Why Mexican Bank?

Do you know what a “Mexican Bank” is?  No, it is not some sexual act involving rolled up dollar bills, although now that I think about it, it could be.  It is when a group of people agree to put a designated amount of money into a pot each month.  A raffle is then held to determine which month each of the group’s members get the entire pot.  So if 10 people agree to put $500 into the pot each month, by the end of 10 months everybody in the group has a month where they receive a lump sum of $5000.  Essentially, it is nothing more than an easy way to save money without all the hassles of things like interest and FDIC insurance.  We won’t get into how it got its name.  I think you can figure it out.

Well I have this theory.  Basically, a group of comics can form a Mexican Bank.  Except the currency used in this Mexican Bank is not dollars, it is laughter.  Hold on, let me explain.  Most new stand-up comedians who have been at it for a couple years have the occasional booked show sprinkled in between endless open mikes.  Often these are small one-nighter bar shows, bringer shows, small comedy contests and, generally speaking, shitty rooms with less than stellar crowds.  Half the time the audience is comprised of friends and family of other comics.  The other half of the time the audience is comprised of drunks who didn’t even know there was a comedy night at Lou’s Tavern.  Either way, they’re usually not the biggest laughers.  Why not give ‘em a little guidance?

“A little guidance?” you say?  “I thought a great comedian can kill anywhere.  There is no such thing as a bad crowd, only bad comics.”  To that, I respectfully say, fuck you.  Keep believing that as you wonder what tweaks you need to make to your Transformers bit to get that applause break it deserves.

The fact is there are bad crowds out there and people will generally follow the herd.  So if the people sitting next to your Aunt Jenny aren’t laughing, Aunt Jenny won’t be laughing either.  But insert 10 people into the audience who are laughing, applauding and having a good time and, magically, Aunt Jenny’s opinion of your Bernie Madoff joke goes up a few ticks.  It is human nature.  It happens to everybody.  Laughter is contagious.  Have you ever rented a DVD that you’ve already seen in the theatres and, as you watch it, wonder what the fuck you thought was so funny about You Don’t Mess With the Zohan?  A packed theater on opening weekend can do that to you.

Just like laughter, public perception is also contagious.  Imagine how much more memorable you would be as a comedian if you killed consistently.  Imagine how many more bookers would want you to be in their show.  In stand-up comedy, the goals are to first get good then get noticed.  I can’t help you with the getting good part.  That’s up to you and Satan.  You and the rest of your Mexican Bank must pony up the goods for this to work.  All bets are off if you suck.  A shitty Mexican Bank of comedy isn’t a Mexican Bank.  It is just a bunch of obnoxious hacks who laugh at each others’ jokes.  I mean, how effective would it be if everybody in your Mexican Bank only threw in five bucks a month?

Lastly, I want to say that I have not tested this yet.  I could be completely full of shit when it comes to this theory.   The truth is, just like a real Mexican Bank, it takes a pretty big commitment.  If you have a group of 10 to 20 comics and you all have to attend each others’ shows, well you certainly will have a full schedule.  Most comics I know would be good for the first two to three shows then they would mysteriously start dropping off.  I’m not sure how this kind of transgression is handled in a real Mexican Bank but I imagine it would involve a lot of pain, amputation and or rape.  You will have to make your own guidelines.  But I think this theory holds water.  If there is one thing true about popular culture, it is that people will love anything put in front of them if somebody else tells them it is good.  How else could you explain The Jonas Brothers, Tyra Banks and Carlos Mencia?  Go Mariners!