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Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg: One Comedian's Tour of Not-Quite-the-Biggest Cities in the World
From the veteran comedian and actor from The Wrestler and Louie comes a hilarious book of travel essays from his time on tour through secondary markets in the US, Canada, and Israel.
Hello. It’s Todd Barry. Yes, the massively famous comedian. I have billions of fans all over the world, so I do my fair share of touring. While I love doing shows in the big cities (New York, Philadelphia), I also enjoy a good secondary market (Ithaca, Bethlehem). Performing in these smaller places can be great because not all entertainers stop there on tour; they don’t expect to see you. They’re appreciative. They say things like “Thank you for coming to Hattiesburg” as much as they say “Nice show.” And almost every town has their version of a hipster coffee shop, so I can get in my comfort zone.
My original plan was to book one secondary market show in all fifty states, in about a year, but that idea was funnier than anything in my act. So, instead of all fifty states in a year, my agent booked multiple shows in a lot of states, plus Israel and Canada.
Thank You For Coming to Hattiesburg is part tour diary, part travel guide, and part memoir (Yes, memoir. Just like the thing presidents and former child stars get to write). Follow me on my journey of small clubs, and the occasional big amphitheater. Watch me make a promoter clean the dressing room toilet in Connecticut, see me stare at beached turtles in Maui, and see how I react when Lars from Metallica shows up to see me at a rec center in Northern California.
I’d love to tell you more, but I need to go book a flight to Evansville, Indiana.
Hello. It’s Todd Barry. Yes, the massively famous comedian. I have billions of fans all over the world, so I do my fair share of touring. While I love doing shows in the big cities (New York, Philadelphia), I also enjoy a good secondary market (Ithaca, Bethlehem). Performing in these smaller places can be great because not all entertainers stop there on tour; they don’t expect to see you. They’re appreciative. They say things like “Thank you for coming to Hattiesburg” as much as they say “Nice show.” And almost every town has their version of a hipster coffee shop, so I can get in my comfort zone.
My original plan was to book one secondary market show in all fifty states, in about a year, but that idea was funnier than anything in my act. So, instead of all fifty states in a year, my agent booked multiple shows in a lot of states, plus Israel and Canada.
Thank You For Coming to Hattiesburg is part tour diary, part travel guide, and part memoir (Yes, memoir. Just like the thing presidents and former child stars get to write). Follow me on my journey of small clubs, and the occasional big amphitheater. Watch me make a promoter clean the dressing room toilet in Connecticut, see me stare at beached turtles in Maui, and see how I react when Lars from Metallica shows up to see me at a rec center in Northern California.
I’d love to tell you more, but I need to go book a flight to Evansville, Indiana.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2017
50 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 19, 2017
Might not be for everybody, but Barry's fake bravado and focus on very specific mundane encounters and situations delighted me. I should take a star off for not mentioning the awesome time we had in Oklahoma City, but in a great gesture I gave him slack.
April 2, 2017
If you're a fan of Todd Barry, you'll enjoy this book. If you love stand-up and the inner-workings of it, you'll enjoy parts of the book. However, if you're looking for something with conflict or anything that drives the narrative/entries, this isn't the book for you.
Barry's comedy is subtle and nuanced, which makes it translate well to the written format; other comedians fail in this regard. Barry succeeds. However, much of the short book is bloated with mundane notes about cafes, restaurants, and descriptions of hotels. Sometimes, this is funny. Other times (most times), it's tedious.
Barry has a few on-going jokes that string things together, but for the most part, this lacks direction and purpose. I enjoyed it, but a few times I picked it up and read, thinking, "Why am I spending time on this?" And that's coming from a fan.
I appreciated the insights in the book, and I loved that Barry showed his personable side. I also like that he--unlike so many comedians--showed his appreciation for the smaller towns, such as Madison's Comedy on State (which is a great club), and other smaller but great venues.
It's good.
Barry's comedy is subtle and nuanced, which makes it translate well to the written format; other comedians fail in this regard. Barry succeeds. However, much of the short book is bloated with mundane notes about cafes, restaurants, and descriptions of hotels. Sometimes, this is funny. Other times (most times), it's tedious.
Barry has a few on-going jokes that string things together, but for the most part, this lacks direction and purpose. I enjoyed it, but a few times I picked it up and read, thinking, "Why am I spending time on this?" And that's coming from a fan.
I appreciated the insights in the book, and I loved that Barry showed his personable side. I also like that he--unlike so many comedians--showed his appreciation for the smaller towns, such as Madison's Comedy on State (which is a great club), and other smaller but great venues.
It's good.
