I’m taking time to write a post that by any means won’t serve my joke writing skills or my comedy career, it’s mostly for you, new comedians that I interact everyday, you come to my open mics and you ask for help and advice & I do what I can.
A lot of you are new to comedy & that's very exciting. ME? I've been doing comedy for about 9 years, performed in South Africa (30 shows), Norway (6 shows), Chicago, LA, Seattle, New Orleans, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Washington, Maryland & Israel (home). I think that’s all.
I’ve been hosting open mics on and off for about 5 years. Because I love it. & it’s a privilege, BUT I’ve been getting complaints from comedians that I hurt their feelings, that they are offended from things I say, that I am mean. Aside the point if i’m really offensive & mean.. As a comedian.. if your’e getting hurt and offended by jokes then you really should take a very close look at yourself and ask IS THIS THE RIGHT JOB FOR ME because listen, nobody wants to sit with a buncha sensitive comedians at a open mic, or any room really & think twice about every sentence they say to you. Listen, you can write about flowers and make it funny and not offensive, that's cool, but you have no right to tell someone else what they can or cannot joke about. keep that to yourself. nobody cares. You are not THE COMEDY GOD.
Comedians are already figuring how to have a career with the millions of people that CHOOSE to get offended by every joke they have, now we have to worry about COMEDIANS that get offended ? you are not in the right business my friends. And if this is what you really want to do then grow a thicker skin otherwise you will not survive. & yes of course I was mean and offensive but also was very funny, but YOU chose to get offended from a joke that everyone else took as a joke.
Whether you agree with this post or not. I DON’T CARE. I am going to keep going with or without your laughs, I talk about things that matter to me. Comedy is subjective, you don't have to like everyone and everything, that's completely normal, but next time you get offended keep it to yourself.. and maybe get a dog who would keep liking you regardless of how shitty you really are :D
Yours truly and offensively
RICKI SOFER
