This is another episode of stand up comedy, your host and emcee, celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business, stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and MC, Scott and words.
Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks for joining us for another episode of Stand Up Comedy hosted MC and this time we're digging way down south to Georgia away and bringing in my friend Joel Byers. And he is the man in the southern part. And he's part of this country. He has got hot breath, which is a podcast. It's a Facebook site. He runs it all through hot breath media. He teaches comedy he does comedy. This is so exciting. Ladies and gentlemen. It's Joel Byers. Yeah, sorry.
Show. A Johanna. You and I have had a chance to work together not at laughs Unlimited, but more recently, on things like clubhouse and talking about podcasting. How're you doing today, man? Thanks for doing this.
I'm doing great. Thanks for having me, Scott. Well,
you're not only a terrific teacher of the how to write and perform stand up comedy. And you've been helping young entertainers for a couple of years now. But you're a very successful comic yourself. And I know with this COVID winding down and finally ending you're getting out and doing some shows. Tell us, Joel, if you've always been from Georgia, Georgia, is that where you got started?
Yeah, so I was born in Georgia, and Rome will Summerville Georgia, if we're going to be specific or some veil. If you're from there. It's like Mayberry if it had math,
but so instead of a veil, it's some veil, join some
veil. Wow, some veil. Yeah. So that that's where I was born. That's where the roots were laid. But now I live closer up in Atlanta now. So it's been a journey to get here. But my comedy career actually started in Tennessee while I was in school up there. And now I live back here in Georgia where I do pursue comedy full time.
Where did you go to school in Tennessee?
It's called Maryville, Tennessee Maryville college or merval. If you're out there, you see a theme redneck Tourette's in my life. Yes. All mispronunciations.
Well, that's okay. You can talk to your people. And that's what counts. So a lot of comics that got their start while at or college and got to like an open mic or something. Is that what happened with you tell us the story of how Joel got into comedy.
Yeah, that is exactly how it happened. I was actually just about to graduate. I was the second semester senior year, and I'd always wanted to try comedy. So I figured I had nothing else to lose. You know, Sallie Mae took it all. So here we go. Let's try comedy. So I get on the internet. And I looked for local open mics. And there happened to be one at a club called side splitters in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was
about 15 minutes away. I did an open mic in front of like, eight people, you know, three of them worked there. And nobody, nobody booed me. I didn't really like kill, but I didn't bomb and that was just enough to keep me going.
Yeah, and if you got even one good laugh. I've mentioned that before. It strikes a chord inside you when you make strangers laugh. Did Did you get a couple laughs at first time?
Yeah, it was like it was like a few giggles and what I really remember is people just smiling. I remember just standing up there and looking in the audience and like people smiling and I was like, this is weird, but awesome. And it really was that moment. And like the matrix of taking like the red pill or the blue pill, it really was like, as soon as I did comedy, the first time I was like, everything in my life is now in pursuit of comedy. Like I
am now a comedian. It really was like, a huge, like revelation for me in my own career and my own just always wanting to do comedy, but then actually deciding to and just the, it really was like taking the blinders off. And I've been nothing but pursuing comedy ever since everything I do is in the pursuit of just making comedy my career which I'm so grateful to be able to do now. Yeah.
And you expressed that feeling of finding your path. It's been mentioned by a couple other people, Tom Driessen. And Bob Warli that, you know, they finally hit the stage. They're nervous, they're anxious. They don't really have any comedy written but they just wanted to give it a shot and then that that feeling of finding home on stage. Do you remember any of your first jokes?
I mean, like the very first one I did. It was based on my experience go into a WWE event in Knoxville, actually. Oh, that's,
that's a great first premise. Good. What do you what? Go ahead share it if you know it.
So it was like, it was something about maybe like partying in college. And it was like, something about, I remember, it's like, we went to this rave, and they were guys in, like, Speedos, and they were disco lights and loud music. And then I realized that was at a WWE event. Like, you know, something very silly. Like I don't think that's the exact wording but definitely like trying to build that misdirect when
painting a picture for the audience, because everybody can picture what they think of the worldwide Wrestling Federation in one of their big events and presentations and how they overdo everything. It's really easy. And I think it is funny to relate that to a college party. I mean, that that that's not a bad first premise, Joel, good job.
Well, thank you. Yeah, it's still my best joke today.
