Happy April Well Thought Out Set Ups and Surprisingly Original Punchlines Day! Oh we are going to squirt intelligence and grace through the flowers on our lapels. To get you prepared for the greatest show ever tonight, we have included some pictures of the last show taken by Aaron Webb. You can check out more photos from last week show at the Top Shelf Flickr album.
The resplendent lineup includes:
Jake Young
Jared Stern
Herbie Gill
Jermaine Fowler
Aparna Nancherla
Jason Saenz
And hosted by Nick Turner
THE GREATEST TOP SHELF EVER
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
8:30pm doors
Show starts at 9
Solly's Tavern
1942 11th St. NW (11th & U St.)
$5
This haunting photo of Eli Sairs was taken by the nights other photographer, the incomparable Noel Waghorn.
Big thanks go out to both Aaron and Noel and please come back as soon as you can. I know how much the comedians cherish these photos and we couldn't be more grateful.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Top Shelf Tonight!!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Double-Tying Your Shoelaces While Crying: Finding the Pre-Show Ritual That Works for You
The zone! Every performer craves it. That flight of fancy in which everything seems effortless, innovative and just plain right onstage. You're not even trying, and yet, you're beyond present in each moment. Everything clicks, including cameras later because, guess what? You're famous! No, you're not actually. But you feel like it. You feel better than fan fiction published in a nationally-acclaimed magazine! In fact, before Britney Spears' life went slightly awry, she titled her chart-topping fourth album In the Zone. In other words, the zone = artistic nirvana, or something approaching it.
the zone is difficult to put into words, but easy to picture. some say it looks like a waterfall, others say a swan.
photo courtesy of Flickr and Editor B
The zone is hard to describe really. So I'm not going to try. It's not even what this post was supposed to be about. Get back on track, me! This post is about how performers hope to get in the zone...i.e., any pre-show rituals or exercises done to get the ball rolling and to prevent utter awkward pie (Unless that's your act! Heyo! I just called myself out.) Pre-show rituals never guarantee anything, but they at least put our minds in a comfy place where we can deny the jitters and/or dance them away.
[Hit the jump for my pre-show rituals, as well as some perspective from comedic rock stars! And then, if you're brave enough, add your own! We will judge you on them, but you knew that already.]
My own pre-show rituals slightly differ for stand up versus improv, but are rooted in the same channeling of creative focus. Yeah, I did just use the phrase 'channeling of creative focus.' I did also just draw attention to it.
My stand up rituals involve going to the bathroom, being more antisocial than usual, reviewing jokes, stretching, studying the room for potential off-the-cuff bits, trying to write new material in meager amounts of time and annihilating negative thoughts using mental sunshine daggers. I also do a few breathing exercises to prevent the panic attack that inevitably rises in my sternum before any open mic/show/gynecologist appointment (Am I right, ladies?!)
warm ups can be creative, and so can you! girl on far right ain't havin' it.
photo courtesy of Flickr and eric.surfdude
For improv shows, there's usually a group warm up with your co-players, which involves getting your energy going and clearing your head of daily dust accumulation. I like warm ups that involve jumping as much as using your noggin. I also try and think of a few characters, lines, voices or scenarios, which some might constitute as "cheating" but no, not really. It's just brainstorming to prevent shitstorming onstage. It's also just to get my clinker thinking. I don't need to justify myself to any of you!
get yer head in the game!
photo courtesy of Flickr and Jason Gulledge
It's important to note that sometimes, none of these things work. And performing feels weird. Really weird. As if someone just gave birth to you right before you got onstage, you came out covered in slime, and then a roomful of people (or also commonly, a room devoid of people) expected straight no-nonsense entertainment (paradox, son!) before you could even blink for the first time. However, that's all to be gained through experience, exposure and lots and lots of uncomfortable times to come. I can't wait.
Important Funny Peoples' Two (Million) Cents:
Richard Lewis - "Most comedians do about the same at every night, and before it’s ‘where can I get a lap dance’ and then on to do their show. Me, I stay in my hotel room, like ‘Papillon,’ and study my stuff."
Margaret Cho - "I don't really have any rituals; I'm not a ritual person.... I read a lot, and I'm usually reading before a show."
Jim Gaffigan - "I smoke crack."
Jim Breur - "Absolutely nothing. I’m one of those comics who sees it like going to war: I just show up, look at the battlefield and pick my weapons."
