Couch a session 3 - auththenticity
Hey, everybody, it's time to join Leslie on the couch for session three. Comics, get your questions ready, and let's talk comedy
My first question is for Kristin, Kristin, how do you use comedy to talk about topics that might otherwise be uncomfortable to talk about
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 0:35
I think comedy is like confession in that it's a great purgative. So sometimes things that are shameful. It's a wonderful way to talk about them. And sometimes being in a small box alone with a priest is just really uncomfortable. So it's easier to confess to a group and have them laugh at you instead of having to say, Hail Mary. So that's how I use comedy because I was raised a lovely Catholic schoolgirl. And that made sense for me, I guess
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
And I see that gorgeous. Stacy just joined us. Stacy, you often talk about not feeling Mexican enough. Or Hispanic enough. What do you mean by that
Emily Hagen You know, you're one of my favorite students of all Ines How do you think comedy relates to social media and the importance of comedy on social media? I'd love to know your opinion
Emilie Hagen
@emilieknowsbest · 0:26
You know, Leslie, I actually feel like it's hard to be funny on social media. Like, especially for doing standup. I think stand up doesn't translate well on Instagram or TikTok. And then I think that that social media is also ruining comedy because I don't know if you've seen the IG real estate, but it's just a bunch of people lip syncing. So I feel like it's killing comedy, to be honest
That makes sense. Kristin. I know back in the Eighties, a lot of women who did stand up were self deprecating. And now I believe we're more self celebrating. Do you have an opinion on the evolution of that progress? I just love all of your material. And I think that if we can celebrate ourselves rather than denigrate ourselves, the whole woman kind will be lifted
Back when I first came to La, I wanted to do a TV show called Coffee Shop, where people would have a cup of coffee and do their bits, and then it would be made into, like, an animated story above them. Of course, there have been a million incarnations of that idea about turning stand up into scripted, but when it's just stand up, it's not visual. So it might not be the right format
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 1:57
Hear me roar and pay me more than $0.75 per hour compared to my male colleagues. God d*** it, I think we're seeing sort of a trend towards accepting the whole woman, the parts of us that are maybe not so fun and cool and the parts of us that are full of badassery. And I think that's really the goal is to accept the whole woman, all the flaws and all the weakness and all the strengths and all those Gray areas in between
Hey, Kyle, to Camp. If you're here, I really did love your set. And I wanted to talk to you because you're one of the most kind men I've met in Quest. And do you have an opinion on male toxicity or whatever it's called toxic masculinity? Because so many men are afraid to admit that they have a softer side. And gender is so fluid right now. Nobody even wants to admit that there is a range of ways of beings
Hey, Jocelyn, may you talk a lot about being a Tiger mom. And I know I'm a mom, and I became a mom later in life. When you're a mom, something sets in where you want to protect your kids and make sure everything's perfect. How do you release the need to feel perfect all the time? In your comedy and in your life
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 1:36
So the body is an instrument of comedy is an important thing, and that's definitely an issue in comedy. I'm glad you brought that up, Emily. Thank you
Stacy Ines
@stacyyines · 1:24
And I grow up. And not only am I the translator, I'm the one that has to help them figure out how to pay their bills. I'm the one that's supposed to negotiate for them when they want to go shopping as like a five year old. But I think the biggest problem I always had was I'm not only taking away of growing in La, growing up in La, your personality forms, you're open to all these cultures. And then my parents only knew
Jocelyn May
@jocelynmay · 1:39
Yeah. Leslie, I think you're right. Once we become from the moment we become a mom, from just even when we're pregnant, I think we start worrying, you know, I hope they have ten fingers. I hope, you know, come out. Okay. Then you hope they do well in school, and then you hope they find the right person
For all of you guys, if there's some people out there who always wanted to try stand up but didn't know how to start, what advice do you have about finding your voice, finding your brand, your story, any sort of words of wisdom for the people listening to who say, hey, I want to try stand up comedy
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 1:36
Well, may weight bothers me even though I say it doesn't? It does. And I look forward to exploring what other s*** bothers me in the context of exploring my comedy. Definitely politics bothers me. And there's political humor in my stuff. So, yeah, I mean, talk about your s*** and do it today, and you'll probably be healthier and probably won't have to take, like, a bunch of fudge and medications. So do it today
Emilie Hagen
@emilieknowsbest · 0:44
Well, Leslie, like, I learned your class just always be yourself. When I first started Stand up and I took your class, I felt like the next couple of shows I had like, I did really, really well, but that's where I got into it. I was getting influenced by so many other comics, and they were like, oh, no, you need to write like this or you need to tell jokes like this
