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Everything’s Funny with Helen Keaney is a comedy podcast about the people, stories and experiences behind the laughs.
After more than 30 years in stand-up comedy, and twelve years as a host on HSN, Helen Keaney sits down with fellow comedians, performers and people throughout the comedy industry for funny, candid conversations about life onstage and behind the scenes.
From breaking into stand-up to navigating show business, this podcast is for anyone who's ever wondered, "What would a life of stand up comedy be like?" Helen uses her 30 years of experience to share tips she's learned, and talks with people she admires not just for what they’ve accomplished, but for who they are along the way.
Part comedy podcast, part inside look at the entertainment industry and part conversation between friends, Everything’s Funny With Helen Keaney celebrates the craft of comedy, the people who make it happen and the idea that, eventually, just about everything can be funny.
00:00:02:25 - 00:00:06:29
Helen Keaney
Is that is that Hellboy three? Is that which is what are you starring and.
00:00:07:02 - 00:00:08:06
Producer Jeremy
I know like and.
00:00:08:12 - 00:00:13:27
Helen Keaney
So red like what do you do. You have a red light on your face. Is there backing up into your house.
00:00:13:29 - 00:00:19:15
Producer Jeremy
It's a, it's like an external camera that I was trying out, but it ain't working out.
00:00:19:21 - 00:00:24:00
Helen Keaney
Do you use it for porn shoots at the house?
00:00:24:02 - 00:00:26:18
Producer Jeremy
Why would I want my porn to be all red like this?
00:00:26:20 - 00:00:31:06
Helen Keaney
I don't know, because it takes place in hell. I don't know why.
00:00:31:06 - 00:00:34:01
Producer Jeremy
Oh, hell. Porn. Oh. All right.
00:00:34:04 - 00:00:37:14
Helen Keaney
I think that would do better than this podcast.
00:00:37:16 - 00:00:40:01
Helen Keaney
Why don't you put a bedsheet behind you like I do.
00:00:40:04 - 00:00:41:23
Producer Jeremy
I know I might do that.
00:00:41:25 - 00:00:58:03
Helen Keaney
there's a guy I met in Chicago named Tyler Flower Flowers. I hope I'm getting his name right. He did a video about, a weekend, you know, like, all the money he made in a weekend. And it was like he did a private, like, birthday party for somebody that he featured for a friend of his at a club.
00:00:58:03 - 00:01:21:16
Helen Keaney
And then he did another thing, and, and and it was the most realistic video of what it's like to be a comedian nowadays. If you're not, if you're not a superstar and it and I realize I, I'm not willing to work that hard. Like I cannot. He was like like at one point he was carrying the amp himself into a venue where he was about, did the show and then brought it back into his car.
00:01:21:16 - 00:01:36:19
Helen Keaney
And I mean, he's very funny and he's, you know, I'm sure there's a million comics that are jealous that he did as well as he did. He made, like $2,300 in a weekend, which I think is a good a good weekend. But God, did he work for it. It was like show after show after show.
00:01:36:21 - 00:01:41:22
Producer Jeremy
What about you? Do you have any other any thing coming up that you want to talk about or
00:01:41:22 - 00:01:56:04
Helen Keaney
Oh. You know, my friend Chevonne, who was a fellow hosted HSN, has a podcast, and I'm going to do another episode of her podcast, and her people get really fun clips, so you'll probably see some of that
00:01:56:07 - 00:02:01:23
Helen Keaney
The 14th of November, I'm headlining a solana's. It's a,
00:02:01:25 - 00:02:02:23
Producer Jeremy
Pizza place.
00:02:02:25 - 00:02:04:00
Helen Keaney
Pizza place?
00:02:04:03 - 00:02:05:06
Helen Keaney
It's in Oak Park.
00:02:05:08 - 00:02:07:28
Helen Keaney
And I think that's a suburb of Chicago.
00:02:08:00 - 00:02:15:14
Producer Jeremy
Indeed it is. So Oak Park, Illinois. What's the what's the. Oh so-and-so's in Oak Park. On the dark.
00:02:15:16 - 00:02:18:10
Helen Keaney
On November 14th.
00:02:18:13 - 00:02:19:03
Producer Jeremy
Fantastic.
00:02:19:10 - 00:02:20:04
Helen Keaney
That's right I'm looking.
00:02:20:04 - 00:02:21:12
Producer Jeremy
Get your tickets.
00:02:21:14 - 00:02:40:14
Helen Keaney
Get your tickets now. It usually sells out. It's like you know, there's these smaller venues and they're, you know, they have this local following. And, I love doing those because I'm meeting, like, there's a couple comedians on the show, that I've never that I've never met before. And every time I do a show, I meet other Chicago comedians.
00:02:40:14 - 00:02:45:01
Helen Keaney
And that is a network of people that I'm excited. I'm excited to meet.
00:02:45:04 - 00:02:50:09
Helen Keaney
when you, when you hit the big time and you've got national TV credits, you get to headline pizza places.
00:02:50:12 - 00:02:53:18
Producer Jeremy
Hell, yeah.
00:02:53:21 - 00:02:59:13
Helen Keaney
So the episode we've got coming up is Mary Ellen, and Mary Ellen and I have been friends for 30 plus years.
00:02:59:19 - 00:03:15:13
Producer Jeremy
No, no, it's, we are coming. So, you know, you. Yeah. No. You haven't. No. But I think when we do this, we should. We should record. Talking about the episode that's about to come out. So this will be Vanessa Granick.
00:03:15:16 - 00:03:25:03
Helen Keaney
Oh, Vanessa. Oh, yeah. Yeah. The next episode coming out on every Everything's Funny with Helen Keaney is Vanessa Granik, who I met,
00:03:25:03 - 00:03:39:07
Helen Keaney
on comics, and she was my segment producer when I did the show. And I then, you know, followed her on Instagram. And she's such a funny comedian. She also has great stuff to say about, the business of stand up.
00:03:39:07 - 00:04:07:13
Helen Keaney
And also, I think there's a lot of tips for people that have never done a TV show before. You know, it's interesting. Comics unleash. I'm seeing, you know, veteran comedians like myself that have done a lot of other TV shows doing it. But there's also some people I know there's like, I this is my first TV ever that I've ever done, which I think is awesome, and I think they would really get a lot out of the episode of learning some ins and outs of of what, what to do, what not to do, how to how to maximize that opportunity.
00:04:07:13 - 00:04:12:04
Helen Keaney
And so I'm really excited to welcome to the podcast, Vanessa Granik,
00:04:12:07 - 00:04:27:15
(Theme Song)
People are funny. Trees are funny. Birds are funny. Bees are funny. Everything's funny with Halle and Kenan. Everything's funny with Helen Keaney.
00:04:27:18 - 00:04:29:11
Vanessa Graddick
Okay.
00:04:29:13 - 00:04:35:27
Helen Keaney
I don't know if I'm embarrassed about the theme song, but I would. I be waiting to hear your reaction.
00:04:36:00 - 00:04:46:10
Vanessa Graddick
Oh. So I didn't hear it on my site. Oh, okay. I just saw you dance, and I was like, well, I have a dance too. Okay? We just danced it. Okay, okay. Perfect.
00:04:46:12 - 00:05:05:27
Helen Keaney
All right, well, Vanessa, I don't know, if you heard my introduction, but I, I told all the listeners that we met in Los Angeles, when I taped Comics Unleashed. Yeah, on CBS, and you're my producer. And there were so many things going on, it's like there's a lot going on when you're the comic who's on it.
00:05:05:27 - 00:05:13:19
Helen Keaney
You got to, you know, you got to remember this. What? What is the Q? What is the this all these it's buzzing around with people and everything. And it's.
00:05:13:21 - 00:05:17:17
Vanessa Graddick
There's hair, there's makeup, there's snacks.
00:05:17:19 - 00:05:43:28
Helen Keaney
Everything. But, you were amazing. You were absolutely amazing and supportive. And then there was a party. It was a premiere party because, yes, Comics Unleashed got the 1130 time slot. I flew out there, my date was my daughter. I come in and and I was again, I I'm easily barraged and unfocused. And you came up to me and I said, oh my gosh, I'm so glad to see you.
00:05:43:28 - 00:06:07:24
Helen Keaney
Like a familiar face. I was so and then you said, go on the red carpet. I go, that's for the famous people. And you're like, you were on the show. You go on the red carpet and there was some compassion in that moment that I crossed that I wish everybody in the industry had. And it was that moment that I wanted to point out to you at the beginning of our podcast that I most appreciated.
00:06:07:24 - 00:06:26:18
Helen Keaney
And I'm sure that you're like that all the time, but I want you to know, on the other end, for people that like, what's going on? It it you basically gave me permission to do something that was amazing because I walked out there and at that exact second, Byron Allen happened to come out, and then someone said, get a picture with your daughter.
00:06:26:18 - 00:06:39:01
Helen Keaney
And I have this picture of me, Byron Allen, and my daughter. Nice. You told me to go on the red carpet at that moment, so I love that. Always that wonderful and compassionate. But was that where you had a couple drinks?
00:06:39:08 - 00:06:46:26
Vanessa Graddick
It was, I think I mean, I don't think we got enough drink tickets for me to be loopy that night, but I.
00:06:46:28 - 00:06:49:21
Helen Keaney
Was a lot of FOMO. It was it was good, a good party.
