Welcome to Your Comedy Layover...

Washington D.C. may not be a city that embraces comedy with open arms, but you knew that already. That is why you found us. Here you can get information, interviews and insights on the best local stand-up, improv and sketch comedy this city has to offer... 4 Now. You can reach us at dccomedy4now(at)gmail.com. LET'S DO THIS, DC!
Showing posts with label nick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nick. Show all posts

Thursday, June 12, 2008

A Rambling Plea

DC Comedy and Artist Community:

So, Jason Saenz left town for L.A. and then while on the way to L.A. decided to go to New York where he says he fell in love with Chinatown. Chinatown has a fledgling comedy community and Jason is sort of an overgrown gold fish in a small meditation pond; people are already referring to him by his own material, "Cum Dumpster"—of course it’s in Mandarin. Even in China they know you can call a hungry comic anything and they will bask in the attention like the lotus underneath sun.

Then there is Nick Turner, a comedic energy giant that has a departure date set for sometime...soon. From what I heard, his bags are packed and his conscience is wracked with guilt, which means he'll be looking to split very soon.

With Jason and Nick’s departure, so goes with them their enthusiasm for the DC comedy community and this website; which has left this blog barely pulsating.

I hope I'm not the only one with defibrillators because I really don't know how to use them, except for what I have seen on TV, especially in that movie, "The Abyss", with Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio--specifically when Harris slaps her around and calls her a "bitch" a couple of times before she is revived. I heard Harris allegedly said that it was the only time he ever felt like he wasn’t acting.

This is the exact treatment DCComedy4Now needs at this very moment. We need Ed Harris kneeling over top of our bare breasted porcelain like creamy soft angelic milky colored skin, barking and slapping the Bah Jesus out of us, and we need to continue to rewind back to the beginning of that part until we come back to life or until someone starts walking down the basement stairs. And we all know what the sound of footsteps atop of the basement stairs feels like…awkward panic, the most uncomfortable feeling on the planet.

So what does it all mean? It means either we zap DCComedy4Now back to life or this website may soon have to come to a close.

(Cue: Battle Hymn of the Republic)

However, I would like to keep it going. I've grown fond of it...I like the wallpaper for some reason.

(Nah fuck the Battle Hymn of the Republic, opt for loop of AC/DC’s Intro for “Those about to Rock”…just turn all this shit off I can’t concentrate.

Anyway, DCComedy4Now has earned a place in my itinerary when I log on; hotmail, Gmail, check my mob, search Wikipedia or YouTube for whatever. Then when I come out of that wormhole, sometimes in a rather damp state, I arrive here or lately...not, which has had an enormous effect. The dormant state of this website has truly been a catalyst for some change in my life.

[Hit the jump!]



I actually logged off the other day, when normally I would peruse dccomedy4now, and accomplished things I hadn’t thought about for months. I got a lot done. Recently I just paid my car insurance, turned off the oven, matched up some socks--the stuff I've done off the computer is only what I’ve read about on many a blog. Ran some errands, the smell of the post-office was like a heavy dose of ammonia nitrate, I think I scared some people in there with my spasmodic reactions while waiting in line. I looked like Bob Goldthwait trying to clear his nasal passages with his eyebrows.

Another revelation was that I realized I'm living with someone, this extremely bad ass chic who I thought I remembered as being heavily tatted up(they’re just birthmarks), and she was really kind enough to let me come out of my own electronical Abyss unaided and didn't hold my 9 month web induced "walk about" against me. Yet I will say the outside world hasn’t been an easily intuitive web program.

The weather is much warmer than I remembered or prefer and I am starting to recall that I'm not particularly fond of people in DC, especially my neighbor who didn't recognize by my beard nor my soiled and mildewed clothing that had by then fused to my skin. The people at the walk-in medical center who peeled off my old clothing were a bit snarky which I think was uncalled for considering the severity of the Wikiwarp I had been trapped inside of and its duration; and especially when a couple of the orderlies and nurses furtively acknowledged having had their own similar experience . Also, the phrase, "Welcome back to the land of the living", I can swear to you, is used by the same people who refer to others as "Boss" or "Chief".

What am I saying...what is my point...I want to go back. I belong on the computer, and in my own warped reality; I belong inside the computer. And I want DCComedy4Now.com to be a part of that experience. In between Jenna, watching old episodes of Different Strokes, and looking at pictures of accidents on the Autobahn; I need this website to be my Mos Eisley Cantina—I need to know where my freaks are.

