Austin Locke

I'm Danny Ruderman and this is Extraordinary youy, a podcast that shares inspiring stories of young people who've done incredible things and how they did it. Our guest today is 21 year old Austin Locke, a junior at NYU where he studies filmmaking and also works as a stand up comic. Austin got his start in comedy when he was in high school and began performing at 6 to 12 open mics per week in order to learn the craft. He then started doing comedy shows in his dorms at NYU and and now performs regularly in clubs around New York and Los Angeles including Caroline's on Broadway and the Laugh Factory. Austin, welcome to xu.

Hey. Thank you. It's good to be here.

So my first question for you, is.

German shepherd or pugs to have as a pet? I mean, or just in general?

Just in general.

Who would win in a fight? German shepherd.

You define it however you want.

Okay. Pugs across the board.

Really?

Yeah.

Why?

They're cuter. I don't know.

Dare you?

Yeah. I'm sorry, are you a German shepherd guy?

I am a German shepherd guy, but.

I won't hold it against. Honestly, I don't have strong opinions on this. You could sway me.

Okay, well, let me ask you a question that you may know better. Let's talk about you growing up. Tell me about your family.

My family is pretty traditional for this part of the world. Mom and dad. I'm the oldest of five kids. We're all four boys and then little girl. Yeah, I know. They're all. You have. You've had three of them.

I have had three of them. I say this like I don't know. I have known him for several years, so I do know his family.

Yeah, mom and dad, four boys, little girl. She was adopted from China. She's pretty cool. I'm the oldest. Yeah, that's most of it.

Were they influential on you growing up in any way?

My dad is one of those dudes who. He really strongly believed this to his core that like, you can get away with anything if you're funny. And my mom disagrees 100%.

Awesome. In fact, actually, that brings up a story that I remember that you wrote in your NYU application. Actually, can you tell everybody about that?

Yeah. So this one time we were. I don't remember where we were, but it was somewhere not America. And we were coming back through customs and it was like the whole family and I was the last one and they were checking our passports and everyone got through except for me and the border patrol agents, like, stops me. He's like going through my passport. And my dad comes back through the metal detector and he's like, what's the problem? They were fine. Why isn't he fine? And then the dude basically tries to get like a bribe from my dad. He's like, yeah, give us this amount of money. And he's fine. And my dad was like, actually you can just have him. And then my dad walked back through and he. I think he got on the plane actually. I'm pretty sure it was like a small airport. And he was like sitting, sitting on the plane. And I'm just there trying to figure out how I'm gonna start my new life in this country. And then they let me through because I was 14.

And when you got it to the plane, if I remember your dad said what to you? Do you remember?

I do say it. I don't remember this. He does.

I remember all the essays. He's like, what took you so long?

What took you. Yeah, that's right. He did say that.

And the reason I bring that up is because this is a really interesting story. What do you think that these types of things. Cause you have lots of these stories that your dad put you in these crazy situations overseas where what did it do for you?

Made me not trust my dad that much.

Obviously.

I feel like it's the kind of. I feel like my dad's perspective on the world is that like if you're just like strong headed about it, that it'll be fine. Right? He's not like, he doesn't worry about like those little. Cause he's like, he's like, he's a journalist, he's like a travel writer. So he's been in that situation before. And he knows that that guy has no intention of not letting me on the plane, you know, and he's like, he has these weird things in his head. Like another one was one time his laptop got stolen on a bus in China and he made like the bus stop and like he called the police and like all this like other like weird like that you wouldn't do, right, like in a, like a, like normal. Normally you'd be like, oh, sorry, he got it stolen in China by the Chinese government. I forgot to mention that. And normally you just be like, oh, I should leave now. But he's very like hard headed about those kind of things.

So would it be too far to say that it sort of made you fearless?

No, I'm definitely afraid of things, but it definitely made me. He kind of. One thing about him is that he questions like the Order of things. And that's not great a lot of the times. But like, sometimes, like, it helped, like, especially, like. Okay, so when I was like 17, I was like, trying to, like, get into comedy clubs, right. And stuff. And so I had to figure out, like, I'm not. It's 21 plus venue, so I had to figure out, like, how to get into these places. Right. And so, like, it was this kind of like, match where it was kind of like I would have to, like, there was one place where I knew how to like, sneak through, like the side entrance, through the kitchen and like, stuff like that.

Wow. So. So if you go to a 21 and older club and it's an open mic.

Yeah.

You can't perform theoretically.

I mean, in theory, I'm not allowed in. Huh. But some places don't care. A good amount of places don't care. But some places really care. And those sometimes tend to be like, the better. Like the Comedy Store in LA really cares about that kind of stuff. And they're one of the best comedy venues in the world.

And did you manage to get in there before you were 21?

Yeah, but it's because I had, like, friends who work the door and that kind of stuff.

But you figured it out is the bottom line. So. And that's. That's kind of one of the things I like asking guests, like, where does this. Either where does the interest come from or where does the. The guts come from? Like, what in your development would say, you know what, I'm going to get in the side door, I'm going to do whatever it takes to get in.

I think the other thing though is, like, most kids are afraid of what their parents like. The punishment isn't like the law, it's their parents. Right. And I knew that, like, my parents wouldn't have cared that much about this kind of stuff. So I feel like I just wasn't worried.

