Steven Mays "New Young Comic Out of Texas" Show #211

On this show I interview one of the newer comics working the road...Steven Mays is technically still an amateur; but he has done stage time from his Hometown of Houston Texas to New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and more! A rising, fairly clean, comic who makes time to travel and work stages all over the country. What is unusual is, Steven has kept his "Day Job" and yet gets on stage every time and everywhere he can; and in doing so, finds he has the ability to entertain audiences of all types and at all locations. That is a talent!

Steven Mays, born and raised in Houston, Texas, has been captivating audiences with his stand-up comedy for about seven years, all while maintaining a full-time job as a technician. Despite not yet making comedy his career, Steven is motivated and determined to secure more road gigs across the country and build his network to eventually create his own tour. He acknowledges that one of the hardest challenges in his comedy journey has been overcoming his initial timidness on stage, yet he is continuously working on being more fearless and authentic in his performances. Driven by the joy of making audiences smile, Steven sees comedy as a way to spread laughter and entertainment, fueling his passion and motivation in the industry.

(00:00:55) "Everyday Situations: A Comedic Perspective"

(00:06:25) Respectful and Entertaining Clean Comedy Sets

(00:09:19) Spontaneous Performance Mastery in Comedy

(00:13:51) Universal Humor Through Observational Comedy

(00:21:23) Juggling Comedy Gigs While Working Full-Time

(00:25:12) Grocery Store-inspired Comedy Writing Process

(00:31:31) Crafting a Comedy Tour for Visibility

Transcript

Announcer: 0:04

This is another episode of stand up comedy. Your host in MC, celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business. Stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and MC, Scott Edwards.

R. Scott Edwards: 0:21

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast. We have another great interview for you. A talented young comic. He's only been in the business about seven years, but, man, he's had some great success. Success. He's worked in clubs from New York to California, up in Oregon and Washington, but he hails out of Houston, Texas. He is a very funny young guy, and I wanted to talk to him because he's in the heart of what's happening in the stand up comedy world today. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show, Stephen Mays.

Steven Mays: 0:55

What's up now? What's up, man?

R. Scott Edwards: 0:57

I appreciate you for having me, Stephen, great to have you on the podcast, man. You have played clubs from coast to coast. Congratulations.

Steven Mays: 1:06

I appreciate that, man. Yeah, thank you.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:09

Yeah, I was. Now you're out of Houston area.

Steven Mays: 1:13

Yeah, I'm born and raised, but now I'm currently living in a DMV, but I'm born and raised in Houston. That's why first, that's why I got the love from comedy living in Houston.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:24

So, yeah, it. Texas is a great state. Houston's a great town, but not really known for stand up comedy. I know a couple acts that have come out of Texas, but it's not like a huge amount. Normally the comics come out of one of the two coast, but you have had a chance to play the coast, so I guess you qualify.

Steven Mays: 1:45

Yeah, yeah. You know, there's a lot of funny people in Houston, too, you know, so. And hopefully I can be one of those ones that give it a good faith.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:56

Well, you know, being on this podcast will make you a star overnight, so you're there.

Steven Mays: 2:02

Okay. I'll take it if it helps.

R. Scott Edwards: 2:05

Yeah. Hey, Stephen, you know, I always try to give the audience, which a lot of them are in the stand up industry, a little bit of background. Can you explain how you kind of fell into stand up comedy?

Steven Mays: 2:19

But it just started with a, I guess, a strong support system for friends and encouragement from, like, friends and family and just being around them just, you know, we were just naturally just being ourselves. And, you know, you hear that enough from friends and close friends to tell you, you should do stand up, you should do stand up. And, you know, you think to yourself, you know, you're not that funny, but, you know, you try as one of those things, it kind of works out, you know, my first one didn't go so well. My first ever set open mic I ever did, like, in front of a crowd that's outside of just entertaining people. Well, it didn't, it didn't go well, but it showed. It shows like, no, I can do this again, you know?

R. Scott Edwards: 2:58

Well, you know, and that's so important. And it's so funny that you say that because it's been mentioned a few times on this podcast over the years. Is that being the class clown or being the funniest one in the family doesn't mean that a group full of people that paid money to see comedy are going to think you're as funny as your friends. And what. How old were you when you had your first open mic, Stephen?

Steven Mays: 3:22

I had to be. What year was that? I had to be about 2000, maybe like 20, 1314.

