The CHInterview: 7 Minutes in Purgatory's Ian Abramson

Wondering what it’s like to kiss your Chicago comedy career goodbye in order to head out to one of the coasts? Chicago-based performer Martin Morrow recently spoke with some of the Chicago comedy community’s recent expats who have found success in improv, stand-up, comedy and/or performing since leaving the Midwest for New Yorkier or LAish pastures. We’ll be running his CHInterviews weekly.  

First up: Ian Abramson, who the Chicago Tribune describes as a “merry prankster of absurdist, high-concept tomfoolery.”

MM: HOW LONG DID YOU LIVE/PERFORM IN CHICAGO?

IA: I lived in Chicago just shy of three years. If I had stayed another month, I would have hit my three-year anniversary there.

MM: WHEN DID YOU MOVE TO LA?

IA: Beginning of January of 2015.

MM: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE LA OVER NEW YORK?

IA: A number of reasons. I felt connected to the comedy that was coming out of LA, and a lot of my favorites on a national level were in LA. I definitely considered NY, and I hear the scene there is incredible, but I’m glad I chose LA.

MM: HOW WAS YOUR TRANSITION FROM CHICAGO?

IA: It’s still very much happening. I just finished my second month out here, you know? That said, I’m very impressed with the community in LA. I hadn’t heard it was as strong as I’m finding it to be. People are friendly and excited to work together and really working to get better at stand-up. I miss Chicago in a big way, but I’m loving it.

MM: YOU HAVE A VERY UNIQUE STYLE. HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT HELPED YOU IN THE LONG RUN?

IA: Thanks! In so many ways, you’re gonna be the comic you’re going to be, you know? The things I like to do with stand-up are what I’ve always been interested in. When I was REALLY new, it didn’t make much sense, and I’m sure gave the impression of “what the hell is this supposed to be?” but it made me want to keep experimenting with comedy–but trying to make it understandable– or else, yeah, what the hell IS it supposed to be? 

Anyway, I hope people like what I’m doing on stage. I don’t think you can really just pick a style very effectively. It’ll probably become whatever it’s going to become. In five years, my stand-up may look very different. Actually, I hope it does.

MM: YOUR SHOW “7 MINUTES IN PURGATORY” HAS BEEN A STAND-OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT DO YOU THINK DRAWS BOTH COMEDIANS AND AUDIENCES INTO IT AND SEPARATES IT FROM OTHER SHOWS THAT MAKE IT SUCH A SUCCESS?

IA: I’ve been very excited about doing the show in the various places we’ve gotten to (Editor’s note: Ian will be performing it at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, OR May 7-10). I think at its core, the show really is an experiment, and we try to keep it a relatively simple one: What happens when a comedian has nothing to respond to?

It sort of reminds the crowd that they are part of the experience, and also they live through the little moments of a comedian being weirded out, or being unsure about how they’re doing. They enjoy it and sort of go through that with them. They still get to see stand-up from very funny people; I think they also feel a little more connected to the experience. But what do I know?

Also, the show would not be nearly what it is if it weren’t for Matt Byrne, who has developed it with me. He’s really pushed it along and been smart with the way that we produce it.

MM: BEST ADVICE YOU RECEIVED WHILE IN CHICAGO AND WHEN YOU MOVED?

IA: “You’re good; get better; stop asking for things.” –Tommy Macnamara and Don Draper

Basically, the best thing I learned from just watching people like Danny Kallas, Candy Lawrence, Mike Lebovitz and the Puterbaugh Sisters is that they speak for themselves. You watch them, how are you NOT going to book them? They AMAZE me. They don’t just do really good, they do AMAZING. When I stopped worrying about who was booking me, and what I was getting, it let me just focus on trying to get better. It means I won’t get booked at a place as soon as if I had asked once a month, but it also means that it didn’t bother me. I started doing stand-up because I wanted to get good at it, not because I wanted to get on this show or that show. It’s frustrating sometimes, but I try to just focus on the work of writing a new bit and delivering old ones more effectively. 

MM: SOME ADVICE YOU’D OFFER COMEDIANS WANTING TO MOVE TO LA?

IA: Be prepared to keep working. Trying to figure out a new scene is exhausting. Who is everyone? If I drive for half an hour, will the mic be good? Why are most mics lottery systems? 

Also, don’t be afraid to write out some goals. If you’re still in Chicago, or moving to Denver, or whatever you’re doing, try to get specific with what you’re reaching for. “I want a tight 10,” “I want 30 minutes that work ANYWHERE,” “I want to be able to write a bit one day and feel like it’s presentable in a week.” Whatever your goals are, great. Just sort of know what you’re reaching for, so that you can try to work towards steps to get there.

MM: WHAT ARE SOME PROJECTS YOU’VE DONE SINCE MOVING?

IA: I got to do the show at UCB Sunset with a line-up I was ecstatic to have. I’m doing SXSW and Bridgetown coming up. I just got back from Green Gravel Comedy Fest in Iowa City, which was a lot of fun. there are a couple of other places that are bringing out 7MiP that we can’t quite announce yet.

I recently shot a stand-up set that will be going up on the Comedy Dynamics’ Hulu Channel, I guess. I’m excited to see that because it was a lot of fun to do.

Getting to see and perform alongside stand-up giants like Andy Kindler, Maria Bamford, Matt Braunger, Kyle Kinane–I mean, just seeing them work out material is as inspiring as you’d think it is. 

MM: PLUG YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

IA: Follow me on Twitter @ianabramson. 

Add me on Facebook! Some people may think that’s weird, but it’s the easiest way to see what I’m up to. 

Other than that, I don’t exist.

Martin Morrow is a member of The Second City’s Bob Curry Fellowship program. Get the latest on his whereabouts via his website or by following him on Twitter@martinMmorrow.