Louis CK (on any pre-show rituals before taping HBO's One Night Stand) - "I just sit around. I try to contain myself and stay in one place, 'cause otherwise I'd go walking all over the place. But that's burning energy. I hate waiting. I want to get onstage, badly, especially at this f**king place, on this stage."
BONUS: Discussion thread on the Chicago Improv Network about dealing with stage fright.
Read more!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Guaranteed to Score with These Shows!
If you are going to do anything other than watch NCAA basketball this weekend (forget them, you know your bracket is already fucked up) then head out to these above-the-rim comedy shows.
Tonight is The Awesome Room @ McGinty's Pub in Silver Spring, MD. This week's show crosses over and hits the paint with music, comedy, musical comedy and comedy about music.
9pm $4
Starting Lineup:
Tyler Sonnichsen
Bryson Turner
Kojo Mante
Jason Saenz
...and DC funk/fusion powerhouse The Champions! 
Washington Improv Theater's F.I.S.T.
Also tonight thru Saturday is the final bracket of WIT's F.I.S.T. tourney @ The Flashpoint Theater. It is teams of 3-on-3 competing for YOUR vote. Shows have been selling out. There is only going to be more madness in March as we approach the final matches.
Tonight:
Yocko Cronkite vs. MimeHunters @ 8pm
Friday:
Blue Cop Town vs. The Achievers @ 9:30pm
Saturday:
Pay Attention To Us vs. Grandma Molly's Wayback Machine @ 8pm
Winner of Thursday's Match vs. Polygamy @ 9:30pm
Buy tickets here.
Note: Basketball puns are like comedy swishes!
Read more!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
DC Comedy Spotlight: Hampton Yount
This week’s Spotlight shines on Hampton Yount, who interestingly enough, looks very odd in a suit and has one hell of an arm. More importantly however, he is damn funny.
At first glance you may look at this Warrenton, VA native and say “Oh, who is this nicely dressed young man? He seems so happy to be here; I bet this is his first time.” Then he steps on stage, and you immediately realize that you were wrong. You just got thrown for a loop, and he hasn’t even told one joke. That is how it feels the whole time you watch Hampton perform. Just when you think you have him figured him out, he surprises.
By toughing up in bumf*ck dive bars that only Larry Poon could love, Hampton has now infused a hard-nosed approach into his energetic and rosy-cheeked delivery style. Did he just say that? Yes, he did. Did you just laugh at something you normally would not have found funny? Yes, you did. Does this guy also write an online comic strip? Yes, he does.
Hampton is regularly seen at the Topaz Hotel, Chief Ike’s, Top Shelf, Wiseacres, Bistro Europa, The Bomb Shelter, The Laugh Factory and the DC Improv where he has done guest spots for Ted Alexandro and John Mulaney. He also won the October 2007 DC Improv Showcase.
CATCH THIS KID!!!
This Thursday night, catch Hampton at Wiseacres in VA.
He will also be doing some Hyatt shows next month.
DCC4N’s Interview with Hampton:
Where did you first perform? What was your first paid gig?
My first time was at Attitudes in Blacksburg. There was no open mic so I had to do guest spots right out the gate. My first paid gig was at Maria’s at the Westminster Inn. It was hosted by Bird Knight, and Doug Powell was the headliner. I did ok, and it was a lot of fun. Doug Powell was so awesome. I was so lucky that the headliner was not only genuinely funny but also great to talk to. On the drive home, I screamed out the window “I’m a comedian now!” For real.
[Click the link to read the rest of Hampton's interview, plus a video!]
When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?
It’s actually a sad story, to me. I had a lot of fun in college, and it was a really great time all in all, but I ran into a very dark period at the end. I really hated myself and had given up on everything. I’d just lie in bed for days, not eating, being miserable. At parties, I would have so much anxiety, I’d just walk away. I always wanted to be a comedian. I was definitely the class clown growing up, but suffered from very bad stage fright (I ruined a school play in sixth grade). Plus, I just figured everyone wants to be a stand-up comedian, why am I any different? Eventually, I literally said to myself “I have nothing more to lose” and walked into a comedy club in town. I immediately felt better. Oh wait, I should have said something funny.
Who were some of your earliest influences? What about them captivated you?
