Ri Ra Irish Pub in Clarendon, VA; Wed nite open mic I did stand up for a couple years then started running my own shows to guarentee myself stage time cuz there was only one open mic back then—Wiseacres. Quite by accident, I discovered I was the greatest comedy show producer that ever lived.
Curt Shackelford: the man, the hero, the WaPo legend. For the past six years, Curt has been producing live stand-up comedy shows all over the D.C. metro area through his company, "Stand-Up Comedy to Go". And when I say producing, I am not talking about finding some dive bar w/a PA system so you can bring your dumbass friends, dress in a suit, and splash PBR in their faces. No, instead Curt brings a serious business approach to his comedy ventures. Anyone who has seen Curt pull up in his patented yellow truck knows exactly what I mean.
For inside it, Curt has everything he needs to put on a comedy show. Mic stand and mic? Check. Stage? Check. Fake brick wall? Check. 200 pens? Check. Just give Curt the go ahead and he will put up a show, like some sort of "big top" ringmaster.
These shows have been the launching pad for many local comics. Some have jumped to bigger and better places for comedy. Others are just thankful for the opprotunity to have consistent shows at which to perform. Either way, Curt has been an instrumental force in helping young comedians find their voice in D.C. for many years.
Curt has found his niche, and because of that, he won't budge on how he feels a comedy show should be run, and has no problem telling you that in almost every way possible. From the novella-sized attachment he emails to comics; to his grade school–like roll calls; to the "Everyone's a Comedian" audience-prying conclusion to his shows; you know it is Curt's three-ring circus, and he will run it as he pleases. Even if the clowns get upset.
And there have been many upset clowns over the years. Each one having their own reasons for why particpation under Curt's tent is not worth the price of admission. You may have heard some of them already. You may have not. But, this is not a post about them.
This is a rare interview with Mr. Shackelford. A no-holds barred event where Curt has the opprotunity to answer some of D.C.'s biggest questions as well as give his take on how the D.C. scene has changed, and how he views the world of comedy. Grab your popcorn, folks, you are in for a spectacle!
[Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages.....hit the jump.]
For the unfortunate minority who have never heard of you or what you have done in D.C. over the years, please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Curt Shackelford….and I’m a compulsive organizer.
I started my first open mic at Parkers in Bethesda 5 or 6 years ago after tiring of schlepping to Wiseacres from Bethesda to compete with 20 other comics for 12 slots. I wanted my own show that I could MC, guaranteeing stage time each week. I found a local Bethesda bar that was game, and proceeded to run the absolute worst open mic ever—made many mistakes but really learned to run a room. The show ultimately sank for many reasons. The primary reason being that it was on a Monday night. Only alcoholic single people go out on Mondays.
Ironically the new Friday show at Parkers will prolly be a huge success cuz it’s on a great night—
What rooms do you currently run ?
Topaz Hotel in Dupont Circle, DC; Thurs nite open mic
Hyatt Hotel in Bethesda, MD; Saturday nite showcase
What is your comedic background?
Who are some of your influences comedic or otherwise?
Martin Short, Todd Glass, Brian Regan, etc.—goofy/silly comics—Will Ferrell—are some of my faves.
What's hacky comedy to you?
Not so much material-wise cuz that’s obvious—everyone agrees what is hacky—but what really annoys me is the hacky lines that comics feel they need to say:
“Keep it going for…..”
“Are you guys having fun?”
“How you guys doin tonite?”
“Who’s drinkin tonite?”
...and a dozen others that only annoy the audience and eat up the clock.
You give us your reasoning for producing shows over performing, but why do it at all? What drives you to be involved in comedy?
I went to the Ticonderoga Pencil Factory when i was a kid—the sight of all these yellow pencils rolling out on the assembly line was mesmerizing, cranking out perfect pencils by the hundreds every minute—they had to pull me away from the viewing glass. Aspergers again?—a fondness for systems, uniformity, and patterns...
Anyhoo, there's something satisfying about cranking out a fine product every week, whether it's a pencil or a show; in that respect, it's "fun."
What do you look for in a space when you approach a venue?
Separate room away from the main room is the big thing. My big mistake with Parkers was it’s a big open space. I naïvely thought that everyone in the place would be enthralled and thrilled to hear great comedy for free. Nope. Some people would rather not hear comedy—even great comedy. They’re on a date or they’re with a friend they haven’t seen for a while, and wanna chat, etc. So you need that separate room so these folks can have a place to go to get away from the show. At Parkers, it was seen as an intrusion by some folks…like “Hey…I’m eatin' here!!”
Let's just get to it, shall we? Recently, you wrote to me that you "[are] responsible for the renaissance of the DC open mic scene...five years ago there was only one open mic at Wiseacres...I copied them and made some improvements on their system...then people copied me, made some improvements on my system, and it snowballed from there."
I have to qualify that by saying Chris White’s starting of DC Standup was what made the renaissance possible. That site was like erecting a giant canvas, and suddenly everyone started throwing paint on it. I started Parkers, and I think other comics saw how easy it was to open a room of their own, so they followed suit in their respective neighborhoods. My shows were way better cuz I brought “real show” production values (stage, spotlight, etc.) to the venue. I wanted to copy that aspect of Wiseacres as well even though Parkers was just a bar.
Maybe you answered this already but you have also said that "open mics that are run by comics instead of non-coms like me will eventually & inevitably fail." Well Curt, you are actually right, because ALL open mics eventually fail/close.
So why then do you feel rooms run by non-coms are better?
If a comic splits his energy between practicing/perfecting his craft and running a room (read “selling food and beverages to justify your show's existence”), his craft will suffer. Every minute a comic spends on running a show is a minute he could have spent writing, rehearsing, or performing. This will eventually annoy the comic to the point he/she gives up in disgust, and turns his focus solely to his craft.
I tried to perform and run at Parkers, and I did both of them perfectly half-assed cuz it’s too taxing to do both well. I gave up in disgust but chose running shows over performing cuz I was great at it. I was a good comic, but a great producer. You gotta be great at what you do or forget it. Good is not good enough.
