The Iced Coffee Hour - How Trevor Wallace Makes Millions From Comedy

Episode Date: January 9, 2023

In this podcast episode, Trevor Wallace sits down with the host to discuss the business behind some of the most viral sketches on the internet, as well as where he finds his inspiration and how he is able to do practically anything he wants. They also delve into Trevor's journey from YouTube to live performances and the success he has found in the world of comedy. Start creating high-quality content easily with Streamyard: https://clickurl.ca/ICH-StreamYard  Check out the Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/icedcoffeehour  Add us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jlsselby https://www.instagram.com/gpstephan https://www.instagram.com/alex_nava_p... Official Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBQ... For sponsorships or business inquiries reach out to: [e-mail] GET YOUR FREE STOCK WORTH UP TO $1000 ON PUBLIC & SEE MY STOCK TRADES - USE CODE GRAHAM: http://www.public.com/graham  MY NEW COFFEE IS NOW FOR SALE: http://www.bankrollcoffee.com/ The Equipment used: https://tinyurl.com/y78py5g2 Audio Equipment Used In Podcast: Shure SM7B mics, cloud lifters, rodecaster pro audio interface Thank you Arjun Krishna and ChatGPT for the timestamps: (00:00) - Intro: Introducing Trevor Wallace, a Comedian and YouTuber (00:04:55) - Trevor's Early Days in Stand-Up Comedy and the Impact of Vine (00:08:28) - The Challenges of Making a Living as a Stand-Up Comedian (00:12:32) - Creating and Monetizing Online Content (00:18:11) - Trevor's First Big Paycheck from Facebook (00:21:04) - Quitting a Day Job to Pursue Comedy Full-Time (00:25:01) - The Importance of Building a Catalog of Work (00:30:34) - Trevor's Approach to Social Media and Personal Branding (00:34:42) - Trevor's Experience with Demonetization and Dealing with Negative Comments (00:38:56) - The Role of Authenticity in Comedy and Personal Branding (00:47:20) - Advice for Aspiring Comedians and Creators The YouTube Creator Academy:   Learn EXACTLY how to get your first 1000 subscribers on YouTube, rank videos on the front page of searches, grow your following, and turn that into another income source: https://bit.ly/2STxofv $100 OFF WITH CODE 100OFF  *Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which Graham Stephan will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Graham Stephan is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon presents, Laura versus Fruitflies. Swarming your fruit and terrorizing your kitchen, these little freaks multiply at a rate that would make a rabbit say, yo. Chill. But Laura shopped on Amazon and saved on cleaning spray, countertop wipes, and fly traps. Hey, fruit flies, your baby boom ends here. Save the Everyday with Amazon. So Trevor Wallace is one of the funniest people on the internet.

He's known for his parodies of people who own AirPods, drink White Claw, and who are named Kyle, among many others. Today we get to sit down and talk about the business behind some of the most viral sketches on the internet, where he finds his inspiration and how you're able to do practically anything that you want on today's episode of Smash the like button. Sure, but first we gotta thank our sponsor's Streamyard. People always say they want to start making content, but for most, it's hard to get the ball rolling. And when you've never made a video before, it could be very difficult to know where to start. I've seen firsthand that post-production could be one of the most daunting tasks for new creators.

That's why I recommend for anyone thinking about getting into content creation that you start by using StreamYard. StreamYard is a live streaming studio platform that's perfect for people looking to get into content creation. With Streamyard, you can create high-quality content right from your browser, and you can stream directly to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and several other platforms. They even make it simple to brand and customize your videos before you even go live. You can even multi-stream to all of your social media platforms at once to be able to maximize your content's outreach. Whether you just want to start live streaming or easily record new content, Streamyard makes it simple to get professional and polished content every single time.

So get started for free today using our link down below, and you can start making high-quality content quickly and easy, like I said, for free with Streamyard. Again, the link is down below in the description to get started today, and now let's get to the podcast. Trevor, thank you so much for meeting us in Vegas. In a karaoke room. In a karaoke room of all spots. You think so?

I think so. Copious amounts. Yeah, dog. Yeah. Karaoke and Vegas. That explains it. I think we got to start because Jack is a funny story to tell you. Oh, yeah, yeah.

I didn't think we'd start off with this. Okay, but Trevor Wallace. Jack introduced myself twice. I did. It was horribly embarrassing, but I did introduce myself twice. Oh, thank you. I literally just got this. My grandma got it from, so I appreciate that.

Yeah. Grandma's love sweaters. They do love sweaters. Did she make that herself? She did not make this herself. No, unfortunately not. Mentally she did. She did.

Put a lot of love. You got a funny story. Yeah, yeah, the funny story. So you actually performed at you. UCSB, I think this was like two and a half years ago probably. And I remember I showed up, the line was way too long. It was a free show. I knew I would not make it in.

So I was like circumnavigating my way throughout the line trying to figure out if I can make it in. I definitely couldn't. I went around the venue. And while I was walking around the venue to try to find a place to sneak in, I found a door with a crack in it. Yeah. And I looked through this crack.

You saw me. And I saw you. I remember this. I remember. I saw you. No, I remember the crack. the door and I remember people like because what it was is like there's this comedy club with there's at I do a Santa Barbara called Lafology students put it on yeah and I was and I would do it

when I had like no nothing I would just do like 10 minutes sets and then there'd be a headliner I would just do it just to do it because I was early in the stand-up career and then they booked me for this and then it's like the stuff started taking off for me and then I was like like you guys want me to do this and they're like let's do two shows are like no let's just stick with one and then the word got out and like my demo is frat yeah my demo is college my I was UCSB is like that's, I La Vista, that's my, those are my people right there. Right. So it sold in seconds.

Yeah. Not sold because it was free. Right. I got paid like 20 bucks, but. That was it? I don't know. At that point, I'm just doing comedy to just stay sharp and just do like, you know, just work out longer sets.

And I forget how much it was. It wasn't a lot, but it's a really fun, all Los Angeles comedians, I've probably done, like, Lafology. It's a really fun show. So I remember I was in the back pacing, just going over shit. head and then there's like cracks and there's like windows people and then this guy shows up so what happens yeah yeah it wasn't weird right but i just i was like yo Trevor Trevor Trevor and i was trying to get your attention you looked at me you smiled I think you like got up and walked away and then

I continued walking around the venue found a place in the back couldn't make it in oh really I wait no I could not make it in the line was huge dude like there were so many people that couldn't make it in you had a lot of fans there I think a lot of people it was in a um like a uh lecture hall yeah And I think a lot of people didn't know how big the electric hall was. It wasn't very big. It maybe held like 200 or 300. So there's like 600 people in line. Right.

Mathematically. That doesn't make sense. Right. Unless you sit on laps. Right. Lucky for you guys, I have a show at the Mirage tomorrow. So come on out.

Oh, there we go. Nice. All right. That's cool. Thank you, man. Yeah, the Santa Barber was great. But then you met, you met up afterwards, you. Yeah, I met you afterwards, right?

So there was like, you were doing a meet and greet. You were so gracious. Yeah, you were saying hello to everybody. You came outside, shook the hands of the fans, took some photos. And I went out to him like, hey man, I was that guy. That whispered you and you're like, yeah, it was a little weird, but cool. And then we took the photo and I was like, all right, cool. I do have the photo.

I do have the photo. How do you see it? I was looking for it this morning and I think it was on my other phone, which I transferred my laptop. I'll send it to you, okay? I got the photo. You know what we'll put it up on screen. I'll put it up on the screen.

Just pretend like you're reacting to it right now. Because I generally want to know, like, would I remember you, like with the outfit or whatever was going on. Yeah. But yeah, there's people up front. So I've met you three times. Wow. Not just two.

Yeah, three in today. Yeah. How'd you get started and all that? I got started. I've always just loved comedy. Like, it's wild to say, but my mom found like something in like third or fourth grade. It was like, what's your dream job? And like with the spelling like doodle bob spelling, like I wrote comedian.

I spelled it wrong. I think it's spelled it with a K. It's funny. It's pretty on brain. Yeah. I don't know how to spell it. But I like always just love comedy. I grew up on like Jim Carrey and Robin Williams.

And I just like, that's all I cared about. I never, all my friends are, do you see Braveheart? you fucking Titanic? And I'm like, no, it's not funny. It's sad. Yeah. You know, so I always was in to that. And then when I was 17, my mom, it's a very Disney Channel story.

