How much do Twitter and social media play into your comedy now? It seems like the format of Twitter (just 140 characters) is sort of perfectly suited to your style. Do you see is as part of your comedy or more to help your career?
I honestly have no idea. I’m doing an hour special on Sunday, and I want people to know about it. On the Internet, it’s more useful if you want to find out when I’m performing in your area. Most people I meet say, “I’d go if you were performing in my area.” So with Facebook, Twitter, and vlogs and everything, I'm more trying to get the word out. I’m not really trying to convert anyone. A while ago I was in a club in D.C., and when I got back I got an email saying, “Hey, when are you coming to D.C.?” I was just there! So I decided, “Alright, I’ll just have an email list.” Facebook’s great because you can promote your event without really bugging people who aren’t interested. And with the Twitter and vlogging, it’s just another way of getting the word out. I was on a plane the other night, so I was just horsing around on Twitter. I mean, it’s all in the hope of getting people to watch my special. I mean, I spent three years writing it… and I worked really hard on it. All this lets me do self-promotion without being obnoxious about it.
The line on TV between marketing and material has gotten blurrier, at least. You’ve been good with that. I think people who’ve seen you on social media will certainly not miss your special for lack of information.
Oh yeah, cool. I mean it’s an essential part to get the word out. I’ve worked for awhile to get my act out there. I mean, I really do work hard. There’s a whole kind of coolness to saying something like you don’t do your homework. It’s cool to say, “I didn’t work on this, I just show up.” But I do work hard, and I certainly want people to know about it. So if sending a message on Twitter gets 20 more people to see my show, it's doing important work. I mean it seems like I’m not trying, but I push myself to go really far.
To wrap things up on a more serious note, one of my best friends is a militant feminist who has completely lost her sense of humor after a bad relationship, and she will still cry from laughing when she sees your act.
Article comments
1 - Manny T.
Awesome interview Ethan. Gaffigan rules!