THE VISIONARY: TONE VIERA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK | TONE VIERA

INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTOGRAPH @EVANCOMBEST

“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMPROV AND STAND-UP IS IMPROV IS MORE OF A TEAM SPORT AND STAND-UP ISN’T. I LEARNED EARLY THAT IMPROV WASN’T FOR ME, AND I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE JUST DOING STAND-UP.” - TONE VIERA

VALIDATED: A NATIVE OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, WHAT’S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF STAND UP COMEDY?

TONE VIERA: MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF STAND-UP WAS WATCHING “THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO”. AS A KID I USED TO STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT WATCHING TV AND GRAVITATED TOWARDS WATCHING PEOPLE TELL JOKES SINCE THERE WEREN’T ANY CARTOONS AIRING AT THAT TIME.

VALIDATED: WHICH COMEDIANS INFLUENCED YOU AND WHAT IF ANYTHING DID YOU “BORROW” FROM THEM?

TONE VIERA: WITHOUT A DOUBT I WAS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY DAVE CHAPPELLE AND CHRIS ROCK’S STAND-UP, BUT I’VE BEEN INFLUENCED BY ROBIN WILLIAMS AND JIM CARREY AS WELL. AND I WOULD BE UNGRATEFUL IF I DIDN’T GIVE CREDIT TO THE FRIENDS I HAD GROWING UP (PAUL, DANNY, CHRIS AND JASON) BECAUSE THEY KEPT MY HUMOR SHARP BY BEING AROUND ME WITH THEIR ENERGY. IN MY OPINION EACH OF THEM IS FUNNIER THAN ME AND THEY DON’T EVEN DO STAND UP, NOR DO THEY WORK IN ANY FACET OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

VALIDATED: YOU GRAVITATED TOWARDS COMEDY AT A YOUNG AGE, WHAT WAS IT THAT CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION INITIALLY?

TONE VIERA: I WAS ALWAYS THAT PERSON THAT WANTED TO MAKE THEIR FRIENDS LAUGH. I TEND TO BE AN EASY GOING AND LIGHT HEARTED PERSON. I ENJOY THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. I’M FORTUNATE TO SAY THAT I HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD AND I CREDIT THAT TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE ENERGY I GOT FROM COMEDY. AND I WANTED TO ALWAYS BRING THAT VIBE I FELT TO OTHERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE I GREW UP IN THE UNSAFE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY WHERE PEOPLE WERE CONSTANTLY STRESSED OUT AND HAD NEGATIVE ENERGIES.

VALIDATED: YOUR WORLD IS TV AND FILM PRODUCTION, AT WHAT POINT DID YOU DECIDE TO COME FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA AND PURSUE COMEDY?

TONE VIERA: DOING STAND-UP WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER, BUT I NEVER KNEW HOW TO BREAK INTO THAT WORLD. ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO I MADE A RESOLUTION TO GET INTO STAND-UP AND THEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IMPROV CLASSES WITH CIPHA SOUNDS CAME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH INSTAGRAM. ALTHOUGH IT WASN’T STAND-UP I KNEW IT WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO LEARN THE ROPES, BEGAN PERFORMING ON STAGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND I HAVEN’T STOPPED EVER SINCE. PEOPLE SOMETIMES ASK ME WHY I SWITCHED CAREERS AND IN ACTUALITY I HAVEN’T CHANGED ANYTHING. TV, FILM, RADIO, COMEDY, IT ALL FALLS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. EACH IS JUST ANOTHER PLATFORM TO CREATE AND BE CREATIVE. TO THIS DAY I STILL WORK IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES PRODUCING CONTENT, LIVE EVENTS AND BROADCASTING.

VALIDATED: YOU WERE A TV/RADIO MAJOR AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE, WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THAT CAREER PATH?