I always liked seeing comedians on TV. I didn’t think they were funny, but I was mesmerized by what they were doing, telling jokes and receiving laughter. No built sets, no costumes. Today, I guess I would call it the rawness of the setup. It’s just a person and their ideas.
The first comedian I latched onto was Chris Rock. I thought he was genuinely funny AND had a perspective, which was thrilling. He wasn’t just a joke machine like all the others, he was actually entertaining. I then saw Eddie Izzard a year or two later and was blown away, because it was comedian who at least was semi-similar to my own sense of humor, which I didn’t think could happen. He’s very Monty Python.
Then came the big one, Bill Hicks, at 15. I’m not saying Bill Hicks is the best comic ever, but he was a revelation at the time. Is there any way a sarcastic fifteen-year-old isn’t going latch onto an anti-authority figure like that? I idolized him. I really wanted to be a comedian after seeing Hicks. He really is the shining example of someone who reads up on their facts and has an undeniable perspective to go with it.
But it was actually David Cross’s CDs that finally helped push me. For months, I’d just listen to those two CDs every day, no kidding. He just carries such an unbridled hatred of stupidity and liars. He’s like comedy punk rock. He taught me that nothing has to be sacred and that realness is the most important trait of great comedy.
What was your first joke?
It was a long joke about an idea I had for a prank show. I explained that this new show on MTV, Damage Control, pranked a person over a couple of days, and that I wanted to do a show called “I’m Going to Drive You Fucking Insane” which took place over years. It is such a terrible joke, but they liked the whole thing. Idiots.
Do you prefer to write on- or offstage? Do you enjoy the process of writing?
I guess my only requirement for writing is that I have to be inspired. I don’t just write to write, because then I come up with these long monologues about topics I don’t even fully grasp. Let that be a lesson. For instance I don’t write about politics because the one thing I do know is I know NOTHING about politics. I leave jokes kind of unpracticed before I get onstage. I know the heart of the joke and how it should flow, but I don’t decide on the exact word order till like the third time I’ve done it.
I’ve also realized that my brain works, and every comedian’s brain really, like a specific filter. I need to cram my head full of stuff, and then pour out whatever it is I create through that filter. Problems happen when you don’t take the time to absorb and cram your head.
What about performing live do you enjoy?
I love hearing laughter, especially a baby’s laugh. I wish my audiences would laugh like a large group of babies.
Do you ever want to convey a message?
I wish people were more cynical and unforgiving like me. Hopefully, people will realize how cool I am, and then want to be like me. Like when the first Matrix movie came out.
What's hacky to you?
I could list the different varieties for hours, but I’d rather mention a recent moment. I was hanging out with Bryson Turner, and I went on a small tirade about fat black female comics while Comedy Central was playing a stand-up performance of one such type comic. I was complaining that that breed of comics tend to do very similar material. So I give examples to Bryson like “They always say 'I once dated a skinny white man; we looked just like a [Blank] and [Blank]'” or “Whenever I wear a [Type of clothing not meant for fat people], I look just like a whale in a [Blank].” There is a slight pause as we both look at the TV, and then the comic does exactly what I just said, but she finishes hers with “I looked just like a walrus in a burrito.” We sat with our mouths open.
What is your day job?
I am unemployed right now, thanks pre-written questions. I was laid off. I worked at this startup; they wined and dined me, and eventually fucked me. I woke up and they were gone, but a single rose was laid on the pillow next to mine. Seriously though, if any comedians are reading this and have a job opening at where they work, then e-mail me. I am looking for any line of work really. On a similar note, being unemployed does wonders for writing slumps.
Were your parents supportive of you doing comedy?
Yes and no. They supported me following my dreams, but they didn’t expect the dream would take longer than two years. So now they give me some crap about it. It doesn’t help that they don’t like my jokes, and my dad thinks he would be better than me.
Where do you plan on moving next?
L.A. All my comedy heroes live there and I won’t be happy as a comedian until I have won their respect.
How do you feel about the overall comedy scene in DC? Anything you want to change and what are you going to do to change it?
I absolutely love the scene! I get so excited sometimes when I think of all the crazy talent in the area. We get to grow in a vacuum; there is a huge sense of camaraderie; and there is very little struggle for stage time. I watch comedy online all the time, and I just hate so much of it. A good 20 of the comics in the area are funnier than 90 percent of comics on TV. The only thing I would change is more rooms. I am going to try and get this room in Vienna. I’ll let you guys know if anything happens.