In order for that to happen, hopefully I can get some help. And if no help is provided then hopefully you can provide some patience. After Nick leaves, I am Solo. If I can move away from Star Wars and transition unracially (neither a word nor necessary) to Dr. King, if I had a dream for this community in DC, it would be that, it would not be looked at as just a comedy scene—but an identifiable artist community. How would you identify it? Maybe with a laser pointer.

There needs to be an artist collective, a supportive community. We are all not just stand-up comics, improvisers, actors, but we are also writers, film makers, producers, managers and audience members. In some way we have all worn different hats at some point in pursuing whatever we have set out for ourselves to accomplish. Some of us do certain things better than others. The more I go along with my own endeavors I realize that being a part of the process is really what I want to continue to be a part of in some shape or form. No one can do anything alone.

When Eddie Murphy was on "Inside the Actor's Studio" with James Lipton, it was refreshing to hear his honesty about how many people it has taken to help him create his body of work. He continually mentioned the lasting relationships he has held onto over the years.

The goals are always lofty when it comes to this subject in DC but it would nice to keep this website afloat with the singleness of purpose of being a useful tool of networking and creativity in an artistically capricious environment.So if you have any ideas or contributions continue to send them our way.


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Monday, June 2, 2008

DC Comedy: 4 Now makes good on it's name


If you hadn't guessed already, the title of the blog is in reference to the fact that if you plan on really making a go of this whole comedy as a career thing, it's tough to stick around the District. Even our own comedy festival would have you believe that there is no local comedy scene. So eventually, your best bet is to fly the coop and try to make it work in a larger, comedy prepared city. Well our very own Jason Saenz leaves us today to give it the old college try and in honor of that, Mikael Johnson has written a farewell letter to DCC4N's MVP, Jason Saenz.

Dear Jason,

Wow, LA. Wow, driving out to LA, wow. But you're doing it, right now as I type this on an early Monday morning you ARE doing it! Probably right now, you're somewhere in Tennessee maybe, pushing on another 60 miles or so before you lay up in some rustic road side motel. An old southern gal, Ethel May, still working the front desk, watching reruns of the Golden Girls on NIC, when you show up in the parking lot. Yeah, she was still up just because she can't get enough of that Blanche, plus she had a feeling, "That some lonesome stranger was probably gonna mosey on up tonight, needing a place to rest that road weary head". In the morning she'll bring you biscuits, gravy, OJ and coffee with a little note that says,

Safe travels funny man.
Sincerely,
Your dog, "Cum Dumpster".

But how could she know that joke? No worries, you run to the front desk to ask her how she knew your material, or even remembered it? Why would she remember it? How could something like that even resonate with someone? Do you think I should open with that? Why isn't Cum Dumpster quite hitting? But when you get there, she's gone. The girl behind the counter isn't even old enough to take the prom and when you ask her about Ethel May, she says, "Ethel who? No Ethel May ever work here…hey mister, will you sign this permission slip from Planned Parenthood?"

There's no time to look for the late night hotel desk clerk with a penchant for dick and dog jokes. However, peace will settle in like the tread on the tires settle onto the road; there are going to be experiences all along this journey. How could there not be--you're going to Califuck'nfornia!

This is just the beginning. From Tennessee, you could go south then west or just keep on towards the setting sun. Its been written about so many times, Going to California, by Zepplin, Stienbeck with the Grapes of Wrath, and Hughes with the Griswold's, and now Life brough to you by Mr. Saenz. There is so much ahead, take your time and soak it all in like the moment sponge you are.

Tell you where you can't get these experiences—going to New York.

Nope, no one ever talks, writes or even cares about when someone decides to pick up and go to New York. Michael J. Fox did once back in the 80's, a little film called "The Secret to My Success". You know what they call that film today in Hollywood? "Fox Turd". Whenever someone gets a script about going to New York or making it in New York, its always the same, "Uh, this looks like a Fox turd" or "That bin is for recyclables, that is reserved for Fox turds" or "Wasn't me, must be that Fox turd".
But you're not going to New York. You're going to California…nothing to worry about. California, where the weather is as pleasing as the women and the gangs are all bilingual.

