Interview with Paul Salamone: Dare to be an Asshole

Paul, Graphic Designer at the Integral Institute, Comedian at a Seedy Bar near You 

Admittedly, the only reason I ever asked Paul to be ‘friends’ at zaadz was that I thought his beer shot photo was cute.  I told him so and we took it from there.  I soon found that beneath that mug is a whole world of fascinating stuff…dick jokes, late night beer runs and vegan abuse aside, he really is a nice guy that doesn’t mind being an asshole.

Hi Paul.  You're semi-famous at zaadz for creation of avatars.  What inspired you to start creating these?

My friend Casey saw a similar service elsewhere online, and we thought it might be cool to do exclusively for the Zaadz community.

I do a lot of work with vector art as well, and thought it'd be cool to apply those skills in a more creative, personalized way.

Can anyone get an avatar from you or do you have to work at zaadz?

Nope, anyone with 50 bucks can get one.

If I wanted a rainbow theme, could you do that?  And could you draw me with a mustache or facial hair if I request it?

Hahahaha – sure!

We decided to keep it simple with the black and white, but I could foresee doing more with color, etc.

What do you blog about at zaadz?

I started out just blogging about doing Integral Life Practice but I stopped doing that a few months ago.  Now it's mostly stuff about comedy, inspirational quotes for artists, some random bits, etc.

Those random bits include a recent addition to your life, the DS Lite…care to tell us about it?

Uh…this GIRL on Zaadz highly recommended I get one, if for anything, to get over a recent break-up.  I got a white one, and the fucker is addictive, I'll give you that ;)

Started your brain training yet?

Advance Wars: Dual Strike is enough of a challenge right now, thank you very much, but I may try those down the line.

I'm just waiting for the air-traffic control game to come out, or maybe the Garbage Man series, those would be sweet.  I think the more dull civic responsibilities we can turn into video games, the more the next generation will be interested in working for the public sector, rather than starring on porn sites or starting bands.

You mentioned that you're recently single, which you describe in poetic detail in your blog entry on the cathedral.  Describe the ideal girl.

Oh fuck.  You're getting into the easy questions I see.

The ideal girl is into me as much as I'm into her.

And, uh, doesn't lead me on for year before dumping me on the eve of my move to Texas (ahem).

Describe an 'integral' relationship.

Oh God.  You know, I had a drunken conversation about this last night with some girl who has three boyfriends and is really into her evolution as a person.

First of all, I'm just going to use “relationship of the future” rather than the far wordier “integral.”  I see the Relationship of the Future being one based on radical honesty and commitment to each other's growth which may or may not be an “open” relationship, as much as that whole idea freaks me out.

But I think there's a huge danger at work when you say you NEED multiple relationships to grow as a person, that just one man/woman cannot possibly satisfy your every need.
That sounds like a magnet for delusion to me.

Yes, I understand the impulse (I have that impulse every second of the day more or less ), but in a certain sense I think a relationship demands a certain level of sacrifice and hard work in order to take it to a depth where it can be, uh, “used” to change the world.

Of course, I'm totally speaking out of my ass here.

Ok, you are part of another art project, Polysemy and it is 'for working artists, by working artists.'  How did it begin & what are the goals?

Polysemy was conceived by my good friend Matthew Dallman, who's this incredible dynamo of an art philosopher and a prolific writer.

We've developed this small community of artist/bloggers over the past few years, and this past fall he decided to turn that energy into something tangible, hence Polysemy.

The goal, at least as it exists for me, is to open a dialogue between artists across the spectrum of media, both professional artists and amateurs, in order to push the current art world beyond the “postmodern malaise” it seems to be in.

That, and we're trying to trace the deeper dynamics which unite all types of artistry.  For me, though, it's mostly just another fun freelance design project.

You are currently beginning to segue from graphic design to stand up comedy.  Any overlap?

I wouldn't call it a segue, design is my day job, comedy is my latest hobby.  Like design, comedy is an iterative process of trying new things, refining your work, and fucking up in public.

It's probably too early to discern the theme to my comedy, other than LOOK HOW DISGUSTING I CAN BE.

The theme of my design seems to be the joyous interplay of budget constraints and communication goals, balanced with the maintenance of a certain aesthetic value missing from a lot of design work today.

How's that for pretentious!?

Any advice for budding comedians?

I highly recommend the book Stand-Up Comedy, The Book by Judy Carter.

The best advice Carter offers, not to mention big time comedians like Dane Cook or Patton Oswalt, is not to obsess over just coming up with clever one liners.  It's best to really get to know yourself, your likes and dislikes, your hatreds and passions and fears or shadows and insecurities, and to sort of distance yourself from them through the power of the LOL.

Her writing process is not just walking around coming up with jokes, but to rant and rave with a lot of emotion into a tape recorder, and then to pull jokes from that.
Attitude first, jokes second.

Boxers or briefs?

Neither:  straps and metal studs. 

Your message to fellow zaadzsters?

Chill with the yoga, learn to tell dick jokes *smiles*.  Don't waste your time on things you know are not for you. Learn to say “no” to shit.  Dare to be an asshole when you need to.

Good advice from asshole, Paul Salamone.

Hahahaha

Thanks Paul.

Thanks.

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Read more about Paul at his zaadz page.

Stay tuned for the Zaadz Unofficial Interview Blog's next interviewee...Transpersonal Psychology Student, Sean Saiter.  If you would like to see one of your fellow zaadzsters interviewed, please message me.