Nate Bargatze Tells Chappelle & Patrice Stories

TL;DR

Nate Bargatze shares stories about seeing Dave Chappelle perform for six or seven people and helping Patrice O'Neal outside the Boston Comedy Club. After moving to New York around 2004 or 2005, Bargatze handed out flyers in 25-degree weather, watched Bill Burr and O'Neal prepare 30-minute specials, and worked on a freezing Fear Factor set with Chappelle in character as Tyrone Biggums. Read on for the specific encounters and lessons he remembers.

Transcript

the jurogan experience when you first go i went to so when i moved to new york i went to boston comedy club and i barked and handed out flyers oh did you do that i did exactly what i did with pete holmes his show i did exactly that show so uh with pete he got me i moved like five months after pete did and he was like i'm barking at this club and so... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤗 Barking and handing out flyers was a common practice for comedians to get stage time and promote shows in the early days of their careers.
• ❤️‍🩹 Dave Chappelle would perform at small comedy clubs and even after Chappelle's Show ended, he remained a respected figure in the comedy scene.
• 🆘 Comedians like Bill Burr and Patrice O'Neal had a significant influence on Joe Rogan and helped shape his comedic style and perspective.
• 👋 The comedy scene in New York during the early 2000s provided opportunities to see and learn from some of the best and most respected comedians in the industry.
• 🤔 Patrice O'Neal's unapologetic and thought-provoking comedy style showed the importance of questioning societal norms and not being afraid to challenge conventional thinking.
• 🥺 Joe Rogan's encounter with a controversial statement made on Opie and Anthony's show by a woman led him to reflect on the nature of comedy and the importance of context.
• 💀 Growing up in a cult-like environment as a Jehovah's Witness, Big Jay Oakerson brings a unique perspective to comedy and is vocal about the dangers of ideological rigidity.

Questions & Answers

Q: What stories does Nate Bargatze tell about Dave Chappelle and Patrice O'Neal?

Bargatze recalls Chappelle doing spots for audiences of only six or seven people at the Boston Comedy Club. He also says he sat in Patrice O'Neal's illegally parked car and would drive it around if a police officer appeared while O'Neal was onstage.

Q: How did Nate Bargatze get started at the Boston Comedy Club?

After moving to New York, Bargatze followed Pete Holmes into barking and handing out flyers for the club. He stood outside in weather around 25 degrees while people ignored or dropped the flyers.

Q: What did barking outside the comedy club teach Nate Bargatze?

It taught Bargatze to pursue small, attainable goals instead of focusing only on large ambitions. While handing out flyers, his immediate goal became getting off the corner and earning a position taking tickets at the door.

Q: What were Dave Chappelle's early appearances at the Boston Comedy Club like?

Around 2004 or 2005, Chappelle would visit the club and perform for as few as six or seven people. Bargatze remembers inviting passersby to watch Chappelle for free, but some refused because they did not believe Chappelle was actually inside.

Q: What did Nate Bargatze remember about Chappelle's Show?

Bargatze remembers Chappelle arriving at the club with white makeup still on his neck after apparently playing a white person on Chappelle's Show. He says this happened shortly before Chappelle ended the show.

Q: What happened when Nate Bargatze worked with Dave Chappelle on a Fear Factor episode?

The episode featured Chappelle as Tyrone Biggums and was filmed in a freezing New York warehouse during winter. Although performers repeatedly returned to blast furnaces for warmth, Chappelle stayed in character as Tyrone Biggums throughout the day.

Q: How did Bill Burr and Patrice O'Neal influence Nate Bargatze?

Bargatze says seeing Burr and O'Neal perform was a big deal for him when he was a young New York comic. He watched them rehearse material for their 30-minute HBO One Night Stand specials and regarded O'Neal as one of the greats.

Q: Why did Nate Bargatze consider Patrice O'Neal important to comedy?

Bargatze describes O'Neal as a cornerstone of not caring about conventional expectations. He valued O'Neal's ability to make a well-considered, hilarious point that exposed why something was foolish or unworthy of concern.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Joe Rogan recalls his early days in New York City, where he barked and handed out flyers for comedy shows as a way to get stage time.

• He talks about encountering Dave Chappelle at the Boston comedy club and how Chappelle would perform in front of a small audience.

• Rogan reflects on the impact of comedians like Bill Burr and Patrice O'Neal, who were influential figures in the comedy scene at the time.