Chuck Shute Podcast
In depth interviews with musicians, comedians, authors, actors, and more! Guests on the show include David Duchovny, Billy Bob Thornton, Mark Normand, Dee Snider, Ann Wilson, Tony Horton, Don Dokken, Jack Carr and many more.
Chuck Shute Podcast
Comedian Gus Tate Discusses New Special "Top Gus" and More!
Gus Tate is a NYC-based stand up comedian. His latest special "Top Gus" has over 175K views on YouTube (and is available there for free). In this episode we discuss how he started comedy in China, comedic style, other comedians, being followed by Neal Brennan, his future plans and more!
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:13 - Comedian Connections
0:06:03 - Testing New Material & Touring
0:16:05 - Welcome Mat Clip, New Special & Comedic Style
0:19:54 - Ghost Joke from Special
0:21:54 - Predictability & Comedy
0:24:00 - Starting Comedy in China Vs. New York
0:26:55 - Comedy Styles & Crowd Work
0:36:40 - New York Comedy Scene
0:39:00 - Social Media, Late Night & Comedy
0:43:00 - Comedy Career, Touring, Day Job & Family
0:49:25 - Kill Tony Show & Joe Rogan Club & Podcast
0:53:31 - Future Plans, Next Special, SiriusXM & NY Comedians
0:57:25 - Attending Princeton & Alumni, & Attending College
1:03:40 - Promoting Things
1:04:30 - Outro
Gus Tate website:
https://www.gustatecomedy.com/
Chuck Shute link tree:
https://linktr.ee/chuck_shute
Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!
No dude, like, I love the new special. It's so
Gus Tate:oh, thank you. good. It's, yeah. Well, maybe you've got the golden touch. Maybe I'll happen to me.
Chuck Shute:Well, I think I have. That's one thing I'm good as I feel like I'm good at, like, spotting talent. Like, you know Fahim, right? You follow him. Oh, yeah. I like, Faheem, yeah. See, I'm from Seattle, so I used to go see him all the time when he was, like, super young, like, he he wasn't even, like, 21 I don't think when I first seen him, and I was like, Dude, this guy is so funny. Like, he's gonna be huge someday, and like, he's still not as big as I think he should be. But, I mean, he's one of my favorite comedians. I think he's so smart, yeah.
Gus Tate:Oh, me too. Yeah, I follow him on all this stuff. I feel like I had that feeling about Nate barges before he really blew up. I was like, why is why are more people not following this guy? And and then, you know, now he's enormous, but, yeah, he's the only one that I've actually predicted. But I hope you're, hope you're right.
Chuck Shute:Well, yeah, and it doesn't, it's weird, because I was looking at our Instagram, I always like, I think before I reach out, you always look and see, like, okay, like, what comedians does he follow? Who follows him? So I'm like, okay, these people have done my show, so I can always use that. So, you know, I'm not like, a serial killer or something, but I would do
Gus Tate:a serial killers podcast. I have no standards at all. Hey, that would be, that'd be
Chuck Shute:fun to watch. Um, yeah. But I noticed Neil Brennan follows you, and I was like, wow, that's like, a big compliment. And he doesn't follow that many people. He only falls like 800 people. So, you know some, some of those people, they fall like 5000 people. So you're like, Okay, that's not, but only, like less than 1000 and he follows you. That's a good compliment.
Gus Tate:Yeah, no, no, I was to see that. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:do you know him? Or do he just, like was a fan of him, really?
Gus Tate:Yeah, I get he came out of nowhere. I don't know who put him on, or he, maybe he just saw a clip, but, yeah, I was, I was excited. He sometimes liked some of my videos too, which is nice.
Chuck Shute:Wow. Yeah. That's it. That is a huge compliment. Well, that's what I noticed, like, because the people like Mark Norman Fahim yourself, like the people that I'm a fan of, I feel like sometimes maybe, like, why Fahim isn't as big and stuff is because it's almost like, too smart, you know what I mean? Like, because I feel like there's like, there's different levels of comedy. Like, I watch so much comedy that it's the basic comedians, like, they kind of bore me a little bit. You know, nothing against guys like Larry, the cable guy, like they're funny. But, like, if you start there, you're like, Oh, this is really funny. But then you kind of move up into the more, like, smarter, quirkier, like, you don't know what they're gonna say next. Comedians and, and I feel like, for some people that's like, it's they don't it's like, too smart for them or something.
Gus Tate:Yeah, I think with him, his act outs are so on point. And usually with like, comedians that do a lot of act outs and, you know, impressions of this and that, I don't really go for, but with him, it's like he gets down into very specific, like, slice of life minutia. Like, you know, I, that's my favorite kind of comedy. Is like, hey, haven't you noticed when this happens? And it's something that, like, yes, you've always noticed. But no one has ever put into words before, and he, he's just found so many of those little things. I wish I had an example, but yeah, I like for him a lot. He should be, yeah,
Chuck Shute:yeah. Your special does a really good job of that. It's always like, that's what I love about good comedians, is like, it's relatable, like, it's like a thing that's like an everyday thing, like you say but it's like something you never thought of, but you totally when, when they say it, you're like, Oh, that's so right on. Like, Why have I never thought of that?
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah, no, that's what I'm always trying to write or discover would be a better verb for that. But, yeah, that's why it's so I write jokes so slowly. Is because, for me, it has to be something like that, where it's like everybody knows about it but no one has talked about it yet or not talked about it in a particular way. And those are, those are really hard to think of.
Unknown:Yeah. Is it do, do you find a lot of the jokes fall flat? Because, I mean, isn't that just comedy in general? Like most comedians bomb, like a lot of the time, a lot of them. We went to the Comedy Store. It was so crazy. It was like every famous comedian, like Joe Rogan, Theo Vaughn, Mark Marin, like so many comedians, Jeff, Jeff Ross, like all these like comedians I love, and so many of them were so terrible because they were just testing out their like material that was like throwaway stuff. And so some of those jokes might have made it, but a lot of it didn't. And I thought, why these good comedians doing so bad? Are they drunk or something? It's like, yeah, that's how they test material, right?
Gus Tate:Yeah. That's one of the more interesting like features of those showcase shows, is that sometimes the most well known comedians are the worst ones on the show, because the lesser known comedians are all doing their a material because they're just like, happy to be there. And they like, they want to impress, you know, and it's the big guys that they can bomb and still get booked and so, so they do, so, yeah, it's, that's a common thing is to, like, go to one of those shows and like, wow, I saw so and so, and they sucked. But yeah, that's, I mean, that's, it has to be that way, because they have to try their new material somewhere, and they might as well do it in front of the best audience, I guess. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:do you typically do try your I'm assuming you just try a lot of your new stuff out in like, open mics and stuff. No,
Gus Tate:I yeah, I can't even afford to go to open mics anymore. I just, I have a kid, and I can't drag myself to a shitty New York open mic. They're so bad, like, some of them, you don't even get on necessarily. I'll do, like, stuff where it's like, like, some clubs do this thing where it's like, at the end of the show, and they, you know, they wrap up the show, but then they say, alright, we got some more comics that'll do that. Are going to try some new stuff. And you can, you can stay if you want. I'll do that kind of thing because I'll definitely, like, get on and it'll definitely be a decent crowd, but I can't afford to go to just pure open mics anymore. But I will, I will do new material on, like shows that are not, not as high stakes. It kind of depends where I'm booked. If I'm booked at, like, a nice club, where that I want to keep booking me, I will do, I will not do as much new stuff. But yeah, if it's like a club that I'm at a lot and I can afford to play around a little bit, I'll do that, because he got to do it somewhere. Yeah, I
Chuck Shute:mean, no, I guess that's like more in the beginning, when you're starting out, you got to do open mics and you bomb want, but then as you go on, because I know it's like that, like, back to Faheem. Like, Fahim, does those like, Faheem works on things, yeah, this is the shit he's working on. This is like, and they're like, they're all great jokes. So yeah, higher percentage of things that you kind of know like this is probably gonna do well, yeah,
Gus Tate:I don't know how he does that. So crazy. Yeah, he you gotta have so much material to be blowing through it that quickly and posting it too. I mean, right, I guess it's working for him, but yeah, I mean, if I have a really good bit, I save it, because I'm, like, I got to get a good cut of this, or, like, this is going in the next special. So I don't want to, like, I'm not as, like, worried about burning new material, because I think people, people are too worried about that. Like, you can post something and then post it later. But I still, I still don't want to, like, I don't want to post a shitty video of myself at like, a club, and it's, you know, doesn't have a good sound quality, or whatever.
