Where Do Nice Guys Finish These Days? And What Is Jon Stringer Hiding from Us?
Jon Stringer just released his Dry Bar Comedy Special Things That Scare Me, and it left me with a lot to think about.
Yes, the special is funny. Yes, Jon is funny. And yes, you should absolutely go watch it. Even more importantly, go see him live. But that’s not really what I’m here to talk about.
I’ve known Jon for years and have worked on multiple projects with him. I can personally attest that he’s a talented, funny comic and a genuinely nice guy… or at least he appears to be a nice guy.
On the surface, Jon is charismatic and charming, both on and off stage. He’ll stare deep into your eyes while you’re telling him a story. Not the fake kind of stare where someone’s just watching your mouth move, waiting for their turn to talk. A genuine look, like he’s fully locked in and actually wants to know what happens next.
He has a perfectly groomed beard, and I’ve yet to see him without his hair styled down to the last individual strand.
So, I’m here to ask the question, what is Jon hiding?
My biggest concern as a friend and colleague is that Jon must be hiding some dark, shocking secret. That’s the only explanation. No one is this nice. No one is this consistently good without something sinister bubbling under the surface.
Because in addition to his kindness, Jon is also generous. He’s one of the few people in comedy who not only insists that artists get paid for their work, but insists they get paid fairly.
He’ll have long conversations with other performers, offering his sage wisdom about knowing their worth, coaching them on how they could and should ask for more money. Sometimes, even more importantly, he urges them to ask for more respect.
And these conversations are never about greed. Jon always emphasizes that an artist needs to be paid, not to get rich, but so they can survive and stay motivated to keep creating. For him, money is a tool to keep making better art.
The longer I know Jon, the more afraid I am that it’s all an act. Because history has taught me that "nice" people in the spotlight are very often anything but.
How many stories have we heard about the beloved preacher who’s secretly running a criminal ring?
Or the trusted civil servant who’s been embezzling funds from the community?
Or the countless entertainers who seemed like good people, only for us to find out later that they were absolute monsters?
Even at the local level in comedy, how often do you meet someone who says, “how’s it going?” only because they want something from you?
That’s my fear with Jon. Is he actually nice? Or am I just so jaded that I can’t recognize and accept a genuinely decent human being anymore?
Anytime I meet someone who knows him, I interrogate them, hoping for some dirt.
Did he yell at them?
Did he stiff a server at a restaurant?
Did he scream at an elderly person crossing the street because he was running late?
What is this man hiding?!?
So far… nothing.
Everyone just has kind things to say about Jon. The only even remotely suspicious thing is that he’ll occasionally send me voice memos instead of text messages, but that’s just my personal vendetta against voice memos.
The longer I know Jon, the more likely it seems that he’s just one of the few remaining genuinely kind people. Someone who’s nice and respectful simply because it’s the right thing to do.
But make no mistake, Jon. I’m still watching.
If there’s a dark secret in there, I’ll find it.
But if it turns out it’s all legit, and Jon really is just a good, talented guy, what does that mean for his comedy career?
Because here’s the truth: Jon is really funny. And he has a history of being great to work with. I’ve seen him perform hours of stand-up, and what’s on his Dry Bar special is just the tip of the iceberg.
It leaves me wondering what it actually takes these days to help propel someone to the next level in comedy.
What ensures that funny, hard-working people get the recognition they deserve?
Do nice guys actually finish last?
I really hope not. I’d like to believe that even in industries full of narcissists and big egos, the kind, honest people can get ahead, not in spite of their kindness, but because of it.
What I can do, and what I encourage you to do, is this:
Go watch Jon’s comedy special.
Find him on social media and give him a follow.
Go see him live any chance you get.
If I’m wrong about Jon’s secret, we all get to play a small part in lifting up someone who deserves it.
And if he is hiding something?
Well, you can help me keep an eye on him and report back.
Travis Wright is the host of the “I’m a fan of…” podcast. If you enjoy music and comedy, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and check out the You Tube Channel. Thanks!