TONE VIERA: I THINK MY INITIALS SAY IT ALL… T.V. IT’S KIND OF WRITTEN IN THE STARS. I DIDN’T CHOOSE MY PROFESSION, BUT RATHER MY PROFESSION CHOSE ME. I KNEW WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT I WANTED TO STUDY MEDIA IN COLLEGE AND I HAD JOINED A PROGRAM IN MY JUNIOR YEAR THAT ALLOWED ME TO WORK WITH FILM STUDENTS SHOOTING MOVIES AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE, WHICH COINCIDENTALLY ENDED UP BEING THE COLLEGE I WOULD ATTEND YEARS LATER. THE FILM I WORKED ON HAD WON A STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL AWARD AND I WAS SURROUNDED BY GREAT PEOPLE WHO WERE HELPFUL AND WANTED TO SEE ME SUCCEED AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. I MADE EVERY CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO BE INVOLVED WITH CREATIVE PEOPLE AND COLLEGE RADIO. IT WAS MY OUTLET AND THE PREPARATORY TRAINING I NEEDED FOR WHAT I DO NOW.

VALIDATED: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE IMPROV CLASSES THAT LED YOU TO PURSUE STAND-UP?

TONE VIERA: THROUGH THE IMPROV CLASSES I LEARNED THAT I WAS FUNNY, BUT NEEDED TO HONE IN ON FINDING MY COMEDIC VOICE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMPROV AND STAND-UP IS IMPROV IS MORE OF A TEAM SPORT AND STAND-UP ISN’T. I LEARNED EARLY THAT IMPROV WASN’T FOR ME, AND I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE JUST DOING STAND-UP. BUT THROUGH IMPROV I LEARNED TO THINK FAST AND THE VARIOUS EXERCISES WE LEARNED HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN USEFUL FOR ME ON STAGE AND IN WRITING MATERIAL.

VALIDATED: DO YOU PREFER ONE OVER THE OTHER BETWEEN IMPROV AND STAND-UP AND IF SO, WHY?

TONE VIERA: ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE I HAVE A STRONGER AFFINITY FOR STAND-UP IT WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE. STAND-UP IS SUCH AN AMAZING ART, AND ONE OF THE SECRETS IS PERFORMING YOUR MATERIAL CONSTANTLY. I LOVE BEING IN FRONT OF STRANGERS, RELATING TO THEM AND HEARING THEM LAUGH AT MY THOUGHTS. BUT WORK HAS TO GO INTO WRITING, I REMEMBER IN BUSINESS CLASS AND LEARNING ABOUT THE 6 P’S – PROPER PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE. I THINK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME AND DO MY BEST TO GO ON STAGE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE. I’VE HAD BAD NIGHTS, AND I’VE HAD INCREDIBLE NIGHTS, BUT I ABSOLUTELY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO ENTERTAIN THROUGH THIS ART FORM.

VALIDATED: AS A COMEDIAN, DO YOU EVER RUN INTO HECKLERS?

TONE VIERA: I WISH I HAD A CRAZY STORY FOR YOU ABOUT ME GOING AGAINST A HECKLER, LIKE THAT CRAZY SCENE IN THE “THE NUTTY PROFESSOR” WHEN EDDIE MURPHY WENT AGAINST DAVE CHAPPELLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DON’T. I HAVE YET TO RUN INTO ANY HECKLERS AT ANY SHOWS THAT I’VE DONE, BUT DON’T GET ME WRONG I’VE DEFINITELY HAD EXPERIENCES WITH CROWDS BEING RESTLESS AND INATTENTIVE. AT THAT POINT I ALMOST WISH SOMEONE WOULD HECKLE ME JUST TO GET SOME EXCITEMENT IN THE ROOM. SOME NIGHTS YOU’RE GOING TO GET A HOT ROOM WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO GET EXPLOSIONS OF LAUGHTER THEN TAKE PICTURES WITH AUDIENCE MEMBERS AFTER THE SHOW, AND SOME NIGHTS YOU’RE GOING TO GET SOME CHUCKLES AND MILD APPLAUSE. IT’S A PART OF THE GAME.