00:06:49:21 - 00:07:09:07
Vanessa Graddick
I think it was a fun party. I think what it is, is I just I want to be the person that I wish that I had when I first. Not that she first started, but just in general, because I'm not good at promoting myself. I never have been. I've had friends who I've designated to where I go to events like that.
00:07:09:10 - 00:07:26:29
Vanessa Graddick
They're my friend. But I'm like, today you're my publicist because you have to make me take the pictures because I'm the same way. I will avoid it. As much as I love red carpets, like Matt says that I am addicted to them, I do love them because I make me feel important, but not enough to try to get on them, if that makes sense.
00:07:27:01 - 00:07:46:22
Helen Keaney
I you know that to me it makes perfect sense. Oh, because I feel like literally like if you hadn't said that, I would not have gone on that red carpet. I felt like I was going to someone else's party. Yeah. And that I went because my to be honest, my husband said, you should go to that. You should fly back to LA, you should go to that.
00:07:46:29 - 00:08:05:05
Helen Keaney
You need to connect. That's you've got to connect. Because a year ago I stopped. I had a choice of continue on a job that I was doing in TV, and I decided to go back to standup full time a year ago. And it's really hard, especially when you're a thousand years old, like I am, to reenter whatever business.
00:08:05:07 - 00:08:07:23
Helen Keaney
This is how old I am. This is the first one.
00:08:07:26 - 00:08:22:14
Vanessa Graddick
I know how old you are and still and you look great. And that's how the I don't really age well. You are breaking all the stereotypes because you look amazing. You're. We were backstage watching you on comics on least like what is happening?
00:08:22:17 - 00:08:41:27
Helen Keaney
You're very you're very kind. I think I just have I it was so you know. Yes, I did Eve at the improv and Stand up spotlight and Girls Night Out and I did like a all these cable shows of the 90s. I hadn't done stand up on TV in a long time. You know what? I think the last time I was on stand up on TV was a show called Nick mom on.
00:08:41:27 - 00:08:45:13
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, I remember that Nickelodeon. Yeah, yeah, I remember that.
00:08:45:13 - 00:09:12:01
Helen Keaney
I don't remember what year it was, but that was maybe a decade earlier. This I don't remember, at least. At least. So it's been a long time. So I was very nervous. And you were so you, you have achieved your goal of being that person because that really stuck with me and I, you know, and as somebody who was in Florida at the time and now even even now I'm in Chicago, I was that like major, major club zanies like big, big clubs.
00:09:12:03 - 00:09:29:25
Helen Keaney
And then, you know, from Comics Elite, oh, from Comics Unleashed. Oh, and the comics were like, oh, and it's given me this little bit of like this confidence and like, the other comics are, oh, you know what? I tried to get on that show. I know, like, how did you get on that? You know, like, there's a little bit of, like, just a smidge.
00:09:29:29 - 00:09:33:06
Vanessa Graddick
Yes. Of you. You have to keep it.
00:09:33:09 - 00:09:35:05
Helen Keaney
I don't know how long it's going to last.
00:09:35:07 - 00:09:53:01
Vanessa Graddick
Well, I mean, the reality is, is that comics has been on for 20 years. It's been on the air for 20 years. We're now shooting obviously new seasons, but it's still it's like that little fraternity or club that you want to be a part of. It's still like a badge of honor or a rite of passage to be on the show.
00:09:53:08 - 00:09:58:04
Vanessa Graddick
So it is a big deal. And especially now that we're on CBS, in the.
00:09:58:04 - 00:09:58:29
Helen Keaney
1130.
00:09:59:06 - 00:10:02:09
Vanessa Graddick
At 1130 in the Colbert spot.
00:10:02:12 - 00:10:25:21
Helen Keaney
And you guys just came in number one in the most important demographic. And I read that. Yes, congratulations on that, because that's a big deal with advertisers. If people listening don't know, they look and see the age demographic. By the way, it's not the age demographic. I mean, it's the demographic that is important America. And because they're the people who buy more stuff, although I spend a shit ton of money, I have to say that part.
00:10:25:26 - 00:10:31:24
Vanessa Graddick
I said, I think I'm out of the demographic. I think when they said it, I was like, I might just break.
00:10:31:27 - 00:10:34:22
Helen Keaney
Yeah, exactly. I'm like, that's left lifted. That demographic. There's like.
00:10:34:22 - 00:10:35:23
Vanessa Graddick
Right.
00:10:35:25 - 00:10:42:24
Helen Keaney
But but that's a big deal that you, you that show has moved there. So was there like a big celebration for that as well?
00:10:42:27 - 00:11:01:20
Vanessa Graddick
Not a big celebration. We just because we're back taping. So the machine is constantly moving. But we are very cognizant of and of the blessing that it is to be like number one and keeping comedy and late night, and nothing against the late night shows that are there. I just miss when they had more comics on there.
00:11:01:22 - 00:11:21:01
Vanessa Graddick
They just they used to have comedy at least a couple times a week, and now it's so few and far between that this is the only place that you can really get true comedy. We're so focused on the movie stars and the politics and all the things where some people just want to have fun, and we're excited to bring that to people.
00:11:21:03 - 00:11:25:17
Helen Keaney
And also every single episode there's a female comic.
00:11:25:19 - 00:11:26:14
Vanessa Graddick
Yes.
00:11:26:16 - 00:11:36:24
Helen Keaney
And that is something that I, I mean, that is it's a big deal that there's a space I know everybody comics, we call it the girl chair. I'm sure you've heard that.
00:11:36:27 - 00:11:39:00
Vanessa Graddick
I mean, yeah.
00:11:39:02 - 00:11:57:25
Helen Keaney
Yeah. Okay. So yeah, I, I did call my friends. I'm going in the girl chair. So there's a setup where by reality sets and then the woman comic sits to his right I think. And yes. And I was you know what what I saw the other female comics that were in that chair like I think maybe read the Rita Rudner was in it.
00:11:58:00 - 00:11:58:16
Helen Keaney
And then Rita.
00:11:58:16 - 00:11:59:25
Vanessa Graddick
Rudner.
00:11:59:27 - 00:12:14:24
Helen Keaney
Tammy Piscatella would say, but who's going to be on this podcast? She's got a date. Yeah, we're going to shoot. And it was just like, I was like, just to be included in that group because it's it's not everybody who's on the show and not every person who's ever done it. And all right, I have so many things to talk to you about.
00:12:14:24 - 00:12:16:11
Helen Keaney
I've got to focus.
00:12:16:13 - 00:12:17:02
Vanessa Graddick
Okay. Do you.
00:12:17:02 - 00:12:23:16
Helen Keaney
Talk? Because I went on your website and I wanted to see. When you're coming to Chicago, what do you tour?
00:12:23:18 - 00:12:47:11
Vanessa Graddick
So I go on the road. It's not that often, if I'm being honest, because my job keeps me here because we tape every single week. If I go on the road, a lot of times I go with Loni Love sometimes. Oh, wow. So. But now she's off with Martin. It just it really just depends. I'm in Vegas a lot at the Comedy Cellar.
00:12:47:14 - 00:12:59:22
Vanessa Graddick
I just got back from, New York doing the comedy sellers out there, and it's just kind of where I'm booked if I'm booked at all. But I'm not actively touring now. That was a long way to say no. Okay.
00:12:59:23 - 00:13:04:18
Helen Keaney
But do you do do you do sets around town like at the. Yes. Around town. Yeah.
00:13:04:18 - 00:13:05:17
Vanessa Graddick
I'm always at.
00:13:05:19 - 00:13:19:18
Helen Keaney
Ones, you know, because I hear like I listen to a lot of podcasts of comedians that there's like the typewriter and then the, you know, The Crow and the there's all these different. It's not just the Laugh Factory and the improv and the Comedy Store.
00:13:19:20 - 00:13:27:01
Vanessa Graddick
So primarily I'm at Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach. That is my favorite, favorite club of all clubs.
00:13:27:03 - 00:13:28:26
Helen Keaney
I love I love that place.
00:13:28:28 - 00:13:48:07
Vanessa Graddick
And then I'm at the Hollywood in the Long Beach, Long Beach Laugh Factory a lot, and then I just do like independent shows. I have friends call me up and say, I'm doing a show here, or there, and then I'll go. And I also produce a couple shows. One show that I do, probably once a quarter, is at a high rise building downtown LA, just for the residents.
00:13:48:07 - 00:13:51:02
Vanessa Graddick
So I started doing that a little bit too.
00:13:51:04 - 00:13:56:07
Helen Keaney
Oh, okay. Just for the people that live there, is it like a. Yeah, community.
00:13:56:13 - 00:13:59:12
Vanessa Graddick
It's just oh, oh, oh it's there. It's because I did a.
00:13:59:12 - 00:14:01:08
Helen Keaney
Lot of that in Florida for the.
00:14:01:10 - 00:14:26:27
Vanessa Graddick
Where downtown. These are okay. They're the important demographic who have money and they're paying and absorbing an amount for these apartments or condos. And then they just part of one of their perks of being there is that each building has an entertainment budget. And so they do things for the residents. So it's like, I know you're paying an arm and a leg for rent, but look, you get orders and comedy.
00:14:26:29 - 00:14:27:18
Helen Keaney
Oh, wow.
00:14:27:18 - 00:14:28:08
Vanessa Graddick
That's so.
00:14:28:08 - 00:14:41:15
Helen Keaney
That's amazing. I love I love that, so you're that's what you have, like, new jokes. You'll go and you'll do those, like, you'll try it at the Laugh Factory and the. What is your joke writing process?