Then, please explain the success of an open mic like "Soho Coffee & Tea", which from what DC Standup has said was the longest-running DC open mic of all time (and that website is never wrong), and also happened to be run by a comic.
Soho—Paul Schorsch shut his show down fed up and disgusted. He wrote a blog about it called “Curt is right—I’m fed up and disgusted.”
What do you look for in comics when you book Topaz? How about the Hyatt?
Silliness, silliness, silliness.
You have expressed some strong feelings about new comics, in which you have said, "more stage time will *not* make you funnier. You are funny right out of the gate or not...and all the stage time in the world will not help you cuz 99.9% of what makes you funny is *beyond your control*".
This statement is gonna get me assassinated, but I firmly believe this.
Just one example:
Andy Haynes—it’s not his writing, his delivery, his whatever—it’s his default facial expression that has to do with genetics that makes everything he does/says “funny.”
Many more examples upon request.
You have also expressed to me your usual hesitation for putting up improvisers having a go at stand-up.
Not at all—I actually love improv comics who come into standup—they are usually stronger comics because of their improv background (yourself, Scovel, etc.)
It’s the actual art of improv that I find tedious beyond belief; it's like waiting for lightning to strike—too hit or miss. With standup, you just have more chance of regular laughs via punchlines.
As a former comic yourself Curt, what is your reasoning on the harsh approach you take with booking really funny, established comedians who have proven themselves time and time again vs. the notion that "newbies and their audience" dictate the success of a locally run comedy show?
When I ran Parkers five years ago I used nothing but the best comics—I promoted the hell out of the show, but we never got a decent size audience with any regularity. Newbies were not gonna get on my “quality” show cuz I didn’t wanna dilute it.
The show eventually died cuz we couldn’t bring in enough bodies—even though I did a solid year with nothing but the best comics. Ironically, the show would have *eventually* caught on and it would have been packed, but the word “eventually” does not sit well with venue owners. They no understanding of “eventually.” They only understand “within this quarter.”
Now my shows are a mix of newbies who bring the audience and veterans who make them laugh.
Every time I try to tamper with the mix, the show sucks.
Great lineup of too many veteran comics equals playing to six people.
Shitty lineup of too many newbies equals playing to a packed house of folks that will never come again.
So it’s a mixed bag—a combined approach. As the Devil Himself (manifested as Dick Cheney) said, "sometimes the answer is 'both'."
You have butted heads with many comics during your time of booking shows. Some have voiced their opinion, others have not. What are your feelings about Jay Hastings and the dispute that erupted between you two last year?
Art versus commerce—Jay is a comic who naturally champions art over commerce. I am a greedy producer who favors commerce over art. I try to keep a balance though; but commerce comes first.
“You can’t have a cupboard if there ain’t no wall.”
Comedy is supposed to be fun. When comics first receive your pre-show list of rules, they tend to think "holy shit, what have i gotten myself into." So my question is, why not get rid of them? Especially since some parts, like the dress code (no Timbalands, no doo rags, no black skin) seem to be targeting a certain group.
There were no rules when I started. Everytime I got reprimanded by the venue, I made it a rule to prevent it from happening again.
The rules are there to "set the tone," and the tone is, "This is not just another shitty open mic with seven TV's on and three drunk guys who don't even realize there's a show going on."
I want comics to treat it like a *real show*. I certainly do, and they should too. The 345 rules say that loud & clear.
Thankfully, there are 15 other shows in town where you can get stage time—but they aren't as good as mine, precisely cuz they lack "structure" (another word for rules). I don't want to make it seem like the Big Bad Venue made me institute that dress code; that was all my doing.
My shows are in white neighborhoods. White folks are frightened by the gangsta look—white-black-Latino-whatever; it's intended to look threatening and it works. "Threatening" is not a good vibe at a comedy show.
Ironically, I lifted the dress code language verbatim from a flyer put out by FUR nightclub, a black club, that read "no Tims, no skullies, etc."
My one black friend (I have pictures of me shaking his hand) had to explain to me what that stuff was, but I knew if the black clubs themselves didn't want that in their venues then I didn't either.
Some people in the community feel like you avoid comics who run their own rooms. Any comment?
This is true, but not for sinister reasons. They have their own rooms so they no longer are as “needy” as other comics. They have a guaranteed weekly slot; so I prefer to use comics who are more in need of stage time cuz they [don’t have] their own rooms.
Do you think there is ANY correlation between the success of Rory Scovel, Ryan Conner, and Danny Rouhier, and the constant rotation you kept those three comics in at all of your shows? Are you trying to do the same for comics presently? If so, throw out some names. Go ahead, who does Curt like nowadays?
We fed off each other. It was a perfectly symbiotic relationship—very win-win.
I think I speeded up their ascent to the NYC level by providing them with enough bodies in the audience (non-com bodies) every week so they could get real feedback on their performances, tweak them in time for next week’s show, etc.
My current fave—Hampton. Again it’s the way he looks, walks, stands, sounds, his mannerisms—all stuff beyond his control.
And he was blessed with the silliness gene—again something beyond his control.
Why don't you like watching basketball games?
Sneakers suction-cup “thwick-thwick-thwick” sound of running down the court plus the squeaking from the sudden stops, turns, and starts. I have mild Asperger's Syndrome that makes me sensitive to certain sounds.
Solution: Moccasins.
Why the hell don't you ever come out to other shows? I know you are a busy guy, but how can you expect to be on the pulse of the comedy scene in town without seeing it?
I would love to come watch other shows cuz I can’t really enjoy my own shows cuz I’m “working” and can never fully focus on enjoying a comic’s set. But I’m just too wiped out at the end of the day. I’m asleep by 8pm and up by 4am the next day to go pore over the topographical map of the DC Open Mic scene in my bunker’s war room in my poofy Field Marshall pants…pushing little plastic tanks around with one of those plastic tank pusher stick–thingies.
What is with the email blasts, really? Why ignore so many emails? Don't you think that it is mean and it undermines people's confidence?
