Steve Hofstetter

There are tons of great comedy shows happening on the regular in New York (especially free comedy shows at some of the best comedy clubs.) Whether you’re watching Chris Rock, Lewis Black, or another stand up legend you'll be all set to take in a great show with our list, courtesy of veteran comic Steve Hofstetter. Over to you, Steve!You’re a wonderful audience member. I’m even considering bringing you on the road as permanent crowd. But your friend is an idiot. To prevent them from embarrassing you, here’s a handy crib sheet you should give them.11. Do not get blitzed. You wouldn’t get sloshed halfway through Les Miserables, so why disrespect other live theatre? There’s a two-drink minimum at most comedy clubs, but that’s not a challenge. If you can handle your booze, please partake (it’s what pays our salaries). Otherwise, your second drink should be a bottle of water.10. Don’t answer rhetorical questions. You know what I mean?9. Don’t order loudly. Point to what you want quietly when possible. Know that if there’s one group of people that are experts at understanding gestures, it’s cocktail servers.8. Don’t be verbose. If a comedian asks you a question, don’t give them a long explanation. You’re not on a first date with them. They’re just asking as a springboard to something else. Anything else.7. Don’t text. You know how sometimes you come home and use your phone as a flashlight? That’s because it lights up a dark room. Science!6. Do not wear something that draws a ton of

You’re a wonderful audience member. I’m even considering bringing you on the road as permanent crowd. But your friend is an idiot. To prevent them from embarrassing you, here’s a handy crib sheet you should give them.11. Do not get blitzed. You wouldn’t get sloshed halfway through Les Miserables, so why disrespect other live theatre? There’s a two-drink minimum at most comedy clubs, but that’s not a challenge. If you can handle your booze, please partake (it’s what pays our salaries). Otherwise, your second drink should be a bottle of water.10. Don’t answer rhetorical questions. You know what I mean?9. Don’t order loudly. Point to what you want quietly when possible. Know that if there’s one group of people that are experts at understanding gestures, it’s cocktail servers.8. Don’t be verbose. If a comedian asks you a question, don’t give them a long explanation. You’re not on a first date with them. They’re just asking as a springboard to something else. Anything else.7. Don’t text. You know how sometimes you come home and use your phone as a flashlight? That’s because it lights up a dark room. Science!6. Do not wear something that draws a ton of attention to yourself. Comedians who casually pick on people are jerks. That said, I once had a guy sitting in the front row in a suit of armor fashioned from beer cans. Impressive, but distracting—and I had to address it or I’d seem blind. Our job is to point out the ills of society. Don’t be one of them.5. Don’t discuss the show du

Each week, I ask an LA-based comedian to give me their "Joke of the Week," and chat with them briefly about, well, being a comedian. This week: funny man Neal Brennan.  Brennan was a writer on Chappelle's Show during its heyday, and has directed 10 episodes of Inside Amy Schumer. His new show "3 Mics" is heading to New York starting February 23, but you can catch in one more time in LA at the Largo this Thursday. Joke of the Week My girlfriend's dad asked me if I had a gun in my house, just to be prepared. I was like, "A gun? Sir, I don't even have an umbrella." Describe your comedy in three words. Upper-medium quality. I assume you enjoy being a comedian. If so, why? Because it momentarily fills the void left by an alcoholic father and an over-extended mother. Also, it gets me out of going to birthday parties because I have to do spots instead. What kind of comedy makes you cringe? Misogynist or racist shit that's not funny and explained away as "edgy." Someone "thinking of getting into comedy" is reading this. What do you tell them? Write as many jokes as you can. Whoever writes the most jokes wins. Have you ever used your comedy super powers for nefarious purposes? Of course, why have an SUV if you can't go off-roading every so often? If an Amazon user were to buy you, what other comedians would they recommend? My favorite comparison was when somebody said I was like Patrice O'Neal, which was awesome. Give us a terrible audience member story. I was doing a show in a dark r

