300 Shows And Not One Lawyer Joke
Cheshire attorney gets his grins doing stand-up comedy
By DOUGLAS S. MALAN
Rick Roberts had one of those I'd-like-to-do-that-before-I-die moments in New York City on his 45th birthday. He was walking past the famous comedy club Caroline's and told his teenage son that one day he would do stand-up comedy.
Four years later, he has 300 performances under his belt and has worked with and in front of some established comics and many up-and-comers in New York and Greater Boston.
Mainly, though, Roberts works in Connecticut at fundraisers and charity events, but takes his hobby seriously enough that he's enrolled in advanced workshops to sharpen his writing and delivery. (Click here for Rick Roberts's web site.)
But when he's on stage, Roberts never reveals his day job as a senior partner at Nuzzo & Roberts in Cheshire, where his practice focuses on insurance defense, product liability, employment litigation and commercial litigation.
"Telling them I'm a lawyer is not the best way to win over the audience and create a warm and fuzzy feeling," Roberts said.
And he never tells lawyer jokes. He said comedy is a diversion from his regular job and he doesn't mix the two worlds. Instead, his comic material is based on observational comedy interjected with details and experiences from his personal life. He attempts to craft a show that's "a little smarter and a little more sophisticated" than just simple zingers and toilet humor.
"Stupid announcements are everywhere," Roberts says in one of his bits. "I called my credit card company, and there's actually a recording that says, 'You must enter your account number exactly as it appears on the card.' Thanks for the tip. I was going to plug the numbers in randomly."
That's not to say that his material is antiseptic — more like PG-13 and it can be tweaked depending on the audience. "If you want to laugh, you have to be offended a little bit," he said. "That's the nature of good comedy."
Roberts also has branched out to producing stand-up shows in Connecticut, most recently a monthly comedy night at The Funky Monkey café and art gallery in Cheshire. His performance schedule and booking info is accessible at www.rickrobertscomedy.com.
He has built enough connections in his four years in show business that he has been able to attract big-name talent for Thursday night shows in Connecticut. Comedians such Andy Pitz and Jamie Lisso, who appear regularly on late-night talk shows with Letterman, Leno and O'Brien, already are booked for shows in March and April.
Performing With Seinfeld
On that day four years ago when he passed by Caroline's, he noticed a flier for the Manhattan School of Comedy, commented about his desire to perform and enrolled with a firm push of support from his wife, Carol. "The main benefit [of the class] is that it forces you to stand up and do your material in front of people," Roberts said.
The class culminated in a five-minute act performed at Caroline's. Roberts said that he has always jotted down comedy material because from his earliest days, he has always been around "a bunch of guys who were trying to make each other laugh."
Roberts evolved as a comedian, landing gigs at notable New York City clubs such as Stand-Up NY and experiencing the rush of a live performance.
About three years ago at the Manhattan club, he was rehearsing his material outside when a friend he brought to the show told him that Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock were at the bar preparing to make impromptu appearances that night.
"You know how some people just go out for a jog?" Roberts said. "These guys just show up and do stand-up."
Rock was rehearsing material before he hosted the 2005 Academy Awards.
Roberts came on soon after the two stars, and he got a lot of laughs when he took the stage and said, "Yeah, Seinfeld and Rock always open for me."
Since then, he has worked many shows in Connecticut with Treehouse Comedy Productions in Monroe and in-state comedian Dave Reilly. He said that while the state cannot rival New York or Boston in number of comedy clubs, a viable comedy scene can be found in "nooks and crannies" and he normally performs four to six times per month.
Early Inspiration
Richard Pryor and Steve Martin were the first to stoke Roberts's interest in stand-up. But from a material standpoint, he gets his ideas from everyday life.
With a busy schedule professional and personal schedule, trips to the mall, for example, are rare and provide a once-a-year glimpse into a world that many others rarely think about.
Roberts particularly noticed the number of questions a sales clerk asks a customer while checking out. "What's your zip code?" he says in his routine, mimicking the clerk. "What's your telephone number? Do you have a rewards card? Where do you see yourself in five years? Where do I see myself in five years? Still trying to pay for this shirt."
The real money in comedy is on the road, which Roberts has no desire to travel. He's happy with the charitable events and fundraisers in Connecticut.
He tests his material out on his wife and has a fool-proof method for knowing if certain jokes are stage-ready. "When my wife thinks something is offensive, that's when I know it will work," Roberts said. •
HOME