I’m running my shows in the cracks and crevices of my day job. I gotta cram all my comedy work into very limited time; efficiency rules the day. If I had someone to do the booking, it would be great. They could take the time to be a bit more human about the whole booking process, but until I can afford to hire someone it will have to be mass email cattle-call style.
Aparna does a swell job running the lights at your shows, doesn't she? Quite the gal.
I picked her cuz she’s small, and can fit in the tiny crevices I reserve for the light lady—not taking up any unnecessary square footage that the audience could use.
Swell job?
She routinely falls asleep, talks during the show, gives more time to her friend-comics, but thinks I don’t notice cuz I am old and senile. But until a smaller comic comes along, her job is safe. I don’t like young people.
How do you see the open mic scene changing five years from now, and what are you doing to make sure you are a part of it?
There are shitty cover bands playing live “music” on every street corner. I’d like to see a comedy night on every corner alongside this plethora of live music. It should be as prevalent as live music. But live comedy is seen as a “wild animal” and also a “black sheep of the arts,” so venues are very afraid of letting this wild rabid dog into their fine establishment. But they have no problem letting in a lame cover band—safer I guess.
But the more rooms there are, the easier it will be for the next room to open, cuz you can point to the other rooms and say “Hey look Mr. General Manager, that place across the street is doing comedy!” So then it can snowball even bigger and bigger.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Interview of the Century: Curt Shackelford
Friday, March 7, 2008
DC Comedy Festival "Audtion Showcase" at The DC Improv
The dccomedyfest is entering its fourth year and we're looking for the best comedy standup from DC and throughout North America.
"A select group of DC's most hilarious stand up comedians will perform on a special audition showcase Saturday, April 12. This great roster of performers will be auditioning for an opportunity to be at the New Talent Industry Showcase during dccomedyfest (Thursday, Aug 7) at the DC Improv for talent scouts from The Tonight Show, Chelsea Lately, networks, agents and more! But performers will also be considered for other slots in the festival, including Feature Shows and other special performance opportunities."
The Line-Up for the Show features:
Jason Weems
Aparna Nancherla
Jay Hastings
Bryson Turner
Kojo Mante
Nick Turner
Larry Poon
John McBride
Tim Miller
Hampton Yount
When: April 12th, @ 8:00 pm
Where: DC Improv Comedy Lounge
Tickets: $10
Website: http://www.symfonee.com/improv/dc/home/Index.aspx
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Bomb Shelter: Tonight @ 18th & Red
Just a quick reminder to everyone that The Bomb Shelter is coming back STRONG tonight. The show starts at 9:00pm at the local Adams Morgan watering hole 18th & Red. Please come out and support the reopening of a great local comedy showcase.
The line-up:
John McBride
Jake Young
Bryson Turner
Nick Turner
Mike Way
Jay Hastings
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Bomb Shelter...It's BACK!!!
Hello Libertines of The District of Columbia, the mighty Bomb Shelter is BACK IN ACTION at the Adams Morgan watering hole, 18th & Red. The show had been on a long vacation due to the writers strike (not true). But, the important thing is that we are back and better than EVER! Due to customers calling in and demanding the comedy show come back, the management is allowing us to bring the full force of The Bomb Shelter back, and bring it back UPSTAIRS! This is huge. We'll once again have our own performance space, free from bar noise and unfortunately; the hot bartender. Please mark you calanders for the return of The Bomb Shelter this Thursday, March 6th, @ 9pm. It's going to be a great show.
The Line-Up:
John McBride
Mike Way
Nick Turner
Jake Young
Bryson Turner
and hosted by: Jay Hastings
Check out the "Comedy Matters" clip:
[don''t click it; skip it]
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
DC Improv Showcase....and the winner is?
Congratulations to Mr. Marcus Brown for winning the DC Improv's showcase on Tuesday. Marcus crushed the nearly sold out crowd who also enjoyed John Conroy, Phil Mause, Eli Sairs, Joyce Rebar and Keith Irvin. This was easily the best showcase that the Improv has held in quite sometime, hosted by DCC4N favorite Jon Mumma. Jon was aggressive and a little angry, with a flair that people usually don't get to see. On to the guest sets. First up was previous showcase winner Hampton Yount. Always a pleasure, he closed strong on a tear-inducing bit about the Porn Awards. Then the club was treated to a very special treat when national headliner Jim Short stopped by to perform the final set of the night. It's interesting to see the difference in local up & comers compared to the highly-polished Short. (don't die before you're able to hear his joke about werewolves) So, that is the update on that shiz-nit, I'm gonna go bang my head against a tree.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Room Chat
This is gonna be a weekly feature where we chat about rooms and/or our periods over coffee. It's not a date, it's just room chat! (I'm gonna try and make that pitch sound even lamer in future installments)
*Update* Lance Smith is ready to put an end to all of the lies that he is currently spreading about himself. The Sunday night open mic at the Bistro Europa ISN"T finished just yet. There will be two more shows on Feb 24th and Mar 9th before the restaurant gets the ax.
Also, John Conroy wrote us with a hot tip on a possible Friday night room in Bethesda for anyone looking to start a show.
From John: The name of the Restaurant is Parkers American Bistro. I've done 2 shows there before on Friday nights. usually the dinner crowd is done by 9:30 or at the latest 10:00 and that's when the show could begin. There isn't a stage, but it sets up fairly well, there are plenty of tables and chairs in the front section and the bar is all the way in the back. I'd say it's twice the size of Ike's. They have a sound system, that I can show someone to setup easily, but there is no mic stand. I'm sure at the very least they'd be willing to do it monthly and if it's successful weekly or bi-weekly. I recommend going by in person to whoever is interested and I'd be happy to go in with them to help grease the wheels. If there are any other specifics you need to know just let me know. Jon Mumma, Justin Schlegel, Will Hessler, Jermaine, Brandon Ivey, and Tony have all done shows there with me before so they might have some thoughts on how it could be a better room or show too.
