Is the Comix New Talent Show essentially an open mic?
Andy Engel: No, it’s not an open mic. I get referrals, and I screen people. Before we go any further, I’d like to say that actors can do my show. A lot of actors, and a lot of people taking improvisation, don’t necessarily want to pursue a career in comedy. But they realize the value of getting a great DVD doing stand-up. So even though you encourage actors to perform at the Comix New Talent Show, they do have to have some proven stand-up talent. They’d have to call me, so I would get a sense as to where they’re at. I mean, if somebody’s done five years of improvisation at UCB, I’m going to give them a chance to do stand-up. If I get somebody on the phone who has trouble speaking clearly and is only 18 or 19, I’m not going to put them up. But if they’re 18 or 19 and they can tell me the difference between Bill Hicks and Lenny Bruce, and they’ve really done their homework, I’m going to give that some consideration too when I give somebody stage time. To talk specifically about comedians
