Comedy Cellar Booker - Estee Adoram

23:04And, of course, the comedians. That's the main thing. Describe your taste. I always hesitate to say it because I don't want to brag, but John Apatow told me.

23:15Luke Girgis:Okay. He said to me, you are good because you have a good taste. Yeah. And so my taste would be different from yours and somebody else. But laughter is universal. awesome i remember many one said to me if i go to foreign country and i don't speak the language and i walk in i can tell you who is a good comic because everybody was laughing and and that's the main thing are they laughing and they entertain is on a certain level there's certain you know i mean so it sounds like you're an analyst Like you're looking at the data of reactions rather than... The reaction is the main thing. I want people to have a good time.

24:00What else is there? There's no politics. There is no... None of it. None of it. You are there on your own merit. And you've got to... Not don't impress me. Impress the audience.

24:17Luke Girgis:So does that mean when you're sitting in the corner watching a new comic, You've got your notepad and you're taking notes. I sit at the front door, not in the corner. Okay. I don't have a notebook. Okay. I am in your face. That would be scary as shit. But that's what I do. Okay. If you cannot handle it, you're in the wrong business. Okay. So you're in the front row watching the comic. Not front row. The door. The door. Sorry. Yeah. You're at the door. How and your – I'm just trying to think about your checklist and what the things you're looking for. Are you looking mostly at the material or are you looking at the crowd?

24:57Luke Girgis:Both. Okay. Both. I want to know how confident the comic is, how he handles himself. If a joke doesn't go over, what does he do? So this you can tell right away, the way they handle themselves on stage. and then they'll say something really funny and the crowd doesn't react. I would look at the crowd like, or the other way around. They are laughing and I'm looking, what the hell are you laughing at? You know, but you get, it's like a seed of what that comic is going to do if I'm giving them a regular set. And most people say, oh, did I pass? Didn't I pass? I didn't do that. I don't pass people.

25:50I get the impression on the audition for five minutes how they handle themselves, how confident they are, and the material. If you have five minutes and you come up with the bathroom jokes, no. There's got to be something there.

26:10Luke Girgis:What happens if the crowd just loves those jokes?

26:17there is i'm not talking about being doing clean comedy but there's a difference you can be um risque as long as you're not vulgar as long as you so if you choose something vulgar in those five minutes it's no good i i don't want to represent the club that way okay you know and

26:42Luke Girgis:And also, does it feel like an easy laugh to you? Or does it just feel bad? Yeah, but the thing is, we have some comics that work a little bit blue and they're doing great. I just have to keep in mind if I book them, where I put them. So I want to get the essence of the comic in those five minutes. And then I'll give them a couple. If I think that there is something, I'll give them a few spots and follow up and see how they do. If they're great, wonderful, welcome. If not, I'm going to start pulling back. And do you have a hierarchy in times and rooms for how a comic progresses based on? Yes. Okay, explain how that works.

27:32Well, you look at the availability and then you have some people, Andrew Schultz, for instance, He is very specific on the times that he does. Margaret Birlia, Michael Chey. People that require or request at certain times. I'm going to put them in the place. Then we have Chris Turner who does the British rap. He almost won the AGT, the whole thing. He came second to a singer.

28:16I cannot put him in the middle of the show because who's going to follow that? The music and the rap and whatever. So you take, he does that, he does that, and build the show around that. And then the next thing is I want a balance. so if I use I want people to identify with the artist so if it's a question of ethnic or gender or politics or whatever they do you want to balance it so that's the second thing in the ideal world it all falls into place if not you just have to start

29:03Luke Girgis:working with it okay and so you've obviously seen chappelle and stewart and heart i met chappelle he was 18 years old at 3 a.m in the morning he came to the olive tree he was eating and another comic came to me says you see that kid i saw him in dc he's from worship and he's really funny. So I went over to him and introduced myself and I asked him, he said, would you mind to do a few minutes for me? He said, sure. He got up. There was maybe 10 people in the room. I mean, it was just like end of the night, 3 a.m. And he destroyed. And I remember I called my boss, Manny, in the middle of the night.

29:56I called him and I said, I just saw somebody really special. He said, oh, good, great for you. Boom, hanged out on me. I called him in a minute. But I got so excited. When you meet somebody like this, you know it, you see it right away. He was 18.

30:14Luke Girgis:Wow. So what do you think is the consistent thing that you see very early on in the careers of these artists that go up to be global superstars? What do they all have in common that you can detect in the first, second, third set? I cannot tell you how many times I've asked this question. And it's, you sort of, I sense things or whatever, but I cannot, without lying, tell you that I know. I do not know. And some people became huge and I wouldn't know why. And some people that I think they should be huge go nowhere. And I cannot tell you. I don't know if it's opportunity or timing or to be seen at the right place at the right time.