If you're interested in learning more you can contact John or us and we'll point you in the right direction.
If you have any leads or ideas for a great show location, leave it in the comments or send us an email.
Type rest of the post here
Read more!
Monday, February 4, 2008
DC Comedy Spotlight: Blaire Postman & The DC Comedy Fetsival
Do you want to be in the 2008 DC Comedy Festival? Would you like to perform in front of sold out crowds, filled with audience members who are smart and enjoy comedy? I'm willing to bet you do. Why wouldn't you? The DC Comedy Festival provides just that. It is a great event that allows national, regional, and more importantly local comedians the chance to showcase their comic abilities. There are so many different types of shows. From the smaller Comedy Jam, to the packed theater shows, to the Tonight Show and Letterman Auditions. It's an amazing opportunity for all comics, of all levels.
[hit the jump for more on Blaire, this year's festival and how you can be a part of it!]
The DC Comedy Festival is going into its 4th year and it just keeps getting better and better. The venues have gotten bigger (next year they’ll include THE BLACK CAT and THE DC IMPROV), the crowds have gotten bigger, and the number of comics have grown as well. But the more important thing is that the quality of the festival has improved. With such talented comics from the improv, sketch, and stand-up fields being invited to perform at the festival. Sketch and Improv groups such as "The Annoyance Theatre’s President Bush is a Great Man", "Bassprov", "Elephant Larry", WIT's "Dr. Fantastic" and "iMusical". Stand-up acts have included national headliners like Daniel Tosh, TJ Miller, Demetri Martin, and Rob Cantrell. Local comics such as Rory Scovel, Ryan Conner, Jay Hastings, Kojo Mante, Sean Gabbert, Chris White, and Jon Mumma have all been featured comedians.
Along with success comes added responsibilities. The festival doesn't just run itself. Blaire Postman is the woman who created the festival and runs the festival. The festivals have been so successful due to a lot of hard work by Blaire and all of the wonderful volunteers who have pitched in with the festival. Volunteers are what truly make the DC Comedy Festival a success. Having people who care about the well being of comedy, and want to have a great, local comedy scene is so important.
Ask not what your comedy festival can do for you, but what YOU can do for your comedy festival. That is the question at hand. Blaire needs help. A comedy festival needs to be promoted, sponsored, marketed, handle submission tapes, book hotel rooms, and schedule the events. That is just a quick overview of some of the responsibilities that go along with running a festival.
Now working from New York 4-5 days a week as a manager and live event producer, Blaire needs additional help this year to pull things off.
The festival has been pushed back from it's original April time slot, in order to replace the past sketch/improve venues (Warehouse Theater is closing), to include new high-profile venues and to pull in some association with the upcoming election for a few politically themed shows (yes, a shameless attempt to court more PR).
If you would like to be apart of something bigger than yourself, and comedy speaks to you, then this is an awesome opportunity to become apart of something great. You can help in so many ways. From making t-shirts to handing passes, there is something for everyone to do. And it doesn't have to consume your life, or take up all your time. Just a few hours a week, and you could really make a big difference in the success of the DC Comedy Festival. That said, there are some larger positions (though still very part-time) for those interested, some with potential for commission based pay.
If you would like to contribute your time to a worthy, and noble cause then please contact Blaire Postman at:
blairep[at]dccomedygroup.com
You can also contact us here at dccomedy4now.
Read more!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
DC Comedy Spotlight: Mike Way
Plus, the guy is too amicable not to like. Seriously, I dare you to not like this guy once you've see him.
But, it’s ultimately his hard work and dedication that shines through. He is currently an audience favorite at the Bethesda Hyatt and is a regular M.C. at the DC Improv. He has opened for such acts as Daniel Tosh, The Sklar Brothers, Jeff Caldwell & Frank Caliendo. He was also crowned The Grand Champ at the DC Improv 2007 Showcase Finals, which was broadcast on XM.
Mike is a perfect example of how you don’t have to be an asshole in this town to get noticed. Come out to one of his performances and give him some love. Lord knows, he has has given plenty back already.
Tonight, you can catch him at the Topaz Hotel @ 8pm.
Saturday Night see him at The Riot at the Hyatt in Bethesda @8pm.
DCC4N: Where did you first perform?
Mike: Soho Tea & Coffee house, December 19, 2005. My brother was the only person I invited to see that set, I was so convinced it was going to be terrible. After the show, the only thing to say was "well, the first one's out of the way..."
[Hit the jump for more of Mike’s interview!]
When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?
Really starting taking to comedy somewhere between high school and college. Often used my humor to break the ice on the first day of school, enjoyed it especially because some of the things I would observe in my daily life would really depress me, making jokes about it allowed me to get stuff off my chest while making people laugh, seemed like a win-win. The older I got, the more it seemed like
something I should seriously try to do.
Who were some of your earliest influences?
Loved Damon Wayans, Cosby and Sinbad as a kid, really enjoyed "In Living Color" and whatever clips of Def Comedy Jam I could see without getting caught by my folks. Sinbad has a lot of critics but he was cool to me as a kid because I could watch him with my family, I think laughing with my parents at stuff like that still ranks as some of my favorite bonding experiences and that stayed with me into adulthood. I personally enjoy being adult and risque onstage but try to skirt as close to the line as I can while still seeming somewhat fit for mass consumption (though the line does get blurred from time to time). In my teens, got hip to Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy, and later on comics like Ellen Degeneres, Bill Burr and Tommy Davidson. Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld had a huge effect on how I approach standup, would probably cite them as my two most significant influences.
What about them captivated you?
I love the structure and polish of Seinfeld's work, how it's so well put together it seems effortless. He can talk about just about anything he wants, whether the theme be mundane, adult, culturally sensitive or even just plain mean-spirited and find a way to make it seem innocent, interesting and palatable to the maximum number of people possible. Chris Rock, aside from just being a tight tight writer and brilliantly observant, goes for the throat more fearlessly than anyone I know of except maybe Patrice Oneal and Bill Burr. He takes no prisoners with his material and makes you the audience an unwitting accomplish to his comedic reign of terror. There have been times when I've been watching him and even while I was laughing my ass off I was literally sweating because what he was saying was hitting so close to home; wasn't quite comfortable laughing at it or being seen laughing at it. In that feeling of powerlessness came freedom, freedom in the truth, and that stuck with me from the first time I saw "Bring the Pain" on.
