Renowned American comedian Robert Klein has been working in the entertainment business for a number of decades. Over the course of his more than fifty-year career, he has witnessed and helped bring about important changes in the stand-up comedy industry. The quotation you cited captures a time in his early career when comedy was very different from what it is now.
Klein observed at the time that although there were lone comedians appearing in clubs and other small settings, there wasn't much of an organized scene or community surrounding them. Without official support networks like agents, managers, or marketing departments, each comedian was essentially on their own, navigating through performances and gigs. It is comparable to a collection of isolated trees strewn over a barren landscape, each one flourishing on its own without being a part of any forest network.
Klein and his peers started establishing the foundation for what would eventually grow into a thriving comedy industry over time. They created networks that encouraged comedians to work together, gave comedy shows new venues, and contributed to expanding the opportunities available to up-and-coming talent. This evolution is comparable to how those lone trees may have gradually developed into mature forests with varied ecosystems and interconnected roots.
Today, stand-up comedy has a thriving community, partly due to the pioneering work of individuals like Robert Klein. It covers everything from reputable festivals to online venues where comedians can distribute their work and reach a worldwide audience. Similar to how a healthy forest ecosystem supports a wide variety of species, the industry has grown to be an integral part of entertainment culture.
Klein contributes to the illustration of the transition from sporadic humorous acts to a complete cultural movement with its own structures and dynamics by sharing his experiences and insights about this change. In addition to reflecting on previous shifts, his observations provide motivation for comedians of today and tomorrow as they traverse the ever-changing comedy scene.