Your jealous colleague and friend,
MJ

P.S. I will be out in LA next week, hope I could crash for a day or two. Hey, we'll have lunch
!



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Saturday, May 10, 2008

Shelfed






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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Nicky T's Birthday Show! Tonight @ Solly's Tavern


It's celebration time, bitches.

NICK TURNER: KING OF ALL IRRELEVANT COMEDY IN DC turns 28 tonight in what is guaranteed to be the best show of all birthday-shows-EVER!!

We are even getting the band back together for this special night.

We got Bryson Turner, on bass
We got Seaton Smith, on drums
We got Brandon Ivey, on lead guitar
We got Jason Saenz, on rhythm guitar
We got Will Hessler, on maracas


PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS!!!

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Time: 8:30pm - 11:00pm
Location: Solly's Tavern
Street: U street and 11th street
City/Town: Washington, DC

Also, he told DCC4N that he is throwing the $5 cover out the window for this special night. God, he is a SAINT!!



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Monday, April 7, 2008

Nick Turner Says: Use comedy to excuse your shitty life!

(photo by Aaron Webb)

Now, we all know that comedians are the scum of the earth, yet every time you tell someone that you're a comedian you somehow get treated better than you did mere seconds before the revelation. Why is this? Because people haven't seen your act yet. It's that simple. You suck, you know it, but they have no idea until they see it for themselves. This window from when they first hear that you're a comedian until they first see you bomb is what I call the "sweet spot." But the good news is that the assholes at your office aren't the only ones who can be tricked into thinking you're not a loser. You can trick yourself, too! Here are a few helpful delusions that can put you on the path to not slitting your wrists after you've made the terrible, terrible decision to pursue comedy.

Delusion #1: It's fine that you're a 27-year-old receptionist/college dropout because at night, you make people laugh! You aren't just the guy answering phones for the people with degrees/wives/kids/money/lives because almost 8 people will be forced to hear your thoughts on the MySpace revolution tonight. Who IS this Tom guy, anyway?

Delusion #2: You aren't watching too much television; you're doing research! How are people gonna know that I detest Rock of Love, unless I watch Rock of Love, and then tell you guys how much I didn't enjoy watching Rock of Love while setting my Tivo to record the most intense elimination round yet on Rock of Love?

Delusion #3: I have tons of friends because everyone says hi to me at open mics! Those people definitely aren't just saying hi because they're nice, and I'm standing in front of the sign up sheet. They are my friends. They could be anywhere tonight but chose to be here because they know that I'm probably gonna have a pretty sweet joke about the final four. The black teams did better than the white teams!

Delusion #4: I would be getting laid tonight if it weren't for the fact that I had a show! Well, I mean, I don't have a show per se, but I do have to go to a show. Well, I guess I don't HAVE to go to a show, but I really want to check out Flip Orley at the Improv because then I can figure out how to get a stand up comedy career without actually doing stand up comedy!

Delusion #5: I'm gonna make it one day!

Do guys have any delusions that you use to help yourselves get through the day? Let me know in the comments because everyone is definitely gonna read the comments, and it will be worth the time spent writing them.


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Monday, March 24, 2008

Laughter Benefits Charities and You

More comedians are giving back. A few weeks ago, Jay posted about the "Purpose Driven Comedy Show" in an effort to shame the rest of us. Well, we were shamed, but that probably isn't the reason we are seeing more charity shows produced by local comedians in the area. Personally, I don't like to give, I like to take, but that shouldn't stop you from laughing at these important causes.

"Cry Laughing" Comedy Benefit
Supporting the Sintia Mesa Foundation

Four DCC4N favorites, Kojo Mante, Mike Way, Erin Jackson and Jason Weems come together for a night of great fun and big laughs at the DC Improv, on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Two shows in the DC Improv Lounge at 8 PM and 10:30PM. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 25, 2008 for $25. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 202-296-7008 or visit the DC Improv website.