If you’re a comedian in LA, there are several subjects that have become completely generic. Some are okay if you need to pass a few minutes while waiting for a conference call, but if you actually want to say something important, try digging a little deeper. Here are five tired topics. 1. The traffic. Everyone has to get around somehow, so there’s a ton of people noticing the same things you are when you’re driving. Yes, the traffic in LA is as terrible as the subway in New York City is smelly. People drive like maniacs, there’s so much construction and the 405 is the worst! These topics are so hacky that I feel hacky talking about how hacky they are. 2. Hipsters suck. There are few things more ridiculous than a grown adult with a mustache and a unicycle who wants to be taken seriously. But hipsters are also the foot-soldiers of the middle class. Hipsters go into neighborhoods that were terrible and then transform them into places with cafes and art galleries and apartments that aren’t so murdery. What they did to Silverlake and Culver City, they will eventually do to East LA and Compton. Okay, maybe not either of those places, but you get my point. If you think hipsters suck, you don’t remember what Echo Park and Hollywood used to look like. 3. Everyone is gluten-free. I know that some people go overboard, but mocking everyone that cuts out gluten includes the people who need to. Cutting out gluten is trendy, but there’s science behind why it works for some people. You know

Sometimes people arrive at a comedy club with the attitude of “this better be a good show!” Well, you better be a good crowd. If you’re an asshole, we can’t help you. So, here’s how to help make it a good one. 1. Get there early. If you’re going to an 8PM show, don’t show up at 8:15. Showing up early ensures a good seat and the ability to order food and drinks without having to whisper. Also, sitting and chatting with your friends or your date about comedy for 20 minutes before the show starts builds anticipation for the show itself, which will enhance your enjoyment of the show.  2. Pick the right show. The Internet allows you to find out who is going to be performing ahead of time. As well as what their sister’s name is and where they went to high school (but please don’t get that creepy). If you want clean comedy, ask the club when the next clean show will be—don’t just show up to a dirty comic and get mad when they’re not what you expected. Know your tastes, and pick a show based on them. 3. Bring a good companion. If your mother is an old prude, don’t take her to a comedy show—because she will be a downer. If you want to enjoy yourself, bring people who also want to enjoy themselves. 4. Be courteous to other people. The show is not yours. It is everyone’s. So be kind with your chatter, your texting and how many seats you need to save for your purse or your man bag. 5. When something is funny, laugh! Smiling is nice, but a crowd full of smilers is a crowd full of silence.

I often tell comedians that the path to success in stand-up is: start anywhere to get good, move to New York to get great and move to Los Angeles to get famous — in that order. That way you can develop in a city where there are no stakes, refine your act in a city where there’s a ton of stage time and show off in a city where every other person works in television (and the ones that don’t, work in film).   Unfortunately, some of us happen to already live in New York or Los Angeles. I was 22 when I started as a comedian in Manhattan with no driver’s license or knowledge of the outside world. If your situation has you starting comedy in Los Angeles, here are seven ways to move up that long ladder of funny. 1. Go to open mics. Open mics take on various forms—you’ll typically have anywhere from three to five minutes to perform to a crowd that is not paying attention. LA open mics rarely have anyone in attendance other than aspiring comedians. Some open mics can be full of bitterness and crazy, others can be very supportive (but possibly still crazy). The point of an open mic is mainly to get more comfortable on stage and to just get used to saying your material out loud. These are super important to a new comedian’s development (and networking with other rising comedians).   2. Avoid bringer shows. This is a vile practice where new comedians are forced to bring friends out to see them and other new comedians in exchange for stage time. Avoid them—you’ll be playing to a crowd that

You’re a wonderful audience member. I’m even considering bringing you on the road as permanent crowd. But your friend is an idiot. To prevent them from embarrassing you, here’s a handy crib sheet you should give them.11. Do not get blitzed. You wouldn’t get sloshed halfway through Les Miserables, so why disrespect other live theatre? There’s a two-drink minimum at most comedy clubs, but that’s not a challenge. If you can handle your booze, please partake (it’s what pays our salaries). Otherwise, your second drink should be a bottle of water.10. Don’t answer rhetorical questions. You know what I mean?9. Don’t order loudly. Point to what you want quietly when possible. Know that if there’s one group of people that are experts at understanding gestures, it’s cocktail servers.8. Don’t be verbose. If a comedian asks you a question, don’t give them a long explanation. You’re not on a first date with them. They’re just asking as a springboard to something else. Anything else.7. Don’t text. You know how sometimes you come home and use your phone as a flashlight? That’s because it lights up a dark room. Science!6. Do not wear something that draws a ton of attention to yourself. Comedians who casually pick on people are jerks. That said, I once had a guy sitting in the front row in a suit of armor fashioned from beer cans. Impressive, but distracting—and I had to address it or I’d seem blind. Our job is to point out the ills of society. Don’t be one of them.5. Don’t discuss the show du