January 28, 2018
A solid stand-up comedy memoir that reflects Todd Barry's brand of humor: small, warmly sarcastic jokes about mundane moments and interactions in life. Each 4-5 page chapter covers a different small city show, which really allows the reader to experience close to what it must be like to tour the secondary market: it's a baffling march of hotels and coffee shops and guest passes and mic problems and green rooms that is both exciting and boring at the same time. Includes an interesting chapter about Missoula, in which he describes the Mo burger as unassailable (true) and talks about playing The Palace and Stage 112 (both RIP). It was worth the whole thing to learn that Barry hates sounds/noise as much as I do.
January 4, 2021
My first review of the year, and it's a tough one. Overall, I found the book interesting, but could understand others who didn't.
What to expect: a listing of Barry's itineraries over the course of a couple of years, describing his impressions of each location, the venue, his housing option, and food and drink consumed. That makes things sound dry, but he does relate it to the theme of "life on the road" well; that's why I rounded up to four stars, after dithering about three.
I had not heard of him before starting this book, which I selected for the travel narrative aspect. Somehow, I think it worked better as an audio presentation rather than reading the material, which I suspect could bleed together as one long list; there were times that I began to feel that way as a listener, so I just stopped the book at the next city, picking it up later with no problem.
Another reason that I felt I should round up the rating here has to do with his message that there is "life in the provinces" though he's from New York. The locals proved not to be yokels, and he does find some decent food and coffee.
On the problematic front, I couldn't figure out where the humor and snark left off, and some obnoxiousness seeped in. I've never seen him perform as a comic, but somehow I felt he was performing for the book so that we don't experience the "real" Todd Barry. If we did, and he's reading this, I can but apologize.
So, I would recommend the book for its life on the road aspect, along with his humor in the delivery, though it bears repeating that could easily come off as obnoxious to some.
What to expect: a listing of Barry's itineraries over the course of a couple of years, describing his impressions of each location, the venue, his housing option, and food and drink consumed. That makes things sound dry, but he does relate it to the theme of "life on the road" well; that's why I rounded up to four stars, after dithering about three.
I had not heard of him before starting this book, which I selected for the travel narrative aspect. Somehow, I think it worked better as an audio presentation rather than reading the material, which I suspect could bleed together as one long list; there were times that I began to feel that way as a listener, so I just stopped the book at the next city, picking it up later with no problem.
Another reason that I felt I should round up the rating here has to do with his message that there is "life in the provinces" though he's from New York. The locals proved not to be yokels, and he does find some decent food and coffee.
On the problematic front, I couldn't figure out where the humor and snark left off, and some obnoxiousness seeped in. I've never seen him perform as a comic, but somehow I felt he was performing for the book so that we don't experience the "real" Todd Barry. If we did, and he's reading this, I can but apologize.
So, I would recommend the book for its life on the road aspect, along with his humor in the delivery, though it bears repeating that could easily come off as obnoxious to some.
May 31, 2022
This is a very specific book for a very specific type of nerd. Spoiler alert: I am that nerd! Todd Barry has been one of the funniest stand up comics working for the last 3 decades. I've seen him live twice and he's absolutely amazing. His low key humor hits at exactly the right frequency to make me lose my mind with laughter every time.
This book ostensibly goes through many of his performances in "secondary markets", i.e. smaller/less important towns across America (and the world). It does cover all of that nicely. It has many of his funny observations and I loved all of them.
But even more interesting was the very realistic behind the scenes view of what it is like to be a comic on the road. If you've been a fan of stand up your whole life like I have, this book is invaluable. A must read!
But I warn you: Become familiar with his stand up before reading. Otherwise, you'll be scratching your head when it comes to his "I pretend to be cool but I know I'm really not cool (which is super cool)" persona.
This book ostensibly goes through many of his performances in "secondary markets", i.e. smaller/less important towns across America (and the world). It does cover all of that nicely. It has many of his funny observations and I loved all of them.
But even more interesting was the very realistic behind the scenes view of what it is like to be a comic on the road. If you've been a fan of stand up your whole life like I have, this book is invaluable. A must read!
But I warn you: Become familiar with his stand up before reading. Otherwise, you'll be scratching your head when it comes to his "I pretend to be cool but I know I'm really not cool (which is super cool)" persona.
March 16, 2017
Thank You to Gallery Books for providing me with an advanced copy of Todd Barry's, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg: One Comedian's Tour of Not-Quite-The-Biggest Cities in the World, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Comedian Todd Barry shares travel notes from his experiences playing secondary markets ( smaller cities/venues), during 2015/2016.