00:14:41:17 - 00:15:08:18
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, that is that comes up a lot. Which is funny. I don't have one. I'm literally, I live my life, and whatever's happening in my life, that's what I bring to the stage. And the first couple times, like, I have friends, so they'll write it out and they'll keep writing until they think it's funny. I'll go on stage and do it and see if there's something there, and if I get a chuckle, or if sometimes I'll get a real laugh.
00:15:08:21 - 00:15:15:09
Vanessa Graddick
But I'm like, okay, a chuckle next time. It's going to be a real laugh. And I just kind of build on stage for whatever's happened in my life.
00:15:15:12 - 00:15:30:11
Helen Keaney
Yeah, because I'm, as I asked different people this question. Women, by the way, I've only had women on this podcast, I guess, because that's all who I'm interested in talking to. But hey, someday I might have a male on. So I don't want to say that it's, you know, exclusively.
00:15:30:13 - 00:15:32:21
Vanessa Graddick
They have enough. They're fine. They they have they.
00:15:32:21 - 00:15:45:28
Helen Keaney
Get plenty, they're good, but but, you know, I, I personally am not I find it harder to do a five minute set than I do to do a 45 minute set. Do you how do you feel?
00:15:46:00 - 00:16:11:00
Vanessa Graddick
I agree, because I think so. What is it? Oh, shoot. On Friday I actually submit it because I'm trying to do more stand up instead of getting pigeonholed into being just the producer. So I submitted to the Don't Tell comedy competition and I'm actually doing that on Friday, and it's a seven minutes that and I'm like, oh, was the last time, like, what do I do for seven minutes?
00:16:11:00 - 00:16:33:16
Vanessa Graddick
Because the pressure is to have the PMS or laugh, permit it was seven minutes. So it's more pressure to go to punch, punch, punch. And I tend to tell stories. So you just have to make sure that every sentence has some sort of punch line. Whereas when it's 45 minutes, you can take the first ten to get into, like you, if there's a dip in the middle, they'll forget about it by the end when it comes back up.
00:16:33:16 - 00:16:37:21
Vanessa Graddick
But seven, they have to remember every single one of those seconds.
00:16:37:23 - 00:16:48:03
Helen Keaney
Yeah. And if those of you are listening or fans of comedy, there are ones that are even shorter, like, Star Search, which I think it's like, oh yeah, two is that 2 minutes or 3 minutes of ungodly.
00:16:48:05 - 00:16:48:21
Vanessa Graddick
It might be.
00:16:48:21 - 00:16:50:19
Helen Keaney
Short. Like I remember.
00:16:50:19 - 00:16:52:11
Vanessa Graddick
Some ones where it was 90s.
00:16:52:18 - 00:17:10:10
Helen Keaney
Oh God, I it is that is, that is to me that's harder than you know, going out and doing an hour to see. That's so I think that's so hard. The pressure is on it because if you your first moment, if that doesn't hit. But in seven minutes that's a little bit more and.
00:17:10:12 - 00:17:11:09
Vanessa Graddick
It's better.
00:17:11:12 - 00:17:16:03
Helen Keaney
Yeah. And but I love that you're doing it. How do you feel about comedy competitions?
00:17:16:05 - 00:17:32:00
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, I hate them. I hate them with every fiber of my being. It it's one of those things where I had I had to get out of my own way because I'm like, well, it's just one person can see me. How are people going to see me if I'm not out there being seen? So that's why I did it.
00:17:32:02 - 00:17:37:28
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. Because comedy is so, subjective. Like.
00:17:38:00 - 00:17:38:15
Helen Keaney
No kidding.
00:17:38:15 - 00:17:58:08
Vanessa Graddick
Everything is funny to everybody. And competitions, I think if they're looking for a particular type of comic or those judges have an affinity to a particular type of comic, you won't go, oh, I've done competitions forever. I did one where I knew for a fact, and I won't say the name of it, but to this day there has never been a female winner.
00:17:58:10 - 00:18:12:05
Vanessa Graddick
And I like I know that they don't really rock with women comedians like that, but I did it anyway. I was like, I'm going to be the one. I was not the one, nor the two. I was whatever.
00:18:12:07 - 00:18:20:10
Helen Keaney
Oh yeah, I mean, like I opened for Howie Mandel maybe two years ago. He was, by the way, the nicest human being that's ever lived, and.
00:18:20:10 - 00:18:21:24
Vanessa Graddick
One of my favorite human beings on earth.
00:18:21:27 - 00:18:29:08
Helen Keaney
Just the sweetest and brilliant on stage, like, hilarious. And he was like, you should be on. I can't remember.
00:18:29:08 - 00:18:30:00
Vanessa Graddick
AGT.
00:18:30:03 - 00:18:48:10
Helen Keaney
Yes, America's Got Talent. I couldn't even remember the name of the show you should be on, Mary J. And I thought, I thought that is the worst thing I saw in a million years. It would be. It's like some toddler sets their dog on fire. They're going to win. You know, it's that kind of like spectacle, you know, throwing whatever.
00:18:48:13 - 00:18:59:17
Helen Keaney
And then a comic comes out and like, you have to have like some, you know, thing about you that, you know, they have to wheel you out there.
00:18:59:19 - 00:19:00:17
Vanessa Graddick
And then you.
00:19:00:17 - 00:19:14:18
Helen Keaney
Have to do some kind of thing where they look at you going, oh, and, and yeah, he said to me, you know, see you since you were shopping channel host, you should do it like you're. And I was like, like and I was like, oh, he's by the way.
00:19:14:18 - 00:19:15:01
Vanessa Graddick
It's.
00:19:15:05 - 00:19:17:11
Helen Keaney
The nicest human being on the planet.
00:19:17:14 - 00:19:22:07
Vanessa Graddick
I love him so much. I work with him. I'm funny you should ask a lot. I love him so much.
00:19:22:09 - 00:19:26:07
Helen Keaney
Oh that's right okay, I yeah, that's right, of course.
00:19:26:09 - 00:19:42:08
Vanessa Graddick
But that show and I had so many friends who had great success from it, they then when. But the EP of our show Jodi Miller was on there. Oh. You're lynch Jackie. Fabulous. Oh, I treat your last Larson like there's so many people who did.
00:19:42:11 - 00:19:44:27
Helen Keaney
Preacher Larson had got a big bump from that show.
00:19:45:03 - 00:19:57:17
Vanessa Graddick
Yes. So I think that there is some, there's definitely benefits to it. I don't have the self-esteem to do a justice.
00:19:57:20 - 00:20:01:16
Helen Keaney
I don't think I could watch Terry Crews out of the corner of my eyes going.
00:20:01:18 - 00:20:02:18
Vanessa Graddick
You could do it.
00:20:02:21 - 00:20:19:06
Helen Keaney
I don't. I was like, I just think it's it's not a great I don't think it's a great, you know, standups just, you know, you walk out there by yourself and talk I don't know, I've seen I you're right. I have seen people get a bump from that for sure. Yeah.
00:20:19:08 - 00:20:21:16
Vanessa Graddick
But I think Jackie did for sure. Jackie. Fabulous.
00:20:21:21 - 00:20:28:01
Helen Keaney
Yeah, but I'm not. Also I'm not, although she's not like a super clean comedian either.
00:20:28:03 - 00:20:49:06
Vanessa Graddick
No, you just have to be. You just have to be TV clean. And like, even with comics, on least I tell people, most of the time my job is just teaching comics how to say dick without saying like, I think you just you can still have adult content on network television. It just you have to take out the gratuity.
00:20:49:09 - 00:21:13:09
Helen Keaney
So let's, let's since of course, you are a producer on comics and everybody listening to this is hoping either they've been on it or they want to be on it, or they want to know what's it like to be on it. What has anyone gotten the show got on there, gone out there. And it's something has happened and it didn't quite.
00:21:13:11 - 00:21:39:12
Vanessa Graddick
I think there are a few people who have their nerves have gotten in the way because everybody's on there. We've vetted. They're all funny. It's just sometimes something could be going on or, someone's sick or whatever. So. But I don't think there's been anyone that we were just like, I'm trying to think there was all the stand out stuff for me is the funny stuff.
00:21:39:14 - 00:22:10:03
Helen Keaney
Right? Yeah. Well, there's a I'm just there's a lot going on when you do that show. There's cameras, there's a huge audience that is very responsive. They're, you know, it's their job to be responsive and they're doing their job. They're fantastic. And there's, you know, camera lights. It's if you've never been on a TV show before, I think it to me, I think it's actually harder than walking out and doing a set on television because you have to listen to the other comedians and, and really laugh and be a part of it.
00:22:10:09 - 00:22:30:04
Helen Keaney
You can't just sit there like, okay, I'm next. I'm going to hold my breath till I get to do my thing. You you have to be, I think that's one of my favorite things about doing that show is meeting the other comedians. And I had never worked with, Greg Romero Wilson before. Yeah. And, Ron Joslin, Darius Bennett with the other comedians are all hilarious.
00:22:30:12 - 00:22:48:05
Helen Keaney
And to this day, I like poor Greg Wilson. I like everything he does. I like comment on it. Tender messages, love like you're so fatty, I love you. I just, you know, because I loved meeting and he was like so energetic and I just, that to me, the fun part was like having these amazing comedians entertain me.
00:22:48:07 - 00:22:49:02
Helen Keaney
Like, I.
