On this week’s episode of Off The Cuff with Danny LoPriore, I got to sit down with seasoned stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, among many other things – Matt Braunger, as we discuss the reality behind stand-up comedy, the rise of YouTube and TikTok sensations, and stand-up comedy as a brotherhood and a sisterhood.

Matt has always been into performing arts ever since he was a kid. Now, a 20-year veteran in the stand-up space, he admits that he’s become a lot more experimental when it comes to his sets.

 

“I try new stuff way, way more. I had a set last night that had a couple of parts that really hit, and a couple of parts that really didn't. And I called them out. But it's like, that's the only way I know how to build. I look back and it's like, I don't know if I can ever get that level of confidence back because I know too much now.” - Matt (13:07)

 

He also shares about the challenges he has to face as a comedian when he steps on stage to try and give people a good time, while going through something tough himself.

 

“Various times during the set I'm just like, ‘Guys, I'm going through something right now and I'm gonna get it back and you gotta trust me’. And I did. One thing I've learned is you have to have these experiences to learn from them, otherwise you won't learn.” - Matt (13:49)

 

Having been in stand-up for two decades, Matt definitely knows what it’s really like behind the scenes, and how the industry has changed over the last 20, 30 years.

 

“I've never felt more camaraderie in my life in any other art form than I have in stand-up. It is a brother and sisterhood. It always will be.” - Matt (29:19)

 

In This Episode

• (04:09) - Matt on being raised in the city of Portland
• (09:29) - How I feel about starting my stand-up tour and getting to see more of America
• (12:41) - What Matt misses from his early years as a performer
• (14:13) - Matt recalls throwing two guys out during one of his shows
• (16:10) - Meeting David Alan Grier at Caroline’s on Broadway and how he’s influenced my passion for comedy
• (22:47) - The challenge of selling a ticket in stand-up
• (27:05) - Matt’s experimentation on social media
• (33:18) - Our advice to younger people who want to make it big in the industry
• (42:37) - “The comedian’s job is to show the audience the world through their eyes”
• (47:22) - The reason why Matt can’t share all the insecurities he feels about himself
• (54:49) - How fatherhood helps Matt in his everyday hustle
• (1:02:11) - Stand-up comedy becoming sports entertainment
• (1:07:49) - How therapy helped me and Matt as comics

 

Our Guest

Matt Braunger is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He studied theatre in New York and improvisation in Chicago. Over the course of his career, Matt has appeared in various shows including ABC’s Agent Carter, NBC’s Up All Night, Netflix’s Disjointed, Fox’s MADtv, TruTV series How to Be a Grown Up, and HBO’s Family Tree, among others. In 2009, he was named to Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch, and Comedy Central’s Hot 9 in ’09 list.

 

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

• https://www.offthecuff.fm/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
• https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
• https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Matt Braunger

• https://www.instagram.com/braunger/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@realmattbraunger
• https://www.mattbraunger.com/
• https://800pgr.lnk.to/MBDougIN