Liza Treyger—like most comics starting a career in a big city—knew virtually no one.
To solve that problem, the now 27-year-old, Skokie-raised comedian kept a case of beer in her trunk to act as the perfect icebreaker.
“Comedians love free alcohol,” said Treyger, who filmed her live album recording for Comedy Central at UP Comedy Club in late June. “You ask a comic if they want to drink a beer in your car after their set and they’ll say yes.”
Her blunt, addictive demeanor continues to avoid the beating around of any bushes whatsoever. Treyger’s confident personality radiates around her just as much off stage as it does on.
Treyger’s first comedy album hits stores Friday, Aug. 21, with her Comedy Central special airing on “The Half Hour” later that evening at 11 p.m. And not to mention, she’s recently been performing at the highly touted Comedy Cellar in Manhattan.
“It’s such an awesome feeling,” said Treyger, who was born in the former Soviet Union before moving to Illinois when she was 3. “I headlined my first weekend at The Comedy Attic in Bloomington [Indiana] and have been doing as many as four sets a night in New York. It’s all really happening fast right now.”
In 2014, Treyger regularly appeared as a roundtable guest on “Chelsea Lately,” and she has been consistently popping up as a featured comedian at festivals across North America, from the Just for Laughs Festival in Chicago and Montreal to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
She’s a workhorse, attending any and all open mic nights she can find, currently living in New York City after moving from Chicago last spring.
Online, she’s known as @GlitterCheese, which appropriately will also serve as the title of her first Comedy Central album.
“Yeah, I definitely didn’t think Twitter was gonna be a thing when it first came out,” she said, laughing. “I was sitting with my boyfriend at the time and he said, ‘You need to get a Twitter.’ I was trying to come up with a name and those were two things I really liked. People said, ‘You have to change it.’ But I just never did.”
Treyger’s brutal honesty and ability to be one of the most unforgivingly charming entertainers at the same time make her unlike anyone else on a stage today.
See Treyger perform at Michelle L’amour’s Wiggle Room All-Stars show at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 at Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace St.). Tickets on sale at wiggleroomchicago.com
I loved your tweet asking people to come to the live taping of your Comedy Central special this summer so you “can’t make out [your] parents’ faces.” Do they come to every show?
[Laughs.] My dad has seen me perform once. My mom has seen me … maybe three times? And that was more than three or four years ago. They’ve watched me on TV and know my dirty comedy. But they don’t speak English that well. My sister and her husband come all the time though.I met you just before you were moving to New York and I remember how psyched you were about it. Now that you’ve been there a while, talk about the transition from Chicago to Manhattan.
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I love New York. I’m very grateful and happy that I started in Chicago. I love the scene here. Seriously, it’s so [bleeping] fun. But the transition to New York was easier than I anticipated. What was hard were the elements that fuck you up more there. In Chicago I have my car, there’s cheap booze. I would wear nice shoes [here], but in New York my feet are constantly bleeding [from walking everywhere]. And you need to buy an umbrella because there’s nowhere to hide. There are some random pains.
And the transition in the stand-up scene?
I had my crew in Chicago. There was no pressure to meet new friends, and I didn’t have to kiss peoples’ asses for anything at all. Once I moved, I was meeting people at different comedy festivals, on shoots and stuff, too. I knew a bunch from traveling and doing shows with them, like the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.
And you moved in with your good friend and fellow comedian Megan Gailey, too, right? That had to make it much, much easier.
Yeah, that was really nice. We’ve both done tons of shows over the past year and it really has gone by quickly already.
What is it about Chicago that you connected with so much? This place really shaped your persona onstage.
[Laughs.] Well, I really like to get drunk and eat, so Chicago is perfect for that. I go to 4 a.m. bars with everyone all the time. I immediately had my clique with me when I first started. New York is just so huge. You don’t see the people you want to see, even if you want to. It’s easier to get lost in the shuffle. In Chicago? There are only a few microphones every day. You can get so much stage time whenever you want it. The same people are on every single day. You see everyone all the time. You build relationships that you couldn’t do somewhere else.I think so many people are intimidated to start stand-up comedy here. You make it sound like such a supportive, small town almost.
It’s easier to be supportive here. Seriously. I would go and support friends at the Lincoln Lodge five years ago. The level of support and friendship and hanging out is what I really enjoyed about living here. There are so many less people and you get certain opportunities quicker in the game [in Chicago]. That’s the Midwest. You’re performing in theaters really, really early on. You get to do that stuff sooner than when you’re even ready. And it’s good for you.
Getting onstage as many times as you possibly can really is the name of the game, isn’t it?
Oh yeah. It’s easier to get better because nobody cares. No one has the reputation that they suck. We all suck. And we’re just helping each other out.
You’ve really understood this idea of—in my opinion, anyway—continuing to try new mediums of comedy, not always just focusing on, “Hey I’m a stand-up comic and that’s all I do.” It’s inspiring.
I have a strong desire to work on a show and create stuff. I have always wanted to do that. Comedian Sabrina Jalees has really become a big part of my life, especially when it comes to creativity. You need someone you work well with. And when you do that, your desires and goals become larger. I just wanted to do stand-up. Now I’m filming with her, taking acting classes with her and really expanding. She’s shown me how to be in charge and create. It’s become more real.
Yeah, your “How Many Questions” Web series with Sabrina [Jalees] is fantastic.
Thank you so much. We sold the show to a studio so it’s definitely grown. I’m really excited.
Much deserved. OK, so rapid fire, let’s go. Weirdest venue you’ve ever done a set?
On my first trip to New York. It was at a hostel. No one spoke English. People were visiting from Israel and China. Megan [Gailey] was with me and told the people they were the worst. [Laughs.]
Why would you do that show?!
Comics are desperate! We’ll perform anywhere at any time. I’ve done a set at a nursing home in the middle of the day. Seriously, anything you can get. Eventually you gain a little bit of work, learn to say no to things, which is really hard to learn.
Favorite city to perform outside of Chicago and New York City?
Cleveland. I always have such a great time. I can seriously shit on them in my set and the place can be virtually empty, yet it’s always a great time there. Cheap drinks. Great food. Very little chain restaurants. It’s great.
That will be surprising for most to hear, I feel like.
I liked Austin, Texas, a lot too. I was there for South by Southwest and I had to follow Sinbad.
[Laughs.] Because … yeah, of course you did. That sounds like something that would happen to you.
Yep. It was Big Jay [Oakerson], Sinbad and then me.
Wow.
And it was a crowd work show. You had to start with “What’s Your Fucking Deal?” which is what Big Jay’s comedy showcase is called.
I’m bummed I missed that.
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You should be.