Well, I'm sure that's not true. But I know that you're a great teacher of comedy and comedy writing. And I'm sure that one of the things you tell young, you know, potential entertainers is to write what you know, or write about your own experience, or something, you know, that you can relate to? Because that's make makes it easier to relate to an audience. Is that true? Is that something you share with people?
100% I mean, the biggest thing I push with comics is to write personal like write about material that only you could do, and like put your material through the filter of like, could someone else say this and it be just as funny? Or is this like, unique to me in my
life. So that's like the number one thing that I wish I had pursued more when I initially started in those very early years of just trying to write silly things, but really try to dive deeper into my personal life and really start writing from that personal place where you'll find your voice. So yeah, I think that's like, the number one thing is always pushing and challenging people to dive into their own personal lives, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. And it may be awkward at
first, or uncomfortable. But the more you do it, the more confident you'll get in writing from that place. And that's when you really start to find material that after a show people come up to you, and they're like, oh, that's just like, my uncle, or my wife loves the dog more than she loves me just like your wife, you know. And that's, that's when I really start to find an audience and you start to build a fan base through material like that.
Yeah, I agree. And I've done a lot of teachings. In fact, I have a course out and a book out. And one of the things that I say is that if you can relate to the material yourself, the audience will be able to relate to it, because we're all really just human beings going through life.
And even though everybody's experiences unique, the concept, you know, when you tell that joke about the WWF, well, most of the people in the audience have either seen on TV or been to or are aware of a WWF event, and they've probably been to a party. And you know, it's not a hard line to put between the two. And so they can relate to what you're relating to. And I'm probably making too big a deal out of this. But one of the reasons I do the podcast is that we want to understand how we
become comics. Now. You were already performing a couple open mics, it's difficult in the beginning to find stage time. You're in Tennessee, you're on your way back to Georgia. Where did you find places to get on stage? Any and any interesting stories from the beginning?
Oh, man, I mean, I mean, the early days, for me were performing strip clubs and on sidewalks, then public buses, like anywhere. And everywhere, is where I would perform early
on. And you know, and that's been probably, I've interviewed over 400 comedians on my podcast now, and that's probably the number one piece of advice is like, you got to get on stage, but you can learn all the writing, you can write it down, but until you actually take it to the stage, that's when you start to actually you know, develop as a comedian is on stage. So I would perform anywhere in everywhere whether I would Google open mics in my
local area. I you know, I performed it poetry, open mics and music, open mics, it really was wherever I could get up as where I would go perform. And some of that came to searching online. Some of that came to asking other comics out on the scene as I was doing open mics or even starting my own open mics as well, you really got to get creative with it. But it's, it's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it.
Well, you really hit the nail on the head, it is so much about getting on stage getting that practice. However, I think you're the first to say you've done it on a bus that had to be kind of interesting.
Oh, my God. Well, the idea was for us to do stand up on the bus. But the bus driver, as soon as we started, she goes, I ain't nobody sent it on my bus. So we had to sit down.
So even in early comedy, there's rules on stage.
Exactly, yeah. So that was a good learning lesson, one of those moments in this crazy game you don't forget?
Well, yeah. And I've actually had one comic say he did, was able to do a set on a plane. They were hanging, they were hanging over LA and got delayed. And so the Southwest staff let him get the mic, or gave him the microphone. And he did like 10 minutes of material a while flying around in in Southwest Airlines. But a bus is a new one for me. Now, in those early days, strip clubs to moving bus it was what did that give you? What did that offer you? Explain to the audience,
it really just gives you that resilience, and that like confidence on stage that, well, if I can do this on a bus, then I can definitely do this at an open mic at a coffee shop or in front of four people. Like it really those become like the watermark, of what you're capable of, and conquering those fears and those discomforts of like, I don't know if I should do this, or is this worth it, you know, you always feel better after and you're always better
after. So it really just kind of taught me to just have that resilience, and really that mentality of like, I'm willing to become a comedian, by any means necessary, whatever it takes, and I'm willing to, like, actually live that lifestyle and really say what I'm gonna do.
Yeah, and I think that you, I think you put it well, it gives you a confidence by doing it over and over. In my life, I've been a professional salesman, most of my life. And cold calling is one of my expertise. And what you do is you have it's scary and nervous to walk into a business and introduce yourself cold. But if you do it over and over to do it enough, it becomes comfortable. And that's what has led me to
success in sales. And I think in comedy, it's very similar is that once you decide that stage is going to be your home, you want to visit it as much as you can, and the trip or the travels to get to that stage, or just those walls have in your way to your progression. So you have to knock down those walls and just keep doing it. Now you start in Tennessee. When did you end up back in Georgia where there's some real comedy clubs?
