Good News York by Growth Mode Content - GNY EP.67 | Feat. Comedian Mike Peters!

Episode Date: July 21, 2025

Comedy, Nostalgia, and Secret Shows: A Chat with Mike Peters of Homebrewed Comedy In this episode of Good News York, host Mike Brindisi, flying solo while Matt is on vacation, welcomes comedian Mike Peters. They discuss Mike's role as the founder of Home Brewed Comedy, and his adventures in the comedy circuit, ranging from performing at unconventional venues like horse tracks to the novel concept of 'Don't Tell Comedy' shows which are secret performances held at unexpected locations. The episode also dives into the dynamics of crowd work in comedy, the enthusiasm of different audience types, and the nostalgic reminiscence of 90s pop culture. Mike Peters also details upcoming events in Syracuse and his expansion plans for the Home Brewed Comedy circuit. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Shoutout 00:53 Guest Introduction: Mike Peters 01:53 Comedy at the Racetrack 04:06 Challenges of Performing Comedy 06:31 Star Wars and Generational Gaps 10:41 Nostalgia for the 90s 15:19 Concert Experiences and Aging 18:40 Music and Performance Styles 22:58 Nostalgic Gadgets and Pop Punk Songs 23:57 Star Wars and Comedy Props 25:45 Don't Tell Comedy Shows Explained 28:34 The Unique Appeal of Secret Comedy Shows 31:01 Challenges and Rewards of Producing Comedy 35:56 The Rise of Crowd Work in Stand-Up Comedy 42:31 Upcoming Shows and Final Thoughts

You're listening to a podcast right now, driving, working out, walking the dog. If you're into podcasts, chances are you have something to say too. With RSS.com, starting your own podcast is free and easy. Upload an episode and we distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. Track your listeners, see where they're from, and start earning from ads just like this. If you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start your new podcast for free today at RSS.com. You're listening to a podcast right now. Driving, working out, walking the dog. If you're into podcasts, chances are you have something to say too. With RSS.com, starting your own is free and easy.

Upload an episode and we distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and hundreds more. Track your listeners, see where they're from, and start earning from ads like this. Even with just 10 listeners a month. If you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start free at RSS.com. 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.com. Shout out to our man, Zach. I am flying solo this week. Matt went on vacation. I don't know, some island that some socialite used to go to, spending the news.

I don't know. He's visiting. So it's going to be me and Danny producing. And I'm going to 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 all. That is. There he is. 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.

Yeah, 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. If you can be a small one, that 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 for like a few people paying attention. and all I needed was the two people that had paid attention to me and I had a fantastic night. Dude, that's right. And 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 had, I organized, it for him last time. And all it is like for for six people last time they did to do like three minutes between horse races. Like and so like I'm like, well, I'm busy so I can't do that. And you got to hold me this time. It's like, hey, we're thinking about changing it up a little bit. And if you're free, we need somebody 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. That's shorter than the horse. That's shorter than the horse race. Pretty much, yeah. And so it 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.

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's three minutes done. And then they'll give you a wrap-up side and done. So I I walk 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 headliner Mike Peters Which is really nice But I'm thinking like They do not air

No 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 It's like they just lost race eight

Yes right Hears He's coming up nice but it was fun and they paid me and I'm good so you know I got 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 there were in front of a cameraman 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 10 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 and the, you know, where they do the replays of the horses and everything. Yeah.

So they got to get them following everything. And then we're also broadcast into the casino, not the casino part, but like 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. That 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. And, man, I saw this past, I don't know, six months ago, three people from S&L, Colin Joost headlined at Cornell. And they did it in this big airplane hanger 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, 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, uh, 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, the last six or eight months, I haven't changed my act really. But I mean, it's, you know, always evolving and a different material. But like me as a comedian, like, 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. Right.