Chuck Shute:It's like, on a phone or something, yeah.
Gus Tate:I mean, actually, phones sometimes have the best picture quality, but the audio, yeah, it's not always that great. Yeah. So I'm a little I'm Yeah, I mean, Fahim has got to be like the most. He's got to have the highest ratio of, like, most jokes that are the best of anyone that I know.
Unknown:Yeah, seriously, it's because, like, I said, I saw those other guys at Comedy Store, and they were just bond, like, none of the jokes were good. And I was like, and these are really good comedians. So I'm like, it's just he has so much. And then there's some comedians that they do a lot of the same material. Like, you'll see them, you know, they'll come through town, like, once a year, and, like, the second time they come, you're like, Oh, this is the same set he did last year. Like, and then other people, it's totally new. So,
Gus Tate:yeah, that's a bummer when that happens. Yeah, I can't remember who said it was it? Maybe Jim Gaffigan said that. Like, if you go to a town and entertain them, you know, they'll come for the next one, but if you do the same stuff, they're gonna they'll still enjoy the show, but they'll be like, I don't need to see the next one. But if you can come back to the same town with a new show every time, then you've got, you've got an audience there. And you know, you know, they'll keep coming back, because they'll be like, Oh, let's see what he's got this year. Yeah, yeah.
Unknown:But you do like, because I know, like bands, you know, like, they want to, people want to hear the hits. Like, is there certain hits that you do? Every time, because that's like a crowd favorite or something.
Gus Tate:No, no, no. I mean, I know I would never, I mean, no, I don't think I have a crowd at all. So I wouldn't do that. Like, I think Seinfeld has some quote that's like, I don't want to see your new hour. I want to see your best hour. But it's like, I I want to see your new hour. Maybe just, I'm like me
Chuck Shute:too. Yeah, yeah, I'm like that too. Because if you've already heard a joke, it's really not. Why do you need to hear that? You already know the punchline. It's not. Doesn't make sense. Yeah?
Gus Tate:Right. I think people don't mind it as much with comedy as people think, like, it's not that. People like, Oh, I've heard this before, but they'll just, they'll be like, oh, yeah, that's, you know, but you can't do it again. You get, you get one of those, you know, per audience, per location, yeah. So, well, yeah,
Unknown:because it's like, I mean, think about if, like, Chappelle did that every time, you know, like, yeah, because kids want to say, like, Oh, I'm Rick James bitch and all that. Yeah. Show what? If he was still doing that? Where he's not, he's, like, totally moved on. He's done so much more new material. And of course, it's all brilliant, but it's like, you know, he has so many good jokes. Like, you couldn't even do a Chappelle Greatest Hits because there's so many good bits. Like, it would take two hours.
Gus Tate:Yeah, oh yeah, totally Yeah. It's, it's tough. I don't know. I mean, it's all about like, hitting that, that ratio of like, new bits versus tried and tested bits, even in a, you know, not performing for your own fans, like Chappelle is doing, but like, just out and doing sets, you can't do all new bits, because then it'll just suck. So you have to, you can't do all tried and tested bits, otherwise you're just, I mean, you're not learning anything, so you have to, you have to just internally Gage, like, Okay, how much new stuff can I afford to do at this venue for this crowd, and still get booked? That's, that's the challenge for every comic that hasn't, like made it, you know, I mean, all those guys that you saw at the store, they they've all made it to the point where they're not worried about getting booked again. But for for comics like me, it's you got to just get that ratio right so that you're still improving, but you're still doing a good job. You know, you still have to entertain the guy the crap. Like, your job is not, your first job is not, like, to get better as an artist, or whatever. It's to, like, entertain these people that paid money to be here. You have to do a good job. But then once that's accomplished, you can kind of, you know, there's a little wiggle room, yeah, it's tough, yeah,
Chuck Shute:well, and it's because, like, Yeah, so like, for you, like, if you went to, like, like, if you came to Phoenix, for example, you're from New York, you're a New York comedian, so the only people that would know you here are people who follow you online, but you have some fan base. But then there's some people that are just going to go to the comedy club because they just like comedy, and they don't, they're like, Oh, here's a guy I don't know. He's probably funny, and so they don't know your material. So like, you're kind of like, what you're saying is you have to kind of play to both crowds, yeah, I
Gus Tate:guess so. I mean, there's a very unlikely scenario, because I don't think, I mean, for me to perform in Phoenix, you know, to go out there, I would have to have such a big fan base that the club would book me to do it, which I don't have yet. I'm sure I do have some people in Phoenix. You might be, well, you could, yeah. I
Chuck Shute:mean, you got, I feel like you got the special. You got 10,000 Instagram I've seen comedians with smaller social media followings to the comedy. I mean, there's so many comedy clubs like, I mean, maybe not like the improv, that's a pretty big one, but some of the other ones,
Gus Tate:you're in Phoenix right now? Yeah, yeah, well, Scottsdale,
Unknown:technically, but, yeah, it's, I mean, the whole Phoenix Scottsdale area, it's like, huge, like, it's so, because I'm originally from Seattle, and then in Seattle, it's like, every different neighborhood is, like a different city, you know. And here it's like, Phoenix is, like, it's like an hour for an hour and a half from, like, North Phoenix to South Phoenix. It's crazy because it's like, just so much land, you know, land is cheap, it's desert. It's like, yeah, not like the opposite, right? Yeah.
Gus Tate:I mean, yeah, I don't know. I mean, maybe if you the thing is, like, I you know, Instagram followers, obviously the more the better for getting booked. But you the venue has to, like, sell tickets. So they have to, know, I can't just be, like, I have 10,000 of them, so probably some of them are in cities, you know, yeah, and even if there are, you know, I don't know, 50 people there. Like, are they gonna buy tickets? It's, you know, well, that's what I'm saying. Like, I think some of these comedy clubs, like, people just go to the comedy club. They might not know the comedian, but they're like, hey, what do you want to do now? Let's go to the comedy club, and they don't know. That's how I used to be, like, before the internet and stuff, I'd go to comedy clubs like, I would say 90% of the time I didn't know who the comedian was, or had never seen their material, but I like going to the comedy club, and so usually, most. Comedians are funny, you know, but when I'm young, it's like, you know, have a drink, watch comedian. It's always a fun time. Yeah, that's true. But if there's enough people like that, they don't need me to come out. They could just get whoever's around, you know,
Chuck Shute:yeah, I guess that's so is it hard to tour? Then do you just mostly do in New York?