Yeah, I was in Tennessee, you know, basically until I guess I graduated in April or so I guess. So like in Tennessee, the comedy club there didn't open mic, like once a month. And then they had like a paid mic once a month that I also did, because you know, it was just like, anything I need to do to like get on stage is what I'm going to do. So it all kind of started there. And then I got back to Atlanta after I graduated and, you know, move back home, as you know, a
college grad does. But that pursuit was just any open mic, I could find I really just googled where open mics were and then just started going to them probably the earliest one that a place called relapse. It was in the basement of a church. And it didn't have a microphone, and it was called the unmined open.
At least they were creative in expressing it and explaining it in the name. That's hilarious. I've never heard of an open without a microphone.
It was incredible. And that venue has become like Roy Scoville just released like a documentary about that venue because it did grow into become like a legendary comedy space that has now since closed, unfortunately, due to you know, COVID and all of that. So it was definitely one of my early stomping grounds of developing as a comic and that really set the bar of oh, I'm willing to do this without a microphone. Okay. Then let's we'll perform anywhere it takes.
Yeah, that's a little unusual. Here on the West Coast. One of the crucibles for comedy was the holy city zoo, which was really a shame. hole in the wall with, you know, 30 or 40 seats in the stage the size of a postage stamp. But Robin Williams, Paula Poundstone. And a lot of famous comics came out of there, because that's where they develop their skills, night
after night after night. And this place sounds like the same kind of location where you could, it wasn't really huge on the entertainment map, but that made it accessible to go to on a regular basis and really learn and hone your act. I think that's very interesting. Did they continue to go without a mic?
It eventually got popular enough to where they could afford a microphone. So I guess it's just like anything else that you're, you know, start ugly, and then kind of build from there. So I was, I was happy to be a part of the early days that Mike said it became one of the best mics in the city over time, but it started out. Yeah, no microphone.
That's hilarious. And I love that phrase started ugly. Yeah. That is so true. So at this point, you have been doing some comedy for a couple years, had you an opportunity to work with anybody famous or more experienced that you could learn from?
I mean, there were definitely like, early mentors in the Atlanta scene. Like I've never, I've never had that experience of some people like, Oh, I got to, I didn't open mic. And then all of a sudden, like Ron White walked in and saw me and was like, you're coming on the road with me kid? You know, I haven't. I mean, I've been doing comedy 12 years, and I haven't had an experience like that. I mean, I have done shows where people like Ron Wyden do
come in and perform. But it's not like we did the show together and whatnot. So more any famous comics, it's more from like my podcast, I would say that any one I'd like extra bandwidth to like perform with yet, which I'm totally fine with, I'm not bitter at all, I will get what I deserve whenever I get it. And patience and persistence.
Patience and persistence are key words. And we'll talk about the podcasts in a minute. But I find it interesting that you've developed so well as a professional comic, and now as an educator of the art form, without really spending a lot of time with somebody that, like you said, mentored you. So you've really done it the hard way, which is from scratch and in a hands off to you because much like starting a business or
anything else. It always helps to have somebody to be able to talk to and if you have to do it yourself and really grow from nothing. It makes the task a little harder, but you've been doing kind of a many years now. Any interesting experiences on the road that helped mold you and your comedy?
Oh, my gosh. Oh, man. I mean, there's just so there's just so many, but it's like, the one the one that really comes to mind is I did a show in Kokomo, Indiana, it was 12 hour drive. One way, I did it with a comedian friend of mine. And we drove up, did the gig. I made 50 bucks, and then drove
right back. So we went up there, did the gig and then came right back got back about I don't know if it was, I don't remember what time we got back where we stopped at one point in a gas station and took a nap at like 6am. But it was one of those moments of like, okay, if I can drive to Kokomo, Indiana and back, then I can do anything. So it really was another one of those watermark moments of like, okay, if I can do this, then this gig over here, no problem
at all. And that's, that's just one of those many road experiences you have where, you know, I went to Tallahassee and performed at an oyster bar that was known for its hamburgers, you know, I mean, this is it was a door deal. It was a door deal. And then when we got there, the door cover was by donation. And we're in a college town. Nobody like it's called students nobody's like tipping me we definitely lost money on that
one. But you know, those those experiences that you know, make you stronger as a comedian and make you more business savvy and you learn what questions to ask and you learn the value of your time and how much is worth to travel to and things like that. I mean, there's no there's no
like real manual for it. You know, I'm grateful for you know, people like you and I who are trying to share this information in one place so that you don't have to like scour the internet and books to find it but there isn't really like a step by step to becoming a professor Shaun, comedian everyone kind of has their own journey to get there.
