A Philly Guy's Blog

One of my pet projects is almost completed…I did have to stip it down a lot becouse the programmers in india were not getting the big picture…

The site has 2 main free funtions…comedians can sign up for a bio page this will give them a place to post their bio info, their head shots, and youtube videos.

There is a saction for promoteres to post an event and comedians can sign up for the event…the promoter can pick the comedeans they want fron the list and they are added to the show as well as the show is listed on their page.

I will have the blog in the site talking about comedian news and helpfull stuff… I want tp add a amazon store so I can sugest books and stuff.

Have schools listed and put google adwords on the site.

I have a very small revenue plan…just the ads and store for now.

Once this goes live I want to add my own adds for wp comedian websites.

Now I feel like a stalker…I went with my buddy LaTice to The free workshop at the NY Comedy Club presented by the Laughing Buddha Comedy School (http://www.lbcomedyschool.com ) I again was blown away on how much more there is to learn. This is the best ever.

I did take a class in Philadelphia with and that was the reason I got on stage for the first time, and got hooked, I just could not afford to pay $400.00 for just 3 Mondays then be forced to wrangle 10 friends and family members together for a “Bringer Show” at the end.

I respect the comedian that taught the class and I learned some beneficial yet general information from him, but more technical information for beginners, Mike 101.

I am so happy with the information I have picked up so far from Frank Santopadre, I went out and got the June Carter books he recommended, I even gave one to LaTice so she will know what I am referring to when I bring it up. Still need a good Writing book, for theory.

I can’t take the class they are offering because it would be a 4 hr commute each class and its more than I can handle at this time, besides I need to start writing as much as I can so I can have something to work with.

My game plan is to get my stuff together then schedule a one on one with Frank and start my new direction. He is so dam intelligent. I thought that Pat Dixon who also teaches there was insightful and really gave true realistic information on the career and pitfalls of being a comedian.

Well I think I am done Gushing over my experience last night. I am so glad I hooked up with Jeff Lawrence. I have to get my one on one time with Frank this can be a big deal in my development.

I am got a seat at the free session of he Laughing Buddha Comedy School http://www.lbcomedyschool.com , this is the same school that has Frank Santopadre giving his advice, this guy is the best, I just emailed them to see if I can get a one on one once I have enough material to get some real feedback. The information I received was general and not on all my work just 3 or so min of material. I really think this guy will be a huge help. I save the money I have mad from performing and contests so I actually can pay for this without any real expense to me, so its going to pay for itself.

I have been frustrated lately that my time for actual writing and creating material has been overridden by my daily life’s needs, work, family needs, dog classes of all things. I know a have a lot of stuff still up in the air, I have some premises I would love to work with and need to brain storm on, but need to find the time to do it. I am taking off from work at 2:00 tomorrow so I can make it to NY in time for the class. Its so worth it, this guy frank is amazing, and there are 2 other people doing the work shop I haven worked with yet. I realized yesterday when I was watching TV that one of the people in my last class with them was on Live at Gotham, she was so funny and I don’t feel as amateur as I did when she was on stage, she rocked it, and he even had great advice for her.

So you always can learn, never to late for new tricks or bits.

I went on last night at the Country Club and did my new stuff. I may have forgotten a line or 2 but still got my stuff out and was told I was funny. It was a thin croud, and I wad very happy I was clean and smarter with my bits. The str8 joke and the jesus now need my atention. If all of my bits can be as solid as t-bag I will be happy.

I want to work on my stuff for a few weeks than get my delivory down… I realy want to be polished and get over my stage fright. I want to be samrter and more topical as well.

I love that I can write this while in line at the bagle place…love technolagie.

I want to do fundraisers and get my fellow funny homo comedies some stage time, rise money for a good cause and have that worm fuzzy feeling inside, this is yet another thing I have no clue how to do, but will learn about. I am sure I will learn about fundraising costs in the form of advertising, man hrs and dealing with venues and having equipment issues. But I am a big boy and think I can do this. I also will be giving back to people and they will be giving me the stage time I am looking for, so it’s a win-win for all.

It’s become even better in South Jersey for stand up comedy. Now there are 2 venues that are doing shows regularly http://www.thecomicsconnection.com/ and www.comedycabaret.com this is great, that means that we just doubles the amount of possible stage time in the area. The Cabaret has usually the same old guys and some new people that they don’t pay much for, but its stage time and all comedians are looking for stage time. So it works well, these days you don’t have to pay much and you can have a great showcase of comedians. The issue with most of the venues are they are the same group all the time the same 6 people doing the same acts over and over adding a new joke here and their.

I haven’t had much association with doing shows other than the open mics and the contests that I have been in. I will be concentrating more on fundraisers myself for courses I find in need. I do have to say that I was given a brake by http://www.thecomicsconnection.com/ when they had me do a show in the beginning and I love their “open mic” night. It’s a great audience and free parking. I can be home by 11pm and that is a great thing when you have a day job. When it comes to open mic, I like them, The Raven lounge and then Helium. In that order…basically , because I know I will get on stage, its run well, and I wont have to wait till 1Am to get my 5 min of stage time in front of 4 drunk guys. Helium is where I will bring my A material to test it out on a great room, but you can waist your night…you sigh up then find out 1 hr later if you are going to get a shot or not. With the Comics Connection you sigh up and you get on.

There are others that are good as well and I ma not excluding them, it’s just that I haven’t hit the Tritone on Monday Nights, its with Jack Martin & Tommy Papa both comedian I have a lot of respect for, these two are smart and funny guys. I am also a fan of both of them as well.