What was your first paid gig?
Did 20 minutes at the Bethesda Hyatt June 3, 2006, for like $50 or $75. I promise this is the one time Curt is not putting me up to plugging him, but I really do owe Curt Shackleford for that opportunity, was my first time getting to put that much material together in front of that many people, set was an absolute blast, confirmed in my mind that comedy was what I want to do with myself long-term.
Do you prefer to write on or off stage?
Never had the confidence to work out a joke onstage, especially in the beginning I never felt like I had a reason to be in front of people taking up their time if I didn't have a punchline for them, the guilt and fear would be written across my face whenever I tried. Tend to write stuff on post-it notes, index cards and in my notebook, and then go onstage to test the idea and work out timing and delivery
Do you enjoy the process of writing?
I love love love writing but feel like I have very little control over my best stuff. The ideas come when they come, sometimes I'll get a dozen or so solid ideas in a day or 2 or I might have nothing new for 3 weeks or more. Feel like my most successful ideas just come as inspiration, almost like I'm taking dictation, so the discipline for me is being patient enough to wait for the idea and whenever it comes I have to stop what I'm doing and write as much as is in my head until it's all on paper. There is a rush you get when you feel that flow, when there's so much idea you wonder how your hand can possibly keep up, that's definitely my favorite part of writing
What about performing live do you enjoy?
When you hit the end of a line that you think is funny and the laughter's there to confirm it. It's like being one with everybody in the room. That is as close to invincible as I think a non-athlete can feel. Every time I take a chance and get a laugh, it's like someone just gave me a trophy, on any given night the laughs mean more to me than the money
Do you ever want to convey a message?
That we can all laugh together and have a good time. That almost everything we would hold dear is silly in one way or another so why not laugh about it and stay sane? That we're all human and dynamic, we all come standard equipped with countless vulnerabilities and stupid idiosyncracies, but as long as we have the courage to face up to our vulnerabilities and foibles, they will never get the better of us.
What's hacky to you?
Unimaginative execution. I'm not sure I believe any premise or theme is innately hacky, I don't have a problem with people talking about airline food, relationships, bodily functions or differences between races, but the more familiar a topic you choose to write or speak about, the more creative you have to be with how you frame and/or present your ideas. When people don't rise to the occasion and opt to instead do something we've all seen and heard dozens of times before, that's hacky and I feel like comedy loses in those situations, in a way we all lose.
Where do you plan on moving next?
At this time, I kinda resent the idea of New York, LA or any other city tacitly presuming to be the gatekeeper to my dreams. Those cities are fine, but I love this city, this is my home; have decided that for the time being, I'm staying here and am gonna build my own launchpad to infinity and beyond.
How do you feel about the comedy scene in DC?
I love the DC Comedy Scene. People are creative, smart writers and everyone's perspectives are diverse. There are a solid 2 dozen comics, maybe more who I would bet on to go the distance in standup and to me that's a lot considering how small DC is and how few rooms we have to work with.
What would you change?
More interest on the part of DC residents who make for great audiences but seem largely unaware of how much cheap quality entertainment is here for the taking. More rooms to work out in, more work opportunities, more access to agents, more media.
Read more!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A San Francisco Treat
On January 20th I embarked on a great comedy journey with three other fine DC comedians. Our destination was San Francisco. I was joined by Kojo Mante, Jason Weems, and Mike Way. This was to be our vision quest to see if indeed the grass was greener on the other side of the fence/country. It turns out that San Francisco doesn't have a lot of grass (unless it's medicinal! That was a pot joke.)
Our week was full of comedy performances and the most stereotypical touristy type bullshit. And I loved it. From performing at open mics and local showcases, to the 3 times we drove down Lombard Street, San Francisco treated us well. We were outsiders that were embraced like kindly, even though our hotel room constantly tried to vomit us out of the room. It was very tiny. If you slipped in the shower, you'd have fallen in the toilet. Plus, after my traveling mates ate 8 meals from Burger King, the room started to smell. Anyway, here is the break down of the comedy shows that we performed on. Click the link and enjoy!
Sunday night was our first show and we performed at an Italian restaurant called Figaro's. The "show room" was actually outside in covered tent area. It was by far the worst show that we did. The show itself I was told had potential, but with the conference championship football game one TV, the crowd was a little lite. The best part of the show was when the host of the show performed. It was 8 mins of a amazing. He brought a toy plane and a toy sheep on stage, and the rest is burned into my brain. Also, there was a very creepy old guy in the crowd who sketched all the comics on the show. I think he was one of those old gay guys who've watched Titanic too many times.
Monday was supposed to be a "showcase" show at Club Deluxe. But, when we arrived at the venue it turned out to be "Ladies Night", and I didn't pack my vagina so I didn't perform. However, we stuck around for the open mic that followed the show and we all did well.
Tuesday was the best show of the entire trip. The four of us split headlining time, and did about 15-20 mins each. The show was on the campus of Stanford University at a place called The 750 Pub. The booker of the show Mahlan Parker, was the nicest guy in the world and extremely kind to give us that amount of time without ever seeing us perform. We didn't let him down. I'd say there was close to a 100 students jammed into the place and we crushed. Everyone did so fucking great. It was awesome to get to a longer set in front of a really smart, young crowd.
Wednesday we went to Sunnyvale and performed at the comedy club Rooster T. Feathers. It was also a lite crowd, but I had a lot of fun on stage. There was a table full of cows sitting right up front and who loved to talk. As soon as I touched on the subject that one of them HAD to have been in an abusive relationship...well, I could clearly see I had hit close to home, much like their relationships. The black guy who went right before Kojo was awesomely bad. In the words of words of Jason Weems, "Kojo, you're gonna have to save the reputation of Black Comedy." Funny.
