That’s right, I spelled it with a Z.
Topics on the day include amping up reality tv, how shitty comics find success, making stock jokes seem spontaneous, finding a balance between being a comedic artist and a corporate shill, and and a comic so Irish I can’t understand a fucking word he says. Who wants cake?
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
Even I found it tough to understand that clip of Tommy Brian, though I am loving this Irish month. It’s like BTB just for me! Just heard Tommy on the radio half an hour ago, and he has announced that he is attempting to break the world record for the longest comedy show. 36 hours of just him is the aim, and it will take place over Easter weekend.
I’m so there on March 31 and April 1! Nice!
BMo.. you teased last week with another Tales from a Local Comedy Diner segment.. but it was missing from today’s show.
Slightly off topic but I wonder what everyone thought of the issue of; how far you should be willing to travel for gigs.
I will recently finish my job in a couple of weeks and although the scene I’m in is doing really well, there’s just not enough open spots (I’m still at that level!) to keep me gigging regular. I’ve just booked a set in the next county about 1 hour 30 mins drive away but that’s in friggin’ June……so I need more. Now I’m looking at gigs 2 and a half hours away – for 5-10 min spots; just to keep me gigging. I’m trying to sort out driving with a small group of people but still……
I emailed someone last night for a set 3 hours drive away….ugh!
What do people think? Yes, they’re gigs but is it too much? Comedy is a muscle – is the distance worth the exercise? Or should I just shut my newbie mouth up?
Rather than share an emcee horror story, I will say that the house emcee at The Jukebox in Peoria, IL, Brett Erickson, is one of the best for two things he does every show.
1) Unless the headliner is squeaky clean and demands the same from the other comics, Brett works in a few R-rated bits just so the audience knows what they can expect. Nothing outrageous, but any ultra-PC douche bags are gone before the feature comes up.
2) He asks if anyone is celebrating anything (usual emcee practice) then ignores all the shouts and waving hands and makes fun of people who think their birthdays are special.
He essentially trains the audience to both lighten up and expect NOT to be part of the show.
Nick: I’m in the same situation as you, I’m afraid. Just starting to do open spots, but there’s only one open mic a month in my town, so I’m now having to start travelling to all corners of the country just to do open mics. I get offered the occasional paid booking, but my latest set just isn’t working so I’m trying to tweak it.
It depends on what you’re willing to do, and what you’re able to do. I’m in this place where I’m determined to get as good as I can as quickly as I can because I’m getting old faster than I used to so it works for me to get gigs in as rapidly as I can.
My advice: Go for it. Next county, next state, whatever. It’ll all pay off in the end.
OK… here’s where I’m lucky… There are dozens of open mics in LA… unfortunately there are 10,000 comics/actors/weird-homeless-freaks competing for the spots…
— D
Great show. long time listner but i strayed but i’m back. aka. richie v.
I’m thinking about flying out. :p
I wish. Good luck guys, have a good show.
Kandiman, thanks for the reply.
I’m in the UK too, based in Sunderland, not too far from Teeside…..I’m also an angry, political guy but I’ve had to put the politics on the back burner a bit – Obama hasn’t been blown by a chubby intern yet.
Jsut added you on FB….if that’s you of course!
Lol. That’s me. I’m actually trying to throw together an indy show. How much material have you got? I’m thinking get five comics on, twenty minutes each. If we all share the venue hire cost (It’s about a ton) we all share profits. Could be an opportunity if you’re interested?
I know three other comics who’d fit in around some angry ranting, room for a fifth
It’s Oxford, but we’re an educated people. We can understand the Geordie accent, like.
The Tommy Tiernan clip… I think that was just poor sound/recording. I just watched a nicely-produced DVD special of his (Something Mental)like 4 days ago and never had a problem understanding him, even though I found the clip at the end of BTB to be completely unintelligible.
I actually thought Something Mental was very funny, so I’d recommend folks giving it a shot. Nothing insanely innovative or anything — Americans vs. Irish people, men vs. women, etc — but many solid jokes. I will say, I was crying by the last bit… he definitely knows how to end a show on a high note.
off the subject. the improv in louisville, ky just started an open mic for stage time you must bring 10 people! i don’t have 10 friends i’m a dick! funny, but a dick.