I am not a fan of the Cabaret’s Open Mic is some what of a sausage fest, the jokes are a lot of dick jokes and the place is a bit low brow. I am not saying I am the smartest comedian in the place, but I am a hell of a lot classier than most of the people their, I can’t believe I am saying it but it’s true.

There is a list of most , (NOT ALL) open mics here http://www.funnyphilly.com/ they also do some shows, usually the same group most of the time, but they are out there at bars and restaurants in NJ. I think they have shows in North East Philadelphia, but never heard of them doing anything in Center City. I think it’s great that they created a way to get some stage time for themselves. It shows initiative to go out and find your venues and put a show together. We should all take a page from their book.. so you and your friends can do shows all the time, Be sure throw other comedians a bone and have them in the shows as well, this will show camaraderie with the rest of the comic community and give your audience a new show now and then to see.

Philadelphia I guess like most cities may have somewhat of a cliquey comedy community. I don’t bother with getting into that kind of stuff. If you don’t pay attention to the imaginary walls or circles these cliques have, you can just judge the person on a personal level not a group. There are a lot of great and funny people in the area, I feel lucky to have met most of them. If a grade school mentality is going to be used by an adult you should try your hardest to make sure to stay far away. There are consequences for actions and I don’t like to be around when they fall off their horse. I am a 40 year old man who just like people and wants to be a comedian, I don’t have time for games. And neither should you. There is nothing funny about acting like a child.

Here is a link to an article about open mics as well.

Ever since the class I did with the laughing Buda School I have decided to retool my act, it’s coming up on my one year anniversary and I need to change my ways. I want to get back to my goal of clean, smart humor that is funny not jokes. I was very happy that he (Frank Santopadre ) suggested the author Judy Carter and the Book is Stand-Up Comedy: The Book . I spent about $800.00 on classes in Philadelphia at the comedy school and I have to say the $60 I spent with Frank and the $12 on this book blows away what I got from the classes. On top of that the classes ended with a 10 person bringer, that means I had to spend $400.00 on a class then get 10 people to spend $15 each plus 2 drinks to see me at the end of the class. WTF

 The book is full of great exercises and a great way to look at stand up. I am so happy I found this and will be so much better because of it. I was told I was too rehearsed and was not conversational enough by Frank and I totally get it, now I can be me and my stories will be personal and not jokes, I will have emotion and a real comedic presence.  I know I put down the class, it is helpful to get on stage and do it, I would never have had the balls to do open mice without it. But get this book it’s the best.

Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

I had a great show at the open mic then followed by a nice time at the 1-4-5 show, It was a small but nice crowd, I was surprisingly not nervous and I think the other comedians did very well. I was actually honored to be asked to do the show. I then went to NY on Saturday, the Laughing Buddha Comedy School http://www.lbcomedyschool.com  we had the pleasure to have Frank Santopadre give us feedback. I feel like I need to start from scratch, he did not have anything positive to say about my Jesus opener into the rap bit, but liked the trophy wife bit. I respect this guy so much, everything he said was some of the best advice I have ever heard in this business.

I ordered the June Carter books he mentioned and am reading the Comedy Writing for idiots, I already owned and started reading this. But now want to actually start doing. I want to get back to writing a journal about everyday stuff then use that as my source for inspiration, what bothers me, what makes me laugh, what makes me think.

I have to get back to work and make my money, until I can make money making people laugh…

Almost forgot, I was leaving a restaurant yesterday and someone recognized me and asked if I was a comedian at helium, that made my day.

I have been working on my bits, its funny I have a dream of having my joke be the kind of bits that will keep them laughing and building on the joke till there is a big twist that makes them loose it…then it hit me …that is every comedians dream…so I still toil away. I have to write more, but first I want to get my current bits polished and then get them memorized, then move on to new bits add a new joke each time, then build from there. I have a bunch of bits that are not that strong. But I am happy with my superman, and my t-bag bits.

Jeff Lawrence and The Laughing Buddha Comedy School …I signed up for a class on Sat in NY to learn more about better joke writing and creating my persona.  I love Jeff and respect him a lot. I can’t wait. I also have a Show every weekend this month, which is so cool.  I worked on my filler jokes the Harpies’ joke and the break up technology bits I really want to get thos down for my Friday show. I want to think more about my persona on stage than my words. I lost it last Saturday; half my bits were all screwy. I never want to go thru that again.

So I was prepping for my show on Sat Night, an actual show, not a bringer, not a contest, but a show for people who don’t know me who want to just go out and see a group of comedians perform. I am use to 5 to 7 min and have done 20 and 10 min befor, but the last 2 months I did nothing and then did two 7 min shows that were virtually identical.

I went thru my old stuff and put to together a bit list.

Jesus: Calm
Shawty: Gullible
Superman: Gullible informative
Cell phonies: Sad
FB LOOSER: Sad
FAD: angry
Facebook App’s: angry / Sarcastic
Breaking up Technology: Sarcastic
Intervention: Relaxed and sharing
Wresting: Relaxed and sharing
Anniversary: Relaxed and sharing
Trophy wife: Relaxed and sharing
T-BAG: Relaxed and sharing
Is the New: May be I’ll this?

 I am a little nervous because I haven’t done these in a while, but think it should go well. I have to be a big boy and step up. Plus: I will be doing the show with comedians that I know. I will have fun with it and see what happens.

 I am just trying to keep blogging to make sure I make a habit of paying attention to what I am doing. I recorded my bits and have them in my mp3 player and will row tonight and listen to try and get the bits down.