Nothing you do in life begins without the first action.
A baby can’t walk without taking their first step; a child can’t speak without saying the first word, and a comedian can’t rise to stardom without telling the first joke.
Stand-up comedian David Gborie would be the first to tell you that this business is all about two things, the jokes you tell and how many people want to hear you tell those jokes over and over again.
Grinding through the famous Los Angeles comedy scene, earning a new loyal follower each and every step of the way, Gborie has built a comedy career that many would say has become a successful world of laughs all his own.
Known for stellar performances on MTV, Comedy Central, and NBC, along with the popular weekly podcast that he co-hosts with fellow rising star Langston Kerman, he would take the non-traditional route for his latest project in the forms of a new comedy special titled Gbirth of a Nation.
Filmed in his hometown of Denver, CO, and betting solely on himself throughout the process, the project follows David in front of a mass gathering of his loyal fans as he shares his comedic gospel on a variety of topics and current events.
Recently, We Own The Laughs’ Tyson Paul had an opportunity to sit down and chat with David to discuss the process of creating a comedy special, why he took a different path, and his thoughts on the current state of comedy.
Growing up, was there comedy you were taking in that you connected with, or was trying it really just kind of the only thing to do, and you trusted yourself enough to see what would happen?
I didn’t really like stand-up comedy when I was growing up; I thought they were boring, and I mostly connected with sitcoms and movies. In the summer of ’96, my mom and I went to Atlanta to visit family, and while we were there, we saw The Nutty Professor in the theater I’d say that probably had the most significant effect on me as far as what comedy could be and how much I loved it. I never thought about doing it myself until my friend Sam Tallent started performing after high school and told me he thought I’d be good at it.
How long have you chosen to name this special The Gbirth Of A Nation? Were there other titles that you had in mind during the selection process?
That title actually started as a joke between my manager and me because I couldn’t think of a more serious one. As time went by and the project started to take shape, it felt more and more appropriate. We kicked around a few ideas, but nothing felt right. American Horror Gborie was my second choice.
Tell me about your writing/performing process when it comes to producing a comedy special. Do you have structure or a story flow in mind before you get onstage, or does it take shape in front of the audience? Do you worry that your material will be affected by short views and clickbait?
So the material on this project was all the stuff I wrote when we were getting out of COVID and I was getting back on the road. Most of my material comes from things said in casual conversations, so I kind of take the general idea onstage as it was told verbatim and start to play with it based on crowd response. I try not to concern myself too much with what the internet’s going to think about my jokes. If they work in front of a live audience, that’s good enough for me.
You touch on various social topics in your special. Some jokes are quick hitters, while others are lengthy stories with a hilarious ending. How do you feel social platforms like TikTok and YouTube shorts have impacted the way you work on connecting with loyal comedy fans and short-attention millennials?
It’s definitely tempting to want to play to the algorithms, but I’ve always prided myself on my live show, and I’m terrible at computers, so I have to keep that in mind. I’m lucky that I have two different podcasts where I can promote my shows, so I don’t have to rely too much on cutting up my act for reels and that kind of thing to drive engagement.
We’re in this era right now, where many comics believe that comedy specials are no longer special. There are comedians who record every set and immediately post it to YouTube, or there are comedians who don’t record material even though they should or let the crowd work do all the work for them. What are your thoughts on this visual era of comedy?
It’s kind of annoying because a lot of the time, these clips spotlight the high points of very mediocre acts, but I make my peace with it by knowing that’s not my lane. I’m not looking to trick anyone into seeing me for one tour and then being underwhelmed by my show. As long as I see steady growth, I’m happy.
Editing while working with a premier streaming service can sometimes be complicated for comedians. But you’ve taken a very different route using Patreon, practically betting on yourself. Can you explain why Patreon is great for stand-up comedians? Will you ever consider uploading your special to YouTube or another streaming service?
The great part of Patreon is that it allows you to have full control and make a little money. Specials can be expensive, especially for someone like me who doesn’t have the biggest following. By allowing me to sell directly to my audience, Patreon makes it so I don’t have to cross my fingers for a million views on YouTube or buy a bunch of followers to make me relevant enough to get a shot at the big streamers. I can make a product, price it fairly, and make enough money to be able to do it again down the line. I’ll put it on Netflix if they give me 1 million dollars.
Because of the age of social media, you can find out immediately what consumers think of your material. Do you think you’ll focus on people’s comments and remarks towards the special or more on the overall views?
In a perfect world, my answer would be neither (Laughs). I would be happy to create for creating’s sake, but truthfully, I’ll probably look at the comments. The cool thing about being behind a paywall is that if somebody comments something terrible, they probably bought it, so the joke’s on them.
You’ve been performing stand-up comedy for a long time and have seen many different sides. Is today’s comedy more inclusive than ever before?
That’s a tricky word. I think it’s way more “Inclusive” as far as the types of people participating, which is awesome. It does feel like people are less willing to listen to acts that they disagree with personally than they used to be, and that’s a little disappointing. One of my favorite parts of comedy is seeing and laughing at a perspective or set of morals completely different from my own.
Joke stealing and revealing comedians’ career fabrications have become significant topics among the media and comedy community in 2024. What are your thoughts on the issue?
I think that those are among the least important things to focus on in comedy today. Joke stealing happens and tends to be policed fairly within the group at large and career fabrications happen in all of entertainment. I don’t need to read about gossip that I can hear at an open mic.
Now that the special is completed, how has your life been?
It’s pretty much the same. I’m thinking about buying a new seat for my bicycle, but other than that, it’s business as usual.
As part of the popular podcast, My Momma Told Me, not only do you get the opportunity to work with another rising star in friend Langston Kerman, but a comedic icon in Will Ferrell. Who has been your favorite guest on the podcast so far, and what is your favorite moment?
The guests are all great in their own unique ways, but my favorite part of the show has been building rapport with Langston. We’ve honed in on a fun (chaotic) dynamic, and it’s exciting to see it play out every week.
Do you officially consider yourself a comedic superstar?
Sh*t no! (Laughs)
Are you already back on the road? Are you thinking about the next hour? Are you interested in doing more acting in the future?
As usual, I have some dates on the calendar. The next hour is always in the back of my mind, but right now, I’m primarily focused on writing and telling jokes I like. I’ll give this all up in a heartbeat for a bit part in an A24 film.
What advice do you have for young comedians currently in the process of completing their own comedy special?
Enjoy the process. None of this is as big of a deal as you think it is, I promise. Also, make sure your audio doesn’t suck.
What goals throughout your comedy career are you still seeking to achieve?
I’d like to try the chicken fingers at every comedy club in America.
Where are some upcoming shows that fans can see you live?
8/23-24 Dallas Comedy Club (Dallas, TX)
10/24-27 Rooster T Feather’s (Sunnyvale, CA)
11/20 Philly Punchline (Philadelphia, PA)
11/22-23 Goodnights Comedy Club (Raleigh, NC)
12/6-7 Cap City Comedy Club (Austin, TX)
*David Gborie can also be seen in Netflix’s animated series Exploding Kittens and AppleTV’s The Instigators.
Follow David Gborie on Instagram HERE
David Gborie latest comedy special Gbirth Of A Nation, is available HERE on Patreon.