Gus Tate:Yeah? I mean, I don't have enough of a following to like, you know, put a need to, like, go to a place and be like, Hey, I'm here, and then have enough people actually come. But, you know, I've, like, opened for people that have touring, and that's a good way to to sort of break in. Yeah, it's mostly just places that are within an hour's commute of New York is where I mostly do. But if you know, if you talk me up around the water cooler in Phoenix, maybe, yeah, maybe I'll hit a critical mass. Well,
Chuck Shute:just keep doing what you're doing. I mean, I think that special is got, got a lot of eyes on it, and you just keep doing specials. And the clips, the clips are, I think, what really sell it, right?
Gus Tate:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the clips are the, yeah, that is my main strategy. Is to build a following through the clips on Instagram and Tiktok and everything, and just hope that it gets enough that I just bootstrap it into more and more stuff. Yeah, that's my only real career plan, I guess.
Unknown:Yeah, that's how I found you. I mean, it was the, I think was the welcome mat joke. Oh, yeah, I won't spoil it. Like people need to watch the special, or at least watch that clip. But that's a great one that was, like, so clever. It's just then, thanks. A whole special is like that. I mean, the whole thing, like, we watched it last night with my girlfriend. She was laughing too. So I was like, Okay, this is good. That's
Gus Tate:awesome. Yeah, that's, uh, that's a popular one there, there is no welcome mat like that, by the way. I should not that you asked, but like, that was the welcome mat that inspired that joke. Was just a reg. It was like a rainbow one that, and I think it said, like, it had a couple. It wasn't exactly as I described. It was sort of what I'm making fun of is like that, plus those yard signs that are like in this house, you know, we believe blah, blah, blah, blah, yeah. I still think it works. It's just sometimes people have asked, like, is there really a welcome like, no, they don't. They don't make Yeah, it's like that. But
Chuck Shute:they might as well, are those signs, though, in this house, we do this, this, yeah, yeah. I
Gus Tate:feel the same way about the signs, and I still think it's funny. It's just that the the joke doesn't land quite as hard. If you're just like, how about those signs? You know, because you need to welcome in there anyway, it is, yeah, like that joke too.
Unknown:It is great, yeah, because it's making fun of I mean, it's just so weird. It's like, everyone has to, like, be on this, like, team now, or something, like, You got to be like, Hey, I'm on this team. Okay, just want to let everybody know, this is what it's like. Not everyone would just, kind of like, you'd have, like, yeah, you wouldn't have these like signs. You just, it was like a welcome. I like, everyone was just, everything was like, kind of more normal,
Gus Tate:I guess, yeah, exactly. I found that there's not really a political appeal to that joke. I mean, people have put their own political appeal onto it, but I guess what I mean is people from both sides like that joke, like, I do it in the brooklinest part of Brooklyn, and people are like, Yeah, you know, and I and then it's, I feel like the red state appeal is a little bit more obvious, because it's like, it's kind of a woke welcome mat thing. So it's like, if I'm like, making fun of it, then in the comments, I'll get a lot of people being like, yeah, you know. But, like, but the Liberalist liberals also laugh at that joke because they know it's ridiculous. So, yeah, that's, that's why I like it,
Unknown:yeah, well, and that's what makes, I think good comedy. I mean, to me, I think a lot of good comedy, like you kind of laugh at both sides the extremes, and it kind of brings everybody together. We all go, Yeah, we are kind of ridiculous. We're all ridiculous. That's just, life is ridiculous. Yeah? I mean, I think that's what your whole special is. Just like, it's so many things that are just relatable, and it's not divisive comedy or whatever, but it's also not like, totally, like, safe or anything. I mean, it's like, it's fun, like, you're swearing and stuff. Like, it's good,
Gus Tate:yeah? Thanks. No, that's what I'm trying to do. Yeah. I don't want to be like, I don't want to be like, I don't want to, like, just make fun of a particular group of people, you know, and then everybody that's not in the room goes like, yeah, right, those people. That's not what I'm trying to do. But I'm also not trying to, like, do totally self deprecating material. But somewhere in the middle, I guess, is what I'm trying to
Chuck Shute:do. You had some good self deprecating
Gus Tate:thing, yeah, yeah, I guess that's true. Yeah, you gotta, you gotta do a mix. But, yeah, anyway, yeah, I hope that continues to do. Well,
Unknown:yeah, yeah, the
Chuck Shute:ghost joke was, was good too. Is that you? I'm assuming you probably posted that one as a. Clip too.
Gus Tate:Yeah, I think I did, yeah, that's funny. That was, like, a really old idea that I had, like, years ago. And then I was at my friend's house in Michigan. I've got a friend in Michigan who, like, runs comedy shows in his backyard, and at his church, he's like, a pastor at a church, and I like, that's where I, like, ran this hour for the first time, is with him, and I was just just running through my notebook, and, oh, no, wait, it wasn't even the notebook, that's right. I was just, like, saying it offhand, like, I didn't even think of it as a bit. And he was like, like, Oh, is that in your, in your special I'm like, No. And he's like, You should do that. And then I did. And yeah, it was one of the biggest laughs, I think. But yeah, sometimes you don't realize stuff as bits until you just say it to somebody and they laugh, and you're like, Oh, I guess that is a joke, you know. Like, to me, it was just like, a Yeah, I don't know what to call it. Just a thing to say, like, Wait, how does that one go? It's not important anyway. Uh, yeah, I all credit to, uh, my buddy drew for that one.
Unknown:Yeah, no, that's, I thought it was really clever. And there was a lot of things like that. Like, I think that's the whole thing of comedy is like, what did they like? I heard it described once as, like, you're getting people to, like, stand on this rug, and then you pull the rug out from under them, and then you move the rug, and you get them to cover here. Then to cover here, then you pull the rug out. That's kind of like, what your special is, like, you're getting them to go this certain direction and then pull in a different direction. And, yeah, it's like, unpredictable. I guess that's like, yeah. And what I was saying earlier about like some comedy is, like, I can kind of predict the jokes, like, before they tell it. But like, with yours, it's not, it's not like that, you do a good job of making it unpredictable.
Gus Tate:Oh, thanks. Yeah. It's funny, because I feel like some comics go too far with the unpredictable. You really
Chuck Shute:give me an example?
Gus Tate:Yeah, I can't. But like, maybe when I say other comics, I mean, like me, when I'm trying to write a joke, like, like, the goal isn't just to say something out of left field. Oh, I know the perfect example. Like, there's a whole class of jokes that are like, mom, like, anyway, so this lady was saying, like, you gotta get a job, and, you know, you're pathetic. And then I'm like, Mom. And it's like, you realize, like you were talking to your mom the whole time that, like so many beginning comics do jokes like that, and it's like, it's fine, you know, it's like, but it's too unpredictable. It's like, the whole joke is that it's unpredictable. It's like, oh, I didn't realize you were talking to your mom. It has to be a little bit predictable. It has to be like, if you gave me enough time, I could figure out where this is going, but I get there first, and then you're like, oh, right, that's it. You have to have this, like, feeling like, I think I know where he's going. And then you get hit with the punchline. You're like, that's it. That's what I was about to think.
