Name: Shedding Your Survival Skin
Uploaded: 2018-09-19T13:00:14.000Z
Description: Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Shedding Your Survival Skin' from Theo Von on Comedy Buff. Published 2018-09-19. Transcript available.

Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Shedding Your Survival Skin' from Theo Von on Comedy Buff. Published 2018-09-19. Transcript available.

Don't worry about so many people listening or don't let that change the way you
do this, you know.
Personally, I love hearing you working out your feelings in present time.
It's super raw and organic and it's cool because I can totally, like, feel
myself and my feelings coming out at the same time, if that makes sense.
So it's, like, really cathartic to listen to you.
And so, yeah, I'm just saying just be you and do you and don't worry about
whatever, how it's sounding or anything.
Thanks, Ross.
I appreciate that.
It's nice of you to say that.
Yeah, I think, yeah, I've been going through some of that kind of stuff, you
know.
It's like when things get, you know, when they get busier, not to let them feel
busier.
You know, I think all my life I've felt like, you know, I've had that chip on
my shoulder, kind of that underdog kind of thing that, you know, that nut sack
in my neck, that Marshall Mathers kind of.
And now, you know, I just don't want to ever not.
It's like the only thing I've known is how to be an underdog.
You know, the only thing I've kind of known is, like, that people didn't think
I could do something.
And so, when you start to, like, people start to acknowledge that you're doing
something, you know, and I'm just talking about in my work in comedy.
You know, it's different, you know, because you're like, you know, in a weird
way, it's like, oh, you know, those were always the people, the people that,
you know, look like they knew what they were doing.
Or the people who, like, the people that, like, I always, I don't know, it's
not, I never, I always wanted it to look at, I just have all, that's the, that's
the skin I wear the best.
That's the skin I know myself in is the skin of, watch, I can do this, you know?
Are you going to look at me like I can't do this, or you don't think I can be
where I'm from and do this?
You don't think I can get out here into Hollywood and show these motherfuckers
what's up, you know?
Or you don't think, you know, oh, where I'm from, you know, we didn't have this,
or we didn't have that?
Or are you going to make fun of this when I was a kid?
Are you going to make fun of me for this?
Are you going to make fun of me for this?
I'll fucking show you.
You know, and it's tough to get rid of some of that.
And I don't want to get rid of it, but it's tough to, because you can't go into,
like, meetings, you know, like, you know, it's like, it's weird because it, if
an art, at a certain point, an art or a drive, if it starts to become, you know,
you prove yourself.
If you start to show the proof and people see the proof, then it becomes, you
know, more, you're not, you're not hidden anymore.
You're not, like, you don't, you have, you, hmm, I'm trying to think and feel
that, I'm trying to talk and feel at the same time.
You don't, you, all, like, one of the main things that I had was that I knew
that I was capable.
And I felt like other people didn't know.
Or I believed that I was.
And now when you show up and people know that you are, it kind of makes me a
little upset because that, that knowledge that I could do this job.
You know, that knowledge my whole life that I knew that I was able to do
something or achieve a goal for me that other people might drive through my
neighborhood or look at me, you know, or look at my clothes or look at, like,
you know, you know, or see me walking home from school or, you know, see my
family or see.
You know, like, see where I lived or something like that and say, oh, you know,
oh, he'll, that boy, he'll never do that.
You know, he'll never, man, it's going to be, you know, rough for him or that,
you know, whatever.
Or he, you know, man, I feel sorry for that kid or whatever, you know, whatever.
Even if those things weren't real and I just thought them in my head, you know,
like, like the fact that I knew I could do something is what made me feel.
It was the only thing that I knew that they didn't know.
It was one thing that I had that they didn't, that nobody else, that nobody
else had.
Like other people, I might see other people that had, you know, their families
have more money and stuff like that.
Or they had, you know, both their parents or, you know, their mom didn't have
to, like, you know, do like a man's job or do delivery work or, you know, or,
you know, them and their siblings got along and loved each other.
Well, I don't know, whatever.
You know, they didn't wet the bed every night or whatever, whatever it was, you
know.
But the fact that I knew I could do something, that my drive was like, yeah,
that I just, once other people know, it's like the only thing I had was that I
knew.
That I could, that I had, that I was, that I was going to be, that I would do
something.
And so now it's wilder because it's like you show up at the comedy clubs and
people are there and it's great, you know, it's great.
I love it.
Look, I'm grateful.
But it's taking, you know, it's, it's like, how do I stay in my space but also
not stay in it in an angry place?
Because it's different when you, now other people know, oh, this guy's going to
put on a show.
I've heard about him, you know.
And I'm not trying to say that in a braggy way, I'm just saying when I look at
some of the facts, like, you know, places are selling out, you know, and people
are coming out to support.
And I'm grateful, but it's definitely been a learning experience and an
emotional learning experience.
You know, letting go of the fact that, not letting go, but just, I know, you
know.
It's hard to just let go of the only thing that I had sometimes.
And I guess I don't have to let go of it, but it's just, that's kind of, it's
just interesting to kind of feel that out.
What is that?
You know, what's going on now?
How do I feel now?
What's going on?
How do I still be who I am?
How do I not self-sabotage stuff just to keep myself in that place of other
people doubting me, you know?
But I appreciate that call and that was very sweet of you.
And Hawaii is a beautiful place and thank you for calling.