As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Raj Belani. The Long Island, NY native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Raj Belani
Hometown: Long Island/Queens, NY
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @Rajbelani
Years in Comedy: 12
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Raj Against The Machine Podcast
Comedic Influences: Mark Normand, Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, & Ronny Chieng
Favorite Comedy Album: George Carlin “Class Clown”
Favorite Comedy Special: Eddie Murphy “Raw”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Eurotrip
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Favorite Comedic Character: Chandler Bing (Friends)
Favorite City to Perform In: Philadelphia, PA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Sex, relationships, & topical
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A blue collar audience, people who don’t let their politics get in the way of laughter. People who are out and about to have a good time.
Favorite Comedy Club: Helium Comedy Club (Philadelphia)
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I had to move from Long Island to Lancaster, PA when I was 26. I went insane, due do the lack of things to do, and needed to find some creative outlet. I looked up some stand-up comedy classes, and Google led me to The Philly Improv Theater in Philly. I signed up and paid $500 for four 1-hour classes, during which the instructors told me that the only way to become a comedian is to go to open mics, get on stage, and do it – probably one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned. Could I have learned that from a quick Google search and saved myself $500? Probably.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
It was called 2 Guys Walk Into A Bar Open Mic at the Lizard Lounge in downtown Lancaster, PA. I was nervous as all hell. I remember thinking that all the guys at that open mic were professionals, and that I was an idiot for even trying in front of them. (They were all local Lancaster comics who, in retrospect, weren’t very good…except Shane Gillis, Lemaire Lee, and Nate Marshall…they’re doing pretty ok now and I’m not jealous at all). Anyway, I went up, bombed, and sat back down. When I sat back down, I immediately started thinking about what jokes I would do at the next mic, instead of quitting. I knew then that this was something I wanted to pursue because I’m a huge quitter. I played JV Football in High School and I remember the first game of the season, I got my ass handed to me, and I immediately quit. But the fact that I was thinking about where to get up next after bombing at the mic and feeling humiliated… that’s when I knew I had the bug.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I’m super set up and ready to go. I take a very New York approach to stand-up comedy, you know, “jokes per minute”…But I’m not sure if I adopted that style because I like it or because my window of silence between laughs is pretty small. I get super nervous if I don’t hear laughter, so I try to keep them constantly laughing. I don’t engage in long stories or crowd work; I tried, but it just doesn’t work for me.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I’ve been in the game for 12 years, and I still am struggling with being a disciplined writer. I wait for things to happen to me before I turn it into a joke. I can’t just sit there and think of things; I need things to happen to me before I see a joke in something. I also can’t flesh out a joke on paper like some people. I’m jealous of those guys! I flesh out jokes “on stage” until they turn into something. I also don’t give up on jokes. If I find something funny but the audience doesn’t, I keep working on it til they do. There are some jokes that I’m still tweaking today that I came up with 10 years ago.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Well, I’m currently in Astoria, Queens, and the comedy scene is…well, it’s something. We got QED, the closest club in the area without hopping on a subway, and that’s about it. There are some bar shows here and there, but if you want to get some stage time, you need to go into Brooklyn or Manhattan, and the scene there…Well, it’s the best. You’re rubbing shoulders with the biggest comedians in the world, hanging with them, doing shows with them. It’s a level playing field, and it trains you to continuously work on being a better and stronger comedian.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I judge a comedian’s success by the integrity of their jokes about the following they’ve built. Basically, a comic who builds a fanbase staying true to who they are and not shifting their views or material to conform to a crowd. I hate pandering and I think any comic who panders has definitely lost a sense of self over time. Money doesn’t mean much to me. Sometimes you’ll get paid doing shows where you hate yourself after, and sometimes you’ll do shows for free, which are so great that they inspire you to keep going. I feel like if you stay true to yourself, continue working on the craft, and continue being funny, then the money will come. If money were the deciding factor, then I guess you can say cruise comics are “successful”…
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
First and foremost, Mark Normand. To see how his brain works and how he connects the most disconnected things in order to make a joke is incredible. He is always “on” and is not afraid to say or try anything to work out a joke. His commitment to the craft is Olympian level. Drew Lynch is also a tremendous inspiration; I love his ability to tell these long, hilarious stories, break away for crowd work (sometimes for like 10-15 minutes), get right back to the story, and absolutely bring the house down with the punchline. Besides being hilarious, he has a powerful work ethic and is very disciplined, both mentally and physically.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