Chuck Shute:I'm thinking like Anthony jesselmac, when you said that, like, I feel like he does a lot of jokes like that, where you you think it's gonna go like, but then it's like, if you know his style, you know that's what he's gonna do. He's gonna do the that's exactly that kind of thing. Where it's like, yeah, I think he's, it's like a safe joke, but then you know he's going to the dirtier, more like, risky place or whatever. And so it's almost like you kind of do predict it with him, because he's Anthony jesselmac, and that's his thing, right? With
Gus Tate:him, I almost like, can't watch him anymore, because I'm just trying to figure it out like a puzzle, and it's distracting from the just being entertained. It's like playing chess or something. You're like, Okay, if he goes there, like, oh, maybe, what if he said this? So yeah, but there's like, a middle ground where it's like, you think, you think I'm gonna say this, and then I say this, but it's not completely out of left field. It's like, sort of in it's like, I It's hard to describe, and maybe if I could describe it perfectly, then it wouldn't be funny. So it's good. There's some mystery to it. Yeah, but yes, thank you. Yeah. I'm trying to be a little bit unpredictable.
Chuck Shute:No, it's good. Like, so did you pretty much, like, learn how to do comedy in China? Because isn't that where you, like, started a lot of your comedy career was doing open mics in China, which is so crazy, they even have that,
Gus Tate:yeah, well, it's like expat comedy. It's like, the expat scene they Yeah, there was just, I was living in Beijing, and there was an open mic, and I had a friend that really wanted to go and do improv and stand up, and I went for the improv and hated it. And then there was stand up afterwards, and I, like, got one laugh or something, and I was like, Oh, sweet. And I just did it for the rest of my life. Yeah, but I most people are like, Oh, you did it in China, but it wasn't like in Chinese. It was in English for expats. But yeah, it was a great place to start. It's very remote. You're not going to see anybody that you know. Nobody's going to see you. Bomb. It's. So I don't know how people start, like, in New York, you know, if I started in New York, I would have, I would have either thought that I sucked so much, which I would have, but I would have gotten just discouraged. I think I would have been like, oh, I can't do this. And then, and then just stop doing it. Or I would have, like, got overconfident, and then I would have, like, sent tapes to all the clubs, and then, like, burned all my bridges and stuff. And then, yeah, so I'm glad I started in a place where nobody knew who I was, and I would have burned your bridges if you sent, oh, sorry, yeah, that's not the right word. I just mean, like, you don't want to, like, expose yourself too early as a comic. Like, you don't want, like, you don't want like, bookers to see you too early. Like, if you're like, you've been doing comedy for like, six months, and you're like, I think I got a really good five minutes. And you're like, you see so and so over there, like books this club. And you're like, can you watch my set? And then they watch it, and then you, like, bomb, or you do a bunch of mom jokes, you know? And then they're like, Okay, thanks, you know. I mean, they might give you another chance in, yeah, five years, but you've just, you've just pushed back the clock like you you want them to see you when you're already good, which is tough. I mean, you you do want to move up as fast as possible, but you also need to be good first, which means you need to be bad first. So you need space to bomb. You know, you can't just like, yeah. Anyway, I don't know people start in New York all the time, so it's not I'm sure they do it somehow. But I like the fact that I started in a place where I could bomb many, many times and and it didn't matter at all. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:because you're so your major in Princeton was computer science. So did you do, like, theater? Did you always have an interest in that, like in high school and college, or did you never even do any of that stuff? Not
Gus Tate:at all. I Yeah, never would have thought that I would do comedy. I mean, I liked comedy. I watched all the like Comedy Central presents all that stuff when I was a kid and but I just thought that that there's no way I could do that, because I'm not, like, a really performing person, yeah. And then it wasn't until in Beijing at the open mic. I think what really made me think I could do it is, is watching other people do it that weren't funny and still get blasts. And I was like, Oh, these people are getting, like, I can do that. You know, if it was, if I went to this open mic and everybody was crushing and with like, amazing material, and like, you know, like, like, if my first time going was it, like, the store or the seller or something, I would have been like, Oh, this isn't for me. Like, I can't do this. I had to see a bunch of, a bunch a bunch of schlubs do it and and still get laughs. I was like, okay, yeah, I could maybe do this. Also, the fact that, like, comedy is very diverse, I guess, in every sense. But like, there's all sorts of different kinds of comics. You know, there's very there's like, Fahim, who's, like, very high energy. And like, if I saw a room full of faheems, I would like, no, no, this. I can't, I can't do that. But you start to see people that are like, Oh, okay. He's kind of low energy, and he's got, like, thoughtful material. He doesn't talk fast or loud. I could do that.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, yeah. I mean, you look at a guy like, like Steven Wright, when you said low energy, I was like that, yeah, the most. But he's hilarious. Like, he's just got miners and, I mean, that is such a different style than, like, a Dane Cook or something, yeah. I mean, they both work, so,
Gus Tate:yeah, yeah, oh yeah. I mean, I could never be Dane Cook. I don't think I could be, I couldn't be Dave Chappelle. I couldn't be, I don't think I could be Jim Gaffigan. I bet I feel like there are certain comics where, I mean, they're great, but I feel like, Oh, I could do that, like, that thing that he's doing. I could get close to there if I work really hard.
Unknown:Yeah, because see to me, I always think the hardest thing is the crowd work. I feel like that would be so hard to just be in the moment. But then when you talk to comedians, they're like, oh, crowd work's the easiest. It's really hard to write a good joke. And I'm like, Wow, interesting. It's like, the because, to me, it's like, crowd works, like you got to think of something on the spot. That's like, so hard. Whereas, like, if you're crafting a joke, you could take weeks, months, years, to write it, or whatever, and you take your time, and then you can, you can make it work. Whereas, like, if you, if you don't think about something in the five seconds on stage, like it's over. Yeah,
Gus Tate:well, some people are really good at that. I feel like crowd work. I mean, you do get better with experience, for sure, but I feel like it's easier than it looks to non comics, like it's not really like you're thinking, it's not like you're sitting there being like, you know. What should I say? What would be a good comeback for that? It's just, you kind of just say the first thing that comes to your mind. And if the audience is already on your side, they'll kind of laugh No matter what. Or you'll get to a place where some he says something, and then you it's much more natural than it seems. No, I don't think any comedians are like, like, Hmm, how can I, you know, like, type one and type two thinking where, like, there's like, rational, analytical and versus, like, snap decision making, crowd work is all snap decision making. It's like, it's like improv. Like, have you ever done improv? Yeah, in
Chuck Shute:college, I it took like, classes and acting classes, and we would play those, like, games and stuff,
Gus Tate:yeah, I feel like there's not a lot of thinking in improv. It's just kind of like, you're not, like trying to be funny. You're just kind of like completing the scene, or just like, yes, and you know, that's kind of what crowd work is. It's actually a lot harder to fail doing crowd work than than it is to succeed. Is that what I'm trying? Yeah, yeah, it's harder to fail, because if the audience already likes you, okay, then they want you to win.
Unknown:And is some of it like, they kind of, you kind of have these like comebacks to people like, with hecklers and things like that. Like you've, you've practiced lines that you know are going to work when somebody says this thing, or, or, you know, it's like, because I feel like a lot of the questions that people ask the people in the audience are a lot of the same kinds of things.