LIKE- Previous to reading, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, I had not heard of Todd Barry. I requested a review copy of his book, because I liked the concept. I like off-the-beaten-path travel logs. I was a clueless about his sense of humor, so I went in with no expectations. I read, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, last night, during my flight from California to Oregon. Would Barry be my ideal travel companion?
Yes. Todd Barry made my two hour flight seem like seconds.
It was a risk going in without a familiarity with Barry's comedy, but I quickly discovered that we have a similar sense of humor. Barry's quirks and annoyances, like his self-diagnosed Misophonia, had me laughing. As I was currently dealing with air travel, I commiserated with his travel issues, such as a woman trying to guilt him into giving up his aisle seat. The nerve! I enjoyed his behind the scenes perspective of being a traveling comedian, the pains and joys of being on the road. What I most loved about his travel diary, was his recommendations. Hell yes, I'm going to visit the "railroad car/ future home of a corn dog restaurant" in Oklahoma. Cape Fear Serpentarium in North Carolina, I'm coming! Barry's love of local coffee houses and sightseeing is right up my alley.
Barry's witty observations reminded me of one of my favorite authors, David Sedaris, who always makes me laugh until I cry, when he reads from his travel diary during his live shows. The funniest stuff comes from observing other people, things too bizarre to make up.
DISLIKE- Not so much a dislike, but a suggestion; although, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, is a quick read, don't do it in one sitting. If I had parsed it out, I would have found it more enjoyable. I felt like I rushed it. Don't rush Barry, he deserves better.
RECOMMEND- Yes. I'm sure his fans will be delighted, but even as someone with zero familiarity with Barry, I found, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, to be a highly entertaining read.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- Comedian Todd Barry shares travel notes from his experiences playing secondary markets ( smaller cities/venues), during 2015/2016.
LIKE- Previous to reading, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, I had not heard of Todd Barry. I requested a review copy of his book, because I liked the concept. I like off-the-beaten-path travel logs. I was a clueless about his sense of humor, so I went in with no expectations. I read, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, last night, during my flight from California to Oregon. Would Barry be my ideal travel companion?
Yes. Todd Barry made my two hour flight seem like seconds.
It was a risk going in without a familiarity with Barry's comedy, but I quickly discovered that we have a similar sense of humor. Barry's quirks and annoyances, like his self-diagnosed Misophonia, had me laughing. As I was currently dealing with air travel, I commiserated with his travel issues, such as a woman trying to guilt him into giving up his aisle seat. The nerve! I enjoyed his behind the scenes perspective of being a traveling comedian, the pains and joys of being on the road. What I most loved about his travel diary, was his recommendations. Hell yes, I'm going to visit the "railroad car/ future home of a corn dog restaurant" in Oklahoma. Cape Fear Serpentarium in North Carolina, I'm coming! Barry's love of local coffee houses and sightseeing is right up my alley.
Barry's witty observations reminded me of one of my favorite authors, David Sedaris, who always makes me laugh until I cry, when he reads from his travel diary during his live shows. The funniest stuff comes from observing other people, things too bizarre to make up.
DISLIKE- Not so much a dislike, but a suggestion; although, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, is a quick read, don't do it in one sitting. If I had parsed it out, I would have found it more enjoyable. I felt like I rushed it. Don't rush Barry, he deserves better.
RECOMMEND- Yes. I'm sure his fans will be delighted, but even as someone with zero familiarity with Barry, I found, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, to be a highly entertaining read.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
June 1, 2020
Todd Barry has a comedy album called "Medium Energy." In this book he cranks the energy down even lower, from a five out of ten to maybe a three. He's likable and mildly amusing as he recounts his stories ("stories" may be too grand a word) of the life of a comic working small towns such as the titular Hattiesburg. He seems to like these towns and the people who live in them, and his stories of battling smelly club bathrooms, noisy hotel rooms, and rude audience members are generally enjoyable. Whatever you do, don't read the paper version of this thing. Do the audiobook. Barry reads it himself and he knows how to add just enough sauce to his deadpan delivery to give the text some taste. Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg is short enough to not wear out its welcome; if it had been an hour longer I think I'd have grown tired of these same kinds of not particularly hilarious anecdotes. If you are not already a Todd Barry fan, do not read, or listen to, this book. If you love Barry, as I do, I think you'll like it.
November 23, 2017
I sat at the 'entertainer's only' bar when I was covering Just For Laughs in 2013. I was guffawing and probably drinking too much and eating the same fancy bar snacks Todd fantasizes about in this book. Looking around, I noticed him about 4 stools down from me. After (relatively) careful consideration, I didn't approach. It was partly because I react to comedians the way most people do to rock stars, and partly that I knew I was too drunk and probably shouldn't. In the end, I'm sort-of happy with my decision, because he might have written about it in this book. I'm also sort-of unhappy with my decision, because he might have written about it in this book. Still, the next time he's in my city I'll be going, I'll approach him softly, the way one introvert does to another, and then have him sign the book... He might write about it in his next one. Oh, and also I loved it.