But these are some lessons that I know for me personally, if I can help comics, not learn them the hard way, like, not gonna tell them not to do the gig, but just have the context of maybe the value of doing this gig versus not doing this gig. But I never tell a comedian what they should or shouldn't do, I just share my own experience, and then let them decide for themselves what they want to do. Because it's, that's what I love about comedy is it. At the end of the day, if you want stage,
it's your journey. No two people have, quote, made it the exact same way. So it's just whatever path you want to take, you can just learn from other people, and then act accordingly based on what you want to do. But it's everyone has those road stories, it's just, it's just part of the part of the gig of being a comedian.
Well, I wanted to bring up two things that I that really means something and bear down on a little bit. One is, if you're going to go into stand up comedy, this art form, you have to have the dedication and the commitment to do gigs, whether it's in a bus or driving 12 hours each way to make 50 bucks, those kinds of stories have been told over and over and over.
Because once you make this decision in your heart is driving you towards comedy as a career or whatever you're willing to do whatever it takes, because you have that dedication. And then the other thing I wanted to beam down on a little bit more is the business side. Now I just came out with you know, earlier this year, I came out with my book 20 questions answered about being a stand up comic Plug, plug, and available on Amazon. But one of the things I talk about is the
business part. And now my book is written from a producer's point of view, and I'm trying to teach comics what they need to be aware of. And you've said it very poignantly, it's, instead of learning that it's a business the hard way, which is how you and most comics go through it. It would be great if teachers like us could get it into the heads of these entertainers or future entertainers. That, yeah, it's an art form. And that's what you need to focus on. But it's a business and you're self
employed. And you have to be thinking about the expenses and planning out your income. Because if you don't, if I think that's knocked a lot of probably very talented people out of the business,
for sure, and I think that's something that I'm hoping this next generation of comics, understand more than older generations, like, I mean, I've been to a college full of years, but I consider these like newer one. So like five years generation of comedians, that's the comedians I'm really seeing, that are engaged in, I don't my podcast, and my Facebook group, and all that is, the younger comics, I hope they realized that it's like, Do it, do it to
have fun, don't do it. For this pursuit that come after me my full time job, I want to do my full time job at a time of five
years. It's like a family like a full time comic, but like, I've done a lot of full time comics I know are living in their cars, they're living with their parents, like they're depressed like, it takes the fun out, when all the press, you put all this pressure on comedy to provide for you, if you could make it this fun, side hustle this like fun artistic endeavors, where you just write and go to performing, you're getting some road gigs here and there, and you're developing as a comic and
developing the skill that then can become a business in that that neat, to me is a more sustainable and a more fruitful pursuit. As opposed to this mindset of, well, I'm not really convenient, unless I'm doing it full time. And I'm broke and I hate myself like I think that people can do it while having a day job and just start to ease
themselves into comedy. It's going to keep comedy a lot fun for a lot longer because as someone who is in full time comedy now it's it can be tough to like real like to look at the business side and be like man, you know, I'm a comedian now but my wife is like, Oh does Georgia Power except laugh? Do they accept laughs per minute? Is that part of the payment plan?
You know, Georgia Power does it it takes away a lot of the fun when you bring in the business side and it's a PART part of what I am still learning 12 years and of like, how can I make this not only just a fun career but also like a fruitful and a most importantly a stable career path?
Yeah, and I don't want to be wet blanket but it's doesn't matter how long you ran. I've known people that have been in comedy and they're very, very successful 30 plus years, and there is no such thing is consistent. regular income from inner Hey, doesn't matter if you're a singer, dancer actor, gigs come and go. In fact, that's a great segue into my next question for you. We've just come out of two years of COVID. And it really knocked the entertainment industry on its
ass. And whether you were a singer or an actor or a comic, literally, there was no way to get on stage for over a year. And then in 2021, it was some places you could get on and some places you couldn't, but it really hurt the industry. I know that you have found ways to stay important and active comedically using hot breath media, your Facebook group and your podcast, while all this transitioning was
going on? But can you share with the audience how it affected you from 2019 into 20, and how you ended up developing these great ways to reach people and teach people.