Thursday we went to the SF Punchline and saw Bill Burr. He actually remembered all of our faces (or so he lied) from the Improv in DC. He had an entire NEW HOUR of material. What a fucking machine. I had only heard one joke and that was his closer. The guy is so amazing at handling a crowd. I can't imagine how hard it is to carry around that credit of "being that comic who yelled at those retards in Philly" cause that seems to be what the ignorant masses want from him. And it's a fucking shame because he's so much more. He could make the reading of a Will funny. He handled 3 cunts properly, without yelling and giving them what they wanted. I think it should be acceptable to hit your woman in a comedy show if she can't get it through her thick skull, that no one gives a shit if she adopts puppies from the pound. THWACK!
The trip was a huge success in my book and really sparked a flame of interest in seeing more of America's comedy scenes. While we probably weren't performing in the best rooms, with the best comics, and the best crowds...we did get to share our comedy with a new town, and they welcomed us with loud laughter and that's the best feeling in the world. More importantly I made some great memories and took some amazing photographs with 3 of my good friends. The trip was good.
Quote of the Trip from a homeless hippie woman to a black guy with an afro: "Hey, man that's a great haircut man...that is awesome. I really dig your hair man...can I have your bagel?"
Read more!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
TJ Miller is on David Letterman tonight
Tonight you can catch TJ on David Letterman @ 11:30pm ET, along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Super Furry Animals.
*UPDATE! The clip of his interview after the jump.
Did You Know?(TM) that TJ Miller is an alumni of GWU's sketch group ReceSs? Uh huh, it's true. ReceSs still keeps kicking ass, even without TJ, with a new show this Friday.
Keep supporting local comedians and the local groups that make national comedians!
[WARNING! CLOVERFIELD MONSTER REVEALED AFTER THE JUMP!! And Letterman Appearance!!]
Friday, January 18, 2008
Hero of the Decade: Curt Shackelford
When you think of a “hero”, you probably think: Firefighters, Cops, Military Men and Women, Doctors, and Teachers. Not me. My definition of “hero” is much looser and doesn’t play by Webster’s rules. That is why I have selected Curt Shackelford as my HERO of the DECADE (Curt, I’m available on January 30th for a set at Dr. Dremos)! A hero is someone who produces a product that leaves our society better off then how they found it. What has Curt Shakelford produced, you nay-sayers may ask? Curt is responsible for 87% of the laughter generated in Bethesda, MD on Saturday evenings. He would have 100% of the laughter, but there is a trick shot golfer who really hams it up for the country club types. But, that’s not really important….FORE!!!
To read more about this GREAT man...click the motherfuckin' link!
Curt has also produced some of the greatest comics that have ever come out of DC. (Curt, I’m also available to feature at the Hyatt on Feb 9th) No, he did not create Dave Chappelle, Lewis Black, Wanda Sikes, or Martin Lawrence. He’s not god. However, he is very clean which is super close to godly. But, who cares about Dave Chappelle, when you’ve got Rory Scovel, Ryan Conner, Justin Schlegel, Jon Mumma, Danny Rouhier, and Dawn McClear. That’s right…HE CREATED THEM!!! (Curt, I can’t do FEB 16th because I’ll be performing at the DC Improv that night) Curt’s natural ability to recognize raw talent (without it hitting him in the face) is second to few. When Rory wrote a fantastic joke…Curt was there. When Ryan gave his personal insight to a social issue…Curt was there. When Danny made a funny voice...actually, that was Curt. Anyway, the point being is that without Curt, where would the DC Comedy Scene be? (Curt, I’m also available as of now, the entire month of March) I don’t want to think about where this scene would be without the likes of Mr. Greg Estrada.
The venues that Curt created helped advanced the “chosen” talent very, very, very quickly. Dr. Dremo’s on Wednesday and Topaz on Thursday night; the Big 3 were there; practicing and getting better. New comics also flourished, as long as their friends didn’t have to work late. You got to hand it to old Curt…Dr. Dremo’s was the best open mic in America for as long as I remember. That’s right…AMERICA. Can anyone else tell me where you’ll regularly find over 100 people at an open mic? (Seriously, my March is WIDE open Curt. You do know that I am actually funny, right? I’m not Dave George funny…but I’m trying.)
So, for all the ups and downs we’ve had along the way we all really do owe Curt a great big, “Thank You”. No matter if you’re a Rory Scovel, Hampton Yount, or some horrible, piece of shit new comic who doesn’t deserve any stage time, or if you’re a veteran who has put in their time, argued and fought with Curt, kissed made up, and still NEVER get booked….we still all owe him at least a “thank you”. So, THANK YOU CURT! (Also, the entire month of April is wide fucking open for a Hyatt show.)
In closing I would just like to say that without Curt Shakelford I would not have had the fast start to my comedy career in DC. He put me up often and allowed me to perform in great rooms like Dr. Dremos. I’m very sad to see that place go. It’s where I cut my teeth. It’s where I shed my fear of the stage and it’s where I smoked a lot of pot and drank a lot of beers. I’m sad I won’t be performing there again, but when God closes a window, he always leaves a door unlocked for a sexual predator.
Thanks Curt.
***Sorry it took me so long to write this blog, but I wrote the entire thing backhanded.***
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Monday, January 7, 2008
Hero of the Week: Jake Young
Everyone knows that we need more quality comedy shows here in the DC area, but few of us are actually doing anything about it. Well the announcement came this week that one such comedian has stepped into the role of producer and is about to give comedians more stage time and fans of comedy more to laugh about with his new monthly show, "The Awesome Room.". We spotlight this fine gentleman in our first "Comedian of the Week." (I'm sorry if you think this title implies that there will be a new comedian of the week each week, but there's no way we could keep up that kind of grueling schedule)
We recently met with Jake Young over a shared pancake topped with delicious Ethiopian food to discuss why anyone would be so amazing as to start their own show. Little did we know that Jake only grants formal interviews to "traditional media," so we were left with this decidedly non-traditional interview.
