WEBVTT 00:00:16.849 --> 00:00:17.864 Thanks, man. 00:00:17.865 --> 00:00:20.654 I'm excited about being here. We're going to have some fun. 00:00:20.655 --> 00:00:21.934 My name is Michael Jr. 00:00:21.935 --> 00:00:23.784 I'm going to do some jokes. 00:00:23.785 --> 00:00:25.968 (Laughter) 00:00:25.969 --> 00:00:28.149 (Applause) 00:00:28.417 --> 00:00:32.686 Yet, at the same time, I’d like to explain to you how life 00:00:32.686 --> 00:00:35.292 well, how comedy works. 00:00:35.541 --> 00:00:36.987 So let's stop right here. 00:00:36.988 --> 00:00:39.878 I actually like the city of Reno a lot. 00:00:40.491 --> 00:00:41.665 I was here once... 00:00:41.666 --> 00:00:43.121 (Applause) 00:00:43.122 --> 00:00:44.237 I was here once; 00:00:44.238 --> 00:00:47.010 I was keynote speaking for a corporation 00:00:47.011 --> 00:00:50.013 and something really kind of strange happened when I was here. 00:00:50.014 --> 00:00:53.103 Normally, I'm the type of person I like to be on a stage alone. 00:00:53.104 --> 00:00:54.853 I don't need any help or anybody... 00:00:54.854 --> 00:00:58.823 So this CEO of this large company introduces me, and he has the microphone, 00:00:58.824 --> 00:01:03.123 and normally, we have two different mics, and he leaves, and then, I'm there. 00:01:03.124 --> 00:01:04.382 That's the plan. 00:01:04.384 --> 00:01:05.993 Dude stays there. 00:01:05.994 --> 00:01:07.572 (Laughter) 00:01:07.573 --> 00:01:10.303 I'm standing right next to him with no mic. 00:01:10.304 --> 00:01:11.573 (Laughter) 00:01:11.574 --> 00:01:15.574 And then he looks at the audience, and I'm standing there, and he says... 00:01:16.075 --> 00:01:17.535 First, let me explain this. 00:01:17.543 --> 00:01:20.598 I'm the type of comedian, like, I'm observational. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:22.838 I pay attention to things like college students. 00:01:22.839 --> 00:01:24.668 Take someone who goes to a nice school 00:01:24.669 --> 00:01:26.743 like the University of Southern California. 00:01:26.744 --> 00:01:29.663 Ask them what school they go to, you get a nice quick answer, 00:01:29.664 --> 00:01:31.294 - "What school you go to?" - "USC." 00:01:31.304 --> 00:01:33.673 New York University - you get a nice quick answer, 00:01:33.674 --> 00:01:35.323 - "What school you go to?" - "NYU." 00:01:35.324 --> 00:01:37.353 Ask somebody who goes to community college. 00:01:37.354 --> 00:01:39.633 You get a much longer response, don't you? 00:01:39.634 --> 00:01:40.726 (Laughter) 00:01:40.727 --> 00:01:41.975 "What school you go to?" 00:01:41.976 --> 00:01:46.465 "Well, see, right now, what I'm doing, I'm gonna get a couple credits, right? 00:01:46.466 --> 00:01:48.925 Then my financial aid is supposed to come through. 00:01:48.926 --> 00:01:50.555 Then I'm gonna transfer, man. 00:01:50.556 --> 00:01:52.843 They say school kills creativity anyway. 00:01:52.844 --> 00:01:55.453 Man, I feel vulnerable. Is Brené Brown around? 00:01:55.454 --> 00:01:57.528 Man, I feel very vulnerable right now." 00:01:57.529 --> 00:01:59.079 (Laughter) 00:02:02.266 --> 00:02:04.155 Let me tell you a little more about me. 00:02:04.156 --> 00:02:05.385 I love being a dad. 00:02:05.386 --> 00:02:07.255 And I have five kids, yeah. 00:02:07.256 --> 00:02:09.455 And I travel a lot 00:02:09.455 --> 00:02:10.930 so I can see them all. 00:02:10.931 --> 00:02:12.291 (Laughter) 00:02:15.602 --> 00:02:18.512 Ha, ha! I'm just playing. I don't see them, I don't see them. 00:02:18.513 --> 00:02:20.182 (Laughter) 00:02:20.183 --> 00:02:22.692 No, I do. I have five kids. They're all with me. 00:02:22.693 --> 00:02:24.073 I live in Dallas now. 00:02:24.076 --> 00:02:25.545 My kids are awesome. 00:02:25.546 --> 00:02:27.432 The thing about having a big family is 00:02:27.433 --> 00:02:29.762 you always have to figure out ways to save money. 00:02:29.763 --> 00:02:31.842 We wanted to get our family pictures taken, 00:02:31.843 --> 00:02:33.291 and that stuff was expensive. 00:02:33.292 --> 00:02:37.186 So what we did to save money was we all got in the front seat of the car, 00:02:37.187 --> 00:02:39.293 looked both ways, and ran a red light. 