Coronavirus and Comedy: a Discussion with MOMCOMNYC
Coronavirus is changing the world for creatives in ways that are hard to predict. Change is inevitable, though there is still hope for expression. Live events may be on hiatus for the time being, but true creativity can never be stifled; it just changes forms. Now is a great time for aspiring musicians, comedians and influencers to create digital content.
I recently had the chance to connect with comedian/influencer, Alyce Chan to talk about the current state of comedy and the creative world as a whole. She gave me some insight into how she’s been keeping busy during the quarantine, and advice for aspiring performers.
Chan is a stand-up comedian, content creator and event curator. She is the founder of “MOMCOM”, an online platform and event series that provides humor and entertainment for parents and families. Chan also hosts “Nothing Taboo,” a live comedy event aimed at taking on taboo subjects, and “BYOB” (Bring Your Own Baby), a stand-up show for mothers with young children.
As a natural creative, Chan was drawn to comedy as an outlet for expression. She studied improv and stand-up at classic New York comedy staples like the Gotham Improv and Caroline’s, where she honed her craft. She recalls one of her early sets at a talent show at Caroline’s on Broadway in our recent interview.
“The funny thing is, I totally bombed. Judah Friedlander [from 30 Rock] stopped by to do a 15-minute set and the booker bumped my position to go after Judah! That was my first time meeting him… without even knowing who he was. He stuck around for my set and also told my teacher [at the time] that he liked my material, which gave me the confidence to keep at it, even after I bombed.”
This is a great anecdote for any aspiring performer. The truth is, sometimes things don’t go as planned. You have to roll with the punches. It’s better to welcome feedback than let it discourage you. If you’re going to make it in comedy, you have to be able to take criticism and learn from it.
After that Chan pushed on, performing at various open mics and comedy clubs, including the famous Comedy Cellar. She continued to build momentum as a comic until her first son was born, when she decided to take a hiatus from comedy.
Now she has found a way to blend both worlds, giving her authentic take on parenting through a medium she loves. We recently chatted about her creative process as a comedian, both online and off, and where she believes the future of live comedy is headed.
The big topic of discussion right now is COVID-19 and the quarantine. How has this “new normal” impacted your life and career? How do you think it will impact the comedy world in the future?
I’ve been producing and hosting unique comedy events for parents, women and mothers for the past couple of years. On March 12th, I had a big production that I had to cancel. It was a hard decision for me, as the event was set to feature some big performers. Many people were looking forward to it, but amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, postponing it was the right thing to do.
COVID-19 and the quarantine has definitely impacted comedians. We can no longer perform on stage, where we thrive. We have to find a way to make things work without the energy and feedback from a live audience.
Right now, I am trying different streams of delivering humor since being on stage is not possible. I’m doing virtual shows, writing more and producing memes more frequently. I’m also using videos as another component on my Instagram – making parodies of parenthood that people can relate to in the time of quarantine.
As for the future, stand-up comedy cannot survive solely by just being online. Sure, you can deliver comedy on screen, but the feedback loop in a room from a live audience is integral to the performance; that’s what comedians thrive on. During this time, comedians are looking at different ways to exercise their comedic muscle – some may even discover a platform that they never would’ve thought of before the pandemic.
When did you start utilizing social media and how has it helped your career? Are there any specific tactics you used to build your brand?
I started an Instagram account in late 2017 because I had a funny joke that I wanted to share through an online platform. It was a great tool because it encouraged me to write a joke each day that had to be condensed into a 1080 by 1080 pixel frame. It has helped me in my career as it was another platform to deliver jokes when I was a full time parent at home with two kids under three.
As my content became noticed by big meme accounts, I realized I had something good and that Instagram was the best platform to reach a wider audience. I realized that a lot of my jokes were about parenthood and marriage and my following grew as my content proved to be relatable and funny.
The strategy I’ve used is to speak truthfully using my day to day experience as a mom and wife. If it doesn’t sound right, I don’t post it. Sometimes it will take me a minute to write a joke, and sometimes it takes me two days to get the wording just right.
Do you use Tik Tok?
Tik Tok is brand new for me! But I’m eager to learn, and see what I can do with it. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of dance challenges and I let my kids join in if they want. Usually they aren’t interested until I start dancing. Then they “Tik Tok bomb” it, which actually reels pretty funny content. I’m only a few months into it, so I’m no expert. My suggestion is to have fun with it and use it to move your body. Do short videos so it’s not a huge commitment. I love the physical aspect of Tik Tok. It’s how I’m getting my weekly exercise right now.
As an event host and live performer, how are you adapting to the current situation? Are you doing any virtual shows or online meetups to stay in touch with your audience or community?
As a host, performer and community builder, my main priority right now is to keep building my community and strengthen connections. I feel that social connection is very important to maintain a healthy mental balance. I have started a weekly meet up called “How Cold Is Your Coffee Talk” for women and mothers where I co-host with my partner Therese Miu of “Fire Dash Media.” We limit the guest count to 20 so that we have time to hear from everyone in terms of how they are feeling. We offer insights and tips and keep it light with some humor. Sometimes we’ll invite a specialist, such as a meditative coach and do mindful exercises, or a relationship expert and offer some sane practices to keep the harmony at home under stressful times. It is a way to connect like-minded women, offer nourishment for the soul and boost happy hormones.
I’m also the creator of BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) comedy show – which ran for two years, based in Greenpoint Brooklyn at the Word Bookstore, before COVID-19. I’ll be hosting my first virtual one at the end of April, and also expanding it across borders so it will be my first International virtual show.
Do you have any advice for aspiring comedians or influencers going forward? How to develop content during the quarantine? Or how to develop their career once it ends?
Keep writing! Find humor in your everyday life and jot down jokes in your notebook. Refine it until you are comfortable with it and experiment across different social media platforms. Facebook is a lot more G rated, Instagram has more of an edge and with Twitter, you can directly say the things you want. So once I have a thought, I jot it down. I’ll add it to my twitter if it’s edgy material and then I make G-rated versions of it and post it on FB. My final post is always on Instagram because“MOMCOM NYC” has a specific niche voice that I cater to through this platform. Experimenting with these different platforms allows you to practice your various tones – from writing blue jokes, then translating them into clean jokes if you envision being on TV one day.
Also, experiment with video. It’s low commitment and the magic is in the editing. You can make something super seamless looking by paying close attention to how you edit the project.
Use this time to be experimental! There’s nothing to lose. We’re all at home and people are craving distraction and entertainment.
Any other projects you’re working on right now that people should know about?
I’m working on my second installment of an empowering show called “Nothing Taboo.” It’s part comedy and part empowerment on womens’ subjects that are normally deemed taboo. I’m also continuing with my “BYOB” shows virtually. My “How Cold Is Your Coffee Talks” is happening weekly and all women are invited to join. I’m also joining up with some super meme stars in the parenting world to create new parodies on Instagram. If there is something that COVID-19 CAN’T do, it’s to take away our passion to create. Sure, things are not normal right now. There is nothing normal right now. However, it is a pause. It’s an opportunity for us to keep afloat in different ways, challenge ourselves to keep doing what fulfills us, and in the meantime, benefit others in need as well.
You can follow Alyce Chan on Instagram @momcomnyc or visit her website http://www.momcom.co/
Author: Charles Marduk
Twitter: @charlesmarduk IG: @charlesmardukproductions
