0:00 Is it like way less people in the crowd for open mic? The crowd's usually comedians who are waiting to go up. >> [laughter] >> Exactly, yeah. It's And they And they hate you because you're taking up their time. >> Or they hate you because [laughter] they're making everybody laugh. >> Yeah. Welcome back everybody to another episode of The Careful Boys where we are very happy to have Chris Sosa back with us, Y'ALL. >> [cheering] >> SOSA! >> I'M happy to be here, man. I missed y'all, man. >> I can't believe you just said that you already been in New York for 3 years. >> It's been 3 years, man. What? >> Yeah. I felt like you moved there last year. >> I don't I don't believe that. You really been Man, it's 3 years, bro. >> COVID was 6 years ago, boys. No, that's too long. >> Yeah. I could have swore I remember [laughter] exactly sitting in the old office when you were like, "I'm moving to New York." That was 3 years ago? >> That's right. >> And we were like,
0:50 "Have a great journey. I hope you make it." That's all we said. Have a great journey. >> Some of us said you weren't going to make it. >> [laughter] >> But I won't say who. We did it, man. >> Some of us made wage cuts. Yeah, man. It's been 3 years, bro. And And you know what, man? It It does seem fast, but New York is a fast-paced, too. Like way faster-paced. So, it It makes sense that it seemed like, "Damn, it's only It's really been 3 years already." >> is so fast that the rest of the world has to follow. Yeah, man. That's crazy. Yeah, man. What's the difference? LA pace versus New York pace for you? Uh New York pace is like uh there's there's no um like there's no negotiating when it comes to like the grind, the hustle. Like you got to get it cuz it's expensive out there, you know what I mean? Like you really got to get it. So, you can relax a little more in LA. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Do you live in like a shoebox and spend like 5 Gs a month for it? >> No, I mean I live in a uh I I got lucky, man. I live in a brownstone. Um
1:41 decent price. >> What's a brownstone? >> It's not a redstone? >> [laughter] >> No, it's not. >> It's a uh uh it's What What How would you describe it? It's a condo. Yeah, yeah. Condo condo three-unit building. It's like where they always live in those Spike Lee movies. Yeah, or or like or like Big Daddy. Oh. You know they walk up those stairs and like it's all brick outside? Yeah, it's like that. Or Home Alone 2. Yeah, Home Alone 2. So you could pull down the fire escape and then sneak into some chick's room or something. >> Uh they have some like that. They have some like that. No, you have to go, "Uncle! Uncle!" >> Yeah, yeah. >> [laughter] >> And they have those stairs because they used to be, you know, horses. They're full [snorts] of ████ >> Horses, yeah. And and >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, the stoop. Yeah, so it would just be ████ in the street, so people needed the steps to get away from the all the ████ >> Oh. Yeah, man. Yeah, yeah. So I got a stoop. It's cool. >> And that's cool that you live in one of those. Isn't that hard to get? >> Man, dude, even New Yorkers were like
2:32 couldn't believe that like I got that cuz, you know, the people would come through and be like, "Yo, how did you How much you pay? How did you get this?" All this cuz, bro, like they born and raised out there and it's just tough to find those. I was just uh when I moved out there, I was I was staying with a buddy and um I I had I had the money, everything to like find a place, so I was just every day, you know, on all the apps, Apartments. >> Craigslist. Wow. Everything, man. Just trying to find, you know, what it was and that was one of the ones that was like It was on apartments.com, but it was like uh uploaded 2 hours ago. Like you mean like new. Boom, like yeah, yeah, like set the set the uh the the walk-in like to to view it and um I it was one of those situations where he was like, uh you can come in at noon. I do have a 2:00 situation like that they're coming. I'm like, "I'm on the way." And like when I got in, like I was just like, "I have the deposit right
3:22 now. Like I can get you like cash, all that stuff." So >> to be. Yeah, it all worked out. How many guys were like, "You must be in New York." >> Comedy guys like on on another level, too, because even the backyard and I he didn't he didn't know I was a comedian, either, but >> Or he would have said no with no thanks. >> Yeah, exactly, [laughter] exactly. No, all of my all of my stuff like with far as like pay stubs and all this stuff that I like was telling him like like, you know, I'm a designer, graphic designer and editor, which is true, but it was just, you know, >> Sounds more stable than a >> Yeah. clown. >> [laughter] >> What are you? A comedy man? But a professional clown. >> [laughter] >> A jester. Yeah. Yeah, man. And so, um, he's showing me like the uh uh the backyard like from from uh the window of my room. He's showing me the the backyard. It's a big old deck. He owns both uh brownstones. So, like the backyard uh what is extended is all together, but You have a backyard in New
4:13 York? >> Yeah, man. And it's a big old like deck. >> live with 47 people? No. No, bro. It's just me, bro. It's just your spot? That's what I'm saying. >> Man, that's crazy. >> Y'all sound just like the New Yorkers. It's just you. No roommates. Yeah, bro. Yeah, man. And so, he goes, "Yeah, every summer we have uh we have comedy shows in the back." And every other Friday and all this stuff is a community thing like in New York and all this stuff. And I'm like, "Get out of here. No way." Maybe [laughter] I can graphic design for that. I can graphic design something for you. You want a banner, flyers? One of these days I'll step up. I'll have a flyer. >> [laughter] >> You never tell them. I want to be a part of the community. Yeah, man. Yep. Yep. And now it's to the point where now every summer uh uh I do go to go down there and I perform and and now it's it's like um it's like a family thing. Like they all, you know, they they love to see me when I come
