From: officialflagrant
Sharing comedic success fosters a thriving environment within the comedy community, moving beyond a competitive “dog-eat-dog” mentality to one of mutual support and growth. This shift has been significantly influenced by the rise of digital platforms, which provide new avenues for comedians to connect and elevate each other.
Fostering a Supportive Community
Historically, the comedy industry often felt like a zero-sum game, with a limited number of opportunities leading to intense competition among comedians. The advent of digital platforms and podcasts has transformed this dynamic, making it possible for “everybody” to succeed and for the experience to be “fun” only if “many people are doing it” [01:55:05].
Key aspects of fostering this supportive community:
- Overcoming Competitive Mindsets Individuals in comedy, including Joe Rogan, have reflected on overcoming a “weird weakness” where they disliked others who were more successful, fearing a “finite amount of success” [01:55:30]. This mindset leads to an unwillingness to compliment others, but a shift towards openly praising fellow comedians is seen as beneficial for everyone [01:56:06].
- The Internet as a Catalyst The internet has transformed comedy from a scramble for “Hollywood gigs” to a new network where “everybody became an asset not just like a competitor” [03:19:34]. This environment enables a “Savage crew of like really good Comics coming up” who are “doing real comedy” [03:21:58]. This illustrates the profound impact of social media on stand-up comedy careers.
- Gratitude and Altruism Expressing gratitude and actively helping others is seen as a “beautiful” and “real” practice that “feels good” to all involved parties [03:54:02]. There’s a “dopamine release for altruism,” making it rewarding to help fellow comedians succeed [03:06:17].
Evolution of Comedic Dynamics
The shift from a competitive landscape to a more collaborative one has redefined comedian interactions.
Learning from the Past
In the early days of comedy, there were limited opportunities, often involving just “two shows” or the pursuit of a “sitcom game” [03:33:04]. This scarcity made the path for aspiring comedians arduous, leading some talented individuals to quit due to the lack of advancement [03:12:12]. Joe Rogan recounts a friend who was “funnier than me” but “just stopped it” [03:12:12] due to the difficulty of breaking through.
New Paradigms in Career Development
Modern comedic career development emphasizes building a community and empowering others. Joe Rogan sees it as an “obligation” for established comedians to bring others along [03:19:39]. This involves promoting other comedians, recognizing their talents, and allowing them to build their own audiences without direct reliance on traditional media gatekeepers [03:17:01].
This collaborative approach ensures that even “really [messed] up people” can “perform” and find a home [02:29:12], as exemplified by the Comedy Store’s “Island of Misfit Toys” ethos [02:29:13].
Conflict and Criticism
Despite the push for collaboration, challenges remain. Joe Rogan notes that controversy, such as debates over joke stealing, can create “negativity” and lead to people “choos[ing] teams” [02:21:21]. This tendency to take sides is seen as a “normal natural inclination that we can’t escape” [02:22:08].
Joe Rogan suggests that comedians should not be held responsible for the “dumbest people in your audience” who might misinterpret jokes [02:51:35]. He argues that comedy is often a form of “temporary insanity,” where “my funniest thought and my knee-jerk reaction to something” is crafted into a joke, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect a deeply held belief [02:53:00]. This viewpoint highlights the ongoing tension between stand-up comedy and its cultural impact and cancel culture and its impact on comedy.
The overall sentiment is that open, honest interactions, even in disagreement, strengthen the community [02:41:08]. This approach contributes to a more robust and mutually beneficial comedy industry.