Stand-Up for Obama Fundraiser Show
Supporting Barack Hussein Obama

Pulling double duty in the charity olympics, Erin Jackson joins Tim Miller, Jimmy Meritt and Jermaine Fowler in raising money to support one of the presidential candidates. One show only: Friday, April 18 at 7:30pm at the Comedy Spot. Tickets are $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 703-294-5233 or visit the Comedy Spot website. Read more!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

"Top Shelf" Tonight

Tonight! Who doesn't like to party on the day after St. Patrick's Day? You? Well this isn't a party, it's a comedy show so what about not doing so much talking? What? Are you fuckin' with me? OK, security get this asshole out of here! (pulls out gun, murders audience)

The resplendent lineup includes:
Eli Sairs
Jason Weems
Tim Miller
Mike Blejer
Jay Hastings
Jason Saenz

And hosted by Nick Turner


Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
8:30pm doors
Show starts at 9
Solly's Tavern
1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
$5


**Also, Join Our FACEBOOK Group. OR DON"T!


Type rest of the post here
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Monday, March 17, 2008

Gallagher Will Blow Your Mind

Gallagher interviews and free tickets were being thrown around like so many hotcakes in New York over the past week, and they resulted in some pretty great reading.

First up, the Apiary's Eliot Glazer had an interview with the man himself. He was granted full access, save for a few taboo topics. You probably expect a good deal of "Gallagher II" talk. You would be wrong. You probably don't expect half of the interview to consist of Gallagher trying to pitch the idea of a chain of family-friendly hotels. You would be wrong twice. My friend, you must read it yourself.

PART I
PART II

Now that you have a glimpse into how batshit crazy Gallagher has become, we move on to The Comic's Comic recap of his show that can only be described as "Epic." It peaks early when, as a result of Gallagher's show inexplicably not selling well, he is forced to turn the first hour of his show into a bringer, and then he verbally abuses the comedians during their sets. Oh my god, I felt like I was there, and I want to give Sean a medal for this review somehow.

Unfortunately, he's not coming anywhere near here on his tour so we will have to live vicariously through our blog brethren to the north. Has anyone seen him in concert? I want to live through anyone I can.


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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Brutal Honesty from a Comedy Booker


With so many shows popping up, you might be asking yourself how to get booked on them. I've put together some helpful advice from comedians here and there who run shows of the "back of a bar" ilk that may help you when deciding the best way to approach a booker about getting some stage time. I can only assume that the exact opposite approach is what would be needed to get booked in clubs.

John McBride (The Bomb Shelter, Classic American Comedy):
"If you want to be booked, you need to be out. Be out everywhere, so people see you. How are folks supposed to book you if they don't know who you are? Also be funny on stage and don't try so hard to be funny off stage, in terms of booking nobody cares if you are funny off stage. Be yourself."

Peter Kassnove (The Comedy Clubhouse @ Telephone Bar in NYC):
"Showing up to the show is a lot better then just contacting someone for spots. It makes a much better impression on the bookers, at least in my experience. Plus, you may want to stick around for the show. It really bugs me when someone stops by, asks about a spot, then makes a bee line to the door when they realize that they aren't getting any time on that show."

Greg Johnson (The Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy Show @ Rififi in NYC):
"I feel like I need to have seen someone's act before they get booked. So if you're uncertain as to whether or not someone's seen your act, make sure you shove it down their throats with a tape or a list of shows they could go to. Mailing out "reels" and things isn't really necessary, but It's confusing to be begged for stage time by someone I've never even seen. Show the person something funny you've done..."

(more advice from Jake Young, Tyler Sonnichsen, Barry Rothbart, Jay Hastings and Nick Turner after the jump)


Jay Hastings(DC Improv Comedy Showcase, The Bomb Shelter):
"Much like any other job your trying to obtain, it helps to have a friends recommendation."

"When a booker says "tight and professional", it means NO RIFFING and NO CROWD WORK! That doesn't tell me anything about your act. Also, don't be blatantly filthy."

Barry Rothbart(Village Ma in NYC):
"You should not try to pander or be funny when first approaching a booker. It's a sure sign of being amateur when you come off "trying" to be funny in conversation to a booker, it's usually best to get to the point and be straight forward about asking for a spot. It seems like you are a professional and have been around the block more often. Because they usually know the motives when a new comic tries to interact with them."

"Make sure to not go over your time the first time you do a spot."

Nick Turner(Top Shelf):
"It helps to come out and watch and say hi. Bookers are eternally grateful to anyone who supports the show."

"Also, it helps to be ready before you start asking for these spots. Generally people want you to have been doing open-mics for a year or so at least."

Jake Young(The Awesome Room):
"You have to have a concrete purpose for a booker. If you fill a niche, or are a consistent host/close, or you bring in a crowd because you're new and have friends, these are reasons that outweigh the simple "funny enough" requirement."