And they won't know I don't have a beginning to it. Right, right, right. like I'm working a bit now and I didn't do it on Saturday but I I 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 not? Does 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, and 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 what 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 space balls, which is the Cliff Nelt's version of Star Wars. Yeah, it's great. Like, like if I have, if I, if I'm quizzed on it, I think it could pass the test. But if we get into conversation, I'm screwed. Yeah. So what happened was at the trivia, uh, I, the joke is like, if you ever want to make a Star Wars fan mad, all you have to do is mispronounce 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 tattooing. Yeah. You know, and 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 tribute night, right, didn't write the questions. I hadn't written for me was I had to, I had to say tattooing, but I mispronounced it. and I called it Tatuni, which, like, everybody was mad at me. Yeah, you had a riot.

Right away. And so, like, it just, I'm like, you haven't felt the, you haven't lived until you felt the ire of 50 dorks. Dude, I'm 100% 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 religion. 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.

Yeah. So I think we missed it. I think we missed it. Because if you think about it, Star Wars, like, they were really big in the mid-70s, like to early 80s, right? That is true. We were born in 83. Right. So like, and then we, obviously the movies 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. 100%. So I think like we were 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. Love 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. So, 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 like 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 missed that window with something, it's never going to catch on like it, like it does with some people. I'll do you one better. If you could think about it, like, let's, 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 of 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, like three to six, seven, like, you know, with the innocence and the, you know, hilarity. Yeah. I think for me, it's like, 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 and then play with our 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 they'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 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 on to that so dearly. You're dead. I screwed up. One of our favorite years. I thought you were asking me as a... You're listening to a podcast right now, driving, working out, walking

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If you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start free at RSS.com. Compare it. What are my favorite ears of my kids? Oh, no, no, no. And I'm not just saying this to hop on. If I had answered that correctly, I would have said any. anywhere from like eight 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 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, Drey, Snoop. I mean, the movies, the box office movies,

like 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 peak.

I don't know. It's really pathetic because, like, I go back and like, I'm arrested there. Like, I'm just there. So my girlfriend and I will talk about like, like pretty celebrities, like sexy celebrities. I will always go back to the 90s. Jennifer Aniston. Is it always genuine?

Yeah. It's a Jennifer of some sort. But like I, I, Alicia Silverstone, like, I cannot. Kelly Cabot or Tiffany Ann Matissell, but like I cannot not think of somebody from the 90s. Dude, that is. That is such a. 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 haughty. And I'm like, she was a haughty. What are you talking? She used to show her ankles on camera. You know what I mean? Like, you have grandma.

Yeah, exactly. So I think we're just doing what our parents and grandparents did, which is like... Oh, yeah. Our time was the best time. But I really think the 90s were. I really do. I don't know. Anyway, I could talk.

Dude, I could do it. By the way, this just means we're old. I know. I know. I fucking know. Dude, I walked an 18-hole golf course. I did a charity golf event with some Buffalo Bills media guys a couple weeks ago. I 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 couldn't move. And I'm like, all I did. did was walk. Like, what the fuck is going on? Anyway. My girlfriend and I just went to a concert last night. We saw Newfound Glory. Yeah.

And 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 Jimmy 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 not that like we're out of shame, which, you know, I need to lose weight for sure. But it's like, we're just our bones suck. 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's 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 World, right? Yeah. Who, 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... In order, I would have gone to see the offspring, then Newfound Glory, than Jimmy World. Okay. I think Jimmy World probably sounded, man, it was Jimmy World and Newfound Glory Simon 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. They didn't. No, Dexter brought on the piano

so you could sit for like four minutes. Exactly. Oh, so we were 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 Walt 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.

And I'm like having to like hang on to like three or four consecutive words. Yeah. And then Google that with Jimmy World to find the song. Yeah. So, but they were great. I made a joke on Facebook, but it was watching Jimmy 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 bald pattern.

Oh. And I'm like, I think the joke was like, like there comes a point where all of our favorite musicians look like our 10th grade history teacher. And nobody's, nobody's ready for it. It's true because it seems 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 going to 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 teacher. It certainly wouldn't be the math teacher. No.

