Is the show inside?

Not really a question I ever thought to ask when I book a gig, but I will from now on. I guess I’ve always assumed that indoors is the default.

I don’t really have a problem with the outdoors, but its been between 90 and 100 degrees for the last week or two and last nite I drove 150 miles to a show in sweltering Philadelphia that ended up being outside. I walked by the setup in the courtyard and thought… oh cute, maybe some nites they have a jazz band out here or something — kewl — but when I went in to change and ask the guy who booked the show which of the many actual R0OMS in the facility we’d be in, he ushered me back into the courtyard. “Hey,” I thought, “maybe this ain’t so cute.”

The evening wasn’t all bad though. I had a good set and I got to hook up with one of my absolute bestest/most supportive friends in the whole wide world! She came and actually brought other people to sit outside and sweat while I told jokes. She is the best. Also, I got to see another very good friend perform, who I haven’t seen on stage in a while, and I got paid. By the time I got home (I stopped like 3 times on 95 South to nap) it was 3:30 a.m. And in case you forgot, I still have the day job, so I’m hurting right now.
 
I’m too tired to keep typing.

Catchin’ up

Hey y’all, I know I haven’t written in awhile, but I’ve been really busy lately… and I’ve got like 6 or 7 new/resurrected bits I’m really excited about, so hooray for that!!!
 
 Let’s see, I recently did a showcase at a club where one of the comics said he had moved to Baltimore two months earlier because he got a role on “Homicide – Life on the Street.”
 
 WHAT?
 
 I was sitting at a table with comedy buds Mike Storck, Rob Maher, Dave George and others and the looks on all of our faces was pure shock. “Homicide?” Are you serious? I think it’s time to change your setup – or maybe even quit. Quit comedy. That show’s been off the air since the 90’s. I think was wearing a pair of stonewashed jeans and a scrunchy during the series finale. My boy Robbie-Rob wrote a great blog about it – a must read.
 
 On Wednesday, I entered a competition at the Baltimore Comedy Factory, just so I could get some stage time in front of the new booker and I won. Woo hoo!!! It was just the first prelim, but the grand prize of the competition is $2500. Unfortunately there is no second prize, so cross your fingers and come out and support me in the semifinals and (hopefully) finals. Audience vote counts. More info to come.
 
 Went back to the Factory last nite to catch Mr. Politically Incorrect himself – one Mr. Nick DiPaolo and the show was great. I’ve worked with Nick before and hope to again, and I absolutely love his live show. He can just get away with things other people can’t and make me laugh at things I know I shouldn’t. If you’re trying to put a face with the name and you’ve seen Lucky Louie on HBO, he plays the building super. He’s awesome. If you’re not a fan, become one. The feature was a friend of his from Boston – a very funny guy. The emcee was DC local comic Tyler Sonnichsen who did a fine job.
 
 I was having a convo with some other comics over dinner the other nite and we were talking about our influences and comics that we are fans of. Those are two different things but a lot of people don’t understand that. Like I’m a fan of Dave Attell, Nick DiPaolo, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin. I love what they do. But they are not my comedic influences. I mean of course studying great comics helps tremendously, but in terms of style and the voice I have (think I have/want to have) I feel like I’m influenced by Cosby, DeGeneres, Seinfeld, Maher, Ajaye, Rock…. Clearly, I’m nowhere near their level, but I think they’re the most responsible for the comic and I am and will become.
 
 Anyways, I’ll try to write more often. ‘Til then.

That could have been my butt

OK, so I’m thinking maybe I should try dieting again…
 
Because this morning on the Today show, they were doing one of those stories on how ‘overweight’ this country is and you know how they always show fat people’s butts walking down crowded city streets?… well lets just say I saw an arse that looked a helluva lot like mine… I KNOW it wasn’t — but the thought alone is enough to drive me back to Atkins. How awful would that be? You’re minding your business walking down the street and you inadvertently become the postergirl for ‘American Obesity.’ I mean I need some TV credits bad, but my butt on the nightly news is not quite what I had in mind.