Ron Bloom is a comedian/producer in the Chicago area! Sometimes in life, you meet people who are an immediate inspiration and Ron is one of them. He has a genuine love for the artform of comedy and makes it a mission to support his colleagues. The man is a class act. Make sure to check out one of his shows ASAP! You'll have yourself a great night ♥
In this episode, we discuss Ron's origins as a producer of comedy shows, how to assemble a proper comedy lineup, how comedy and hip-hop are very much the same, what rap song we would show to the aliens when they finally visit, what it was like for Ron living in Italy for three years, the camaraderie of Chicago's comedy community, and much more! 🔥
As always, thank you for watching. New episodes of Ruse Radio always coming soon. 💖
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - Starting as a Comedy Show Producer
0:49 - The Red Room: Ron's First Comedy Show
2:08 - Organizing Successful Comedy Lineups
3:05 - Mentors in Comedy Production
5:01 - Post-Show Rituals
6:00 - Food Trucks and Street Food in Chicago
8:39 - Ron's Personal Life: Marriage and Cooking at Home
12:05 - Chicago Comedy Scene: A Comedian's Paradise
13:02 - How Ron Bloom Found Comedy
15:09 - Growing Up on Classic Comedy and Stand-Up Legends
16:04 - First Open Mic Experiences and Early Jokes
17:10 - Influences: Steven Wright and Emo Philips
18:49 - How Comedy and Rap Share Similarities
23:11 - Audience Engagement and Improvisation
24:59 - "Comedy Confessions"
26:46 - Favorite Chicago Comedians and Open Mics
30:27 - 'Power Hour' Open Mic
35:59 - Ron's Energy and Performance Style
37:01 - The Joy of Writing and Performing Comedy
42:44 - Developing Confidence and Stage Presence
47:00 - Unique Comedy Concepts: A Duo with Ron's Wife
51:30 - The Creative Process in Comedy and Life
56:28 - Reflections on the '80s: Culture, Music, and Comedy
1:01:03 - Evolution of Comedy: From Stand-Up to Sitcoms
1:04:13 - Kevin Hart and the Journey to Fame
1:06:19 - Finding Success Later in Life
1:07:44 - Insights on joke writing process and strategies
1:09:02 - The art of misdirection in comedy and joke structure
1:12:56 - Seasonal joke material for different holidays
1:15:03 - Transitioning to full-time comedy and producing shows
1:18:08 - Social media as a tool for comedy promotion
1:19:40 - Grassroots promotion: flyers, stickers, and QR codes
1:22:01 - Venturing into background acting and networking in Chicago
1:26:17 - Finding mentors and the importance of comedy networking
1:32:03 - The unpredictability and creativity of people
1:35:19 - Living in the moment vs. online interactions
1:37:12 - The relatability and interpretation of art
1:41:00 - "Selling" hip-hop to aliens: A thought experiment
1:46:10 - Theoretical discussions on aliens and UFOs
1:51:03 - Producing a women's comedy show and supporting diverse talent
1:56:02 - The importance of balance in a curated comedy lineup
2:00:23 - The dual role of comedians as producers
2:05:04 - Opportunities for comedy education and starting points for aspiring comics
2:07:56 - Learning to be comfortable on stage and building confidence
2:10:23 - Developing timing and pacing as a comedian
2:13:36 - Strategies of big comedians and creating a memorable set
2:14:47 - Adapting your stage presence and performance style
2:15:53 - Capturing unique moments during live shows
2:16:35 - Experimenting at open mics
2:18:06 - Interests outside comedy: sports, TV shows, and hobbies
2:19:48 - Educational entertainment and mystery shows
2:21:10 - Revisiting Amelia Earhart and clickbait-style specials
2:22:07 - Historical disasters: Hindenburg, Titanic, and hypothetical trips
2:26:09 - Alaska and unique natural phenomena like endless nights
2:27:15 - Dream travel destinations and historical insights from Italy
2:30:23 - Reflections on history and how it shapes our world
2:34:15 - Speculating on the future of humanity and society
2:37:03 - The spiritual and transformative power of live performance
2:38:08 - Conclusion