Got it.

You know, I was lucky.

So since we're on comedy, let's talk about that. Where did the interest come from?

I don't know. I always liked, like, stand up. Like, stand up was always one of, like, the things I was like, I loved watching and I was super into. And then it was one of the things that I always thought I was going to try. And then in high school, I kind of. I played sports, but I wasn't really great at them. And then I kind of didn't have, like, anything going on really, besides, like, schoolwork. And I wasn't really great at that either, as you know by looking at my grades. I don't know. It was just something I thought I would try. Oh, it was Pete Davidson.

Yeah, that's right. I remember this.

I saw his Kimmel set. He did. He did five minutes on Kimmel when he was 20, which is younger than me now, which is disappointing, but he did it when he was 20. And I was watching. I was like 15 or whatever, and I was like, oh, I should try it. And then I, yeah, started doing it.

So you did it to get girls, is what you're saying?

Oh, oh, yeah. 100%. You know, that's what comedy is for women.

Because you travel all the time and you're such a good person to date.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Basically, yeah.

So do you remember the first time that you tried stand up?

Yes, I do. Okay. It was. I told one of my best friends, Jacob, and he was the only person I told that I was doing it. A few of my friends knew that I was, like, thinking about, but, like, I was like, I'm going to. He drove me. So I guess we were 16. And he took me to this basement in Hollywood. Like, it. Like an actual basement, like a literal, like, like unexaggerated basement. And there was four people there. They were all like, 50 and sad, you know, and they were just, just. It was so bad. Like, I don't know. If you don't know, open mic comedy is the worst thing to experience in your life. Like, it's just. It's so. Like, sometimes it's funny, but most times it's not. And this one, it's because the people who are good there are trying out new jokes that there's no stakes. Like, I see people who are like, I'm fans of at open mics every now and then, and it's like, it's no stakes. Like, they're doing it to try out new stuff.

Right.

And every now and then you'll get, like, someone who's, like, great, but it's kind of like it was, like, doing good stuff, but it's rare. And then there's also these dudes who, like, never got past the open mic stage. And that's most of them, especially in la for some reason. But it's like, older, normally men, some women who just. This is like, they've been doing open mics for, like, as long as there have been open mics, you know?

Right.

And they're just miserable. They never made it. They think the world's, like, against them. And then they've totally stopped trying to be funny. They're Doing it just. Cause like they have nothing else to do at this point.

Well, I actually, when I was probably 22, I did open mic once.

Congrats.

Yeah. And it was just a lot of me doing impressions. It was ridiculous. But it was a room full of comedians. And so I was towards the end of a two hour set basically, and no one laughed at anybody, anybody's jokes, period. So it was just basically a room of silence and people getting up there and doing jokes.

That's how it is a lot of the time. Yeah.

So open mic is really just about getting on stage, facing any fears that you have, developing stage presence and trying jokes, but you don't get the feedback from the audience.

Yeah. So it's definitely especially what makes comedians laugh isn't what makes like regular people laugh.

Right.

So a lot of times you'll do a joke at a mic and it'll murder. And then you're like, oh, I have a joke now. And then you go to an audience and you're like, oh, no, I don't have a joke actually.

So when was the first time you actually had an audience that laughed?

Probably about a month. Ish. In. There's these things called bringer shows, which are ways basically to take advantage of like new comedians. And it's basically like a club will say like, hey, if you bring five people, you can perform on the show and you don't know anything. So you're like, oh, that's how it works. Right. And so you get like five people to pay like the $10 cover charge or whatever and then you perform. So it's kind of like a pay to play kind of thing. But yeah, like a month later I did that and it was fun. It was really fun. I did like, well, I thought, but it was in front of like, you know, my friends, so it didn't matter.

But people laughed.

Yeah, people like, it felt like, good.

Yeah. So when you got off, is that something that you said yourself? I want to do this. Like, this is.

Oh, I knew from the first one that I like, I did Even the basement. Even the basement, like I went up and it was like my friend. And like three old dudes who like afterwards are also like making fun of the fact that we were like 16 or whatever.

Right.

And even then, like, I still like light, like it was still fun because something enjoyable about it.

Do you remember an early joke that you told that you can actually say on air? Because I know, I've seen your sets, your early sets. Not now, but you were.

There's one Joke that I wrote before I started comedy that I still say. And not often, like, I'll do it when I'm doing like 30 or 40 minutes. But it's. In the last year, over 200,000 people quit smoking because they died. It's just, it's simple, like set up punch, but, you know. Right.

Yeah, that's great. I remember that joke.

Yeah, classic.

So you're now what, a junior in high school?

College.

No, no, I know, but when you were doing open mic. Oh, back then. So you were, you did your first open mic, then a month later, you know, you get your friends in.

Yeah.

And you decide, you know what? I'm going for this. What was your thinking process at that time?

I don't think I thought that hard about it. Like, it wasn't like a. Like I didn't make like a 10 year plan. Like, here's where I have to be. Here, here's where I have to be. I just kind of knew that, like, it was a fun thing and like I enjoyed doing it. And then I started meeting people who did it who were like, kind of cool. And it was just like a. It starts like a fun, like community to be a part of.

I believe also you told me, I think back when you were in high school, about a 10 year cycle. Like a 10 year testing period.

