This week, Uncle Lazer sits down with comedian Ben Bankas to discuss Ben’s move from Canada to the United States, the competitive comedy scenes, and the different reactions to their jokes. They talk about the impact of social media, creating new material, and the challenges of performing in diverse venues from Canada to Austin. Ben shares his experiences with hecklers, doing physical labor before comedy, and the unique dynamics of bar shows. They also touch on the potential future of AI in comedy and Ben wraps things up as Olivia Chow.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome to the Drunk Uncle's Podcast
01:37 Comedy Scene in Toronto vs. Austin
05:44 The Impact of Social Media on Comedy
12:43 From Oil Rigs to Comedy Stages
16:25 AI and the Future of Comedy
22:40 Freedom of Speech and Comedy
29:17 Dealing with Hecklers and Trolls
31:59 Shoey Challenge and Kicking Out the Heckler
33:13 Canadian Comedy Clubs and Audiences
42:57 The Importance of Testing New Material
43:19 The Austin Comedy Scene
47:31 Reusing Old Jokes and Special Material
49:34 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Shows
LINKS:
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Follow Uncle Lazer: https://www.instagram.com/uncle_lazer/
Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/my_drunk_uncles_podcast/
Follow Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbankas2
Grab a ticket to a show: https://linktr.ee/UncleLaZer
2/13-2/15 - San Diego, CA
2/20 - Houston, TX
2/27 - New Braunfels, TX
3/4 - Kansas City, MO
3/5 - Omaha, NE
3/6 - Des Moines, IA
4/17-4/19 - Tulsa, OK
4/20 - Little Rock, AR