00:22:49:02 - 00:23:14:05
Vanessa Graddick
Think I think you went in it with a perfect attitude of being engaged and active, listening and making sure that you were just involved in the show. Because if you're having fun, the audience is having fun. Where that, I guess, is one thing that's happened. We've had a few comics where when it's not on them, they're on their phone or they're stretching or yawning or just look like they can't be bothered.
00:23:14:07 - 00:23:25:26
Vanessa Graddick
And we're like, that's one is disrespectful. But it's also not good TV. Like, why would the people at home be engaged if the people on stage aren't engaged?
00:23:25:28 - 00:23:39:07
Helen Keaney
I, I agree 100%, but that could be I think to me, that's not knowing that you're on camera. I think that's. Yeah, I think they wouldn't do that if they figured like it's. And I know you tell everybody.
00:23:39:10 - 00:23:50:27
Vanessa Graddick
I'm like, thank you for speeches. I know I and Jody Peter, Tom we all say you are always on camera. They just don't care. Yeah. Okay.
00:23:50:29 - 00:24:05:21
Helen Keaney
Yeah. It was a very like I also felt like every joke was going to work because of the supportive environment of the show. I was just worried that when, Byron said the line that sets it up that I was going to I had to do the right joke at the right time.
00:24:05:27 - 00:24:06:16
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah.
00:24:06:19 - 00:24:07:06
Helen Keaney
You know.
00:24:07:06 - 00:24:25:17
Vanessa Graddick
And I think that is where people get nervous. But the reality is we're all professionals. If and I think I told you this too, I was like, if you mess up, it doesn't have to be verbatim. Just you should hear something else out. Just answer the question to the best of your ability. Be funny and then we'll do something else like.
00:24:25:19 - 00:24:47:23
Helen Keaney
So let me ask you this, Vanessa, you're get your own show. It's the Vanessa show. Tell me. Okay, does that show and when are you going to pitch it? Because we're not. Turner. Focus. Now that I know what you're not good at, we're going to make you good at it in this podcast. Because I in my mind, you're in a great opportunity to pitch your show.
00:24:47:25 - 00:24:51:24
Vanessa Graddick
Well. Thank you. Right.
00:24:51:26 - 00:25:21:23
Vanessa Graddick
So I think about that often. Right. And I, I vacillate between things because I started out in theater. So I love acting. I just haven't been doing a lot of it. But I also have this love affair with comedy, and I want to mix the two. So it would probably be a dark comedy somewhere. I would be like Mariska Hargitay because she's my hero.
00:25:21:25 - 00:25:22:12
Vanessa Graddick
And so.
00:25:22:12 - 00:25:23:27
Helen Keaney
Sometimes.
00:25:24:00 - 00:25:33:04
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah, solving crimes I'd probably also commit committing them, like, we can't put this, we can't put the whole idea out there, because if I see it on TV, then I'm gonna punch somebody in the throat.
00:25:33:06 - 00:25:35:04
Helen Keaney
But it's not. Yeah.
00:25:35:06 - 00:25:56:02
Vanessa Graddick
But I do. I do want to do a dark comedy. And I was actually just talking to somebody about that earlier today. I have somebody who I work really well with, and we had somebody put us together to work together, and I was like, why are we just doing this for other people? Let's let's sit down and talk about a project and try to actually exactly write something for ourselves.
00:25:56:06 - 00:26:07:25
Vanessa Graddick
And then we can even go back to this person who probably has more connections than we do and say, now let's talk about this. But I think it's just investing in myself is what I need to do. Check that out.
00:26:07:27 - 00:26:26:05
Helen Keaney
One of the reasons I wanted to do this podcast is because I've been through so many decades of show business, and so many connections. I felt like I had some advice for anyone new, and I feel like you're the epitome of the advice that I would give, which is you have to have more than one plate spinning at all times.
00:26:26:07 - 00:26:32:00
Helen Keaney
Yes. Don't. Do you agree with that? That is my number one advice I give the kids out there and.
00:26:32:03 - 00:26:58:26
Vanessa Graddick
Listen, what are my plates producing? Stand up. Oh, I if I forget about this, I do have it right in my face. I wrote a book. I'm currently writing another book. Just, you always have to have something going on. You have to have merch and things like. Like, yes, there's a constantly juggling, constant juggling act.
00:26:58:28 - 00:27:22:09
Helen Keaney
Right. And you, you're doing. Exactly, in my opinion, for longevity. Yeah. Because, you may say, you know, somebody just starting out, maybe you're dumb, stand up for two years and you're like, well, I'm not gonna do all that. I'm just trying to write my. You should always be thinking about maybe take an acting class also, or maybe, you know, because I all of a sudden I was on tour and the tour fell apart.
00:27:22:09 - 00:27:34:24
Helen Keaney
My whole income was. And I was like, oh, yeah, I have this other career, I'm a TV host. And then I went to that. I just pivoted, you know, you have to be able to pivot because showbusiness pivots, doesn't it?
00:27:34:24 - 00:27:56:09
Vanessa Graddick
All the time. And it's when. So there were two times one was obviously Covid when everything was shut down. And then also, we just went on hiatus with the strikes and everything. We were on hiatus for two years. So rather than just get stuck and end up homeless, I used to bartend. So I went back to I went back to bartending.
00:27:56:09 - 00:28:16:25
Vanessa Graddick
I also have a master's degree in social work, so I can go do like community stuff or, they'll work at a home for a little bit if I need to. And also just what I didn't want to do at this big age. I hate social media, but you also have to learn how to edit. You have to, you know, social media.
00:28:16:25 - 00:28:19:16
Vanessa Graddick
You have to do all of those things.
00:28:19:18 - 00:28:27:09
Helen Keaney
Okay, I'm going to jump in with some advice for you, which is you don't have to learn how to edit. You can get other people to do that for you.
00:28:27:12 - 00:28:28:08
Vanessa Graddick
Oh that's money.
00:28:28:08 - 00:28:37:23
Helen Keaney
Yeah, I know, but there's ways to have that. For example, my producer Jeremy is my bitch. He does everything and I give that guy nothing.
00:28:37:26 - 00:28:44:03
Vanessa Graddick
Jeremy. Jeremy, I love you, I love you. Don't let her treat you like this, Eric.
00:28:44:06 - 00:28:47:05
Helen Keaney
Okay? I do give him the entire podcast, but.
00:28:47:05 - 00:28:48:03
Vanessa Graddick
I get.
00:28:48:05 - 00:28:50:27
Helen Keaney
Him and his partners have a podcast network that they're launching.
00:28:50:27 - 00:28:51:21
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, nice.
00:28:51:23 - 00:28:53:03
Helen Keaney
Yeah. So I guess I go.
00:28:53:04 - 00:28:56:22
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, well, Jeremy and I need to talk because I got to listen.
00:28:56:24 - 00:29:10:27
Helen Keaney
Well, you should, because he's launching a podcast network and you would be amazing host of a of your own. And I know you do have your own podcast. Do you have a podcast? I saw that I knew a thousand things I read about you that you're from Minnesota and that you have a podcast and you wrote a book.
00:29:10:29 - 00:29:32:11
Vanessa Graddick
So I, I produce, I currently am producing a podcast, a podcast for Ida Rodriguez. It's called Saying What You Mean I and so we, we just won the Amazon Award for best, podcast situation, which was pretty dope. So that's amazing. But I'm behind the scenes on that one. I did I was a guest on one show, but yeah, that's we're very proud of that.
00:29:32:14 - 00:29:33:06
Vanessa Graddick
That's grassroots.
00:29:33:08 - 00:29:39:28
Helen Keaney
Let's let's give you your own podcast. Let's have you be the star. Let's get you a theme song. Jeremy, I want you to work on that right now.
00:29:40:00 - 00:29:42:17
Vanessa Graddick
Oh, I do love a theme song, but.
00:29:42:17 - 00:30:00:25
Helen Keaney
But you. I think that you have to. Yes. In this world. So, by the way, from this podcast, you will be getting clips to put on your social media. Okay? Jeremy's going to professionally edit those and give them they will be high end. And I've also given him a picture of you and I that I took at that premiere party that he will be on.
00:30:00:28 - 00:30:02:17
Helen Keaney
Oh yes. Yes.
00:30:02:19 - 00:30:05:04
Vanessa Graddick
You send me the picture, man.
00:30:05:06 - 00:30:08:06
Helen Keaney
I will, I'll text you it. It's proof of how wonderful you are.
00:30:08:08 - 00:30:09:17
Vanessa Graddick
Because it's.
00:30:09:18 - 00:30:34:27
Helen Keaney
You like holding me as I'm terrified of that event. And, but but when I say, like, there's ways to get help with social media, there's ways like, I know it's really expensive. Like, I looked into getting, you know, you can spend $5,000 a month to have somebody run your social media, but or to edit clips, you can go to, like Fiverr, those websites, you just get somebody, you know, maybe $50 and you know, there's there's ways to get help.
00:30:34:27 - 00:30:57:28
Helen Keaney
Because I also believe that if there's something you're good at because I feel like the creative mind isn't necessarily the same mind that's good at, you know, learning a computer program for editing, you know, it's it might be a different, completely different skill, you know? Yeah. But your skills are all under the same umbrella writing. So that's standup, you know, and producing.
00:30:57:28 - 00:31:08:15
Helen Keaney
And then, you know, in front of the camera acting like that's kind of one brain, I think. And I think that the tech stuff is a different thing. That's my opinion.
