Courtesy : Rajiv Satyal

Rajiv Satyal –is Your HighBrow, Fun-Size Comedian.  A native Ohioan, Rajiv has opened many times for nationally recognized comedians including Dave Chappelle, Kevin Nealon, and our very own desi comic, Russell Peters. Rajiv’s clever, crisp one-liners and funny rants have universal comic appeal. Le Loop spoke to Rajiv, to learn more about this Pocket Pundit . Here are some excerpts from our interview:

Meena : Rajiv, how would you describe your brand of humor?

Rajiv :  Well, let me put it this way:  comedy comes in different flavors and mine is to respect the audience and I find that audiences love it when they are treated  intelligently. My style of comedy has evolved over a period of years.  It’s been said that it takes 5 years for a comic to figure out what he wants to talk about.  And about 10 years to find his voice.  Especially for me – I lose mine all the time.  I yell a lot.  Ha.  So my brand of humor has evolved as well and ranges from ethnic humor to personal stories.

Meena : Rajiv, you have made it to couple of rounds of  Last Comic Standing, a NBC reality show.

Rajiv : Yes, I got as far I should have. Especially with just 4 full-time years of experience in the Industry. There were many contestants who were more seasoned and experienced than I. It was good exposure and experience. The fact that it is a reality show and they are looking for a certain kind of comic can work for you.  If they are  ever looking for the Indian Woody Allen, I’m in.

Meena : How is it like working with Russell Peters ?  Russell Peters stated in an Indian newspaper that Rajiv Satyal was a comic to watch for in US.

Rajiv : Russell and I are good friends. We have worked together at least 25 times.  We complement each other well as our styles are so different.  His endorsement of me has certainly added more credibility – he’s kind an inspiration and definitely an older brother type.  He looks out for his friends and that’s very admirable.

Meena : With more desi comics choosing to venture out, do you feel the Industry has become overcrowded ?

Rajiv : Not at all. The  field of desi comedy is not yet saturated and everyone has a niche. But, yes it does put some pressure on us desi comics to perform better and at a faster pace.  Indian Americans in particular are an outspoken and educated bunch and that makes for good comedy.  My guess is that we’ll see saturation within a year.

Meena : Would you call the field of comedy as competitive and cut throat ?

Rajiv : I would say the world of stand-up can be lonely.  It’s just you alone on the stage with a mic.  So, I’m glad that, for the most part, South Asian comedians have been supportive of each other.

Meena : How does your family react to your jokes ? Did they support your decision to be a comic ?

Rajiv :  My parents are good-natured and raised me and my 3 brothers to be individuals. They didn’t typecast us or put us in a box. They were not very strict and they encouraged us to be creative . Rakesh Satyal, my brother and author of book Blue Boy, is gay. And they have been supportive of his choice as well. In that way I feel my parents have let us become who we’re supposed to be . For that reason I feel we (my siblings and I ) are happier individuals today. And, yes they are honest about giving me feedback for my jokes. If it needs work, , they will say  it needs work.

Meena : Any advice for upcoming  comics ?

Rajiv :  I would say Just do It.  Try to get as many opportunities to perform onstage and concentrate on being comfortable and making people laugh. It is a hard job – with just you and the microphone and 300 people watching you. Your jokes have to really reach out to your audience. There are times when you will bomb, but you have to grow from this. At the end of the day you have to make sure you have the poise to get through a hard day’swork.

Meena : Would you ever act or write for Bollywood ?

Rajiv : Definitely yes. Though, I do think that Bollywood humor is more slapstick. But yes if there’s an opportunity then why not? The world as it is has become flat and Bollywood is at least as influential as Hollywood in many parts of the globe, whether it’s flat as a pancake or round as a ladoo.

Want to book Rajiv  Satyal to host your next event ?  Contact Rajiv Satyal on www.funnyIndian.com or add him on www.Facebook.com/FunnyIndian.