R. Scott Edwards: 3:31

So you weren't a kid. Some people start at 1920 or when they get out of school. You were a little older, maybe 25, 26.

Steven Mays: 3:39

Yeah, that was about 25, 2024. No, it was about 23, 24.

R. Scott Edwards: 3:44

Okay. Still a young man. And you did your first open mic and it was there in Houston, but you got, you got some laughs because you got the bug, right?

Steven Mays: 3:55

I got. So I got through my first joke, and then after I got through my first joke, what was running through my mind was like, oh, y'all like that? You know what I'm saying? I wasn't even expecting to laugh, but they actually, like, genuinely laugh through the joke from high set it up and how I did, and they actually thought it was funny. And then I was, oh, yeah, I like that, you know, and I got so caught up in it and I was already nervous because the first guy before me, like, he killed, like, he had a heckler on stage and he went off and killed her and just did. Everybody was laughing. I'm like, how supposed to follow that? You know, was like, what I supposed to do? Like, I ain't got no stage, none of that. And so he, he did that. And then the comedian after that, it was like, you know, the energy was expectations to stay through the roof. And then they got to me, nobody knows who I am, so I had no energy coming out. And it was like, steve. And then the way he called the name, I was like, oh, you know, it was already like, who is this guy? But I got to my first joke and I was, I was able to get through that and it was just like, man, oh, wow, I forgot my. I just blanked out. I remember the guy was telling me, just come back next week. But I never came back. You know, at that time, I was like, let me go look for, I was like, let me go get a job. You know, at least I can focus on that and then, you know, come back and do comedy because it was like I had so much, it was like, damn, I I didn't feel, I didn't feel it, but let me, let me go focus on getting the job so I can be so well. Never left my heart. I couldn't do it no more.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:33

You know, the thing is, is that so many people see stand up comics on tv and they go, oh, this shit's easy, right? And then you get in front of a paid audience or an audience of strangers, and it's not that easy. And I think you probably made the good choice of taking a break and getting a little more prepared. It didn't sound like you quite had a prepared set of comedy when you first went up, but you went back and got back on stage, and you've had some great success. I've seen several of your sets. You're very funny. And one of the things that I really like, and you could tell me if I'm wrong, but you're a fairly clean comic. There's not a lot of gratuitous f bombs and dick jokes. You tend to keep it funny on just good material from your personality.

Steven Mays: 6:25

That's good to hear because, you know, I never heard nobody call me as a clean comment. You know, I don't, I'm not as real vulgar, but I do have instances where I do, you know, I do drop an f bomb here, and that's not it. That's not like playing. You know, sometimes I just be in the moment of comedy and that word will come out as a term of endearment because I'm learning, I'm living what I'm doing so much, and I'm so free. And it's just like, you know, I'm having a free moment. And that's, you know, that word can't be interpreted as being free. And, but it's nice to hear that another person who is just, you know, getting used to, getting to see my work, to see that I am very clean because I can do that. And some people might say I don't work clean as much. And then, you know, so it is nice to hear that from that perspective.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:12

Well, I was bringing it up because as a club producer and club owner, I always appreciated the stand up comics that could be funny and not insult the audience or be abusive or just gratuitous f bombs. You know, I and my poor podcast audience has heard this a couple times, but it's not funny to say I went to the freaking store to get some freaking bread because I was freaking hungry. You know, that doesn't, that. That's shock humor. That's not funny. But I think one of the other things in your first lesson of going on stage in an open mic was that you weren't prepared. You hadn't written, you know, five or ten minutes of material. You had some ideas, but it, would you learn the importance of writing, correct?

Steven Mays: 8:04

Yeah, no, no, I was writing I had something prepared. Is this, oh, it just doesn't work. It just, you know, it just didn't, like the first joke I got, the first joke I had written out, I did it. It laughed, you know, it got laughed. But I just, my mind went blank after that. After that first joke, my mind went blank. I ain't know what to do, you know? Cause I was just like, how I'm gonna top that first joke now? I was already going up the, I was already, I already had the mindset how I'm gonna top the dude that went before me. Then they said that joke, then I, then they got laughing. How I'm gonna top that? I was so much in my head.

R. Scott Edwards: 8:42

You know, oh, that's funny, though, that, you know, that's, you know, when you're on stage in front of people and the spotlights on you, I mean, it can be there. It's a form of stage fright. You kind of like, yeah, whoa, I got a laugh now. What?