00:31:08:17 - 00:31:35:08
Vanessa Graddick
It is. And I think I can't Matt can't I have no desire to learn how to, to do like the, the big things, but I can I can muddle my way around cap put to put something together. And every time I learn a new thing, I get so excited, like, oh, you can do it. And that was so I'm not like trying to be an expert, but just enough to passively put out content.
00:31:35:10 - 00:31:51:09
Helen Keaney
Yeah, and I would like to I, I'm actually curious what you think of this. What do you think about all the comics that are doing AI posters? How horrible do they look in your opinion? Am I leading the witness? Wait. I'm not. I need to ask the question a little more. But what's your opinion like? What do you feel like?
00:31:51:09 - 00:31:58:28
Helen Keaney
Where do you stand on that? There's so freaking busy. There are terror. I guess my opinion, I think.
00:31:59:00 - 00:32:06:12
Vanessa Graddick
I don't think the problem is I, I think the problem is what people think is cute.
00:32:06:14 - 00:32:07:25
Helen Keaney
Oh, okay.
00:32:07:26 - 00:32:38:21
Vanessa Graddick
Because okay, I, I does what you ask it to do. So I'm, I'm not an artist by any means. Right. But I can I can sketch out an idea of something. I've done that and then put it into AI and say, can you make this look professional? And then I got back my vision. So when you see all these busy, like busy ass fliers, which they are doing entirely too much, I think they asked for that because you can do it just like an outfit when you go outside.
00:32:38:24 - 00:32:42:26
Vanessa Graddick
Who is the Coco Chanel said, always take out. Take off one thing before you think. Salary.
00:32:42:27 - 00:32:44:09
Helen Keaney
Yeah, one thing.
00:32:44:12 - 00:33:04:14
Vanessa Graddick
When you see the flier, you can say, hey, chat. Hey, Claude. Hey, Gemini. This is too much. Fix it. And they just they see they see this vomit of shit and they're like, yeah, that's going to get them. It's not. It's an operator error is not AI is fault.
00:33:04:17 - 00:33:22:21
Helen Keaney
Okay. I think you are 1,000% right. My husband actually works in a computer tech business implementing AI, and he's always telling me that exact thing is that you have to tell it what you want. And it'll do what you want. So now I've realized that it's it's not A's fault. It's somebody who's looking at that poster going, you know what, I like that.
00:33:22:21 - 00:33:30:19
Helen Keaney
That's. Yeah, that's just the right amount of, of, you know. Yeah. It's like graphic design vomit.
00:33:30:22 - 00:33:42:19
Vanessa Graddick
I, I and I didn't know that this was such a big debate until I started seeing it all over the internet. Like, you're going to play with these AI posters. And I was like, no, it's people's minds are too busy.
00:33:42:21 - 00:33:44:21
Helen Keaney
I've learned something. I've just learned.
00:33:44:24 - 00:33:44:27
Vanessa Graddick
I.
00:33:44:27 - 00:34:00:13
Helen Keaney
Yeah, I've just because I'm so afraid to use the AI because I think that's going to look like, it's just too much. It's too much. All right. I have so many things to ask you. I want to pivot to selling tickets. So you say you produce the show. So every comic in the country is going through the same thing.
00:34:00:13 - 00:34:06:20
Helen Keaney
Like this weekend I'm at a comedy club in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Not that I'm bragging.
00:34:06:22 - 00:34:08:22
Vanessa Graddick
I mean, I, I know it's fine what.
00:34:08:27 - 00:34:23:05
Helen Keaney
It is, I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm going to go apple picking and, you know, but it's going to be great. But I, I, it's my job. Like, I get paid like $3 if no one buys tickets and then I get paid $5 million if a bunch of people buy tickets.
00:34:23:07 - 00:34:24:06
Vanessa Graddick
And,
00:34:24:08 - 00:34:41:27
Helen Keaney
I remember when I started, if it was a club that had a good reputation, people would come to catch a rising star. They knew everyone that they booked was going to be amazing. And that is a paradigm shift in my 30 plus year career as a stand up. You're much younger than me, so maybe this is the way it's always been.
00:34:41:27 - 00:34:48:24
Helen Keaney
Maybe you haven't been in, you know? But what do you think about that shift?
00:34:48:27 - 00:35:09:03
Vanessa Graddick
I think it's very irritating because and I work at all different types of clubs. So like comedy and magic has a wonderful reputation of having a good show every single night. So they just have their famous ten comic show where you don't necessarily know who's going to be on the show. You don't know who's going to show up.
00:35:09:03 - 00:35:29:09
Vanessa Graddick
Same thing with The Comedy Store in the O.R. you never know who you're going to catch, but people go because they have that reputation. Unfortunately for myself and people who are on the road, tickets are selling because people don't have money, and then the clubs aren't putting in like they used to. Like the clubs aren't, paying for radio ads.
00:35:29:12 - 00:35:51:22
Vanessa Graddick
They're not paying for books on social media. They're putting it all on the talent, which I think it's difficult because it's like it's our job to bring our fans to the show. Right. But I think the club's job is to bring new people to us, to become fans at the same time. And now it's becoming all on the artists.
00:35:51:22 - 00:35:57:24
Vanessa Graddick
Instead of a collaboration between the club and the artists.
00:35:57:26 - 00:36:22:26
Helen Keaney
I love that. I love that insight because I haven't hurt. I've asked this question before and I haven't heard it like you, you the reason why the club, it's bringing new people to introduce them to the artist and then the other and the artists bringing new people introduced into the club. I think that because of the economy and that gas prices so high, they just had a rate hike the other day was the rate hike.
00:36:22:26 - 00:36:48:20
Helen Keaney
And that's not going to help because people paying off their credit cards and all everything it's it's it's there's never been more comics wanting to be in front of an audience than, than now. It's like thousands like it's millions and everywhere there are. And there's also, I think, too many, too many, like you can go to, like they'll be a big major club in town, but you could also go to the, the you know, the bar or the BFO.
00:36:48:20 - 00:36:57:03
Helen Keaney
Brady's this or that or the bowling alley or the pizza place or the. So it's kind of dispersed. And a lot of those are all free shows.
00:36:57:05 - 00:36:58:09
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah.
00:36:58:11 - 00:36:59:02
Helen Keaney
So how do you.
00:36:59:02 - 00:37:02:04
Vanessa Graddick
Because their shows go ahead I'm sorry.
00:37:02:07 - 00:37:05:24
Helen Keaney
No no no. It's like so how do you get people to pay as well. That's going to say.
00:37:05:26 - 00:37:24:21
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. And there's I was looking at have some show I was on, maybe it was with, Loni Love and the club decided the ticket price and we still had people come out, which was great, but we don't know the ticket price sometimes going and we're just going to perform. And then you have to look at it's like $47 plus a two drink minimum.
00:37:24:21 - 00:37:38:26
Vanessa Graddick
What do you make us, $20. So we just sell this thing out and like it's people just don't have money. And it's unfortunate because we don't have money though. So we need we need the money. Right. Yeah.
00:37:39:03 - 00:37:57:15
Helen Keaney
Yeah. And they do the, the clubs I don't want to say every single club because when I lived in L.A. for many years, I would work in Vegas every three months there and there was all the clubs I worked at have now been, demolition, like, I worked at, Harrah's had an improv there for many, many years.
00:37:57:15 - 00:38:07:08
Vanessa Graddick
That's why I love that oyster bar downstairs was my favorite thing. I would go there every single day for every one of the 14 shows we had to do at that. Harrah's. I love it, loved it.
00:38:07:08 - 00:38:28:01
Helen Keaney
I love the guy who ran it. There was a guy who managed it, who I and Carl, and I loved everything about it. And then the comedy stop at the trop I worked at I worked at Bally's. Bally's isn't there. Comedy Store at the drop it. But but you didn't have to worry about an audience. Now, here's something that I do for a living is I work on cruise ships because you also don't have to sell tickets.
00:38:28:03 - 00:38:36:21
Helen Keaney
Would you be open to doing that kind of work? Probably not. Right. Because your got your TV gig.
00:38:36:23 - 00:39:01:08
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. I vacillate with, cruise ships. I'm, I'm at that point where I do want to be on the road, but I don't want to be away for chunks of time, if that makes sense. I just, I feel like I would be very claustrophobic. And then also, you guys work so hard and have to have like a different set of I would do specialty cruises.
00:39:01:10 - 00:39:09:09
Vanessa Graddick
How about that? That's where I would, I would do like if the, festival is sea or I could join up through.
00:39:09:10 - 00:39:11:11
Helen Keaney
So we just did the Jazz Cruise.
00:39:11:11 - 00:39:17:06
Vanessa Graddick
The Jazz Cruise. Yes. And I'm very mad at him because I was not invited. You were not invited? Yeah.
00:39:17:09 - 00:39:34:03
Helen Keaney
That's that look like. Oh, well, I'll tell you, I've got the ones I have coming up with NCL. I have to do 45 minutes clean and then a completely different 45 minute, which can be a little bit spicier. And then also sometimes they don't tell you till you get there. There's a welcome aboard show which is another minutes.
00:39:34:05 - 00:39:34:24
Helen Keaney
And what that the.
00:39:34:24 - 00:39:36:11
Vanessa Graddick
One with the kids.