00:02:39.294 --> 00:02:41.183 That's what we did. That's what we did. 00:02:41.184 --> 00:02:43.224 (Laughter) 00:02:43.344 --> 00:02:45.492 Two weeks later, the picture came in the mail. 00:02:45.493 --> 00:02:46.813 (Laughter) 00:02:48.013 --> 00:02:49.217 But my son blinked 00:02:49.218 --> 00:02:51.477 so we had to do it again, we had to do it again. 00:02:51.478 --> 00:02:52.607 This stuff is crazy. 00:02:52.608 --> 00:02:54.727 (Laughter) 00:02:54.728 --> 00:02:57.068 I was doing that joke in prison recently. 00:02:57.948 --> 00:03:00.617 I wasn't in prison, like, "Hey, I'm funny. Get off me!" 00:03:00.618 --> 00:03:01.947 It wasn't like that. 00:03:01.948 --> 00:03:03.283 (Laughter) 00:03:03.833 --> 00:03:07.592 Whenever we're doing a big live event - like we're doing one tonight in Reno - 00:03:07.593 --> 00:03:10.502 whenever we do a large ticketed event, a concert, in a city, 00:03:10.503 --> 00:03:14.186 we always look for a homeless shelter, a prison, an abused children's facility 00:03:14.187 --> 00:03:16.026 to go to during the day to do comedy. 00:03:16.027 --> 00:03:18.036 So I'm so I'm doing a prison this time... 00:03:18.037 --> 00:03:19.056 (Applause) 00:03:19.057 --> 00:03:21.176 It's a TEDx talk, I don't got that much time. 00:03:21.177 --> 00:03:22.678 You don't got to clap, it's OK. 00:03:22.679 --> 00:03:24.159 (Laughter) 00:03:25.929 --> 00:03:29.138 So we're doing this prison, and I do the joke about the red light, 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:31.148 and 75% of the prisoners laughed; 00:03:31.149 --> 00:03:33.319 the rest of them... nothing. 00:03:33.829 --> 00:03:35.498 Then I realized what was going on. 00:03:35.499 --> 00:03:37.898 Some of them had been locked up so long, 00:03:37.899 --> 00:03:40.229 the dude next to them had to explain the joke. 00:03:40.667 --> 00:03:43.286 He was like, "See, nowadays, when you run a red light, 00:03:43.287 --> 00:03:45.606 they send a picture with the ticket in the mail." 00:03:45.607 --> 00:03:47.646 Then he looked at the dude next to him, 00:03:47.647 --> 00:03:50.985 "A red light is what they use for traffic when you go down the road." 00:03:50.986 --> 00:03:52.325 (Laughter) 00:03:52.326 --> 00:03:54.875 And then he said, "A road is what they use..." 00:03:54.876 --> 00:03:55.960 (Laughter) 00:03:55.961 --> 00:03:57.100 Wow! 00:03:57.101 --> 00:03:58.941 Where am I at right now, man? 00:04:00.133 --> 00:04:02.382 So I'd like to explain to you how comedy works. 00:04:02.383 --> 00:04:05.652 This is how comedy works; really all comedy. 00:04:05.653 --> 00:04:09.136 Any time you laugh, this formula is taking place in one way or another, 00:04:09.137 --> 00:04:12.826 but specifically, with regards to stand-up, this is how it works as well. 00:04:12.827 --> 00:04:16.298 First, there's a setup, and then, there's a punchline. 00:04:16.298 --> 00:04:17.620 Let me explain. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:20.764 The setup is when a comedian will use his talents and resources 00:04:20.765 --> 00:04:22.064 to seize any opportunity 00:04:22.065 --> 00:04:26.495 to ensure that you, the audience, are moving in the same direction. 00:04:26.756 --> 00:04:29.185 The punchline occurs when he changes that direction 00:04:29.186 --> 00:04:30.619 in a way you're not expecting. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:33.719 When you catch on to this change, you've received the punchline. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:38.164 The results are revelation, fulfillment, and joy expressed through laughter. 00:04:38.165 --> 00:04:39.314 (Laughter) 00:04:39.315 --> 00:04:40.715 Let me give you an example. 00:04:42.264 --> 00:04:46.435 A few summers ago, I took my family on vacation to Mexico. 00:04:47.285 --> 00:04:48.844 The first two days were rough 00:04:48.845 --> 00:04:51.844 because the people there kept calling me a "Negro." 00:04:51.845 --> 00:04:54.421 The third day, I realized they were saying "amigo," 00:04:54.422 --> 00:04:56.471 and it was all cool; that was cool, so... 00:04:56.472 --> 00:04:58.089 (Laughter) 00:05:01.296 --> 00:05:03.728 Did you see what just happened right there? 00:05:03.729 --> 00:05:04.859 (Laughter) 00:05:07.781 --> 00:05:11.350 So when I was a child, I used to struggle with my reading. 00:05:11.351 --> 00:05:13.860 I used to really have a hard time reading. 