Enough with the Props!!!

"carrot top" used courtesy of cyanocorax

One time after performing at the old Second City space on Melrose avenue, I wandered over to the Improv Comedy Club next door as many of us did. I was always on the lookout for famous comedians, since a lot of them would come in to hang out and be famous. This particular night who did I see? None other than Carrot Top, the prop comedian and star of Chairman of the Board, on the short list of the worst movies ever made. The one thing I noticed about him right away was that he was ripped. It looked like he worked out every day with heavy weights. It seemed odd at first; most comedians benefit from being too fat (hilarious eating jokes!) or too skinny (he acts like he’s tough!), but this guy was walking around looking like he was turning into the Hulk.

Then I realized why he’s in that kind of shape: a lot of people hate prop comics, and since he is the penultimate prop comic, I bet a lot of people want to beat him up. It’s a defense mechanism! Brilliant!

To me, prop comics have never been too funny. I realize it’s just my opinion, but I think it takes more guts to go up on stage and be brutally honest about your life (Robert Schimmel) or share a unique point of view about the world (Chris Rock) than it does to make a “clever” prop by combining two things or by writing something on a thing and changing its use. Prop comics are gimmicky by nature, and I think audiences have started to favor being real and genuine to an eye-catching schtick (see where I’m going with this?)

In business, gimmicks and schticks have their place. As much as I try to avoid commercials, a really clever one will still stick with me, as will the brand it represents. We still love slogans, and interesting print ads still draw the eye. The fact remains that in social media we get more traction out of being genuine that we do by creating a big gimmick to hide behind. Consumers want to feel like someone is listening to them and responding to them, not putting on airs in a effort to come off as cool/saavy/classy. If you’re a salesperson this is doubly true. People do business with you, not your bench ad or your magnet – those are just tools to create awareness. If you’re using social media to attract new business, you should do it by being yourself. The props can go back into the giant steamer trunk until you’re up on stage again.

PS – If you do a Google search for Carrot Top you can see pics of him all buff in a weight room. They WILL make you nauseous.

Tags: Carrot Top, Comedy, Gimmicks, Identity, Props, Social Media