#404: Start From The TOP..

We talk through a simple plan for getting noticed in comedy when you’re not famous and don’t have famous connections: aim for big opportunities and stay in the spotlight. We also break down why being unmistakably different can beat being “just” the funniest, then close with a free headlining show dedicated to first responders. 
• chasing big stages to build real visibility 
• a showcase moment that reframes the world as the stage 
• designing a set that mixes one-liners, misdirection, and magic 
• using variety to make a show memorable and shareable 
• avoiding the comparison trap by creating a unique method 
• defining the ideal audience as people who support first responders and love to laugh 
• choosing a free show as both gratitude and a lasting statement 
Check me out. 

Transcript

Why Big Stages Matter

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Start from the top. You know, I'm a big believer that in this day and age, because I'm not famous, and uh I don't really know anybody that's famous, I could do a million shows, okay, uh, in the local Dallas Four Earth area, and not ever make a splash in a bucket as far as having the world know me. So the only way I can do that is by landing big and doing not just only, but primarily big shows. If you stay in a big spotlight, okay, you're gonna remain in a big spotlight and you're gonna continue to be seen by more eyes, right? Um, which is why I'm most interested as far as comedy goes, and only, not only, but primarily doing the biggest opportunities possible. Why? Because I'm not famous and I don't really know anybody that's famous. And um the only way when I say fame, just replace that word famous with uh important, okay, or well-known to the degree of a national, international celebrity, right?

The Showcase Epiphany

SPEAKER_00 1:30

So um I had to do things that will get me in that spotlight, that will get me that recognition. And uh I remember one time I went to a comedy club, I did like eight minutes. This was like five years ago or something. And um I left that club and I was really disappointed because I realized like this club was like two hours away from me, and I made everybody laugh and it was great. I was on a showcase. A showcase is like being on with multiple comedians, and I realized in that moment that I could sell more tickets and be more known and stuff like that, if I didn't compete just inside that room, if I didn't just look at the only and the only audience members uh as the ones that were behind me, because I had the doors had just closed, and I had like an epiphany in that moment, and I realized that my stage was in front of me, the comedy club was behind me, not as far as like uh achieving being better than that, but I'm saying physically it was behind me, and I all of a sudden I started to see everything more clearly and realize that essentially the world is my stage and it's my opportunity, this is my spotlight to be able to use every unorthodox method that I have in my uh unorthodox mind to be able to get my result, and I could do that by doing things different. I'm also a big believer that if sometimes different is what

Building A Different Comedy Set

SPEAKER_00 3:10

makes you stand out in a crowd of great. Okay. So, I mean, if you think about comedians, what they do now, the majority of the time, they do stories. And that's great. I I think that's that's awesome, right? You know, 100%, no doubt, right? Um, but now my first 10 minutes, I'm doing um uh nothing but one-liners, just little quick one to two sentence separate unconnected jokes, rapid fire. Okay. Then I do some misdirection. I actually do magic, and it's it's really, really, really, really funny. And there's one trick at the end, which is actually a magic trick, okay, whereas the other ones they're more like tricks that are just funny things that I do. Uh, but the last one is actually an actual magic trick, and it's phenomenal. And after that, I switch it up and I go back to comedy, uh, and then I talk about observations, and I really want my shows to be something that is diverse, uh, something that is memorable, and uh something that is going to spread the word. I feel like between the methodology of landing big opportunities and being different, when you combine those together, that will be, I'm telling you right now, that will be my formula of success. Because I'm not I'm not worried about anybody being funnier than me on stage or something like that, because I can be the most different, and I'm confident about that. And honestly, if you have 10 guys that are all hilarious,

Success Formula Without Comparison

SPEAKER_00 4:55

okay, and then me, I can, I'm still gonna be hilarious, but no one does what I do. And I dedicated like four years, okay, to developing this method of stand-up comedy to be different, and why? Because I'm not famous, I don't really know anybody that's famous. So my whole goal is to land the biggest opportunities, to make a splash in a bucket, to get noticed, and when I am noticed, I can't be compared. Because comparison, in my opinion, to be compared by somebody can be one of the biggest traps. Because if they are already established, already successful, and uh you know, I don't want to fall underneath somebody's shadows, I want to make my own. Okay. If I can leave a footprint, a memory, right? That's something that's so big and so great that others want to emulate it. That's when I know I'm being successful. And I'm really happy about where I am in my stand-up comedy now because everything is coming to

Who The Show Is For

SPEAKER_00 6:20

full swing, right? And I'm about to be headlining a show on September the 25th, dedicating it to first responders, and it's all going to be about them, and I'm not faking it. And uh, if I had a market as far as like my perfect audience, it would be savage guys and girls that uh love America, their first responders, uh, their military, their firefighters, law enforcement, okay. And uh above all, uh they love to laugh, you know? And then not just that, I'll take it one step further, but guys and girls, okay, um, who, if you're not that position, support them. And then maybe a last tier, right, would just be those that like to laugh in general. You don't you want to know my audience is my audience is a reflection of what I love and support the most. Okay, and that's you. That's you, the listener. That is you, the listener, and everybody that when I go to bed at night, I know that I'm safe. And I try and so this show that I'm gonna do it'll be September the 25th. It's

Free Headline Show And Thanks

SPEAKER_00 7:40

in a city called Grand Prairie, Texas, and I'm choosing not to make a profit and to have the entire show be free. Why? Two reasons. Number one, um, I'm being genuine. I really want to do something uh for the community and give back and everything. That's number one. Number two, it's moments like this uh that make you more memorable, okay? Um by giving someone not just the recognition, but the um uh the moment to receive something back. And this this is gonna be me giving something back to them, okay, and recognizing them. And um, you know, paid shows can come after free shows. That's not a goal, but I don't hate money, right? But there's nothing wrong with starting a splash, making an established effort and a statement, and having that statement be free and letting all sorts of greatness proceed after that. So, with that being mentioned, for all the military, police, firefighters, first responders, uh, and everyone else out there that not just supports them but just loves to laugh in general. Thank you so much. I'm excited. You guys are fueled for my motivation. I'm Ben Joel Dunn. Check me out. Peace.