This, I know it affected everyone, majorly, I mean, even you know, outside of the comedy world, but it's like, for me, where my career was, poised is I had been starting to work the road and 2019 I've been getting in with these clubs. And in 2020, accident released a comp my own comedy special I self produced the comedy special, awesome. And yeah, I was excited about it. You know, it's called the trophy husband. And it's available on my
website. But what I did was I released this special and I had a trophy husband comedy tour book. And I was actually these clubs I've been getting in with, I was starting to actually headline these clubs. So in 2020, I was actually poised to become my goal, which was like a nationally touring headliner. And then it's just overnight, literally, I went and did a gig in Wilmington, North Carolina. And then on the way back, that was that was the last that was the last gig. I did like the
next day. It was like, Oh, the world's shutting down.
And then you got hit hard. Joel that's, that's that's kind of I mean, I don't want to state the obvious, but that is a soul crushing opportunity. Last you trophy husband was out was just starting to get you to that level. And the rug was pulled right out from under you. I'm so sorry, man, that that. That is tough. But you're resilient because you kept going?
Yeah, I mean, it's kind of like one of one of my favorite quotes is like you can't control what happens Do you can control how you react to it. So it was just that moment of like, okay, well, what, what can I control? You know, focusing on what you can control, okay, you can't control that live shows are gone. But what can I control. And I had this podcast I had been doing for several years. And I had really just been focused on the interview aspect of it, and just doing weekly interviews with
comedians. But then I started to really focus on the community aspect of the podcast. And I started this Facebook group started the YouTube channel, and I started doing this daily writing club, where for over 400 days, I went live every single morning at 10am. For better or worse, there were some mental breakdowns in there. But what's there now affectionately called sassy Joel, that's what people call the sassy jewel. But every day for 400 days, I would go live in the Facebook group, and
just like have a word. And then in 10 minutes, we would write a new joke, and I'd read the jokes on air, and then we'd have like a winner, we would vote for our favorite joke of the day. And that became kind of like a
community builder. And then from there, it's grown into this International Comedy community where now on a daily basis, I'm hearing from comics all around the world, about how much they enjoy hot breath, or how this episode helps them or thanking me just for the resources and how they don't know where they would be without it. And it just kind of all stems from, well, I don't have my life skills anymore. What do I have? So I just started building this
community. And now it's become this ecosystem of comics, helping comics, which I'm so grateful for.
Oh, man, that is a great story. And it goes back to what you said earlier in the recording is that you have to be consistent and persistent in doing something every morning at 10am. If is going to find an audience, it takes time, but you are able to build an audience through your consistent work about comedy. So what you We're able to do is pivot from performing on stage to talking about comedy and sharing comedy
with like minded people. And much like any business or new thing that you go into, it started off with just you talking to yourself. And then and then it built up and you found an international audience now, is there any idea how many people you're connected with now? Oh,
my God, I don't even I don't even know. I mean, the, the Facebook group has almost 5000 people. I mean, the channel has almost 20,000 subscribers. I mean, it's, I don't, I don't know. I mean, it keeps growing. And I keep hearing from different people, you know, every week. So it's just, it's kind of like a bunch of people with a common interest coming together. And I think the biggest part of it is the supportive element of it. Like, when I when I started, it was very competitive and negative.
And there weren't really that many comics, helping each other. It was just, it was very kind of cutthroat. So I really wanted to be intentional about the culture of this community is that it's positive, and it's supportive. And we're here to help each other get better together. And I've always been mindful that from the beginning. And I think what I'm finding is a lot of my career, just like the podcast is like, my comedy special, just like this community is it's like, it's become me creating
things that I wish existed. And then that, in turn, seems to be relating to a lot of people that kind of wish the same thing existed. So it's, it's kind of become part of how I move and my comedy career is like, Well, what do I wish existed? Okay, well, let's work to, you know, make that into fruition.
