On this week’s episode of Off The Cuff with Danny LoPriore, I got to sit down with seasoned stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, among many other things – Matt Braunger, as we discuss the reality behind stand-up comedy, the rise of YouTube and TikTok sensations, and stand-up comedy as a brotherhood and a sisterhood.

Matt has always been into performing arts ever since he was a kid. Now, a 20-year veteran in the stand-up space, he admits that he’s become a lot more experimental when it comes to his sets.

“I try new stuff way, way more. I had a set last night that had a couple of parts that really hit, and a couple of parts that really didn't. And I called them out. But it's like, that's the only way I know how to build. I look back and it's like, I don't know if I can ever get that level of confidence back because I know too much now.” - Matt (13:07)

He also shares about the challenges he has to face as a comedian when he steps on stage to try and give people a good time, while going through something tough himself.

“Various times during the set I'm just like, ‘Guys, I'm going through something right now and I'm gonna get it back and you gotta trust me’. And I did. One thing I've learned is you have to have these experiences to learn from them, otherwise you won't learn.” - Matt (13:49)

Having been in stand-up for two decades, Matt definitely knows what it’s really like behind the scenes, and how the industry has changed over the last 20, 30 years. “I've never felt more camaraderie in my life in any other art form than I have in stand-up. It is a brother and sisterhood. It always will be.” - Matt (29:19)