31:04I don't know why. It's maybe a combination of all of it. But some people just, like a chapelle, you can tell right away. I remember Chris Rock, David Tell, all those guys used to do our late night. Late, late, late night. and then suddenly they shoot to this grand, you know. It's a, I don't know that anybody can really say. I would feel very uncomfortable to predict, oh, this man is. Although there's a couple of people now that I, in my head, I said, this guy's going places. Just based on my experience. Okay. You know, 44 years.

31:50Luke Girgis:Yeah. You sort of learn to smell it. So what comics right now have the world not heard about that you think could be the next? I really, I'm not comfortable even saying it. Okay. But I think so. I think so. So I think that there is something about their confidence and their appearance and the twinkle in the eye and the smile that's going to make it attractive and appealing to whoever is looking either to cast them in a movie. I have a guy that, again, no names, that is here like maybe only three, four months. he already got a movie. And you knew it? I kept saying that this guy is going places.

32:46You can tell.

32:48Luke Girgis:Yeah. You can tell the charisma. So, Esty, what about the other side of it? Has there been a time where you've gone, oh, I don't get this comic, and they proved you wrong? Yes. Can you share who that is? No. I really don't. I feel very uncomfortable. But absolutely, 100%. I'm sure that comic would actually love to hear that, though. No. You don't think so? Uh-uh. Okay. I'll tell you later. Okay, sounds good. I'm really very – they trust me, I trust them, and I don't want to, you know, paint it in any – Has there ever been a comic at the cellar that you've asked to not come back anymore? Have you kicked anyone out for any reason?

33:41No, I just stop booking them or slow it down and then stop. And then I get those emails. Boo-hoo.

33:53And a couple of them I actually sat down and told them why. and oh okay I'll write and I'll do and then I'll get another email down the road from the same person and say well I always thought that you are such a fair booker and so how come you didn't you know you don't book me and and I cannot beyond you have a manager you have an agent those are the people that need to give you direction not me I have one job and this is to produce the best show I can for the comedy seller I am very very friendly with most of the comics in the club and outside but as far as their careers careers are concerned this is not up to me I would be very uncomfortable I got an email from somebody He says, I don't understand why you're not booking me.

35:02I kill every single time, and my stuff is so original. If you kill every, that means that for 44 years, I'm not doing a good job. If I'm not booking somebody that kills, learn to listen. I always say to the comics, listen to the audience, listen to the feedback. You think you killed? No, you did not. So they've got to be truthful to themselves. And this bothers me a lot. It really bothers me because it's such an obvious thing. It's there. It's not... Real-time feedback. Exactly. And if they laugh, good. If they didn't, don't tell me that you killed.

35:59Luke Girgis:is underperformance the only reason why you'd pull back on a comic? Are there other material, political behavior reasons why you've done it? Throughout the years, there was some incident here and there that the behavior was bad. And I can tell you how many chances, and that comes from Noah, how many chances he would give to somebody that misbehaves really badly. But after a while, after years of those second chances, enough is enough. And so there's only people that maybe can count on one hand that actually we had to do it with, to deal with.

36:46Comedians like anybody else, but maybe more so. is complicated individuals with all kinds of demons. And what I can say to a comedian, we all have a bad day. You had a fight with your wife. Your boyfriend left you. Your dog died. You are really upset. I'd rather you cancel the spot than go on stage and take it out on the audience and your frustration and your pain and all of this stay home you are an entertainer you've got to remember that you never know who is in the audience again without mentioning a name I remember years ago first time I saw a comedian doing this with a head And I remember asking Bill Grant, I said, what is that?

37:49He says, oh, my joke goes over your head. I'm so much smarter than you. So the reaction is that. I was so angry. How dare you do that? In the audience, you have a lawyer, you have a doctor, you have a construction worker, you have a student. you really think that the whole 200 people in the room are lesser than you are? Intelligent wise? To me, this is a huge turn off. Because that person would not accept the reality that maybe your job wasn't that good. And that's why it didn't laugh. and so those are the

38:40individuals that I wouldn't care for or care to work with if they're hilarious I'll tolerate it but my personal feelings are that there is certain decorum that you have to keep on stage

38:57Luke Girgis:what advice do you have for comics that haven't quite hit the cellar yet and they're there because you've seen a lot of comics over 40 years get stuck not move through how do you go to the next level right keep writing right right right right right and

39:18when you and i spoke earlier you told me about your passion if you don't have passion for comedy it's not for you it's a lot of people not maybe a lot but a lot a lot of people they use comedy as stepping stone to get a show a bigger career and then there are comics that no matter how big the careers they are still comics those are the two different and they're the comics everyone loves yeah Dave Chappelle is still a comic Ray Romano is still a comic he puts in like he did before he had these shows and movies and everything he's incredible Chris Rock is still a comic and there are some people that they hit and they make shows and movies and once in the blue moon do a stand-up.

40:22They're not real stand-ups. Like we understand stand-up. There is a distinction. And you can tell. You can tell.

40:35Luke Girgis:Complete this sentence for me. Huh? Complete this sentence for me. I know. Okay. The thing that nobody understands about booking comedy is...