Yeah. But that's genius, Joel, that you are able to build and start ideas that are that other people wish they could do. And they find you and they glam on because it wasn't just you that was put out of business, when COVID hit, it was all these other comic wannabes, or all these other comics, and they're looking for a way to share their art form to share their talent to build their talent. They can't get on stage.
But hey, this guy with hot breath media, ladies and gentlemen, pay attention, go to hot breath media, and connect with people that are in the same position as they were, and then learn, grow and get some benefit
out of that. Because I know that not only are you a successful stand up comic, but you have become, especially in the southeast, a huge teacher of what it takes to write the commitment, the persistency to write comedy, and then you give them, you give them a virtual stage, with your Facebook page and with your podcast to share some of that comedy. I mean, Joel, my hat's off to you. I feel like I'm pretty strong on
the producer side. But you've really created and done things that other people just think about good job. Well, I
appreciate you saying that Scott, especially coming from someone like he has so much experience in the industry. You know, that really means a lot?
Well, I don't say it lightly, but you've really tapped into something. Here's the situation where COVID hits, wipes out an entire industry. And you thought to yourself, Well, what do I wish existed. And instead of just thinking about it, you did it. And it's the doers, the entrepreneurs in this world that keep things moving, because of what you created. hot breath media, your hot breath. Podcast, is a vehicle for other people to climb in with you and take a journey down the artistic aspect
of comedy. Now, sadly, there's not I don't know how you've been able to do it. And it's difficult to make money, doing virtual things. But you're still from a creative point of view, giving everybody such a great again, I'm going to use the word opportunity to continue with what's important to them. Have you been able to transition some of this and make some money?
Yeah, so the biggest right transition is made into like, financial is through the online classes and workshops that I do. And then also what's been an interesting side effect of this community is I'm getting books by people in the community as well. So I just recently booked a run a shows in Virginia because of someone in the community and I have other people reaching out to me one They booked me or like knowing of people looking for comedians,
and they refer me. So that's been an interesting, unexpected side effect of the community is like, Oh, now people see me as like, like a hireable comics that they know will do a good job. Well,
yeah. But you proved yourself, not only as an entrepreneur and as a creative force through, let's say, let's catch the audience up through 2020, where nothing was happening. And then in 2021, you were you created these great vehicles for people to continue experiencing, not only training and writing about comedy, but even performing some comedy virtually, you have become the face of Stand Up Comedy during a difficult time. For this country
and for the industry. Now we're getting into 2020 to those connections, that consistency persistency and effort putting into keeping comedy alive, is paying off by you getting more gigs. I mean, I think that's poetic. I think that's perfect.
Amen. I hope they keep coming. You know that?
Well, it will, it will people, you be, you've become, excuse me, you've become a name in the industry. And that name is, you know, comedy at, you know, you've proven yourself, not only through your teachings, but through your, you know, virtual performing with people. And the fact that it's changed into a way for you to make some money through live gigs, I think is incredible as we go into 2022. What sort of events and in projects are you
looking into? What are you going to be doing later this year?
Well, the big thing I'm building right now, is we talked about, like focusing on what you can control is like as, as like my road gigs are coming back and things like that, because now those are more competitive than ever, like in the comedy club world. You know, now, comics have been unemployed for over a year. So now everyone is scrambling to try to get their foot back in the door places. So what I've really been doing again, is focusing on myself and really starting to
produce my own shows. And I've started like a live production company called feelgood funny and ran around the Atlanta area with the plan for this to expand into like, companies seeing feelgood funny as a brand. They can start booking for events and things like that, and I can start hiring other comics to help as well to perform at these events. It's really another example of like, well, what can I control? Okay, I can control me reaching out to venues, I can control me producing my own
shows. So that's a big part of what I'm doing on the show production side. But I did also just record a dry bar special as well. Oh, great.
Congratulations, Joel, dry bars a great way to get your name out there.
