Comedian, Actor, & Impressionist: Matt Friend – Finding Your Voice, Reading the Room, & Why Laughter Is the Last Honest Thing

24:00And they might say that it's hacky to kind of both sides things. I'm not trying to both sides things. I'm just trying to get as wide of an audience as possible. You know, if you voted for Trump, if you voted for Kamala, who voted for Kamala? Nobody, I would say. But if you voted for Kamala, I want you all to come to my show because I just want everybody to see that we can all have a good time and laugh. Absolutely. One of the comedians that I love as a host. You are very still. I like this. I'm comfortable. You're comfortable, yeah. You're letting it all hang out, you god guy. You're letting it all hang out, yeah.

24:37I'm a big fan of Sacha Baron Cohen. Yes.

24:39The Gstaad Guy:As a consumer, but also I really admire his way of being basically a big flashlight, right? He just, he doesn't necessarily, I think he's very good at revealing truth through comedy. I think that's what he does. I don't know what I mean by the big flashlight. And I see you doing a lot of that too. Thank you. That flashlight. Well, you know, I really appreciate it. That's such a cool comparison because he's like my, one of my idols. I actually just sat behind him on a plane. Wow. And then I, and then I get to my hotel and then the next morning I'm walking in the hallway that he's walking down the hallway.

25:12So we were staying on the same floor. No way. It was during the Oscars week. And then I saw him at a party for our agency. Did you say hi? Yeah, of course. And he was great. I named her up. But no, I think it's probably a product of what I'm doing, the nature of what I'm doing. It probably does shine a light in some way on how people come across.

25:37The Gstaad Guy:And what do you think the power of humor and comedy really is at creating connections with people, but also getting a message across? I think it's essential. If I'm with somebody at a dinner and they're not able to take a joke or laugh, I'm immediately turned off by that person. I don't want to spend time with that person or really see them ever again. I don't want to be around you if you can't, if you're not like. If you can't laugh at my jokes. If you don't laugh at my jokes, get out of my face. But like, it's more of a vibe thing. It's not really just me. It's just like, is the person able to like smile and have a good time?

26:10And I do think that humor is kind of like an unspeakable, it's a universal language. You know, you obviously, in the context of comedy, like I could do my set or a joke in English, but, you know, someone could translate it and then someone would potentially laugh, depending on the customs of their country, maybe. But I most likely they would probably laugh at the same thing. There are some basic things that everybody finds funny, a fart joke, a yo mama joke, you know, like something like that. It's a universal thing. And I think it's very important, especially in our time today. I think so, too.

26:43I do think there's an element of poking truth to power. I performed at the White House Correspondents Dinner last year. It was me and Colin Jost from SNL. And I got up in the middle of the room. Biden was 40 feet away from me. Semi. I'm not sure he was alive, but I think he might have been. I think he was living. And I just started to roast the room and him. Like I'm roasting the most powerful person in the world. And it was a surreal experience, but that's a great American tradition and custom that. The president, I'd say it sits next to a comedian with the exception of the current president because he doesn't do it.

27:22But every other president is able to take a joke and laugh and for the for the greater community of the country. And I think that that is a really important thing that we should never lose. And I think the ability to laugh at oneself is also a great part of that. Absolutely it is. You know, a hundred percent. That's why your content is so important. I appreciate it. Because I think you're playing to an audience that, let's face it, a lot of the people that are in the audience that you have might not, you know, be willing to laugh at themselves. so that's why I think it's so important that you're doing this work and people love it people absolutely love it because especially with wealthier people it can be much a little bit more uptight like in my experience from a live performance standpoint but I love the challenge and I think it's really fun like you know figuring out jokes for all audiences but specifically audiences that might not expect to be able to laugh at themselves I hope they laugh at themselves

28:28The Gstaad Guy:bit, I think, yeah, that implies some level of self-awareness that the people of the Stadgar world sometimes lack. Absolutely. Or often lack. So I hope it happens more often than not. And you do such a great job of it to thread the needle so well. Thank you. Something I love about our generation as well, and us as, in some ways, voices of like the tone of voice of our generation, is the fact that it's so unserious. if I look back at comedy over the years, it absolutely had a similar tone of voice when you think of comedians and think of storytellers from Peter Sellers to Sacha Baron Cohen to...