That's what they say. It's like one of those things. Like, I don't know if it's true because I haven't gotten to it yet. And also I know people who are like. But basically they say like 10 years is how long it takes to be like good at comedy. Right.

Well, actually it's, it's really. If you look at blink and Malcolm Gladwell and 10,000 hour rule, the idea is that it takes 10,000 hours to get to be an expert in anything. And if you do 40 or 50 hours a week, it takes 10 years. That's the general rule. Before you really know what you're doing.

So that's ripped off Malcolm Gladwell. Pretty much. That's it. My bad. Yeah.

So you decide. Look, if I'm gonna have 10 years to get good at something, I better start failing now.

Yeah, Exactly. Again, I'm 16. Nothing counts yet. We're not playing for points or whatever. Still, let me live with them.

So how many. I said in the beginning that you were doing between 6 and 12 open mics a week.

Why is what. First of all, we lived in. I lived in la, Right. And so I was one of those few places that there were that Many mics to go to. That's a normal amount. That's like most people do. Like, I do more now. That's like a normal amount for like someone who's trying to get into comedy to do.

Wow. So would you do those multiples on a night? You'd go to one club and then drive to another one?

Yeah. And that's one. I live in New York now, and that's one thing that's great about New York is that I can do like five or six sets, like open mics and like regular shows, like every night.

And do you do the same set or do you mix it up? Try jokes, work things.

Normally in a night I'll be trying to work on like one specific thing and obviously it matters, like on the room and stuff. Like there's different rooms that I'll do. Like, you know, I'm. If I'm in midtown, I'll do something that I'm different than when I'm in Brooklyn. You know, it's like, you're not like, different, different 40 rich, 40 year olds who are rich in suits versus like 25 year olds who are living off their parents. Like, it's a different audience.

Got it.

But then normally when I like every. I'm like, normally I'm working on like a joke or like I'm trying to like fix like some part. Like, normally, like every night I'm trying to like work on something specific. And so like, like, I'll do that. But then you can't just like do the new thing. You have to do like the old stuff that works also. So they like, you know that stuff.

Right.

Remember that you're good or whatever. And then sometimes like if I'm doing like a big show, like two weeks ago I did the Laugh Factory for like the second time, which is like a big deal for me. And I just like, I was doing five minutes and I said like five minutes, like my best jokes.

Right, because you want to be invited back.

Yeah, exactly. I just want to do well, not working on anything.

So what is your process? Do you keep a little notebook on you that you write jokes on? And every time you record in your.

Phone, I have a notebook. I lost it two days ago and I'm very mad about it. But yeah, I normally I would have. I was going to pull it out, but normally I have like a little notebook in my pocket and I just, I like handwriting. I did that for like scripts too. Yeah.

And it just hits you at any random thing being class, you'd be walking down the street.

Yeah. Or like funny talking to friends or whatever. Yeah.

I know that every comic I've ever met at some point, at multiple times has completely bombed. Oh yeah, tell me about a time that you bombed.

One time that I bombed really hard in high school was this. There's this thing called the New York or not the new so LA's funniest competition. And it's a totally illegitimate competition, but I did not know that at the time. Like the city of L. A didn't agree that this was how that works. But they had like different categories and one of them was the under two years category. So it was like if you've been doing it for less than two years, so it's like pretty low stakes, right. And the first year I did it, I got second place in that.

Wow.

Yeah. And so. But no, then the story gets bad. But wouldn't that be crazy? That was it. And then no.

And you have a Netflix special.

Yeah, exactly, Right. No, I, that. So then I was like, that's pretty good. I was like, this is good. So then the next year I came back. I was still two years and under because I was two years now, right. And I was like, oh, I'm going to come back. I'll win it easy. This guy, the guy who won first place last time is probably not in the two years and under category anymore. I have no competition. And so I went in. There's rounds in this thing. And so the first round is basically you're in front of like three judges and no one else. And then by the end of the last round is like a sold out theater, basically. But so this first round, last time I did it and I had done like pretty, like the judges were laughing and they were like, thought I was like cute or whatever. And this time I did it and the judges just couldn't. I don't know what it was, not even like a smile, like just. It was basically I went up and did five minutes for nobody. Like no humans. And they're like, yeah, you're not getting passed. I was like, yeah, I understand that.

And how do you feel when you're up there and it's just, it just silence.

You just rethink everything. Especially because these were the exact same judges who'd made me second place last year. And so it was just like, have I gotten worse this year? Like, what changed? And then I realized that it was like, oh, I'm. Because before that I was doing basically set up punchline stuff and these judges were like older dudes and they like, that was more what they liked. And then I was moving more into, like, altier stuff, which is working better for me now. But then back then, I didn't know any of that back then. I was just like, oh, I'm not funny anymore. Like, I've lost it right this year. Not that I've ever, like, had it, but, like, I'm like, whatever I was doing has just been totally. It's just you rethink because you work really hard today. You know, like, it's like, I'm building a thing. And then when these people who, like, I looked up to, like, just didn't even smile, I was just like, wow, this is. I should.

And these are people that are judges that they're supposed to know what funny is.

Yeah. Like, they're judging me. Like, they weren't like, just random people. They're judging me on how funny I am. And they're like, no, you are not.

