Kam Patterson on Kevin Hart, Kill Tony, SNL, Tony Hinchcliffe, Roasting & Megan Thee Stallion
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Kam Patterson landed a role in a Kevin Hart movie after a rigorous audition and screen test process.
- ❖His experience on SNL, a sketch comedy environment, was initially daunting but ultimately a blessing due to the high talent level.
- ❖'Kill Tony' significantly accelerated his stand-up comedy skills, pushing him to improve faster.
- ❖Patterson views comedy as a 'drug' and finds immense satisfaction in making people laugh.
- ❖His father's unwavering belief and financial support were crucial in his decision to pursue comedy full-time.
- ❖He aims to become a movie star and a mentor figure for future generations of comedians.
Insights
1Navigating Hollywood Auditions and Working with Kevin Hart
Patterson secured a role in a Netflix movie with Kevin Hart after multiple auditions and a screen test. He described the waiting room as filled with 'real celebrities' and initially felt out of place. Working alongside Kevin Hart was a 'dream come true,' and he was particularly inspired by Hart's intense work ethic and ability to deliver long monologues with minimal preparation.
Kam auditioned, then did a screen test with Kevin Hart. He noted seeing 'real celebrities' in the waiting room. He described Kevin Hart as a 'workhorse' who could read monologues once and perform them flawlessly, inspiring Patterson's own work ethic.
2The Impact of 'Kill Tony' on Comedic Development
Patterson credits 'Kill Tony' with fundamentally changing his life and accelerating his growth as a comedian. The show's format pushed him to get 'better faster' in comedy. He also defended Tony Hinchcliffe, stating that while Hinchcliffe's on-stage persona can be controversial, he is a 'good guy' in reality who significantly helped Patterson's career.
Patterson stated 'Kill Tony' 'changed my life' and 'made me like have to get better faster when it came to comedy.' He also described Tony Hinchcliffe as a 'good guy' who helped change his life.
3The SNL Experience: A Different Level of Comedy
His time on SNL was a 'true blessing' but also a challenging adjustment to sketch comedy, a format different from stand-up. He was impressed by the immense talent of the entire cast and crew, from wardrobe to fellow performers, who operate at the 'highest level.' He found it humbling and constantly questioned how he ended up there.
Patterson described SNL as 'sketch comedy,' something he 'ain't never done before,' and a 'different level.' He highlighted the talent of 'everybody in the building' and often wondered, 'How the hell am I here?'
4The Power of Parental Support in Career Pursuit
Patterson's father played a pivotal role in his decision to pursue comedy. When his mother was hesitant, his father gave him a year to 'figure it out' with 110% effort and even covered his rent for two months in Austin. This belief from his father was the 'battery in the back' he needed to fully commit to his passion.
His father told him, 'If you want to do it, you go as hard as you can at it. Go 110%. I give you a year.' His father also paid his rent for the first couple of months in Austin. Patterson stated, 'That was it. That was it. And sometimes that's all we need. That one person, my dad.'
Lessons
- Seek out platforms or communities that force rapid skill development, as 'Kill Tony' did for Kam Patterson in comedy.
- Identify and embrace mentors whose work ethic and success you admire, learning not just from their advice but also by observing their actions.
- Cultivate a strong support system, particularly family, who believe in your vision and are willing to provide practical and emotional backing during critical career transitions.
- Maintain a relentless work ethic, understanding that sustained effort and a 'no days off' mentality are often prerequisites for achieving greatness in highly competitive fields.
- Continuously critique your own performance with a high standard, viewing anything less than a 'kill' as a 'bomb' (unless experimenting with new material) to drive constant improvement.
Quotes
"I mean that [Kill Tony] changed my life. I went there one time. I said I like I talk about like rocks and then everything like changed for me."
"I mean that [mentorship from OGs] mean the world to me, bro. I mean because it's like I mean we I think I mean I am in a new generation of standup so it's like it's a dope thing for everybody I looked up to like my whole life to like you know to embrace it."
"I like to show a lady a good time. We out. We outside. Let me be outside. I ain't I don't be tricking, but I'm I'm an oppressive guy."
"If you want to do it, you go as hard as you can at it. Go 110%. I give you I give you a year. I give you a year to figure it out."
"There is no balance to greatness. Anybody that tells you there's a balance to greatness there are lying."
Q&A
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