And Featuring ... Keith Alberstadt
When some people think "Commodores," they think "Brick House." We here at Dcstandup think, "Keith Alberstadt" (explanation below, we promise). From Nashville, Tennessee, Keith has become a fixture at clubs throughout the Midwest and South in recent years. He's also been making a name for himself on the East Coast, with appearances in DC, New York and at the Boston Comedy Festival. He's pleasantly sarcastic on stage and off, and from June 7-12 he'll be making his second feature appearance at the DC Improv, this time with headliner Charles Fleischer. He chatted over e-mail with Dcstandup's Chris White.
What was it like starting your career in Nashville?
One large advantage of starting in Nashville was the tight-knit group of local open mikers. That and of course the number of audiences clamoring to hear something from a stage other than Hank Williams cover songs. However, at the time, there was only one stage to do open mike (the local comedy club Zanies), and it was a limited sign-up, which means some comics got bumped. Guess who was habitually bumped off? That's right ... me and the prop comic. His name escapes me, but he had a killer closing bit with a can opener. I was the only one who saw the clever irony of having an opener as a closer. But I somehow never got deterred, and kept trying. I admit that I wasn't too persistent, only signing up once every 3 or 4 weeks. I got stage time about 25% of the time I signed up. Do the math, and you'll find I only got on stage about once every 3-4 months. Not very consistent. After a while, more stages opened up around town, and because of the camaraderie of our group, I was routinely invited to be a part of it all. That was cool.
So what pushed you over the edge into full-time comedy?
I started doing open mikes when I was in school at Vanderbilt (home of the mighty Commodores). But I wasn't that serious about it until I was about 24 or so. That's when I realized that the real world was definitely not my style. I wanted to work for myself, and I remembered how cool it was getting on stage, so I became dedicated to comedy. I got a better sales job so I could save up a good amount of money, then I gave myself a day-job stop date. Believe it or not, I gave myself the stop date of 9/11/01. I woke up feeling like a million bucks, and then I saw the second plane hit. Holy crap ... sorry to bring down the interview like that. Anyway, leading up to 9/11, I made an effort to get MC gigs at several out of town clubs. By the time I quit my job, I already had plenty of shows on my plate. Things started snowballing from there.
You've performed in DC before. How do you like the audiences here?
The DC Improv is by far the best club I've ever worked. From the start of the week until the end, the place is packed and the audiences are amazing. The only real difference from other audiences is their attentiveness. Usually when I open for a big name act, I feel this sense of anxiety in the air. The people are there to see the main act, and I'm just a hindrance. But not in DC. There's a respect for stand-up there, and if they see from the start that you can do a good job, they'll listen. The respect and energy I get from the crowds there are refreshing. Also, nobody yells "Get-r-done". If I could reward everyone with money for not yelling that, I would. Of course if I got paid extra every time someone did yell that annoying phrase, I would break even. Please know that if I ever write a catch phrase, I can assure you, it will make sense and spellcheck won't question it. People can e-mail me any suggestions.
How would you describe your brand of comedy?
I don't know exactly what my style is. Somewhere between dry and high-energy. But you can't dance to it. If I had to classify my comedy, I would define it as down-to-earth sarcasm, but a different, friendly kind of sarcasm that doesn't bristle or hurt anyone, except for fraternity kids who think they're cool because they successfully took a plunger up the ass during hazing and now they buy their friends with dues that Daddy pays for. Wow, that was harsh. I'm sorry to all the fraternity kids for saying that. Side note: No I'm not.
On stage, you seem to be a very friendly, affable guy. That's all an act, right? Isn't it true that you kick puppies in your spare time?
If I had spare time, I wouldn't kick anything unless it had it coming. The inventor of the showtune cell phone ring, for example. On stage, I want to be myself. And yes, I try to be as affable a guy as possible. Besides, there seems to be a myriad of comics with negative attitude. I want to stand out as a comedian with a smart-ass attitude, but one that everyone can get behind, even if that means laughing at ourselves. Furthermore, if I wasn't friendly on stage, and then someone met me off stage, they would be completely confused.
You always seem to be working on new material. Are there any topics that you'd like to explore, that you haven't had the chance to just yet?