So that brings up a big question, especially for comedians. But anybody trying anything new, it always involves periods of self doubt. How do you deal with that? How did you deal with that moment?

I was pretty sad that night. I don't think. I didn't, like, you know, it was. I kind of got over it pretty quickly, I think.

Okay, so it just like, pick yourself back up and be like, I got to get out there. Somebody's laughed at one point, I get somebody to laugh at something.

Just went back and started doing open mics again. Okay. But I don't know, I feel like at one point, like, because when you're 16, nothing counts yet, you know, you don't have, like, these big, like, you're not like, I need to feed the kids or whatever.

Well, but the only thing is, is that what I see a lot is, is that students are so afraid of failure. Doesn't matter that they're 16 or they're like, I'm too young, or I don't. I can't say this thing, or I can't get into clubs. They'll put up barriers. When in actuality, being 16 or 17 or whatever it is is probably one of the biggest benefits.

Yeah, definitely.

Because it's time for you to fail. Who cares, Right? Go for it.

At this point, like, if you do anything embarrassing you do at 16, it's just a good story for later. You know, there's nothing. Like, unless you, like, murder somebody, like, anything you do, then it's fine.

Right. You know, that's a good philosophy's a.

Little old, but, like, 14, 16, you're basically an adult. But yeah.

So let me ask you this. Are there still times now that you are having a bit of success that you still doubt yourself?

Oh, yeah, totally. I mean, I like, so now I'm in New York, I'm probably doing like 20 to 30 sets, maybe. No, that's not true. Less than 30. Like somewhere between 15 and 20 sets, like a week.

Wow.

And so I bomb at least two of those, like, every week.

And we're talking about the same jokes, just to a different audience.

It's not always the same jokes, but there's normally like one or two jokes that I'll pull. Like, I have, like one or two. So, like, my favorite jokes, but they change all the time. Like, yeah, it's like jokes in front of people and, like, I'll bomb very hard sometimes.

Wow.

Yeah.

And again, it. I would imagine too, when we're going to get into filmmaking here in a few minutes, that doing this kind of thickens your skin. Oh, just about anything. So, like, when you get turned down by girls all the time, right? I mean, that just totally. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

You get used to it and you pick yourself up and you go. You go back out there again.

I go to another open mic. Yeah, exactly. It's great.

So do you have a funniest joke that you're currently saying that or that you have written a joke that you think is funny?

A joke. I have a joke that did really well on Twitter recently.

Oh, yeah.

Which is fun.

Break it out.

It's always weird doing jokes to, like, one, like, people. Whenever I tell, like, people at, like, parties or whatever, like, I don't tell them, but, like, whenever.

Well, I mean, everybody's like, oh, say something funny.

I work, so. No, this is not the. Like, it's like this. It wouldn't be funny if I said it now, right? I'm saying it now, but I'm going.

To take you anyway.

I'm reading it off of Twitter, even though I know by memory, just to give myself a little barrier.

Good.

This joke, in case you don't find it funny, it got a lot of likes, so you're wrong. I'm pretending to be a hot girl on Tinder so I can match with my roommate and tell him that I'm coming over so that he'll clean our apartment. I was seen by 9 million people.

How many did the people got?

300,000 likes.

I mean, I needed dislikes. Nobody did dislikes.

That's not on Twitter. I'm sure a lot of people disliked it. Pretty sure my roommates disliked it. No. That was hilarious.

They're good dudes.

Shout out apartment. I'm not going to say the number. I was going to say the address.

But that would be great.

Give your 352 E 13th St, Apartment 3.

Come ring our doorbell and give your roommate's cell phone number so that we.

Can talk to that.

All right.

So that was actually my address, by the way.

I believe that it was. We'll see if we keep that in here. All of a sudden, you have all these fans now.

Yeah.

I'm sure this podcast is going to take you to a whole nother level. Tell me about filmmaking. So you have this comedy thing, but all of a sudden you're like, you know, what I really want to do is go to college for filmmaking and, hey, let's go to NYU so we can kill two birds with one stone.

Yeah, right, right. I really wanted to move to New York. Like, I knew that I'd spent a summer in New York in high school at just some camp thing, and I knew that it's just. It's a fun place to be. And so then college happened, and my parents both went to, like, a lot of college, you know, like the four years and like, the other four years, you know, they have a lot of letters in front of their names, and I. So they were very, like. They were like, you're going to college. It wasn't a question. And so I was like, if I'm doing it, I should go to New York, and I should probably try something that's fun.

Yeah.

So film is pretty cool, right?

So how is NYU film school?

It's great. It's a lot of fun. The first year is definitely kind of bullshit. Like, sorry, should I swear I'm okay. It's kind of. And not great. They kind of. To get in, you have to send, like, all these movies and all this stuff. And then the first year, they treat you as if you haven't learned anything yet. It's kind of like. Like, everyone here has taken film all through high school. Like, we know a camera works, right? But then after that, like, this year is so much fun.

Well, isn't. Isn't sophomore year the year, too, where you make some extraordinary number of films? You make back to. Back to back.

Five films in a semester.

Wow.

But you. But you make five of your own, but you're in a crew of four people, and that crew of four people each makes five of their own, so you make 20 films. Wow. So you're on set, like, every weekend, basically. And I'm still on set. Like, even after that. You. Like, every weekend someone's filming something huge they need help with, you know, so you're kind of getting to that groove.