00:39:36:13 - 00:39:53:15
Helen Keaney
Yeah. Everybody. Kids. Yeah. Everybody. That's everybody. Like literally children in the audience. And then I did a ship over Christmas last year and they said when I got there, you know what, this a lot of kids here just do the two 45 minute sets that are different, just do both of them clean. And I was like, oh, okay, no problem.
00:39:53:17 - 00:40:00:02
Helen Keaney
Meanwhile, my head's exploding because, that is a completely different ask.
00:40:00:04 - 00:40:09:28
Vanessa Graddick
Yes. And and you guys, you all work so hard and I have so many friends who are in cruise ships, and I that aren't. I don't think that I have the discipline.
00:40:10:00 - 00:40:28:22
Helen Keaney
Well, I will say you don't have to sell tickets though. There's no pressure. You know, there's 800 seat theater, 800 people pile in. Yeah, they walk out and another 800 people pile in for the, you know, seven and 9:00 show. So I do like that, I do I, I look for me personally, I like a variety. I like to do a little bit of each.
00:40:28:22 - 00:40:44:28
Helen Keaney
I'll do like 3 or 4 weeks a year on a ship, some clubs. And then I used to have, you know, but this other TV job which went away because they went chapter 11 and shut down through no fault of mine and but, but,
00:40:45:01 - 00:40:46:26
Vanessa Graddick
It's, it it it.
00:40:46:28 - 00:40:54:11
Helen Keaney
It is a way to like Vegas and cruise ships. You don't have to sell tickets, but every everything else. And then there's other people selling out arenas.
00:40:54:13 - 00:41:16:02
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. There's it's the disparity between all the comics is so crazy and there's so many of us and people think it's easy, which is why so many actors, when they're not working now, like, I'm just going to get on stage. I'm just going to I'll tell some jokes. I, I, you know how you'll feel this are.
00:41:16:04 - 00:41:20:11
Helen Keaney
You know, the name of this podcast is everything's funny.
00:41:20:14 - 00:41:23:02
Vanessa Graddick
If I.
00:41:23:05 - 00:41:31:17
Helen Keaney
I'm going to I'm going to pivot here because I know you started standup comedy when you heard some very scary news about your mom.
00:41:31:19 - 00:41:32:15
Vanessa Graddick
Yes.
00:41:32:17 - 00:41:48:09
Helen Keaney
And I believe that jumping off into comedy when you feel like you've got nothing to lose is the best way to start. I think that that was the universe. I mean, I'm, by the way, I. Your mom's okay, I think I read that.
00:41:48:12 - 00:41:49:23
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. So.
00:41:49:26 - 00:41:57:29
Helen Keaney
But but tell me about that. Like starting to do. I mean, if you want to talk about it, you don't want to talk about. Yes. I'm not talk about it.
00:41:58:01 - 00:42:01:08
Vanessa Graddick
Hell, this might be my sitcom one day. I'm talk about it. Yeah, yeah.
00:42:01:08 - 00:42:04:06
Helen Keaney
Let's talk about it. By the way, this is already trademarked, so no one.
00:42:04:06 - 00:42:28:05
Vanessa Graddick
To steal it. So, November 1st, 2006, my mom got diagnosed with breast cancer, and she was in Minnesota, where I'm from. I was still in LA. I just got to L.A.. I was here, maybe ten months. It wasn't even a year yet. But when I moved out here, it was by myself. Kind of like, you know, Chicago, where you don't have any friends.
00:42:28:08 - 00:42:51:14
Vanessa Graddick
So I was going to comedy clubs all the time, and I was front row. I was a girl. I do that and, at the same time, I was kind of absorbing this world. And I was getting to know the comics. I was getting to know the promoters, and I always was into acting. So I. And I started in theater, so performing wasn't the problem.
00:42:51:14 - 00:43:17:01
Vanessa Graddick
I was like, but do I really think I'm funny? Funny? And you know how people say, oh, you're so funny, you should start a comedy. It's different when it's a coworker thing. You're hearing it from actual comics. But I still was like, absolutely not. I'm good. Get the call. On November 1st, I was at work when I was still a social worker, and I told my supervisor, I said, I'm going to go home to process.
00:43:17:04 - 00:43:35:07
Vanessa Graddick
And I went home. And because I'm not a mature adult who processes the motions correctly, I started calling. There was a night at Sarah's, in North Hollywood, and they did it every Wednesday. It was a Wednesday. I call my friends who put on the show and I said, put me on stage tonight. And they were like, what?
00:43:35:07 - 00:43:59:05
Vanessa Graddick
I was like, I'm sad and I don't want to be. So put me on stage tonight. And I said, no matter what happens, no matter what I say, call my name. And I went to the club. I figured out like five minutes worth of shit to say about being a social worker. When I got there, a good friend of mine, now, Dean Edwards, I know he was upset out in New York.
00:43:59:05 - 00:44:22:19
Vanessa Graddick
He was up before me. Destroyed. He did 30 minutes. People were running around the room slapping me. This is the best person we've ever seen. Then they were like, okay, Vanessa, you're next. I said, oh, that's what we're going to do. Okay, cool. Oh my God. And another friend of mine, David Arnold, rest in peace. He was standing next to me.
00:44:22:19 - 00:44:36:10
Vanessa Graddick
He didn't know me from Adam, and he just knew I was next. And he was like, don't fuck it up. I was like, I say this, you know, he did. So I was like, is that a possibility? That's something that could happen.
00:44:36:12 - 00:44:43:17
Helen Keaney
I'm sure that inside, that was the funniest thing he's ever said in his life. Like, he probably giggled about that for no fucking.
00:44:43:19 - 00:44:47:02
Vanessa Graddick
We talked about it for years. Yeah. And that was.
00:44:47:05 - 00:44:49:06
Helen Keaney
That was so wrong.
00:44:49:09 - 00:45:08:29
Vanessa Graddick
So then I go up and I talked for five minutes. I talked about being a social worker. I like my first little three jokes. That off stage, people said I was funny. He they did come to me. He wasn't a complete jerk. He came to me after and said, oh my God, I had no idea that was your first time.
00:45:09:02 - 00:45:11:06
Vanessa Graddick
I'm sorry. Oh, okay.
00:45:11:07 - 00:45:14:07
Helen Keaney
I thought he knew. I was like, wow, I have no idea.
00:45:14:10 - 00:45:39:24
Vanessa Graddick
I was just sitting in the corner. I had just met these people. I never I didn't know Dean. I didn't know David. My buddy Louis and Kim Whitley hosted the room, but I knew the people who put it together. So it was Charles Patrick Gooch. So rest in peace. And, And then Carlton. So the two of them ran it, and I asked them if they could put me on the show, but none of the comedians knew who the hell I was.
00:45:39:26 - 00:45:42:19
Helen Keaney
So they thought you could have been doing it for forever. They didn't know.
00:45:42:21 - 00:45:51:10
Vanessa Graddick
They had no idea. Oh my God. And then. And then I never stopped. So I, I don't know what I expected that first time.
00:45:51:12 - 00:45:57:06
Helen Keaney
What did you feel like a bit of catharsis. Like it made you act like you weren't sad anymore.
00:45:57:08 - 00:46:19:15
Vanessa Graddick
It, Or it was kind of sad. Yeah, it was kind of like numbing. It was. I'm very much. If things are going poorly for me, I hyperfocus on one thing. So I don't focus on that thing. And that was my hyper focus for the day. And then, I mean, then you wake up and you actually have to face reality.
00:46:19:15 - 00:46:34:03
Vanessa Graddick
But it was it turned to my therapy. The stage was my therapist office, and which is why I think I still have the style that I have where I can only talk about what's going on in my life. I don't like.
00:46:34:06 - 00:46:47:04
Helen Keaney
Which is the best way to be, which is the best way to me. Because first of all, you'll never be like hacky and talk about things. You know, everybody talks about you'll you'll be so original when you do that, which you are, it is.
00:46:47:06 - 00:47:10:20
Vanessa Graddick
But I think it's also funny because I think we're funny is when we're sad, the when things are going really well, I'm like, I don't have any new tools. I'm, I'm just all over here being healthy. I'm like, well, can you break up with me real quick so I can have some stuff? Actually, can we, can we get a real big argument so I can lose 20 pounds and have a new set and then we'll come back.
00:47:10:20 - 00:47:14:17
Vanessa Graddick
We'll come back with it. Back together.
00:47:14:19 - 00:47:16:19
Helen Keaney
Can you? If you love me, you will do that for me.
00:47:16:27 - 00:47:19:28
Vanessa Graddick
If you love me, you will cheat on me.
00:47:20:00 - 00:47:22:05
Helen Keaney
Yeah, with new material. I don't do that.
00:47:22:05 - 00:47:33:07
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. No, don't do that. You settle down. Yeah. Plan we don't. I'll be like Byron Allen if you want my comedies to survive, you need to take this job away. No, don't do that either. I don't want.
00:47:33:07 - 00:47:34:05
Helen Keaney
Either.
00:47:34:08 - 00:47:36:07
Vanessa Graddick
Some happy stuff. Buy some happy stuff. It's gonna.
00:47:36:07 - 00:47:40:27
Helen Keaney
Be. How long have you worked for Byron Allen? How long have you been in that gig?
00:47:40:29 - 00:48:08:27
Vanessa Graddick
Oh. So. Okay, so that is complicated. Not complicated, but it feels like since I started, because the first time I was ever on television as a standup was Comics Unleashed. So it feels very full circle. But prior to that, when I was first on the road with Loni Love every week, she was the host of a show that Byron had called The Gossip Queens.
