Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo

Jesus, voice-over: So far, Minneapolis has been a lot more culturally diverse than I would have expected, and tonight is no different.

There's comics from all different backgrounds here, each playing a role in creating this unique scene.

Jesus: I was going to ask you guys, is there a lot of rooms in this town to develop as a comic?

Ali: Absolutely.

Comics: Yeah.

Yeah.

Jesus: How many rooms?

Ali: You can get up every night here, and it's a lot less comics than L.A.

The ratio of comedy spots versus comics is a lot better here.

Comic: Working in a community like Minneapolis, not only do you get to hone in on your craft, but you get to learn the industry of comedy.

It's good to learn those lessons.

Ultimately, it sounds like a conducive ground for a young artist to kind of-- Ali: Great incubator.

It's the best incubator you can ask for.

Some of my friends have been watching too much news lately, way too much.

Now they're trying to get, like, intellectual.

One of my friends, he's coming up to me, he keeps coming up to me, bro.

He's like, "Bro, the dollar's collapsing.

The dollar's collapsing.

Are you ready?"

I'm like, "Bro, we don't have any money.

This is not our problem, bro.

This is a rich people problem."

[Laughter] Jesus: And the community here is fairly small, so I think there's a kind of a looking out for each other element 'cause you're coming back and you're kind of showing the community how it's done, what you're doing, maybe some pitfalls.

Ali: Absolutely, man.

Nobody gets you like a comic.

Yeah, I think you should have, like, friends outside of comedy and a life outside of comedy, but I also, like, love having my comedy friends.

It really is a team sport off the stage.

Jesus: But up there, you're by yourself.

Up there, you're by yourself, so you get confused into thinking that you're doing this on your own, when really, you're in the green room and you're talking to people, getting sharp around people.

People are giving you ideas.

Like... Ali: Everything you get is through your community.

Comic: It's through your community.

Yeah.

Ali: My theory is, like, with comedy is like, if you work hard, trying your best, if you're growing and you're kind, you will make it.