Fuck Shecky Magazine
The folks behind the comedy-centric blog Shecky Magazine have a lot of hate to get off of their chests, and so do we! Shecky's hate is directed at whoever is foolish enough to practice, comment on, produce, watch, or hear about stand up comedy, and ours is directed at Shecky!
Here are just a few of the people that Shecky has dropped a dump on in recent weeks.
Brian Lowry of Variety for speculating on why there are no more stand ups starring in sitcoms.
Peter Berrera for having the audacity to have only been doing stand up for two years!! Come on, Peter, you should have been doing stand up for more time than that before having an opinion!
Tim Rawal, columnist for the Asheville Citizen-Times (NC) gets talked down to for speaking ill of Dane Cook. You always take the high road, Shecky!
Matt Belknap of "A Special Thing" and the Never Not Funny podcast gets a blog lashing for also having opinions about comedy. Who the fuck do you think you are besides someone who has close relationships with most of our favorite comedians, Matt Belknap?!
And now, our very own local funnyman, Travis Helwig, is the subject of Shecky's tremendous bitterness. This is a man they have neither seen nor ever even heard of. Why? BECAUSE HE IS A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS FAR FROM BEING FAMOUS. He got interviewed, which is an exciting thing. But in Shecky's eyes, it means war. They are incensed at his views on comedy. How dare anyone express an opinion without the express written consent of Shecky Magazine, the Superbowl of comedy reporting and the authority on all Haha's and Chucklehuts across the land?
Of course this isn't the first figure in the area, Shecky has had negative things to say about.
And how dare you, almighty Shecky Magazine, print words on a computer, rather than a traditional newspaper! How the fuck am I supposed to read it?! I can't bring it on the subway!!! Also, do you think you're the first people to ever start a blog?!! How dare you! Pink is the new blog, not Shecky! Also, why do we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway? These arguments make complete sense, and don't make me seem crazy, completely bitter or out of touch at all. Also, like us, sometimes you just can't think of anything nice to write, and end up just shitting on people who probably didn't deserve it. Just ask Mike Metz.
And one more thing, assholes, will you please put a link to us on your website? Nobody reads this piece of shit.
Read more!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Laughter Benefits Charities and You
"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!
Dr. Heckle and Mr. Snide (Comments): Part 2
[Last week, we posted on the topic of hecklers and how to deal with them. Today, Hampton Yount brings the topic up again with his insights on the many faces of the interrupting douche/heckler. Enjoy.]
Hampton here again, ready to bring you new emotions through printed word. Let’s cut to the chase. I made a list of the different kinds of hecklers I have seen or heard about. One of my secret pleasures is writing up lists: Favorite movies, favorite songs, and least favorite memories. If a really eccentric criminal threatens to put me on a desert island, I know exactly which five best Weezer solos to bring. So, in that tradition, I have decided to shine a light on comedy and list the different types of hecklers.
Note: All of these categories are made instantly more annoying if they are a girl. Award them five hundred Fran Drescher points! Herewego! (read that real fast…real fast)
I’ll start with the one that is less a standard heckler but more of an annoyance. This is the guy who doesn’t realize a show is going on. Well, don’t be mad at him; it’s not like you’re on stage with a microphone sending your voice over a PA system. He probably thought God was trying to talk to him, and he lost his faith years ago (Too little too late, God!) The best is when you stop talking or draw attention to this character, and they act like you are being a jerk. I once got a “Sorry” so dripping with sarcasm that I used it as lubricant and jerked off with it. That’s how much I loved that moment.
The Idiot
This one might actually be my least favorite. This is the guy who shouts things that are neither good nor bad about your bit. It’s rare, but it makes me slit my mental wrists every time. I’ll give an example; I have a joke about Battlefield Earth (so fucking funny, I’m a genius!), and on several occasions, I have had someone shout loudly, “JOHN TRAVOLTA!!!” midway through my bit. Frustrated, I asked one of these guys “What about him?” and he said “He’s in the movie.” I then shouted at this man for several minutes.
[Hit the jump! He's on to something here, guys!]
This is the one you hate to hate. He shouts stuff out with the intent, in theory, to help you. Either that or he laughs weird. He’ll shout something like “You are so funny!” or have a weird, show- stopping cackle (In all the cases of the weird cackle, I wanted to stop the show and PAY to watch the person laugh). The problem is that it can make you mad, but you have no idea where to place that anger. You can’t yell at the person because it feels weird to say, “Stop having fun!” The only solution is to hug the life out of him.
