Tim Dillon believes that for someone to be a real comedian, comedy must be the organizing principle of their life.

“to me it has to be the organizing principle of your life yes that's what i view it as right to be a real comedian yeah to be somebody who does comedy whatever but if you're a comedian to do it it's got to be the organizing principle of your life meaning i'm a comedian and these are the choices i mad”

Kunal C. Arora maintains that to be a serious comedian, one must be willing to sacrifice their previous lifestyle, such as leaving a comfortable situation in Long Island for New York City.

“when you make that sacrifice to move into new york city you're taking on a different identity i had a conversation with some comics and they're like well what makes you a comic a comedian right and they're like is it money is i'm like well i think that you got to give up a certain amount yes”