June 20, 2017
This one might be for Todd Barry fans only. It's an interesting mix of (for him) rare earnestness and the usual trademark sarcastic bombast. I liked all of the behind-the-scenes of the business of stand-up comedy, but there was too much small-town tedium overall. Fun, quick read but by no means great.
May 12, 2017
Hilarious stories, many featuring chicken fingers. Read it on a plane and went to grab some chicken fingers after landing.
March 28, 2017
For lovers of stand up comedy, specifically Todd Barry's stand up comedy, this book will be very entertaining. Todd's travelogue of 'second-tier' comedy markets around the country was entertaining, and a funny window into the world of Todd's touring life.
If you are familiar with Todd's comedy, you'll hear his voice throughout this book, which is tempting me into trying the audiobook, as I'm sure it would be even more entertaining in Todd's dry, deadpan-ish delivery.
If you are familiar with Todd's comedy, you'll hear his voice throughout this book, which is tempting me into trying the audiobook, as I'm sure it would be even more entertaining in Todd's dry, deadpan-ish delivery.
March 30, 2017
When I saw "Hattiesburg" in the title and a known comedian as the author, I had to give this one a shot. It's a travelog with a dry wit that mentions The Thirsty Hippo. Where else are you going to find that?
March 25, 2023
Was hoping for so much more. Ok, your a nice guy who travels. Thought there would be more to these stories of your secondary city visits. Yup, they have coffee shops and unique restaurants. This is not a travel novel if that is what you were expecting. A short story and no real plot.
March 30, 2024
I quite liked it. Very Todd of course, so humorous, but quietly, not laugh out loud funny.. Bite sized chunks of his travels were an interesting peek into his and touring comedian life. 3.5 stars, rounded up - Because independent stories and comedians need all the support they can get.
March 21, 2017
Todd's humor translates beautifully to the written word. I literally laughed out loud throughout this hilarious book of travel memories. I also learned quite a bit about sky miles, hotel reward points, and the life of a comedian on the road. Recommended!
March 17, 2017
Quick, breezy, and satisfying. Comedian Todd Barry pens a (somewhat) quirky Travel memoir that follows him through an (intentional) tour of smaller cities and more off the beat towns. He colors it with plenty of jokes about being famous, and he uses the book to draw small, quirky caricatures of each place from the perspective of a performing comedian. Some of it is looking out from the stage (or backstage), and some of it follow him on pre/post performance excursions. It all goes down smooth- about as smooth as a good cup of coffee.
March 17, 2017
Todd Barry is one of my favorite stand-up comedians ever, and this book was really good, funny, and an easy read (and made me legit want to visit a handful of these small cities). The "easy read" thing isn't meant as backhanded compliment, btw.
January 3, 2018
Funny look at the life of a comedian on the road, regularly working crowds of <100, and killing it. And oregano is a pizza topping.
August 24, 2017
2 1/2 stars, rounded down to 2.
To my knowledge, I'd never heard of Todd Barry. I saw the book on the library shelf, thought the title and subject matter sounded entertaining, and went for it. Based on my read of the title, it seemed like this book would focus on small cities around the country. It actually focuses on Barry's tour -- the venues, the hotel rooms, the promoters, his professional friends, and what he likes to eat -- more than where he is. So really, the subtitle is more descriptive.
I think if you are a Todd Barry fan, you'll probably like this book. The book does kind of make you feel like you're tagging along on his tour. It's just that, his tour doesn't have that many moments of interest. It's like, this is his diary, and it's a rather ordinary account of someone whose job calls for a lot of travel. You know the person who often uses Facebook to share a picture of the meal they're about to eat? That's a big chunk of Barry's book. He tells us what he had for dinner and what he got at the coffee shop. He tells us he had a good hotel room or a problematic one. The promoter was a real stand-up guy, or he stiffed him. The greenroom lacked toilet facilities or it didn't. And so on.
On the plus side, his comments about his craft are interesting. Different types of audiences, what makes for a good venue or a bad one, how to work with warm-up acts, and so on. And he does share some nuggets about the towns and cities he visits.
A few other good things: The chapters are short and so the book has a good pace. There is little to no gratuitous vulgarity. The tone of the book is mostly positive. The political content is virtually nil.