00:48:08:29 - 00:48:30:10
Vanessa Graddick
And. Okay, the gossip Queens. She brought me on to do punch Up for her, but then I ended up being a segment producer on that show. So that was my first, like, producing TV credit. Then I did a couple different shows, just as a comic, as a stand up with, it was thought is entertainment at the time.
00:48:30:16 - 00:48:51:18
Vanessa Graddick
Now it's aimed at the media group, but consistently funny you should ask. Started in March of 2016. And so I was a producer on there. And then when we brought back Comics Unleashed, they pulled me over to Comics Unleashed. So was that ten years is.
00:48:51:25 - 00:49:11:16
Helen Keaney
The lesson is for the kids at home listening to this podcast. Other comedians helped her. The notice. She didn't say, my agent got me, to submit a packet. You didn't hear that? You heard? No. Loni Love, very famous female comedian, very famous, and, you know, took her on the road to ground her wing. Loved her, brought her on the show.
00:49:11:16 - 00:49:22:03
Helen Keaney
But I loved her joke writing. Wanted to help on this, you know, punch up this. People there love the way you worked. It's other comedians. Yeah. That help that has been my.
00:49:22:04 - 00:49:27:17
Vanessa Graddick
I've never had represent. Oh I've never had a rap.
00:49:27:20 - 00:49:44:09
Vanessa Graddick
Never. I mean there's some people who tricked me and they're if they listen to this, they're gonna be bad. Like rap choose between. Give me any work you give me. I never had. Right. And I never had any representative give me any work. And that is a fact.
00:49:44:12 - 00:50:05:26
Helen Keaney
Yeah. And I feel like what I'm hoping this podcast will be for comedians listening and trying to understand the business better. And you're such a great example of a million things that I. That is one. I feel like that's 100% true. I don't really know anybody who has a story of, oh, so-and-so saw me in a club and then signed me and then got me to headline all the helium clubs in the country.
00:50:05:26 - 00:50:08:21
Helen Keaney
I've never heard anybody say that.
00:50:08:24 - 00:50:10:08
Vanessa Graddick
I.
00:50:10:10 - 00:50:44:04
Helen Keaney
It maybe just Maumelle is able to take somebody and move them from, you know, superstar to megastar. I guess, you know, I mean, there are examples of people that actually do stuff. She's a famous manager that, you know, that does, Leanne Morgan and, Taylor Tomlinson and some other, I mean, I think Bert Kreischer, but but in my opinion, I think one of the things that comics do, and I know I've done this in my career, is I've had a man, I had a manager for a long time, and I was like, why aren't you getting me this work?
00:50:44:05 - 00:51:05:11
Helen Keaney
And here's a here's a story. I was with him way back when, and I said, I'd like to be on Comics Unleashed. And he's like, oh, I'll, I'll submit your stuff. Submitted my stuff. I never was on the show back in the day. He I got myself on it. I called somebody that I knew who, who knew the guy who books it, and I and I was like, put, put in.
00:51:05:14 - 00:51:13:15
Helen Keaney
Tell him you've booked me on other TV shows. I knew people would book me on other TV shows. I reached out and called people, yeah.
00:51:13:18 - 00:51:35:18
Vanessa Graddick
That's I mean, and so I am not the booker for the show. Yes, I do, but I do bring people. We shouldn't say that. I'm just saying it out loud. Yeah. But, what we do, we do have people who are referred from other comics who we take we do look at them a little closer because management.
00:51:35:21 - 00:52:00:27
Vanessa Graddick
I honestly, as someone who doesn't have reps, I'm going through hundreds of submissions from reps and I'm like, this horrible? How did they get a representative and I or I want one person in particular, and then the management or agent will send me 700 other people. I'm like, that's not who I was asking about. I was asking about this one person.
00:52:01:00 - 00:52:08:02
Vanessa Graddick
It's not it's not an all all for one. This is an a package deal, right?
00:52:08:05 - 00:52:14:22
Helen Keaney
Right. So so the agent will use that as an opportunity to get in who they want to get in. Not even the push.
00:52:14:22 - 00:52:15:08
Vanessa Graddick
They should.
00:52:15:08 - 00:52:27:27
Helen Keaney
Ask for who do you think. Yeah. Yeah. Nothing against that. But but I will say that. So you will. You're saying that you would take another comics recommendation over an agent.
00:52:28:00 - 00:52:30:17
Vanessa Graddick
For me personally? Just me personally.
00:52:30:21 - 00:52:32:17
Helen Keaney
That I agree with that.
00:52:32:19 - 00:52:47:12
Vanessa Graddick
And then but I also when I get there are people who suggest people now look I'm like, nah, I just don't think they're right, which is very hard for me. It's hard for me to tell people now I'm I'm bad like that. I'm kind of a ghost when it comes. I just won't respond.
00:52:47:15 - 00:53:02:09
Helen Keaney
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know how like, I, I'm going to say that when I did the show, I had people reach out to me across the country. Some comics that I didn't even personally know that I was friends with on Facebook. You know how your friends with comics on Facebook to sort of like it's a fraternity of people.
00:53:02:12 - 00:53:23:23
Helen Keaney
And how did you get that? Who books that can you share? Yeah, and I was like, I'm certainly not the Booker. And I had to work really hard to, you know, for it. But I always want to help people. So is there if you what is the official answer to how to get on the show? If so, the offense wants what's the official answer?
00:53:23:25 - 00:53:51:21
Vanessa Graddick
The official answer is we need a roughly seven minute set, clean TV, clean, and then you can send it to the email and that goes to the team. The whole team has access to that email. And then we put it in a grid and then we there's okay. So there's the Booker and then they're, they're producing team where we look and trying to give our thoughts on the people.
00:53:51:21 - 00:54:00:19
Vanessa Graddick
But the book it does the book it and yeah it's aimed comedy at. Yes that TV okay. And that just goes it goes to everybody.
00:54:00:19 - 00:54:09:01
Helen Keaney
Do any of this. I did not do any of it. I don't I'm fucking this whole process up because I did not do it. That I'm like.
00:54:09:01 - 00:54:13:21
Vanessa Graddick
What every even have that. That's the that's the official. Yeah.
00:54:13:23 - 00:54:17:28
Helen Keaney
Okay. Well no I wanted the official answer but the.
00:54:18:01 - 00:54:20:20
Vanessa Graddick
The official answer is don't hit me up.
00:54:20:23 - 00:54:25:09
Helen Keaney
Don't don't DM her on her DMs.
00:54:25:12 - 00:54:27:17
Vanessa Graddick
And the official answer is stay out of my DMs.
00:54:27:19 - 00:54:37:10
Helen Keaney
You say, out of your damn. Yeah, there you go. Unless you're doing unless you're developing. You want to develop with her a cop drama that's a dark comedy.
00:54:37:12 - 00:54:40:13
Vanessa Graddick
Listen, then we can talk about it, right?
00:54:40:13 - 00:54:45:01
Helen Keaney
If Shonda Rhimes is listening to this podcast, you can go into DM.
00:54:45:03 - 00:55:09:12
Vanessa Graddick
That's it. And I think that's also the thing. And I'm not I'm not trying to be this person. So I also don't want to get hit it like this. But I am still a stand up comic. And so the amount of people that expect me to put them on Comics Unleashed that have never booked me for anything that I know that they've had is wild.
00:55:09:14 - 00:55:10:26
Vanessa Graddick
It's a wild work.
00:55:10:28 - 00:55:16:13
Helen Keaney
Oh, that is that is I. Ouch. Wow. I kept my.
00:55:16:13 - 00:55:43:18
Vanessa Graddick
Memory is long. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's not I'm not mad about it. I don't it's just you're not at the top of my list. You're not at the top of my list. If you have never tried to get my. I've been going down. The people who. That's why I want it first. Anybody who has helped me, like all those things.
00:55:43:20 - 00:55:54:27
Vanessa Graddick
And some have. Some have come, some have not. Even though I've tried, some has, they didn't want to do it or whatever, but I remember who's looked out and who has not.
00:55:55:00 - 00:56:15:08
Helen Keaney
Yeah. And that's, I, I just really hope that all that this podcast is going to be listened to by people in the comedy industry that want to further their careers. And they take these are the kind of like pearls of wisdom that will change your life. If you think about, you know, how you treat people, what you know, who you're helping out.
00:56:15:08 - 00:56:24:09
Helen Keaney
If you book, you know all of this is this is the this is the truth of show business right here. It's it's it's, relationships.
00:56:24:12 - 00:56:45:09
Vanessa Graddick
I have always said, like, I, I know you you asked earlier if I'm always, like, the person with compassion. I think I always have compassion. I don't think I'm always the nicest person. But I do everything to always be kind. And there's a difference. Like, I just try to be kind to everyone who I encounter. Because you never know.
00:56:45:09 - 00:56:54:15
Vanessa Graddick
You don't know. And it sounds cliche to say, but you don't know what to is going to end up being the next Chris Nolan. You don't know what.
00:56:54:18 - 00:56:55:25
Helen Keaney
That's a good little.
00:56:55:27 - 00:57:12:25
Vanessa Graddick
Assistant is going to be running levity next week. You don't know who you're talking to even though you think you know at the time. So I just always try to treat everyone with kindness and respect so that they remember that later down the line.
