Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Falzone.
Mike Falzone has been solving the internet’s problems since 2006 when he became one of the first creators to establish themselves on YouTube. Hailing from the great state of Connecticut, Falzone began touring as a musician at 14 and while still his first love, Falzone has since shifted his passion and drive into pursuing stand-up comedy. After surviving two major health scares, Falzone decided to move west to pursue his entertainment passions and has been tickling the funny bones of YouTube fans and L.A. audiences ever since. He’s performed at College Humor Live, several of the Improv comedy venues, and has appeared on-stage at the Laugh Factory and the world-famous Comedy Store. In 2018, Mike was featured on Coming to the Stage: Season 6 hosted by George Wallace.
Additional things:
– In 2016, Mike was nominated for a Shorty Award in the category of “Funniest YouTube Comedian”.
– Mike (as Wrestlin’ Fred) hosts a show on Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s YouTube channel called ‘Friday Night Fred’.
– Recently a host for SourceFed, a comedy and news channel with over 1 million subscribers.
– Mike Falzone at the Laugh Factory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLqVp9iF9Ec.
Has it been a smooth road?
The only real struggle for me is always trying to get better. I’ve always admired the comedians who never stop writing and trying to best themselves. People like Dean Delray and countless others are great examples of that. When I first moved here six years ago people frowned upon all the YouTube stuff a lot. Now, almost every comedian has a YouTube channel and a podcast. It’s interesting to see how much things change.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’ve been putting stuff on YouTube for 13 years now. I upload consistently on Tuesdays & Fridays and that’s always been a good exercise in discipline. It always forced me to write and produce without anyone breathing down my back. I also run a crowd work show called Friends & Friends and that makes me incredibly happy. It started in the back of a coffee shop called ‘Open Space’ on Fairfax and now I run it out of the Laugh Factory, which is a dream come true. As a musician I used to play music for 3 hours at a time in book stores, delis, bars, wherever. I loved talking to people in between songs. I like keeping people engaged by doing something that will never be truly repeatable. So much of what we see how is flawless and perfect-I love the crowd work because it’s not that. Of course I love and respect the craft of stand up; practicing and reworking something until it’s something something great but I REALLY like switching it up every once in a while and going up there without a plan and seeing what happens. I also have an insane podcast with my friend Steve called Dynamic Banter (somehow very popular) and one I’ve done with my wife for about 8 years now called Welcome to Our Podcast. It’s very important that every stand up comedian has 7 or 8 podcasts at all times ; )
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
L.A. has always been amazing place for comedy and opportunity if you truly want to work hard. Obviously the Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory and the Hollywood Improv are here but there are so many independent shows (Heavy Heavy Low Low, Venice Underground etc etc) and open mics every night- it’s like a non-stop comedy combine. We have everything: comedy legends trying out new material to take out on the road, hungry up-and-coming comedians who are ready to pop working out their late-night material, workhorses and newbies, everyone’s here and hungry. It’s like NYC but there’s no snow and sometimes it’s on fire.
If I could give a little nugget of advice to anyone just starting out here I’d be consistent and have REAL fun. Also, PLEASE don’t take it personally when no one laughs at your jokes at open mic. L.A. is a very difficult place to START doing comedy. Don’t turn on the audience. Work harder. You’re at practice. Never stop wanting to get better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikefalzone.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mikefalzone
- Facebook: facebook.com/mikefalzone
- Twitter: twitter.com/mikefalzone
- Other: www.youtube.com/mikefalzone
Image Credit:
Zoja Falzone, Troy Conrad, Kevin Plachy
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