My mom cut out something from the paper. And it said stand-up comedy workshop classes. This was in Ventura, which is like 20 minutes. That's where I grew up. I grew up there. Really? Yeah. 805, boy?

Yes. 805. 805 boy? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's what I thought. I thought I knew that. Yeah, yeah, because people would talk about you in Ventura.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A big deal in Camero. It's me and somebody that was on Big Bang Theory and two baseball players, Delman Young, Ventura, comedy workshop, classes. And then my mom cut it out on the paper. And then anything your mom tells you to do at that age, you're like,

I don't do this shit. I'm not going to do that. And then eventually some time went by. And I was like, you know, maybe I should check this out. And I show up to this comedy club on a Saturday. It's like me and like six other people trying to get into comedy. And there was a guy there. This guy, Randy Lubas.

He owned the comedy club, but he's teaching it. And there was like a side. diamonds. They'd be like, all right, here's a newspaper, write some jokes on it. And then I was writing some. He's like, it's pretty good. I kind of only been doing this. It's like, today. And, like, I've never done this. And then he just kind of was like, oh, you kind of have, like, a knack for it. Then he helped me build, like, a five-minute set. And then from there, I did that set on, like, the showcase, which was essentially, like, a dance recital. It was like all of our friends and family from me and the other comedians there.

And, like, I just had this rush of energy. Like, I was, I never played sports really growing up. Or I did, but I wasn't good at it. I think I shot on my own. own goal twice in soccer. So, you know, friendly fire was on that game. Right, right. But that was the first time I felt like I had like a game-winning catch or like a home run. Like, it felt like this like this rush and it felt right.

So I did that and then I started doing stand-up. And then when I went to college, Vine came out. And then my buddy Jorge, shout out Jorge. Great guy. Just got married. This is your wedding gift to me shouting out on his coffee. And he's like, dude, you got to make Vine. You got to make Vine.

That's where funny people are. And I was like, I don't believe it. I start scrolling. Sure enough, I start seeing funny people. And I think I was just like, all right, I'll f*** around. And I lived in a frat house at the time. So it was super easy. What year was this, by the way?

This was in, like, 2014? Uh, 2013, I believe. Okay, sure. Yeah. And I think I just, like, I was making videos. And then, like, other guys in the frat house would see me, like, make a vine. But dude, I want to be in one. So I had just, like, a disposal of just, like, roaming, just a revolving door of frat guys.

We were like, you like, cowboy, cop one. And then I had one kind of hit, and it didn't do anything for me, but I got recognized going to class one. day and I was like, Papa's made it. San Jose State legend. But like, I was happy that Vine never got really big for me

because it just showed me how a video can work. You have an idea, you post it, bombs. You have an idea, post it bombs. Oh, but this one gets a little bit of traction, gets to share it. You see how the internet works, that snowball effect. So at that point, I was a sophomore

and I was doing Vines all sophomore year, junior year, and then towards the end of junior years when I got really back in a stand-up. And I was doing like open mics after class and senior year, moved out of the first year. Ratt House and I was like doing a good amount of open mics and then just move straight to L.A.

right after and just. Yeah. Were you getting paid for doing stand-up shows or were you just doing it for experience? No, you just, yeah. There's really not a lot of money in stand-up in the very early days at all. You'd be like $7 or like a chicken finger. And like I literally in Ventura one time got paid with a bread bowl. Clam Chowder.

No way. Yeah. Right next door there was a place called, what was it called? There's a place with Clam Chowder essentially right next to the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club back then. Huh. And they guys like, I'll get you bullet chowder. And I was like, fuck.

And what was it like your first time going up on stage? I like blacked up. I remember like the first laugh. And I always try to get a laugh as quick as possible on stage because that like sets the anxiety and like the anxiousness. It just kind of locks you in. So the first time I got a laugh, I was like shocked on stage. Like I said, I figured what it was a quick joke. And I get this like little laugh.

And I was like, oh, fuck. And then like I just picked my head up and the five minutes flew by. So how does it work? Do you have a whole set that's just memorabilms? Or do you kind of wing it? Do you ever wing it? Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, I would say in my head, there's like, picture like a Spotify playlist and there's, you know, 40 songs. And I stick to these. But sometimes I'm like, oh, let me pull from here. I'll pull from here. But in the back, there's like a skeleton of like starting to middle to finishing jokes. And then kind of like I can, like if somebody in the audience yells something out about whatever that horses and I go, oh, dude, I have a horse bit from three years ago. Now I can, you know, you make it seem seamless.

Somebody's like horses and then you do your bit on it. People are like, this guy's fucking shin limb over here. That's smart. Yeah, so it's just all keeping it in your head. But I mean, I essentially have like what I normally start is like this chunk. And then I end with this chunk. But I think the on the fly stuff is the most fun. And what kept you motivated the post on Vine when you probably weren't making any money from it?

And it was probably a grind. It's just addicting. I think it's just fun. I just like, I mean, it's literally like the same reason you walk up to the casino. You know, dudes are just on the slots. You put each poll as a video and you go, what's it going to be? DUD. What's it going to be?

Ooh, this one kind of hit. We got one of the slot machines to light up, you know? It's like when you don't get jackpot, but you get one of the big ones. You're like, oh, close. It's funny you described it like that. That's exactly how it is for me with posting videos. It's like you see how it ranks one out of 10. Be like, I got a one today.

Of course. It turns like a 10. Be like, got to do it again. That's what the different machine stand up in. and videos is for me feeling wise is standup is instant. You say something, either crowd's like, we fuck with it. It's not like somebody's like they get together and they come back and they're like,

that's a seven out of ten joke from us. So stand up instant. Yeah. You feel it. It's reciprocated. There's no faking that. But videos, it's like,

you post something, then the algorithm's like, is this go against guidelines? Is this good? Is this bad? Yeah. Sometimes shit pops immediately, but now,

like, I have a video that I'll like kind of like do okay. And then I'll like pick my head up. then a couple days later, like kicked up in the back end or it flopped in the beginning or it hit right off the bat. Like there's too many, there's too much waiting for videos to really feel

the response from the audience. It's interesting. Comments always are good to, you know, if you want your mental health, you go read comments. Okay, no, I absolutely stopped reading comments. I am done reading comments. Yes, for any YouTubers watching,

I read the comments. What do they say about what is a, because podcast fans are the best fans of the world. What do they say about you? They can be touchy about some of the guests that we've had on. on in the past. Have you had problematic people? No, it's just maybe people that...

Like, we've definitely... We have had problematic people on the podcast, I would say. But the thing is, just because someone's problematic, I don't think, like, there's any reason to just, like, not let them speak. You know what I mean? Like, I... Well, to a certain extent, but I still think that it's good to challenge your opinions on everything. It's fine.

I mean, the edgy guests get the most traction and the most views. We've had some of the clips get, like, five, ten million views, and people are like, I hate this. Well, it's like, it's got ten million views. Because people are commenting because they agree. or disagree. But if somebody's just a wholesome guy, you know, if you have Neil Patrick Harris on here,

everyone's like, I love this guy. You know what that's all the comments. But if you get somebody who's edgy, you're going to get the people that are like, I love this guy. And they're all through like, what the fuck would you have this person on? So you get both sides.

But I'm curious for you, because you mentioned YouTube in the videos, how do you balance what you want to make with the YouTube's algorithm and pushing the content that might be, you know, little on the line? I essentially just make this stuff I want to make

and if it gets demonetized. It might be. head, all views lead to something greater. So if the video gets demonetized, all right, somebody who's a fan of that video might now want to do a brand deal. You know, I try not to let the little green dollar sign next year video or the yellow like demonetize or like limited monetization get too much in my head because I've such a catalog of videos over the past five years, if not more, that it's like if one video gets

flagged, then you go, right? What if it's not just getting flagged, but what if it's not getting recommended? Because now it seems like that's a big thing where YouTube is just deciding not to push certain videos. Yeah. And so you have to tailor that if you want to reach the audience. I mean, it's unfortunate because you put a lot of work into it. And you never really know until you hit post and publish how it's going to do. Sometimes it's unfortunate.