29:08Peter Sellers?

29:09The Gstaad Guy:I'm a big fan of Peter Sellers. Wow. I love... What? I love classic Finn Panther. That's amazing. Yeah. I love like Rimmis Coleman. Really? I'm a big fan of Peter Sellers. I'm a big fan of Peter Sellers. Do you say that when you... Because you're a six foot seven hunk of European meat. When you're on a date with some Raya match, do you say, you know, you take your AP off and you say, are you a big fan of Peter Sellers? I'm not on Raya. That's what gets you laid. Peter Sellers references. I know that's what gets you laid. I love Peter Sellers. I also love, have you heard of Louis de Funes? Louis de Funes?

29:42The Gstaad Guy:I'm not sure that I have. Who is this? It's a French kid. Does his name look stupid? No, not at all. It's kind of like grimace humor. So a lot of facial expressions, a lot of mannerism. it's very 70s 80s humor okay maybe even prior maybe even 60s okay um but it's something that was very popular back then i think should be more popular now um and i think you and i of course part of our careers is we do those similar things but something that has changed is that the general population i find has become a lot more unserious especially our generation and you just look at TikTok, like people will talk about serious things with a lot of humor, with a lot of self-deprecation.

30:25The Gstaad Guy:And I love that about our time, the unseriousness. Do you use comedy off camera, off stage as well as this sort of social lubricant? Always. Yeah. I mean, I'm not always on, like that's actually a theme in my standup hour, which is like you don't want to always be like this dancing monkey, you know, constantly going. but Don Rickles, great, legendary comedian, famed insult comedian. Do you know Don? I don't. You would be, oh, you knew Louis Duetje? I'm kidding. Louis Duetje. Louis Duetje is not a comedian. He's actually like an actor. Okay, basically. But also a producer. But Don Rickles, you will die.

31:07You will literally die from this guy, but you need to check him out.

31:11The Gstaad Guy:Can I tell you my all-time favorites? Yes. Just so you can box me into a category of comedy. stand up number one for me is ricky drivice of course i don't care okay he's just obsessed number one for me um on tv and film sasha baron cohen a rowan atkinson great i love johnny english i think johnny english is actually i think stud guys in many ways inspired by johnny english i thought you were gonna say bill cosby um i should i don't actually know much about bill cosby okay Sorry. Well, don't take a drink. That's all I'll say. Your audience will probably get the right. Okay, fine. Johnny English to me is like this very serious, this goofball trying to be serious.

31:57The Gstaad Guy:Yes, yes. Right? Great. No, I love that summary of someone, goofball trying to be serious. That's in some ways what I am. I mean, I'm definitely very serious at times. I mean, a lot of the time, I would say. But I am a goofball as well. I'm sure you are too. Yeah. But to answer your question before, yes. I mean, my business all comes through my comedy and my personality and like my emerging, whatever you want to call it, celebrity brand. So, yes. I mean, whether it's down to the clothes that I'm wearing or, you know, the events that I'm at or, again, different business dealings. I think that's kind of the, not kind of, I think that is the value that I bring.

32:46Like so much of business that I've been finding is like, do people want to hang around you? You know, obviously you have to contribute something and I can't just be, not just, unless you're like Ashton Kutcher level or Ryan Reynolds level, like just lending your name to a brand or something. But I think a lot of this is connections and relationship building and not like from a purely transactional standpoint. You don't want to seem like you're using people or being used for a business context. But no matter what I'm doing in a business context, yes, I'm there to make fun of everything. I think that's why the things that I'm doing in my business life are happening.

33:27Because I'm literally like a jester. I'm like the court jester.

33:30The Gstaad Guy:I think you're being self-deprecating, but I appreciate that. Thank you. This podcast is brought to you by Pubelle, bringing you interchangeable charm jewelry hand-painted with enamel on styling silver, allowing you to celebrate all the things you love and all the things you might question through interchangeable styling silver bracelets, bangles, whoop, charms, mini charm, bracelets, rings, cufflings, and much more. And all customizable through our 3D Builder on Pubelle.com. That is poubelle, P-O-U-B-E-L, dot com. Thank you so much for watching. And now back to the podcast. First and foremost, the first thing you do when you go into these big rooms, based on what you're saying, is to observe, right?