VALIDATED: YOU’VE DONE FREELANCE PRODUCTION FOR VARIOUS TV SHOWS AND COMMERCIALS, ANYTHING WE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH?

TONE VIERA: AFTER COLLEGE I BEGAN WORKING ON SETS WITH A VARIETY OF TV SHOWS, I SOMEHOW GOT SUCKED INTO A BUBBLE WHERE THE ONLY GIGS I WOULD GET WOULD BE ON REALITY SHOWS. I’VE WORKED ON “KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS”, “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”, “CATFISH”, “BLACK INK CREW” AND “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK”. MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE MY RESUME ARE IMPRESSED BECAUSE THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR SHOWS ON TV. AFTER A WHILE, ONCE I GOT OVER THE HOLLYWOOD ALLURE OF IT ALL, IT JUST BECAME WORK TO ME. THE TRUTH IS I GOT TO SEE THE UGLY SIDE OF THE PEOPLE WITHIN INDUSTRY, I ENDURED EXTREMELY LONG HOURS AND THE PAY ISN’T THAT GREAT. BUT EVERYTHING I DID WAS PREPARATORY FOR THE NEXT STEP THAT CAME ALONG IN MY JOURNEY, SO I DEFINITELY DON’T REGRET THE WORK I DID ALL THOSE YEARS BECAUSE WITHIN THAT SAME BREATH I’VE MADE GREAT CONTACTS, LEARNED THE ROPES OF THE INDUSTRY AND HAD SOME GREAT EXPERIENCES. I KNOW THAT I’LL BE TELLING MY KIDS SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES STORIES OF STUFF THAT HAS HAPPENED WHILE WORKING IN PRODUCTION, I’LL SHARE A QUICK STORY WITH YOU THAT I DON’T REALLY TALK ABOUT TOO MUCH. I WAS WORKING WITH THE KARDASHIANS AND THE PAPARAZZI APPROACHED ME PRIVATELY AND OFFERED ME MONEY TO GIVE THEM A COPY OF THE SCHEDULE AND TELL THEM WHICH HOTEL THEY WERE STAYING IN, SO THEY COULD KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHERE TO GO TO TAKE PICTURES. AS TEMPTING AS THIS OFFER SOUNDED I REFUSED TO HELP BECAUSE 1. I SIGNED A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TO ANYONE OUTSIDE OF PRODUCTION AND 2. I WAS CONCERNED WITH WHAT THESE PEOPLE COULD DO WITH THAT INFORMATION. LATER THAT EVENING AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO DROP KHLOE OFF AT JFK FROM THE CITY, I WAS IN THE CAR BEHIND HERS DRIVING THE PRODUCERS AND A GROUP OF AT LEAST 4 CARS STARTED TO FOLLOW US AND IT BECAME LIKE A SCENE OUT OF ‘THE FAST & THE FURIOUS’. THEY WERE CUTTING OFF CARS & RUNNING RED LIGHTS, IN HOPES OF GETTING A PHOTOGRAPH. I KEPT THINKING OF THE PRINCESS DIANA STORY AND COULDN’T BELIEVE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS MAYHEM. LUCKILY, NOBODY GOT HURT AND THERE WASN’T ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF RECKLESS DRIVING AND CLOSE CALLS. THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENED ON THE REGULAR BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE INSTANCES BECAUSE OF HOW AGGRESSIVE THE PAPARAZZI GOT THAT DAY.

VALIDATED: THE REALITY SHOWS THAT YOU’VE WORKED ON, HOW TRUE TO LIFE ARE THEY ACTUALLY?