You're just like, damn, all right. But I'm always like what's next. You know, and that's what I like about Santa Pan videos. It's like, if a joke bombs, you go, okay, I'm not going to sit in this moment and be like, damn, I'm not going to just. You just be like, what's next? how do I keep going from here? What's the next show you after? So if a video doesn't do well,

if it's not getting pushed, I go, all right, whatever, maybe we'll get picked up in three months. Keep going. But also, I just, you know, if the video's five minutes, you have a couple clips for TikTok, you can post from that.

So I'm like, something will hit. Sure. What was that like for you moving to L.A.? How are you supporting yourself back then? Is it just through comedy? So I had a day job. I lived in a pool house in Studio City. A studio city.

Yeah, it was a pool house. It literally, my, my best friend's older brother's friend let's see if I got the right best friend older brother and then he has a friend yeah right was living at this house and then one of his roommates was recording just guitar stuff in the back in the pool house and just ran it was like um I think I went to go and just go out with them one night and they're like yeah dude you could rent that for like 350 bucks if you want and I was like sold because my other two friends that I was going to move in with were like we're down but we won't be

there for like eight to nine months so I was like let's like let's like let's Let me just get out there already. Slept on an air mattress, but it had an inflatable headboard. There you go. Nice. Never once brought a lady back. I had crickets as literally would come over at night. Literally was a gap this big in the door.

Crickets would just come in. You didn't think to close that off, like put a towel in there? No, I liked it. It was like the free calm app. Right, right. Some homies. Yeah. So what was the question?

How did I get here? How was I supported myself? Yeah. So I was doing that, but I was also working two internships. One of the groundlings was just an improv theater. A lot of big actors and stuff have come out of that. And then I was also working at All Def Digital. Do you know them?

They're a big YouTube channel. They're not as big anymore, but they did a bunch of, it was all comedy music, was ran by Russell Simmons. So he did like Def Jam comedy back in the day. This was his version. It was All Def Digital. So they were putting me in videos too.

It was like comedy stuff. And it was some like unscripted stuff, just like kind of debates and stuff like that. And then also sketches. So I was doing that. I was doing the two internships. All Def Digital eventually brought me on full time. Then I was a paid intern and then I was salary.

Stop working at Groundlings. And then I was just working. I think I was making 40K a year at All Deft Digital. And I was pumped because my rent was $350. So I had like some money. And then I was just doing open mics every night. And Vine had died at this point. I wasn't really making too many videos.

It's like 2015. And then Facebook. I was like Facebook's going to be big for videos. Facebook and YouTube. So I started making videos again like 2016, 2017. That's when I had this one character about Zumi's, the skate shop kind of hit.

And that hit. on Facebook and YouTube. And then I was like, all right, is that same feeling I had when Vine hit. I was like, time to double down. All right, here we go. I'm feeling the momentum again. And then things just took off, like, or wasn't more gradual? But it's, I always think about my career as like a fire and it's like you want to keep

throwing logs on the fire. So each video is a log. And I was like, okay, I have a little spark here with the Zumi's character. Let's just keep, you know, keep throwing wood at it. Let's keep growing this. So I did like, probably seven or eight videos as it's like Zumi's character, but then I didn't want to be pigeonhol. I don't want to be like kind of like corner.

as that. So then I started doing a little bit different ones, but I'd do a few. And if those in the hit, then I'd go back to the Zumi's one as like a fail safe. But at that point, like it was a slow growth. And then December 2018, I think, it was right when the AirPods got big. Oh, yeah. I remember that video. That video.

So that video got posted on like, yeah, it blew up. Yeah. It was on like Reddit front page. And then World Star reposted it. And I was like, I was at a coffee shopping camera. When I saw World Star repose and I just kept refreshing my Instagram and each time, it'd be like a couple more 100, a couple more hundred followers. And that video gave me like, I went from like 60K to like 85K on Instagram. And at the point, I'm in Camero out of coffee shop.

I'm like, somebody give me a latte. It was on World Star. But Camero, California isn't the demographic for World Star to imagine. But it is for AirPods. It is for AirPods. How did you come up with that idea? It's just like everybody was kind of like, I was just tired of my friends just being like, You know, it's just...

Walk us through the bit a little bit. If anyone's viewing us now. Mypies were really the first kind of like Bluetooth headset or headphones that like really... It wasn't even about the quality. It was just the look. It was the short white stub that was like as a fashion statement. You know, people were just wearing it

and not even on the phone, not even listening to music. It just, it was earrings for dudes. Every fucking tech guy had those. And like that with a vape and a Patagonia vest, couldn't tell me nothing. Nothing. On a bird scooter with AirPods in? Oh my God.

Unstoppable. Yeah, yeah. So I think I started to just hear people talking about it. There was a few like memes here and there. And then I was like, dude, I can make a character out of this. And then I just did that. And then I just picture like, what would this bag? And every character is just an accentuation from me.

All right. You know, people see me like this fag. You're right. I'm not hiding it. I was in a frat. I've had the same haircut since I was like nine. Like very much. I understand what I am.

So I just accentuate that. And then I go, what is me at a 10? If a three level dude is me just vibing, post it up with the air mattress, how do I accentuate this? So I had like, I had like a jean jagg with like a turtleneck on. You know, I'm just right. I was in Santa Monica when I filmed that video. I had AirPods in just riding around. I just was like, how do I just keep going with that?

And then that did well. So I did like a parody after that. And that was great is they kept dropping AirPods. year later they did AirPods the pros. So I go, all right, same guy. We're doing pros. New Year it goes by, AirPod Max come out. Guess what's going on?

And look, it's fun because it's, you know, people almost like look to me. I would get tweets and people would be like, the pros came out today. Are you, I'm excited for the video. And that's the best thing is like when people think of you before the video's even out. You know, like this drop and when are you dropping? So, you know, it's fun. And I did it for all the AirPods. And, you know, in 2024, when they dropped the new ones that are exact same,

but have a different shape, like octagon's now, I'll make another video. Do you remember how much you made off the first video? I'd imagine, like, Facebook would pay pretty well on something like that. I wish I do. I remember my first Facebook check. I was like, this isn't real. I didn't believe it. And then I looked, I feel like this is a clip coming.

I know how this works. This is the clip. subtitles right here. I remember the first Facebook check I ever got was for $30,000 and I was like, I was driving and I had the biggest smile on my face. I was like there's no way. There's no way that this like all these videos equal to this. Like it like I thought it was

going to be like like a Facebook was going to be like roughly 30K and then you get it and it's like $14. They're like taxes and you're like how fuck? But I was like mind blown. I was like how was this? And I remember the song Payton Full came on it. It's by this guy. safe and Cardi, I think it's safe. And I was just blasting this on.

It felt the theme. Like it literally came on when I checked my account, paid him full, and that was, and that was like when things were on on. My Facebook does not make that now. But this is when things were on on. And I was just ecstatic.

So when do you quit your job? I quit my job in 2018. I worked at All Def Digital for like three years, three and a half years. Sure. And I remember I like asked my parents. I didn't really ask what I told him. I was like, I quit my job to do comedy.

And I was like very nervous to do that. Because I had mentioned it before. And they were always like, yeah, for sure. But definitely, they have health insurance. Stay there. Kaiser, gold, platinum. Good stuff. And then I, when I told my 2018, they were like, yeah, we knew this was coming.

And then after that I was just like, let's, you know. And what was the catalyst to you quitting? I had a friend, Kevin on stage, my mentor. He's a guy that worked at All-Deft Digital. One of my favorite comedians. The funniest guy. He was about to leave. And I was like, Kev, I want to leave too.

How much money should I have in the bank before I leave? You know, people say that you should have like three months salary, this or that. And then I told him how much I had in the bank. And he's like, and you're still here? Like, leave. You're fine. You'll be all right. And I remember that moment after.

I was like, yeah, this guy has a wife and two kids. And if he's telling me that that's enough money for a single guy living in Santa Monica, like, I'll be all right. How much was it? We got to know how much that was. It wasn't even an insane amount for, what would you guys guess how much you think of it? I'm going to guess single guy.