00:05:13.861 --> 00:05:16.012 I don't know, I just struggled with it. 00:05:16.013 --> 00:05:17.482 I read now just fine; 00:05:17.483 --> 00:05:20.823 like the signs over the door that say 'exite, ' I can read that stuff. 00:05:20.824 --> 00:05:22.693 (Laughter) 00:05:22.694 --> 00:05:25.393 But when I was a kid, I used to struggle with my reading. 00:05:25.394 --> 00:05:28.353 I couldn't sound a word out phonetically, it just didn't work. 00:05:28.354 --> 00:05:32.743 So now, looking back at it, I realize I developed seven different ways 00:05:32.744 --> 00:05:35.113 to look at a word to determine what the word was. 00:05:35.114 --> 00:05:37.803 And I just started noticing this really in junior high. 00:05:37.804 --> 00:05:40.713 So I would look at the font size, the color, the positioning, 00:05:40.714 --> 00:05:43.913 what's in front of it, what's behind it, how people responded to it. 00:05:43.914 --> 00:05:46.263 I got really good at looking at words differently 00:05:46.264 --> 00:05:49.643 to the point in high school, people didn't know I wasn't really reading 00:05:49.644 --> 00:05:51.843 I was just working it out really, really fast. 00:05:51.844 --> 00:05:53.553 Now as an adult, I read just fine, 00:05:53.554 --> 00:05:57.473 but I still have this ability to look at words, and people, and situations 00:05:57.474 --> 00:05:59.483 seven different ways almost immediately. 00:05:59.484 --> 00:06:03.074 In fact, it's the primary place where I pull my comedy from. 00:06:03.386 --> 00:06:06.625 So that very thing from my past that looked like it was a setback, 00:06:06.626 --> 00:06:08.825 looked like it was some sort of handicap, 00:06:09.035 --> 00:06:13.715 turns out I'm actually able to use it for what I'm called to do now. 00:06:14.184 --> 00:06:17.093 So just like you, you've probably had some sort of setbacks, 00:06:17.394 --> 00:06:19.533 but if you, in a way, would embrace it, 00:06:19.534 --> 00:06:22.343 you'll probably find there's more opportunities out there. 00:06:22.344 --> 00:06:24.236 Now I find comedy all over the place. 00:06:24.237 --> 00:06:25.246 At the airport today: 00:06:25.247 --> 00:06:27.946 little white kid walked up to me, asked for an autograph. 00:06:27.947 --> 00:06:31.036 I was like, "Hey buddy, what's your name?" He said, "I'm Tanner." 00:06:31.037 --> 00:06:33.093 I looked at him, I said, "No, you're not." 00:06:33.094 --> 00:06:34.544 (Laughter) 00:06:39.302 --> 00:06:40.571 His mom was cracking up. 00:06:40.572 --> 00:06:41.901 He was like, "I am Tanner!" 00:06:41.902 --> 00:06:43.537 (Laughter) 00:06:43.538 --> 00:06:45.607 "No. Trust me. You're not." 00:06:45.608 --> 00:06:46.688 (Laughter) 00:06:49.601 --> 00:06:52.510 Or I'll notice stuff; I saw this dude with a muscle shirt on. 00:06:52.511 --> 00:06:55.450 You ever see a dude with a muscle shirt, like a white tank, 00:06:55.451 --> 00:06:57.000 but he ain't got no muscles? 00:06:57.001 --> 00:06:58.051 (Laughter) 00:06:58.052 --> 00:07:00.111 What is that? A wife threatener? 00:07:00.112 --> 00:07:01.302 (Laughter) 00:07:04.065 --> 00:07:06.314 Depending on where you're from in the country, 00:07:06.315 --> 00:07:08.054 you'll understand that joke better. 00:07:08.055 --> 00:07:09.920 (Laughter) 00:07:09.921 --> 00:07:11.880 And his friend had on a shirt that said, 00:07:11.881 --> 00:07:14.540 "If you don't speak English, leave the country." 00:07:14.541 --> 00:07:18.370 Hmm... but it was written in English. So... 00:07:18.371 --> 00:07:19.701 (Laughter) 00:07:24.730 --> 00:07:27.079 So I walked up to him, and I said, "You're dumb!" 00:07:27.080 --> 00:07:28.212 (Laughter) 00:07:28.213 --> 00:07:30.922 But I said it in Spanish though so he wouldn't know... 00:07:30.923 --> 00:07:32.373 (Laughter) 00:07:34.141 --> 00:07:36.810 So I'm able to find comedy in a bunch of different places 00:07:36.811 --> 00:07:40.380 as a result of embracing what seemed like it was a handicap from my past. 00:07:40.381 --> 00:07:42.320 I notice even what people say sometimes. 00:07:42.321 --> 00:07:43.810 Have you ever heard the phrase, 00:07:43.811 --> 00:07:46.362 "Boy, I wish I could've been a fly on the wall"? 