TONE VIERA: THIS IS THE MOST COMMON QUESTION I GET ASKED WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT THAT I WORKED ON REALITY SHOWS. REALITY SHOW ARE FOR THE MOST PART BASED OFF REAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE CHARACTER’S LIVES, BUT THEY ARE SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED. IT’S THE PRODUCERS JOB TO PUSH A NARRATIVE AND CREATE A STORYLINE AROUND THE PERSON TO MAKE IT DIGESTIBLE FOR THE AUDIENCE. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEIR JOB IS TO PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS AND GREAT CONTENT. THEY FILM A LOT OF WHAT’S CALLED “VERITE” WHICH MEANS “REAL LIFE”, SO SIMPLY PUT - THE PART WHERE THE CAMERA FOLLOWS PEOPLE AROUND, BUT THE INTERVIEWS AND CERTAIN PLANNED SCENES ARE PUSHED TO FIT THE PRODUCERS AND THE NETWORKS DIRECTION. ONCE THE FOOTAGE IS SHOT A LOT CAN BE DONE IN POST-PRODUCTION THROUGH EDITING. I HOPE I DIDN’T RUIN ANYTHING FOR ANYONE.

VALIDATED: CURRENTLY YOU PRODUCE CONTENT FOR VARIOUS CLIENTS AS WELL AS YOURSELF, AT WHAT POINT DID YOU DECIDE TO MOVE AWAY FROM MAINSTREAM AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY?

TONE VIERA: AFTER YEARS OF WORKING ON SET WITH TV SHOWS I FELT LIKE I HAD LEARNED EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO LEARN AND DECIDED TO JUST GO INTO BUSINESS FOR MYSELF. OVERTIME I’VE BUILT A GREAT NETWORK AND CURRENTLY HAVE A PRODUCTION COMPANY I’VE BEEN WORKING WITH OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, INDUSTRY LABS, WHICH IS COURTNEY BAYNES COMPANY AND HE IS A GENIUS FILMMAKER, ONE OF MY MENTORS, AND WE’VE GONE AHEAD AND SHOT CONTENT FOR CLIENTS SUCH AS MUSIC VIDEOS, CORPORATE SHOOTS AND RED CARPET EVENTS. WE EVEN FILMED AN INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY TITLED “MARCY MADE” WHICH IS AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON.

VALIDATED: DURING THE DAY YOU WORK AT SIRIUSXM AS AN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER AT SHADE45, HOW DID THAT OPPORTUNITY COME ABOUT?

TONE VIERA: I ACTUALLY INTERNED AT SIRIUSXM WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE AND WANTED TO GET HIRED THERE FOR YEARS. IT’S NOT EASY TO GET IN WITH THE BIG MEDIA COMPANIES IN NEW YORK, BECAUSE THERE’S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK THERE AND THEY ONLY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF OPEN POSITIONS AVAILABLE. LONG STORY SHORT I APPLIED AND WAS CONSIDERED FOR THE JOB. I’M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SUCH A STRONG BRAND AND BE AROUND SUCH INCREDIBLY TALENTED CO-WORKERS SUCH AS SAM, LORD SEAR AND DA INPHAMUS AMADEUZ.

VALIDATED: YOU ALSO CURRENTLY PRODUCE THE COMEDIAN SERIES “I’M FUNNIER THAN YOU”, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

TONE VIERA: WE’VE BEEN RUNNING THIS SHOW SINCE 2015, AND IT’S BECOME SOMETHING SPECIAL. WE CO-PRODUCE IT WITH A VENUE CALLED THE NUYORICAN IN NEW YORK, AND THEY TOTALLY SUPPORT AND LOVE THAT I’M BRINGING AUDIENCES TO THEIR VENUE FOR LIVE STAND-UP COMEDY. WE ALWAYS PACK THE ROOM AND GET A GREAT CROWD. EACH SHOW FEATURES UP AND COMING COMEDIANS AND I’VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME PRETTY COOL SPECIAL GUESTS TO STOP BY TO PERFORM. IF YOU’RE EVER IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA FOLLOW @IFTYCOMEDY ON INSTAGRAM TO STAY UPDATED AND COME TO ONE OF OUR SHOWS. WE’VE EVEN BEEN RUNNING THE SHOW IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS AS WELL.

