JRE 1834 · June 27, 2024

Ari Shaffir, Shane Gillis & Mark Normand

comedybusinessphilosophy

Who is Ari Shaffir, Shane Gillis & Mark Normand?

Protect Our Parks 4 - Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir are stand-up comedians, writers, and podcasters. Shane is the co-host of "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast" with Matt McCusker. His special "Shane Gillis: Live in Austin," is available via YouTube. Mark is the co-host of "Tuesdays with Stories" along with Joe List and "We Might Be Drunk" with Sam Morril. His latest special, "Mark Normand: Out to Lunch," is available via YouTube. Ari is the host of "The Skeptic Tank." His most recent special, "Ari Shaffir: Double Negative," is available via Netflix.

Topics and Timestamps

01Three comedy legends gather for Protect Our Parks 4, diving into stand-up craft and the current state of comedy
02Discussion covers the challenges of touring, building audiences, and maintaining creative control as a comedian
03The group talks about podcast growth and how comedy podcasts have become major platforms for comedians
04Conversations about comedy special releases on YouTube and the changing landscape of comedy distribution
05Personal stories and road stories that highlight the grind of being a working stand-up comedian
06Banter about comedy club culture, audience dynamics, and what makes a good room versus a dead room
▶Introductions and setup for Protect Our Parks 40:00:00
▶Discussion about touring and building audiences in different markets0:15:00
▶The role of podcasting in modern comedy careers and audience building0:35:00
▶Talk about comedy special distribution and YouTube versus traditional deals1:05:00
▶Personal stories and road stories from touring experience1:45:00

The Show

JRE 1834 brings together three of comedy's hardest working guys: Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir for what amounts to a master class in stand-up comedy and the modern comedy landscape. This is the fourth Protect Our Parks event, and the energy is exactly what you'd expect when you put three of the funniest people in the game together with Joe in the room.

The conversation centers heavily on the craft of stand-up and what it takes to actually build a career in comedy in 2022. Shane, Mark, and Ari all talk about the grind of touring, hitting different markets, and figuring out which cities have real audiences versus places where the crowds are just tourists and people trying to be cool. There's real talk about how hard it is to actually make money in comedy now, even with large social media followings, and how the economics of touring have changed.

A major theme throughout is how podcasting has completely transformed comedy. All three hosts run successful podcasts - Shane with Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast, Mark with Tuesdays with Stories and We Might Be Drunk, and Ari with The Skeptic Tank. They discuss how podcasts have become the primary way comedians connect with their actual fans and build loyal audiences. It's not just a side thing anymore; for many comedians, the podcast is more valuable than the special.

They touch on the evolution of how comedy specials get distributed and consumed. With everyone from Netflix to YouTube to independent releases, the old model of getting a Comedy Central special and having that be your career validation is completely dead. The guys talk about the freedom of just putting your special on YouTube and keeping all the control and revenue, versus the traditional label deals.

Throughout the episode, personal stories emerge about specific shows, bad rooms, great audiences, and the unpredictability of comedy. They're real about how much of comedy is just showing up, working the material, and being willing to bomb in front of small crowds if that's what it takes. There's genuine respect between all three of them for the actual work involved in being a professional comedian, not just someone who's funny at parties.

The vibe is loose and conversational, with the kind of humor that comes from people who've spent thousands of hours on stage together and understand what actually matters in comedy. It's less about punchlines and more about the philosophy and economics of the craft.