5:03 down. Like, "Are you going to get on?" and all this stuff. And the host does the same intro every time. He's like, "This next comedian, man, we all love him. He's super funny, man. He came all the way from right there." You know what I mean? >> [laughter] >> He does the same intro every time and it's fun. It's cool. It's a good time. And if you bomb, you're like, "I'm a graphic designer. I live right here." >> [laughter] >> I just do this on the side. Y'all get out of my backyard. How about that? >> [laughter] >> Thank you guys for coming to my house, though. So, what happened your first 6 months there? Like how did you get established in the scene and everything? Did you already kind of know a lot of people? So, I was leaning on uh like vouchers. So, like comedians that uh I knew from LA that uh have New York connections um and also like social media. They've uh you know, I got I got like shows quick just off of like like the first 6 months. It was like, "Oh, yeah, come do my show. Come do my show." >> Because you have a following? Yeah, the following, but also like just like through connections being like
5:54 like I have a buddy Edgar Rivera that was just like, "Yo, go meet my my guy out there. You can perform in the Bronx and this and that." So, he there was like a few of those connects. And then after that after the vouchers ran out though, I did have to like start back from square one as far as like doing open mics. Is that rough doing open mics? It was It was a little bit just because like it was it was it was humbling, you know what I mean? Because I'm you know, seasoned I have experience and all that stuff, but now I'm like in the beginning of things, you know what I mean? Cuz this is new territory. Is there like way less people in the crowd for open mics? Well, open mics man, they're they're The crowd's usually comedians who are waiting to go up. >> [laughter] >> Exactly. Yeah, yeah, exactly. That's exactly what it is. >> and they hate you because you're taking up their time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. >> hate you because they're making everybody laugh. Yeah, [laughter] man. And so I remember there was a a few homies that
6:44 I've heard about like this this certain bringer show. It's called the Industry Room and it's at the Broadway Comedy Club and it's you bring five people. Bring five people? >> Five people, you do five minutes. They they tape your set. I don't even got five friends, dude. Yeah, they >> [laughter] >> It's like yeah, bro. It's just us, maybe. But yeah, man. So, I did that show and that that was of all the of all the shows to do in New York as far as like how to get into the circuit, I would say the Industry Room is the best way because they you're almost guaranteed like you I mean obviously you got to be funny and you know, have a great set, but you're guaranteed to have like they'll they'll they'll book you like five residency spots. And so that's what happened. I I did my set. I crushed it and the booker calls and he reviews your set, you know what I mean? He'll He'll He'll go joke
7:34 for joke like >> Wow, they give you notes? Yeah, bro. Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, "Yo, that's got to be a crazy system cuz they're doing this every week." It's like a like thousands of comics, bro. Like, you know what I mean? So, yeah, they call and they're just like, "Yo, this one joke you did is very funny, man. It's It's that and boom boom boom boom boom." And then, um gave me my spot. >> one didn't they like? The juice stuff. Don't do Stop doing the juice stuff. >> [laughter] >> No, I don't know I don't know I mean, you know, they He gave me some some solid like, you know, feedback. I didn't really have one that he was like, "Ah, I don't really know about that one." It was just kind of like He was like He actually was like, "You You're seasoned, right? Like, you've been doing this for a while." And I told him, "Yeah, I started in LA." And all that. So, he was just like, "Yeah, man, you know, gave you these spots." But, then he offered this. He was like, "You don't have to take this. It's okay to say no. But, we do have this position that's uh it's it's an internship. And pretty much um the comics like they they help seat the
8:24 shows and then they help clean uh the tables in between shows cuz there's three shows a night. But, you're guaranteed stage time. So, you get Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, it's three shows a night. >> That's a New York hustle if I ever heard one. And so, he's telling me that he's like, "You're You're guaranteed shows, but he's like, uh I know that you are experienced. I know you have, you know, a lot of time under your under your belt, but it's a it's a you know, it's a spot that opened up." And he said, "It is a It is a a long line cuz a lot of comics they jump on that internship because it's guaranteed every week." So, you have to act now. Type ████ And so, I told him I was like I was like, "Can I call you at the end of the day?" He was just like, "Yeah, for sure." And then, bro, it was probably maybe like an hour or two that went by and I was just like, "Nah, I'mma do that." And I did it. And uh I interned the first year. And uh it You know, some comics were like, "You really doing this?" You know what I mean? Like, you're interning? I'm like, "Yeah, bro."