Hell no. They're all those dorks. No. Yeah. I'll be honest. Jimmy World, I found them late when they came out with, was it Bleed American? Yeah. Bleed American.

Yeah, that is one. That might be in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. It's so good. They are, that album is unbelievable. And I heard a rumor. I should fact check it now that we have the interweb. But I had heard 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 Eat World to play his own birthday party. And then they, they had ended up blowing up. But, yeah, I'm a big blink fan. And Jimmy World's amazing. I know they, I think they timed along Mark Hoppus list Jimmy World's influences.

So the timeline probably, it might sink 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, and now I'm blanking out, as I always do. I forget the singer's name for Jimmy Eat World, but. Jim Eikins. 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, I 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, 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 everyone. And I was just like, this is amazing. I saw Alko and Trio years ago in Baltimore. So good live. But the opener was cursive. And I don't know if you have ever heard cursive. No.

But they're awesome. They're an indie band from like, I think Omaha. Okay. And they're, they're now the ugly organ that is just a masterpiece. And they're just like a little bit Prague. But like the dark just fit. 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 blink shell, like we grew up to that. Like, okay, they're going to say fuck every once in a while. They're going to swear. Hey, Mark, your mom jerked me off. You know, 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 quiet cool thing you know we don't need to impress you you make a good point because like when I was playing music with my band I was always a banter guy like blink

you know uh I love no kidding yeah right I know I love to interact with the audience the whole thing but then I would go to shows like Incubis and Dave Matthews band where they barely talk and they kind of keep this mysteriousness about them and I always thought that is such a cool fucking movie

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 the 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 heartily, okay, well, I need laughter. But like, if I'm in my house, I need sound. Yeah. I need TikTok video. 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 where Boy Meets World is on. Like I need something to draw my focus away. Like it's something that I've seen before. Yeah, yeah. Or whatever. Like, I just have to have something.

Yeah, you're not. Where I looked out of my phone and I don't want to hear nothing. Right. You're not like watching Law & Order SVU where you've 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 bam-bom when you hit it. 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. Um, all right. I was riding around on my hardwood floors. Hardwood floors.

Dun, dun, dun, dent, dent, din, din, den, den. Hardwood, hard the floor. Hardwood, it's hardwood floor. All right, maybe that wasn't great, but, uh. You know, you got to get, you got to get the hook in there and then you're set. But, um, also I thought of a good way, if you do another Star Wars joke, just be like, um, maybe this is kind of hacky. I don't know.

just be like, hey, who here are Star Wars fans? And then whoever raised their hand be like, well, now we know where the virgins are. I mean, that's, I mean, that's a softball. But anyway, let's talk about what you actually came. It used to be. That used to be it. Now people watch Star Wars, they get laid because I've seen Star Wars. They actually fuck while watching Star Wars now.

No. Okay, wait, my amazing producer, Danny just brought this. Oh, wait, hold on. Is it broke? Oh, did you hear it? Oh, the clothing. I got to get you on. 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. Do 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... You're listening to a podcast right now, driving, working out, walking the dog.

If you're in a podcast, chances are you have something to say too. With RSS.com, starting your own podcast is free and easy. Upload an episode and we distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. Track your listeners, see where they're from, and start earning from ads just like this. If you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start your new podcast for free today at RSS.com.

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My favorite seat. Go ahead. Doogie Hauser. Lum Doogie. Do do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do. Dude, he was a fucking wrecking ball. He gets paid for... Dun-dum.

The whole thing. Makes money. Yeah. Oh, I dropped it. But he's getting royalties every time he had that gavel. It's amazing. O to B Mike Post. So the reason we're having you on, other than because we love you and we love homebrewd comedy, which it seems to be going great.

You've, you know, I've watched the homebrewed comedy circuit kind of keep growing. I mean, I've been a part of it. 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, and 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 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 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 And then you show up there at 6.30 for a 7 o'clock show. And you've got a 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. Right. Let me try that again. Let me, in English, we're bringing comedy shows to places 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 a rough couple years. But no, it's, they're fun. The energy is usually really high. They shows their secret.