So there's a lot of students out there who want to go to film school in high school or NYU specifically. What did you do in high school to build your resume? Or what do you think helped you get in other than having an amazing college concert? We don't need to talk.

Yeah, no, of course. Danny was the sole reason I actually bought my way. I don't know if you knew this. No, I'm accusing.

Stop it.

I. I don't know. I don't. I took every film class that my high school had to offer, and it was definitely the thing I had the most. Like, it was. I didn't really like high school that much. I know that's, you know, not that rare, right? But it was. I went to, like, a super preppy high school, and most of the stuff there just was not for me. Like, it was. Everyone was like, seven AP classes and, like, sports, but because we want to get into college, not because we like sports.

Right.

Which I don't know. So. But the film was. It was, like, always something I enjoyed. Like, all my friends did it, and so that helped. And it was just like, a fun time of, like, the day. And so I really, like. I did. I put a lot of time into in high school without, like, a plan. Like, I did, like, in high school, I was doing. Because, like, I genuinely, like, enjoyed like, making the thing. I didn't really think, like, that far into the future. And then you're 17 and someone's like, hey, what do you want to do forever? And I'm like, forever. Well, this hobby seems interesting, and then you kind of just jump onto it. And I think I was lucky in the fact that, like, I still like it because I could totally, like, if I had gotten into, like, something else in that time period, like, if I, like, I could so see why. Knitting? Yeah, knitting. Like, if I was into knitting, who knows? That could have been my thing. But there's, like. There's so many. I feel like I was kind of lucky that I was just happened to be really into this cool thing at the same time when someone was asking me to make, like, this made your life decision. Got it.

Well, that's. That's. I really love the answer because everybody that I've been interviewing has a similar quality. And that when they achieve something, it's because they actually enjoy it. They're not doing it for some other purpose. They're doing it because they actually want to do it. So that doesn't surprise me at all. What was the film that you made to your film for nyu?

It was called El Camino, and basically. And by the way, Breaking Bad just ripped off the title for their movie.

I know. I saw that.

Yeah. In the works. You have no idea. My friend Alistair, who's still my best friends, I'm seeing him after this, actually.

Nice.

He drives a 1970, I want to say Ford El Camino. It's like a red. Like, it's a pickup truck, but it's low down. It's a really cool car.

So it's basically those who don't know what an El Camino is. A pickup truck. Car.

Yeah. It's like. It's a pickup truck, but really cool. And he had this dope car, and whenever, like, it was from, like, he had, like, added stuff to it. So, like, there was no, like, place to plug in your phone. There's now, I think. But back then there wasn't. And it was just, like, a fun thing that we, like, we always drove around in it. We felt cool. And so I made a movie about how the car was like a time machine. It was like. And then they were going through, like, history to rig various, like, elections. Like, the movie was about them. The two main characters who were me and Alistair. Because back then I didn't have any, like, actors I knew. And because we want to be famous, we were these dudes who would, like, travel through history and rig various elections. So our thing.

I remember this film, and it's very clever in terms of the story and in terms of sort of how you shot it. There's that sweeping around the car.

I'm pretty sure that's the shot that got me into college because I rewatched the movie and it makes no sense. But that shot is like a. Like, I still. I was like, oh, that's. That's a good shot.

One of the things that I wanted to mention about this, for those who are listening, because I remember your film, and it was quite clever, but the sound was terrible.

Yeah, no, the sound was garbage.

Right. But yet you still got an NYU film.

Yeah.

Right. So for those people, for those students out there who are thinking it has to be some sort of professional production quality to get into film school, it doesn't. It really has to be about ideas, about vision, about having some sort of passion about making a film or knowing.

Someone on the board or something. There's so many ways to get into film school.

Yeah, there's that. Apparently, that too. That's not the way we did it, though, Austin.

Yeah, that's one thing. I mean, I'm not gonna pretend to know, like, what they look for, but one thing that seems common, that everyone's. Like, every professor I've had a said is that they look for. Because they don't expect you to be good technically, yet they expect you to be good storytellers. Like, at least, like, have, like, you see, like, the. Like, the signs of, like, someone who can tell a story because you like audio stuff. I learned that in a semester, you know, but, like, I guess the thing is, like, being able to tell a story or whatever. But what do I know?

Well, you know something anyway. So how do you see this unfolding for yourself? You're doing comedy at night now at nyu. You're making films during the day. Where is this leading?

I'm gonna probably live with my parents for a while.

Absolutely.

Yeah. I don't know. But, like, film and comedy are the same in the sense that no one ever actually makes money off of them. Congratulations. Thank you. Like, like, so, like. Like, 10 people make a living off of comedy in film, you know?

Yeah.

And like. Like an act, like, not like an assistant. Like, actually, like, make it in film, you know? And this is, like, super rare, and I definitely get it. So if either of them actually end up being able to be livable, that'd be awesome. That'd be a lot of fun. Everyone I know, like, people who graduate nyu, it's either, like, one of my friends will become, like, a writer on the show, and the other 7,000 will get jobs as waiters. And they're like, the talent. Like, something like, the talent isn't necessarily the reason for either of those things. Like, some of my most talented friends are currently waiters.

