Veteran comedian Brian Regan is enjoying his status as an established entertainer, but he expresses concerns about breaking into the comedy industry today.
Regan reminisces about the simplicity of starting his career, stating that when he began, the path was straightforward: simply perform at clubs on audition nights.
He shares his thoughts on the current state of comedy, revealing, “If I were young and trying to get into comedy, now, I don’t know if I would know how to do it.”
In a conversation with legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Regan recounted Seinfeld’s encouraging words.
Seinfeld assured him, “You would have been able to figure it out, Brian. You would have loved it enough that you would have figured it out.”
Regan has had the honor of appearing on Seinfeld’s notable series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” twice, a project that ran for 84 episodes from 2012 to 2019.
He recalls the experience fondly, explaining that Seinfeld asked him to be one of the first comics featured in the show.
“I was obviously honored,” Regan notes, highlighting the significance of being among the initial ten guests on the show.
“So I did one, and then a few years later, he asked if I wanted to do a second one. So I was like, ‘Wow, sure.’ So I’ve done two,” Regan adds.
Regan appreciates Seinfeld’s generosity towards fellow comedians, stating, “The reason I think ‘Comedians in Cars’ works is because Seinfeld is generous with the laughs. He will let them get their laughs.”
A long-time resident of Las Vegas, Regan reflects on his journey in the city.
Originally from Miami, he moved to Las Vegas for family reasons, noting that his ex-wife had family in the area, making it easier for her to support their children while he toured.
“I moved to Las Vegas a loooong time ago, for family reasons,” he explains.
Having two children who grew up in Vegas, Regan eventually began performing locally.
He humorously states, “It was weird. Most people want a short commute in life. I wanted to work a thousand miles away from my house.”
As his children grew older, Regan changed his perspective and began to enjoy performing in Las Vegas more frequently.
He recently played at the Palazzo Theatre in April and is set to return on December 6.
In addition to his stand-up performances, Regan stars in the Netflix series “Loudermilk,” created by Peter Farrelly, where he plays the role of Mugsy, a recovering drug addict.
His co-stars in the show include Ron Livingston, Anja Savcic, Will Sasso, and Mat Fraser.
Regan’s latest Netflix comedy special, “On The Rocks,” premiered in February 2021, showcasing his comedic talent recorded at the Tuachan Center for the Arts in Utah.
Notably, Regan’s career launched with a breakthrough appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1991, setting the stage for his first comedy album, “Brian Regan Live,” released six years later.
During his career, Regan has experienced fluctuations in his audience size.
He reflects, “My numbers were going higher and higher, and it was a beautiful experience. Then they started dropping off, and I was getting comments after shows like, ‘Wow, we always enjoy that material you do!’”
Regan realized that his routine had become too familiar to his audiences.
“I realized that I had gotten comfortable with my 45-minute set that would work, you know. But I realized that what I was missing was the fear of having new stuff,” he admits.
In response to this realization, Regan reintroduced uncertainty and spontaneity into his act, reveling in the thrill of creating fresh material.
“My favorite compliments now are, ‘We like what you did tonight. We never heard any of that before,’” he shares, highlighting his aim to surprise and engage his audiences.
In other news, iconic Las Vegas nightlife figure Lee Vlastaris, also known as DJ Hollywood, has taken on the role of entertainment director at Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Bar.
Vlastaris will be booking acts at the venue while also performing there himself on Fridays and Saturdays.
Renowned for his influential presence during the mega-club era of the 1990s, Vlastaris has headlined numerous prominent nightclubs and continues to be a vibrant part of Las Vegas nightlife.
Since the opening of Aldean’s in November, he has been a featured performer, solidifying his new position as entertainment operations director for TC Restaurant Group.
For jazz enthusiasts, the Las Vegas Jazz Orchestra is set to make a highly anticipated return to Notoriety Live at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with doors opening at 7.
The orchestra will feature some of the city’s top jazz musicians performing in the elegant Chandelier Room.
General admission tickets start at $25, offering an excellent opportunity to experience top-tier jazz in Las Vegas.
For more information on this and other events, visit notorietylive.com.
image source from：neon