40:51booking a comedy show is a what is the word that i want to use

41:07Luke Girgis:it's not capricious explain that word i didn't do well at school okay it's not i booked a show on merit not because i like you or we had dinner yesterday or whatever it's it's gonna be the pure reason of why I picked this comic and not another one everything equal then I say okay one for you one for you type of thing but the main core it's gotta be merit does that so so then i want to compare yourself to all the other bookers and clubs around the country oh i know you've been to la i know you've seen all the clubs there i know i'm sure you've been austin and you've been to all these places i mentioned that to you there's only one guy that comes to my mind is richard in in magic and comedy club i don't mind to give him the compliment on on bigger form.

42:26That guy is fantastic. He and I agree on most, not all. I'm a little, I became a little tougher than he when it comes. Oh, if he says, this is great. No, it's good, but not great. But I appreciate what he does and the comics he uses and I speak to him or we exchange comics or information or whatever. Yes. Other than that, I really don't work with other people. I don't, I cannot compare myself or I can just say I outlasted them. That's my big.

43:06Luke Girgis:So you don't have a, like a relationship with the other bookers and other clubs in New York? None. Zero. No interest from you or no interest from them? I have no idea. I have no idea. We just don't. Yeah. He is the only one that I have a relationship with. Richard Barnett. I'm giving his last name too. He is a wonderful guy. Really wonderful. Runs the club beautifully. I just appreciate him. I would love to know what Esty loves outside of comedy. What is it that you do when you're not working? I like sports. What sport? Well, number one sport is baseball right now. It's baseball. It's Yankees.

44:01I like the football giants, the Knicks basketball. I like sports. I like the business of sport, not just the sport itself. How do you follow the business of sport? What does that mean? Oh, I just read and listen, and I drive, and I don't listen to music. I listen to the fan. I listen to people that have the insight about deals and this and that. I find it fascinating. I find fascinating what Otani did with the Dodgers. They deferred his money so he can get another picture for the money that they say. I find it really interesting. And it's fun. It's also a form of entertainment.

44:45Luke Girgis:But I just like that. I think I'm the same. I end up listening to the podcast and analysis about the business of the teams that I follow almost more than actually the commentary about the game. Yeah, exactly. What's with that? That doesn't make any sense. It makes all the sense. Why? Because it is entertainment and it's very interesting. It's very tricky. Yeah. Those people are really smart cookies, let me tell you. and some of the players are like that. You know, it just, when business is that big with so much money, it becomes very appealing. Yeah. You know? Yeah. Esty. Yes, my love. I have been absolutely intoxicated with everything that you're telling me today.

45:45Luke Girgis:It's like it's really, really something, And I know that you didn't want to come on the podcast a few times. I asked you a few times. You're like, no, no, no, no. And then I courted you yesterday. No, I tell you, I'll give you a compliment. At least your questions are a little bit different. I get the same questions over and over and over. And I did a podcast a couple of weeks ago, an on-camera, one off-camera. It's just the same. I mean, I cannot reinvent it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? it is what it is. It's just hard work, dedication, devotion, and love. I love comedians. They are

46:34a higher intellectual level than most people. I believe. I think.

46:45The level of their intelligence and they're very brave, especially women, because, you know, Lynn Couplets, I don't know if you ever saw it, hilarious. She is so funny. She's super crazy, and I don't mind even saying it if she ever hears it. But I found that other female comics do that too. Well, I am 50, I am 55. I said, why are you telling your age? That goes against everything that I know. or shoot you're in show business devouring telling your age might stay in your way they are just open and brave and they just pour it all out i admire it because i am not capable of doing it i would keep it close to my best and they just go for it i do think comedy is

47:44Luke Girgis:the hardest and most scariest art form there is another thing is don't forget the writing they write they don't read somebody's script yeah they are naked on that stage because they talk about their lives a lot of them do they talk about their politics they talk about They are just opening up. And that's very intimidating to me. Very intimidating to be that open. And for that, I love them. I love them. I appreciate them more than I can tell. Is your professional relationship more interfacing with their agents and managers or them directly? Directly. there's a few of them that are managers that I know throughout the years and if they'll email me they have a client I would love you to take a look tell me what you think they don't want me to tell them what I think they want them to be booked that's the language but on the most part is once I start working with them it's 100 % directly.

49:07I don't want to have a broken phone. You know? She said, can you do that? No.

49:16Luke Girgis:Where the comedy cell has evolved so much over 30, 40 years. Yeah. What's the next decade going to look like? What's the next evolution of the comedy cell? Well, again, I am not a tarot card reader, but the way we're going and the way Noam is holding the reins steering the horses in the right direction we do a lot of filming TV it became this thing now you know what I mean so who knows sky is the limit your showbiz baby esti i have absolutely loved our chat i'm so grateful for you coming thank you so much my pleasure thank you thank you oh i'm back i don't take breaks the world need more hope i pray it ain't too late i don't know what the plot is