I do recognize that someone whose job requires this type of travel -- many trips, short stays -- really doesn't have time to do much else besides work, sleep, and eat. There are an awful lot of those people. They don't write books. I won't say that this is a book that shouldn't have been written. I will just repeat what I said earlier. I think Barry fans will find this a lot more interesting than the average casual reader. As a travel book, it's not very interesting. As a book of humor, it isn't particularly funny. But as a book about a working comedian in this decade, it's not bad.
To my knowledge, I'd never heard of Todd Barry. I saw the book on the library shelf, thought the title and subject matter sounded entertaining, and went for it. Based on my read of the title, it seemed like this book would focus on small cities around the country. It actually focuses on Barry's tour -- the venues, the hotel rooms, the promoters, his professional friends, and what he likes to eat -- more than where he is. So really, the subtitle is more descriptive.
I think if you are a Todd Barry fan, you'll probably like this book. The book does kind of make you feel like you're tagging along on his tour. It's just that, his tour doesn't have that many moments of interest. It's like, this is his diary, and it's a rather ordinary account of someone whose job calls for a lot of travel. You know the person who often uses Facebook to share a picture of the meal they're about to eat? That's a big chunk of Barry's book. He tells us what he had for dinner and what he got at the coffee shop. He tells us he had a good hotel room or a problematic one. The promoter was a real stand-up guy, or he stiffed him. The greenroom lacked toilet facilities or it didn't. And so on.
On the plus side, his comments about his craft are interesting. Different types of audiences, what makes for a good venue or a bad one, how to work with warm-up acts, and so on. And he does share some nuggets about the towns and cities he visits.
A few other good things: The chapters are short and so the book has a good pace. There is little to no gratuitous vulgarity. The tone of the book is mostly positive. The political content is virtually nil.
I do recognize that someone whose job requires this type of travel -- many trips, short stays -- really doesn't have time to do much else besides work, sleep, and eat. There are an awful lot of those people. They don't write books. I won't say that this is a book that shouldn't have been written. I will just repeat what I said earlier. I think Barry fans will find this a lot more interesting than the average casual reader. As a travel book, it's not very interesting. As a book of humor, it isn't particularly funny. But as a book about a working comedian in this decade, it's not bad.
September 10, 2019
I wasn't super familiar with Todd Barry, but being from Mississippi originally, I got interested in this book because it mentions Hattiesburg. I listen to a lot of audiobooks of comedians reading their own work, and this seemed to be a popular one so I went for it. Glad I did. Barry's low-key but hilarious observations made me laugh. I think he thinks himself a little pretentious, but he really isn't. He seems like someone it would be cool to be friends with, hanging around in some smaller city, grabbing something weird to eat (as long as you chew quietly), and checking out a weird museum. I would definitely recommend this one, as long as you're not looking for something with a rigid structure (because it is very episodic/rambling, not in a bad way). I might suggest the audio version instead of reading it on the page, because I have to imagine it might not be as fun if you weren't listening to the way he says things, as much of the humor is in the delivery.
January 10, 2020
Another billion dollar success from one of the biggest names in stand-up. Todd Barry is a hilarious, sweet and mellow comedian.
Todd Barry is also very generous: instead of selling out Madison Square Garden several times in a row, he mostly does small venues around the country. With this book you can follow him around and see what a touring comedian encounters, both on stage, off-stage and around these tiny towns. It's a funny and delightful book, with many cute interactions and observations, full of sarcasm and wit - Todd Barry style! :)
Todd Barry is also very generous: instead of selling out Madison Square Garden several times in a row, he mostly does small venues around the country. With this book you can follow him around and see what a touring comedian encounters, both on stage, off-stage and around these tiny towns. It's a funny and delightful book, with many cute interactions and observations, full of sarcasm and wit - Todd Barry style! :)
May 15, 2017
Full of all the profound insight and hilarious jokes that you would expect from America's top comedian. Hopefully this review will make up for the turgid banter I attempted with him at the show!
June 23, 2017
And I got a coffee here...and I had a burger there...
October 25, 2017
never heard of him, but if he were performing quite near my house I'd go listen. He seems funny, observant, and overall a decent guy. That said, I'm not sure this was really an idea for a whole book. It's a travelogue, with each short chapter corresponding to one of the stops on his tour. Says stuff that is likely funny if you're there with him in the hotel, coffee shop, whatever, but usually not hilarious if you are not.