(Jake's new show premieres on January 31st at 9pm at McGinty's Public House in Downtown Silver Spring. More info at theawesomeroom.com)
-Why did you decide to produce your own show?
(Marvel at the rest of the interview from this DC Comic after the jump)
-Why a booked showcase rather than an open mic?
-What about the venue appealed to you?
-What do you hope to accomplish with your new show?
-Do you forsee any personal benefits to having your own show?
-I'm sure you are about to be inundated with booking requests from local comics. How do you go about booking the show?
Read more!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Jay's 2007 Comedy Year In Review
I hated to see 2007 go, but I love watching 2008 walk my way. The waning months and days of 2007 treated me very kindly. I had a lot of quality shows, I wrote some good jokes, and raised some money for cancer through comedy. (yeah, I am a generous, humble person who doesn’t do things for recognition.) 2007 marked my second anniversary in comedy. I had more shows in 2007. I traveled more in 2007 for comedy. I met more comedians and became friends with more comics in 2007. My mom got cancer in 2007. I made $78,000 doing comedy in 2007. Guess which one was the only downer in 2007? And guess which one I just lied about. Anyway, for the most part 2007 was a benevolent year that smoothly transitioned me through another year of my life. There was some downs, but mostly there were ups. I’d like to tell you a little bit about both. Hold on tight cause The Ghost of 2007 Past is warming up his story-telling voice.
[Hit the jump, sons!]
FEB 1 – 3: Rory Scovel and myself performed together at the Baltimore Comedy Factory. It was a good time and I remember performing stoned the last night, just to see if I could do it. I did it and it was super duper fun balls. (I don’t do that very often, but it was fun)
FEB 28th: Performed a guest set at American University for the DC Improv’s Funniest College Student Competition. Imagine performing comedy in front of retarded kids in a glitter factory. It was not fun, but it was made fun by watching Jon Mumma yell at the stupid college kids. Hilarious!
March 1st: Performed at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse. I ate a MONSTER of a cock. I shit the stage. It was awful.
MARCH 3rd: Saw Zach Galifianakis at Lisner Auditorium with Rob Cantrell. It was great!
MARCH 26 – 28: Rory Scovel and I got booked to perform down in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina at the Hilton Resort. They gave us each our own $500 a night suite. The downside was that there was no one in the audience with a properly functioning prostate or a moist vagina. Hence, there were a lot of awkward moments. However, I got a blowjob that weekend and it was lovely.
APRIL: Had a smattering of shows that did not really put a wrinkle in my brain. I do remember performing at Georgetown University and there being a very hot Asian girl in the crowd. Also, the DC Comedy Festival happened. I met a lot of comics from Canada.
MAY: I got into a fight with Curt Shakelford via email and got banned from ALL of his shows. Boy, did I get a good laugh out of that. Also, I didn’t loose ANY stage time.
JUNE: My sister got married and my mom got cancer. YAY then BOO!!!
JULY 20 – 21: Justin Schlegel, Jon Mumma, and myself performed at Riot Act Comedy “Club”. John X the owner stiffed me on my pay quoting, “I don’t pay emcees”. He also shorted Mumma on his pay, only to pay him the full amount months later. He also tossed me $50 for my 4 show effort. THANKS JOHN!!!
AUG 3 – 4: Rory Scovel and I sold out The Warehouse Theater in Greenville, South Carolina. It was an amazing show. Then on the 4th we played J.C. Fiddlers, which is a little hole in the wall bar. It was not great. No air conditioning, plus warm beer = shitty time for audience and short attention spans. They did not care for us.
SEPT: Nothing really happened. I taped a thing for Comcast, but who doesn’t get picked to do that show?
OCT: I got to open one show at the DC Improv for Daniel Tosh because Tim Miller had some car issues which caused him to be late. Thank you Tim’s shitty old car!
NOV 9th: I got to perform in Norman, Oklahoma. I got to open up for my friends rock band “Galapagos” and it was a blast. I got heckled during my last joke and I burned him down. He just kept saying, “You ain’t funny!” After the show he told me, “Jesus don’t like to be made fun of, and I don’t like you makin’ fun of Jesus. Dat type-a thang can get yo ass kicked!” Then he pushed me. What a faggot. BOMMER SOONER!!
DEC: This month was CRAZY! First we kicked off with Rory Scovel’s DVD taping at Dr Dremos. Kojo Mante, Jon Mumma, and myself were “special guests”, because otherwise Curt would never have Kojo and I on a show. Next up we had POONANZA 5! That show kicked ass. I once again took my clothes off and embarrassed my families good name. Then Justin Schlegel, Jon Mumma, and I rocked the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse. It was a really fun show. Then Rory Scovel and I went back down to South Carolina for our annual Christmas Show. We selected a charity to donate 50% of ticket sales to. The charity was Clement’s Kindness and it goes to help families with children with cancer. That show was the best performance I’ve done and it might just be the best thing I’ve ever done. It feels good to give something to anyone. And once again Justin Schlegel, Jon Mumma, and myself performed New Years Eve weekend at the Baltimore Comedy Factory. We destroyed that fucking place. From Thursday – Saturday ( 7 SHOWS ) we CRUSHED! It was a blast.
So, that was the highlights of my 2007. I hope you enjoyed it and learned something. I know I did.