Tyler Sonnichsen(Laughing Lizard):
"I just like a good balance of confidence and courtesy. I want you to be able to handle an audience with a high bar set, but also don't be a dick. Bring energy, and don't belittle the room or the establishment."


-Leave more tips in the comments...
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Friday, March 7, 2008

Nick Turner Fights! Comedy Blaze


If you are one of the almost all people who don't know what a Nick Turner Fight! is, then please let me happily explain it to you. I used to write a blog that consisted of me starting email fights with other people named Nick Turner and then posting the carnage.
Today I had an interesting email exchange with an "executive" at the mega-huge comedy video site, Comedy Blaze. I thought I might resurrect the whole Email fight concept. Enjoy.


From Comedy Blaze:
We are currently building an advisory board for ComedyBlaze looking to recruit a few celebrity comics, actors and entertainment executives. We will compensate them by issuing them with shares (ownership) in ComedyBlaze Inc. Please let me know if you might be interested.
We are also currently closing an investment round for CB with a financial investor. We would like ComedyBlaze to be partly owned and backed by members and industry players. So we are opening up the round to include investment from you or other entertainment folks you may know. I’m happy to pay you a finder’s fee in cash if you introduce us to someone who invests in CB…feel free to forward this message or just call me.
If you don’t have any cash to invest just upload your videos and we’ll pay you.
-Comedy Blaze Guy

Great, let me know when my shares are ready.
-Nick
Nick,
If you are interested please let me know and we can schedule a phone call.
If you have any videos, please upload them.
I was kidding. Since you called me a "celebrity, it sounded monumentally disingenuous.
-Nick
OK, do you have anything you can upload?

I'm afraid that your last email didn't exactly address all of my concerns. I was mostly talking about the lack of sincerity in your first offer. It seemed like you just rolled over it and pitched another effort to gain my sweet uploads. Obviously I think you're great and look forward to a long relationship. I just need confirmation that what I received wasn't entirely a form letter, but an honest commendation of my storied stand-up career. Thank you so much Andrew for the validation that we all crave. It means a great deal to me.
Your friend, Nicky T


(Read the exciting conclusion to my brand new Nick Turner Fight after the jump)



There is one thing I am struggling to understand. If you or any artist has uploaded a video to youtube, MySpace or Facebook, why would you not upload it to ComedyBlaze?

I made the site because I thought it was a no brainer. Almost no one bothered to upload anything. So one might say the 50 50 split was of no interest to the artists.

I then offred the CB grand with a cash prize of $1k for the most viewed videos. That seemed to have almost no effect. Now I have increased the CB grand to pay $5k and am hoping that gets someone to not only upload to CB, but also email their contacts attempting to win the prize and get the fair 50 50 deal we give everyone.

I then offered to make the artists owners by allowing them to coinvest in my first financing round. You and others seem to prefer to keep your videos on MySpace where 100% of the revenue will go to newscorp now owned by old man Murdoch and youtube owned by google, the biggest giant of all internet titans.

What at all is cool about those guys so you want them to keep 100% of the money from value you create. I thought artists were either intelligent or had agents to look after their commercial affairs. I am now wondering if I am the retarded one here.

Why would you not upload your sweet vids if they are already on the public web making old billionairs richer?


Well, I'm no marketing guru Andrew, but you problem seems to be the fact that when you upload to Youtube, people may actually SEE the videos. From the desperation in your voice it sounds like there isn't much chance of that happening with Comedy Blaze. From this logic, why wouldn't I just put the videos up on my own site and reap all the financial rewards, of which there will be none, just like Comedy Blaze.
I am impressed with your insistence that I, (celebrity) Nick Turner, come around to your way of thinking. So impressed, in fact, that I will let you answer the question that I have asked you no less than three times already. Why did you refer to me as a celebrity in your initial email? What about me do you know that led you to the conclusion that I was needed in your project? I get that you just told everyone the same thing. I'm sure you have even sent that email out to non-performers. That, my friend, probably has something to do with the mass resistance to your own Newscorp-like empire. But hey, I love your work, and I've been a big fan of yours for a long time. I think what you have done for the world of comedy is certainly commendable.
-Nick

Fair enough.
If you are getting fewer than 200k views it is hard to monetize that. I will aggregate traffic and get to 30M and be one of the biggest entertainment destinations on the web. I am buying a company in LA that manages myspace pages for a large client roster of real celebs. Ironically they will pay me cash to make their CB pages and email directly to their fan lists. That will get me past the current catch 22.