My most memorable moment in comedy was when the booker of The Punchline Philly reached out to me to feature Vir Das, who was performing a sold-out 6-show weekend. That was my first real club weekend, and it was all thanks to a super funny Philly comic, Pat House, who recommended me. I had never met Pat before, and at the time, he was doing the road and opening for some pretty big acts. But the fact that he knew who I was and recommended me to one of the largest clubs in Philadelphia to feature for a 6-show weekend was when I knew I was moving in the right direction.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Honestly, there are no “failures’ In comedy. Every “negative” situation still has a positive outcome. I once did a super shitty gig at a brewery, drove 2 hours to get there, to perform in front of 4 people and get paid one drink. Some would consider that shitty, but one of the comics who opened the show was friends with Drew Lynch and told me that he was looking for an opener for an upcoming weekend. He gave me his number, and I got in touch; we’ve been great friends ever since. That “shitty” gig got me connected to someone who I developed a professional relationship with and ultimately a very close friend. Even when I perform shows where the audience is loud and not paying attention, I still view it as an opportunity to develop my crowd control skills further.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I’ve yet to encounter someone who wasn’t ok with me making them laugh. People are usually pretty receptive to humor. The only instance where someone was annoyed by my ability to make people laugh was a dude at a bar who was trying to hit on a lady, but she kept laughing hard at my jokes, and he couldn’t shine… Needless to say, he went home alone…I mean, so did I because I have a lady.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s tough, and I know this sounds so cliché, but honestly, if you keep pushing, something will lead to something. People will fall off and as long as you’re still standing, you’ll get opportunities. Treat every gig as if it’s an audition. Write every joke with an applause break in mind and continue to refine your craft. Additionally, stay current with the times. We’re living in an entirely different stand-up world now than we were five years ago. Post clips, get followers and fans. You have jokes? Great! But can you put people in those seats? At the end of the day, the club must keep the lights on and pay its staff. There’s more to just “being funny”, it’s essential, but not nearly enough if you’re looking to turn stand-up into a career..
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I’d get rid of crowd work clips! I think they’re inadvertently training audiences to be hecklers! If all people see on social media is “comedian destroys heckler,” then people will think that screaming out during a show is what’s to be expected. It isn’t very pleasant. Additionally, I’ve seen many comedians turn into clip chasers, where they try to antagonize the audience in the hope of eliciting a fun interaction. It’s the worst thing in the world to watch live, and it’s not stand-up comedy. I’m guilty of posting some crowd work clips myself, we all do it, but I wish crowd work never gained as much traction as it did. Don’t get me wrong, there are some notable crowd work comedians, such as Jeff Arcuri. He’s figured out a way to organically weave the crowd work in between these super funny stories, and you don’t realize it’s happening. If you can turn it into an art form, go for it. But if you’re getting up there in hopes of getting a good clip, don’t even bother.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
I remember I did a show and they lit me early, and I didn’t have enough time to set up my closer, so I just abandoned the closing joke altogether and ended on another joke that wasn’t as strong. I went to the bar to hang out with the other comedians and was like, “Ah, man, they lit me up early; I couldn’t get to my closer.” Jocelyn Chia turns to me and goes “you should write every joke as if it’s your closer”. That one sentence blew my mind and completely changed the way I think about jokes. Why is one joke stronger than the other ones? They should all be strong! Sean Patton also once told me to change the order of jokes every time I go up; it tricks your brain into delivering your jokes as if you’re telling them for the first time. Your bits end up coming off like you thought about them on the spot. It’s wild how it works.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Wet Dreams” It’s a reference to one of my newer jokes that I have so much fun telling. You’ll have to come out to a show to hear about it…if you care enough.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I was waiting in line to order some food at a restaurant in the city ( I can’t for the life of me remember which one), but the guy in front of me turns around and I notice that it’s Tom Hanks. My immediate reaction was to say out loud “OH SHIT! YOU’RE TOM HANKS!” And he says “Yes, I am”, he then picks up his food and leaves.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
One of the weirdest shows I did was for a high school graduation party for some kids. That was a peculiar one. I assumed the reason his parents reached out to me was because they thought my sense of humor would resonate with these kids. Those parents didn’t watch any of my stuff and booked me based on a Facebook search. When I got there, I did my usual stuff, which included some language, sexual humor, and a bunch of things not appropriate for a room full of 17-year-old kids sitting with their parents. I got some stifled laughs; the kids got my jokes and thought they were funny, but they were too scared to laugh out loud because they were sitting with their parents. Regardless, I pushed through and did my whole act, but those kids’ parents couldn’t even look me in the eye when they handed me the check.