So why do you guys do it? You can talk about yourself or even your friends. You know that it's hard.

Yeah.

You know that very few actually make it. At least make it big. But yet you still do it anyway.

Yeah.

Why?

Just don't know what else I'd be doing, really. Like, I feel like it's this or, like, have kids or something like that.

That's the two choices.

No, I'm pretty sure because, like, I couldn't. Like, I'm not gonna, like, suddenly do law. You know what I mean? That's not an option. I can never. That would be terrible. So if you think you can be a lawyer, be a lawyer is my advice. Like, it just. This doesn't make. I don't.

It's just I was going to be a lawyer at some point, so. You really? Yeah, yeah.

You don't. Don't be a lawyer.

Well, I mean, I wasn't for me.

Yeah.

But I'd be a good one, I think.

It was not. No, no, it is. It's the thing that I enjoy doing the most, for sure. And so I don't understand, like there wouldn't be another thing that I would like, want to do.

Well, there isn't a phrase that all adults say at some point in their lives which, you know, if you do what you love, the money will follow. And that's, you know, not always true.

Not in the slightest, but.

Well, it can be. But the thing is, is that what is abundance? What is prosperity? Is it just money or is it happiness?

Yeah, totally.

If you were making films, even if they were, you know, B movies that were straight to video, but you made a living off it, you got to do what you loved.

I'd be so much happier than if I was like a billion dollar lawyer, I think. I don't know. We'll see. I'm still, you know, in college. Maybe one day I'll sell out probably. Hopefully. Someone offered to make me an offer.

I really hope not. But you know, the night's still young.

So we'll see where that goes.

You know, if you had to choose, if I told you right now, you could be a Netflix money making comic or a filmmaker director. If you had to choose one, which one would it be?

Comedian.

Comedian for sure.

Like the comedian life is so fun. It's like you do like doing stand up every night. It's. And also something about comedy that's different about film is the comedy is very direct results. Like comedy. Like you write a joke and then I'll like. Let's say I think of something that kind of like mildly funny right now or something I think is funny. I'll. In an hour I can go say it six times. That's in front of people and like work on it and craft and like the results are. And it's also all on you. Like there's some bigger stuff that isn't like getting like auditions at clubs, like getting past or like, like TV stuff that's not you, but the working on the jokes themselves and like making the craft good, that's 100% you. Whereas filmmaking is just. I love it, but it's such a bureaucratic process.

Right.

There's so much like paperwork and I'm very lucky that I Have a roommate who is. Loves doing all that kind of stuff. And so he's very nice and he produces my stuff for me.

Really?

Yeah. His name is Matthew Herbert. He's my boy.

Go Matthew.

Yeah, go Matthew. But there's just, like, it's such a long. Like, it's a way more long and thought, and I love it and it's fun and it's great. And like, good movies are like, I think better than good comedy, but it's just like, to do that is so much more difficult. And the lifestyle is definitely less fun. Like, it's way more like sitting in a dark room, like, staring at computer screen.

And, you know, there is a. There is a stereotype that a lot of comics are depressed.

Yeah.

You know, but at the same time, there's a community of comics that, you know, you. Especially when you start to go on the road, you see the same people over time. Have you already started developing that community? Do you see people in New York all the time?

Some of my best friends now are people I met at open mics at some point. And also, yeah, there's definitely more depressed comedians than real people. But I also think that comedians are just kind of more honest about it.

Interesting.

Like, comedians are very much, like, upfront because you kind of have to be. You have to be more like, in touch.

Right.

With these, it's like, mind what's different or whatever. So you, like. They're much more, like, in touch with, like, what makes you different from regular people. So, yeah, they're probably more depressed, but they're also more honest about being more depressed, I think. I'm not taking no studies whatsoever, but.

That'S a good insight. I mean, because you have to sort of bear yourself, you know, I mean, you have to. The more real you are, the more that you connect with an audience. Right. So it does definitely come out. And also, I think that it can't be easy traveling to motels and doing, like. It's definitely not, you know, little tiny podunk, little clubs in the middle of the country.

Oh, other worst time I bombed this last year. One of my friends who was like a bigger headlining comedian, he took me up to Buffalo, New York, which terrible place. Don't go there.

Niagara Falls is nearby, though, so.

Yeah, it's in Canada. Different place. Technically. They say that on their scientists, like Niagara Falls, but the real Niagara is open. See, it's so bad, they can't even have the thing they say they have. They invented Buffalo wings. Those are. You can get those anywhere, though. Like, they're the same. I went there, and it was the single most drunk audience I think I've ever encountered. Like, these people, I don't understand how they stood up afterwards. Like, it was. They were yelling out. There was a mother and daughter who are, like, hitting on every comedian, but, like, not like, they were, like, in a trashy way. Not even in, like, a. A fun way. I bombed so hard. They didn't. We didn't speak the same language, I don't think.

And I assume that you drove to Buffalo, which has got to be, what, four, five, six hours, eight hours.

He drove there. The headliner drove, which was nice.

Well, that's great. But then you got to sit back and drive all the way back, being like, oh, that was fun. Thanks for inviting me.

Yeah. I mean, yeah, it was nice of him to bring me. Shout out. Alan, I appreciate you, but, yeah, it was not great.

