, but
their marketing campaign is much different than
mine. They're a national thing. So like they
can, they've got a bigger instep than I do. And,
you know, it's frustrating because like I am
running my independent shows at bars and breweries
and I love doing that. I'm still doing that.
Yeah. But the difference between the Don't Tell
is that I'll get people at the Don't Tell shows
who don't know that comedy is happening in Binghamton.
And I want to strangle them. He was like, I've
been working at it for nine years and haven't
got through to that person, which is fine. You
know, people find comedy in different ways. And
that's kind of the magic of don't tell where,
you know, they have, uh, you got a national campaign
going. They've got a big email following. They
have don't tell specials where people can find
out about them, click on their link, follow them.
You can subscribe to their email list and so
you can get updates on. if and when the show's
coming to your town. That's something I don't
have. And it's just, there are different audiences.
I mean, I love my audience. I love the Don't
Tell audiences, but it's like a behavior thing
a little bit. And I don't mean at the show, like
both audiences are great, but when I'm setting
up for an independent show, the Homeward show,
I'm like nervous that people aren't gonna show
up and they do, but they get there almost at
show time. Whereas the Don't Tell, they will
get there a little bit before the doors are supposed
to open. And I just want to be like, why can't
you do that at my shows? I know. So I'm not nervous
for another half an hour that nobody's going
to show up and the comedians think I'm a failure
and won't ever work with me again. So they're
a little bit different. I know there's a lot
of reasons that I'm a failure and don't want
to work with me again. But the audience could
help me out. But it's just, they're two different
things. And I don't know which one I prefer.
Don't tell is fun. Don't tell is like It's kind
of like a shot in the arm like like maybe maybe
a home bridge show Didn't go as well as I want.
I mean it could be happening the other way around
Maybe don't tell show wasn't as good as it should
have been and I need every room is different
every show is different But I know they're they're
total fun. I love love running it That's got
to be frustrating when like you you get done
with a don't tell show and in Binghamton and
someone's like You know, this what's fun. You
guys should do this more. You should do comedy
down here and you should do this. You should
be a comedian. You're like, bitch, I am. This
is what I do. Like, listen, if you want me to
do a show in your living room so you'll turn,
I will do that. Absolutely. I just did a horse
track. I know. I will do a living room show.
Dude, I mean, that is wild. Listen, the don't
tell thing, though, which is kind of cool. It's
like you're almost like franchising, but it's
I think part of the reason that maybe people,
you feel like you're getting a different and
kind of cooler reception with Don't Tell is,
and again, it goes back to what we just talked
about when I've talked about a million times.
When people would, I worked at a bar where I
was the assistant manager and it was a music
venue, but they wanted to start doing comedy
shows and they're like, we should just do comedy
during happy hour. You know, I went on that whole
thing about it just doesn't people aren't gonna
if they're there to drink and Then the jokes
are second. It doesn't you have to do a ticketed
So people because what happens is people show
up when they know it's a comedy show and they've
paid for a ticket They without even knowing they
know that they're coming to laugh So they're
already ready to laugh if you just pop up a show
While they're drinking they're like what what
the hell is this and it could work eventually
but so I think the don't tell thing it just It
creates that anticipation and it gets people
excited. Like, who are we going to see? Let's
get there early, you know? And it works. And
I think it's great. It is funny because, like,
I don't know if it's difference in the audience,
but, like, when... I mean, obviously, if you're
paying $25, you value your time. So you want
quality. And typically, when I do a show, like
a free show at a bar, over $10... We don't have
people who want to sit in front. The don't tell?
Man, the people who get there early are getting
there early to get a front seat. Oh, shit. Because
they want to be part of the show. And that, I
think, is different. And maybe that's because
the don't tell specials they've seen, or any
of the clips online, are crowd work clips. So
they want to be part of that magic. But like,
I don't know, the energy is a little bit different.
And I think a lot of that is the monetary value
that you're placing, because... they're now invested
and they're having a good night. Yes. Emotionally
and financially. Before I let you go, I mean,
I want to hear about the shows, but I got to
ask you, you talk about crowd work. So as you
know, kind of the new thing, if you're a comedian,
you've probably noticed that like crowd work
is the new thing, you know, and a lot of the
younger generations I've been told just assume
that crowd work is what stand up is. And I don't
know if it's that drastic. Have you noticed,
because I mean, you see so many comedians with
homebrewed comedy and the Don't Tell shows, are
you seeing a shift in more crowd work? A little
bit, but I don't know if it's a cognitive thing.