00:07:46.363 --> 00:07:49.167 Every time I hear that, I walk up to the person, and I say, 00:07:49.168 --> 00:07:50.457 "And then what?" 00:07:50.458 --> 00:07:51.597 (Laughter) 00:07:51.598 --> 00:07:52.758 No, no, no, no. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.288 You want to be a fly on the wall 00:07:54.289 --> 00:07:56.908 so you could hear the information that was in the room. 00:07:56.909 --> 00:07:58.348 Well, I've done the research. 00:07:58.349 --> 00:07:59.798 Hmm... Flies don't have ears. 00:07:59.799 --> 00:08:00.821 (Laughter) 00:08:00.822 --> 00:08:01.841 Yeah. 00:08:01.842 --> 00:08:04.241 You would be just as ignorant as you currently are 00:08:04.242 --> 00:08:05.462 (Laughter) 00:08:06.372 --> 00:08:07.861 but you would be a fly. 00:08:07.862 --> 00:08:09.141 (Laughter) 00:08:10.171 --> 00:08:12.050 Nobody even listens to a fly. 00:08:12.051 --> 00:08:13.093 (Laughter) 00:08:13.094 --> 00:08:15.646 I mean, let's say you're a fly that could read lips. 00:08:15.647 --> 00:08:17.836 What are you going to do with the information? 00:08:17.837 --> 00:08:18.990 (Laughter) 00:08:18.991 --> 00:08:20.590 And you've got two days to live. 00:08:20.591 --> 00:08:21.790 (Laughter) 00:08:21.791 --> 00:08:23.392 You're making bad choices. 00:08:23.393 --> 00:08:24.713 (Laughter) 00:08:27.209 --> 00:08:29.078 Or people will say stuff to me like, 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:31.129 "Michael Jr., where you from originally?" 00:08:31.130 --> 00:08:34.659 I'm like, "Originally? Huh. Well, I was conceived in Michigan." 00:08:34.660 --> 00:08:36.039 (Laughter) 00:08:36.041 --> 00:08:37.620 "Before that, I was in my dad." 00:08:37.621 --> 00:08:38.711 (Laughter) 00:08:38.712 --> 00:08:39.740 Yeah. 00:08:39.741 --> 00:08:40.962 (Laughter) 00:08:42.062 --> 00:08:44.350 "And then, there was a swim competition," right? 00:08:44.351 --> 00:08:45.561 (Laughter) 00:08:46.751 --> 00:08:48.570 "And I won, which is crazy" 00:08:48.571 --> 00:08:49.785 (Laughter) 00:08:49.786 --> 00:08:51.776 "because currently, I don't swim at all." 00:08:51.777 --> 00:08:53.027 (Laughter) 00:08:54.367 --> 00:08:56.464 I used to be pretty good though, apparently. 00:08:56.465 --> 00:08:57.595 (Laughter) 00:08:58.515 --> 00:08:59.914 I am not politically correct. 00:08:59.915 --> 00:09:03.374 I'm just going to tell: I know I do comedy, but it's just too much work. 00:09:03.375 --> 00:09:04.474 I'm just telling you. 00:09:04.475 --> 00:09:06.824 You have to watch the news and know the language. 00:09:06.825 --> 00:09:10.294 If you put the right stuff in your heart, the right stuff will come out. 00:09:10.295 --> 00:09:12.934 So I never tried, I never try to be politically correct. 00:09:12.935 --> 00:09:13.994 Some people work hard. 00:09:13.995 --> 00:09:17.114 I'm at a coffee shop; a white guy in front of me orders a coffee. 00:09:17.115 --> 00:09:19.714 The lady in front of him is like, "How do you want it?" 00:09:19.715 --> 00:09:22.854 He looked back at me and was like, "Um, African-American please." 00:09:22.855 --> 00:09:24.265 (Laughter) 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:29.449 I was like, "Cool. Let me get the Caucasian Mocha. 00:09:29.450 --> 00:09:31.129 Let me get that if I could... 00:09:31.130 --> 00:09:32.989 just get the Caucasian Mocha, I guess. 00:09:32.990 --> 00:09:35.029 I'm trying to learn, I'm trying to learn." 00:09:35.030 --> 00:09:36.340 (Laughter) 00:09:39.785 --> 00:09:41.694 Coaches would say some stuff too. 00:09:41.695 --> 00:09:43.697 Ever hear your coach say something like, 00:09:43.698 --> 00:09:46.570 "The stuff I'm teaching here, it's not just about this game, 00:09:46.571 --> 00:09:48.084 You could apply it to life." 00:09:48.085 --> 00:09:50.771 Here's the thing, people: that's not true. 00:09:51.751 --> 00:09:52.800 I thought it was true. 00:09:52.801 --> 00:09:54.190 Straight out of high school, 00:09:54.191 --> 00:09:56.430 one of my first jobs was... I used to park cars. 00:09:56.431 --> 00:09:59.621 One of the cars was really nice so I took it for a little spin. 00:09:59.812 --> 00:10:02.291 The company found out, and my boss lost the account. 00:10:02.292 --> 00:10:04.011 He was yelling at me and screaming 00:10:04.012 --> 00:10:05.611 I didn't know what to say or do. 00:10:05.612 --> 00:10:07.933 I thought back to my high school football coach. 