Today I sat down with Pat Dean, comedian, booker, and the reluctant chip liaison of the Velveeta Room, one of Austin’s longest-running and weirdest comedy venues.

Pat opens up about running a club while being a comic, the chaos of Sixth Street crowds, and how a room full of confused tourists can somehow become comedy’s greatest crucible.

We talk about booking comics fairly, why hacky material still kills (and why that’s a problem), and the bizarre art of crowd work in the TikTok era. Pat also shares some behind-the-scenes club stories — including the time Jimmy was supposed to be security at a Joe Rogan show… emphasis on supposed to.

Also: why bombing at Velv feels like existential loneliness, Austin’s comedy explosion post-pandemic, and how many illegal guns one comedy club staff can possess before it's "a bit much."

If you’re a comic, club rat, or just someone wondering how comedy actually gets booked — this episode is for you.

📍 Chapters

00:00 - Meet Pat Dean: Comic, Booker, Chip Guy

00:55 - What It’s Like Running the Velveeta Room

02:05 - Yes, Pat Buys the Chips Himself

04:00 - Pat’s Comedy Origin Story: Northern Virginia to Austin

06:00 - The Velv: Austin’s Lovable C-Club

08:44 - Toughest Room in America? Why the Velv Has a Reputation

10:21 - Bombing So Hard It Feels Lonely

12:10 - Booking Comics: Who Gets the Spots & Why

15:40 - Crowd Work vs Actual Material: The TikTok Era Dilemma

19:00 - Jimmy "Secures" a Joe Rogan Show

21:40 - Guns, Door Guys, and Texas Logic

24:30 - Managing Comics Without Losing Your Own Spot

28:00 - Austin Comedy Before vs After the Boom

30:40 - The Type of Comic Pat Likes to Book (and Avoids)

33:20 - Why Hack Material Still Works (and Why That Sucks)

35:00 - The "Cover Joke" Theory for New Comics

36:45 - Jimmy’s Joke Gets Stolen in New Orleans (By a Friend)

👇 Check Out Pat Dean

📺 Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thelanalaxcorporation/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patdeanrules/

The Velveeta Room: https://www.instagram.com/thevelveetaroom/

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⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.