Steven Mays: 8:56

And everybody, and then you got all those funny faces looking at you. They all look funny. You know, you look like puppets sometimes when you get lost in the life. And so it's all that. A combination. Yeah, it gets in. But I really started acting, you know, that's how I really became the love of just entertainment, because I always wanted to be an actor. I want to start with that, too. I didn't mention that.

R. Scott Edwards: 9:19

Well, I think that that's a good thing to point out. First off, let me say, retract what I said earlier. It didn't sound like you were prepared, but you were, and that's so important. You don't ever want to go on stage without having something to say and maybe practiced it or at least gone through it in your mind and you think it's funny. And then the other part that you mentioned was that it gave you an opportunity to stretch your acting skills, because one of the key components of stand up comedy is that you want to make it sound like each and every time that you just thought of it, it's fresh material and there's a certain amount of acting involved. And if you learn that part of it early on, probably one of the reasons you've been a success.

Steven Mays: 10:06

Yeah.

R. Scott Edwards: 10:07

Now you've worked, you're out of Houston, you get a few open mics under your belt. I know that you've had a chance to play in New York and on the East coast, but also all up and down California, from LA to San Francisco and all the way up to Oregon and Seattle, up in Washington. How are you, as a fairly new comic, able to get around and get all these gigs? I mean, congratulations. It's hard enough getting regular work in your hometown, but you're getting regular work all around the country. That's awesome. What do you do?

Steven Mays: 10:42

Different motivation, you know, just a motivated, and I think I thank God for that spirit in me. So I just want to, I always had idea, just branch out, you know, just keep branching, keep branching. And I'm just motivated. That's, that's what keep. I think that's what drives it. And just want to spread. Just want to do comedy and just spread it. That's all. I guess that's, you know, first thought comes my mind.

R. Scott Edwards: 11:11

Well, I think that's an important lesson in life. Whatever you want to do, whether it's a carpenter or a plumber or a stand up comic, you do have to be driven to succeed in finding that next bit of work that's going to put enough money in your pocket to find the next piece of work. Now, have you found the audiences? I mean, you've played all over the country. Audiences must be different in Houston than they are up in Seattle.

Steven Mays: 11:40

Yeah, pretty much. A lot of people are different. But, you know, as far as I found out, laughter is the thing. So if you can relate, if you just can relate to people, you can make. It's no different from making people laugh. You know, I've been in a room where I've made a bunch of old, old asian people laugh. Hispanic black mixture. You know, just try to stay relatable to people. Just figure out what the people need all over and, you know, and bring a common attic between that.

R. Scott Edwards: 12:15

Well, I think it's, we should point out to the audience, you're a young black comic. I don't think your material leans too heavy on your african american background. I think it is relatable to everybody, and probably one of the reasons you've been a success. Clubs from coast to coast and maybe you can explain to the audience, some comics are conversational, some are very topical and talking about the news. Others talk about, you know, growing up in their life. Where do you find your basis for comedy writing?

Steven Mays: 12:52

My basis? I never thought about that. I say just being observing everyday comedy, trying to stay current. Yeah, I know comics don't. You know, it's so many things that comics lead them into the doorway, because comics have different styles and different, and just different viewpoints and different perspectives. And I feel like it's always more to the comment. You know, I try to stay relatable because I want to. I want to. I love working in different crowds. Like, I just did a show in Kentucky and backwards of Kentucky, and it's just like I was the only black person there, and I liked it. I was able to relate to them and talk to them. So I try to. I try to just be a people person, make it about people, understand that, who I am, what I represent. But I can also understand for you and try to, I say, expand the viewpoint of comedy from a different lean, you know?

R. Scott Edwards: 13:51

Yeah, you bring it. You bring your observational comedy to their world. So. So even though you're a young black man in the backwoods of Kentucky, you're able to relate to those people because you're talking about observational comedy. The things that everybody, whether you live in the south or the New York or California, we all go to the store, we all deal with our parents. We all, you know, whatever you're talking about. And I will say that observational comedy is a great way to find a blended, be able to relate to many audiences. It worked for David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno. They're still doing that. Observational comedy is one of the easiest ways to find the broadest audience. So congratulations on that, Steven.

Steven Mays: 14:47

Yeah, they. And, yeah, they. I'll try to bring it all together. That's what I try to say. I try to bring all races together, and it just. It's great. I like it. Like everybody, I'm so. I'm falling in love with it all over stand up.

