Today I sat down with Pat Dean, comedian, booker, and the reluctant chip liaison of the Velveeta Room, one of Austin’s longest-running and weirdest comedy venues.

Pat opens up about running a club while being a comic, the chaos of Sixth Street crowds, and how a room full of confused tourists can somehow become comedy’s greatest crucible.

We talk about booking comics fairly, why hacky material still kills (and why that’s a problem), and the bizarre art of crowd work in the TikTok era. Pat also shares some behind-the-scenes club stories — including the time Jimmy was supposed to be security at a Joe Rogan show… emphasis on supposed to.

Also: why bombing at Velv feels like existential loneliness, Austin’s comedy explosion post-pandemic, and how many illegal guns one comedy club staff can possess before it's "a bit much."

If you’re a comic, club rat, or just someone wondering how comedy actually gets booked — this episode is for you.

📍 Chapters

00:00 - Meet Pat Dean: Comic, Booker, Chip Guy

00:55 - What It’s Like Running the Velveeta Room

02:05 - Yes, Pat Buys the Chips Himself

04:00 - Pat’s Comedy Origin Story: Northern Virginia to Austin

06:00 - The Velv: Austin’s Lovable C-Club

08:44 - Toughest Room in America? Why the Velv Has a Reputation

10:21 - Bombing So Hard It Feels Lonely

12:10 - Booking Comics: Who Gets the Spots & Why

15:40 - Crowd Work vs Actual Material: The TikTok Era Dilemma

19:00 - Jimmy "Secures" a Joe Rogan Show

21:40 - Guns, Door Guys, and Texas Logic

24:30 - Managing Comics Without Losing Your Own Spot

28:00 - Austin Comedy Before vs After the Boom

30:40 - The Type of Comic Pat Likes to Book (and Avoids)

33:20 - Why Hack Material Still Works (and Why That Sucks)

35:00 - The "Cover Joke" Theory for New Comics

36:45 - Jimmy’s Joke Gets Stolen in New Orleans (By a Friend)

👇 Check Out Pat Dean

📺 Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thelanalaxcorporation/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patdeanrules/

The Velveeta Room: https://www.instagram.com/thevelveetaroom/

💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus Content

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford

🎧 Listen to Pator Bullsh*t

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6bKpv7OqbyBq2tVesZDnUR?si=_atdK0udQmqOX17g_d4_RA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-bullsh-t/id1820050017

🧢 Follow Jimmy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/

Twitter: https://x.com/notjimclifford

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford

📢 SPONSORS

Want to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.

Today I sat down with stand-up comedian, podcaster, and filmmaker Jake Rick, an Austin-based comic known for his viral sketches, green screen wizardry, and work ethic that puts the rest of us to shame.Jake talks about teaching himself editing, directing, and content strategy from scratch. We talk about bombing in stand-up vs. sketch, how to take brutally honest feedback, and why comedy needs a little more harshness and a little less improv clapping.We also get into the making of his full-length web series Get Good, building an audience from the ground up, and how he’s using DeAndre Holmes (aka "hood Sherlock Holmes") to turn sketches into a national tour.Also: online fame vs. live comedy, escaping the startup grind, and why Hollywood can suck it.If you’re a comic, content creator, or someone figuring out how to make your weird ideas work—this episode is for you.📍 Chapters00:00 - Meet Comedian Jake Ricca00:55 - Moving to Austin: Why Comics Are Flocking There01:43 - DIY Sketch Comedy: Learning Filmmaking on YouTube03:37 - Stand-Up Bombing vs Sketch Fails: What Hurts More?06:57 - Turning Harsh Feedback Into Viral Hits08:43 - The DeAndre Holmes Sketch Series: Going Viral Weekly12:00 - Making a Feature-Length Web Series: 'Get Good' Breakdown20:47 - Balancing Startup Life, YouTube Fame & Stand-Up29:32 - Monetizing Comedy: Building a Fanbase & Touring36:40 - Indie vs Industry: Why Jake Wants to Bypass Hollywood👇 Check Out Jake Ricca📺 YouTube: https://jakericca.com/mediakit📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakericcaWeb Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ukzK_x8Qwo💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus ContentPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford🧢 Follow JimmyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/Twitter: https://x.com/notjimcliffordTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford📢 SPONSORSWant to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.

Today I sat down with stand-up comedian, podcaster, and filmmaker Anthony Pappaly—an Austin-based comic known for his chaotic sketches, dark sense of humor, and full-send approach to content.Anthony talks about his roots in video production, early doubts in comedy, and how his early videos shape the way he creates now. We get into the stress of perfectionism, working with friends vs. professionals, and what it really takes to make consistently funny stuff online.Also: cringe early work, breaking into the Austin scene, and the fear of AI taking over the industry.If you’re a comic, creator, or just a chaos enthusiast—this one’s for you.📍 Chapters00:00 – Meet Anthony Pappaly00:27 – Sketch comedy, film school & doing it all yourself01:42 – Cringe early projects & trial-by-error filmmaking06:32 – Working with Nick & building a content team10:20 – The art of low-budget sketch comedy13:00 – Writing vs. shooting vs. releasing15:42 – How military life shaped his work ethic18:33 – Making comedy with no rules21:12 – Finding your comedic voice online24:09 – When perfectionism holds you back27:00 – Breaking into Austin’s comedy scene30:02 – Treating sketch like stand-up32:44 – Future plans and what Anthony actually wants👇 Check Out Anthony Pappaly📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC7Xs-2eLvYMdYT0bCjLkMrA 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonypappaly/💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus ContentPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford🧢 Follow JimmyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/Twitter: https://x.com/notjimcliffordTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford📢 SPONSORSWant to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.