One of the stylistic quirks is to interject speculation about how the reader is reacting or how a conversation might have gone if he had spoken up to the person, etc. A tone of mock boasting about his fame and success permeates a high percentage of the anecdotes. There's one for instance about turning in an iPad someone had left in a coffee shop, concluding with "half the reason I'm writing this book is to get the 'I turned in someone's iPad' story to the wider audience it deserves"
some of the variance in enjoyment of observational comedy is of course whether you can relate to it -- when he self-discloses his misophonia and complains about people who whistle, I am so on it! When he's kvetching about the sauces offered for his chicken fingers or whatever, i'm flipping the pages. But I don't want to be completely noncommital, so I offer up a Todd Barry enjoyment test for you.
here's your diagnostic test. If you find this next bit kind of funny [as i did], this is a decent book for you, and you can just skim as needed. if not, probably skip this book altogether. He's in a coffee shop and
"....witnessed the most unnecessarily polite conversation I've ever seen. It started when an employee walked over to a guy sitting near me and cleared his empty mug. 'oh, I'm sorry I didn't do that' the sitting man said. 'I was coming around to pick up mugs anyway' the barista responded. They went back and forth on this a few times, then the barista walked away. He came back and added 'Yeah, we're trying to get better about clearing the tables.' I was like "Fellas, it's okay! He was about to clear his mug, but you were walking by to clear mugs anyway. If you keep this going this can only evolve into a brawl!"
One of the stylistic quirks is to interject speculation about how the reader is reacting or how a conversation might have gone if he had spoken up to the person, etc. A tone of mock boasting about his fame and success permeates a high percentage of the anecdotes. There's one for instance about turning in an iPad someone had left in a coffee shop, concluding with "half the reason I'm writing this book is to get the 'I turned in someone's iPad' story to the wider audience it deserves"
some of the variance in enjoyment of observational comedy is of course whether you can relate to it -- when he self-discloses his misophonia and complains about people who whistle, I am so on it! When he's kvetching about the sauces offered for his chicken fingers or whatever, i'm flipping the pages. But I don't want to be completely noncommital, so I offer up a Todd Barry enjoyment test for you.
here's your diagnostic test. If you find this next bit kind of funny [as i did], this is a decent book for you, and you can just skim as needed. if not, probably skip this book altogether. He's in a coffee shop and
"....witnessed the most unnecessarily polite conversation I've ever seen. It started when an employee walked over to a guy sitting near me and cleared his empty mug. 'oh, I'm sorry I didn't do that' the sitting man said. 'I was coming around to pick up mugs anyway' the barista responded. They went back and forth on this a few times, then the barista walked away. He came back and added 'Yeah, we're trying to get better about clearing the tables.' I was like "Fellas, it's okay! He was about to clear his mug, but you were walking by to clear mugs anyway. If you keep this going this can only evolve into a brawl!"
May 4, 2018
They say "never meet your heroes". I will add to that "Never read your comedy hero's books". Why is it so many VERY funny comedians cannot for the life of them write an entertaining book? It is why I treasure the few that can (Tina Fey, David Spade). Todd Barry, a very funny comedian, phoned this one in. This reads like the blog from a 16 year old. I had read one review saying, in effect, "he talks about coffee a lot" . This is not an exaggeration. The book is basically Todd's first (and only) thoughts on the 40ish cities he visited during the year. He literally gives no thought to anything he writes and just fills it with anything that comes to his mind. Since he likes coffee we get to read about the name of every coffee shop he visits. No story. Just "I went to this coffee shop and saw the busboy clear off some mugs."
He kind of tries for humour but it is so weak. This is an actual quote from the book:
"After the hot dog Jennifer indulged my biggest road pleasure: finding a Chase Bank ATM where I can deposit my previous night's pay." I know this is supposed to read as dry wit but it falls flat when it has been preceded by 1000 other sentences of a similar dry wit. Mostly we learn Todd is very aware of money, is easily insulted or offended by everyone, and demands to change hotel rooms when he doesn't like the one he is in.
I think what I am most upset by is that the entire book smacks of "no effort". Whatever the first thought that popped into Todd's head when he read over his notes for a gig is the first thing he writes. There is very little humour and no interesting stories.
The most interesting part is that it does give some insight into a comedian's life...unfortunately this insight is "what a bore". Stick to his stand up specials - that is where he shines.
He kind of tries for humour but it is so weak. This is an actual quote from the book:
"After the hot dog Jennifer indulged my biggest road pleasure: finding a Chase Bank ATM where I can deposit my previous night's pay." I know this is supposed to read as dry wit but it falls flat when it has been preceded by 1000 other sentences of a similar dry wit. Mostly we learn Todd is very aware of money, is easily insulted or offended by everyone, and demands to change hotel rooms when he doesn't like the one he is in.
I think what I am most upset by is that the entire book smacks of "no effort". Whatever the first thought that popped into Todd's head when he read over his notes for a gig is the first thing he writes. There is very little humour and no interesting stories.
