Tom Cotter for more than two decades was a mid-level stand up, headlining comedy clubs and making a decent living. Then came "America's Got Talent" in 2012. He finished second place, just shy of the $1 million prize.
Still, AGT draws 15 million eyeballs a week so he got massive exposure. He was able to raise his rates and get much better corporate gigs. He didn't have to do as many weekend jobs at small comedy clubs.
"I'm the same comic," Cotter said. "But now I'm in a different category earnings wise. One corporate job can literally pay me two to three times what four nights at a club can."
But he still likes to do some club work because he doesn't have to adhere to limitations placed by corporations in terms of tasteful material. Plus, club work enables him to build a fan base in a way corporate work simply cannot.
Cotter, who is based in New York, will be doing his friendly, fast-paced, joke-filled set at the Atlanta Improv Thursday through Saturday. (Buy tickets here.)
He recently finished up a cruise ship trip for John Hancock which also featured John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band ("On the Dark Side'). His last trip to Atlanta? A benefit for Chick Fil-A featuring SEC athletes and coaches.
"That was seriously intimidating," he said. "I had to be Disney clean for 45 minutes. Not John Hancock PG-13 clean. I was freaking out, editing in my head what I was going to do."
Before the show, he was told not to use words like damn, ass or even hell. He cut out any remotely religious jokes such as " My dad’s a Catholic, and my mom’s a Rastafarian. It was weird growing up. My dad would bring home a Christmas tree, and my mom would smoke it."
Fortunately, Cotter said he received a warm reception. "They did not give me the hook," he said. "I said a prayer for the next day."
Cotter said he's learned over the years to adjust his material for his audience. "College students don't want to hear about paying bills. Old folks in Florida don't want to hear about drunken roommates." He said he is able to find funny jokes for cruise ship crowds that cover a broad demographic - kids to grandmas.
He and his wife Kerri Louise are both comics. They tried out for "Last Comic Standing" in 2004 but both missed the top 10. That helped them land a short-lived WE-TV reality show, which he didn't particularly enjoy. He said his quick-paced, quick joke approach worked perfectly for "America's Got Talent," where he got all of 90 seconds at a time to impress the judges.
His timing to try out in 2012 was good, too. Howard Stern had just replaced Piers Morgan and Stern was far more comedian friendly. Plus, he had fellow judge Howie Mandel on his side.
Cotter was thrilled to finish as high as second, though he found it funny he lost to a dog-trick group Olate Dogs. The up side of competing with dogs? "They were always happy to see you," he said.
A sample of his work from a 2013 appearance on Craig Ferguson's show:
Comedy show
Tom Cotter
8 p.m, 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, $20
8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Saturday June 21, $20
The Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre
56 E Andrews Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
About the Author
