a soundbite from the sound guy (sorry, the sound professional)
Wave NY’s very own Xander Zooi is not just a Transfer Engineer, he’s also the Sound Technician for the Comedy Cellar! If you’re not familiar with the Comedy Cellar, it’s one of the best, if not the best group of comedy clubs in the country that everyone from Chris Rock to Jerry Seinfeld frequent. Comedy legends and comedians-hoping-to-become-legends drop by, workshop material, and just say hey. It’s a great place to hang out, take a date (beware of sitting in the front row), and go cheer your coworker on.
Below is an excerpt from Xander and Pooji’s conversation about what it’s like to work at the Comedy Cellar:
POOJI: Hi Xander! Let’s do a little bit of introductions. Who are you and what do you do here at Wave Studios?
XANDER: Hey! Here at Wave I have a variety of tasks. My main duty is to basically prep and send audio files. My job is to hopefully make the Audio Engineer’s life easier. Whether that’s sending links, reviewing footage, or sometimes even making slight edits. I’ve been here for a year and a half and 8 months at the Comedy Cellar.
POOJI: That’s cool. And what do you do at the Comedy Cellar?
XANDER: I’m the Audio Visual Technician. So that means running the board, setting everything up, sometimes we have livestream events and people film their specials there. I work with various teams to get files over and record talent. I’m responsible for cameras and do a lot of the camera work. Overall, it’s a lot of maintenance.
-- On being the ‘Sound Guy’ --
POOJI: I’ve heard that you’re called the ‘Sound Guy’. Why are we not supposed to call you the ‘Sound Guy’?
XANDER: I feel pigeonholed as the ‘Sound Guy’. I’d like to be called the ‘Sound Professional’. Usually, there’s a whole connotation with ‘Sound Guy’. Usually, they’re not a fun guy.
POOJI: Really?
XANDER: Well, so you’re the Runner here right? How would you like it if someone said to you, ‘Hey Runner, can I get a coffee?’ It’s like that. I don’t think anyone wants to be referred to by their job title.
POOJI: I think there are a lot of people who know about the certain connotations behind, oh the ‘Sound Guy’, the ‘Lighting Guy’, the whatever, but when you’re not in that world you wouldn’t assume anything.
-- On Meeting the Greats --
POOJI: So, the question people always want the answer to, who are the famous comedians you’ve met or seen?
XANDER: Here’s the celebrity list, here’s the breakdown y’all.
POOJI: Let’s hear it.
XANDER: Name drop time. I’ve seen Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle, Mos Def (or Yasiin Bey), Mad Lib, Shane Gillis, Ray Romano, Mike Birbiglia, Hasan Minhaj, Trevor Noah.
POOJI: Who’s been your favorite to watch?
XANDER: I really like Shane Gillis and Leslie Jones (forgot to mention her). She has a really good podcast with Lenny Marcus, who is always at the cellar.
POOJI: That’s great. Thank you! Is there anything else you want to tell us about Comedy Cellar? Things we wouldn’t think to ask?
XANDER: Comedy is hard.
POOJI: Comedy is hard.
XANDER: And, anyone can be a Sound Guy, or even better, a Sound Technician.
POOJI: A Sound Professional.
XANDER: Anyone can be a Sound Professional. Respect yourself. Save the planet.
POOJI: That was beautiful, thank you so much. I’ll see you at lunch.