34:16The Gstaad Guy:So you have observed the people of the Stade Guy world. You went to NYU. You perform at Casa Cipriani. You're around all these politicians and people of power. What are some things you've observed? in the world of the Stadgei, in the Stadgei audience, that you can tell us about? Well, wealthy people do love to be reminded in front of their friends how rich they are. I agree with that. That's what I... That's the number one thing. When I do a private corporate event, I'm making up a name. Oh, Len Berman is here. Len Berman. Like, I'll make fun of how rich that person is. Yeah, or like... I remember I did a guy's birthday once as like billionaire in Upper West Side.

35:02And I go to his, I go to his, it was a restaurant uptown. It was like 50 of his closest friends. And then they had like, like a mariachi band and like all these different people. And then they have me come out. It's like so ridiculous. And actually, and I come out there and I say, you know, I'm robbing you right now, right? You know, this is a heist. I'm going to talk for the next 15 minutes. my check is cleared and then I'm leaving. Did your wife tell you how much I'm being paid for this? Was it extortionate? No, he was dying. They were all just dying laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing is.

35:45But I don't even know if I'm really answering this question.

35:47The Gstaad Guy:You are. No, it's very good. It's very good. Bottom line is, if you're watching this podcast and you have a private party, please email my team and book me and let's have some fun. Because Shtodgai wants to buy me an AP. That's true. I'd love to. I'd love to be in the chat. I have to ask you about that, by the way. I'm so obsessed with it. I love how you have marketed, not marketed, but I don't mean to take over your show, by the way. Is this going well so far? It's going great. I hope it is. I love this casual conversation. Well, because I want to be answering these questions well, but I also don't want to be too clowny.

36:17You're not too clowny. That's how I do it. And you are answering the questions well. Good. I think just people love a casual conversation. I hope so. Thank you. I love how you say conversation. You say conversation, like with a Z. Conversation. It's very Euro. Really? I love it. One thing that I really admire about you is the way that you have built this brand for yourself, but tapped into brands that you care about.

36:37The Gstaad Guy:I appreciate that. You know, with Loro, with AP. I'm curious about like the origin, because I'm sure a lot of your, whatever you can reveal, I'm sure a lot of your fans would be curiously how that all. I appreciate it. Or we don't talk about it. No, we can. We can, of course. I appreciate your question. I am... Stad Guy, as you know, is based off a real-life archetype of people who typically have achieved lots of success or they're related to people who have. And they like really nice things. And I also like those nice things, although I have in many ways been priced out of many of those nice things.

37:15The Gstaad Guy:But I've always admired brands that do things very well. L 'Orupiana and Audemars Piguet included and before ever working with either brand I always communicated how the real life Stade guy is obsessed with these sorts of things and with particularly a brand like L 'Orupiana and it was this very organic storytelling which always felt true to my audience and I only play two characters Constance and Colton and you play 200 characters Your two characters are phenomenal. Actually, you play 201 because you also play Matt Friend. And thank you so much. Thank you. So I think in my scenario, like now, of course, in the real world, I also wear my beautiful watch and this beautiful outfit.

38:03The Gstaad Guy:And I'm very grateful to be wearing them. But it started with my characters wearing those things and those things being very true to my character. And I think people in many ways draw inspiration from the things Constance, the style guy, finds value in. Interesting. You know, he doesn't like many things and he dislikes many things. So when he says he likes something, it carries a lot of weight. Like the real life connoisseur that you have performed for. So that's my answer. Okay, great answer. I love it. You said earlier in the podcast that you draw a lot of inspiration from this kind of dying art of comedy this this part of comedy that's now changed a little bit but that you love from the past what do you think has changed and what are you trying to to save and hold on to um i think well it's a couple that's a really great question um a couple elements number one i mean when i'm on stage it's not 100 clean like there's you know there's sexual there's like some swearing But there is a class that I try to have on stage and off and elevate it kind of like an elegance, whether I'm on a red carpet or on stage or doing a TV interview or doing your podcast.