00:10:07.934 --> 00:10:11.314 I looked at my boss, and I was like, "You know what, man? 00:10:12.161 --> 00:10:14.055 You win some, you lose some, man." 00:10:14.056 --> 00:10:15.546 (Laughter) 00:10:16.516 --> 00:10:18.725 "You can't let this one loss get you down." 00:10:18.726 --> 00:10:19.998 (Laughter) 00:10:19.999 --> 00:10:22.908 "The important thing is I went out there, and I had fun.” 00:10:22.909 --> 00:10:24.709 (Laughter) 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:26.950 (Applause) 00:10:28.072 --> 00:10:30.401 Then I got fired, man. I got fired right away. 00:10:30.402 --> 00:10:31.592 (Laughter) 00:10:33.629 --> 00:10:35.678 Actually, I do play some basketball. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:38.252 I didn't want to perpetuate stereotypes, but it's true. 00:10:38.253 --> 00:10:39.752 (Laughter) 00:10:39.753 --> 00:10:42.142 But in basketball, you're supposed to run and jump. 00:10:42.143 --> 00:10:44.432 I don't really feel like doing both all the time. 00:10:44.433 --> 00:10:46.883 So some friends recently took me ball hunting. 00:10:47.782 --> 00:10:49.921 Some people call it golf or whatever. 00:10:49.922 --> 00:10:51.142 (Laughter) 00:10:55.359 --> 00:10:56.518 I shot a 121. 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:58.178 That’s what I shot, a 121; 00:10:58.179 --> 00:10:59.248 and then we had lunch. 00:10:59.249 --> 00:11:02.328 And it was like, "Hey. We're gonna do the other nine holes now." 00:11:02.329 --> 00:11:04.228 (Laughter) 00:11:04.229 --> 00:11:07.258 I said, "I'm not going back out there, I'm not going." 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.998 Because they lied to get me to go. 00:11:08.999 --> 00:11:10.938 They’re like, "The greens are awesome.” 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:13.408 I was like, "Cool," I showed up with some cornbread. 00:11:13.409 --> 00:11:14.708 I was like, "All right ..." 00:11:14.709 --> 00:11:16.017 (Laughter) 00:11:16.817 --> 00:11:18.966 I don’t know how to say cornbread in German. 00:11:18.967 --> 00:11:19.967 I'm sorry. 00:11:20.556 --> 00:11:22.227 I just did that just for Germany. 00:11:22.328 --> 00:11:24.048 I've never really been there before. 00:11:25.068 --> 00:11:26.797 I do think working out is important. 00:11:26.798 --> 00:11:28.718 I was at the gym the other month. 00:11:30.187 --> 00:11:32.086 I was going to do some cardio, right? 00:11:32.087 --> 00:11:33.446 But they moved it upstairs. 00:11:33.447 --> 00:11:35.206 I ain't going up there, man, please. 00:11:35.207 --> 00:11:36.806 (Laughter) 00:11:36.807 --> 00:11:39.153 And I get recognized at the gym. I got recognized. 00:11:39.154 --> 00:11:41.553 I'm working out, this lady was like: (Gasping). 00:11:41.554 --> 00:11:42.703 I said, "How you doing?" 00:11:42.704 --> 00:11:46.223 She said, "You don't understand Michael Jr.! You're my favorite comedian. 00:11:46.224 --> 00:11:48.283 Every time I see you, I laugh my butt off." 00:11:48.284 --> 00:11:49.964 I was like, "Uh... Keep laughing!" 00:11:50.731 --> 00:11:52.190 Keep laughing." 00:11:52.191 --> 00:11:53.411 (Laughter) 00:11:58.849 --> 00:12:00.538 So there's a club in Los Angeles. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:03.348 When I moved to Los Angeles, and I was brand new in comedy, 00:12:03.349 --> 00:12:06.579 there's a club there that it's like the best club in the country. 00:12:06.629 --> 00:12:09.618 It's called the "Comedy and Magic Club." It's in Hermosa Beach. 00:12:09.619 --> 00:12:12.268 This club is extremely hard for a comedian to get into. 00:12:12.269 --> 00:12:14.099 The way I got into this club is 00:12:14.105 --> 00:12:16.964 a guy named George Wallace saw me when I lived in New York. 00:12:16.965 --> 00:12:18.439 He knew I was funny and clean 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:21.849 so when I moved to Los Angeles, he took me to the Comedy and Magic Club. 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:25.129 Now he couldn't get me on stage, it's way too prestigious of a club. 00:12:25.130 --> 00:12:26.609 They have to know who you are. 00:12:26.610 --> 00:12:28.396 So he got me into the green room. 00:12:28.564 --> 00:12:31.443 I'm in the green room and suddenly, brand new in town, 00:12:31.444 --> 00:12:34.413 and I find myself in a green room with some soldiers in comedy. 