Yeah, I was going to say like 60. 60K. 60K on my bank account. That's plenty. And that was after some months of YouTube and Facebook. And also just saving up money from all that digital. I didn't spend money. The ride that steals the spotlight every time it hits the road,

that's the Volkswagen Tiguan. Its sleek exterior makes a first impression you can't ignore. Step inside to find available full leather seats and wood accents. Under the hood, the available 201 turbocharged horsepower engine gives it a fun to drive edge. The refined Tiguan, you deserve more style. Visit vw.ca to learn more. SuvW, German engineered for all. When I moved out of the poolhouse with my friends and I live with two of them,

and one guy paid 900, one guy paid $800 from my room. And I was my only coverage. I had that and I paid off my car. I had a Mazda 3, flex. I paid off my car and I paid $800. But everything I did was either YouTube or stand-up. So I was working and then doing YouTube and stand-up. So all three of those were generating, not a lot from stand-up and some from YouTube,

but when I saw checks coming in from YouTube, I was like, this is the same amount I'm getting for two weeks pay at all-left-digit. Like, I think I'm good. I left. And then this, I think I was starting to tour with some. And then it was the summer of 2019 where like three videos back to back to back is all like hit. And then I was like, let's. Which videos are this?

It was a Kyle video. Just making fun of a dude's name Kyle. I remember that. I like that one. The hometown bro video. And then, of course, the infamous white club video. All three of those were like, me and my friend, Chad Turley, if you know him.

Yeah. Best guy. It was like this era when I bleached my hair and like every video was hitting. So whenever it was bombing on YouTube, I'll like text you had and be like, fuck I'm going blonde. That's funny. It's like, it's like, it just felt like, but that summer is like. Dude, you got to do frosted tips.

Yeah. I feel like that would really like take you to the next level. It really would. Yeah. I'd be down. Frosted tips go hard. Like the guy stuck in the 90s, I think would do so well. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The CD player. I have an in sync t-shirt. I bought at a thrift store.

I think that's a banger for you. Oh, then, yeah, guys still got a night just get the Jinko jeans. Yeah. It's crazy how much those three YouTube videos

must have blown you up, though, because when you did, like I said, when I came to the UCSB thing, I did not expect to be as big as it was. There were hundreds

of hundreds of people there. It was crazy. Yeah. Well, what it is, and I tell this to every YouTuber is like, the fact that,

and this goes for the same thing for music, it's like, I had a back catalog. I've been making videos since, like, 2017. So we got two years on me of making videos, and I was doing a video every Monday, right? So there's two years.

So when these videos start popping, they can now watch these videos, but then also backtrack, and they listen and they watch, and they just binge. That's how you lock in a fan. Because if I had no other videos, people watch one video,

they go, hmm, that's it. There's nowhere to go. Right. But the more, it's like when you find an artist. Yep. You find one song there's, and you listen to an album, then another album.

All of a sudden, you're three Steve Lacey albums deep, you know, do I fucking love this guy. But if you just had one song, you'd be like, that's cool, but when's his next project? And then there's a lot of pressure on the next project because it's, you know, but if I have 50 videos behind me, you can click through 50 of them. And sure, you might like 12 of them, but those 12 you'll love. But I think it's just it.

So keep creating. And you don't want your first shit to hit. Build that catalog. Build that library. So when shit does hit, people have shit to pick and choose from them. I'm curious, what's your creative process? Like, how do you come up with these ideas? I think you're just being observant of what's going on around you.

The trends are all around you. It's just really, you know, the white cloth thing came to me because I used my buddy Jason as like he was, he worked. He got fired from Deloitte for drinking too much. Like he's like my demo. Deloitte, finance, whatever the fuck he was doing over there. I don't really know, but he's like, he was a guy who told me about like pickleball. He was a guy who was like, jacked love to nutted for that. I'm crazy.

Zoom in on that. He was like, he was a guy who first started drinking white claws. In the Santa Monica apartment, I remember The way he was describing it, he was like, dude, these are sick, they're like epic. Like, you feel like drunk, but you feel skinny. You feel like lighter. Like, he was in Santa Barbara.

He went, he, what frat was he on? FISA, I think. Huh. Yeah. But, oh, interesting response. I wasn't in frat. Oh. No judgment, Jack.

I believe that word GDI for that. That's what the frat guys would call you. I forget what a Sensor. Anyways. But he was like, he was my barometer. He was a dude. He had a hydroflass. He was the reason I made a hydroflass video.

He was like, like my like perfect bro right down the center of America you know because he because he he felt just like he felt like what the uh mixture of just all the people in Los Angeles but also kind of just like Central America like he just felt like like like he was the guy I could base anything off of so he always had a hydroflass boom make a video off that he always was drinking the white cloth and I was like all right let me try one of these and then I start getting more into it and nobody had made a white club video and that was like it felt like I think a trend is like catching a wave.

I don't surf, but I would imagine this is what it'd be like. It's building up and if you get in the right time, you ride the fuck out of it. But so many people

jump on when it's already breaking. There's a lot of people paddling, paddling, paddling. The same thing, I made a video on Tiger King. And I was a, I was one of,

I'm not to sound like, fucking soldier boy over here saying I did it first, but I was very early in the Tiger King parodies. And then that hit, and then people put it out like two or three weeks

after the series was big. And it, you know, it's all about just getting in right before it breaks, you know? And what's your team? Well, that was your creative process. Yeah.

So just watching this guy. That was my brommer. He's a moneymaker. You got an iron full time. But now it's like, what is he up to now? He lives in Austin, Texas. As most guys who follow the trends. He lives in Austin, Texas.

And he's starting a brand. And I swear, this is not a lie. He's starting a brand about, what's it called when they ship stuff to you on a regular basis? Drop shipping? Oh, no. No. But, um, subscription type of subscription business is. A subscription based, uh, jerk off lotion.

I swear to you. I swear on my life. He swear on my life. I swear on my life. So it's a louis or specifically for, I don't know what it is. I don't know what it is, but he's like, he's so funny, man. He'll like text me and be like, I got an investor meeting coming up.

This guy was on Shark Tank. And I'm like, this is all for a loop. He's in like, he'll send me like the photo of like the product and the branding. He's like, what do you think about this? What do you think about that? So he's making Jerkov lotion in Austin, Texas. He's doing well? I think so.

You know, he's definitely moisturized. I can tell you that much. Yeah. But this guy is your ticket, man. Oh, yeah, he's great. Yeah. I love him. I was one of his grooms when I was wedding.

But so he was like the gold mine. But I'm like, where do, so his name is Jason. I go, where do I find the Jason's in the world, you know? When does this come out, by the way? Sunday. Could be just Sunday. Okay, cool. Well, I have this video coming out.

And it's just about like, guys with like dangly cross earrings, right? It's just what I see them everywhere now. You're so able to pick these things out. The reaction is exactly what I want in the video. It's funny. I've noticed it everywhere, but I've never like put the two and two together. You notice it, but you never bring it out.

Correct. That's the reaction I want on all the videos. It's like, dude, people do do that. Oh, I move to Tesla. They all, all these, and I have one. I'm an idiot. But every Tesla owner, for the most part, I'd say, and 80% of them have a custom license plate.

And I've been sitting on that. idea for so long. They're all customs like LOL gas. Oh, dude, I got to show you my license plate. What do you have? What car do you have, by the way? How much money do you have? Uh, guess. Well, what? Like liquid or... Liquid? Or what? I don't know, man.

It's the fact that you said liquid alone is we know that you have millions racked up. The strobites are going off over there. So here's the license plate. Elon Musk. God, damn. Wait, this is a Tesla? Yeah. It's the roadster. It's the roadster. Is that new? No.

Original road. That's 2010. I came out with that. 20. Dude, I would take a photo of your license later and be like, this fucking guy. I'm guilty. In the video, it has like, Elon, I'm about to bust, you know?

Oh, my God. But I essentially made a video just because I kept seeing them everywhere. And I worked it into a stand-a-bit. Then I go, this is funny, but like the visual of this is, that's how I decided if it goes, stand-up or video, I go, is this more visual or is this more of a story? And the visual aspect. And then now people tag me and they'd be like, no gas here. Gas, L-O-L.