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah. I mean, people have replies. I mean, for me, it's usually amounts to just telling them to shut up. And that is funny, and it's, I mean, maybe it's like, coming from me, who's sort of a quieter guy just being like, Excuse me, could you shut the fuck up please? Like, you know, I mean, like, but that doesn't work for everybody. Like, yeah, but I just don't leave the door open for that. Like, people don't tend to shout things at me. I don't solicit responses from people. I don't like ask people questions. And most hecklers are also, like, trying to help they're not it's very rare that you have people be like, Hey, fuck you or whatever. Like, it's usually just some drunk ladies thinking that nobody can hear her or like, somebody being like, Oh, I have something funny too. And then it's usually the case that the audience doesn't want that person to continue talking, and you can just say something dismissive. But also, there's this effect, there's this publication effect, where it's like you're seeing crowd work, that you're seeing the highlights of crowd work, you know, like on on reels, like, if you do an hour show and then you talk to the crowd for, I don't know, 20 minutes or whatever, most of it is not going to be post worthy. But maybe there was, like one moment where someone, someone said something outrageous, and you were like, Whoa. You know, lady, lady does this. And then you can, you can post it, and then so it seems like some people are, like, better at crowd work than they maybe actually are if you go to their shows, sure, real, but sometimes
Unknown:those are the funniest parts of the show, because it's so it's unscripted and it's like moment, and it's so real. And there are, like, some really good moments like that, usually, like, where the comedians like ripping on someone in the audience. Yeah, to me, that's always like, can be real? Like, I just saw Ben. I don't you know, is it Ben bankus, I think that's how you say it. Yeah, he just came and and he and he, him and his opener were both, like, they were both just in front of people in the audience. I mean, the people were they deserved it because they were, like, trying, they were heckling. And so then the comedians like, Heck back basically, like, it was pretty damn funny. I don't know. Yeah, yeah,
Gus Tate:no, it can be really good. Who's really good? Like, Stavros is really good at it. Oh yeah. And I always love Phil Hanley when he does. Have you ever seen his clips
Chuck Shute:that sounds familiar? I'm trying. I can't place him right now, but yeah,
Gus Tate:it's usually like, there's like, a chick in the audience that he's like, hitting on. But with crowd work, and I don't have a good example, but it's really fun to watch
Chuck Shute:immoral. I feel like his,
Gus Tate:yeah, he does a lot of stuff. It's, yeah, I worry a lot about crowd work influencing comedy itself. I mean, maybe more than I should, but I feel like it there's with all the crowd work clips, the audience is starting to have a different expectation of what a show is, you know, and like, is it going to get to a point where audiences are, like, bolder because they think, like, no, no, they want me to heckle so they can shut me down. There's sort of a debate in comedy about it, but I'm definitely on the I would prefer less crowd work, maybe just because I'm bad at it, but I. I did make, like, I made a sketch about it. I don't know if you saw it on my Instagram, but like, oh, it's like, a, like, a couple, like, a Midwestern couple arrives in New York, and they're, like, being interviewed on the street. And they're like, like, yeah, we're just so excited to be here in the comedy capital, capital of the world. And, like, we've just, you know, we love the clips, the comedy clips. We're just so excited to see, you know, the stars of these clips, like the audience. We just want to see some funny audience members. And they're like, it's your favorite audience, you know, like, guy who brought his mom and, like, lady who had one too many margaritas. Like, we just think they're so talented. Anyway, you can watch the thing. But, like, that's perfect. That's the kind of thing that I like, yeah, I worry about a little bit. Yeah.
Chuck Shute:Well, I think what isn't the most controversial one for that right now is Matt rife. Because everyone says, like, I think it's somebody said, I haven't seen it, but I thought somebody said that his whole new special was all crowd work or something. Oh,
Gus Tate:yeah, I don't know I Matt rife has fallen off of my algorithm recently. I feel like nobody's doing
Chuck Shute:it seems like controversial, like a lot of other comedians don't like him, that's what the vine. I don't know, but,
Gus Tate:yeah, I don't know. I see seems fine to me. I mean, I wouldn't personally buy a ticket to go see him, but it's, it's a big comedy world. He's
Chuck Shute:not a New York comedian, is he? I don't think so. No, okay, you never saw him in the clubs or whatever.
Gus Tate:I've never seen him around. I think, yeah, he's got to be. I actually don't know where he's from. I would assume California, but maybe
Chuck Shute:that probably makes sense, because, I mean, you're in the New York Comedy scene, even though you said you say you don't go to the open mics, but you, I mean, when you perform, you're in those clubs. So you see a lot of the New York comedians, right? Yeah,
Gus Tate:yeah. I see him around. Yeah. I've not seen Matt rife. I feel like that. Yeah. There's sort of something that happens in New York, or at least the clubs were where I met, where, like, if a comic gets big enough, they sort of get sucked up by the seller, and then if you're not at the seller, you don't see them as much anymore. I feel like that's happened to a bunch, like, I feel like I used to see Mark Normand and Joe list and Sam Morrell a lot, and then, yeah, and then now it's like, only when they're like, I guess they're touring a lot too. That's that's something that happens. But, yeah, I guess, because the seller's schedule is very demanding, and a lot of like, comics will make themselves more available in case, like, you know, the seller calls or or they had to do something last minute, they'll like, cancel their other spot at a lesser club where I perform, and they'll go do that one. But, yeah, I feel like I don't see that many comics around anymore, where I'm like, Oh, I gotta see. I did see. I saw Shang Wang recently. He was in town to do his his solo show. Do you know Shang Wang? No, I feel like you would. I feel like anybody that likes me would like Shang Wang 10 times more. Yeah, S, H, E, N, G, W, A N, G. He opened for Ali Wong for a long time. Okay, Chinese guy with long hair, but he's just very like observational, and I think he's like, the true what's the word? Not predecessor, successor of like, Mitch Hedberg,
Chuck Shute:oh, Mitch Hedberg, yeah,
Gus Tate:I feel like you would like, Shang Wang. It's just like, Okay, do
Chuck Shute:you think is He? Is he pretty big? Or do you think I could get him on my podcast? Like, maybe,
Gus Tate:yeah, yeah. I guess so if you've got Mark Normand, you could probably get Shang Wang. He doesn't do a lot of social media in general, like his, he doesn't post clips, you know. So he's kind of a hard guy to find. But, Oh, interesting.
Unknown:That's kind of like, Who's the guy I just had? Like, not just had, I was a few years ago, Ron and hershberg, I think you follow him. Oh yeah, yeah, because I had him on too, like, a couple of few years ago, and he barely had done any clips, but I found something that was really funny. And I was like, dude, will you do my podcast? And then, like, he eventually did it, like, first time he didn't show up, and they go, sorry, I did a bunch of mushrooms I can't do, okay. And then he showed up later and did it. And then I was like, Oh, this guy's like, so funny. And then now he's doing wrote he just did recently. Yeah, that's amazing, but yeah, like, that was a thing I noticed with him, like, his he didn't have that many followers because he didn't do much social media. Then he started posting clips, and then it's like, it grew. And that's like, I feel like that's just how most comedians make it. Now, it used to be like, you get on the Tonight Show or whatever, and that's like, that means nothing. Now, like, it's all about,
Gus Tate:I know it's not, it's not quite nothing. Like, I would still probably do it, but I nobody's offered me to do the Tonight Show, so it's, I can't be like, No, I wouldn't that's nothing. If somebody was like, Yeah, I do it in a second. But you. It doesn't. It's almost like, yeah, a nobody watches that anymore. Like, I don't know. I mean, I guess people in the middle of America watch it, but I don't know. Nobody ever talks. Nobody says, like, hey, just eat it tonight. Show,
Chuck Shute:right? I mean, nothing. I mean, it's bigger than my show, for sure. But like, yeah, just comparatively to, like, Rogan or social media, that's how people are being exposed more now. So then it's not the epitome,
Gus Tate:yeah, it's also like, you can't control the set that you have on The Tonight Show. Like, I know so many comics that I think are funny, and then I see their late night set on, you know, Fallon or or Colbert or whatever, and it's like, not good, like, they just either because they the audience was weird, or the pacing was weird, or it just looked like they weren't. And I'm like, oof, now that's their set. Like, that's their late night set. Whereas, with with social media, you can control what you're putting out there, you know, you can't control what goes viral, but at least you can only put your best stuff there. But with the, yeah, like, if you're on The Tonight Show, it's like, if you, if you have a bad five minutes, that's up there forever. Now, yeah, I think I would still do it. I would still do it, just for the credit, you know. But it's, but if I, it would almost be like, a problem, you know, because it's like, oh man. Now, like, what if I, what if I bomb on, on Fallon, you know? And now that's just like, on their website forever,
Unknown:yeah, but I don't think that stuff matters as much anymore. Like, I feel like just people, the news cycle changes so frequently now, yeah, even if you do something stupid, or you bomb, or you do, like, I feel like people forget about it, like, a week later, oh yeah, bomb. Really bad for people with you know, like, yeah, right. Matter. I think that'd be worth the risk for sure,
Gus Tate:yeah, yeah, oh yeah, I would do it. I'm just fantasizing about being asked to do Fallon, yeah, or
Chuck Shute:any of those. Have you had any talks with any of the late night shows or anything. No,
Gus Tate:I'm available.
