Harry
Tell me about your first comedy show. What was that like?
Harry
I was 26 and living in South Florida where I was working various
jobs including managing editor for a humor magazine, reporting for a weekly
Miami Beach newspaper, and copywriting. There was no real comedy scene then, so
I started watching some local comedians who worked the bars. Then I saw an ad
for a new comedy club at a hotel in Hollywood Florida. I passed the audition
and the first night I was on last in front of an audience of 250 people and
blew the room the away.
Harry
Wow. How’d you do that?
Harry
The audience watched 7 comedians hit and miss all night. I
was so nervous I literally went onstage shaking.
Harry
How is that a good thing?
Harry
Everyone started laughing as soon as they saw me. I didn’t
try to hide my nerves and I caught them off guard by having material that went
with my character.
Harry
What character is that?
Harry
I created a character called Meekoman, which is the opposite
of a Macho Man. I had jokes to match:
“From now on, everywhere there’s a
macho man, there’s going to be a meekoman…at a safe distance.” I even
opened my jacket to reveal an actual Meekoman T-shirt, which wasn’t for sale,
but all you had to do was “just go up to
any Meekoman and rip it off his back, he won’t fight you.”
Harry
Very clever.
Harry
Thanks. I had a magical first show. As I started getting
laughs, the audience saw that I a plan. So I started getting more confidence
and my delivery became more powerful, but in a vulnerable way. I ended up
getting 5 ovations in 12 minutes.
Harry
That’s incredible. What happened after that?
Harry
The next 3 months I had good nights and bad nights. Then I
entered a talent contest at a bar and found the magic again. Even better - I
won $50.
Harry
What then?
Harry
Well, I basically spent the next 5 years performing as many
nights as I could, everywhere I could. I also moved back to NY.
Harry
What kept you going?
Harry
First, there’s nothing like getting a laugh from a crowd
with your own material. And 2 things helped me early in my career. Joan Rivers
caught my act at a small comedy club across the street from where she was
performing in the big room. She invited me to her dressing room before her next
2 shows and dispensed advice about show business and complimented me on my act.
It was an almost out of body experience.
Harry
And the second?
Harry
About the same
time, a then unknown, but well respected Jerry Seinfeld came up to me and said,
“You’re a very good writer,” and
added, “I don’t say that to everyone.” Those 2 things helped me get through
some of the ups and downs that every young comic has, because comedy can be very
tough in the beginning.
Harry
How so?
Harry
Well, one time I
got booked to do 4 college gigs in 5 days around the country. The first day, we
took 3 planes over 15 hours, had 10 minutes to shower, no food, and performed
for several thousand-college kids at a stadium. Somehow, our adrenaline took
over and we all had terrific shows. That was a great learning experience,
because I discovered I could go into a strange situation completely exhausted
and still knock it out of the park.
Harry
Well, that doesn’t
sound so bad.
Harry
Yeah, well when we
got back, we all learned another lesson. The booking agent took 6 months to pay
and only then after several lawsuits. Unfortunately, the lower levels of the
comedy business are very much like boxing. You don’t need a license to be an agent.
Harry
I’m curious, who are some of the comics you’ve worked with?
Harry
I spent many years in New York City at clubs like Catch A
Rising Star, The Improv, Carolines, The Comedy Cellar, and The Comic Strip.
Bill Maher used to put me up at Catch when he was one of their emcees, and
between NY and the road, I’ve shared the stage with Louis CK, Jerry Seinfeld,
Eddie Murphy, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, Andrew Dice Clay, Paul Reiser, Dennis
Leary, Daryl Hammond, Joy Behar, and many more. I also became good friends with
Ray Romano and Richard Jeni. I still open for Ray sometimes and used to open
for Richard Jeni before his passing.
Harry Freedman is a
corporate put-on comedian, emcee, Fake Toaster, and creates hilarious onsite corporate
video interview shorts.
He also creates “The Ultimate Tribute Video” (This is your life movie - as produced by a professional comedian) for Honorariums and special occasions.
Website: www.Hfreedman.com
Agent Friendly Corporate Comedy Website: www. Harryfreedman.net
The Ultimate Tribute Video:
https://youtu.be/yOP7cofTyqM