Yeah, I really went slutty on my mass mailer you got, my celebrity friend!

Great, let me know when the Bob Saget videos are up.
-Nick


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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Steal This Show

Boom, People! That's the sound of DC continuing to explode with awesome new comedy shows. Let the naysayers be damned! March 24th sees the debut of an open mic/showcase hybrid in Clarendon produced by comedians(!).


Where: O'Sullivan's Irish Pub - 3209 Washington Blvd at the intersection of Washington and Clarendon Blvds - Clarendon Metro station
When: Mondays 7:30-9:30
What: Stand up, experienced comics and newcomers welcome. We will also be having a weekly "headliner" that will perform 15mins.
E-mail: sign up via e-mail at stealthisshow@gmail.com
Hosted by: Kyle Martin and Mike Blejer



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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Top Shelf 3-4-08, in pictures

I'd like to thank Noel Waghorn for being so kind as to photograph last nights show. And also for drinking with us before going to work.

The audience


Was happy.

See pictures of all of the performers after the jump!




Nick Turner hosted but the whole time he was DJing the party in his head.


Erin Jackson dresses for success. Barack Obama's success.


Jay Hastings does his best Buckwheat impersonation.


Tyler Sonnichsen wants you to finish his Sudoku for him.


The coolest photos only come from the classiest people. Mike Way holds it down aesthetically.


Aparna uses some jackass as an easel while she describes all the different types of people you can meet in LA


Randolph T tries to make the pain go away


Larry Poon has a pensive moment before the evening turns into an all out "Dance Party"


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Monday, March 3, 2008

"Top Shelf" Tuesday

The rest of the world called and asked us why all of the great comics in the world are at this show tomorrow night. We told the world to shut the fuck up and then we raced motorcycles for like an hour and then we had sex with our hot ass girlfriends.

The resplendent lineup includes:
Erin Jackson
Larry Poon
Aparna Nancherla
Mike Way
Randolph T
Tyler Sonnichsen
Jay Hastings

And hosted by Nick Turner


Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
8:30pm doors
Show starts at 9
Solly's Tavern
1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
$5

**ALSO, JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU DON"T HATE LIFE. OR IF YOU DO HATE LIFE BECAUSE THIS COULD HELP TURN IT ALL AROUND.



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Tales from the Road: Oberlin College


On Friday Hampton Yount, Tim Miller, and I joined Mike Blejer in returning triumphantly to his alma mater, Oberlin College. Oberlin College, where no one is surprised by the number of students that are into men, but Tim is surprised by relatively high number of black people. I think they should definitely use that in their recruitment literature.

Seven hours each way, the whole trip took about a day and a half meaning most of the time was spent not agreeing on musical tastes and deciding which one of us was most racist, but isn't that what all road trips eventually devolve into?

Okay, on to the show, which was in a coffee shop/performance space that could probably hold a good 300 people if you were pushing it, or 40 people if you were putting on a comedy show last Friday. Despite the less than stellar numbers the Oberlin crowd was receptive and seemed to enjoy everything except PowerPoint presentations and Hampton's gay, incestuous suicide fantasy (which happens to be one of my favorite jokes in the world). We probably should have shortened our sets to account for the lack of audience but after seven hours in the car, no one is gonna tell no one that they can't do what they intended to do. Fuck you, English language!

Apparently, much of our problems stemmed from the bad word of mouth after the last stand up performance just one week prior from a bunch of racist, sexist New York stand ups (take that New York!) that we would love to know the names of for no reason in particular (**update** a review of the New Yorkers' show was found online. The last line tells you exactly why our crowd wasn't huge). At any rate, we did so well that we got invited to a rocking college party that we (suspiciously) weren't able to locate, thus ended up drinking at the local watering hole before going back to the hotel to watch my new favorite movie, Beer League. Also, Beer League is the worst movie I've ever seen.

All in all, despite minor setbacks that trip was a blast and would go back to Oberlin in a second, although I should probably wait for an invite.



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Sunday, March 2, 2008

other crap

NYC Mainstay "Invite Them Up" ends its 6-year run

I think I finally found the definition of hacky comedy

The March 5th Human Giant show at the Black Cat is cancelled.----The reason it's cancelled

Does anyone know the real story behind Ryan Conner's new Blue Man Group Myspace photo?