Have you developed any mentors in the comedy arena that is taking you under their wing? Or somebody, like, super just got super famous, who, you know, is gonna bring you along and put them on your. Put you on your show?

I wish that I definitely have friends who are, like, bigger than me who, like, help me out and, like, give me notes on different things, but no one I would, like, put the whole mentor thing on.

But it's a supportive community. Like, nobody's trashing one another, right?

Oh, they definitely are. There's definitely beef within the comedy scene, but overall, it's definitely more friendly than it is mean. But there's definitely a lot of jealousy and a lot of, like, why is he getting this? And I should be there or whatever, but definitely not more than, like, you know, anything else.

Fair enough. I guess that's true in any profession. I'm going to ask you a few questions. I ask most guests, please. How much of your success thus far do you feel is natural talent, and how much do you feel is hard work?

I said I don't have, like, a huge amount of success yet, which is, you know, interesting.

Yeah.

Why am I on this podcast?

Well, because you have. Because, again, I like to interview students who I might. There are some. There are some interviewees that have done incredible things, but you actually. No, Austin, because you actually are performing at real comedy clubs. You are going to a film school that a lot of people around the world want to go to. And so your story. What intrigues me is, is again, you did this, and you made up your mind, and you did it, and you did it consistently. You figured out and. Which is another question I have for you. How did you manage to do that many open mics and go to school at the same time? Like how did you do your homework?

I was fine. Letting my grades suffer a little bit, I think.

So you made that choice though, right? And you did it because you loved the craft and you went on and you did it and you fell down, you bombed like whatever, you still kept doing it. And that's a very interesting story because a lot of people think, oh, there's an overnight success. And I think I heard Bradley Cooper say, yeah, overnight success. I slept on people's couches for like 10 years before I got my first job.

And that's the like every comedian who comes up who's like in air quotes, overnight success, like they've been in it for over 15 years. Years. It's kind of annoying that that's a phrase still. But people will like that idea. Like everyone likes the idea of like the lottery winner of like someone who woke up one day and was like, oh, I should try comedy. And then suddenly they're Kevin Hart.

Right.

But you know, Kevin Hart was one of the most hard working dudes ever, right? Yeah.

So you know, that's why that's actually. Well that and you know, I like you, you know.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Yeah, absolutely.

Good to see you again. I've been waiting for the call. Sad it had to be over it like this, but yeah.

So again, let's go back to the question. The question is how much do you think is natural talent versus how much is hard work?

I think hard work is definitely the bigger one because there's. I have so many friends who are like so good like so like I have so many people who I know who like kind of do comedy, who are the best comedian I've ever met, you know, like, who are like so like their instincts are so funny and they're so like good at everything but they don't put the work in and that you're never going to get anywhere with that. Like I'm farther ahead than they are even though they're definitely have more natural talent than I do.

Got it.

So I think it's hard work is. But you know, you have to be. There's some people out there who work really hard. I'm like, why are you doing this? You should stop.

You know, we've seen those people. Yeah, exactly, I get it. Do you have advice or what advice would you give for a six year old? Well, that's, that's a little young but 11 year old, 15 year old who's thinking about either doing film or doing comedy.

Six year old, don't get onto airplanes, please. We hate you. 11 year old. What's 11 like elementary school?

11 is like sixth grade.

You just, just be an 11 year old. You know, don't stress too much. Make like. I don't make like funny videos but don't like do what you like. I don't know, it's. It should kind of. You should do it because you want to do it. And I don't think anyone's going to listen to this and make their kids like change their kids lives because of it. At least I hope not. But 11 year old, like if you want to make movies, make like when I was 11 I made movies. Right. I really. And it was just, but it was because I didn't know what a movie was like, I didn't enjoyed doing. You know, I had like my little camera and like my friends would be like go jump off the thing, you know, and it would like, I wonder what those are actually. But yeah, 11 year old make movies or don't make movies.

Okay.

Is my advice 15. Yeah, you should be making movies for sure. Or you know, be doing. I don't know. I feel like we put too much pressure on like high schoolers to like make these huge decisions about things, about their lives.

100%.

That's why we have to pay Danny so much money to get us into college. And if we didn't put this pressure, Danny would be living in a smaller house. So.

Touche.

But 15 year old, I think that it's important to remember maybe this is my high school. But it seemed like there was like two options. It was like you're going to go to a really like people didn't care about like what you did in college. It was which college you went to kind of unfortunately where it was like the number, like it was all the numbers game or whatever where it was like oh this college is this percentage or whatever. And, and it's kind of like you should find the thing and everyone's told them this, but find the thing like you want to do. And if you don't know that's like fine, you know, you shouldn't.

Yeah. I mean that's what college is for.

Exactly.

You can go figure things out there.

Yeah.

But you know, if someone is 15 and they want to do comedy, for example.

Oh, just go do it.

Okay.

And you're not gonna be good is the thing. That's one thing.

That's one thing.

I wish someone told me at 16, at 16. I was like, I am the greatest. No, you're not. I don't care who you are, you're not good at it. And that's fine. I'm still not good at it. I've been doing it for like five years now. It's like, you're not gonna be like, it takes so long to like get like past. Like, I just started doing. Not just like a year or two ago, but I started getting like, getting like regularly booked, like comedy clubs in like New York. And it took me like so long to do and I was like frustrated before that. And I was like, why am I not? Like, why am I. Why are they booking me? Why aren't they paying me? Like, they should be doing this stuff. And I'm like, no, I get it. Like, you're not ready yet right now.