The most interesting part is that it does give some insight into a comedian's life...unfortunately this insight is "what a bore". Stick to his stand up specials - that is where he shines.
March 25, 2020
I read this just when the Coronavirus was overtaking the world and causing all sorts of stress and "social distancing." (What would Mr. Todd Barry have to say about a term like that? I must watch his career and find out. Assuming there were be comedy shows again and we aren't all stuck in our houses for the next 20 years.)
I'm a big fan of Barry's comedy style -- I loved his Crowd Work special -- and this book is written the same way. Each chapter is like a short story about some secondary market he visited, and even when his observations are about routine minutiae, like whether a bar has snacks, he makes the tales surprising and entertaining.
A few of my favorite lines:
* "I know all my super-cool fans are reading this and thinking, The Dave Matthews Band? You should've changed it the first time that song came on! You did the right thing, Todd. Fuck Jon Stewart!"
* "It was tempting, but I don't engage in political debates at the bar of the Auburn Hills Hilton.
* "I once did a phone interview to promote a show in Cleveland. I think it was a school paper, and the woman who called me sounded like she was twelve. She read questions that were taught to her in journalism class, including this one: 'Why should people see your show instead of others in town?' What a hateful question. I answered that they should see the show that was most appealing to them. I don't promote myself like I'm a refrigerator. Hey, Cleveland, I'll be in town January ninth. Tom Finklestern is in town that night, too, but studies show I beat him ten to one in side-by-side comedy comparisions! And my ticket price is very competitive!"
This was a fun book to read at a time I really needed something funny. And Todd Barry has turned into an excellent concierge in introducing me to some new music. He mentions Belle and Sebastian during his story about meeting Lars Ulrich, and I've had "The Boy With the Arab Strap" on my playlist for the past week or so. Thank you for changing my life, Todd Barry. And for the image of the unflushed toilet you found in your hotel in Pontiac, Michigan.
I'm a big fan of Barry's comedy style -- I loved his Crowd Work special -- and this book is written the same way. Each chapter is like a short story about some secondary market he visited, and even when his observations are about routine minutiae, like whether a bar has snacks, he makes the tales surprising and entertaining.
A few of my favorite lines:
* "I know all my super-cool fans are reading this and thinking, The Dave Matthews Band? You should've changed it the first time that song came on! You did the right thing, Todd. Fuck Jon Stewart!"
* "It was tempting, but I don't engage in political debates at the bar of the Auburn Hills Hilton.
* "I once did a phone interview to promote a show in Cleveland. I think it was a school paper, and the woman who called me sounded like she was twelve. She read questions that were taught to her in journalism class, including this one: 'Why should people see your show instead of others in town?' What a hateful question. I answered that they should see the show that was most appealing to them. I don't promote myself like I'm a refrigerator. Hey, Cleveland, I'll be in town January ninth. Tom Finklestern is in town that night, too, but studies show I beat him ten to one in side-by-side comedy comparisions! And my ticket price is very competitive!"
This was a fun book to read at a time I really needed something funny. And Todd Barry has turned into an excellent concierge in introducing me to some new music. He mentions Belle and Sebastian during his story about meeting Lars Ulrich, and I've had "The Boy With the Arab Strap" on my playlist for the past week or so. Thank you for changing my life, Todd Barry. And for the image of the unflushed toilet you found in your hotel in Pontiac, Michigan.
June 30, 2018
I was attracted to comedian Todd Barry by his film 'Crowd Work', a documentary of west coast club dates where he got up on stage each night without any prepared material. Instead, he conversationally engaged the crowd in search of interesting characters who would make humorous chit chat with him...and he succeeded magnificently. This occurred, mind you, without a bombastic stage presence. Quote the opposite, truth be told. (Think of a younger Bob Newhart in terms of voice, facial expression and pace.)
So, while I ended up not being a great fan of his other work (just a matter of taste rather than quality), this film inspired me to find Todd's book. It turned out to be an enjoyable summer read with plenty of insights into a world foreign to me, namely that of touring comedians. As a collection of humorous road stories, it was often very funny. It also granted plenty of insights into the personality of the author, mainly through the revelation of his own idiosyncrasies.
My bottom line is to watch 'Crowd Work' and if you end up being intrigued by Todd Barry, as I was, take a look at this book and check out a few of the cities he played. You may end up reading about them all...
So, while I ended up not being a great fan of his other work (just a matter of taste rather than quality), this film inspired me to find Todd's book. It turned out to be an enjoyable summer read with plenty of insights into a world foreign to me, namely that of touring comedians. As a collection of humorous road stories, it was often very funny. It also granted plenty of insights into the personality of the author, mainly through the revelation of his own idiosyncrasies.