VALIDATED: YOU’RE ALSO INVOLVED WITH DA INPHAMUS AMADEUZ’S “THE PUNCHLINE ACADEMY”, WHAT'S YOUR ROLE AND THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPETITION?  

TONE VIERA: THE PUNCHLINE ACADEMY IS A GREAT PLATFORM FOR NEW ARTISTS WHO WANT TO GET EXPOSURE. I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE A GREAT TALENT AND NOT KNOW HOW TO GET HEARD. I’M ONE OF THE JUDGES ON THE PLATFORM THAT LISTENS TO NEW ARTISTS AND WE AS A COLLECTIVE DECIDE IF WE FEEL THE ARTIST HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MOVE FORWARD TO GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS COME THROUGH AND MAKE IT ONTO OTHER BIGGER PLATFORMS AND EXPAND THEIR FAN BASE. I LOVE THAT INPH HAS CREATED THIS PLATFORM AND HAS ME ON IT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT I WORK ON THE CORPORATE SIDE AND CAN HELP IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT IF AN ARTIST HAS THE SOUND/IMAGE/TALENT THAT IS READY TO BE HEARD ON A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

VALIDATED: AS A CREATIVE PERSON WHAT DOES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION MEAN TO YOU?

TONE VIERA: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS EVERYTHING. THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION THOUGH BECAUSE IN THE COMEDY CULTURE THERE’S SO MANY CRITICS AND EVEN COMICS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT LATELY HAVE CHALLENGED SO MANY OF THE JOKES BEING TOLD. COMEDY LIKE MOST ART FORMS IS ABOUT BEING FREE AND SAYING ANYTHING. NOWADAYS EVERYTHING IS OFFENSIVE AND WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT LIMITATIONS YOU’RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO COMEDY. I WANT TO SAY MORE BUT I KNOW I’LL OFFEND SOMEBODY AND I DON’T FEEL LIKE GETTING CANCELED THIS WEEK.

VALIDATED: YOUR RADIO SHOW “TONE DOWN 4 WHAT” WHICH ALSO AIRS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS ON LIVE89FM, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

TONE VIERA: MY RADIO SHOW “TONE DOWN 4 WHAT” IS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC – I WAS STUCK AT HOME AND IT GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK. I ALSO CALL IT #QUARANTONE RADIO. IT’S HONESTLY JUST ME GOING BACK TO MY RADIO ROOTS AND HAVING FUN ON THE AIR LIKE I DID IN COLLEGE. I PLAY GREAT MUSIC AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT’S ON MY MIND. I APPRECIATE INPH FOR GIVING ME THE PLATFORM, I’VE BEEN GETTING A GOOD AMOUNT OF LISTENERS AND HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING ARTISTS AND INDUSTRY FRIENDS. DOING THIS SHOW HAS KEPT ME CREATIVE AND IT’S BEEN ANOTHER OUTLET TO BE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. TUNE IN EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 10AM-NOON EST ON WWW.LIVE89FM.COM OR DOWNLOAD THE LIVE89FM APP. 

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS AND WEBSITE?

TONE VIERA: I DEFINITELY WANT TO INTERACT WITH EVERYONE, FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @TONE.VIERA. I’M ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS JUST SEARCH “TONE VIERA”. CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE WWW.TONEVIERA.COM AND YOU’LL SEE LINKS TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND CLIPS OF PAST INTERVIEWS FROM MY SHOW. ALSO, I RECENTLY RELEASED A SONG TITLED “QUARANTONE” FEATURING PARTY G ON ALL DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS, CHECK IT OUT. I’M HOPING TO COME TO A CITY NEAR YOU AND PERFORM AT YOUR LOCAL COMEDY CLUB SOON, IN THE MEANTIME YOU COULD CHECK ME OUT ON SIRIUSXM EVERYDAY AT 12-4PM EST ON SHADE45.