Chuck Shute:Put that out there into the universe. Like, yeah, I seriously, I think that in a few years, I think you're going to be a lot bigger.
Unknown:I think it's going to grow. I mean, I, like, I said, I watch a lot of comedians so I can tell, like, which ones are good and which ones are just whatever, mediocre comedians, but no, you're really good. I was like, that first I welcome that joke. I was like, Oh, I got to see more of this guy's stuff. And then the whole special is amazing. People should definitely check out. It's free on YouTube too. So
Gus Tate:that is, yeah, thanks, man. I hope you're right. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:no, I think, I think I am. Yeah, I think doing the podcast too. I mean, did you get offered to do a lot of podcasts? I've watched a few of them that you did.
Gus Tate:Yeah, not a lot. You've probably seen all of them. But yeah, I'm grateful that you wanted to talk to me. I mean, any, yeah, any audience helps. So, yeah,
Chuck Shute:it's tough out there too, because I know that you have a day job and you father and so, I mean, it's like, you can't just devote all your time and energy to this right now.
Gus Tate:No, no, I can't. I mean, my day job is flexible enough that I can put a meeting on my calendar at 1pm on a Tuesday, and nobody bothers me about it. So yeah, I am lucky in that respect. But no, I can't just, like, write jokes all day. Unfortunately,
Chuck Shute:if it got to the point where comedy was a bigger thing, then then how would that work? Like, that became your full time job, but then you'd have to tour. Right? Would you be able to do that with still being a father? Like, how would that work?
Gus Tate:It would be a little tricky. Yeah. I mean, I could tour if it was only on the weekends, but I feel like that would be tricky. I mean, you don't really get to make that decision when you're starting out. Like, if someone said, oh, I want you to go on the road with me for two weeks, that would be like, a problem. I would still do it. We would just get a babysitter or something, and, like, lose money, probably, but, yeah, it's weird. I'm at like, this sort of perfect, like, point, I guess, in my career, where, if I got bigger, it would be, like, sort of, logistically, a problem. Like, we'd have to, like, spend more money on childcare and stuff, right? Yeah, I don't know. I don't think I would ever, like, sacrifice, you know, seeing my daughter for comedy, at least not totally. I would sacrifice a little bit a day or two, but I don't want to be like away for like, a week or weeks that that can't happen.
Chuck Shute:Did you say you did do that before? Though you toured with somebody who did you tour with? Oh, no,
Gus Tate:I didn't really like tour. We just, I opened for them at one club, like I opened for Joe Mackey and Philly, and then in Rutherford later. But that was just, that was like a one off weekend. Okay? It wasn't, yeah, this tour bus or whatever,
Chuck Shute:because I think the weekend shows, I feel like that is, isn't that, for a lot of comedians, that's, that's all they do. Do, like, they're not. I mean, you have to be a pretty big comedian to do a show on like, a Tuesday. Like, that's, yeah, people come out on a two. I mean, in rock bands too. I interview a lot of rock bands, and I'm like, gotta be a big band to have a show on a Tuesday and have people come out,
Gus Tate:right? That's true. I guess. What I mean is, like, some people go, like, on the road, where they're like, Okay, this weekend here, and then I go to Arkansas, and then here I wouldn't be able to string those right weekends together like that. I would have to come back every time, and that would get expensive. Yeah. I also, like, you know, comedy clubs will do like, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and like, maybe one on Sunday. And being away for that long, I feel like I could do it, but basically, my wife would get mad at me if I did too many of those, because she would be she would have to, like, get off work early and go pick up our daughter and do all that stuff. So, yeah, it's, uh, being a little tricky. I feel like I could, I could hack him. She also is very she has a good comedy wife, and then she wants me to succeed. She believes in me like which is good. So I think if I got an opportunity, she would just, she would just suck it up and and, and do the, you know, and help me out. But if I did it a lot, yeah, she would, she would get mad. I would lose some brownie points. Basically, yeah, that's what marriage is all about. The brownie points.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, that's tough. I mean, that's the tough thing about comedy. And, like I said, with the rock bands too, I feel like that's what's so interesting, like the touring stuff. That's what makes me not like, when I was a kid, I wanted to, you know, be in a band and stuff, and I look at these guys lives and like, being in a tour bus and like, it's like, Oh, it doesn't seem very, it's not very as glamorous as you think, right?
Gus Tate:Yeah, I'm sure it is at like, the highest levels. But, like,
Unknown:I don't think so. No, yeah, just think about just being away from home that much like, I'm sure, like, initially you're like, Oh, I get to go to Europe. And like, Yeah, I'm in, you know, doing a show in France or whatever. But then, like, eventually, like, if you've been touring for, like, I mean, some of these guys are in their 60s and 70s, like, I do not want to be traveling like, 100 200 days a year when I'm that old. I feel like that would be, like, stressful, even if you're in a private jet. I feel like it would just be annoying. Yeah,
Gus Tate:yeah, you're probably right. It's good thing. It's good thing we're not a private jet level.
Unknown:I mean, it would be cool to have the private jet for like, vacations, though, because I hate traveling. Oh yeah, totally commercial like that is, I'm sure you feel the same like going to security and all that crap,
Gus Tate:right? I would like that life for just two days at a time. I think that would be, yeah, yeah, but yeah, if that's your whole life, no, yeah, I guess I just want to have my cake and eat it too. Like I want to do. I want to tour and then come back and spend time with my daughter, and then get sick of her and go on the road again. And then, no, not really. I'm just, I do think that, like, yeah, a day or two is the perfect vacation for one offs. Yeah, from a five year old, you know, like, my you don't have kids, okay, my daughter is, is wonderful, of course, but she's also, like, a lot, you know, so, like, having, like, a day of just, like, alright, I don't have to answer 10,000 questions right now. I can just, like, like, travel, like, when I, like, go away and like, I'm at the airport or something, and like, there's a plane delay, it doesn't bother me at all, because I'm just like, Oh, I just get to sit by myself for a few hours. It's awesome. Like, as opposed to, you know, if she were there being delayed, would be a nightmare, because she would like get, you know, yeah, the 1000 things. But yeah, I like being alone for like, a day or two, and then I start to miss her and my wife and stuff, and then I'd like to come back. So, yeah, I guess I'd like to be successful, but I just want to skip to the part where you can control your own schedule. I don't want, no, I
Chuck Shute:mean, I think that's realistic, though. Like, the weekend show, like, the one off, so that would be good. Like, if you just did, like, Friday, Saturday. Like, you come into Phoenix on a Friday. You do Friday, Saturday, show, fly home, Sunday. Like, that would be reasonable, right?