This is crazy, Jocelyn, but those are the exact words I need it this morning. This is like back in the day when they had sitcoms with the silent credits at the end on a very special two dope minutes. Because sometimes we're so eager to protect everyone and to make everything perfect that we can't be in the moment. So that's really great advice. Also, Congrats on you just shot a commercial
Stacy Ines
@stacyyines · 0:42
Honestly, for anybody that wants to try standup comedy, I would tell him, Speak your truth. It's such a relieving form of therapy, like a comedic. It's true. People use humor to cope, and I don't regret it at all. It's actually really nice to be able to talk to a group of strangers and tell them about my life. However, screw it is. I 100% recommend, but I think most importantly is be yourself
This is another question for Mr. Kyle. Kyle, what would be your dream scenario when COVID is over and when the world gets back together? What would be your dream? Comedy related aspirations
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 1:01
When I finally have children, I hope that they find the right therapist for them. That's really my sincere wish for a mother and that their dad is not a loser. My bar is pretty much those two things, and I think they'll be okay. Hopefully, fingers. I think as long as they have four on each hand, it should work out for them
Jocelyn May
@jocelynmay · 1:17
And there will be someone out there who will understand where you're coming from. After the first time I did stand up, so many people reached out to me because they could relate to exactly what I was talking about. And that made me feel less alone in my thoughts. And it also helped them feel that they were not the only people who thought that way themselves. So it ends up being a really nice way to get connected. Connected with people
Wow. Stacy and Emily, I really, really love what you guys said about authenticity and being yourself. And both of you are incredible women. And I'm so lucky to have you in my life. And I've learned so much from you guys and your I guess let's call it absolute authenticity
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 0:15
Is it true? Or is it a myth that a lot of stand up comedians actually like practice their stuff at like AA and Coda meetings. Is that really a thing asking for a friend
Emilie Hagen
@emilieknowsbest · 1:21
It's easier said than done. I literally left TikTok because I couldn't find my authentic voice on TikTok. I feel like I'm not a voice for Gen Z. I'm not able to re relate to a younger generation. I feel like I relate to older generations. So after trying several videos and just getting trolled all the time on Tik Tok I decided, you know what this is reverse child abuse, and I'm out it didn't serve me. And I've been happier ever since
Stacy Ines
@stacyyines · 0:42
Leslie, you're. You're amazing. You've played such a big part in helping me grow and establish who I am. I think the most common problem a lot of people try and stand up or be being introduced to stand up struggle with is getting out of the room mentally, just shaking away that anxiety of being able to talk to a group of people, of what we're feeling and what we want to accept express. But you have helped so much
That is hilarious. Kristin, maybe that's your new show. Anonymous. Comedy comics. Anonymous. That's a great idea. I do think the deeper you dig into what brings you pain, the more human you'll find it's so funny. I'm not going to lie. I was having a tough morning and just talking to you guys on the show. It is so cathartic. And using comedy as catharsis has always been my mission
Jocelyn May
@jocelynmay · 1:54
Oh, gosh, Leslie, balancing my career and being a mom, I think that is an oxymoron. I don't think you can really balance both. I can definitely coexist with both. I think I learned a lot from parenting that helps me with my career, especially with acting, being a comic. And I think because parenting, you just have to go with the flow
I want to thank all the comics who join me today on the couch. Whoop whoop tune in next week for session four of two dope minutes. And I'll see you on Saturday for the live chat with comics. Feel free to stay on and chat more and share your projects that you're working on and tell us even more about yourself. We'd love to hear
Emilie Hagen
@emilieknowsbest · 0:24
If I didn't take Lesley class, highly recommend, I think I'm just going to take it and make my brother take it because he needs your class. He needs your confidence
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 0:27
So when you said Coexist, I thought about that iconic blue and white bumper sticker with all the symbols of all the world's religions. And I thought, what would the Coexist work? Bumper sticker look like? So what would that look like? Would that be, like, dollar signs and little stick figure children? I'm just curious. I want to know what that bumper sticker looks like
Emilie Hagen
@emilieknowsbest · 0:42
It really inspired me to do Stand Up again. I hope that covet really does end by the 4 July. Like Biden said, peace and love. Emily and my dog Molly here from the magenta couch
Jocelyn May
@jocelynmay · 0:38
So, Kristin, I think the bumper sticker would would show little stick figures of a family holding hands and surrounded. Just little hearts everywhere and little rainbows and also little Dynamite explosions. So I don't know, it's just all swirling around. So just being surrounded, all that gosh, that's a scary, scary bumper sticker
Kristin West
@thekristinwest · 1:59
Com my website and also upcoming for me, my directorial debut, feature film debut, The Central Authority, will be screening at the Bare Bones International Film Festival, virtually coming this April with more screenings, too. If you like Kentucky Fried Movie and Network, this is like Kentucky Fried Movie Meets Network, where in a pandemic stricken world, the only TV is live streaming TV. And if you don't make your ratings, they kill you on live streaming television. It is a horror comedy