9:14 Like, I was really Yeah, man. That's a good attitude to have. >> Hell yeah, bro. It It made me sharp, bro. I'm talking about like cuz you're I'm performing This also brought with Comedy Club in Greenwich. So, like, very thirsty audiences, you know what I mean? People from coming from all over the world, you know, to see a New York comedy show. And and um so, I'm really getting my reps in, but I'm also learning how to perform for people who are from the Netherlands. You know what I'm saying? Or like you have to kind of perform Global humor. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and overly explain a little bit, you know what I mean? But like they start to catch on and like you really build up Sounds like a cruise ship, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Those are tough, I heard. Yeah. I heard about those too. I mean I still want to do those, but they said the same thing. It's like it's just like that. It's like it's tourist. I had a buddy who had who had to do that. It's the same kind of thing, too. Like where he's like an indentured slave [laughter] on on the on the cruise ship, you know? He's got
10:05 to like clean up vomit, but also like he gets to do the show three times a night. Yeah, dude. Yeah, yeah, man. So, it's cool. I'm happy that I did it, you know what I mean? They that that gave me all of the the confidence of like I wound up getting an opportunity and and got the the my first TV special or actually my first comedy special that was featured on TV. Yeah, [clears throat] man. And so, whenever that opportunity came about, it was like my I was going to say yes regardless, right? It's an opportunity. But because I had all those reps in me, it was like, "Oh, hell yeah. Like I'm ready. How did How did that come about? Man, dude, I well that was I got an email from it and I honestly it looked like spam. I didn't I didn't respond. They actually had to follow up like 6 days after. It was like, "Hey, we wanted to see if you were down." They sent some some reference links from like Variety and all this stuff, which that made it look [clears throat] legit. And when I saw
10:56 the Variety link that Issa Rae is partnered with them, I was like, "Oh, bet." Cuz that was my connect and I was like, "Okay. All right, so let me hit her up and see like is this legit? And she was like, "You should definitely take that meeting." I said, "Okay, cool." And yeah, we had the meeting. They pitched it to me. There was a like a Variety comedy special, so it was featured three comics. And after the meeting, I asked them I was like, "How did you guys like come across me? Hear about me?" And they said that they had a meeting with Issa and I was the first person that they that she recommended. Like she was like, "Yeah, I know the right person for this. You should have Chris Sosa I was just like, damn, that's So, Issa, again, Issa Rae be looking out for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's how it came about. Hell yeah, man. It was cool. Yeah. What do you miss about LA most? Uh you guys, man. >> The traffic? I miss y'all. I Yeah, I
11:46 miss I miss my crew, you know what I mean? Like my my folks, you know, I mean I In the In the weather, too. I took that for granted. Holy moly. Damn, but you know, New York is cool cuz you go through all the seasons, you know what I mean? So, it's cool, but >> And you could wear Tims all year round now. >> [laughter] >> It makes sense. It makes sense. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But LA You could layer. You could have fashion. I would say, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. But yeah, LA I would say like my like my my folks and then also the weather. The weather's It's beautiful out here, for sure. Or Yeah, if we're in Vegas. Vegas is extended LA. Yeah, it's like East LA. East LA? Yeah, [laughter] extended all the way out. East East LA. Yeah. Past the Asians. It's like Inland Empire. We do have seasons, though. We have more seasons than LA. Cold and hot. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's for sure. Cold and hot, but all dry. Yeah. Yeah, man. But yeah, no,
12:38 it's been cool. It's been It's been a great time. There's always something you can get into out there in New York. >> Oh, yeah, did you get any into any new hobbies being out in New York? Like anything? Cuz I know you also dance. And then do Do you also Do you still do improv? Uh no, but I I I mean, I never really did improv, but I'm I'm mean like uh You never wanted to kill yourself? >> [laughter] >> That's a new hobby, bro. Just trying to find new ways to get be creative with it. Um but no, I mean I'm shooting shooting a lot more like content and sketches with a lot of creators out there. That That hustle is really cool, man, cuz they take it serious, you know what I mean? Like they they have like content days where like creators they they they link up. >> They all meet up, yeah. Yeah, and that's pretty cool, because I never really knew like how those went. I've heard about some of those like the during the Vine days where the all the