00:57:12:28 - 00:57:34:04
Helen Keaney
I, I agree 1,000,000,000%. I could give you an example. I could give you like 100 examples of that. I recently went to New York City and, someone who was like a baby comic when I was at a comedy club, the, Detroit, comedy Castle in Detroit. I was at the Comic Castle in Detroit. There was a guy very funny, like young, young guy.
00:57:34:04 - 00:57:52:12
Helen Keaney
He was. I think he did a guest spot on the show or something. He was super sweet. And, years later, he's a host of the Daily Show, Michael Costa, and he, he he, I messaged him and I was like, hey, I'm coming to New York. And he's like, oh, I do the show at the at New York Comedy Club called New Material Night.
00:57:52:15 - 00:58:07:23
Helen Keaney
And, yeah, I want you to be on the show. And I hadn't seen him or talked to him probably in 15, maybe, maybe 20 years. And he's. No, he was, you know, he said to me, he said, you were so nice to me. He didn't say you. I saw you on stage and you did this one joke.
00:58:07:23 - 00:58:18:17
Helen Keaney
And I remember he said that you were nice, you know, and he got me on the show. And it was, I mean, just. But it was just, you know, you know, trying to come back into the industry.
00:58:18:20 - 00:58:24:09
Helen Keaney
People, people, people have long memories of little acts of kindness.
00:58:24:12 - 00:58:29:06
Vanessa Graddick
And, and the opposite because I will, you know. Oh I got.
00:58:29:06 - 00:58:31:04
Helen Keaney
Somebody I'm never going to forget.
00:58:31:07 - 00:58:59:29
Vanessa Graddick
Listen people I will never forget about. They treated me. I've had people who have done that to me come back and said, I remember how how nice you were or whatever, how you helped. But I've also, like I say, this is maybe 15, 15 years ago, maybe longer. But I was in Tampa, Florida with Loni and Preacher Lawson was there, and he to this day was like, you were so mean to me.
00:59:00:02 - 00:59:10:15
Vanessa Graddick
And I was like, I'm I'm not a mean person. I said, what did you say to that? I was just talking to you. You just you just do one talk today. And I was like, well, I that's.
00:59:10:18 - 00:59:13:27
Helen Keaney
That's different than being mean. I will say.
00:59:13:27 - 00:59:35:05
Vanessa Graddick
Stand by to him and to him. I was mean to him. And we're cool. We're definitely cool. But he always says that I would mean to him when we first met and I was like, I, I remember when I mean, because it's on purpose now. I could have been. I could have been that wanted to be bothered. I'm an only child.
00:59:35:05 - 00:59:39:23
Vanessa Graddick
I could be a little moody for that. But mean is aggressive.
00:59:39:25 - 00:59:48:03
Helen Keaney
That is aggressive, that is aggressive. But I don't think I'm confident enough to be mean. I think maybe that's my problem. It's like I'm going to work on being meaner.
00:59:48:05 - 00:59:57:18
Vanessa Graddick
But listen, I'm not going to I will not diminish his experience. He said I was me when we met and my bad preacher, my bad I, the people.
00:59:57:18 - 01:00:15:15
Helen Keaney
That I'm taking over me and are like, I did a comedy competition. Like one time. It was a billion years ago and it was a national TV thing. And there was a female comic that was the judge, and she was like, I don't get it. Oh, that was it. I was like, that was it. That was the end of me.
01:00:15:18 - 01:00:33:00
Helen Keaney
And it was. It would have been a huge opportunity. And there was people behind me that were like, yeah, she's. And she's like, yeah, man, you know what I mean? Oh yeah. I'm never going to forget that. But you know, it's it's it's, you know, the world, it's life is long. Life is long.
01:00:33:03 - 01:00:33:27
Vanessa Graddick
Yep.
01:00:34:00 - 01:00:41:05
Helen Keaney
Our hour is up this week. All right. Bye. And I'm so grateful that you did this podcast because.
01:00:41:08 - 01:00:41:17
Vanessa Graddick
Having.
01:00:41:17 - 01:00:56:27
Helen Keaney
Me, you know, I, I think that you need to be spotlighted and highlighted, and I'm so excited. So I'm going to put in a pitch now, can I do a not even a guest star? I'm saying I'm talking about a costar. I'll be like a waitress in one of the scenes of your like, oh, I'll be the murder victim.
01:00:56:27 - 01:01:10:26
Helen Keaney
I'm very lazy on set. I can't memorize lines, and I'm a terrible actor, but I could be the victim, can I? I'll be naked, too. Like I'll be this old, naked lady. Everybody will love that. It'll be hilarious. I can I be the old naked lady in your amazing.
01:01:10:26 - 01:01:18:19
Vanessa Graddick
Show, lizard? Once we get this show together, once we get this show together, I will definitely file you in as.
01:01:18:21 - 01:01:24:26
Helen Keaney
Old naked lady. Dead old naked lady, I don't want I can't take too much pressure. Don't give me any lines or anything. Just.
01:01:24:29 - 01:01:31:28
Vanessa Graddick
I mean, if I had to have wanted to, you might have to have 1 or 2. You might have to be me. You'd have to be me. Okay. I'll see.
01:01:31:28 - 01:01:35:12
Helen Keaney
So I think I'll send back my dinner and then choke to death.
01:01:35:15 - 01:01:37:10
Vanessa Graddick
Yeah. I feel like.
01:01:37:12 - 01:01:37:26
Helen Keaney
And then you'll.
01:01:37:29 - 01:01:50:26
Vanessa Graddick
Feel like everybody who dies has to do something wrong. Oh, I don't think there's going to be innocent victims. And innocence is determined by the murderer.
01:01:50:26 - 01:01:59:28
Helen Keaney
I already want to watch the show. Yeah, I already want to watch this. I can't wait. When is it going to be? When is it gonna be on Apple TV and get 15 Emmys? I can't wait.
01:02:00:01 - 01:02:01:01
Vanessa Graddick
I gotta write.
01:02:01:01 - 01:02:04:08
Helen Keaney
Windows, baby. It's going to be the Vanessa show.
01:02:04:10 - 01:02:17:12
Vanessa Graddick
I'm trying to figure out if I want to write like a pilot for a show or like a feature, because I hate watching shows and being like, that could have just been a movie. Like, why is it so long? So I haven't decided.
01:02:17:13 - 01:02:21:01
Helen Keaney
I hate watching series that drag it out to make it a series.
01:02:21:03 - 01:02:21:24
Vanessa Graddick
Exactly.
01:02:22:00 - 01:02:37:10
Helen Keaney
I was just watching lanterns, which I was like, oh, this show is going to be so good. And I agreed. I'm like, take all that wonderful, great actors really kind of interest. Fascinating, but everything. But they just keep stretching it out and stretch. And I'm like, oh.
01:02:37:12 - 01:02:58:00
Vanessa Graddick
I just watched, and I know we have to go. I just watched the the hour. I'm watching the recent season, season of lioness, and this whole season as like, listen, this love which can't be missed in every episode I'm on. So. Yeah, I found this lady yet I cannot. This is the movie. This is too.
01:02:58:00 - 01:03:07:01
Helen Keaney
Much. They they do that all the time. It's like Riddick. What do you want to plug? Let's plug something. Can we buy your book? Where can we buy your book?
01:03:07:03 - 01:03:25:00
Vanessa Graddick
So this is the affirmation journal. It's called I don't want to be strong today. It is geared towards, women because we're just tired. And it's just basically a reminder to take care of yourself. So there's pages in here to say how you take care of yourself today. And there's also things like just, I don't want to be strong today.
01:03:25:00 - 01:03:35:29
Vanessa Graddick
I don't want to be strong. So it has animation by my great friend Michael Bunton. And it's just a reminder that you don't have to do everything or be everything for everybody.
01:03:36:02 - 01:03:38:22
Helen Keaney
And where can I buy that? I want to buy it. I go.
01:03:38:24 - 01:03:46:03
Vanessa Graddick
On Amazon. Amazon, on Amazon, yes. Or out of the trunk of my car. If you see me and I have some copies on me.
01:03:46:06 - 01:03:53:10
Helen Keaney
And if we go to your website, which is your name, Vanessa Craddock, dot com, we'll see personal appearances and everything that you're doing.
01:03:53:10 - 01:04:02:19
Vanessa Graddick
Yes, I try to keep my calendar very up to date on there. There also, I think the web too, because I don't know how to do it. I think you put a link to the book on my website too.
01:04:02:22 - 01:04:03:10
Helen Keaney
Oh, okay.
01:04:03:12 - 01:04:11:17
Vanessa Graddick
That would make any I think so, I think so, but yeah. Yes. Vanessa granick.com for all things Vanessa graphic when I remember to update it.
01:04:11:19 - 01:04:13:18
Helen Keaney
All right well yay! Thank you so much.
01:04:13:18 - 01:04:14:24
Vanessa Graddick
I'm going around the floors.
01:04:14:24 - 01:04:15:07
Helen Keaney
You deserve.
01:04:15:07 - 01:04:15:20
Vanessa Graddick
Things.
01:04:15:22 - 01:04:18:12
Helen Keaney
Yeah. So what a fantastic guest I loved it.
01:04:18:16 - 01:04:38:10
Vanessa Graddick
Well thank you beautiful.
01:04:38:12 - 01:04:45:28
Unknown
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
01:04:46:00 - 01:04:51:25
Unknown
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh. Do do do do do do do do.