Like, I know there's some comedians who are actively
working on it. Yeah, I am. And the hard part
for me as a comedian is like, and a producer,
is you want, like if I book you, I want like
your... 30 best minutes like I want a material
because I look at anybody I book like a ringer
like I'm always doing different things Different
jokes because I've been here every month Yeah,
you're trying new stuff out all the time as you're
doing it constantly right because I don't want
to give the audience the same 15 minutes I did
last month and like I feel like I don't want
them to come to the show and be okay with tuning
out the first part of it, so I Look at it like
a comedian It is incredibly difficult to get
better at crowd work at an open mic. Yes. Because
the open mics largely are with other comedians
in the audience and you know them. And it's very
hard to do organic crowd work with people you
know. Especially if they're comedians and they're
trying to out -funny you. Because you're not
going to get anything from that. That's a worst
case scenario is you call on someone in the crowd
and they're another comedian. Oh, man. I've had
that in shows where And Steve Brown is bad with
this. He's not as bad anymore, but he is so supportive
that he will show up to the shows and if nobody's
volunteering for a crowd work piece, he will
volunteer. And it sucks because you know he means
well, but it's like, dude, not you. Because now
you're a plant in the audience. Right. if it
are trying to get better at crowd work and they
have to do it at the shows. So I'm seeing them
be kind of raw with it and not good with it.
And there's nothing you can really do because
like the only way you're going to get better
is by fucking up. Right. So, and then even if
you're good at crowd work, like you're not going
to ban a thousand. Right. So, so I have seen
like comedians definitely try to put a little
more effort into doing crowd work, but I mean,
I would say in your first five years, you're
largely afraid of the audience and you have your
material and you're hoping that it goes well
and you're thinking too hard about it not going
well to really throw in another variable and
gamble on that. It's like, so the only way I've
gotten better at it is by doing that leading
question. Like, okay, who hears that and why?
And you ask another question and hopefully you
trip on something funny. And like, you just want
to like... Are you a Seinfeld fan? You know what?
I hate to admit this on the air. I'm not a fan,
but no, I wasn't. You know, it didn't help me.
There's a little bit in the show where George
is bombing at these meetings. He'll get a joke
to work, get a big laugh, and then he sticks
around and tries to outdo himself. And Jerry's
like, no, you got to end on a big laugh. It's
showmanship. But with me, like, if I get something
to work really well in crowd work, it's like,
okay, I have to retreat. So not like leave the
stage, but like I have to stop doing the crowd
work because if I get greedy and gamble, I might
look like an asshole. Yeah. Yeah. That's where
I'm like, the comedians have to learn that a
little bit more. And then eventually you can,
you can master it and be better at it. And I'm
not there yet. I hear that man. And obviously
same here. My whole thing with with crowd work
like if someone was like, what would you tell
someone? Who's gonna branch out and do crowd
work? I would always say keep three or four things
in your back pocket that you can rely on it because
you can't you know You call on someone they might
be a fucking gem and it becomes a whole other
thing You might get a flat crowd that doesn't
have much so you can kind of steer that into
it and the other thing I would say is Always
be able, like, know your material enough to where
you can, no matter how far down the hole you
go with the crowd, you can steer it back to where,
to go right back into your act, you know? And
it's hard to do. And I failed so many times,
but my girlfriend would tell me, like, she'd
come to occasional shows, and she's like, your
crowd work is the best part. And I think that's
because she knows the material so well. that
it doesn't work on her anymore. But she's like,
I always laugh at your crowd work. See, I also
think that that's a compliment because that means
that's you just being you and naturally funny.
I've always thought me being me is funnier than
me doing material. But I think there's something
to be said that if your material is really funny
but your crowd work sucks, it's like, OK, you're
a good writer, but you're not good off the cuff.
So I mean, I don't know. I like it. So tell me
about... And I think that's exactly what it is.
It's you. Yes. Because you are being authentic
right then. We all write in the voice we want
to have. But the voice we have is who we are.
That's right. You nailed it. I was told back
in the day that the difference between a comic
and a comedian is like a comedian is someone
who's almost always on. They're themselves. Or
an exaggerated version of themselves. A comic
is like... They have an act and then off stage,
they're not that act, you know? Yeah. But listen,
before I let you go, let's get to it. What are
the shows coming up in Syracuse and anywhere
else? And let's do the plugs, man. All right.
So, can't tell you a lot of specifics. All right.
Don't tell. Because of the nature of it. But
the first Don't Tell show in Syracuse is going
to be on Friday, August 22nd at 9 p .m. Okay.
So... the ticket link will be available soon.
It has to be approved, and it will be, but it
has to be approved, and then it'll be on their
national site. So I can send you guys the links
if you wanna spread it that way, that's fine.
We will. But probably will be up in the next
couple days. And then what I'm looking for, if
you own a business, if you work somewhere where
you think that a show might work, we usually
sell out the shows. So if you have a space that
can hold 35, 40, 50, 60 people, we can bring
that to your business. It would just need to
be a private show. So if you have like a basement,
if you've got a yoga studio that's not, you know,
it shuts down at eight o 'clock, we don't want
to affect your business negatively. We want to
add to it. We want to bring more eyes onto your
business. If it's a small startup business, you're
local. We want to bring 50 people to your coffee
shop, you know, and hang out at eight o 'clock,
seven o 'clock, whatever. I'll work with you.
We'll get everything handled and we clean up.
Everybody's respectful. So it's been a lot of
fun in Binghamton and we're doing really well.