R. Scott Edwards: 15:02

Well, I think that that's interesting perspective. That is a comic, I gotta say, it's refreshing, Stephen, and I'm not blowing smoke up your ass or anything. We haven't actually met or worked together. I've just heard about you, saw your sets, and wanted to put you on the podcast. But I do like the fact that your comedy is not, per se, just about you or just about, you know, a lot of comics want to make, and it works sometimes. I mean, it works. And for a lot of comics, they make it about themselves or their world, and then they make it funny for the observing audience. In your case, your bringing the funny in a way that everybody in the audience is on the same page as you. And I think that you should be commended for that, because, one, it's not easy because all the audiences are different, and two, it transcends that kind of selfish view of comedy. You're, you're kind of, it's, I'm probably saying this way too dramatically, but you're not making it about you. You're making it about them.

Steven Mays: 16:16

Yes, because that's who it is about that. It's about the people. I wouldn't be able to do that if they didn't come, you know, so.

R. Scott Edwards: 16:25

Well, not, not a lot of comics realize that or work that way. And trust me, I've worked with people like Paula Poundstone and emo Phillips and some, you know, Bobcat Goldthwaite. There's, there's a lot of comics that had a lot of success that were character type comics, and there wasn't, you know, they were something to be observed and were funny, but it wasn't relatable as much to the audience. And I think that your success from coast to coast is your ability to talk. This is gonna maybe sound it, make it sound too bland, but you're being generic enough to relate to everybody. And I think that's not only a good way to go, but it can be a harder way to go.

Steven Mays: 17:14

And it did sound bland, but I know what you're trying to say.

R. Scott Edwards: 17:18

Yeah. I wasn't trying to insult you. It's actually, I know, I know it's a compliment.

Steven Mays: 17:25

I know, I know it's unique, but it's not blank. Well, what would you say?

R. Scott Edwards: 17:30

Yeah. Now what? Let me. You were just saying you were in the south, in Kentucky, and I know they're different. Their perspective on life is different than somebody in New York or somebody in southern California. When you're writing your material or you're up presenting to an audience, is it something that comes natural to you or is it kind of written into your material?

Steven Mays: 17:53

What you mean as far as, well, making it.

R. Scott Edwards: 17:56

Making it relatable and making it, you know, how do you write a joke that works in LA and also works in Kentucky? Coming from your point of view, do you think about that or just happen naturally?

Steven Mays: 18:12

I don't know. I never really thought about it, but I guess just being a people person, I don't know. Like, because I'm like, I feel like, okay, la. Use the example from LA to Kentucky. And then everybody has, you know, races all prevalent throughout from LA to concur, Kentucky. And one thing I noticed by Kentucky, yeah, they might not have a variety of race as far as just a lot of white people, but they. So, but the fact that they don't have a lot of white people there, when somebody black, mexican, they do. And that's one thing I didn't. They had some Hispanics out there, too. I went out there, they had a lot of mexican restaurants. But, like, the back part of Kentucky, they excited to hear what somebody else has to say that's not from there, especially of different rush, you know, versus when you go to LA, you just. Sometimes you beat you. Okay, let's see what this get another black dude, you know? But that's another talent. That's another talent within itself. You know, everywhere you go presents his own different talent. And that's what I like about it.

R. Scott Edwards: 19:18

Wow.

Steven Mays: 19:19

Then with that talent, with that talent, you can be like, okay, okay, I know I can. Got this joke here. Uh, I know it's going to work wherever I go, but I got to present it the way I can connect with the minds that I'm presently here in front of. I can have a conversation with some people, but it's not about the conversation, not about me. It's like, how can I learn from you about saying this? And, you know, how can I get you to just help me understand more what I'm talking about? You guys, like, like, okay. When you talk to different people from different areas, it almost helps you mold perspective that can see where everybody come from, no matter who, no matter what race you are.

R. Scott Edwards: 19:56

Wow.

Steven Mays: 19:57

I used to live in a pan.

R. Scott Edwards: 19:59

So for college, I gotta say, Stephen, that's a little deep for stand up. No, that's really. It means you've thought it through. And I think that that's a compliment to you, but I'm sure the audiences appreciate that.

