Mike Birbiglia Quotes

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Mike Birbiglia

Profession : Comedian

Birth : June 20, 1978

I was completely unqualified to get into Harvard. But then I went to my interview for Harvard, and the woman asked, 'Why do you want to go here?' And I took out all of my comedy writing samples that I had done. I couldn't have been more delusional in terms of what I thought they wanted in a candidate for college.

Mike Birbiglia

I feel like being a door person was like college in a sense. I could watch comedy on a professional level seven nights a week without paying, and they would pay me a nominal amount of money to be there.

Mike Birbiglia

I couldn't recommend more that people put themselves in a situation where they can see a lot of work that they admire, and for free.

Mike Birbiglia

If I dream that I'm directing, it's not a film, it's like a commercial for cotton candy, and I've got four feet of cotton candy all around me that I've got to break through, like a brick wall or a fortress.

Mike Birbiglia

With a monologue, you can be unendingly elliptical.

Mike Birbiglia

Sometimes people say, 'You're the best at digressions.' And that's actually a real compliment to me.

Mike Birbiglia

Film is so immersive.

Mike Birbiglia

I have a following, but it's small. I have this level of fame where people spot me in the airport, consistently, but they always think they're the only one who ever has. People will think they win a prize when they recognize me.

Mike Birbiglia

Everything about starting out in comedy is pride-swallowing, from handing out fliers to bombing in front of audiences.

Mike Birbiglia

Someone said to me at a party once, 'Oh, yeah, you're a comedian? Then how come you're not funny now?' And I just wanted to say, 'Well, I'm just going to take this conversation we're having and then repeat that to strangers, and then that's the joke. You're the joke later.'

Mike Birbiglia

The way I view comedy clubs is, people are drinking, they're ordering food, they're out for the night, and there's also a person onstage talking. And with the theater, they came to the theater, and they're waiting to hear what you say. So you'd better have something to say.

Mike Birbiglia

When I started out, I really struggled as a comic because no one knew who I was, and sometimes I was telling stories, so it would take a while for people to get on board for things.

Mike Birbiglia

How many people do you know who have thrown up on the Scrambler or a carnival ride? A lot of people, is the answer.

Mike Birbiglia

The Hollywood model is to develop scripts for 10 years, sell them, transfer them, attach this actor, then attach a director. This isn't what I'm about. I'm much more of a creator and a doer.

Mike Birbiglia

I'd much rather try and fail than talk about trying.

Mike Birbiglia

Shooting a movie isn't good for a sleep disorder.

Mike Birbiglia

Every sleep doctor I've talked to said it was an urban legend that you shouldn't wake up a sleepwalker. All that will happen is that you will get condescended to.

Mike Birbiglia

The Comedy Central CDs combined with the TV specials are what led to my stuff being traded and passed around, and a lot more people knowing my jokes than I thought.

Mike Birbiglia

In some sense, Comedy Central has made their audience into comedy connoisseurs.

Mike Birbiglia

People come to my shows on purpose as opposed to coming to a 'comedy show.' Which was always my goal.

Mike Birbiglia