George Carlin stars in his 114th HBO special

Yet ANOTHER Chicago Comedy Festival is announced


What else would you call a place with "100,000 pieces of Stoogeabilia?"


The Colonialist ends the popular "Best Onion Article Ever" debate

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Monday, February 25, 2008

BIG WEEK for new shows


THURSDAY

Jake Young's "The Awesome Room" returns (I'm told there might be even more awesome than usual this week)

Performers:
Mike Blejer
Aparna Nancherla
Mike Way
Sariel Lehyani
Nick Turner
...and many surprises!

The Awesome Room
Thursday Feb. 28th
McGinty's Public House
9:00 PM
$4


FRIDAY

The Ivey/Mcbride production "Classic American Comedy" debuts this week. (I'm told they are going to wait and see what the Awesome Room does, and then top that)

Performers:
Bryson Turner
Larry Poon
Ryan Conner
Seaton Smith
John McBride
Jake Young (host)

Friday, Feb. 29
Parker's Classic American
4824 Bethesda Ave, 20814
10pm
FREE


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Friday, February 22, 2008

festivals, embassies, jokes, sketches, oscars, crap

I've never seen... more talk... on the... internet about... someone who...didn't actually... get hired... by SNL

Just For Laughs adds second Festival in Chicago starting in 2009

DC's many foreign embassies open their doors to you...wash your hands

Mike Blejer writes a joke everyday. Here is the proof.

New Human Giant to watch

Even better, new Whitest Kids U Know to watch

If only the Oscars had happened last week, when Christian Finnegan was in DC...

If you're wondering what happened to the microphone at Wiseacres, this guy stole it. And don't let Randolph T find him.




Type rest of the post here
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Room Talking and Walking

As you may have already heard, this week marked the death of arguably the best locally produced comedy show in the greater DC Area. Tyler Sonnichsen's "Laughing Lizard" showcase. Again, like all of the other closings we have announced, this happened not because of a lack of interest, but because of the venue's closing down. Interest in comedy is apparently stronger than the city's interest in cool bars, so we really have to step it up.

To that end, we went out last night and scoured the length of U Street as well as the whole of Dupont stopping in every liquor seller to inquire about their interest in live entertainment. The heroes joining Jason, Tony and I were (already a hero of the week)John McBride, Kyle Martin and Will Hessler. We hit around 30 places some of which were interested, some of which were definitely not, and some were just drunk and excited to have someone to talk to (as I am not a big fan of suspense I will tell you that the last one was the "Twin Jazz Club"). We have much to follow up on and will report back next week with more complete info on our findings.

As this is a big city, we have a lot more to cover and if anyone wants to email us with tips for possible show locations, or if you are someone looking to start a room, we will certainly do our best to hook up the two of you. Also, if you are interested in helping us follow up on possible leads or have a great untapped neighborhood that you think we should check out, that would also be helpful.

Next up for perusal are:
Foggy Bottom (GW)
Tenleytown Metro stop (American U)
Oldtown Alexandria

email us at dccomedy4now(AT)gmail.com


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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Heroes of the Week: Brandon Ivey and John McBride

John McBride and Brandon Ivey have heroically answered the call from last week's installment of Room Chat and just like that have created the greatest room in America. The first show is on February 29th and will continue every other Friday from then until the end of time. However, the room is starting off with a two show "tryout" so if you do you are a comedian is up to you to make sure this room gets off the ground. Make a plan to go either Feb 29th or Mar 14, or you are responsible for the death of laughter.



ALSO!! Brandon Ivey's band "Jimes" is featured in a piece on Fox 5 about underage house party/rock concerts in Mrs. Jones Basement. Does it ever stop?! The awesomeness of the DC comedy community, I mean.



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Monday, February 18, 2008

Tuesday "Top Shelf" at Solly's


TOP SHELF

Go to Solly's Tavern Tuesday, because you deserve it. And because people who don't dress up to tell jokes are assholes.

The resplendent "Top Shelf" lineup includes:
Rory Scovel
Andy Kline
Bryson Turner
Seaton Smith
Jimmy Merritt
Nick Turner
Eric Myers


and hosted by Tony Gracyck


Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
8:30pm
Solly's Tavern
1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
$5

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