In this episode of Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is, Vince Carone and Dobie Maxwell tackle one of the toughest realities of stand-up comedy—handling criticism.

Whether it’s an angry audience member, a harsh review, or a troll on social media, every comedian will face negative feedback at some point. But how you handle it can make or break your career. Vince and Dobie share their best and worst experiences dealing with criticism, offering insights into when to stand your ground and when to just walk away.

Key Points Discussed:

• Why comedians fixate on the ONE audience member not laughing (even in a packed room)
• How to respond when someone tells you, "You were funny, but…"
• The reality of social media trolls & why deleting comments is often the best move
• Stories of hecklers, bad post-show interactions, and handling them with class (or not)
• When criticism is actually helpful—and when it’s just noise

Vince also plays a real-life recording of an angry audience member tearing him apart post-show, and Dobie shares how one audience member completely misinterpreted his joke—demanding he stop telling it forever.

If you’ve ever struggled with taking criticism—or want to know how to handle it better—this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is, Vince Carone and Dobie Maxwell take you inside the messy, frustrating, and rewarding process of building a brand-new hour of comedy.

Vince shares how he develops a fresh set, why not every joke makes the cut, and how he balances writing with testing material on stage. Dobie reflects on the differences between past comedy eras and today, exploring how the industry has changed from the 500-show grind of the ‘80s to the current expectation of releasing a new hour every two years.

Key Points Discussed:

• How to shape a new hour without forcing material
• The importance of testing bits in front of real audiences
• Why comedians need to evolve their material over time
• How Vince learned to “write on stage” and refine his stories
• The difference between polishing a set vs. continuously creating

Vince also reveals the working theme for his next special, discussing how he organizes ideas and chooses what fits (and what gets scrapped). Whether you’re writing your first set or working toward a full special, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real talk about the creative process.

🎤 Tune in now and learn how to turn new ideas into a killer hour of comedy!