Steven Mays: 20:16

Man, this is something, you know what I'm saying? This is something I think about deeply lie. And I don't get a chance to talk a lot about this, and so I'm happy to talk to another comedy lover. So it's like, it's flowing naturally now. I can just really get this out of my head. Cause, you know, this is something I think about a lot, and that's. I appreciate that.

R. Scott Edwards: 20:33

Well, I think it's good that you're realizing what you're doing. And I think it's interesting because, again, it doesn't really matter what your career choice is, sometimes you go through the motions and get the job done. And maybe this conversation and talking about your comedy this way opens up your impression of yourself and makes you be a little more introspective and understand where your comedy comes from. The important thing is it's working. But the more you understand why it's working, the better and stronger you'll be moving forward.

Steven Mays: 21:13

Thank you. Yeah.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:14

Now, you have obviously kind of made. I mean, you've made a career of this. You're not. You got rid of your day job, right?

Steven Mays: 21:23

No, no, no. There's no career yet. Everything is still off me. I don't have no career.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:28

Really? You can work all over the country and still hold down a job?

Steven Mays: 21:34

Yes. I still work full time.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:36

I just make time for it, you know, that's impressive. Steven, what's your main line of work?

Steven Mays: 21:42

I do just technician work during the day.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:47

Wow. So you are smart.

Steven Mays: 21:53

Sometimes I feel. Sometimes I still do some dumb stuff.

R. Scott Edwards: 21:59

Well, it's impressive that you can do gigs all over the country and hold down a day job. A lot of the people that listen to this podcast would find that shocking because it is difficult. And at some point, I think we all hope you find the success that you can stop your day job if that's what you want and be able to make a living from comedy because you do seem so good at it. From the sets I've seen, I thought you'd already gone pro. So technically, because you still have a day job, you would be considered an amateur. But, boy, you've had success everywhere. That's a real challenge to overcome. Good job, Stephen.

Steven Mays: 22:43

Thank you. Yeah.

R. Scott Edwards: 22:44

Well, when you getting into comedy and working clubs from coast to coast and building your comedy set, what do you feel has been the hardest thing for you to overcome?

Steven Mays: 22:58

Timidness. I say, you know, always when you try new ideas and you're trying to be fearless, you know, on stage, it comes with a sense of timidness and just overcoming that slight timidness, you know, I go on. I try to go on stage just confident I can be me. But it was like, you know, at one point in time, it was still like, I feel like I'm still holding something back. I still feel like I'm holding something back. And that's one of the things I said, one of the toughest things.

R. Scott Edwards: 23:28

So you're still trying to build confidence in yourself and in your material so that every time you go on stage, you're feeling in control. You still have a little bit of that fear and trepidation. And let me just share with you, Steven, and with my audience that I know seasoned pros that have done years of television, and they still have a little bit of interpretation before or when they get on stage. However, once they touch that microphone or once they start their act, all that fear washes away because you're in command of the moment. Once you have the microphone, you're in charge of the room. And that does give people the confidence to keep going and the exhilaration to keep going. So what I'm saying, Stephen, is it's not unusual to still have some fear after seven years of being, you know, doing standup comedy, but that the success for you will be when you get on stage and you, you're able to take that microphone and find the confidence to get through your practiced and solid material and bring that audience on the journey with you. That makes them laugh and makes you have a good time, which is so important that you and the audience have fun, right?

Steven Mays: 24:59

Yeah, that's, that's important. That's important right there. And I say, it's not so. It's not, it's not so much now, but that was, like I say, as far as getting through the years, one of those, right?

R. Scott Edwards: 25:12

Just getting a, getting an understanding of that. How much writing do you do, Steven? Do you have a discipline to write every day, or is it because you're still working? It kind of just comes haphazard.

Steven Mays: 25:25

I had, I tried different methods of writing throughout the year as I first, before I even got into comedy, and I just, this is the story that came in my head. I want to tell this, too. I remember my roommate back in college, because he was one of the people that say, you should do comedy because, you know, we used to spend time together and just tell jokes and stuff, stories. He was one of the people that, uh, told me to get in comedy, but he was one of the, like, I was having frustrated with class and all that, just not understanding what I was doing. I was like, man, man. I said, I was just so frustrated. I got back to my, got back to my room, and my roommate was in there, and I opened the door, I was like, man, I'm gonna start doing comedy. And then we all, every time we talk, we laugh about that moment. We think about that moment. I just had to put a shout out to that moment. He was like one of the first people, like, I came in, just throwing in the room, like, man, I'm gonna do comedy, and that's it. And then just thought about that moment for a second.

