Dubbed by Jerry Seinfeld as the “best up-and-coming comic,” comedian Mark Normand will visit Sullivan County to perform at the Tusten Theatre on Tuesday, September 1, as part of his nationwide Mumbo Jumbo tour. The show will feature a set by comedian Matt Ruby, who organized this event with the help of Parlor Presents owner Susan Mendoza.

The Democrat caught up with Ruby to learn more about the event’s origins and gain insight into the mind of a comedian.

D: It feels like there’s a wave of comedy performances coming to Sullivan County. What’s going on?

MR: Sullivan County is close to New York City where the best comedians in the world are battling for stage time. Everyone wants to do longer sets and try out new material. We’ve been doing a monthly series at the Parlor Presents [90 Main St, Narrowsburg] for the past 6 months where other comedians from the city and I perform. We had Ariel Elias, Joe Zimmerman, Liz Glazer and Sean Patton come up to perform. [Narrowsburg] is such a neat spot and the crowds have been enthusiastic, so it’s a good opportunity for any NYC comic that wants more stage time.

D: How did a nationally touring act like Mark Normand get booked in Narrowsburg?

MR: Mark and I perform together all the time and we produce a show in the city together. I said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing these cool shows upstate, do you want to try it?’ Mark’s the kind of guy that wants to perform all the time, so he said ‘Yes.’

D: Do you think Normand’s visit will draw attention to the area as a potential market for other New York comedians?

MR: Yeah, I think word gets around—it’s easy to get to, there’s a cool vibe, great audiences, and it’s close to the city. Mark’s a really great comedian, and I’m gearing up to record a special, so I’m firing on all cylinders. It should be a great show!

D: How has social media changed the landscape of the comedy business?

MR: When I started out it was much more about the industry and gatekeepers that you had to pass in order to get exposure. Now, it’s on you, the performer, to promote yourself through social media. There are pros and cons to that. Now there are no gatekeepers, but it’s the wild west, and social media platforms have become saturated by comedians putting out content trying to get attention and stand out from the rest.

D: Who were your biggest comedy influences?

MR: George Carlin, Norm Macdonald, Louis C.K., Chris Rock.

D: What’s the biggest bomb you’ve ever witnessed?

MR: I once saw a woman yell out to a comedian on stage, “I feel bad for you.”

D: Why is stand-up comedy so challenging?

MR: As an art form, the only way to get good at it is to do it in a room full of people. If you want to get better at guitar, you can always practice in a room by yourself. But a stand-up needs stage time to improve. Especially in the beginning, to get on stage you have to be delusional and you have to get used to absorbing a lot of failure and endure it all. You have to adopt the attitude: ‘This is growth and I’m learning,’ as opposed to ‘I suck, this is terrible.’ When you’re doing stand-up and it’s good, it’s incredibly transcendent. You’re delivering joy to others while feeding your ego, it’s a magical combination if you can focus on the positive aspects of it. You gotta love that process.