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Thursday, January 3, 2008
DC Comedy Resolutions 4 2008, Part 1
"2006 was about learning how to be funny, and 2007 was about seeing where I am on the food chain, finding myself onstage and learning how to consistently have a good time. In 2008, I am going to make a serious effort at laying the groundwork for a real career so I can quit my day job." -Mike Way
"Perform. Perform perform perform perform perform. Also, in 2008 I resolve to bleed less."-Mike Blejer
"Start going to the gym to get more material."-Aparna Nancherla
"Get Colin Murchie off his ass and involved in this two-man show we've been planning. Finish my one-man show and, at the very least, stage a reading of it..."-Shawn Westfall
"This year I'm working harder on trying to bring out the elements that are naturally funny about myself. I started off with a heavier writing influence, but I'd like to be a little looser on stage. I want to experiment more with improvising, and get back to the joy of experimentation I had when I was starting."-Jimmy Meritt
"I think it's probably advisable that in 2008, women start washing their pussies."-Diana Saez
"My #1 resolution for 2008 is just to avoid apathy when it comes to stage time. Too many times I find myself sitting at my house at 7 at night thinking, "Eh I'll do a show tomorrow night." And then I see people who are getting up 5,6,7 nights a week and I'm disgusted with myself. As far as goals, short term I'd like to win an Improv Showcase and long term I'd like to start getting booked by the local clubs, if I can make that happen by the end of 2008 I'll consider the year a great success".-John Conroy
"Do more jokes about fat chicks."-Sean Gabbert
"Resolution 1: Try and get on shows (By any means necessary; Malcolm X said that, the star of Malcolm X in the Middle)
Resolution 2: Avoid laziness and write more (To achieve this I will get rid of my good job and nice girlfriend. Angry dick jokes here I come!)
Resolution 3: Stop letting a bad crowd get to me WHILE onstage (It's THEIR fault I'm not funny)
Resolution 4: Try and travel to some other cities to do comedy (Hampton's Big Adventure 2: Boner Parade)"-Hampton Yount
"I plan on being resolute, when it comes to performing. Also, I resolve to get better, during performances. Now, if someone can tell I what resolution means... does have anything to do with household goods, and cleaning-up??? Resolve."-Haywood Turnipseed, Jr (Scratch that, I plan on laughing louder; peace.)
Monday, December 3, 2007
Salute to Dr. Dremos: Comedy Showcase this Wednesday Night!!
For comics and patrons alike, Dr. Dremos in Arlington, VA has been a top spot to party at for many, many years. From their legendary (and now banned) Beer-Pong tables to their awesome downstairs lounge for comedy shows and music, Dr. Dremos will surely be missed after it is torn down for more F'ing condos in Feb '08. It really is a shame.
But, there is still time to catch great shows at Dr. Dremos before it closes and this Wednesday, December 5th marks one of the last opprotunities to do so.Rory Scovel, Jon Mumma , Kojo Mante, and Jay Hastings will be featured for a special Comedy Showcase & DVD taping. This show is going to be one of the finest Dr. Dremos has ever seen. Please come out to support live, local stand-up comedy and celebrate the kick-ass legacy of this one fine establishment.
To recap:
WHO:Rory Scovel, Jon Mumma, Kojo Mante, & Jay Hastings
WHAT:An amazing comedy show
WHEN:Wednesday, December 5th 2007 @ 8pm
WHERE:Dr Dremos, Arlington, VA
Read more!
Friday, November 30, 2007
4 Now: Open Mic @ Chief Ike's on Sunday this week!
Hey Guys, just want to remind you that our usual Monday Night Open Mic is on Sunday at 8:30 this week instead of Monday. Everything else about the show is the same. We will be back on Mondays next week and every week after that.
Let's Do This, DC!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Hey, comics in the back...Shut the Fuck Up!!!
This past Saturday night I noticed something that has become increasingly annoying to me: comics talking in the back of the room. I can cut people
slack when it is an open mic or a large room where the whispers don't carry. We've all been guilty in that scenario. Unlike Saturday however, at an open mic there aren't normally cameras recording for television. Was this Lettermen or Leno? Most certainly not, but it was a TV spot for Comcast OnDemand. Is it a big deal? Probably not, but it's still nice to think that your material will be seen and heard by people watching TV. Treat it with some sort of respect, people.
So, why did a handful of comics run their fucking mouth during the whole fucking show? Maybe I've got sensitive ears and it was just loud to me. Wait, no it wasn't because other comics complained about it! Most every comic stood in the back, directly behind or next to the camera. What would make a person think, "This is the perfect place to whisper loudly about complete bullshit and distract people from enjoy a comic who I FUCKING KNOW!" If you want to talk, step outside. It is not only rude to the comics, but to the audience as well. It was jaw dropping to see a group of comics not give a fuck about the fact the cameras were rolling. More disturbing though is that noone really said anything. I was hosting the show and remembered "sooshing" people twice, but to no avail.
Did I want to watch every comic that was on the show that night? No. Did I have to because I was hosting it? Yes. I know how boring it is to watch the same comic do the same set over and over again. That's why if I don't have to stand in the back, I leave. I go talk to other people who are bored. I don't stand in the back and fucking talk. Why? Because I'm not rude and actually give a shit about other peoples performance...even if I don't like it.
And one more thing about the showcase: I was fucking amazing.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Comcast Showcase @ The DC Improv Comedy Lounge
Comcast brings its Comcastic Comedy Showcase back to the DC Improv's Comedy Lounge on November 24th @ 8:00pm. The first showcase was a awesome night of local, stand-up comedy and Saturday promises to be just as amazing.
The show will feature 11 of the best local working comics the greater DC metro area has to offer. Here is the line-up(in order from most fuckable [sorry Chris]): Mike Way, Jimmy Merritt, Freddi Vernell, Jared Stern, Tim Miller, Sean Gabbert, Matt Kazam, Jon Mumma, Justin Schlelgel, Joe Deeley, and Chris White. The showcase is hosted by Jay Hastings and he shouldn't suck. There are just a few tickets remaining for a lovely, intimate evening of great local comedy. Come out and check it out.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
DC Improv Showcase Show
Tonight is the DC Improv's local talent showcase show. This is a monthly showcase, and tonights show is hosted by Ryan Conner. Tonights line-up is:
*JERMAINE FOWLER
*EVAN VALENTINE
*LANCE WEISS
*LAFAYETTE WRIGHT
*TAYLOR EDGAR
There will also be two guest sets at the end of the show from two previous showcase winners: Bryson Turner & Jake Young
This is what the future of DC comedy looks like, so come out and support the laughs (yep, that's the gayest thing I've ever typed).
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