10 Questions about his career and the comedy business.
1. You have a new comedy CD called "Good Catholic Boy", what was the inspiration behind that title?
Have you seen my act? (Laughs) It's funny because I've been accused of being "too religious" by some, and told I'm going straight to hell for the way I make fun of religion by others. Listen, when I started I was 21 and one of my mentors, Charlie Hall, told me the best way to be original is to write about my life. At 21, my life consisted of growing up Italian/Catholic, going to Catholic School, and still being in college (I was on the 6 year plan). So I guess the inspiration was around the fact that I'm still a Catholic, but with a little inquisitive, devilish side. Hence the "Good Catholic Boy" title, with the "Parental Advisory" label right under it.
2. Where and when was the CD recorded?
The album (did I just say album?) was recorded in December of 2007 at The Comedy Connection in Portland Maine. I recorded it there for 2 reasons:
A) It helped me not make it all about local RI references which tends to happen in front of a RI crowd (how can you not crap on Foster/Glocester when you're in front of a RI audience?) and
B) Historically, the crowds in Portland are GREAT. When you're paying a sound engineer to come in and record you, you want that insurance that you're going to get great audience laughs on the recording. Of course no insurance is 100%. There were 4 drunk crazy bachelorette parties in the crowd that night which made for a few tough times controlling them from the stage, but there was some funny audience interactions that came out of it!
3. What material is on the album? Is there new stuff, classic stuff, anything else?
It's definitely more classic stuff. Some of the material I still do because it's the core of my act and who I am, but some stuff I no longer do. There's also some bonus material of ideas I was working on at the time that I still do occasionally (especially during Christmas Season)
4. How many years now have you been doing stand-up comedy?
Last month was my 23rd anniversary. I started on an open mic night at the old 'Periwinkles' in 'The Arcade' (in Providence, RI). I still can't believe it. It seems like I was still looked at as "the new guy" until only a few years ago and now the newer guys call me a "veteran" or a "legend". Someone recently introduced me as the Jack Lalane of R.I. comedy (which made me feel old considering he died last year)!
5. How would you say stand-up comedy has changed over the years?
I don't know if it's changed so much as it's cyclical. It waxes & wanes between straight on "joke" jokes where there's a short set up then punch line (like Steven Wright or more recently Shane Mauss), and storytelling (like George Carlin or Bill Burr). It's definitely more accessible than it's ever been. In the old days, if you wanted to get work at a club you'd have to send a promo kit that included a tape (remember those?) and hope the bookers would watch it. Now you can send an e-mail with a 'YouTube' clip and hope the bookers will watch it. Anyone can make their talent accessible on 'YouTube'. It hasn't really happened big for comics yet but look, Journey & Queen found awesome singers through 'YouTube'!
Just the fact that I could independently record a CD and make it accessible (beyond just selling it after my shows) via digital distribution is a big change too. The only way to make a CD available to a large market like that before was to be seen in NY or LA, get signed by a major label, then they would pay to record it and distribute it. I'm too settled with my family, house, and day job to chase getting famous by moving to NY or LA (and too old :-). Would I love it? Sure, but my family is my #1 priority.
6. What would you say are some of the highlights of your comedy career?
God, there have been so many. Playing at 'The Warwick Musical Theater' opening up for Huey Lewis and Luther Vandross, recently opening up for David Cassidy in Newport, being on the last show at the 'Rocky Point Palladium' opening for Herb Reed and the Platters, being on Comedy Central (when it was still called 'The Comedy Channel'), hanging out after a show with Jim Florentine, Andrew Dice Clay, and the guys from the band Godsmack, recording this CD..... I've been really blessed/lucky to have had some great opportunities and experiences.
7. Who are some of your comedy influences?
I'd have to say George Carlin and Bill Cosby were the biggest. I remember being a kid and listening to my cousin's Bill Cosby albums. He's an AMAZING storyteller. "The chicken heart who ate NJ". "Go carts". "Playing Buck Buck". You couldn't even see him but he was so expressive that you still felt that you were living the experience as he was telling it. Listen to the the last track on 'Best of Bill Cosby' from 1969. He told an entire hilarious 5 minute story ("Buck Buck") to introduce the character of Fat Albert, and then says, "Now I told you that story so I could tell you this one." That's genius! A huge turning point though,the time where I said to myself, "Wow! THAT'S thecoolestjob in the world!" was when I saw George Carlin's HBO special 'Carlin at Carnegie' in 1982. It was amazing how he talked about everyday stuff that we could all relate to and make it funny. It also taught me that it was ok to swear in a joke for a punch, but only when it's really needed. It wasn't an "F-bomb" every other word. I also really looked up to people like Gilda Radner, Fred Travalina, and Mel Blanc who we're my early professors of doing impersonations.
8. What advice would you give to today's up and coming comics?
A friend of mine who's a former comic and now world famous humorous speaker Darren Lacroix sums it up best "Stagetime. Stagetime. Stagetime." Any chance you get to get up on stage, do it. Open mics. Guest sets. All different types of shows. The more situations that you put yourself in to make people laugh, the better. I learned how to deal with rough club crowds by doing bachelor parties. If you can handle an angry group of guys because your little jokes are the only thing between them and seeing some boobies, you can handle any crowd in a comedy club. I've done shows in front of crowds as big as 6,000 and as small as 5. Every one of them helped me grow as a performer. It's just like anything else, practice makes you better.
Also, like I mentioned before, if you're going to swear excessively or work blue all the time, be prepared for limitations that are placed on you as far as what work you get. George Carlin didn't start out with the "7 dirty words", he started clean on TV doing bits like "The Hippy Dippy Weather Man". More opportunity opens up if you can work clean AND dirty.
9. What plans do you have going forward in comedy?
Well, I'm really hoping that the CD takes off. I have to depend on word of mouth so anytime someone says they've downloaded it I've been asking them to write a review and tell their friends about it(only if they like it of course). It's already been downloaded by people in Florida, North Carolina, New York, and of course New England. I have a great opportunity to increase my presence beyond just RI. Other than that, I'm hoping to do some more acting (see Twin River commercial) and I'm working on putting together a show starting next year that I hope to bring around New England to start, then expand on if the response is good. It'll be called "Ace Aceto's Royal Flush Comedy Tour" and will consist of a 'Joker' (host), a 'Jack' (new guy), a 'Queen' (female comic or I've had some interest from some really funny gay comics), a 'King' (a fellow veteran male comic), and 'The Ace' (me).
10. Where can people purchase your new CD?
First and foremost, out of the trunk of my car on Broad Street in Providence. Besides that, after my shows I'll have actual CD's for sale that I can sign if people want. And for the tech savvy "kids" out there, they can download it from CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and just about any other music download service. People can also get it on my website WWW.ACEACETO.COM It's got my bio, pictures, clips, links to some of my favorite clubs to work, and a bunch of memorabilia from over the 23 years. You can also sign up for my mailing list which will get you my monthly newsletter that has news & upcoming shows. I'm really proud of the site. A good friend from high school, Janine Calise from 4Design did and amazing job! She also did the artwork for the CD.
NOTE: Check out Patton Oswalt's keynote address from the 'Just for Laughs Comedy Festival/Conference'. I read it after I answered question 5 and he hits it spot on (mostly because it's in line with what I said. :-D