And it's just like. now I see them everywhere and that and that people will tag them in me that wasn't a sentence people will tag me in it and be like yeah I fucking see the shit everywhere so it's like the you're bringing something that people have seen but haven't talked about out and they go yo I have seen that that's incredible 3.2 Miller what are we talking no I need to know what's the context like I don't know liquid you got everything assets or net worth yes motherfucker got it just answer the question I don't know what the question is everything try it if you

had to net worth worth? There we go 18 million I don't know I'm going to karaoke room

I don't know why it's 18 if you don't spend money like that that's a good point yeah that's a really good point what's your net worth

not that I don't know I wish I knew oh you know you got to know you gotta know you got it here's fucked up

you're gonna clip the part where it leads yours out I'm over here like I know I know I don't know just that part

I'm buying a house in like a week, so I'm nervous. It's fine, but after I buy the house, it's not going to be fine. How much is the house? The house is like 1.7. L.A. or California? L.A. Okay. How much you put it down?

It's a cardboard box. Yeah, 20%? Okay. That's about standard. Do some math. We could do some math on that to run the numbers backwards. So you get a $1.5 million loan on it? No, it's about 1.3, 1.4.

Your background is all housing, right? Yeah, it's real estate. So seven. So your real estate. Yeah. So your payment's going to be probably around $7,000, $65,000 a month mortgage plus property tax. Yeah. So that's going to make it about eight.

I just, I, so. I pay. So you're making more than $25,000. Oh, yeah. Which was obvious. Like without. Yeah, bro. Minimum.

Which is, right. Right. Technically from the lender's perspective. Dude, I'm wearing Kith shorts, bro. I'm out here. What does cost? I don't know. He just resent me

I'm kidding I don't spend crazy I'm not I don't spend crazy I'm not Like Anytime I have Like I wear something Like Julia

I go this isn't me I'm not You know Like anytime I like Post anything nice It's a character And I'm like Like being like

Yo guess you got it like That And then the next thing Is me at a fucking Norms Eating steak and eggs But the steak is like $8 right

Like everything I post Is like a joke Like I never Share like personal life stuff I never sure what I'm going through I'm always just like How can I make this water bottle funny? Why don't you share like more personal

People don't care I think they would I think if they listen to my podcast They're very tapped They're very in the now Stiff socks 18 mil that's crazy I think people if they listen to my podcast

They know The full versions of me They know what I'm going through They've had my dad on the podcast They know exactly Who I am where I come from But I just like I've

when it comes to social media I just want people to land on my page and be able to laugh and the second they land on there and I'm over there being like my cat mittens was my everything they're like cool now I'm sad

you know so I just I keep that stuff and instead of posting it and getting likes from people about my life stuff I just go to therapy and I fucking crush it's fair you know so I just I don't know

it just feels like when it just feels and this is is not a great stance. But it feels like when you go to like an Instagram model's page and you're like, nice ass. And then you click the next one. She's like, here's what's wrong with Biden.

You're like, God damn, what's going on here? I get it. I just want to see some pictures. Yeah. You know, what does Tulum look like?

Why is every girl in Tulum? I want to go to Touloum. I agree with what you're saying. That's kind of an epiphany that I had in the past few months is like, like try to be a force for good and like optimism and happiness just in general. Like even if the negative stuff, Okay, I know I'm saying this right next to Graham. But like even if I could say some like negative stuff or be mean or whatever and it would be funny.

What negative stuff would say about Graham right now? Well, I wouldn't say negative stuff about Graham. Yeah, because he makes $80 million. He knows. He knows better. But just in general, like being a negative person for comedy or whatever, like if I'm with my friends, I feel like even if it's funny and it gets a laugh or whatever, like at the same time, like it's probably better just to be a force for good and just try to be an optimistic guy. There's no right or wrong way to do it.

Like, like, I'm not saying, like, if I go to some chick's pages, she's expressing her political thoughts. That's not wrong. It's her page. Who am I to say that she can or can't do any of that? Yeah. I'm just saying me personally, I don't want to involve any of that. Plus, also, one thing, I think marshmallow is the smartest DJ in the world because he has zero personal identity. He's just a, a figure, right?

You don't associate any thoughts with him that are like, oh, that's just a, this guy from that place. Or he looks like this. So he gets like, like, you. You just see, it's just a guy, like, it's not even a guy. It's just a character. It's a character. So when people go to my page, I want people have the same thoughts. They're not like, whoa, this guy's leaning left.

This guy's leaning right. Like, oh, this guy hates this. It's just like, you just smart. It's just one, it's just a comedy page. Yeah. And I think that, yeah, I don't, I don't know. All I pose like random stuff, but like, I'm not going to like. I'm always curious.

Do you ever feel like you have to uphold this character that you've kind of like presented yourself as? For example, coming on this podcast, do you feel? like you have to be funny or if you get recognized by a fan do you feel like you have to be that character uh no i think you should have to be nice human just personable because i think like how's that some event last night here and this girl's like what do you do and i was like i do comedy and then the best response that every comedian loves is really tell me a joke no i was gonna i was gonna say that i was gonna be like make me laugh

know, but I'm, that sounds like very like you're a king and I'm a jester and you'll kill me if you'll laugh. Like, make me laugh, comedy boy. And I think if you just give me some time and you talk to me a little bit, you'll find a way to laugh. You'll find something funny, but like, make me laugh is very like knock, knock joke. What do you say to that? I just say, no. Or I'll be like, dude, I'm at a fucking, we're at a karaoke bar right now. This is not a good setup for this. Right, right. Yeah, I don't know. It's just every comedian is like least very. Do you ever worry about the jokes that you're saying and maybe it gets you in hot water? No.

Because it seems like comedy in general is moving more towards like a safer place where you can't make certain jokes anymore. Like it seems like the jokes that were made 20, 30 years ago are just unacceptable now. Yeah, I mean, I kind of err on the side of like, you know, in the same sense of like what I'm saying a little bit ago is like, like, I don't pick a side where it's like, like, you could watch me. I think anybody could watch me and find whether they like it or not. They don't watch me and be like, yeah, this is funny if you're blank. This is funny if you're blank. You know, if you're Republican, you'll love him. If you're this or that.

Like, I just, I'm right down the middle. I don't talk politics. I don't talk anything that would, like, make people feel a certain way. Because, again, my whole goal is for people just to laugh. Just take their mind off of what they're going, whether they're on a five-minute break, whether they're on a breakup, whatever the fuck. Like, the amount of messages I get people that are deployed in, like, Afghanistan, or they're going through a breakup. Or they lost their dad or something.

Like, hey, your comedy helps get me through that. That's all I want. I don't push the. envelope in a sense of like, you know, tackling crazy issues or saying wild stuff. It's not for me. I just, all I want is laugh. And the second you get too, too edgy, you know, there's people who will love you. There's people who are very successful at that.

But that's just not for me. I think I'd rather go a broad audience and just cast a bigger net. That's fair. What's your team like? Is it just you? Do you have an editor? I have me, a main editor, John, best editor I know. I used to edit all my stuff until like 29.

John came on and then it's me, John, and then another guy, Kyle, who tours with me, and he films all the stand-up. And those are those like the three that kind of make it work. And then I have an assistant. That's really it. Why did you start your podcast? I had been wanting to do one and I was with this guy, Michael Blasdine, who's the other co-host, and we were at an open mic in L.A. and we just hit it off. We were just talking because this was right when I was about to quit my job, I think, or I had just quit my job.

where I just quit my job, and he was doing a bunch of college gigs. And as a stand-up comedian, in the early days, college gigs pay the best. I mean, they're like, they just, for whatever reason, they don't know how to price comedy. They're like, here's five grand. And at the time, you're like, that's insane. So he was like doing colleges. And at that point, I was so young at stand-up, I was like, dude, like, you know, how do you get these college gigs?

And then I was starting to pop on YouTube. And he goes, well, how do you get these views? We're going back and forth, back-forth. He's telling me game on, like, stand-up side. I'm telling the game on videos. And we had like a three-hour conversation at this coffee shop in Korea Town after this open mic. And the next day he called me, he goes, do you want to start a podcast? And I was like, yeah.

And I'd already been thinking about it. So it was a perfect storm. And then we just met out of coffee shop in Culver City. And then we just pitched ideas back and forth, back and forth. For some reason, stiff socks just stuck. Who came up with that idea? I want to say Michael. I think it was, I think we were going back and forth, back and forth.

Like I said, like, like sticky socks. He was like, what about stiff socks? Like, it was an alley-up tech thing. Okay. But yeah, that's always funny about the name. It's like, people will, like, get close with them. You're sticky socks, right? Come, come Nike's, come sock.