The Corrector
I think you’re getting the trend here; this is the person who tries to correct your joke. Usually you’ll quote a fact or make an assertion, and they want to make sure the audience isn’t made dumber by your slight misstep. Well, how fucking helpful! No, their help couldn’t have waited until after the performance. They need to make sure everyone knows John Goodman is actually a Virgo, you blasphemer.
The Impresser
Finally, a category truly worthy of hate. He is the pinnacle of douchebaggery, the guy who shouts things to impress his friends/date. His parents were two bullies who stopped punching each other long enough to look in each other’s goofy bully eyes and breed on top of a gym mat. Nine months later, they gave birth to something with no manners. The worst is that after this guy shouts something, he goes for “The Confirm” with whoever he is with, and is greeted with sycophantic smiles. Suddenly, your head drowns in memories of high school; how him and his posse laughed at your awkward boners. Not at mine though! I was awesome in high school! I had lots of cool friends, and I was voted Class Boner. Digression aside, The Impresser is just upset someone is funnier than he powerdreams he is. I recommend comparing this specimen to a type of failure. The balance has been restored.
This is the heckler whose comments are dead on. He is speaking on behalf of the audience, and you can feel it in your pores. Fear this heckler; he is your doom. In an ancient primeval way, this heckler's scent has claimed dominance, and is verbally hitting you in the face with a femur while the audience/apes flap their arms in approval and hurl feces (the tomatoes of the ape world) at you. Maybe it’s time to rethink career choices.
Any more that you can think of?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
WIT Offers Free "Intro to Improv" Workshops
The Washington Improv Theater classes focus on creativity, communications and teamwork and have enthusiastic instructors that establish a fun and trusting atmosphere.
Former students said:
"I loved this class"
"Great opportunity for expression, meet cool people and build confidence."
Free Intro to Improv Workshops:
Monday Mar 24 7:00 – 9:00pm
Tuesday Mar 25 7:00 – 9:00pm
Wednesday Mar 26 7:00 – 9:00pm
Thursday Mar 27 7:00 – 9:00pm
Location: The Children's Studio School at 1301 V St NW
Info/registration: topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com
Also:
WIT's Spring Classes begin March 30th with a $20 discount for early registration.
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
Read more!
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.
Dr. Heckle and Mr. Snide (Comments)
Last week at Chief Ike’s showcased many fine local comedians, but it also featured one obnoxiously drunk patron. While I don’t want to dwell on that incident for too long, I can say that I did not handle the situation well as the Host. It was just something I had not dealt with before and for one reason or another couldn’t smother that vodka fueled fire before it got out of hand. And it did.
It was a learning experience, most definitely.
I have dealt with drunk people in improv shows before. But they don’t interact so much during the show so much as they EXPLODE at the chance to throw out an suggestion at the top.
“DILDOS!! VAGINA!! DRINKING!! SARAH’S TITS!” and then proceed with the typical drunken laughter/snoring.
It was bound to happen for me during a stand-up show, too. Which makes me want to be more prepared for the future. How to do I handle someone like that on stage? How do I handle it as a host, booker, owner? Talking about it with a few folks, there seem to be some rules of engagement.
[Hit the jump for the rest of this "YOU SUCK!!".... post.]
1)The audiences enjoyment comes first. A heckler always undermines that, therefore your loyalty with the one patron ceases to exist.
2)You want to handle it first with grace, second with bluntness and third with a boot out the door.
3)There are different types of hecklers and some can be handled better than others.
Supposedly there are two types of hecklers. Both of them I assume are drunk. The first are those who think they are adding to the show:
“MY SISTER WENT TO GEORGE MASON!”
“Great, I didn’t ask. Shut the fuck up.”
“BUT SHE DID!”
Or the more abusive types, the ones who want to hurt you and the show:
“YOU SUCK! YOU ARE UNFUNNY!!BAHAHAHA”
“THANKS FOR COMING. Show him the door.”
Then there are those who don’t even know they are disrupting the show, the stereotypical LOUD drunks.
“I ALREADY ATE BEFORE THE SHOW!!! I DON’T WANT ANYTHING!!!!”