Gus Tate:Yeah, boom, yeah. Tell, tell the club. I'm I'll do it. Or,
Chuck Shute:what about, um, do you ever go to you're done, like, the kill Tony show, or do you ever watch those guys?
Gus Tate:Yeah, no, I would never do kill Tony, really. No. I mean, they get, like, one minute. Is that right?
Chuck Shute:I do know what the rules are, yeah. But yeah, I think you would kill it.
Gus Tate:Oh, thanks. I know I can't handle kill Tony. I've, like, tried to watch some of it. It just doesn't some about, like, pro comics, shitting on very new comics for like, publicly, doesn't sit right with me. You know, like, some of these people, like, just started, and then, like, they go and they bomb, and then, then Tony. Will just like, rip into him, you know, and it's like, oof, like, I wouldn't want that to be me. Yeah, you wonder
Chuck Shute:why those people go up there, like, they think that they're ready, and then,
Gus Tate:yeah, I think they think this is their shot, and they're going to be Hans Kim or whatever, who's like, the only guy I can think of that really made it off a kill Tony, and then they like, yeah, I don't know I oof, yeah. Is it just something about it? I don't like I would, I would never do it personally, nor would I recommend that. Yeah, I think that's not a that's actually a good example of, like, what I was talking about. Like, don't let yourself be seen too early.
Chuck Shute:Yeah,
Gus Tate:okay, yeah, bomb in secret. And then go do kill town. No, don't, don't do kill Tony. It's, it's really hard to be funny in one minute, yeah, you know,
Chuck Shute:or what about the, like, Rogan's club down there? Like, it's, it seems like they're kind of building a scene in Austin. It seems like, like, and that's like, how a lot of those guys, they do the Rogan's club, and then he, you know, he sees you, then then you get on his podcast. And his podcast has, like, some millions of followers, or whatever.
Gus Tate:Yeah. I mean, is he, like, inviting people on his podcast that he's just seen at the club? I
Chuck Shute:don't know. I would think that that's how you get recognized. I mean, because he's there, I would assume he's there a lot. It's his club. And, like, I mean, I always see, like, pictures of comedians there, and then I try to, like, that's how I sometimes find comedians too, because I go, okay, who's this guy? Let me look up his stuff. Yeah, seems like a lot of comedians are getting exposure there, I guess.
Gus Tate:Oh, gotcha, yeah, I don't. I actually don't know that much about the comedy mothership. I've never been there, but, yeah, I would guess that. I would guess that the best way to get exposure is not like it used to be that going to a club was the best way to get seen. But I feel like now it's putting your stuff on social media where you can control it a little more, and it has the potential to really blow up. The likelihood of you getting seen by Rogan at his club is, I would guess, pretty low.
Chuck Shute:Oh, really. Okay, yeah, you probably know better than I do. I don't know, yeah,
Gus Tate:unless he is there. I actually don't know his how often he's there. But the other thing is, like, it's, it's not fun to watch a lot of new comics, you know, unless it's, like, your job, but I would just guess that rogue, like, if I were Rogan, I would not go hang out at my comedy club and just watch a bunch of really,
Unknown:because that's what it seems like he I mean, he talks about it like, like he does. I mean, maybe he doesn't do it all the time, but I feel like there's, like, I see pictures and stuff where he's in the green room and, you know, he, that's where he goes and performs because he wants to. That's like his home club. Now, basically used to be the Comedy Store when he was in, yeah. Now,
Gus Tate:I mean, I'm sure he sees like, people that are already on the show with him. I mean, to get on one of those showcases, you have to be like, at least a little bit good. I thought you meant like, like a newer comic. Oh
Chuck Shute:no, no, no. I think I think you could get on there. I think that. No, I don't know. I
Gus Tate:guess. I don't know.
Chuck Shute:I don't know nobody like you got a special and yeah, I
Gus Tate:guess. So I don't know who to email about that, but yeah, maybe if I go to Austin, I'll definitely try it. I don't know if I would like make a trip out there just hoping to get on it. But yeah, yeah, no, I would definitely do the mothership if somebody booked me on it.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, I'll try. We'll put that out in the universe too. Yeah,
Gus Tate:around the water cooler,
Chuck Shute:yeah. What is a So, what is next for you? Because obviously the specials out now, and the clips are all coming out and everything. So then are you just good work working on the next special? Is that the next project?
Gus Tate:Yeah, basically, I'm probably, like 75% there, and then, oh, wow, yeah, I will probably record something next year. And so I just, I haven't booked anything yet, but, yeah, I'll just hire a videographer, I guess. And, you know, turn it into, I also want to turn it into an album again, because that's a because that's, uh, that's, like, been a sort of a source of a small amount of revenue is having it played on serious through the album. I've
Chuck Shute:heard that too, yeah. Like, yeah, serious, they pay well, which is nice to hear, yeah. It's,
Gus Tate:I mean, it's more than I thought that I was going to get paid. I thought it was going to be one of those, like, Oh, you, they played your your track once you get 17 cents. But it's closer to $17 actually per play. So, you know, make a couple 100 a month from Sirius plays. So if I had another album in there and then get another one, and then that could be a nice little revenue stream. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:because I think Liz mealy told me that she pays a rent through all the clips that she has on there. Yeah,
Gus Tate:yeah. No, she told me that too. She's got like five albums, though, I think that's, yeah, yeah. I would love to. I mean, if I could be Liz mieli, I would be her. I don't know, I don't know how to say her name exactly, but if I could just be her, that would be, that'd be great. Yeah?
Chuck Shute:No, yeah, she's, she's, so, yeah, you're friends with her. She's part of the New York scene. She She's per, she's doing perfect. She's got her own specials. She's got a nice little falling she got nice little tour going. And,
Gus Tate:yeah, I think she's got a book too. Or, yeah,
Chuck Shute:I bought her book. It's about, I think I got it somewhere. It's called, like, something about, like, why cats suck, or why cats are stupid, like that, yeah,
Gus Tate:yeah, yeah. She's, she's doing it right? I feel like she's good. She like, knows what she's doing, and she's got a good, like, comedy business mind, yeah. And also, super nice,
Chuck Shute:yeah, super nice. Are you friends with a lot of the New York comedians like that?
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah. I guess I wouldn't say that I have a lot of, like, famous friends that you would have heard of, but yeah, I mean,
Chuck Shute:I've had on my show that. I mean, I think that I'm a fan of, like, Dan Oh, Liz Glazer and Liz,
Gus Tate:oh, I know. Liz, yeah, yeah. The other Liz, yes. Liz Glazer is super nice, yeah. And, yeah, I see her around a lot. Yeah, I guess I don't know Norman that well. Think he might, if he saw me, he'd be like, he'd pretend that he knows Ryan. But I don't really know a lot of is that a move that people do? Oh yeah, yeah. I mean comics, because, like, you don't want to get caught not knowing somebody important. So most comics will just like, pretend that they know everybody. They'll be like, oh hey man, you know, good to see you again.
Chuck Shute:Like that meme, the Tiger Woods. Or he's like, What Up Dog or whatever, where he's, you know, I'm talking about,
Gus Tate:no,
Chuck Shute:oh shit, yeah. It's like, it's like a meme. It's like Tiger Woods. He's like, forget what it's like. I think he says, like, what's up dogs? It's like, it was, like a viral meme a few months ago or something.