00:12:34.414 --> 00:12:37.673 There's George Wallace, Garry Shandling, Jay Leno. 00:12:37.674 --> 00:12:39.113 I'm brand new in town. 00:12:39.114 --> 00:12:42.429 And at the time, a football player got hit in the eye with a flag, 00:12:42.430 --> 00:12:44.229 and he lost his vision in one eye, 00:12:44.230 --> 00:12:46.729 and he was suing the league for 400 million dollars. 00:12:46.730 --> 00:12:49.629 Now, all of these guys are helping Leno on that joke subject 00:12:49.630 --> 00:12:52.096 for the monologue for "The Tonight Show" on NBC. 00:12:52.097 --> 00:12:54.016 I ain't saying nothing. 00:12:54.017 --> 00:12:57.764 I'm just happy to be in the room sharing french fries with these dudes. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.280 But your gift will make room for you. 00:13:00.293 --> 00:13:02.682 So then, they got quiet, and they all looked at me, 00:13:02.683 --> 00:13:04.582 and I'm thinking, "Oh, snap! 00:13:04.583 --> 00:13:06.103 This is an opportunity." 00:13:06.104 --> 00:13:08.053 I said, "Let's see if I got this right. 00:13:08.054 --> 00:13:11.103 He got hit in the eye with a flag, he lost his vision in one eye, 00:13:11.104 --> 00:13:13.604 and he's suing the league for 400 million dollars. 00:13:14.462 --> 00:13:16.392 He’s not gonna see half of it." 00:13:16.402 --> 00:13:17.682 (Laughter) 00:13:24.713 --> 00:13:25.713 Like, for real. 00:13:25.714 --> 00:13:26.755 (Laughter) 00:13:27.485 --> 00:13:28.555 So here's the thing: 00:13:28.556 --> 00:13:31.514 how did I get that joke that fast under that much pressure? 00:13:31.515 --> 00:13:34.323 The truth is it wasn't as much pressure as you might think 00:13:34.324 --> 00:13:36.613 because I'd been practicing since I was a child 00:13:36.614 --> 00:13:39.323 in the form of a kid who was having a hard time reading. 00:13:39.324 --> 00:13:41.663 I was practicing just like you've been practicing; 00:13:41.664 --> 00:13:43.703 you just didn't know you were practicing. 00:13:43.704 --> 00:13:45.963 I'm here to let you know you've been practicing. 00:13:45.964 --> 00:13:47.964 And for a lot of you, guys, it's game time. 00:13:48.313 --> 00:13:49.832 It's game time. 00:13:49.833 --> 00:13:53.649 So now, I'm in the club; and I'm performing there. 00:13:53.915 --> 00:13:56.244 This is probably like seven, eight years ago. 00:13:56.245 --> 00:13:57.614 I'm headlining at the club, 00:13:57.615 --> 00:13:59.174 and right before I got on stage, 00:13:59.175 --> 00:14:01.274 I had a change in mindset about comedy. 00:14:01.275 --> 00:14:03.475 Most of the time when a comedian gets onstage, 00:14:03.492 --> 00:14:05.197 he wants to get laughs from people. 00:14:05.198 --> 00:14:06.927 And I felt a shift take place: 00:14:06.928 --> 00:14:09.497 Instead of going up there to get laughs from people, 00:14:09.498 --> 00:14:12.537 I felt like I was supposed to give them an opportunity to laugh. 00:14:12.538 --> 00:14:14.727 I did a little prayer, and I clearly felt like 00:14:14.728 --> 00:14:16.969 I was supposed to give an opportunity to laugh. 00:14:16.970 --> 00:14:18.229 This changed everything. 00:14:18.230 --> 00:14:19.989 Because now I'm not looking to take; 00:14:19.990 --> 00:14:22.169 I'm simply looking for an opportunity to give. 00:14:22.170 --> 00:14:24.829 This is why we go to homeless shelters and these places. 00:14:24.830 --> 00:14:27.149 In fact, that very night when I leave the stage, 00:14:27.150 --> 00:14:28.939 I'm outside, people want autographs, 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.859 we're hanging out taking pictures, 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:34.199 and I look across the street, and I saw a homeless guy. 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.990 I had never seen a homeless guy outside this club before ever. 00:14:38.271 --> 00:14:40.470 But that doesn't mean he wasn't there before. 00:14:40.471 --> 00:14:44.900 That just means before, my mindset was to get laughs from people, 00:14:44.901 --> 00:14:46.461 so why would I even notice him? 00:14:46.634 --> 00:14:49.383 But now I changed my mindset, and I see this homeless guy, 00:14:49.384 --> 00:14:51.376 and I have the thought, "What about him? 00:14:51.377 --> 00:14:53.593 How could I give him an opportunity to laugh?" 