A famous adage says, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Good humor can lighten up a troubled heart and mind. Sharing laughter with others is an effective antidote to loneliness and makes you feel better. Comedy bars are happy places to spend time with family and friends.
It was entertaining to have stand-up comedians Kish, Jewel Johnson, and Gray on “The Interviewer” on my YouTube channel. They are part of the fantastic line-up of comedy performers in the newly-opened VICE Comedy Club in Quezon City. They are grateful to Vice Ganda for putting up the comedy bar.
Kish said they need to evolve as comedians because times have changed. Gray explained, “Before it was okay to say this and that, but ngayon kasi lahat nakatutok na sa social media. Kung mabi-videohan kami tapos may sinabi kaming politically incorrect maba-bash kami agad. Now, we see to it na kahit nasa comedy bar sasabihin namin iyong mga bagay na kahit lumabas man sa social media hindi kami maba-bash.”
The three artists admitted that there is also hierarchy in comedy bars like in any other workplace. But billing is not a big deal for them. “Kasi sa pangalan lang naman iyon sa labas,” Jewel said. Gray doesn’t mind as long as his name is written. “Personally, naniniwala ako na hindi naman basehan iyong pangalan sa labas. Nasa performance iyan sa loob.”
Jewel thinks he has reached the pinnacle of his career once he can provide for all his parents’ needs. Aside from being visible on TV and film, Gray considers himself at the height of his career when his family’s friends want their photos taken with him.
It’s never easy creating jokes that elicit laughter from the audience. Comedians have their own style of making people laugh. Kish talked about his technique. “I look at the face of my audience bago ako magsalita. ‘Pag nakita ko iyong itsura ng nanonood sa akin, may pumapasok na idea kung anong sasabihin ko. Iyon ang unang pumapasok sa utak ko.” He shared about a scary incident when a customer pulled out a gun in front of him while he was performing in a bar.
“Wala pa po akong sinasabing joke. What more kung nag-joke na ako?”
Jewel performs on stage impersonating Mariah Carey. “Ginagaya ko kasi iyong kanta niya, kung paano siya kumanta tapos sa tao parang effective. Natatawa sila. Doon ko nasisimulan iyong comedy.”
Meanwhile, Gray is the ‘ultimate bida-bidahan’ who engages with the audience while secretly searching on Google about a certain topic to impress the crowd.
A short briefing at the opening reminds us that everyone is equal inside the comedy bar. Jokes are not for the faint-hearted, who may find themselves easily insulted. Jewel explained that the audience can truly enjoy being in a comedy bar if they temporarily set aside whatever positions they have in life.
A comedy bar is not only a venue where you can watch and listen to riotous banters. It can also be a special place to find love and romance in the case of Kish and Jewel. “My ex before. Customer ko siya. Nanonood siya sa akin so natutuwa siya. First time ko rin naman sa bar na iyon. First time niya rin ako ma-meet. So siya iyong best gift for me,” shared Kish.
Jewel had an almost two-year relationship with someone who visited a bar to see him perform.
Gray is now engaged to his fiancé he met at a birthday party. “Ako ang nag-propose sa kanya. Nangyari iyonnoong birthday show ko po sa The Library.”
Kish, Jewel, and Gray agreed that money is good as comedy bar artists. “Sobrang napo-provide
namin iyong mga needs. Basta sipag lang. Kailangan priority dapat health,” said Jewel.
Artists don’t necessarily earn big money from the comedy bars but from the bookings that they receive because of the comedy bars. Gray explained, “Ang comedy bars para po siyang window namin.
Doon ka kukunin. May mga clients na doon kukuha ng talents.”