Lets do a BTB night in several locations all over the country(s). Maybe this fall. We can team up with roof top comedy and use the clubs that they have cameras in. Mabe add a page to this site where you can view the shows. Hell maybe we can burn a dvd and sell it at 3:00am on QVC.
How much time does each comic get, Dennis?
Finally actually listened to the show.
Just wanted to say thank you Brian, for some great advice. Certainly helped my nerves, and settle my content problems. Now I just need to fix my bloody writer’s block and I’ll be well away.
As for The 31st/1st, wish I could be there, I really do. Looks unlikely though, because I have a gig on the 31st. But I might surprise even myself and head straight for Heathrow afterwards. Not been to SoCal in ages…
Hey Joel…
The number of minutes depends on how many comics and how the shows going… I’d say 5 – 10 minutes… more comics means more variety and more friends to drink with, fewer comics means more minutes under the spotlight… one comic means you get to do a 36-hour record setting standup marathon… with me waving the light the whole cursing.
—D
Okey doke! Just curious. If you do this BtB-type show in the future with slightly more warning, I’d be more than happy to be involved. Thanks!
I know what you mean Joel. If someone was to, for example, arrange one in six months time (hint, hint) I would say with some certatinty that I’d fly out for it.
The problem is that in the world of comedy, who knows if they’ll still have a room in six months… Things are very dynamic…
Here’s a little extra incentive… check out the room…
http://www.smilesnightclub.com/
It’s a really cool place to perform, and once you’re here you’ll find 20 other clubs where you can work your stuff… Imagion going from a one-show town to someplace where you can hit three different places EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK…
I’m just sayin’… to mis-quote an old song… “How you gonna get ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen LA”…
— Dennis the corrupter
Can I give a plug to a good blog which talks about the art and how to do stand up and a near regular basis from Matt Ruby, a New York comic I believe.
http://www.sandpapersuit.com/
He gives good, easy and quick to read analysis of comedy and performing…..but don’t worry B-mo you’re stil my numero uno
I’ve already had a few requests for advanced tickets for Ice House show, so here’s my solution:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230331217832&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123
Nice idea Dennis, sadly, to do that I’d need my half-million dollar green card or a (preferably rich, beautiful and really stupid) American wife.
One day I’ll come and conquer L.A. – until then I’ll just run through my shit here in the UK until it gets old and tired…
Listened to the podcast for the first time ever, and was thinking a lot about the roles of an emcee:
I produce a show in West Dundee, a little town close to me which is about an hour from Chicago. I’ve been doing stand-up for a year and a half now, and I know I’d have gone up sooner had there been shows closer to where I live (not that I mind driving to Chicago, but doing that x times a week while having a wife and a son and getting up at 4:30 to go to work can take its’ toll). The show has been fantastic in terms of some of the great comedians who have come to perform for little money (plus the desserts my beautiful wife, the pastry chef, makes).
Sometimes I host these shows myself, and other times I let other comics host the show. I find that my early mistakes as a host came from not focusing the audience before I started into my set. I think a lot of people think they can just start talking and the mic is loud, so people will notice. Quite often, I just use this to get people’s attention:
“Hey, clap if this is your first time here! (after applause) Well, what the hell took you so long?”
Just jumping headfirst into material is a great way to guarantee that no one will listen to you, and give assholes an excuse for talking through entire sets (and sometimes shows).
I’ll just check in now and wish everyone a happy St. Paddy’s Day. I intend to start my drinking tomorrow and surface again sometime before Friday. if you’re lucky I might ring the mailbox and leave a message of me singing some traditional Irish drinking songs.
We’re all going to heaven lads, wahey!
Kandiman – We’re talking about LA here… there are LOTS of rich, beautiful and stupid people of both genders that are available to adapt you… as long as your cute… I here Angelena Golie has an extra bedroom…
—D
I’m not cute. I should’ve added blind. But if you see anyone rich, beautiful, dumb and dragging a guide dog be sure to let me know Dennis
You’ll know… because I’ll be introducing her as my new wife…
—D
Well… Look for twins.