00:14:53.594 --> 00:14:56.503 And that's when we started doing homeless shelters and prisons 00:14:56.504 --> 00:15:00.504 and making laughter commonplace in non-common places. 00:15:01.389 --> 00:15:03.869 So now, as a result of doing that, 00:15:05.553 --> 00:15:08.393 we went to this one place, we went to Montrose, Colorado. 00:15:09.261 --> 00:15:12.928 It's an abuse facility for children who were being abused by their parents. 00:15:12.929 --> 00:15:14.678 And I'm hearing all these stories, 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.918 and this grandmother told us about her grandson 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.018 who was so afraid of his mom who's on drugs and been abusing him. 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:23.418 One of the things she's been doing is she was pulling out his toenails. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.680 So I hear this story, 00:15:24.999 --> 00:15:27.428 and they bring all these kids inside. 00:15:27.429 --> 00:15:29.058 And Spiderman is sitting right up. 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.988 This little boy is so afraid of his mom, 00:15:30.989 --> 00:15:33.275 everywhere he goes, he wears a Spiderman costume. 00:15:33.371 --> 00:15:35.390 He's sitting right up front at the show. 00:15:35.391 --> 00:15:38.109 If my mindset was still to get laughs from people, 00:15:38.110 --> 00:15:40.509 there's no way I would've been able to do the show. 00:15:40.510 --> 00:15:42.750 But my mindset changed; 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:45.660 so now, I have to do the show. 00:15:46.023 --> 00:15:47.312 So I get up on stage, 00:15:47.313 --> 00:15:49.712 and people start laughing slowly but surely. 00:15:49.713 --> 00:15:52.512 Twenty minutes in it, I hear a voice come from right here, 00:15:52.513 --> 00:15:54.672 and the voice says, "My name is Ronan.” 00:15:54.673 --> 00:15:56.592 And this little boy pulls off his mask, 00:15:56.593 --> 00:15:58.693 introduces himself to me. 00:15:59.363 --> 00:16:01.653 And I can't even tell you what it meant to me. 00:16:01.696 --> 00:16:03.965 He started talking to me for like nine minutes, 00:16:03.966 --> 00:16:06.205 like I wasn't doing a comedy show at the time. 00:16:06.206 --> 00:16:07.863 (Laughter) 00:16:07.933 --> 00:16:10.113 But it was all because I made this shift. 00:16:11.171 --> 00:16:12.550 I made this change, 00:16:12.551 --> 00:16:13.680 and I say it simply. 00:16:13.681 --> 00:16:14.970 Instead of trying to get, 00:16:14.971 --> 00:16:17.450 I'm going to see if there's an opportunity to give. 00:16:17.451 --> 00:16:19.000 If you can make this adjustment, 00:16:19.001 --> 00:16:20.860 it will change your life for the good. 00:16:20.861 --> 00:16:21.930 If you're a mechanic, 00:16:21.931 --> 00:16:24.050 you may think you get paid to fix vehicles. 00:16:24.051 --> 00:16:25.540 But if you can make this shift, 00:16:25.541 --> 00:16:29.150 you will recognize you help people reach their desired destination. 00:16:29.151 --> 00:16:32.061 That will put your alarm clock out of business. 00:16:32.528 --> 00:16:33.567 My senses are 00:16:33.568 --> 00:16:36.668 there's a lot of people out there still hitting the snooze button. 00:16:37.491 --> 00:16:38.740 Before I bounce 00:16:38.741 --> 00:16:40.770 - bounce means to vacate the premises - 00:16:40.771 --> 00:16:42.010 (Laughter) 00:16:42.011 --> 00:16:44.181 I’d like to explain to you how life works, 00:16:44.531 --> 00:16:46.871 at least from a comedian’s perspective. 00:16:47.760 --> 00:16:49.330 First, there's a setup, 00:16:50.285 --> 00:16:51.944 and then there's a punchline. 00:16:51.945 --> 00:16:55.434 Your setup is your talents, your resources, and your opportunities. 00:16:55.435 --> 00:16:57.444 And most of the time, we use our setup 00:16:57.445 --> 00:17:02.274 to ensure that the people around us are moving in a direction that serves us. 00:17:02.275 --> 00:17:03.864 Which means the punchline occurs 00:17:03.865 --> 00:17:06.904 when you change that direction in a way they're not expecting. 