13:29 Vine creators came together. So, I never really knew how that went, but out there, man, it's uh it's all love. It's it's it's Everybody has to get theirs off. So, it's like, all right, has everybody got their bit at least at least one uh skit that they wanted to get off and Wow. So, it feels more professional. >> yeah, yeah, and uh Yeah, it's cool, bro. It's uh it's cool. And and it was cool to go to a city as it is new territory, but I did have um I I did have my experience, so it was like it New Yorkers they they they appreciate the craft more, you know what I mean? That's the that's where you're really like sharpening your swords and stuff. So, when they they when they recognize you don't necessarily feel like, oh, this guy's trying to take my spot, you know what I mean? They're like, "Ayo, you nice with it." You know what I mean? Like they they recognize it, you know? And and and and vice versa. Like I'm I'm a fan of the stuff. I'm a fan of comedy. I'm a fan of people who are killing it. It makes you want to
14:19 be sharper and stuff. So, I started hearing like uh uh what is it? Laughs per minute. And there were people like people comics were saying laughs per minute a lot. I was like, "Damn, they're really like counting it like that." Yeah, man. That that really had me go like, all right, when I'm performing, I'm watching watching my sets, like how many laughs am I getting in that minute? You know what I mean? How do you like to arrange your laughs per minute? Zero. >> [laughter] >> I usually go for zero, yeah. Cuz you know like nowadays like Chappelle is like one huge laugh every 80 minutes. Yeah, that's that's that's where Yeah, that's but it's like the thing is is like if you are going to go that, then you have to have a crazy payoff. So, it's like, you know what I mean? Like He just does a podcast now. Right, right, right. He just does a podcast. But he's also guaranteed 80 minutes. >> Yeah, and honestly, I laughed the whole time cuz he's just Dave Chappelle. If you're given like 5 minutes stage time,
15:09 you got to count laughs per minute. >> Yeah, that's what it is. That's really what it is. That's >> goodwill, right? Cuz we all love him, so like it doesn't really matter that he's not like he's also earned it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I think that's what you're right, bro, when it comes to like the you know, you're doing 5 to 7 minutes, you know, so it's like, all right, if I'm going to have that much time, then how much can I really crank out? Like if obviously if I can get a if I can get a laugh even with the if I can get a laugh even in the setup, you know what I mean? That's ████ perfect. But even like the like after the setup, I wanted to like get that laugh there. If I'm telling a story, then I want to get a laugh for every every other, you know, line. You know what I'm saying? So that I keep you I keep you guys engaged, you know, the whole time. Yeah. That's really like sharp and concise. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then and that's what and that's where I was really like trying to be like a mad scientist with it when I got the the special opportunity. Whenever I signed it and it
16:00 was it was legit and we're we're it's going to happen, this is my first time being on this type of pressure as far as like there's going to have legit cameras, they had the crane and all these things. So I was like, I wanted to make sure I was going to be overly prepared so that when I see the cameras for the first time, I'll have that feeling naturally, but I'll I'll know I'll have the confidence of like I put so much work into my set, I'm going to be all right, you know what I mean? So that was pretty cool. That was cool to like like really look at my jokes as like more of like I don't know mathematically, you know what I mean? Like yeah. You can edit that, too, right? Do you do you like you can edit around like if something didn't work, yeah? Yeah, yeah, so they they definitely gave me a they they let me see like like what a draft, you know what I mean? A cut a rough cut. >> Oh, you recorded already? Uh yeah, yeah, yeah, it's on it's on Tubi. You guys can check it out. It's called Jokes on Us. Okay, I'll check it out for sure. Check
16:51 it out on Tubi, guys. Yeah, Jokes on Us, man. Check it out. It's going to be a it's a funny one.
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