Gus Tate:Oh, gotcha, yeah, oh yeah. Well, yeah, we do, like, the, you know, bring it in and then do a little it's not a hug. But I don't know what you call it. But, yeah, I've done that to so many people that I do not know who they are at all, and they've done the same to me. And just
Chuck Shute:call him Big Dog or whatever. Like, yeah, hey,
Gus Tate:big dog. Oh hey man. Oh yeah, I haven't seen you. Well, yeah, how's it going? Oh yeah, good.
Chuck Shute:You're still doing the comedy thing.
Gus Tate:Yeah? Nothing specific, right? Yeah. I feel like there's people that I've like met that they would know my face. But no, I don't, I don't really have that many famous friends, but it's like,
Chuck Shute:when you were Princeton, you like, I was gonna ask you about Princeton, because I was like, oh, like, there's so many famous people that went to Princeton, like David Duchovny and who did my show, by the way. Oh, really, yeah, he was promoting his music. So, like, Yeah, and like, Brooke Shields, yeah, Jimmy Stewart. And then there was, like, some actress that I was like, Oh, I wonder if he knows her. But then I was like, Wait, his major was computer science, and you did nothing in the theater or comedy world
Gus Tate:now. Oh, you mean, what's your name from
Unknown:somebody Ephraim or something from last minute standing. Oh, I was there when you were there, so that's why I was like, Oh, I wonder if he, like, knows
Gus Tate:her. Oh, I think we have a mutual friend. But no, I don't,
Chuck Shute:I don't know it's Princeton. It's pretty small, right? Or, yeah, it's pretty small.
Gus Tate:If I were in the theater or the comedy community there, I probably would have known them. But now I don't think I have any famous Princeton friends. Jeff
Chuck Shute:Bezos went to Prince I was like, damn. Jeff Bezos went there. Like, I'm just so fascinated by Ivy League because, like, I'm not that smart, so, like, I look at Princeton and those kinds of things, I'm like, wow. People that go there. I mean, like, you've ever had your IQ tested? I mean, you must be up there to be able to get into Princeton.
Gus Tate:I don't know. I think I tested well, but I don't think I'm like, smart, smart. I like my dad went there and his dad went there. So I think that helped a little bit. I mean, they don't like, they didn't like, buy a wing of the school for me or whatever, but I think just the fact that they, when they they they say that it doesn't count. But I I think when they look at and they're like, oh, wow, he's like, a he's a double legacy that's got to count for something. So I think that probably helped, but the joke's on them, because they're not getting a dime out of me in terms of the the donations. I'm sure that's why they do it? Because I think, like, Oh, he's got a family connection. He's going to support. You know, they're always sending me, what do you call alumni giving emails that I'm not I'm not giving you more money. It's like, what do you john delaney has a great bit about that, like, like, hey, it's been a while since you donated. Yeah, it's been a while since you taught and housed me. What happened to the $200,000 that I gave you? You spent it already? And, yeah, he's got a whole thing about it. Oh,
Chuck Shute:there's a comedian from Ohio. Oh, God, what is his name? It's so funny. He does this whole bit about when they try to collect. Money for financial aid and stuff. Oh, god,
Gus Tate:oh yeah, send
Unknown:you that God. That guy is so he's, like, so underrated. I forget now I'm spacing out his name, but he's so he does a whole bit about that. He reads this, like, wrote him this letter the financial aid office and how he's not going to get money. And, yeah. I mean, that whole thing is, like, college is such an interesting the financial aspect of it is, it's like, it's kind of a scam for some people. I mean, if you're not, yeah, you're going to just like the state university that's getting, like a bachelor of humanities or something. It's kind of almost a scam.
Gus Tate:Yeah, somebody said, and who has the joke about, like, Oh, I think it's Neil Brennan. It's like, you should think about college, like a personal, like a business, Oh, yeah. Like, yeah, it's like, getting a business loan or something, yeah. And, like, maybe you're not such a good business idea. Wait, we pause while I let this delivery person in.
Chuck Shute:Oh, yeah, sure.
Unknown:Can you do?
Chuck Shute:All right, we're back, yeah. Oh, that's all right. I mean, we can wrap this up. I'm sure you got other things.
Gus Tate:Oh, yeah, I will have
Chuck Shute:to go in a minute, yeah, because I think you had to go pick up your daughter or something, right?
Gus Tate:Oh, well, not in not until like, four something. I just meant, like, we, I didn't want to, like, start it now and then, like, yeah, right, yeah, yeah. Or started it for but yeah, whatever we were, college, yeah, college is a scam. College, yeah, oh yeah. You should watch the, oh no, wait, it was, yeah, Neil Brennan, the Neil Brennan bit. So, no, I've
Chuck Shute:seen that. Yeah, that is, I forgot who that was, but I remember that. That's a great bit, yeah, yeah, from his newest special. That was a good one. Yeah,
Gus Tate:I think it might have been. Yeah, I think somebody also has one about, like, it's like, Shark Tank. Like, imagine pitching yourself on Shark Tank. Like, all right, I'm gonna go to college. Like, here's the here's the business plan. I'm gonna go to college, and then I'm gonna binge drink and black out every night, then I'm gonna, you know, like, waste all my parents money, blah, blah, blah. I can't remember what it was, but, yeah, it, it's kind of a scam. It's
Unknown:crazy. Because I got, I got a master's in psychology, and so I was like, and then I remember, though, when I moved to from Seattle to here to Phoenix, and it was, like, the job, it was like, 2008 right? So I sold my house at the best time, but I moved at the tried to get a new job at the worst time. So I was, like, applying to everything, and I just couldn't even get a response. So then I remember, like, going to applying to Best Buy. I was like, I just need a job. And I had three interviews, and I didn't get the job. And I was like, I have a master's degree. And they're like, No, that's crazy. Yeah, that was nuts. I was bad.
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah. It's, I can't say that my education has really helped me get any job because I didn't. It's not like I worked in computer science, so I guess it just like one thing led to another led to another. Yeah.
Chuck Shute:It's like, yeah, faheems degree is in engineering, and you're science, and you guys both went into comedy. I find that so interesting.
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah, that's funny, yeah? Mitch. Oh, no wait, not Mitch Hedberg. Am I thinking of Demetri Martin was a lawyer. I think he was in law school. Liz Glazer was a lawyer,
Chuck Shute:yeah? Liz, yeah, she was like a law professor, which is crazy. That is wild, yeah, yeah. Her story is really interesting, cool. Well, yeah, I'll let you get going to do the rest of your day. Appreciate you doing this. Anything else to promote just people follow you on social media for free?
Gus Tate:Yeah, yeah. Watch the special for free. Follow me on Instagram. Oh, the specials called Top Gus, if you need to search it or something, yeah,
Chuck Shute:make sure you type in Gus Tate first, because yesterday I typed in top Gus and all I got was Top Gun stuff.
Gus Tate:Yeah, did you mean Top Gun? No, yeah, yeah. Type in Gus Tate, yeah, just follow me on whatever platform you use. And, yeah, thanks for having me. This was fun.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, definitely feel free to come back to promote your next special when that comes out.
Unknown:Cool.
Gus Tate:Yeah, all right, we'll do, hopefully see you in Phoenix sometime.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, I'd love to come see you. Let me know if you're ever down here, I'll come. I'll bring an entourage of like all my friends, all three of them,
Gus Tate:sweet. Okay, cool. Thanks guys. See you later. Bye. Bye. You.