Do all these types of people need to be dealt with in the same way? I am really interested in what comics & improvisers have learned from their dealings with heckers. I still think it is some of the scariest shit out there. Hell, it’s St. Patrick Day. Share some drunken stories.
BONUS: Cool article on a heckler getting put in his place at a Comedians of Comedy show in NYC. COURTESY DEAD-FROG.COM
SUPER BONUS: Maria Bamford's latest episode.
Read more!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
4 Then Interview: Danny Rouhier
In the 4 Then Interview series, DCC4N hopes to answer the question on many DC comic's minds..."What happens when I leave DC?" In this edition, Danny Rouhier "sits down" with us and talks about the ups and downs of getting stage time in New York and the benefits of starting out in a city like DC.
So what have you been up to since leaving DC?
I'm living on the lower east side of Manhattan. It's in New York. The other guys who moved up here don't live in New York. Looking right at you Ryan Conner of Jersey City. I've already had a lot of ups and downs since I've been here. The ups include performing at Carolines, a television show called 'The A List' on Animal Planet, starring in a pilot at the New York Television Festival, and winning a national sketch comedy competition and filming a sketch comedy pilot with Proctor & Gamble Productions. The downs include only performing once at Carolines and having no one email me back ever, my frustration at not being able to secure representation, not knowing that many people or where to go which makes getting stage time hard, and the fact that there are so many cash only places in New York; I like to just use my debit card.
[Hit the jump for more of Danny's interview]
When did you start doing stand up and where did you do your first open mic? How did it go? Who were the people you remember starting out with?
My first time doing standup was at Soho Tea & Coffee in Dupont Circle in October of 2004. At the time, I thought it went great and was hooked. In retrospect, I was probably atrocious.org and would have hated myself if my present self could see that version. I would also tell that version to break up with his current girlfriend because it wasn't going to last. Anyway, Jared Stern was there. I remember him being the nicest and most supportive guy. He still is. For the first couple months, I didn't realize that I wasn't really 'doing' standup. I would perform once every couple of weeks and invite all my friends. I didn't know that you had to work at it. It wasn't until I started hanging out with my boys Rory Scovel and Ryan Conner that I realized what this process was all about. Once I got going, along with those two guys, I met Justin Schlegel and Jon Mumma. We were all just starting out and kind of going through the same things. In that respect, I think we were lucky.
When did you decide it was time to leave DC?
There really wasn't one moment when I realized: 'I have to go now'. It had been in my mind for a while. I felt myself growing complacent in DC. I wasn't as hungry as I could have been. No one has a success story where they say: 'It was really easy and I didn't really have to work at it." Even the people that are really gifted; they still have to bust their butts. If I had to point to a specific time, it was probably after I had featured for Bill Burr at the Columbus Funnybone and had then spent 6 weeks featuring at the premier chain of comedy clubs in Canada. I just felt like there was more out there for me. There's 1 great club in DC and that's hard because everyone is in 1 line. This isn't to put down DC. Far from it. I love DC; it's my home and it always will be. I think DC is an amazing place to start one's career. I just felt that there was only so much I could do there. I was scared for so long to take the step back by moving to a new place. It became clear that I had to take that step back so I could finally go forward.
How did DC prepare you for NY?
DC prepared me by making me funny. I know it sounds simple (and probably arrogant) but it's true. I was able to get up a lot in DC. I was a regular at a lot of open mics; really good open mics that don't exist anywhere else in the country. I got to the point where, if you saw me, you had to say, at a minimum: 'this guy is ok'. That's a big deal. People that don't know you don't want to put new people on if they suck. It's easier to break in if you get your chance and do well. If you aren't ready, you can move to the back of the line and who knows when your next chance comes? The challenge for me is that I was comfortable in DC. I was at the top of a pile and didn't have to do any work to get stage time. Up here? No one cares. 'Wait, you have done 10 minute sets at Topaz? Wow! Come do our show!'
What do you do to get booked?
Getting booked is tough; especially for me. I'm actually kind of a shy person. I don't particularly enjoy networking, meeting people, and hanging out. I prefer to show up, do my time, and go home and play video games. That doesn't fly up here. You have to keep showing your face. You keep showing up and showing up and showing up. You become someone they know. Then you get a spot. You have to introduce yourself to people 100 times. It's ugly. No one tells you about that. I had no idea. I thought I'd send a few emails, go crush and then watch all the bookings come in. No dice. After I got the tv show, 'I thought: here come the bookings'. Still nothing. No one cares. You still have to go through it. You have to get your hands dirty and hustle. There are no short cuts.