39:29And I think it's in the way you dress. It's the way you kind of come across. That's what Johnny Carson personified to me. um you know johnny carson he was like the biggest um star in in really like in the country but like one of the biggest in the world i mean it was a time where the tonight show it was like the show in in in the country anybody who wanted to be anybody um had to be on this show um and he was wearing these glamorous suits and just the way he came across and the way he interviewed people and He was very thoughtful in the way he reacted in all of his interactions on camera. And that's sort of an element that I'm trying to bring back.

40:12Obviously, the impressions are kind of like an older seeming art form, but also just the vibe, I guess. I'm not really trying to think it through too much. It's just kind of the way I carry myself. And then comedically, I think just it's this partisanship where I don't want to be a liberal or conservative comedian. I want to be a comedian that everybody can come see my show. Yeah. And just kind of forget about for the hour and like just realize how stuff everything is. And let's just have a good time. I'm not trying to sway people or make some sort of a like take some sort of a stand necessarily.

40:52at this point in my career. I mean, I do make, there are some opinions that I raise in the show, but I think the point is I want everybody to come and have a good time. A great time. That's great. I love that. And that's an old element of comedy that has since gone away in our society today where nobody can even talk to each other anymore.

41:14The Gstaad Guy:And what's the transition like for you from these short form skits to one hour on stage? That's a huge difference to me. Just going from 30 seconds to a minute in my videos is playing with two very different beasts. Yeah, no, it's a crazy, it's not even a comparison. You know, there are some things that I've done on stage that I post on TikTok or Instagram or social media that are like a 30 second clip. But a lot of these are longer stories or points. And it's just a completely different thing, you know, to make a video with you or whatever. Even right now, like we'll have some clip that'll do really well that we'll post.

41:59That's like 30 seconds. But I mean, to physically go and to tour and to travel and get on stage or it's like that man in the arena quote. Isn't that Churchill? You know this quote? No. Stand up is different from from these short form clips. So it's you out there kind of versus the audience. It's kind of like a battle. I have to make all of these people laugh. And there's an energy that you bring. When you get on stage, there's an energy that you bring. I have to set the tone. I love physical, energetic people and performers. There is a style of comedy. You sit on a chair and you're a little more calm.

42:36But I love people that use the stage. I really feel like I saw something. Yeah.

42:41The Gstaad Guy:Some of my best performing content is in the category of dating and relationships. And people often talk about how much they'd love a funny, a funny guy or a funny person that they're dating. How has that helped you with your dating life being a comedian? um i would say that again it's like what you just said about business i mean it's i think it's probably an added an additional edge i think it probably it doesn't probably i think it certainly helps with breaking the ice and confidence and especially performing like i'm up in front of a lot of people all the time it's um i you know i feel confident in that respect how about yourself I actually am I really appreciate that you box us in a similar category when it comes to being comedians but I really don't I don't think I did that okay fine there you go I don't think I'm a comedian but I appreciate that you're a I think I'm just in some ways a comedian I mean a storyteller a sketch you know you could argue you're a sketch comedian yeah I think the way I describe myself is actually like a it's kind of like luxury journalism and I use comedy as just a tone of voice to make it more digestible.

43:56This sounds like a major at the school I went to at NYU, Gallatin. Yeah. People would like make up majors. What did you major in? I studied luxury journalism. This is a made up major. And he affected the shtodd guy on interpersonal relationships in shtodd. A hundred percent. Sorry, go ahead.

44:12The Gstaad Guy:My made up major is that. It's luxury journalism. That's very, very cool. I love that you have taken the time to think through this. I've taken some time to think through this. I have. I don't think that people come to my content to laugh I think they happen to chuckle occasionally and chuckle is the key word I don't think anyone laughs out loud watching Shtaggai videos by designer as a circumstance, I'm not sure I hope they do at mine they definitely do because you are a comedian and the product and your intention as you've shared is to make people laugh my intention is actually to get a message across that's very interesting very very cool but how has that affected your dating?

44:48aha You see, you didn't think I would let that screw up, did you?

44:52The Gstaad Guy:I think it's very similar in my dating life. I'm not, like, cracking jokes. I occasionally try to get a chuckle. Right. Or smile. Right. But I can tell you have a very calming kind of a seductive. I happen to be a heterosexual. Sadly, I don't swing that way. But if I did swing that way, I mean, you really do. I mean, you have a calming. You've got an aura, man. Thank you. I appreciate that. That's very kind. I'm going to just say this now. Stadgei f***s. Stadgei f***s. And if you don't keep this in the podcast, I will remember it. You're keeping it in. You're keeping it in. You're keeping it in.

