As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Mike Betancourt. The San Jose, CA native shares with us some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he owns the laughs.
Name: Mike Betancourt
Hometown: San Jose/Elk Grove, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @MikeBComedy
Years in Comedy: 17
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Wrestlemania 31, Mama’s Boy, Traffik, & Comedy Time TV
Comedic Influences: Robin Williams, Pablo Francisco, Arnez J, Dave Chappelle, & Jim Carrey
Favorite Comedy Album: Richard Pryor “Live on the Sunset Strip”
Favorite Comedy Special: Dave Chappelle “Killin’ Them Softly”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Favorite Comedy TV Show: The Simpsons
Favorite Comedic Character: Homer Simpson. Best TV Dad EVER!
Favorite City to Perform In: Coos Bay, Oregon. I am practically the Mayor there. I love Coos Bay.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Family or real-life situations
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Ones that want to be at a comedy show. I can’t stand it when people are bitter and not wanting to laugh. Why sit there and be miserable? Just go somewhere else.
Favorite Comedy Club: Punchline Sacramento
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I was in an acting class and our final was stand up comedy. I have no idea why that was our final in an acting class but I went with it. I got 5 mins to perform stand up comedy. I haven’t stopped since.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I threw up before going on. It was the worst feeling in the world and I don’t wish that feeling on my worst enemy.
How would you describe your comedic style:
High energy, animated and engages with the crowd.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Honestly, I write a few things down on paper and then I go on stage. I really enjoy writing on stage.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Sacramento, there are a lot of great comics who came through here and Sac-town is the perfect spot for other gigs around the area.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
If you are paying your bills from comedy, you’ve made it.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I love watching Nick Larson perform because I saw him when he first started. He’s grown a lot and has been my “cut man” in the corner. He’s always given me great advice and perspective that I didn’t see.
I also enjoy watching Dustin Wood, he’s been doing comedy for 8 years and he has taken my advice. He listens and his comedy has also grown tremendously.
I will always enjoy watching D-Tyler. D-Tyler is not from this planet, he’s always and I mean always funny. Any time, any place, anywhere D-Tyler makes me laugh.
Kristen Frisk is funny and if she is having a bad day in the real world, she harnesses that anger and makes her comedy funny. Really funny.
Cheryl The Soccer Mom Anderson, first off, you gotta see her on my live stream podcast. She was drunk and it was the funniest interview I ever had. Cheryl is hilarious and can go to any room and make people laugh.
Brett Walkow. Brett has been a great friend to me over the years. Not only does he give me great advice in comedy but he has helped me grow with my online content. Brett is a walking talking empire that all of us need to follow and make a career out of. He is extremely funny and talented. He can go clean, rated R, church comedy, corporate. It doesn’t matter where you put him, he will make people laugh hard.
Chicago Steve Barkley is a 45 year season vet and watching him perform always has me in awe. The way he says his jokes is like the way he pours water into a cup, it just flows perfectly.
Finally, David Lew. David is one of my best friends in comedy and in life. I love him and his family very much. David is a huge inspiration not just because he is a comedian but he overcame Stage 4 Cancer. He beat it with the power of positivity and kindness( and of course a new trial medication) Not only did he beat cancer but he just graduated from Arizona State, he’s writing a book, he does speaking at conferences and he still has time to do stand up comedy on top of being an amazing father and husband. David Lew is the man of the decade.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
The ability to engage with the crowd and do my material at the same time. That’s always been fun for me to do. I love it because it keeps my comedy fresh.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Never to make that mistake again and let other people gossip and talk about your bad set that you had. Just focus on your next set which will be great.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
“You’re a comedian? No way!”….”I want to go to your show.” I enjoy those people who are genuinely interested in coming to my show. People are shocked that I am a comedian because I am very quiet off stage and I have RBF at times.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
It was hard at first because I just wanted to be that Headliner who was the main attraction at the comedy clubs. I thought of that ever since I started comedy. But over the years and many failures later, I have learned that this is a marathon and not a race. So in this marathon of comedy the best thing about building a career in comedy is developing awesome relationships with comedians that I still know to this day.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Increase comedians’ pay. We deserve it.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“If you ain’t getting a standing ovation, you ain’t killing it.” That advice has kept me humble and makes me work hard every night.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“I don’t know”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I once smoked weed with Ralphie May. Nothing really happened, we just smoked out and laughed a lot. Good weed, good company.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any forms of comedy:
X-Fest in Modesto. Just a weird drunken crowded festival. I had to do comedy on the corner while people were walking by. No one cared because they had no idea what the hell was going on. I performed that set for 45 min. It was fun, weird and brutal at the same time.
A Mike Betancourt Fun Fact:
I am a huge pro-wrestling fan.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would love to become a director in film.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Your pure heart knows how to make people laugh. Listen to it, listen to them and listen to the laughter. Never let it go once you feel the laughter.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
The future is bright in comedy because there are still good people in it. They will continue to spread that positivity to the next generation.
If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
I would write for the Three Stooges and make sure one would always have a stick of dynamite, the other with a can of gasoline and one with a lighter. What could possibly go wrong?
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Throckmorton Theater in Napa Valley. First of all, I love that theater and I would like to share this night with 3 of my comedian friends. We would have fun before, during and after the show.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
If you don’t laugh you die, miserably.
Watch Mike Betancourt at the Koto Brewing Co in Twin Falls, Idaho:
Follow Mike Betancourt’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @mikebcomedy
Youtube: Mike B Comedy
Personal Website: www.mikebetancourt.com