My bottom line is to watch 'Crowd Work' and if you end up being intrigued by Todd Barry, as I was, take a look at this book and check out a few of the cities he played. You may end up reading about them all...
December 5, 2021
3.5 stars.
Todd is a fantastic standup comedian. I had the pleasure of seeing him open for Yo La Tengo during their recent Hanukkah run in NYC. His dry delivery and witty “medium energy” on everyday life made for an amusing set, which inspired a trip down the Barry bunny hole over the last few days. Thanks, YouTube. Then I came across this travelogue and was curious, so I decided to re-trigger a 30-day free Audible subscription for the fourth time.
Presented in the form of a tour journal, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg is a reflection on the cities, clubs, hotels, people, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and more coffee shops that a nationally-known comedian encounters while gigging through the secondary markets of US and Canada. There were chuckles and intriguing moments. There was also repetitive narration (albeit therapeutic- he has calming voice). After awhile his friends and their post-show adventures did blend together in a stew of proper nouns.
Overall, through the ebbs and flows of a story that I imagine closely mirrors the realty of what it’s like being a working comic navigating the club circuit, I enjoyed tuning in. I would listen to Todd’s next travelogue. He speaks the truth in a thoughtful, humorous and compassionate way.
Todd is a fantastic standup comedian. I had the pleasure of seeing him open for Yo La Tengo during their recent Hanukkah run in NYC. His dry delivery and witty “medium energy” on everyday life made for an amusing set, which inspired a trip down the Barry bunny hole over the last few days. Thanks, YouTube. Then I came across this travelogue and was curious, so I decided to re-trigger a 30-day free Audible subscription for the fourth time.
Presented in the form of a tour journal, Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg is a reflection on the cities, clubs, hotels, people, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and more coffee shops that a nationally-known comedian encounters while gigging through the secondary markets of US and Canada. There were chuckles and intriguing moments. There was also repetitive narration (albeit therapeutic- he has calming voice). After awhile his friends and their post-show adventures did blend together in a stew of proper nouns.
Overall, through the ebbs and flows of a story that I imagine closely mirrors the realty of what it’s like being a working comic navigating the club circuit, I enjoyed tuning in. I would listen to Todd’s next travelogue. He speaks the truth in a thoughtful, humorous and compassionate way.
May 4, 2017
Relatively short, but enjoyable. It's impossible to read it without hearing Todd's voice in your head; his comedy works almost as well on paper as his actual standup.
I kept wishing it was a bit more fleshed out though; so many potentially interesting topics get little more than a single sentence, or a paragraph at most. He also tends to complain about mundane things a lot (and he seemingly asks for a new room at every hotel he goes to), but I guess that's just the way life goes when you're a super famous, world-renowned, stand-up comedy genius. It also ends quite abruptly, but he jokes about that to smooth it over.
My favorite bit was the pizza with the unfamiliar cheese, TWO different kinds of onions, and PISTACHIOS (that's so bizarre I feel I have to try it). Other than that though, the book is so mundane (intentionally so) that I can't really remember much from it already, even though I just finished it like a week ago. Still, it was quite funny at the time, even if it didn't stick with me long.
I kept wishing it was a bit more fleshed out though; so many potentially interesting topics get little more than a single sentence, or a paragraph at most. He also tends to complain about mundane things a lot (and he seemingly asks for a new room at every hotel he goes to), but I guess that's just the way life goes when you're a super famous, world-renowned, stand-up comedy genius. It also ends quite abruptly, but he jokes about that to smooth it over.
My favorite bit was the pizza with the unfamiliar cheese, TWO different kinds of onions, and PISTACHIOS (that's so bizarre I feel I have to try it). Other than that though, the book is so mundane (intentionally so) that I can't really remember much from it already, even though I just finished it like a week ago. Still, it was quite funny at the time, even if it didn't stick with me long.
July 2, 2017
As a comedian, Todd Barry is known for his low-key, deadpan sarcasm. Having at least a passing familiarity with his "voice" is pretty crucial to reading his first book- a tour diary of not-quite small town and not-quite big city America. In true journeyman comic sense, he goes from opening for Louis C.K. at Madison Square Garden to performing for less than a hundred people the next night because, well, that's the gig. In between dealing with the usual vagaries of travel and accommodation, Barry uses what little downtime he has in these "secondary markets" to find local coffee shops, a good place to eat that's open after a show, or just take in the local color: be it a snake emporium, or a horse statue made out of car fenders outside a Safeway.
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