R. Scott Edwards: 26:22

Well, I think that's funny, though, Steve, and that you get frustrated with school and you go, you know, fuck that. I'm doing stand up.

Steven Mays: 26:31

Yeah, it was just like, that's how I was. And I. And I think from there, that's when I started actually, like, okay, let me just. I started writing. So before I even started doing, I think I was writing for some years, just writing stuff. I was just writing book, you know. Then I had a lot of free time just to write, you know, whatever comes, right. You know, I was looking for a job that I didn't write. Sometimes I sit in my car. I had a booklet, and I write, and I would write until then. And then as I got more comfortable years, I moved from Houston, I moved to Seattle. I found a job, and I started doing comedy more, you know, I started hitting more open mics, and I started finding time. Put a schedule together and just write. Let me find time to write. And I've always found out the best when I don't put myself on. No time, no boundaries to write. I just, I can be anywhere in the grocery store. I come up with something, I'll see something that triggers ideas, something I said before, something I've been working on, something fresh, and I'll sit in the grocery store, I stay in one spot for, like, 15 minutes and just write on my phone and then transfer it later. Have a paper, write on a piece of paper. You know, that's why people be teasing me, saying that I need to get a new phone. And I'm like, yeah, I need to know I need a new phone, but I have so much stuff on this phone, I want to keep it. And I, you know, it's kind of like, you know, it's kind of like superstitious. I don't want to get, I don't want to upgrade a new phone. I kind of want to keep something that's going to keep me like, oh, yeah, I know this one ain't working well, but it reminds me, okay, cool. I feel I got to bust my ass, you know, so I want to keep this on. It's like superstition, you know, most.

R. Scott Edwards: 28:04

Well, I think that that is a great piece of advice. I don't know if you realize that's what you were doing, but you were just giving advice to young comics is that things happen around us in our life that are funny, that catch our attention, that we see the humor in it. And I used to tell young comics, of course, I'm older than you, carry a pencil and paper, and you see something or you think of something, get it written down. It may not go anywhere, but you save all those pieces of paper, you're going to find some material that will work on stage. Now, these days, you're writing it on your phone. But the point is, is that you're open to whatever. It's going to come along in your life. You're going to see the funny, you're going to make a note of it while you're in the moment, and then you go back to it and you go, oh, was that really funny? Or can I, you know, or wasn't, and dredge it out? Now? I wanted to mention, Stephen, I asked you about what was the hardest thing, and you said that finding the confidence to get on stage time after time has been something that was challenging for you. Can you share with the audience what was the most rewarding part of getting in a stand up comedy? What, what gets you back on stage time and time again?

Steven Mays: 29:24

The smile. The people that, you know, just, it's, it almost is the joy of it. I mean, I don't know. I've never thought about that. I never had about an accident. But it's just looking at it, you know, it's a relief. It's almost like a man, everybody coming together is just a good moment, you know, laughing when everybody can just laugh. And it's that echo and that sound, man. It's a, it's. It's a relief. Like, is everybody. It really is. And so the release, the love, the. It's. It's refreshing. It's refreshing. It's something new. It's something that can be anew in your life every time, you know?

R. Scott Edwards: 30:05

Well, I think that we've. It's been mentioned many times that when you get laughter from strangers, it's like a drug. It's an adrenaline rush, and. But to have you vocalize it as the joy of the audience was really nice. Stephen, I think that that shows a lot about who you are as a human being, that what drives you, what you find rewarding is putting a smile on other people's faces. That is really special. And I'm so proud of you for saying that, because it is an industry where it is about us. It's what we see as funny, but it's entertaining. And I'm speaking as a producer here because I wasn't a comic. I wanted to make my audiences have a good time. I was bringing a form of entertainment. So to hear a professional entertainer say that I'm here because of what it brings to the audience is such an enlightened response. So good job on that. Thank you for sharing that.

Steven Mays: 31:12

Yeah, thank you.

R. Scott Edwards: 31:13

So, Steven, I know you got some more stuff. You have some more gigs coming up later, and are you going to be going back out on the road later in 2024? Do you have some planned road gigs, or are you going to stay and be working the clubs in the Houston area? What's your plan?