And Syracuse is much bigger with more people
and a younger type audience. So like, I think
it's a really good way to get people involved.
And I mean, I've got a coffee shop. We do things.
I mean, a bunch of them down in Binghamton and
like they do so well selling pastries, selling
coffee after hours. So it's just an added revenue
stream. So but I'm looking to places in Syracuse
now and I've got one down and we're hoping to
go weekly in Syracuse. So you might get three
or four a month. I'll tell you what, I think
you're coming to the right place. I think. I
think this area is ripe for a Don't Tell series.
So if you are a business owner in the Syracuse
area, you heard Mike Peters, they are looking
for a venue, whether it's a coffee shop, a yoga
studio, whatever you've got that's gonna, they're
not gonna take your business over. They're gonna
add, you know, we can work if it's after hours
during business hours, but they are looking for
a space to host these great comedy shows and
I think everybody wins. Mike, what's the link
where they can get these Don't Tell tickets and
info? It's Don'tTellComedy .com. Don'tTellComedy
.com. Don'tTellComedy .com. And then search Syracuse.
And like I said, it's not up yet, but it will
be soon. And there are shows in Rochester and
Binghamton, too. So if you're out of the area,
it's all over the place. But Buffalo as well.
OK. And then... And we've got tons of great comedians
coming to your town. So you'll... You'll get
a good show regardless of what one you choose.
And as far as homebrewed comedy, your circuit,
you got anything you want to plug with that?
Just I just have, oh, you know what? The show
isn't until October, but I know this is largely
based in Syracuse, but we just we're doing Old
City Brewery in Oswego. Nice. We're starting
there in October. So the show is, I think it's
October 9th. I'm checking now, but I'm pretty
sure it's October 9th, the 3rd. So yeah, hopefully
we're gonna do, we have to do the first show
first, but I'm hoping that it goes on a regular
basis. And then I've got on August 8th, I have
Karen Antowski doing McGraw Box North. Oh, she's
great. And Karen Antowski and... Eric Bissell
from Buffalo nice. There'll be a McGraw box North
Brewery Company and North Syracuse I had seven
o 'clock August 8. I I just went to I just went
to Oswego for the first time for my nephew's
graduation What a cool little fucking town, man.
Yeah, my holy hell My best friend Jeff he went
to college there. So for it was the best four
and a half years of his life Oh, dude, it was
always known as a party school for sure. But
like oh The town itself, though, was just like,
I was like, this is so great. I absolutely loved
it. Yeah, it makes sense to go there. The only
thing I remember is that we had Chinese, we had
Chinese food and I fell asleep in his lobby wearing
my boxers. So like, wild night. That is, I think
that's, I mean, look, if you're going to sum
Oswego up, it sounds like a night out in Oswego.
Should end that way. Mike Peters, you're amazing.
I do have one quick thing. I think find a way
to, this would be hilarious. You know how they
do hot yoga? What if you did hot stick comedy
in a yoga studio and everyone just fucking sweats
the whole time? So you get a workout. The only
thing I was told when doing these is like my
buddy Paul, he goes, yeah, the only thing you
have to worry about is how hot some of these
rooms get. Yeah. That's the only thing Don't
Tell will get mad about is that people are like
hot in the room. So like, they'll complain. Yeah.
Because content, whatever, they'll bitch about
a joke's not working, whatever. But temperature
in the room is like their number one. So I will
pass it up. There you go. If hot yoga comedy
is what they want, I'm gonna guess no. Go yoga.
Maybe. Goat yoga, for sure. Goat yoga comedy
might be able to work. I hope a lot of people
fart, too. You know, people fart here in yoga.
Well, come on. People are farting in there anyway.
That's true. Just can't hear it all the time.
Mike, Peters, there's only one way to end this
interview. There we go. Mike, you know I love
you, man. Mike Peters, Homebrewed Comedy, DontTelComedy
.com. Go to those sites. All those shows are
coming up. If you are a business or a venue of
some sort in the Syracuse area and you are interested
in hosting a Don't Tell Comedy show, I really
think you should get a hold of Mike or us because
it's a win -win. Everybody wins. Mike, anything
else before you go, buddy? No, man. I appreciate
talking to you. I mean, any time I get a chance
to look across and into those eyes. Oh, man.
Just really, it completes my morning and probably
my life. Man, my pants just got tight. I'll tell
ya. Listen, I wish I could say the same. No.
Dude, you know I love you, and I've made good
on my word. I told you, any time you wanna come
on, I will get you on, and I did, even though
we made you wait 45 minutes. That's fine. I was
just happy Matt wasn't here. I know. God, that
guy. He's the worst. Mike Peters, I love you.
Good luck. And homebrewed comedy, don't tell
comedy. And we will not be back. That is the
end of this episode of Good News York. Again,
I'm flying solo this week. So you're going to
get just me and some guests this week. We do
have a bunch of guests coming up this week, but
also I've got some segments on my own that I'll
be sharing some cool shit. So thank you for tuning
in to Good News York brought to you by ads on
the go get ads on the go dot com.