Today marks the 10th anniversary of Superego.
It’s hard to believe that ten years ago, Matt Gourley and Jeremy Carter decided to spout absurd things into microphones, edit those improvisations, and make those recordings available to the public for free on the internet.
Jeff Crocker and I were there from the start, trying to help Matt and Jeremy figure out what this thing was going to be. I didn’t know it then, but looking back, Superego taught me so much over the years.
At first, we thought no one was listening. We were probably right. It was 2006. If you think podcasts are just catching on now, imagine what things were like ten years ago. We started to see that the show was being downloaded in other states in the US and in other countries. That was really cool. Matt and I used to download Superego on multiple demo computers any time we were at the Apple Store because we thought it would help with our numbers. We lost our minds when a local Long Beach paper wanted to cover us. I think it just taught us to trust that we were having fun doing this weird thing, and that we should just keep going with no promise of reward or audience or really anything at all. Do what you love, and keep doing it. Put the blinders on and work.
For a long time, we put out a new episode on the first of the month every month. That taught me about deadlines. That monthly standard lasted a lot longer than I thought it ever would, but it also taught me that I could put my head down and work. And it was worth it. Those eleventh hour sketches are some of my favorites, and putting those episodes together are some of my favorite times.
Creatively, I’ve learned that the dumbest ideas are often the best. That you should make things that look and sound and feel as good as you make them. Take wild swings at the most absurd concepts. Take more of those swings. Work, rest, and then see if the work holds up. Try not to repeat yourself. If you do, repeat yourself in a new way.
Doing live shows taught me about booking, planning sets, DIY sound design, how to handle technical disasters, and then, after all of that stuff, putting on a funny show and saying hello to anyone that took the time to meet us afterward. Thanks to all of the technical folks that have helped us over the years. I feel your pain.
Paul F. Tompkins joined us as a permanent member and taught me so much about comedic execution and character point of view, concise delivery, rambling delivery, and any other kind of delivery there is. Being a gentleman. Taking comedy seriously. So much more. Thanks, Paul.
Superego has brought me to other cities and comedy festivals to perform, it has afforded me the opportunity to meet absolute heroes, and I have made some of the best friends a man can have along the way.
I’m usually not one for fanfare, but today I feel it’s only right to celebrate a little bit. I’m so proud of the work I’ve done for Superego, and so proud of Matt, Jeremy, Jeff, and Paul. I love you gentlemen, and I still can’t believe I got to do all of this with you.
Thank you to everyone that’s been a guest on the show. Thank you to everyone that’s downloaded an episode. Thank you to everyone that’s written a review, or a tweet, or an email. It means the world to me. Thank you.
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