So like the audience you get as a comedian, the audience you get, they want to laugh. They want to be part of this. Yes. They have no idea what they expect. You could have comedians. And I 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 of Syracuse. Good part is like you might get comedians who are at the funny bone at the show. Sure. Like feature X hosts, headluck. 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 going to 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. 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? I didn't believe this at all. So I just applied. Like my buddy Paul Spratt is a very funny comedian out of like the, the Wilkesbury. 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 kind of. comedy landscape. Yeah. But he helped get me involved with this. I just started work with him in January and I started producing shows of Binghamton and I've done like two a month in Binghamton and then I just got to prove 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 an alternative to club comedy. I love it. 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, wangs, beer and the cool thing with don't tell, a lot of them are B-Y-O-B. So you can bring a six-back of whatever.

and go hang out in a yoga studio. And yeah, I mean, I've done shows in yoga studios, coffee shops, a jiu-jitsu studio, you know, some bars. But like, it's, 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, you were ahead of the time. I mean, you've done shows.

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 in-stub 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 to 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 ahead of for nine years.

And we 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, 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, You can subscribe to their email list and so you can get updates on if and when the show is 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 that don't tell audiences, but it's like a behavior thing a little bit. And I don't mean at the show like both both audiences are great. But when I'm setting up for an independent show, the home bird show, I'm like nervous that people aren't going to show up. And they do, but they get there almost at showtime. 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 comedian is thinking of a failure and won't ever work with me again. So they're a little bit different. I mean, 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 there are two different things.

And I don't know. which one I prefer. Don't tell it's fun. Don't tell us like, it's kind of like a shot in the arm. Like maybe a home bird 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 don't know. They're a ton of fun. And I love running it. That's got to be frustrating when like you get done with a don't tell show

in Binghamton. And someone's like, you know, this what's, you guys should do this more. You should do comedy down here. And you're, 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 tend, I will do that.

Absolutely. I just did a forest track. I know. I will do a living room show. Dude, I mean, that is wild. Listen, I, the don't tell thing, though, which is kind of cool. It's like you're almost like franchising. but it's uh what i think part of the reason that maybe people you're 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 you know i worked at a bar where i where i i was uh the the assistant manager and um 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 and you know i went on that whole thing about it just doesn't people People aren't going to, 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 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 different than 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 or $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 crowdware 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 crowdwork. So, as you know, kind of the new thing, if you're a comedian, you probably noticed that, like, crowdwork is the new thing, you know? And a lot of the younger generations, I've been told, just assume that crowdwork 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 crowdwork? A little bit, but I don't know if it's a cognizant thing. I know there's some comedians who are actively working on it. Yeah. 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 because you're doing it constantly. Right, because I don't want to give the audience the same 15 minutes that I did last month. And 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 crowdwork at an open mic. Yes.

So you can't because the open mics largely are with other comedians in the audience and you know them. And it's very hard to do organic crowdwork 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 I'll, Steve Brown is bad with this. He's not as bad anymore. But he is so supportive that, like, he will show up to the shows.

And if nobody's volunteering for a crowdwork piece, he will volunteer. And it, it sucks. Yeah. Because, like, because you know he's true. He means well. Of course. It's like, dude, not you. Yeah.

Because, like, now you're a plant in the audience. Right. Like, it's not, I don't want to do this. It's not organic. And he'll sit up front. to and I'm like, no, why are you doing that? So anytime I see a comedian in the front row, I'm like, like, you got to be kidding me.

So like I almost like, I'll try to make eye contact with everybody. Yeah. But like if I'm asking a crowd work type question, I'm trying to entice like, I look over them. Yeah. And if they, if I see their hand raised like, yeah, yeah, okay. Yeah, not you yet. So I'm like, oh, it drives me nuts.

But like, so the comedians I book are trying to get better at crowdwork 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 it 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. 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 out something funny and can, 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, I'm not not a fan, but I, no, I wasn't, you know, It didn't hook me. There's a little bit in the show where George is like bombing at these meetings.