45:31You have to. I love when you randomly just throw in the impression of Trump. It's Trump Tourette's. It's a problem. I do it to say things I can't say as myself. I was on a plane last week with a fat pig of a woman. She was a slob. And I said, you're a nasty woman. change your seat, please. I can't sit next to this fat pig. But I didn't say it. It was Trump. You see, that's the thing. He's the vessel to say the worst things in the world. Now, anyways, back to your dating. I can tell you clean up because you have a, you're just like, you're 6 '8". Let's just go with 6 '9". I'm actually not even 6 '8".

46:05Okay, you're 7 '2". And I mean, you're just like, you know, it's almost like this, you look fantastic.

46:13The Gstaad Guy:That's very kind of you. I think that's you though, but I appreciate that. Look at you. That's very kind of you. On the Stade Guy podcast, we always play a game of à la poubelle versus fantastique. À la poubelle in French, to the trash. Fantastique, things we celebrate. Beautiful. That are great. Could you please share with us a few things that you believe to be à la poubelle that you'd like to change about your industry, society, the internet, anything? You know what is so à la poubelle? What's so à la poubelle has got to be Android. throw out your Android into the trash can but Steve would say the most fantastic thing in the world has got to be liquid glass I love liquid Face ID is so, so fantastic you know what's so a la Pubelle?

47:03the butterfly keyboard that's what we got rid of the butterfly keyboard it's$999 thank you so much Good morning, Cupertino. That is so fantastic. This is Johnny Ives. I love your random good morning when you keep throwing them in. Okay, now myself. Alipoubelle would be Tilly Norwood, the AI actress. Throw it in the trash. Now, not entirely because I do think that it's a complicated issue. And like, I do think that AI will be a very useful tool for our comedy and work and everything. But I don't have the idea of just like an AI actress. That kind of isn't great. Let's get rid of that. A fantastique would be in my industry.

47:55I think social media, you know, I know this is like Instagram, TikTok, Snap. The idea that anybody can create their presence and build their fan base and make a business out of it. And these gatekeepers are being fundamentally almost entirely removed is a really amazing thing. And it's democratizing the whole business. And I don't know I would be here without it. So that is fantastic, I would say. Also fantastic, Loro Piana. Because we are with this sad guy. And we must make sure that all of the Italians are very happy with our clothing options. because Alapu Belle would be thrift shopping. No, thrift is fine.

48:36No, no, no, no. I think fast fashion. Only for La Rosagna, no thrift. No, I'm kidding. Alapu Belle would be, oh God, Dasani water. Okay. Yeah, you know Dasani water? Yeah, it tastes a little like Coke to me. I think it's produced by PepsiCo. Yeah, I'm not really into that. No. I'm more of a Fiji kind of a guy. Have you been to Switzerland? I don't know. I would love to go.

49:02The Gstaad Guy:You haven't? No. No? I thought you said I don't know. Can we go? We should. The tap water in Switzerland. Amazing. As good as it comes. I love you. I think you're fantastic, and I'm very happy for you and your show, and keep building, and I hope we do some stuff together down the line. Thanks, Sue. I hope so, too. And I really appreciate you taking the time to be here, sharing all these deep insights, but also all these good laughs. I haven't had this many laughs on a Monday morning, I think, ever in my life. Really? I think so. That's incredible. Well, thank you for having me. It really was really cool.

49:36And by the way, I'm going to plug myself because I have to. Come see a show. Please. MattFriend.com for tickets and follow my Instagram at TheMattFriend. But again, I can't thank you enough for having me. I'm so honored and happy to know you. And I think what you're doing is so cool. And there are so many people that are trying to make, but you really resonate with me, just not only in the way you carry yourself conversationally, but also your content is super funny. But I think it's just who you are as a person from what I know. Thank you. You seem amazing. And just thanks for having me.

50:08The Gstaad Guy:Thank you for listening to this episode of the Stardguy podcast. If you're keen to learn more, please follow along by engaging with our social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, YouTube and Apple podcasts. And we look forward to seeing you next week. Merci beaucoup. A la prochaine and a big hug from the Stardguy.