Steven Mays: 31:31

Well, my plan is to secure, you know, get these rogue gigs and start building up my network throughout the country and just put, get my own tour together, you know, put my face out there. And I have, you know, sketches and short films. Hopefully, I can get started on those with the right, you know, with the right connecting the right people. But it's no, I feel like everything is happening at the right time, and so I know it's going to work out, and everything just happened right at the right time. And my plan is, for right now, just, you know, get as many role gigs as I can, take the opportunity of free time that I have, and start from there.

R. Scott Edwards: 32:12

Well, I think that that sounds just fine. You don't need to feel the pressure of trying to make a living, which gives you an advantage. You can pick and choose the gigs you want to do in that when you find the free time, you're taking advantage of that free time and getting your butt on stage. I actually know a few agencies that book comics. I'm going to refer you. Barry Neal's been on this podcast, and he owns a large brokerage in California, southern California, and books all over the country. So I'm going to share your set and share your information with him. But let's.

Steven Mays: 32:47

Thank you.

R. Scott Edwards: 32:49

Oh, sure. It's my pleasure. Well, you've earned it. You've got good comedy material, and you have the right attitude about stand up.

Steven Mays: 32:56

Thank you. Thank you.

R. Scott Edwards: 32:58

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I want you to hear why I found Steven and why I wanted him on the podcast. So Stephen has graciously shared a couple of his recent sets. So I'm going to share some stand up comedy from Stephen Mays with you in just a minute. But first, let me just say, Stephen, thanks so much for being on the podcast.

Steven Mays: 33:19

No, I must appreciate you having the time, man. Thank you. Like, this was. This was much needed.

R. Scott Edwards: 33:26

Well, it's been a joy for us as well. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and enjoy some great stand up comedy by Stephen Mays. Stephen, thanks for joining us on the show.

Steven Mays: 33:37

Yes, sir.

R. Scott Edwards: 33:39

All right, here we go.

Steven Mays: 33:40

Like, with a friend, and then y'all commentate back and forth. And then some that they friend hit you with that you always trying to be right. You ever heard that? It's frustrating, you know what I'm saying? Because you know, you're not trying to be right. You just, you know, you explaining yourself and just having a conversation. Because I know for a fact I hear that shit. I'm like, I be confused. Cause I'm not trying to be right. Because at the end of everything that I say, whether it's advice or something, I say. I know for a fact I'm not trying to write. But because at the end, what I'm saying, I always hear that. I don't know, though. I don't even know. Niggas know what I'm talking about. I don't know. Where was you on the night of July 3? I don't know. I don't know, though. You know what I'm saying? I feel like if our politicians just say that after every speech, it gives them a little more credibility. If Joe Biden. Next time Joe Biden called on some stairs, they'd be like, what happened to Joe? I don't know. You know what? Joe might not know what you're talking about. And it's okay, you know? It's okay. Like, I was reading a book the day they use the word miscellaneous. I was like, damn, that's a nice word. I was like, who's the first person ever used that word in the sentence? Miscellaneous. You know, it sound cool. Let's say you riding down the highway and the cop pull you over, like, what's all it. What's all this in the air? This is miscellaneous smoke. Don't worry about that. It was. It was a fog early. Yeah, I had my windows down. You didn't see that shit? Like, you put your girl. Your girl going through your phone, and she was like, who all these women names in your phone? This is my misfit Mlanie's hoes. Don't worry about that. Don't even. Don't even worry about. That's just miscellaneous hoes. First earthquake this past week. And I know California. That ain't shit. But to me, I was confused as hell. Cause when I first felt it, like, I felt, like, a movement in my chest. I was like, lord, is this it? Like, is this a heart attack? I didn't know what to expect. And then after that, I felt, like, the shit shock in my chest. And I felt like my whole body moved. I was like, what the fuck is going on? And I heard the ceilings rattling. And I got up, I said, was that a fucking earthquake at work? Everybody looked at me like, what the fuck you tripping on? What the fuck you mean? I'm tripping on the whole ground.

R. Scott Edwards: 35:51

Just move.

Steven Mays: 35:53

This shit ain't normal, you know? Like, damn, you know, I guess, you know, my thing is, they tell you to, like, earthquake getting at your desk. I'm not. I'm getting outside. I'm not gonna be trapped for real.

R. Scott Edwards: 36:10

Well, that was Stephen Mays live on stage. It was a fun interview, some great little bit of comedy. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Thanks so much for joining us on the podcast. We'll be back next week with some straight stand up comedy. Hey, thanks for listening. Bye.

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