Stand-Up Comedy Spotlight: Mark Miller
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Published by Sareth Ney on Aug. 5, 2017 at 11:01 a.m.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2017 at 6:17 p.m. |
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Photo credit: Christine DeSantis
What inspired you to perform stand-up comedy?
I've always been a fan ever since I discovered my first cassette tape of Howie Mandel, when I was a kid. Over the years the whole art form just fascinated me. I suppose I can be philosophical and say that since I grew up as a middle child, it was always tough for me to grab people's attention. So, the idea of being on stage where people HAD to pay attention was very attractive to me. I think more than that, I just like making people laugh and the thrill of being on stage in front of people.
What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
I started performing in bands for about nine years, before I ever got into stand-up comedy. So, I never really had stage anxiety. My first time doing actual stand-up with no band or guitar buzz behind me was at an ill-fated open mic in Baltimore. With little more than just my friends (who were also comics) in attendance, I remember feeling like three minutes wasn't much time. When I was there alone with no music to fall back on, it felt way longer. I felt comfortable because it was just my friends. As I went on in the weeks and months to come at other mics, I became overwhelmed by the silence of the room between jokes. It was not that no one was laughing but just that everyone was listening. It took some getting used to realizing that I was the one doing the talking. When I wasn't and no one was laughing, it was going to be deathly silent.
Which are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
I like both of Mitch Hedberg’s non-posthumous albums: "Strategic Grill Locations" and "Mitch All Together". Also of note are "Medium Energy" and "Falling Off the Bone" by Todd Barry. More recently, I've really been digging Mark Normand's "Don't Be Yourself". I've got to give a shout out to the album that started it all. I recently found on vinyl "Fits Like a Glove" by Howie Mandel.
Which are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
"The Kids in the Hall" and "Mr. Show with Bob and David" loom large on my radar of sketch comedy. They are both shows that I didn't really "get" in their entirety, at first. As I've watched them again and learned more about the mechanics behind them, I appreciated them more and more.
For sitcoms, I like "The IT Crowd", "Cheers" and believe it or not... "The Golden Girls".
“The IT Crowd” is a BBC show that is tight and smart. “Cheers” is the most consistent show ever that weathered multiple cast changes and always stayed interesting. Even to me as a little kid—when I first watched it, it is also why I like "The Golden Girls". I never realized how raunchy and just down right vicious those old ladies were, when I was a kid. I watched that show a lot and now as an adult, I never fail to enjoy the reruns. I think it holds together. Though they mercilessly tear each other apart with quips and one-liners, there is a sweetness to them.
Comedy film wise, it doesn't get much better than "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".
The scene where they wake up in bed together and Steve Martin says, "Those aren't pillows", gets me every time.
I've also got to throw respect to “Groundhog Day”, “Ghostbusters” and not to mention “This Is Spinal Tap”.
If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
Touring with Todd Barry could be cool because he'd make sure I got my frequent flyer miles. I also fear that as much as I admire his stage work, we have some idiosyncrasies that would clash. So—I think for the sake of pure hang out ability, I'd just go with other comics I've come up with and always enjoy hanging out with.
If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
Barry, Bill Hicks, Pete Holmes, George Carlin and Joan Rivers
Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
I've dipped my toe in just about all of them. Sketch would really open up a lot more possibilities for me to also get into television, web series and film. I also think just straight up writing for shows and movies would be great.
What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
Mind blown a little, learned some stuff they didn't know before, thinking about our whole world differently, maybe ready to be nicer to each other and give more people a chance.
Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
I'd like to be making my living through comedy—with a combination of writing and performing on stage and through coaching others on their acts via my comedy coaching business. Stand-up comedy can seem like a wild fantasy for some, when they don't live near a larger city that has an active scene but I don't think that should hold you back. I want to help people who live out of the way to be able to work on their material, even if they can't get to a mic every night or even every week. I want to help people build their acts and their scenes, while I build my own.
Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
Website/blog: www.BestMarkMiller.com
Twitter: @BestMarkMiller
Facebook (comedy): https://www.facebook.com/BestMarkMiller/
Facebook (coaching): https://www.facebook.com/MasterMirthology/
Coaching via Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/markmiller848
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/bestmarkmiller
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LandscapeRocker
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
I've always been a fan ever since I discovered my first cassette tape of Howie Mandel, when I was a kid. Over the years the whole art form just fascinated me. I suppose I can be philosophical and say that since I grew up as a middle child, it was always tough for me to grab people's attention. So, the idea of being on stage where people HAD to pay attention was very attractive to me. I think more than that, I just like making people laugh and the thrill of being on stage in front of people.
What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
I started performing in bands for about nine years, before I ever got into stand-up comedy. So, I never really had stage anxiety. My first time doing actual stand-up with no band or guitar buzz behind me was at an ill-fated open mic in Baltimore. With little more than just my friends (who were also comics) in attendance, I remember feeling like three minutes wasn't much time. When I was there alone with no music to fall back on, it felt way longer. I felt comfortable because it was just my friends. As I went on in the weeks and months to come at other mics, I became overwhelmed by the silence of the room between jokes. It was not that no one was laughing but just that everyone was listening. It took some getting used to realizing that I was the one doing the talking. When I wasn't and no one was laughing, it was going to be deathly silent.
Which are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
I like both of Mitch Hedberg’s non-posthumous albums: "Strategic Grill Locations" and "Mitch All Together". Also of note are "Medium Energy" and "Falling Off the Bone" by Todd Barry. More recently, I've really been digging Mark Normand's "Don't Be Yourself". I've got to give a shout out to the album that started it all. I recently found on vinyl "Fits Like a Glove" by Howie Mandel.
Which are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
"The Kids in the Hall" and "Mr. Show with Bob and David" loom large on my radar of sketch comedy. They are both shows that I didn't really "get" in their entirety, at first. As I've watched them again and learned more about the mechanics behind them, I appreciated them more and more.
For sitcoms, I like "The IT Crowd", "Cheers" and believe it or not... "The Golden Girls".
“The IT Crowd” is a BBC show that is tight and smart. “Cheers” is the most consistent show ever that weathered multiple cast changes and always stayed interesting. Even to me as a little kid—when I first watched it, it is also why I like "The Golden Girls". I never realized how raunchy and just down right vicious those old ladies were, when I was a kid. I watched that show a lot and now as an adult, I never fail to enjoy the reruns. I think it holds together. Though they mercilessly tear each other apart with quips and one-liners, there is a sweetness to them.
Comedy film wise, it doesn't get much better than "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".
The scene where they wake up in bed together and Steve Martin says, "Those aren't pillows", gets me every time.
I've also got to throw respect to “Groundhog Day”, “Ghostbusters” and not to mention “This Is Spinal Tap”.
If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
Touring with Todd Barry could be cool because he'd make sure I got my frequent flyer miles. I also fear that as much as I admire his stage work, we have some idiosyncrasies that would clash. So—I think for the sake of pure hang out ability, I'd just go with other comics I've come up with and always enjoy hanging out with.
If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
Barry, Bill Hicks, Pete Holmes, George Carlin and Joan Rivers
Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
I've dipped my toe in just about all of them. Sketch would really open up a lot more possibilities for me to also get into television, web series and film. I also think just straight up writing for shows and movies would be great.
What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
Mind blown a little, learned some stuff they didn't know before, thinking about our whole world differently, maybe ready to be nicer to each other and give more people a chance.
Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
I'd like to be making my living through comedy—with a combination of writing and performing on stage and through coaching others on their acts via my comedy coaching business. Stand-up comedy can seem like a wild fantasy for some, when they don't live near a larger city that has an active scene but I don't think that should hold you back. I want to help people who live out of the way to be able to work on their material, even if they can't get to a mic every night or even every week. I want to help people build their acts and their scenes, while I build my own.
Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
Website/blog: www.BestMarkMiller.com
Twitter: @BestMarkMiller
Facebook (comedy): https://www.facebook.com/BestMarkMiller/
Facebook (coaching): https://www.facebook.com/MasterMirthology/
Coaching via Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/markmiller848
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/bestmarkmiller
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LandscapeRocker
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Center for New Media from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast and is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival.