Thank you so much. Yeah, I'm, I'm very excited about that opportunity. Who knows what will come of it, you know, but I am excited for that to come out this year. And really, to see what we can do with that. Hopefully, that new exposure to that audience because I am a clean comedian, I am intentional about being clean and my vision. This, like my vision, I'll kind of like my initial vision was okay, I want to say I'm a full time comedian. Like kind of the next chapter of that is, I envision me
performing at a at a 2pm show. I want to do afternoon show, Scott, I don't want to be out at midnight, in front of drunk people. I want to be doing a 2pm show where there's grandkids, the grandparents there. And I think that's like what I'm envisioning now. And that's when I'll know when I've hit that. That next level is when I can be performing afternoon shows in front of just all family members, just giving people a feel good, funny time. And that's really what I'm working
towards. So I'm hoping that with the drive are special, I'll expose me to an audience that appreciates clean comedy, and really is a fan of comedy but also appreciate it being cleaned and they'll tell their friends and family and share. So that's probably the that's probably the biggest opportunity I have gotten to this date in my career because I've filmed some pilots. I filmed some TV shows, they never came out or I got to get
out of them. You know, all these little milestones along the way of like, oh, this is it, you know, so at this point, I don't get too overly excited about anything. I was like okay, cool. I'm gonna film a dry bar. Be sure I'm prepared enough and do my best set for that. And then let all fall into place as it may. But I am being very intentional about being ready for when that special comes out by. I've been building the hot breath YouTube channel, but now I'm building my own personal
YouTube channel. I'm doing man on the streets get in there. I started this vlog kind of tracking my journey as a pandemic comic of, okay, I wasn't a comedian, and then all sudden, it disappears overnight. Here I am trying to crawl back into being a professional comedian again, and really just documenting that process. I don't think people really get to see the pursuit of being a comedian that people see Netflix. And they're like, oh, so they just called Netflix. And
we're like, Hey, I'm funny. Put me on. Give me a special, you know, there's
a whole bunch it was that easy, right? Yeah,
I mean, that's like the 1% of the 1%. You see, and there's this whole other 99% of working comics that I don't think people really get access to. But I think with how much comedy is booming now, I think there's more of a thirst and interest in comedians and into the comedic process and what it actually takes to become a
comedian. And I'm hoping to find that intersection, and be that comic that people see and really start to root for as this underdog that they want to see achieve that 2pm afternoon show.
Well, let me just say I'm very impressed with you, Joel. And I want to say in front of my podcast audience that you may never end up being famous. But to me, you're already a huge
success. I mean, you took from doing a few open mics, becoming a road warrior, doing some comedy, to hitting a probably one of the biggest walls to the growth of a career, namely, the pandemic, and you had the entrepreneurial spirit to keep going and recreate yourself with hot breath, your podcast and Facebook group, I'm taking people on a journey here now.
Now we're getting back on stage, when things have changed, you're older, you've gotten more needs financially, and other comics have gone into acting or have given up or they've become writers or you mean, once you are a comic, you can go on several paths. And I am really impressed. And I'm an entrepreneur, so from an entrepreneur to an entrepreneur, I can see that you made that transition from just a comic, which is a great thing artistically. But you've mixed
it with business. Now you're an entrepreneur, and guess what your next step is producer, because you want to take control of your career, you're now going to produce the shows that you have not been able to have an opportunity to get because of COVID. And with those produce shows, build your own world, your own success, your own finances. And that is really, really impressive, Joel, and as a producer, I gotta tell you, it's not an easy path. It can be
risky at times. But if you don't bet on yourself, you're always going to lose.
Huh? Yeah, I appreciate you saying that. Yeah, that's, well, not easy.
You've had all these little successes, like you said, getting onstage, you know, starting the podcast, getting hot breath media going, doing a dry bar comedy set is going to really help get your name out there. But starting to produce your own shows where you can perform and produce. I mean, that's genius. You're, you're gonna create your own success. That's awesome.
Thank you. That's the whole goal, Scott. So some days are better than others, as you know, in any self made pursuit, but it's not losing the vision is what keeps you going on those and going through the highs and the lows. Well, and
let's get back to the root of it all. You're a funny guy. If you weren't dedicated and committed 12 years ago to writing and performing clean comedy, you wouldn't even have the opportunity to try to produce shows now. So the fact that you became created yourself into a professional entertainer, and then morphed into a businessman, is what's not only in my mind already made you a success, gonna make you a huge success moving forward. I mean, you're a young guy, you got lots
of time ahead of you. So let's go back to talking about where people can interact with you. We have a hot breath, the podcast so ladies and gentlemen, just go to app Will podcast or any any directory you like any feed you like and put in hot breath, you'll find this very successful podcast very entertaining. I've heard many myself, you and I did a lot of stuff on clubhouse, you've got your Facebook group is that called hot breath?
Yeah, if you search hot breath on Facebook, you'll see it's called the comedy writing room presented by hot breath.
