Interview: Joe Rogan

What is funny?
Everything. It's all in how you look at it. Everything can be a subject for comedy, but the most important criteria is that it actually has to be funny for the person telling it. There's the old adage – tragedy + time = funny. It's not necessarily that tragic events are funny, it's just that everything can be funny if it's looked at properly. Tragic events usually have a little more pop to them because of the taboo factor. There seems to be some sort of a release we enjoy from talking about forbidden things. Fortunately for me, almost everything I find interesting is taboo to some people in one way or another. I didn't really plan my act out that way, it's just that's how my mind has developed. Of course everything isn't going to be funny for everyone, but that's part of the fun in it. If you think something is funny, and someone gets upset that you think it's funny, it usually makes it even funnier. The real key is that it actually has to be funny to the person describing it. Real comedy comes from a real and honest perspective. It's basically "here's the world through my eyes." The real key to it is finding the point of view that has the most =funny in it, and then delivering it in a way that introduces it into people's minds in the smoothest and most efficient way possible. That's the real craft in the art form. It takes a lot of experimenting to find the correct mixture of words and ideas to express a point, and it's incredibly satisfying when you nail it. Standup comedy is this weird, intangible art form where you're using ideas to cause a real physical reaction in people. You take them on a ride of thoughts, and one of the craziest aspects of this experience is that when I'm really locked into the zone on stage I'm just as much of a passenger in the ride as the people in the audience. I'm guiding it all based on my writing, my research, my practicing and honing bits time after time, show after show, but when it all comes together I'm just riding the wave along with everyone else. That's the most beautiful moment – when it all comes together and we're all locked into one gigantic thought.

What is not funny?
Again, everything. If you don't think it's funny, than it's not. It's a purely subjective art form.

What makes a good audience and venue for a comic?
My personal favorite type of venue is a place with low ceilings and tight seating for about 200 people. I love intimate shows. I think those kind of environments are the most suited for a real connection with the audience. You can pull off that group connection in a larger place, but it takes a slightly different approach. You have to turn it into a big party. As for the audience, in the beginning of a comic's career you don't have people that are coming out specifically to see you, so if your material is controversial like mine, it can be hit or miss. The real key is being able to stick with your guns long enough that the audience comes to you because they like what you do, and they're coming out to see it. I feel very fortunate that I'm in that place now. I appreciate it very, very much, and I'm having the time of my life.

First News Radio, then Fear Factor, now UFC. How did you move between
all these?
The perfect combination of luck, whore-like opportunism, a rabid hunger for pursuing my personal interests regardless how the conventional wisdom would say they could negatively affect my career. I just do what I like to do, except in the case of fear factor, where
I did that because I like money.

Any past shows you would have liked to have caught at the Fillmore?
Lenny Bruce. I've got an old poster framed in my house from one of his old Fillmore shows. He's the godfather of my kind of stand up. He opened up doors that all of the greats came through, and several times he got arrested doing it. Without him and his efforts none of this would be possible. It's an incredible honor to be performing at the same venue that he once did.

People should come see your shows because…
I'm bringing a big, fat, fucked up party to San Francisco. We're going to drink, we're going to think, and we're going to laugh. We are all experiencing this ridiculous virtual reality of society
together, and we all have jobs to do, and shit that needs to get done, so we've all collectively agreed to keep up business as usual. Sometimes it's important to be reminded how insane this whole thing really is. Sometimes you need someone to point out that as much as you think your life is important, we're all just temporary talking monkeys crawling around on a rock that's flying through the universe. Life is a massive fucking mystery, but with the right point of view, it can be a really fun one. I'm here to point all that out. It's what I was put on this planet to do, and all of the events of my life are just preparation for the next group experience at the next show. I'm gearing up for it right now, and I can't wait to see you motherfuckers August 22 at the Fillmore. Leave all the bullshit behind, we're gonna have some fun.