A Raj Belani Fun Fact:
I was circumcised as an adult, at the age of 31.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would ultimately like my laughs to take me to TV. I originally got into standup as a means of getting on a TV show or movies. I ended up loving stand-up, so I entirely focused on that, but I still think getting on TV is my ultimate goal. I’m not sure if I see myself doing the road clubs and graduating to theaters or arenas. If my journey takes me there, I would love it! But I’d be super happy if I were just a regular at the Cellar at night and working as an actor on a TV show or movie during the day.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
The only way to own the laughs is to be funny. First, decide if you have “it” or don’t. The earlier you figure that out, the better. You should strive to be consistent in making people laugh within the first three years. If that’s not happening, maybe it’s not for you. Second, once you realize that you have “it”, continue working at it. The world is continuously changing, and so does humor, so you need to be working on your comedy constantly, otherwise you’ll get phased out real fast. Keep writing, and if you’re not the most disciplined writer like me, then at least keep looking at the world through a funny lens. Always question things. I get my best premises from constantly questioning things. Lastly, stay in it! If you’re funny, you’re able to make people laugh, continuously working on the craft, something will eventually lead to something.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I mean, comedy now is bigger than it ever was and I have a feeling it’s only going to get bigger. When I was growing up, there were maybe three comics that could sell out arenas? Seinfeld, Dane Cook, Eddie Murphy? But now there are so many! Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, Andrew Schulz, Kevin Hart, Matt Rife…so many! If that’s not a testament to how big comedy is right now, I don’t know what is. Additionally, the sheer number of notable comedians around today is incredible. There is a comic for everyone! You want to listen to comedy about the struggles of growing up as an immigrant in the US during the 90’s? Bam! 1000 comedians you can choose from. Want to listen to a comedian who aligns with your political beliefs? Bam! 1000 comedians to choose from. Want to listen to a comedian who got circumcised as a sexually active 31 year old? Bam!…well, actually, just one, me.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I don’t know if Curb Your Enthusiasm is considered classic…But I had an idea that Larry is at a convenience store, craving some cashews. He sees a bag of whole cashews right next to a bag of cashew halves & pieces. He starts to question the point of having these two versions of cashews right next to each other, and why they’re the same price when one bag is a bit more broken down than the other. He has a back-and-forth argument with the convenience store clerk before eventually getting kicked out of the store. There is a “nut” blacklist which the convenience store clerk puts Larry on and the rest of the episode is Larry struggling to get some cashews like a crack addict.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
It would be the Helium Comedy Club in Philly, the best room for comedy, in my opinion, and it would feature Mark Normand, Ronny Chieng, and Matthew Broussard.
What’s next for you:
Your guess is as good as mine. Performing whenever and wherever they’ll have me. Most likely on the road featuring Mark Normand.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because the opposite —going through life miserable —just sounds horrible.
Follow Raj Belani’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter: Raj Belani
Youtube: Raj Belani
Personal Website: Raj Belani
