About this episodeSebastian Maniscalo discusses his journey from a shy, non-class-clown child to a top-tier standup comedian, de…AI summary
Sebastian Maniscalo discusses his journey from a shy, non-class-clown child to a top-tier standup comedian, detailing his unique storytelling-based writing process and the physical toll of performance anxiety, including hyperhidrosis. He shares critical career advice from mentor Andrew Dice Clay about focusing on one's own path and enduring bombing, while also recounting high-stakes experiences like bombing on The Tonight Show and navigating intense set dynamics with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.
Key takeaways 5
Maniscalo's comedy writing style is organic storytelling rather than meticulous scripting; he tests material by telling stories to his mother and recording himself, refining based on audience reaction rather than memorizing written jokes.
Opening for Andrew Dice Clay taught Maniscalo the necessity of completing scheduled set times regardless of audience hostility, establishing a professional standard for reliability in comedy.
Maniscalo suffers from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), treating it with Botox injections in his armpits, which successfully stopped underarm sweating but caused the condition to 'reroute' to his crotch/ass area.
Maniscalo admits to being a loner and socially anxious off-stage, contrasting sharply with his confident stage persona, and notes that he has not reached a point where he is indifferent to others' opinions, requiring ongoing self-management.
Acting with legends like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino was psychologically taxing for Maniscalo due to his inexperience and anxiety, leading to physical symptoms like sweating and fear of being fired, despite receiving gracious support from the actors.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I don't use deodorant. I don't stink, by the way. But when you were sweating, if you use deodorant... I tried it. You sweat so much right through it.”
▶ 2:52Maniscalo explains the severity of his hyperhidrosis condition, noting that standard antiperspirants are ineffective against his level of sweating.
“The only thing you have is your act and your material and just keep doing that and be patient and soon things will start to open up.”
▶ 8:08Advice from Andrew Dice Clay to Maniscalo about ignoring other comedians' success and focusing solely on his own craft.
“You have to be comfortable with doing that [bombing]. You have to go through those moments... You cannot let the audience know that you for whatever reason are dying. If they see you're insecure, you're not the guy in control anymore and you're not funny.”
▶ 11:31Maniscalo reflects on the psychological requirement for comedians to maintain composure even when failing on stage.
“I live in fear. Diro is going to throw me out of here.”
▶ 1:05:54Maniscalo describing his internal state while filming scenes with Robert De Niro on The Irishman.
“I'm not one of these guys where you see it and then all of a sudden it's shelved. You worked hard on that. I add to those jokes. I have new material along with that stuff.”
▶ 26:05Maniscalo explaining why he continues to perform material from his Netflix specials rather than discarding old jokes.
Chapters & Sections (46)▼
0:00Standup Specials and Hyperhidrosis Treatmentchapter4
2:21Botox Armpit Sweat Treatment
3:46Botox Hyperhidrosis Treatment Side Effects
4:56Cellulite, Body Embarrassment, and Andrew Dice Clay's Advice
6:59Overcoming Bitterness in Comedy Career
8:33Opening for Dice Clay and Bombingchapter3
10:16Comedy Etiquette and Bombing
11:40Building Confidence Through Years of Stage Experience
13:05Performance Anxiety and Storytelling Process
14:56Comedy Writing Styles and Father's Salonchapter1
17:02Emotional Italy Trip and Father's Salon
18:52Early Comedy Influences and Performance Historychapter2
20:52Childhood Performance Experiences
22:08Family Pressure and New Material
23:55Comedy Career, Material, and Online Hatechapter3
25:21Comedian Name and Material Longevity
26:51Comedy Performance and Online Hate
28:35Online Hate and Comedy Career Paths
30:43Comedian's Stage Blank and Recoverychapter3
32:14Difficulty of Short Comedy Sets
33:35Performance Anxiety and Recovery
36:31Family Feedback and Performance Approval
37:59Comedy Club Work and Seinfeld Encounterchapter2
39:29Following Seinfeld on Stage
40:44Jerry Seinfeld's Scarf and Performance
42:37Seinfeld Dinner Bill Etiquettechapter2
43:47Dinner Bill Anxiety and Seinfeld's Wealth
45:23Seinfeld's Prepaid Dinner Strategy
48:46Comedy at Madison Square Garden and College Lifechapter1
50:09College Struggles and Roommate Nightmares
52:36College Dropout and Standup Comedy Beginningschapter1
53:55Career Day Outfit and Comedy Contest Heckling
56:30Waiter Days and Celebrity Encounterschapter2
58:36Stressful Restaurant Work and Celebrity Encounters
59:44Social Anxiety and Hosting Dynamics
1:01:33Auditioning for Scorsese's The Irishmanchapter2
1:02:44Audition Jinx and Casting Director Pressure
1:04:24First Day on Set with De Niro and Pesci
1:07:01Acting Challenges and Scorsese Meetingchapter3
1:08:37Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Modern Fears
1:09:45Meeting Scorsese and Acting Advice
1:12:40Bonding with Scorsese and Glass Stunt
1:14:47Sebastian Maniscalco Acting Roles and Career Growthchapter3
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