Do you run into DC comedians who have made the move, and have they been helpful?
There are a bunch of DC folks up here. It's helpful to get their input and hear about their experiences. It's comforting to know that they are going through it too. I see Rory Scovel, Ryan Conner and Matt Mayer all the time. Erin Conroy, Alicia Gomes, and John Razos are up here too. I don't see them as much because they are hermits. Actual hermits with staffs.
Have you looked into running your own room?
We had a room with a really short life. Rory, Ryan and I ran a show at Soundfix Records. We got 3 shows. Thanks guys. Really? 3 shows? I stopped by there on a Monday and there was no one in there. We at least had like 7 people. 7 vs 0. They didn't even have to pay us. As for other rooms, it's going to happen. There is no better way to get yourself out there than to run a room that comics want to do. A few of us have something in the works that will hopefully get going within a coupe months.
What was your favorite room in DC?
I really liked Topaz. It's a well run room. You do this for a while and you come to appreciate that. A lot of people like to make fun of Curt for being neurotic, but he runs a great show. It's professional. The people that complain about it should run their own rooms. No one is entitled to anything. Everything we as standups do is dependent upon the work and effort of others. You need an audience, a mic, a venue, someone to make the lineup, take the hit as the mc, and so on. If you don't like the rules of a place, don't perform there. Anyway, Topaz is such a cool place. The vibe is great. It's like a downstairs lounge in New York. It was intimate but you could cram a decent number of people in there. The crowd always listens and is respectful even if they aren't dying laughing.
You've been involved with both sketch here in DC (Poonanza) and in New York? How do you like sketch and have you been trying to get more involved in it? How do you like it compared to stand up?
I love sketch comedy. It's a great outlet. As I mentioned above, I was part of a winning sketch team that got to film a tv pilot. Great experience. I've found that it's a great way to motivate yourself to write and create. It's an awesome way to encourage collaboration with other comics and something that can bring people together. I like doing it as an alternative to standup. It will never replace standup but I like it as a release now and again. Really cool shows like the Poonanza are a blast to put on even though it's stressful. There are downsides though. The biggest problem is getting people together. I am always down to write/film or whatever. But other people are busy. It's next to impossible to get people together. Even up here, where everyone is doing comedy stuff full time, I still can't get everyone together for a shoot. That pain in the a$$ factor is prohibitive at times and it's why writing sketches will never replace the complete control I have with standup.
How would you describe your style of stand up and how has it evolved since you started?
When I first started, I didn't know anything. I mean, I knew nothing. I didn't know the rules. No one was there to tell me. I didn't know that it wasn't OK to do someone else's joke. I never happened to do it because it didn't excite me to do that (I wanted to be original) but I didn't know you shouldn't. When I started out, I loved Brian Regan (still do) and Mitch Hedberg (still do). My style was half Brian Regan and half Hedberg. It was a random hodgepodge of poorly written putrid refuse that I cannot believe came out of my mouth. I would alternate between trying to do something with a dry delivery that was really clever like Hedberg and then start talking really loudly and over-emphasizing words in a poor man's Regan. I also mixed that in with some frat-tastic 'I drink a lot'/wouldn't it be funny if this movie character was in this situation? jokes. It was bad. The main difference now is that I also do some Daniel Tosh style jokes.Haha! JK! LOL-ing. The biggest difference between me now and then is that I found my voice. I know what it is I do now. I'll never be a great writer of jokes. It's just not me. I have to put myself out there. I'm funny. I'm the guy in the group of friends that makes all the funny jokes. I balance the self-deprecating with the confidence. I share more of myself with the audience than I did before. I was scared to then. Now it's: 'here is why I was insecure about this'. Then it was more like: 'What if William Wallace was your driver's ed teacher? You'd get to a stop sign and he'd be like: 'Hoooooollllld!.....Hooooolllllllllld!......Hooooooollllllllllld!....Ok, turn right'.
You can catch Danny in the DC area in April.
Danny will be featuring at the Baltimore Comedy Factory April 3rd and April 4th.
You can catch a longer set on Saturday, April 5th when Danny headlines the Hyatt in Bethesda.
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