Mike Kramer

Today I am interviewing Mike Kramer, a comedian born in Brooklyn, NY who has been doing comedy for thirteen years. To find out more about Mike, please visit his website.

Why did you start doing stand-up comedy?

The main reason is that I work as a performer (clown, mime, actor) and thought doing stand up would help my on-stage persona - would help me to take more risks and build up my confidence as a performer. It has done so and I believe that stand-up is a great training ground for becoming unselfconscious as a performer.

My reasons over the years changed and now I do stand-up because I enjoy the people - (have made some great friends) and just enjoy being up on stage - I had to let go of the success element and realize that first and foremost I must have fun doing it (when I say let go of the success element it doesn't mean I don't want to be successful - it is just that I have learned the reality of this business and first and foremost is: be funny and have fun).

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

Great question - Maui Taco with the same mic stand. No, just kidding. To be honest - I really love my work as a clown and see myself doing that until I can't anymore - I do see myself in five years on stage doing clowning and mime with a company.
I do visualization every day and I also see myself on a large stage in a large theater and I see myself playing stand up to large audiences. I see myself having an hour and a half material to play in front of these large crowds. I only have an hour and twenty nine minutes more to go on the material thing.

How do you feel about freedom of speech and political correctness and stand up comedy?

Honesty is not politically correct - honesty can be brutal, hurtful, harmful and ugly. Comedians say what is going on in the world, their lives, other peoples lives, etc, etc, and it usually isn't pretty. I don't mean to say that comics who are politically correct are wrong - it is just that I myself have not found ways to say things in a politically correct way to describe my life. I think when I say:
My girlfriend broke up with me so I wrote her a poem (YOU BITCH!). I am being honest and at the same time funny. I would never write her that poem but it is what is in my heart.

I think a comedian should be able to say what he or she wants when they get up there. I do think that there is a price one pays when they either try to shock for shock's sake or just go over the line (Michael Richards is a prime example). I think one must be true to themselves otherwise it's no fun. I for one have gotten maimed by hosts and other comics because I am a bit over the top but that is fine - I am true to myself and what I like. If it is funny, it belongs, no matter how politically correct or incorrect. Just be funny and to me that is stand up comedy.