What is it? I'm like, I'm with my father right now. My dad's like, stiff socks. Checking my episode. Can we break down the business of things a little bit? Like, if you were to have a pie, you're going to make each piece, assign it each a percentage. What's your income look like on that pie? That's a great question.

I would probably. probably say podcast, dude, it's pretty like, I'd say the big three are podcast touring videos. And I would say podcasting and videos is about the same. And I'd say 40% videos. No, no, no, no. I'd say 50% is videos and brand deals in one category. And then 25 touring, 25 podcast. It's pretty good for the podcast.

Podcasts are doing well. Yeah. It's awesome, man. But again, podcast fans are the best. they're just supportive. We have a Patreon and, you know, that's got some people on there too. It's just people who really enjoy listening to us.

That's what I've noticed. I think podcast listeners, like they connect with you on a different level than just like watching like a YouTube video or something like that, which is nice. Come up to me on the street and be like, how was the dentist today? I'm like, what?

Yeah, yeah. I heard in the episode today. You went to the dentist. Yeah. In Culver City? Yeah. Yet they thought it was cavity, but it wasn't?

How was that? I forget that I just project my entire life for hours upon hours every week on Apple and Spotify and everywhere and then I just forget that people listen so when people reference that and even when shows I'll like on a show or on a podcast I'm like dude I love Sour Skittles

next show people are like I brought you Sour Skittles it's just that's cool it's the coolest thing ever I'm always amazed at people that wait at 9 a.m. we post every Sunday and if we end up posting like at like if we posted at 10 a.m there are people like you know where's the podcast

I'm like waiting for it I feel so terrible because I'm like you're waiting. It's always Jack's fault. I'm ready. It's Jack's usually that. Yep. It's only my phone.

What are you doing at 9 a.m. I'm sleeping. No. I, it sucks because every, I've never said this publicly on the podcast, but I have to be up every single Sunday morning at like, usually like 815, which is unfortunate because it's the morning after Saturday.

Oh, come on, Jack. I'm just 18 million. I'm just the morning after Saturday, which, you know, this has been the last, what, two and a half years. Something like that. So I've never been able to. Both of us though. Both of us are.

Well, we work together on it. Yeah, so, like, we're up, like, talking title thumbnail and everything. So it just, it's like, I've never slept in on a Sunday, which I know sounds like, sure, I'm complaining about nothing. You know who else are sleeping on Sundays? The Christians. That's true. Yeah.

All right. Well, maybe I should, yeah. I don't sleep in. I love you're like, I've never said this publicly, but I don't sleep in on Sundays. I wish I could, man. For me, it's like, I want to sleep on a Sunday. People are going to go off on you now. People are going to blame me now.

You're going to sleep in on the fucking. Yeah. And everyone's going to be like, Graham doesn't let him sleep in on Sundays. She said you control in person. It's a mutual decision here. I don't sleep either. It's Jack and I, 8 a.m. every Sunday morning,

going back and forth on title thumbnail. We could do this the night before, but there's something about like the morning of where it's like that panic mode. Yeah. You have to come up with something good. The day before, there's not that sort of urgency

to like make it perfect. But when it's like 15 minutes before and we're going back and forth over text over like what. It does feel kind of nice. It does. And then you get it and then you just anxiously watch

to see like, like how it performs. And then we tinker. This one will bomb for sure. This was going to blow up. No. The clips, yeah,

the amount of times that I, morning, I think for videos they either do best in the bright early morning before people are checking their phones at breakfast or right after work, you know, like six to seven.

And there's times where if I want, I need a video to go up, it's like, yeah, it's the same thing. I wake up at seven. I click post on Facebook and YouTube. You know,

if it's like getting out there because sometimes, I forget which one you can't, you can't schedule on Instagram or TikTok yet, but I'll get it out on there. go back to sleep because I would rather the people in the East Coast see it versus it's like, okay, I get up at 10.

People in the East Coast are like, dude, it's two, I don't even math. It's 1 a.m. 1 p.m. Cut that. One a a a a. It's 1 p.m. They're like, you know, they're on their lunch break. They're meeting.

They're seeing the video, but they're not watching. There's no subtitles. That's like a whole, you know, I always think about like when are people listening and watching with sound on early morning, end of the day. Yeah. Middle of the day. People are at work. So you have to lunch.

Yeah, but even at lunch, it's loud, and they don't have headphones if they don't. You know, so it's like, is it subtitled? It's a not subtitle. I always just think about like, like, yeah, just watch people's behavior as they scroll. They're on a subway. They get headphones. Sure. If they do, it might be loud.

Is it subtitled, you know? Somebody's just eating at a sweet green by themselves. They don't want to play it out loud because that's insane. So they're just kind of scrolling just right. You're like, how do I, when do I want to post? What's best for people around the world? Sure. You know, early morning, later night.

It's interesting you post and then go back to bed. Of course. What's your schedule like? If you have a normal, like a work schedule that you have to like get stuff done. Yeah, Monday we record the podcast. Tuesday I'm usually writing or doing like pre-production stuff for whatever we're filming that week. Either film Wednesday or Thursday. I mean, there's just like miscellaneous stuff.

But like every week I try to put out a video and a podcast. That's like bare minimum. Yeah. So everything that gets plugged in around that is either like meetings or collabs or filming with other people, tour is tough because there's a lot of traveling. So your week is like really Monday Tuesday. And you like fly out Wednesday or something or varies by a day

or so, but really just that. Do you ever get the feeling that you could be doing more? Of course. I mean, yeah, it's like, you know, you watch one interview with Mr. Beast and you're like, do I even try? Yeah. You know, and I think his Rogan episode, if you're a YouTube guy, listen to it. It just

fucking, dude, he's got, I thought I had good insight on videos. This guy is getting people from different countries to voice over what he's saying, but he's getting popular actors in that country. He's got different channels for different countries. He's just like global. Yeah. And I think he says in there it's like 10% of the world speak English.

I don't know what that is. Don't quote me. You should never quote me. I don't know much. I learned from Snapple Lids, but he's like 10% of the country to speak English. Dude, that is, 10% of the world, sorry. You're like you eliminate yourself to so little stuff. And then I just like I

The second I watch an interview I hired another editor And I was like I was like I was like do I need a producer How do I need a writer Am I good enough And it just made me want to expand So every time

You know I see something like that Or Eric he's great too He's fucking blown up right now But he's doing the precautions And you meet him He's got a big team He's hustling He's doing everything

He and he found the formula So I see guys like that And I go I need to one up it But it's a different side of YouTube I think sketch comedy versus What they do is like They're just meant for the masses. It's just like, it's very clickable.

It's just, you know. Yeah, do you think some of your videos would translate well into other languages? I imagine it's maybe only a sliver that another, you know, language could understand or another country could relate to. What is interesting because like, for example, when the white claw video came out, I did a show in Canada. They didn't have white claw there yet. People were like, we've heard about this thing. What is in the States? But then once they got it, I started getting messages like, like a small bump of views went up.

And people were like, dude, we finally got him. No, I relate. So that's a good question. I think something global like AirPods maybe, you know, that would translate. But, yeah, I don't know. I think I just make what I know best. And I think whenever I try to go too big or too, like, out of my element, I feel it. So the viewers and so does it.

So there's a video. You know, it doesn't feel authentic to me. Could always do American stereotypes in other countries. Of course. Yeah. And I think, you know, in America is also a massive place too. So I'm very fine if somebody in Brazil is like, I don't understand this shit. I'm like, well, I guess somebody in Connecticut does.

You know, I'm not trying to, like, obviously global the better, especially with like reels and shorts because they push that all over. So I do try to keep it somewhat relatable on all that. But, you know, I'm doing as best as I can. Yeah. I'm doing what I know. Yeah. You know, I did a video a while ago was like when people from L.A. visit New York. And I'm like, that's great because it encapsulates both, you know, east and west coast and everything in between if you're.

if you've been in one of those cities. So like that to me, I was like, cool, I'm getting both sides of the country. Yeah. And what about for stand-up? What's your process like for, like, writing jokes and test it? How do you test them out to make sure they're funny? So I write everything in like a notes app or the voice memo. And I was like, talk it out.

