I’m Comedian Chris Fleming and This Is How I Work
Chris Fleming first rose to fame as Gail Waters-Waters, the nervous mom from the Fleming Gale YouTube show . Since then, he has released music videos such as “I’m Afraid to Talk to Men,” and monologues such asTeens Who Drink Coffee , and is currently completing a cross-country tour. (He will be streaming his live show on Facebook on Thursday night.) We asked him about his developing comedy career and he answered us and he was funny.
Location: Los Angeles Ongoing concert: Comedian / video producer One word that best describes how you work: Frantic Current mobile device: iPhone 7, broken screen Current computer: MacBook Pro
First of all, tell us a little about your past and how you got where you are now.
I started doing stand-ups and comedies with characters when I was a teenager. I took the bus from Boston to New York to spend two minutes at the comedy club for well-dressed, violent divorces. Lots of guys in blazers and jeans are a versatile form of someone who tries but can’t romance. I am currently filming online videos and touring a live show called Showpig.
Tell us about a recent work day.
I got a call about a live stream I’m doing this month, I got scared, went to a vegan donut shop, ate a donut in the car, walked a bichon. Edited a music video that I sent for a folk group, which is due out until January, and avoided one important thing that I had to do by tomorrow. Then I sat down and tried to figure out why every time I’m in my backyard for the past two months, a crow drops something at my feet, whether it’s a half-eaten avocado or a peanut shell, then I researched the crows and found them remembering human faces and give gifts to those who are kind to them. Strange, I don’t remember being particularly nice to some crow lately. Then I have a flash memory of my neighbor, who is identical to me, I mean IDENTICAL, who fed the crows in the yard of his house. Jesus Christ … I’ve been cashing in on this guy’s good raven for months now.
But in my defense, I don’t think they give me anything good – that’s not Sephora shit. It’s like when you’re young and your uncle gives you a map of St. Louis.
Then I took a bath.
What apps, gadgets or tools can’t you live without?
Whenever I talk, I don’t want to be in it, I say “one second” and pick up my phone like I’m texting or doing chores, but I’m actually doing simple equations on my iPhone calculator. Like 7 minus 1 plus 2 equals … 8, good. Then I join the conversation again. I also have the AllPaws app where I track the Neapolitan Mastiffs in my area.
How is your workplace arranged?
I rent an office space at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, so for the most part it’s too noisy to do anything. No: I have a home office with a bunch of masks on the wall and my office assistant is my bichon that I spend most of the day looking at.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
Who am I to answer these workflow questions – Thinx lingerie maker? The only thing I can think of is being so obsessively addicted to something that I don’t even know I wasted 14 hours on it and not ate it. Very good, to be honest. I read somewhere or dreamed that this happened to Beyoncé on the set of that Austin Powers movie, but within 48 hours.
Who are the people who help you achieve results, and how do you rely on them?
Melissa Stripe is the only person I trust right now, and her sister Shina .
How do you keep track of what you need to do?
Deep down, I believe that if it’s important, I won’t forget to do it without having to write it down, but it also leaves people in my life, as the British would say, “very angry with me.” And engages me in phone calls with GEICO every month, begging them to renew my insurance policy without penalty.
What do you enjoy doing the most and how do you deal with it?
Filling out any forms, not very good
How do you replenish? What do you do when you want to forget about work?
I’m swimming. And I’m driving this forest road outside my home, which doesn’t look like Los Angeles, and I pretend I’m in Massachusetts.
What’s your favorite side project?
I’m currently writing a song called Nightrider about PT Cruiser.
What are you reading now or what do you recommend?
Naked Lunch , but I don’t get it, so I keep switching between this and the coffee table with Prince’s photos .
Fill in the blank: I would like _________ to answer these same questions.
Brian.