I was recently interviewed by Dave Segal for The Stranger and I thought I’d share one answer from the interview that addresses a question I get asked a lot:
Dave Segal for The Stranger: Which topics will you never address in your act, and why? Or are taboo subjects for the spineless?
Isabel Hagen (me): I’ll never say never, and I rarely think of my jokes within a topic, because the core of a joke is usually about something deeper, or at least is something that could be applied to a number of subjects—the topic is just the vehicle. But I try to not offend on stage, not because I’m spineless, but because if a joke is offensive, it’s more likely because it’s just not a good-enough/funny-enough joke. So if I say something and the audience tightens up, I usually think, “Okay, the joke still needs work,” rather than “You can’t say anything anymore!”
You can read the whole interview here!
Below are some upcoming shows of mine. As always, all my tour dates and ticket links are at isabelhagen.com
3/21 (tomorrow!) in NYC - I’ll be joined by members of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for a night of comedy and string quartet music at Big aLICe Barrel Room - comedy performed by me, string quartet music performed by me and three of the best string players around. A unique event that I’m really excited about. Tickets here.
3/22 in Cold Spring, NY - I’ll be doing my hour at The Chapel Restoration. Don’t let the word “Chapel” fool you, it’ll be my regular dirty act (with viola). Tickets here.
3/25 in NYC - I’ll be working out new material (that’s right, brand new!) at BKLYN Comedy Club. Come see my messy process in action (with a couple classic bits/songs mixed in for any fans of the *hits*). Tickets here.
5/2 in NYC - I’ll be at Merkin Hall joined by the absolutely awe-inducing musicians Charles Yang and Peter Dugan for a wild evening of comedy and music. What are the three of us going to do? You’ll have to come to find out. Tickets here.