So the comedy writing room, buy hot breath on Facebook and people can get to be a part of or watch what you're doing with new comics. Definitely go to dry bar comedy and just search Joel Byers, you'll find his set in learn about the feelgood funny group. Now, share with the audience. What how people can you know see your comedy and and be a part of your events going into late 22.
So my website, job buyer's comedy.com will be the best way to see like my schedule or to reach out to me directly about booking me for an event as a comedian or event hosts as well. I host a lot of events and anywhere that public speaking is needed is what I'm starting to find. As a comedian, we talk about the entrepreneurial mindset. It's like, we're learning a lot of different
skills. As comedians beyond just standing and telling jokes, you know, we can engage an audience now we can be an emcee, we know how to write jokes. So we may be able to write like advertising copy in a funny way for certain companies, you know. So that's how I'm starting to use the skill set of a comedian to really diversify kind of the income streams that you can have
as a comedian. So anyone that found this story interesting and sounds like I'd want to work together, then your buyers comedy.com is the best place to reach out to me to work together and all my social media is Joel buyers comedy, whether it's a YouTube channel, or Instagram or Twitter, any of those, it's all Joel buyers comedy.
Okay, so everybody, the audience, you have two ways to get involved with this very successful guy. You have hot breath media, and more importantly, Joel buyers comedy.com. That's once again, Joel buyers comedy.com. And get a chance to connect with this very entrepreneurial, successful comedy writer and performer from Tucker, Georgia. Ladies and gentlemen, Joel Byers, whoa. Hey, Joel, I am so excited for you, I think the future is going
to be bright for you. I think dry bar comedy is going to be a good plus, I think you producing your own shows is going to really take you into a strong financial direction. And I thank you so much for taking time and doing this interview in this podcast to share everything you've succeeded with in comedy.
Well, thank you, Scott. And I appreciate all you're doing for comics and comedy fans as well. And you've been really supportive of my journey. And those, those kind of, you know, support, really keep the momentum going, when there may be like that those struggling days, like what am I doing or is anything working? And then other days, it's like everything working like people like you are the ones that keep us moving forward. And I really appreciate that.
Oh, well, you're welcome and to be able to share it together. We did that little run on clubhouse together. And I am a big fan of your Facebook page and your trainings and your podcast. It's just fun for me as a fellow comedy producer to watch you grow and develop. So ladies and gentlemen, check out Joel buyers comedy.com Look for Joe buyers on the dry bar comedy but you don't have to wait because right now we have a short set by Joel. Joel. Thanks for doing the podcast everybody.
Stay tuned. Joel thanks again for doing this.
Thank you, Scott.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, here we go. Joel Byers live on stage.
Is someone warned me about the wedding planning though. Oh my I would rather plan of divorce No one warned me at the interrogation that was going to happen. Every day my wife would just wake me up with her eyes wide open. Who's the band going to be? What's our hashtag gonna be like I'm good with whatever your parents paid for. I defer to Anand Randall. Let's talk to the investors on this because I'm still paying off your rings. Yeah,
congratulations ladies. You get two rings that's why we get paid more it's a ring tax. Yeah, be Don't say didn't tell us that part did she? She just said put a ring on it. Like if you like it, then you got to put a ring on it. She forgot to mention but if you love her, you got to put another ring on it. And the ring tacks you gotta keep paying. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no no it was all worth it though. Man. I tell
you that the wedding. A wedding is like an emotional release I cried a suspicious amount it was cute at first. People were like, Oh, he loves her. But then it escalated to oh he's about to confess but it is emotional. I think anybody who's married in here any man when you see your wife walking down the aisle, it hits you. That's it. The wedding planning is over brings you continues. And then my wife started she saw me crying. And then she started crying because we were getting behind schedule.
Well, everybody that was Joe Byers, doing a couple of minutes a stand up comedy about his wedding and wedding planning. Very funny guy, very talented entrepreneur. It was really exciting to have him on the podcast. If you're anywhere in the southeast. Check out. Joe Byers. comedy.com go out and see Joel. He's still performing live on a regular basis. And if you get a chance, check out hot breath, podcast and his Facebook site. hot breath media. Ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for joining us
for this week show. We'll see you next Sunday. Bye.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy your host and emcee. For information on the show merchandise and our sponsors or to send comments to Scott. Visit our website at WWW dot stand up your host and mc.com Look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near you