Beginnings episode 18: Mike Lawrence

Mike Lawrence is a good example of what to do if you are serious about having a career in comedy and in working on your craft. Dedicated, thoughtful, opinionated and above all funny, he has spent the last five and half years, first in Florida, and then here in New York, going up night after night and working his material. Mike puts the responsibility for comedy solely in the hands of the performer, and it is that person's job to make the audience laugh. There is no other excuse. And this approach has led him to a spot on the New Faces showcase at the 2010 Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival as well as one on John Oliver's New York Stand-up Show this year. Earlier this month, Mike sat down with us to discuss Stan Lee, wrestling metaphors, the job of the comedian, class warfare and comedy, improv in New York and the attendant social scene, scams and flams, and soul children.