Todd Barry was born in the Bronx. After getting his BA in English from the University of Florida (there’s hope for you yet, English major!) Barry made his way back to NYC where he currently resides. Along with his stand-up work, Barry also acts and does voice work — he’s been all over the television; he’s also done a bit of writing for The Believer. He tours extensively: This week his travels bring him here to Austin. I caught up with Mr. Barry to ask his opinion on an array of subjects.
That Other Paper Have you ever been to Austin before?
Todd Barry Yes, I’ve been to Austin a few times, but never during SXSW.
TOP What’re your favorite things about this city?
TB The Mexican food and the bars. Club DeVille — I like that place.
TOP What annoys you most about people on cell phones?
TB I’d have to say when they use them on the train. If I’m traveling somewhere just a few hours away I’ll take the Amtrak, and someone always wants to have a really loud, full-on conversation. I was in a tea shop the other day and this guy was yelling on his cell phone. I was like, “Really — in a tea shop?” And then of course people at my shows never hesitate to text. It’s been a while since someone actually made a call, you know, right in front of my face. But they will text from the front row center without thinking twice about it.
TOP Is there a difference between being broke and being poor?
TB Is there a difference? I’d say being broke is a choice.
TOP What’s your attitude toward hipsters?
TB Hipsters. Well, people like to make fun of hipsters. But I like hipsters — I like hanging out with hipsters. But I also enjoy ridiculing them. So maybe that’s why I like hanging out with them. And in the end what’s a hipster, really?
TOP So what’s your plan once you get down to Austin?
TB Well, I’m doing four shows. I’m doing The Onion party on Thursday. I’m doing a show at Esther’s Follies and The Velveeta Room on Friday. Then on Saturday I’m doing Mess With Texas.
TOP Do you have any advice on how to make it?
TB You mean like to young comics, that kind of thing?
TOP Yeah, and really just to anyone who wants to live an independent lifestyle.
TB Well, this is the most boring answer in the world, but it’s just about hanging in there. You do it and someone says no to you and you keep doing it and someone says no to you and you keep doing it and then someone says yes. It’s a no-no-yes kind of thing. The thing with comedy, and really any creative endeavor, is that you really just have to do it. It’s not about getting an agent or a manager — you just have to do the work, and the rest usually takes care of itself.
TOP So other than coming down for SXSW, what else do you have going on?
TB I just came out with a new CD — it came out March 4 — called From Heaven. It’s a live performance recorded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in a comedy club above a Chinese restaurant. The club is actually part of the restaurant. It’s number nine on the iTunes comedy charts right now. I don’t know what that means, really, but this is just the first week it’s out.
Then I’m about to go touring with a buddy of mine — Louis C.K. We’ll be going all around the country. Then in April I’ll be going to London. I feel very welcome in London — they get me there. Doing some headlining stuff in Minneapolis. I have some other things coming up, but I can’t remember where — I tour a lot. I’m constantly coming in and out of town. I live in New York. I never go out for a nine-week stretch or anything; it’s always like leave, come back, leave, come back.
TOP Have you been doing any interesting reading lately?
TB Yeah, I’m reading Steve Martin’s memoir right now, Born Standing Up. It’s just about him becoming a stand-up comedian and then getting out of stand-up. It’s interesting.
TOP There’s this idea that writers don’t really like to hang out with other writers. And comedians are writers, too. I know you tour with other comedians, but do you all hang out as friends as well?
TB Well, with comedians, I think we hang out with each other more than we should, maybe. Occasionally I want to be like, Man, these people are nice, but is there a doctor I could meet — or maybe a tax specialist? But, yeah, I think generally comedians have the same kind of schedule. I mean, you’re on stage for like 20, 30 minutes and then there’s just a lot of downtime to hang out.
TOP How do you do your writing — just on the fly or do you schedule time to sit down and get things on paper? And also, how do you know a joke will be funny, or is that totally up to the audience?
TB I generally write on stage. I’ll think of an idea, formulate in my head a bit, and then just put it out there and see what happens. I repeat this over and over again until the joke is refined. I don’t always know if a joke will be funny. I wouldn’t try something if I didn’t think (at least at first) that it would be funny. But sometimes I look back and go, Why would I think an audience would laugh at that?
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