What do your parents think of your job?
My parents are surprisingly supportive! They don’t fully understand the terminology or the scope of comedy, but they are on board. They’ve been the crux of some of my jokes, but they understand jokes are jokes and not always real, and they don’t take anything personally. I always worked when I need to work while pursuing comedy, and they’ve always wished the best for me. From living in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, wherever, they’re on board. Doing a set on Conan and being on late night TV was a big deal to them (and me!) and I think that gave them a point of reference for what I was doing as “real.” I’ve gotten my dad to participate in my podcast as part of a game, though I have to explain to him what a podcast is, every once in a while. He even got recognized in public as “Kyle’s dad from the podcast” and I think that was a cool moment for him. My comedy now is an outlet for my life, living with chronic pain, and they are thankful that I have that.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
Every single day there are more non-comedy aspects of comedy that are required to try and make it. You’ve always needed effort, dedication, and being funny. Now you need video editing skills, a nice camera to record every set, a willingness to post jokes in progress, an online fandom anointed to you by the algorithm, and more. Or money to pay people to do all of those things. It’s tough to remember to be funny on top of all of that. There are a lot of unideal things about being a comedian. It’s often lonely, you’re chasing money down from questionable gigs and one-day jobs, often spending months trying to get paid. But all of those things existed when I started, so when I think about the worst thing about being a comedian, I gravitate towards changes that have made it harder, less fulfilling, and most importantly less about being funny.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
My opinion of myself, like most people I assume, fluctuates moment to moment. I am often very pessimistic, not feeling happy with where I am or what I am doing. I live with chronic pain, and feel as though I give up too many days to it, let it “win” too frequently. I’ve messed a lot of things up, but always try to take earnest steps to become better at whatever that is.
Comedy-wise, I am constantly battling the idea that I should be doing something slightly bigger, better, or different all of the time. It is unhealthy to compare yourself constantly to peers, but it’s inevitable. I have developed a way that helps me to feel good about myself and where I am, and that is this thought, “Two years ago, you’d almost certainly love it if you knew where you are now.” And that’s almost always been true, comedy-career-wise, in my life.
Late night TV, touring around the world, being published in so many major newspapers, publications, and more. Developing TV shows based on comedy shows I created. Working with heroes of mine, and becoming peers in their eyes. It’s a beautiful thing. And now, working on a comedy show about a disease that I have, that I refuse to let ruin my life, and seeing how it makes people laugh, and helps people who are going through something. I’m proud of you, Kyle. That’s nice to say.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
I don’t earn much, and I certainly wouldn’t call it “enough,” but I am lucky enough to earn enough money through comedy where it is my life and my career, while still putting most everything I earn into paying off medical debt. My podcast, doing shows on the road, and performing wherever and whenever I can, it’s a beautiful life. And this allows me to spend the time I want and need to spend with comedy. I would like to earn enough to slow down a bit, and focus on quality over quantity.
Right now comedians are feeding algorithms in an attempt to feed ourselves, and I’d love to get to a place where I no longer need to do that. Maybe we can reallocate some funds from a dozen or so rich people, and redirect them to artists and folks that made those people so rich to begin with. There are some ideas and conceptual comedy things I’d love to be able to execute, but they’d require time, notoriety, and flexibility, all of which could come with having a little bit more money. I’d also love a home with a yard and a fire pit and a fruit tree, I’m not even picky which kind. If I ever hit it BIG? The money is moving right through me to folks who need help with medical bills. I know what debt Research for Trigeminal Neuralgia, which has nearly ruined my life for years now.
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I think anyone who told you that luck wasn’t involved would be lying. Constantly putting yourself in a situation to get lucky, maybe that’s the way to put it. I’ve worked so hard, continually put myself out there, and in addition to getting lucky (being in the right place to be seen by the right people at the right times), I’ve had so much help. Friends, peers, folks along the way who have all helped me out in ways I couldn’t begin to list. From, early on, connections, couches to crash on, the wonderful network of comedians around the world, to meeting producers, getting my jokes seen, my scripts read. There’s a solid list of folks to thank for how lucky I’ve gotten.
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
I thought about this question for a while! I think most comedians would like to be perceived as tortured artists, it’s a story that plays really well when you inevitably discuss your “origin” story to a podcast. It makes you feel like you’ve paid your dues. Now, I’m definitely not a golfer. So maybe I’m a self-harmer, a tortured artist. I can’t say that without it sounding like a question, I’m so unsure of it all. Maybe I am a reformed-tortured-artist-pursuing-golf. I am in physical, chronic pain most days, but trying to just “get on with life” and take each day for what it is, going on, laughing at and along with it all.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
It’s impossible to narrow this down to just one person, so I will give you one of my favourite people ever who does not know I exist and is not a comedian. The animator Don Hertzfeldt. He makes funny, tragic, wonderful, devastating cartoons. His style is minimal and unique, and seeing his work when I was young opened up my mind to the idea that you could just… make something. I know it’s not that simple, but you can make your idea, and you can say something beautiful and important and silly all at the same time. His animated short “Rejected” is fairly well known, but go watch “I Am So Proud of You” and have a good laugh and cry.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
I have to admit I thought this meant “dresser drawers” for too long before thinking “oh, underwear.” YES I keep my drawers, my underwear, clean. Get a bidet, people. Americans are especially slow to adopt bidets, probably because they are not a gun or they don’t have bald eagles on them. In twenty years a tech company will pitch bidets to Americans as “hydro-pH balancing underside cleansers” and the rest of the world will watch us pretend we invented them. Do I ever have an emergency and a pair of drawers gets an accelerated trip to the washer? Of course, I’m a degenerate comedian with a bad diet who is often on a cocktail of medication.
Kyle Ayers' ‘Hard To Say’ is at Just The Tonic Just Up The Road @ 7.25pm for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
PHOTO CREDIT – ADAM SEGAL (Digital Artist)
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