There are always topics that pop up that I would love to explore. I love talking about current events and politics, but I hardly ever use that on stage because it can divide an audience who may be trying to get away from the real world for a few hours. Not to mention that the shelf life of a current event joke is a lot more brief than a bit about my family. I've also wanted to do some jokes about how much different white people are from black people. Has anyone ever done that premise before?
Any subjects you won't touch with a 10-foot pole?
If I had a 10-foot pole, I would be a prop comic, and they hardly get booked as features. But if I had one, I wouldn't touch certain topics, including the priest pedophile thing. Not only is it a dead horse, but I have a couple of high school friends who are now priests, and it's an unfair generalization that I don't feel needs fueling. And if it's two things I don't like, it's 1) broad generalizations and 2) Canadians. They both chap my ass. I also try to stay away from sex jokes. Even if I come up with a killer idea, I won't do it on stage if it can't be done on TV. Besides, one of the main rules of comedy is to write about what you know. And lately, I haven't been, well nevermind.
Comedians sometimes become a bit jaded or desensitized to comedy (probably from overexposure). What or who still makes you laugh out loud?
If a comic is funny, I'll laugh out loud. I really enjoy hearing different perspectives to comedy. The comics who I could enjoy any night include Brian Regan, Jake Johannsen, Greg Giraldo, Kathleen Madigan, and Chris White of dcstandup.com.
Flattery will get you nowhere. Have you ever had an experience that made you question your decision to go into standup? What about an experience that seemed to make it all worthwhile?
Yes.
Without naming names, are there any trends in stand-up that you find frustrating? And vice versa - are they any encouraging trends?
No naming names?! That's not gonna sell any of your magazines, but okay. It's a little frustrating to watch everyone and their brother do a Premium Blend spot on Comedy Central except me and my close friends out there. The road is full of hilarious comics, but it seems like they have to be in NY or LA and have an agent in order to get noticed. But most of the people on Premium Blend worked their asses off, so I'm not taking anything away from them. Keeping that in mind, it's easy to stay positive and keep plugging along. I'm very encouraged by the amount of play comedy seems to be getting lately. With shows like “Last Comic Standing” on NBC and stand-up specials on Comedy Central, there appears to be a solid boost in interest for stand-up. It's also cool that the Internet is accessible, because everyone can visit www.keithcomedy.com right now. It's a trend that's gaining momentum.
Any plans to see the sights while you're here in DC? If you have a day to kill while you're traveling, what sort of things do you do?
I am definitely going to the Smithsonian again. I can't get enough of museums because they're quiet, they're historical, and I'm a big dork. I also hope to catch a Nationals game. Oh, and I have a top-secret meeting with Condi Rice and Donny Rumsfeld. I call them Rice-a-Rummy. During most days I work. There's a common misconception that I don't have a day job. But without a manager, an agent, or a girlfriend, I have plenty of time to fill with busy work. When I'm not working, I'm usually watching a movie or answering online interviews.
You are a huge Mets fan, but seem otherwise lucid. How could a relatively well-adjusted person have such a tremendous character flaw?
Somebody has to like the Mets, so I volunteered long ago. I'm sure that dedication will pay off. If 29 other teams somehow get contracted, there's a shot.
The horrible, horrible Mets aside, you’re a pretty big sports fan in general. Any idea what your dream sports job would be?
My fascination with sports, honestly, is waning. Everyone from high school to the pro level seems to have a win-at-all-cost mindset, which inevitably leads to horrible things like steroids, brawls with fans, and criminal athletes somehow rising above the law. Even little league parents are fighting. I remember when parents would just sit there and get drunk on a cooler of "lemonade". If I had to work in sports, my dream job would be czar of normalcy. First order of business: kick out anyone who proposes to his girlfriend at halftime. And then, no more of those "clapping tubes" ... if you want to clap, the rational option would be to use your hands, people. And anyone holding a sign to get on TV would be subject to grammar and spelling lessons. But regardless of what job I had, I would visit www.keithcomedy.com because it's amusing.
Thanks for the interview!
Keith Alberstadt is at the DC Improv June 7-12. For more information, visit www.dcimprov.com.