00:17:06.905 --> 00:17:09.834 You actually use your setup for other people. 00:17:09.835 --> 00:17:13.444 The results are the same, yet multiply: revelation, fulfillment, and joy. 00:17:13.444 --> 00:17:16.394 But it's not just for the one receiving your punch line; 00:17:16.395 --> 00:17:19.565 it is absolutely for you as you deliver the punch line. 00:17:20.618 --> 00:17:23.877 In fact, if I ask the question to everyone here, everyone watching, 00:17:23.878 --> 00:17:25.679 if I ask you this question, 00:17:26.698 --> 00:17:29.548 "How many people here know what your setup is?" 00:17:30.347 --> 00:17:32.347 Every one of you would be able to tell me. 00:17:32.430 --> 00:17:35.399 Because your setup is the fact that you have a house, a car, 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:37.309 you've been married, you went to school. 00:17:37.310 --> 00:17:39.283 Your setup is about what you've received. 00:17:39.284 --> 00:17:43.444 But what if I asked the question, "What is your punchline?” 00:17:44.314 --> 00:17:48.203 Because your punchline is about what you’re called to deliver. 00:17:48.204 --> 00:17:50.933 And if you only know your setup and not your punchline, 00:17:50.934 --> 00:17:54.743 you'll make the mistake of trying to add more setup. 00:17:54.744 --> 00:17:56.783 "If I could just get another degree," 00:17:56.784 --> 00:17:58.323 "if I could just get married," 00:17:58.324 --> 00:17:59.823 "if I could just lose weight," 00:17:59.824 --> 00:18:03.294 but what you really need is to know your punchline. 00:18:04.547 --> 00:18:06.846 Because to know your setup and not your punchline 00:18:06.847 --> 00:18:08.537 is an uncomfortable place to live. 00:18:08.962 --> 00:18:10.712 Let me give you an example. 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:15.209 How many people are still thinking about the story of me and the CEO on stage? 00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:19.978 The reason all you guys are still thinking about that story 00:18:19.979 --> 00:18:22.079 is because all you have is the setup; 00:18:23.115 --> 00:18:24.984 you don't have the punchline. 00:18:24.985 --> 00:18:26.605 Yet, we've moved on 00:18:27.035 --> 00:18:29.695 and allowed ourselves to be entertained 00:18:30.605 --> 00:18:33.414 like there wasn't something missing. 00:18:33.415 --> 00:18:37.414 So we'll go to a comedy show, or a football game, or a concert 00:18:37.415 --> 00:18:40.105 even though there's something missing. 00:18:40.475 --> 00:18:43.295 And that's just the story I told you ten minutes ago. 00:18:43.745 --> 00:18:45.635 What about your story? 00:18:46.273 --> 00:18:50.083 You've been living it your entire life, and if all you know is the setup, 00:18:50.221 --> 00:18:51.490 and not the punchline, 00:18:51.491 --> 00:18:53.626 you’re living in an uncomfortable place. 00:18:53.627 --> 00:18:54.796 And please be clear. 00:18:54.797 --> 00:18:57.226 Just like when I had a hard time reading as a child, 00:18:57.227 --> 00:18:59.496 your setbacks are part of your setup 00:18:59.497 --> 00:19:02.301 so you can deliver the punchline you’re called to deliver. 00:19:02.936 --> 00:19:06.006 Much like a slingshot, the further you've been set back, 00:19:06.489 --> 00:19:08.699 the further you're going to reach. 00:19:09.665 --> 00:19:11.345 But what are you going to aim for? 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.107 Everyone has a setup, 00:19:15.617 --> 00:19:17.497 and everyone has a punchline. 00:19:18.477 --> 00:19:20.307 You need to find your punchline 00:19:20.936 --> 00:19:21.936 and deliver it. 00:19:22.316 --> 00:19:23.425 I'm Michael Jr. 00:19:23.426 --> 00:19:24.485 I love you. 00:19:24.486 --> 00:19:25.645 (Applause) 00:19:25.646 --> 00:19:26.755 Thank you guys. 00:19:26.756 --> 00:19:28.007 Aw, you guys are awesome. 00:19:28.008 --> 00:19:29.017 Standing ovation! 00:19:29.018 --> 00:19:30.067 Thank you so much. 00:19:30.068 --> 00:19:31.118 Thank you, thank you! 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.378 (Applause) 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.693 Get up, dude! You too! 00:19:34.694 --> 00:19:35.750 I'm just playing. 00:19:35.751 --> 00:19:36.773 Thank you. 00:19:36.774 --> 00:19:38.346 (Applause)