I think, I mean, I've been doing stand-up for like nine years now. Like, at this point, I at least know an idea could be funny. It's just finding how to get it out. you know, it's like the idea might be funny, but the execution's not, or it's like the idea is whatever, but the, you know, like flip vice versa type thing. So I think I just like, I'll usually put new stuff in the middle of my set. If I'm doing like 15 minutes at the Laugh Factory, around seven or eight, I throw out a quick premise. If it bites, keep going.

If not, then I'll be like, okay, do I want to battle this or, but sometimes it's like what I, what I think is funny isn't funny and what I don't think is funny. Like I'll say the premise and it doesn't really get anything And then I say the next line and then that pops And you're like oh I was wrong I was betting on myself here But the audience was betting on this So there's no way to know unless you really try it

So I always just throw up new bits And I think I just as long as it's in my voice And I'm passionate about it People listen Yeah You know It's interesting you're kind of coming up with a lot of stuff Just off the dome

When you're on stage Like you try to see something See if it bites and then You know if it does you can proceed which is, does it ever make you like nervous when ever you're on stage? No, because, and you get in your head? No, I think it's like, it's like, it's like, it's, I just like, it feels like the same thing you would add.

And I'm not comparing stand-up comedy to the NFL, but like you wouldn't, like, it's like asking an NFL player, be like, do you think about the 70,000 people in the stadium watching you? You're like, no, they're just locked in. Huh. Like, there'll be moments where I'm performing and I look up and I'm like, damn, there's like 2,000 people watching me right now. And then I get right back in it because I can't. I'm just in like this like mode where I'm just on. And it's just like everything matters. You know, I'm not worried about taxes.

I'm not worried. I'm not worried about anything else, but performing in that hour. So I, does that make sense? Yeah. So I'm not like, there's no like outside thoughts. And I'm just like, it's on. It just feels like I'm just like. Did you ever get staged right?

Of course. Of course. And the only way to get rid of stage fright is just by just doing reps, just doing it. You know? Of course, dude. stage presence is so much of, somebody told me this, I wish I remember who it's like,

if you don't believe in your own jokes, why would the crowd? You know, like if you're up there being nervous, the crowd's going to be nervous. Unless your energy and your jokes give off that like kind of like nervous shy guy like Mitch Hedgeburg or something,

like that's would make sense. But if I'm up there and I'm like hiding behind the mic and fumbling over words, there's no confidence. But if you walk out then you like own it, it's going to help a lot. People are going to be like, this guy at least knows what he's doing.

Yeah. He's bombing. comfortably is what's happening, you know? But he knows it. So, but it just takes reps. It just takes time to figure out your. And again, I don't think of some stand-up guru, but I do think it's just, just repetition. That's like a message.

I always look for answers in life. And I think when I was coming up and stand-up, I would like email big comedians. I would DM them, be like, dude, what are the answers? How do I do this? What is the secret? There isn't really one. It's just, and I'm sure you guys have found this in really whatever, whether it's podcasting or just really anything.

It's just doing it. Just getting out there in the reps. You've bombed before, I'm guessing on the stage. What's that like? I've always wondered. I can imagine that it's got to be. You get sweaty. Time slows down.

I mean, it feels like an edible is just hitting just on repeat. It's terrible. It's, dude, I have bombed. In front of my own crowd too. And you just said, how do you recover from that? Yeah. I feel like then it's a downward spiral where it's like, oh shit. I just bombed.

Now I feel all like anxious. I would bomb again. Well, I mean, it's kind of like there's two routes you take. And I did this very much so in the early route of my stand-up days. I'd be like, I'd blame it on the crowd, which is not right to do that. Oh, what? Golden doodles aren't funny. Ted laugh at that.

Yeah. And that will get like pity laughs. But honestly, the thing is, only you know how the joke goes. So if you just go to the next joke after, the crowd won't know. And you ask somebody after a crowd, hey, how was the show? Loved it. What was your favorite joke? there's like a you said something about like pop schools or something that was like what people

remember out of an hour versus what the performer remembers is so different yeah we'll always beat ourselves up I'll be like show was great but this one fell flat so now if something doesn't hit I just keep going and but now I'm curious could that be the audience or could that just be the joke like could you retell a joke to a different audience and they love it because there's a vibe of the audience too right yeah and there's like literally there's like um I think there's almost like A beginner's luck with a brand new joke. Like, you'll, like, tell a random joke at, uh, somewhere. Like, you'll do it on the road.

I'm like, Des Moines, Iowa. And it murders. And you're like, we got a heater. Then you go back to L.A. and you do it. And it doesn't hit. And you're like, is it the crowd? Is it a bad joke?

Did it only work in Idaho? Like, I have this joke that I do about Amish people that I, because I just saw some in Indianapolis. And I was like, mind blown. And dude, it murdered in the Midwest because they have Amish. But you do it in L.A., people are like, do we have those again? Amish people? Which ones? Honey, do we have those here?

So it's really just about trial and error. Sure. And I don't know why jokes get knocked out of my set or jokes get put into my set. But every once in a while, that's what I was saying earlier. It was like it was huge repertoire of jokes. And then sure enough, I'll probably stop doing that joke at some point. And as somebody somewhere is going to yell something that correlates to the Amish, and then I go, boom, got a zinger for you. If I'm just starting a show and I like walk out on stage or something, he's like,

fucking bitch. Like, it's so startling. I think if I'm in the middle of my show and I'm like, like I'm moving, I'm grooving, I'm in the energy and I'm feeling it. I'm locked in. If somebody yells something,

I'll fucking fire back. Some of them miss. Some of them hit. And when it hits, it goes crazy because the crowd is watching you. Everybody can script their stand-up and then you do it. But that's all off the dome. That's all raw in the moment.

That's why those moments get the biggest pops. And the clips that I post on TikTok of crowdwork moments are like, those, sometimes go crazy because people are like, damn, that's like the funniest thing I had was recently in San Francisco. On our podcast, we talked about how to blind people watch porn because it's an educational podcast. And somebody, I'm finishing up the San Francisco show, maybe like five minutes left, taking a sip of water. And this girl goes, blind people do watch porn, you know. Crowd gets tense.

And I realized that the lady who yelled that was visually impaired. And I go, okay, how do we address this? and then I just go back and forth And I just think If she yelled at it in the very beginning of the show I would have been like What? Where do I even go from here? But I think I was just like warmed up

And that happened and it just like this It just you couldn't expect that And it just like I had so much fun with it What did you what did you say? Well she said something And I said oh no I'm over here And that

That got a big paw But I was very respectful Yeah sure Before I did it How did it? How did you think this? I don't know. Like I would be too concerned about like offending her.

Like saying the wrong thing. And so and I think I always do it without malicious intent. Like I'm not like doing it like like rude or. And I preference the clip. I say like hey I am dumb. I do not know what's going on. Are you visually impaired? And then she said something.

So I'm putting myself out there being like, I don't know. I'm dumb. Are you? And then she said the thing and that's what I said. I'm over here. And that just hit. Yeah. And now everybody, and that laugh is nice because everybody's like,

oh, we're having fun here. You know, if the crowd is laughing, she's laughing. And I talked to her after the show, and she was like a sweetheart. She, like loved it. I'd be so tense in that moment because I feel like if you said the wrong thing, like it cut everything. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, and it's not like I, and again, I'm not like attacking.

Yeah, sure. Like she yelled it out at me. Yeah. It's kind of like a volleyball. It's like a lot of balls in your court. And I say in the. I'm like, I feel like this is the Lord testing me right now. You know, like, do you want to have another show tomorrow night?

So I kind of like preface it, preface it. And then what happens, the clip is crazy. I mean, it's afterwards a guy goes, she's explaining how vision impaired people watch porn. And then this guy in the balcony goes, too long, like saying her explanation was too long. And then I start getting on that guy. I'm like, she's blind, not deaf, you idiot. Like she can hear you. And at this point, it's just utter chaos.

And it's just like after I got off state, I was like, that was insane, right? And then I was like, I do it, fucking, yeah, like that, you can't, like that moment you can't recreate. Yeah. You got to start putting blind people in the audience so then they can heckle like that. That's rude. Is it rude? I don't know. No.

We're going to clip just that. Yeah, please, yeah, do that. Don't clip that. Andrew. Andrew, cut that out, man. Oh, God. Could you plant hecklers? And then, like, do people do that?

I'm sure people do. Yeah, but like, dude. You couldn't. There's no way you'd feel good about yourself after that. Right, right. Yeah. And that's not a good crush because then what if that person gets COVID that day? And you're a big closer.