Like he'll get a joke to work, get a big laugh, and then he sticks around and tries to outdo himself. And Jared's like, no, you got to end on the big laugh. You got to, it's showmanship. So with me, like, if I get something to work really well in crowdwork, it's like, okay, I have to retreat. So not like leave the stage, but like I have to, stop doing the crowdwork 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 let me be better at it. And I'm not there yet. I hear that, man. And obviously, same here. I, my whole thing with crowdwork, like if someone was like, what would you tell someone who's

going to branch out and do crowdwork? 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 you can you can steer it back to where to go right back into your act you know and it's hard to do but and i and i failed so but but

My girlfriend would tell me, like, she'll come to occasional shows, and she's like, your crowd work is the best part. Yeah. And I think that's because she knows the material so well that it doesn't work on her anymore. Yeah, but. But like, she's like, I always left for your crowd work. See, I also think that that's a compliment because that means that's you just being you and naturally funny.

You know, I've always thought me being me is funnier than me doing material. But, you know, and I think, I think there's something to be said that, like, if, If your material is really funny, but your crowdwork sucks, it's like, okay, 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, but, but, and I think that's,

I think that's exactly what it is. Like, it's you. Yes. It's like, you, you are being authentic right then. We all write in the voice we want to have, but, like, the voice we have is who we are. That's right. That's, you nailed it, you know?

I always, I was told, like, back in the day, that the difference between a comic and a comedian is like, A comedian is someone who's, you know, almost always on. They're themselves, you know, or an exaggerated version of themselves. A comic is like they have an act and then offstage, they're not, they're not that act, you know? Yeah. But listen, before I 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. Right. Because it's the nature of it. But the first don't tell show is 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 want to spread it that way, that's fine. We will. But it probably will be up in the next couple days. And then what I'm looking for is if you have any,

if you own a business, if you work somewhere where you think that it might, 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 like a basement, if you've got a yoga studio that's not, you know, it shuts down at 8 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 bit. 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 8 o'clock, 7 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 Bankington. And like, they do so well selling pastry, selling coffee after hours. So it's just an added revenue stream. So, but I'm looking to places in Syracus 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 going to, they're not going to take your business over. They're going to 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, these,

these, don't tell tickets and info. It's don't tellcom. Don't tell comedy.com. And then search syracuse. And like I said, it's not up yet, but it will be soon.

And if you, there are shows of Rochester and Binghamton too. So if you're out of the area, you know, it's all over the plates, but Buffalo as well. Okay. And then.

Yeah. And we've got tons of great comedians coming to her town. So you'll get a good show regardless of what one you choose. And as far as homebrewd 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 were 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, yeah, October 9th. October 9th. So, yeah, hopefully we're going to do, you know,

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 8, I have Karen Intowski doing McGrawbock's North. Oh, she's great. And Karen Towski and Eric Bicill from Buffalo. Nice. There'll be a McRowbox North Brewery Company and North Syracuse.

I had 7 o'clock, August 8. 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. Holy hell. My best friend, Jeff, he went to college there. So 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, the town itself, though, was just like, I was like, this is so great. I absolutely loved it. Yeah. I'm excited to go there. The only thing I remember is that we had Chinese, paid Chinese food,

and I fell asleep in his lobby wearing my boxers at that. He's like, wild night. That is, I think that's a, 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, I think, uh,

find a way to This would be hilarious. You know how they do hot yoga? What if you did hot stakedo 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 we'll 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, I will pants it up. There you go. If hot yoga comedy is what they want,

I'm going to guess no. Goat 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 during 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, I,

you know, I love you, man. Mike Peters, homebrewed comedy, don't tell comedy.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 anytime i get a chance to look across and into those eyes oh man just really it completes my morning and probably my life man i my pants just got tight i'll tell you huh listen i i wish i could say the same no i dude you know i love you and i've made good on my word. I told you anytime you want to come on. I will get you on and I did, even though we made you wait 45 minutes. Oh, 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 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.