JASON: When did you start using Twitter and why?
NICK: About a month ago or so, I was reluctant, but fellow comedian T.J. Miller
told me I should to do it, and I do whatever he says.
JASON: In what ways do you utilize it?
NICK: I just do it to put up jokes. We live in a world new where the more people
that spend time on the Internet looking at stuff involving your comedy, is almost
becoming essential to having a successful career in comedy. Dane Cook got all
the fans he did because of MySpace, its how College Humor.com got their show
on MTV, and why HBO has no hesitation of turning Funny or Die into series. The
more people following someone's comedy on the Internet, proves to bookers
and producers that those people will follow that same comedy in other outlets.
JASON: How frequently do you update?
NICK: Right now only every few days, only when something strikes me funny
enough that I think anyone following me might get a kick out of it.
JASON: Has it benefited you as a comic? If so, how?
NICK: There's definitely a couple things that I have written that afterwards I was
like, that might be a good one-liner to do in a set. I think anything that makes
you write can be beneficial.
JASON: Given the 140 character count, is Twitter the consummate joke teller's
medium or do you find the character count limiting?
NICK: Its great for coming up with one liners. Anything more than that, I think
you should go old school and call someone up on the phone and tell them your
funny bit, or even more scary; talk to someone in the same room with you.
JASON: Is Twitter a good tool for immediacy and/or topical humor?
NICK: Sure, Swine flu breaks out, you now don't have to wait till your next show
to do your swine flu joke. You can send it out as soon as you think of it. In fact if
I'm falling out of a building, I can quickly twitter, 'I hope I don't land on my keys'
before I even hit the ground.
JASON: Is Twitter a good marketing tool? If so, how? For example, do you use
it to announce upcoming shows? Do new fans discover you on Twitter or is it
more a place for established fans to follow you?
NICK: I think all things. I think how twitter is looked at and will be used is yet to
be seen. Ideally I think for a comedian its a great way to promote your shows,
tell jokes to people who want to hear them, and perhaps be someone who, by
word of mouth, is known as someone funny to follow and not someone who just
updates the world on medial tasks like people do on facebook. If I read one
more person who tell me, "Nap time for Meg!" or "John's having soup!' it might
be enough for me to go outside and interact with real people.
JASON: Is Twitter a place where you "workshop" new material/jokes to gauge
reader comments and feedback?
NICK: Its good cause it makes you write, but I think most people don't really
respond to what you say. If they do, I guess thats a good indicator you've come
up with a good quip.
JASON: Do you have any twittering heroes? If so, who are they and why?
NICK: If any of my heroes are because of their twittering, please shoot me.
JASON: How do you think it holds up when compared to other social sites like
facebook, myspace and YouTube?
NICK: Its its own thing, twitter is good for telling people quick jokes for those
who want to hear them, facebook is good for staying in contact with friends, you
tube is good for posting your videos, and myspace is good for reminding us that
any vast amount of energy we put in any of these websites will soon regretfully
be realized as a complete waste of time as that site becomes obsolete.
Full Nick Vatterott Twitter interview with
TIME OUT CHICAGO'S Jason Heidemann