You're like, anybody on a crutch here? And then they're not there. And you're like, I said anybody on it. And then you're looking at the tour manager. Like, where's Rubin? Yeah. Oh, God. You're in the back.

You're on crutches, right? Yeah. You can make it up. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. I mean, sure. I mean, there's, I mean, comedians lie all the time.

This happened this week. That happened four years ago. Like, well, today I was, no. How often do you think that stuff's actually true? Hardly ever. I've always wondered. Yeah, I hear some crazy stories from comedians. I'm like, does that actually happen?

I think something close. Like something like, like a guy will have a wild story and it's like a kernel of it is true. Like the beginning thought, something sparked that thought and then they accentuated. Or some of it is. Some guys are like Joey Diaz. I believe everything that man says. You know, I don't know if you know. Yeah, no, 100%.

Like he's just like a jersey. Z mafia guy and like you hear him and you're like I believe it and you can usually tell by the logic and people talking about it you're like it seems like it has a little logic flaw in it but I mean it's all accentuated I got one final question I want to I've always wanted to ask a stand about blind people Jack it does it does not have to do with blind people good it's uh because I love them I've always wondered because I've been to quite a few stand-up shows with a few comedians that I like I adore right who are those going to should I say I'll say yeah sure I went to a Chris Dahlia show and I went to a Theo Vaughan show.

Love Theo. Yeah. And I'm at these shows and they're funny, right? Like they, I laugh and everything. But when I listen to their podcasts, it's just like a whole different type of laugh. I think that there's no crowd. There's no audience. You think that's what it is.

I've always thought that comedians in podcasts are like a hundred times funnier than they are on stage. Theo is one of my, I love Theo. He's one of my best friends and just so talented. And he gets in his head. lot because when he's at in the studio he's just with himself right he's comfortable he's in his own space and then there's 2,000 people you it's hard to be yourself when you're performing you're a performing aspect so I think it's just that I think it's also like the calculatedness of going up on stage and the fact that every joke is like pre-written so it's I mean too to imagine this podcast

if there's 2,000 people here it'd be a totally different podcast yeah I'm recording any YouTube video when there's 2,000 people watching right you know know, you're, if somebody sneezes, you're now thinking about that. If nobody laughs when you tell a joke, you're thinking about that. If everybody laughed, now you think about that. Yeah. So the podcast was like, you're not doing it for the laughs. You're just talking to talk.

You're just talking from what you know best. And then you don't know those people, you know, in their car or at work or at the gym, laughing to it. You don't know. Like, we post our podcast. You guys post your podcast. Nobody knows when they're laughing. Sure, you can read comments, 3701, hilarious.

But then you're not performing. You're just talking. And that's what makes people connect the podcasts are so much Is they're not putting on a performance They're like, this is just me speaking from the heart Yeah That makes sense Let's talk about your house really quick

What made you purchase a house? I was done a renting Yeah, I was done with renting I just, it's like I've never loved the idea of just throwing money At a landlord And like my landlord's like Just a chill Venice bro

And I'm like there's no way my money's going to good use It's going to Adderall and just longboards Just sector nine's fucking He's a great dude. But I just, I don't know. I, I just turned 30. Everyone thinks I'm like 21, just turned 30. And I'm like, dude, I just, you know, if this is the one big change I make at 30 is start, you know, a mortgage and having some, just some assets.

Yeah. Big word. I just, you know, that was it. Sure. And I was looking. I was looking. And the tour just ended. And I was like, you know, after the tour, I want to focus on that.

And I saw one house. The first house I looked at is actually this one. And then I checked out like 15 or 20 more. and this one was like, I would always relate it back to that house. I'm like, this one's sick, but it doesn't have what blah, blah, blah, I had.

Got it. And how long did it take you from the time you saw the house to make an offer? It sounds like you stuck 20 homes. It doesn't happen like a week. We made an offer like that week. Cool.

We lowballed the fuck out of them. Really? Oh, yeah. What were they asking? Probably two or something? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

And then we went on like 1.5. I was like, no. But the lady I'm working with it's like, the real estate lady Morgan went. She's great. Who is she? Give a shout out. Jessica.

Jessica, what? I don't want to say her last name. Why? She's mine. She'd love it. She would, real estate. Jessica Felix. Okay.

Yeah. But she, uh, she's like, it's all like kind of dating. She's like, you put it in an offer. The seller immediately says no. Ghost, go away, three weeks. Then he's going to be sitting there like, why the fuck would they put that offer in? They did put an offer in. They're interested, right?

Should I, is this? Should I respond? Should I DM back? Should I be seen? And you kind of meet back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And then it's like, then you kind of three weeks go by and you're like, hey, just want to have that offer. Here's a new offer with slightly more money, but more asks.

And it's just like this bag, it's all my name. But you did that over the holidays, right? Like Thanksgiving through Christmas, that's a really slow time for real estate. So sellers basically, to have a home listed at the end of the year like that usually means they have to sell. They're really, really want to sell. Yeah, which I don't know if it's good or bad. Worse for you.

Worse for me? No, it works. It works for you. I love it just look me to get in the eyes. I thought you're like, yeah, worse for you. They've really got to dump that property. Everyone's like, it's going to drop, housing's going to drop, housing's going to drop.

Everyone's going to drop. Everyone's saying like 20, 23. I think it's a risk. The luxury market in L.A., so like above one and a half is taking a huge hit. So that's going to drop pretty low. No, I could see it. I could realistically see like a 10 to 15% drop. I think the luxury market, like 25 million and up,

I could totally see like a 20%, 25% drop in the really high end market. But I think over one and a half, I think probably a 10 to 15% drop is probably the worst of it. But the thing is... But you think it's fine to buy right now. Like it's not insane and insane. If you're planning to keep it for the next 10 years, I don't think it makes a difference. If you were just going to say, well, I'm going to live there for a few years and then sell it. No.

It's better to rent. No, no, no, no. And the interest rate is that it's the interest rates is that right now the monthly payment is still higher than it was at the peak. So when real estate was at its highest, it was earlier. really a year ago. But when you account for interest rates, the payment now is still higher, even though housing prices have gone down.

Yeah, and that's kind of like the trade-off. So you can buy it out, house are cheaper, the interest is crazy, and then keep waiting, and I just, I don't know, I just don't want to stop paying for my lease.

I don't think it makes a difference. Like 10 years from now, chances are you'll make money. I mean, I, too, I'm a pretty simple guy. Like, if I find a place that I like, I'm not going to be like, this is cool, but like, I need to be closer to no boo.

Like I just don't care. Like I just need a place where I can work out of. And that's what I loved about this place. I just had this dedicated spot. I was like, this is a great office. That's cool. Me and the three people I work with,

like meet up here. We're writing. We're editing. It's collaborative. Because all my friends where I work now, I'm in the west side of town in Los Angeles. They're all in the valley. And it's like,

I'm done with weed transfers and drop box. No. I need to be over the shoulder and like trim that, add this. Do that like that. There's something about that in person that I do feel like is. That's incredible. Back and forth. That's how it's like when me and John meet up to edit,

like we'll just meet at our podcast studio. And the ideas are just bouncing back. It's so much faster versus me writing it out, hoping he understands my notes. I'm like 301, make her come in sooner. But this and then this and then louder car, Ferrari, room, room. He's like, what is this?

But if I'm there, I'm like, okay, let's have a car come in. It just bounces off. It's like it's so much better just to be collaborative in the same space. Yeah. Cool. I think we're good on time, right? We're out of time. We're good.

I actually got one more question. Trying to catch a title right here. Okay. Trevor, what is the most that you've made in one day? You know, I made a few people smile. And that's all that matters to me.

I'm not a money guy. Bless up. Yep. Meet the man who makes people smile. 12 mil. I honestly have no idea. All right. There's a title.

I can't look at money every day. I also lose my head. Because I'll be like, oh, my views are down. My views are up. You know? As long as I can pay for my rent. and uh

now your mortgage yeah which is scary scary the bar is so much higher I don't know there's there's gotta be something in the title

or in the episode talk about we got it yeah cool still make it too click baby oh well no we'll run it by you

we can run it by you yeah cool cool let me know thank you so much for coming on Trevor yeah nice

re meeting you and uh four times a charm thank you guys so much and until next time