Geoff Tate is wildly funny, with a cunning sense of dry wit. After performing on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Comedy Centrals Live at Gotham, he has become one of the most in-demand comedians in the country. Tate has traveled the country touring with two of the funniest Dougs on the planet: Doug Benson and Doug Stanhope. He is performing in Louisville this week and sat down to chat with LEO about comedy.
LEO: What are your favorite comedy albums and what draws you to them?
Geoff Tate: Eddie Izzards Dressed To Kill, Sinbads Afros and Bellbottoms, Doug Stanhope Deadbeat Hero and Steve Martins Wild and Crazy Guy. They make me laugh like crazy. I suppose thats why Im drawn to them.
LEO: The last time you were in town you were in an alternative venue. This time youre in the club. Whats the difference between performing alt-venues and clubs?
GT: Both clubs and alt-venues have the pros and cons. I like the no drink minimums of the alt-venue and the freedom to book whatever day works best for me and my schedule. But the club offers the opportunity to do a show in a room that knows theres gonna be comedy and is also designed specifically for comedy. I know theyre going to put it on their website. I know theyre going to promote it. The last time I was in Louisville, the guy who put on the show didnt give a fuck about the show. He didnt promote. The bar wasnt aware of it. He even booked it to start two hours later than I asked. So, no more alt-venues in Louisville for a while.
LEO: Why do you think so many comedians are getting drawn to alt-venues?
GT: Comedy clubs are built on an outdated business model: Sell the weekend. I want to go everywhere. Hopefully, I sell enough tickets to do one show, but then no one is there accidentally. No one ruins it. I dont really want to do weekends anymore. Get in, get out. See the town, move on. Its more fun.
LEO: Is it harder being a comedian now, in this overly-sensitive/politically correct than it was for guys like Carlin, Pryor or Murphy?
GT: No. Carlin went to jail with Lenny Bruce for what they said. Now, you get blogged about. I dont think its overly sensitive or overly politically correct now. Progress is a good thing. I dont think theres any shame in respecting how people want to be addressed. Language matters. Thats the whole point of our job. If the bit isnt funny without the shock words, the bit isnt funny at all. It never was. It was only shocking.
LEO: Is self-loathing hard in Los Angeles, where its always beautiful all of the time?
GT: Nope. Its way easier.
LEO: Whats the most Los Angeles thing that has happened to you?
GT: Starbucks.
LEO: You traveled a lot as a child. Is that part of the reason you became a traveling comedian?
GT: I dont think its a love of travel that did it. I bet it had something to do with always being the new kid in school and having to win everyone over all the fucking time.
This article appears in November 18, 2015.