AN INTERVIEW WITH MIKE BIRBIGLIA

Mike Birbiglia has quickly become one of our favorite comedians.  He’s sharply funny, a meticulous writer and a gifted actor, plus he’s sort of adorable in his slightly disheveled way, like an English major who also likes football. 

With a charming, regular guy air highlighted by his predilection for pizza, animals and rap music, Birbiglia strikes the perfect balance on stage between relaxed everyman and awkward introvert.  He’s developed a huge following amongst college students thanks to his almost constant touring schedule and sophisticated Web presence, and his Secret Public Journals have begun to take on a life of their own, offering fans a window into the life of a comedian, in all it’s mundane, waiting-in-airports, fixing-your-dad’s-computer glory.  And it’s that disarming, open-book nature of his writing and performance that seems to be what draws people to him.

We spent some time emailing with him recently and asked him about how he got here, where he’s going and how much he loves Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Drink at Work: How did you get your start in stand-up?

Mike Birbiglia: When I was a sophomore, they had a funniest person on campus contest and I won. It was like the greatest thing that has happened in my life. Actually, it still is. They made one of those big checks and I held it in the air. It was for $200. The check probably cost $34 to make, which I could have used.

DAW: Where did you go to college?

MB: I went to Georgetown. Skipped a lot of my requirements, went to only writing classes and barely graduated. Meanwhile, I was working the door at the DC Improv getting an education in stand-up. Meanwhile, my parents were very, very annoyed.

DAW: Did your siblings influence you comedically?

MB: Sure. I’m very close with my sibs and they’re pretty funny folks. When I was in 8th grade, my brother Joe introduced me to the idea of comedy writing. He was the editor of his school paper and would do parody issues. Then Joe took me for my birthday to see Steven Wright live when I was 16 and I was like, “That’s what I’m gonna do.” Then my sister Gina took me to The Letterman Show when I was 17 and that was like the best thing that ever happened to me. I was really floored. My other sister Patti is funny too. Yea, funny bunch.

DAW: Were you voted "Most Likely to [Anything]" when you were in high school?

MB: Hm. One of my teachers gave a speech in front of the school once that cited me as a future cast member on SNL. It was funny because this other guy in my class who did spot-on impersonations got really pissed. He sulked for weeks. He was like “Birbiglia isn’t even funny. I’m funny!” Most people didn’t see me as a comedian. But a few people did. I liked those people better.

DAW: Did you have any bullies in school or, conversely, were you yourself a bully?

MB: Ha. I think I’ve had moments of both here and there. Like a few times through childhood I got pounded because I said too much. And then sometimes I was just mean because I felt threatened. I hate bullies. Sometimes I meet adult bullies. That’s the worst. I’m like “you are an adult bully and that is creepy.”

DAW: What were your childhood obsessions?

MB: Same as now. Pizza, animals, death, dreaming, music.

DAW: Is there a cheesy film from your childhood that continues to inspire and motivate you today? (Something along the lines of a Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?)

MB: I loved both Breakin’ films. When Breakin 2 came out, my sibs and I were the only people in our theater, so we danced on the area between the screen and the seats. It was a great moment for us.

DAW: So who are some of your other favorite comedians?

MB: Mitch Hedberg, Jake Johannsen, Dave Attell, Richard Pryor, Jessi Klein, Woody Allen, Nichols and May.

DAW: What is the worst moment you've ever experienced on stage?

MB: I’ve had a lot of bad ones. I mean the first time I got paid to do standup, I was so nervous I threw up on the sidewalk. Then I walked on stage and bombed. I don’t think the audience knew I had thrown up. They just knew I wasn’t good.

DAW: What are your favorite towns to perform in?

MB: Cincinnati and Seattle.

DAW: You perform in so many different types of venues to different kinds of audiences — campuses, network television, Comedy Central, smaller NYC clubs — who do you think your primary audience is?

MB: Um, I think like high school kids and then like people in their 20s and 30s. Oh yeah, and also the elderly and infants.

DAW: How many emails from fans do you get a day?

MB: If I'm on the radio, maybe like 40. If not, like 2.

DAW: What's the difference between performing in a club, at a college and on television? How much thought do you have to put into how to tailor the material?

MB: I don't tend to tailor material. I think I used to a little. But then sometimes you'll tailor something and bomb doing that. And then you're like, "Well, I could have at least bombed with some integrity."

DAW: What comedian comes closest to being your exact opposite, and would you consider doing a buddy comedy with him/her?

MB: Ha. Depends on what you mean by opposite. What’s truly opposite from me is stuff I kind of dislike and I’m a reaction to. Like very manufactured shticky comedy. I would buddy with a few different people though. Probably a girl. I like playing off of girls.

DAW: The one time I saw you at Moonwork I noticed that after the show you sat, sort of hidden, behind the bar area instead of mingling with the crowd like a lot of the other acts. Are you shy, or were you just watching to see who bought your CDs?

MB: I don’t go out after shows really. Sometimes I do. And I mingle a little, but only for a few minutes. After a certain time limit I self-destruct socially.

DAW: Do you feel like the desire to perform is somewhat born out of the feeling of wanting to be around people, but feeling too insecure to do so? Do you feel more comfortable talking to people when you can work from a script? As an example, I tend to replay conversations over and over in my mind regretting something I said because it was worded poorly or didn't make
sense, etc. Do you have that kind of social anxiety and does writing comedy help you work around it?

MB: I have some social anxiety, yes. The worst part is that I really make a strong effort to be social, but I'm not very good at it, so it just looks like I'm a confident failure. People are probably thinking, "This guy thinks he's good at being social but he's not!"

DAW: What are you most inspired by when it comes to writing?

MB: I think getting better. It gives me a rush when I feel like something I wrote this week is better than something I could have written last week. This interview, for example, is better than the one I gave 5 minutes ago. Well, it's similar.

DAW: What are your aspirations? Is there a particular goal in mind as far as what you hope your stand-up career will lead to?

MB: Comedy itself is great. And then at some point movies. And a family maybe. And then I hope to die.

DAW: What idiosyncratic behavior of yours do you consider a matter of pride, even though it really isn't based on any ethical foundation?

MB: I refuse to turn off my iPod when the airplane takes off. Fuck that. It doesn’t give off a signal.

DAW: What are your favorite bands?

MB: Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Ben Kweller, Sarah McLachlan.

DAW: What neighborhood do you currently live in and what sort of street cred does it give you?

MB: I have no street cred. I lived in Greenwich Village because I loved walking till like this week. Now I have no home. Now I’m just walking.

DAW: Will you get another apartment in New York or move elsewhere?

MB: I don't know. I tend to avoid important life issues.

For more info on Mike Birbiglia, visit his Web site at www.birbigs.com. To join his mailing list, click here.

Previous Interviews:

Aziz Ansari

Kent Jones, The New York Film Festival