Although I will tell you, like, I remember your early comedy and, you know, not everything was funny, but you did have some jokes. I mean, you are funny. Just naturally. I appreciate it and I think that that comes through. I think it comes through in the podcast too. Like, it's a mixture of.

I wrote all this down before, so.

Yeah, yeah, it's a mixture of sarcasm and being quick on your feet and then you just channel it. But like you said, even if you were naturally funny in high school and you did have some jokes that slayed it's process and I mean, other than that one joke you told us, I think you were, I remember you telling me you were writing so many jokes that your set every month or two months was almost completely different.

And that's how it should be at first. Like, if you're, if you're like a year or two into comedy and you're still doing the same jokes, like, stop it. Like, what are you doing?

Right. It's constantly evolving.

Yeah. Even now, my set, every like six months or so, I'll have a totally new like type 10, like 10 minute set. Yeah. And that's, I think that's how it should be. Like, you should be writing so much that like, you're getting so good that the joke you told a month ago isn't good anymore.

Well, there's a, there's a concept called writing for the trash can. And that is, you know, if you're an author or even any kind of writer, 99% of what you write is going to go in the garbage.

Sure.

But you can't get the 1% of brilliance out until you write the 99. It's got to come through. You've got to get this stuff out of. You got to flow. It's got to be a regular thing. You can't just wait around until the brilliance comes.

Yeah. And that's one reason why I get up on stage and like, everyone gets up on stage, like, every night is because even when you don't want to, like, you don't know when. Like, every joke I've ever written basically hasn't been like. Like, I'll try to sit down and write every day. And that almost never works. It's kind of. But you have to do it so that you're in the mindset of writing. So later on you're like, oh, writing. You know, you can't, like, get like, stale with it.

Sure, that's. That's good advice. Let me ask you this. What is the one thing you wish I would have asked you in the last 30 minutes or so?

Oh, like on this podcast?

Yes.

One thing I wish you would have asked me. How am I doing? No, I don't know.

You're doing well, actually.

Thank you. I. One thing I wish you would have asked me.

Nobody can answer this question.

That's why I. This is a hard one. I feel like one thing. Maybe this is like a high school, like, themed podcast, right?

It is. I mean, it's for young people to listen and. And learn something.

Yeah. It's more high school stuff. Like how? Like. Like, because it's starting out was, like, definitely difficult. Like, dealing with, like, high school stuff at the same time is, like, annoying.

Right.

I don't know. I feel like you did pretty good. You're good.

Interview.

That's good.

That's good.

All right. Sorry, I should. I should have.

No, no. I actually, I only ask that because I. I think of the guests that I've had so far, no one has had an answer.

Yeah.

And I'm just curious one day if something, because I'm gonna learn from it. Somebody's like, why don't you ask me about this?

I'm sure if you had a better guess, they would have had a better answer.

I'm. I will just cut all that out now. Okay. So if people wanted to hear more funny things that you had to say, how would they?

You should follow me on Twitter. My stage name is Austin Locke. It was weird to say Austin Jones. People haven't introduced me like that as a while. It's. Cause Austin Jones is a pedophile that looks exactly like me. Have we talked about this?

That's right.

Yeah. Austin Jones. If you Google Austin Jones right now. I did.

I Totally forgot me.

I swear to God, he looks just like me. Sucks.

Do you want me to. By the way, do you want me off. Off the record? Do you want me to rerecord the names? And Jones is fine, but nobody knows you as that.

But no one knows me at all, so it's fine. My mom knows me as that Austin Locke. L O, C K E is my stage name. I was so kohed, So I was 16, picking stage names. Right. So close to being Austin Cobain. Look. So unbelievably close. I'm. Thank God that I didn't like. That's one thing. If you're 16, don't use. Oh, first of all, don't get music tattoos. Okay? Get. Tattoos are fine, but don't get a tattoo of music you like right now because you're not going to like that anymore.

Whoops.

Yeah, right. That's a mistake. But also, don't name yourself after a musician who you think is Jesus Christ reincarnated, because he's not. Or he might be. Who knows? But.

And he's no longer with us.

Yeah, exactly. So Austin Locke. Because I was pretentious and I decided that was my name from now on. Okay, good.

And so where can we find you?

On Twitter @Austinlocked up. I had to say that. So that Locked up wasn't weird.

So L O, C K E D. Yeah. Austin Locked Up.

Yeah. On Twitter for some great content.

And.

Yeah, that's. That's the place.

Thank you, Austin. I really appreciate you on the show. If you want to learn more about Austin, as well as the specific steps he took to follow his dream of becoming a comic and a filmmaker, go to our website, Danny ruderman.com and become an EXU VIP. You will not only get access to all our episodes, but you will also be able to download free guides that have step by step action plans and resources that will help you become extraordinary. If you want to tell us your story or ask for help, go to Danny ruderman.com YourStory or reach out via Instagram @dmNuterman. You can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And while you're there, please leave us a review. Extraordinary youy is produced by Anna Darling. Music by Gee Om Sound editing by Rob Pera. Extraordinary youy is a production of Acast.