"If You're Not Getting Booked, Produce Your Own Show" — Def Goldblum

Def Goldblum is a Columbus-based music comedian, open mic host, and show producer who brings guitar, keyboard, and an absurd love of Facebook Marketplace to every stage he touches. On this episode of First Mic, he sits down with Ira Cross to talk about growing up on Redd Foxx records and George Carlin albums, stepping on stage for the first time at Scully's Music Diner right after COVID, and building a comedy career in one of the Midwest's most underrated comedy cities. Def breaks down why writing about everything — even the topics other comics have already covered — is the real path to finding your comedic voice. He shares why he tells new comics to produce their own shows if they want to understand why they're not getting booked, and why self-promotion is the part of comedy nobody wants to do but everybody needs. He also talks about his upcoming comedy rock opera live recording, his shows Date Night with Def and Late Night Double Feature, and the comedian who pushed him over the edge into music comedy: Dennis Blair, George Carlin's longtime opener. Filmed live at Rehab Tavern in Franklinton, Columbus, Ohio. First Mic is a podcast where we talk to comics about their first time on stage. Follow Def Goldblum: @defgoldblum_ across social media Subscribe to First Mic for new episodes every week. Columbus standup comedy, music comedian, open mic tips, comedy podcast, Def Goldblum, First Mic, Ira Cross, Columbus Ohio comedy scene, comedy advice for beginners, how to get booked comedy, Rehab Tavern, Independent Comedy Collective, comedy rock opera