Announcing: “Changes to Web Site”
Greetings fellow entertainers, event planners, talent bookers, and everyone else who reads this blog (both of you). I apologize for not writing as many posts in recent weeks as I had up to then. As I’m sure you all know, life and work get really busy sometimes. I’m glad to be back and thrilled to share with you all (or y’all as the case may be) regarding some truly exciting changes to my web site which will be implemented very soon.
We will be adding several new pages (I have written the content and someone else will turn it into “computerese”) in an effort to provide a separate page for each comedic element I perform. While the “Stand-up Comedy” Page will receive a slight tweaking, the new pages will include: ”Visual Comedy” (a mixture of Comedy Magic, Prop Comedy, and Physical Comedy routines such as “Bigger-Bigger”, “Some Assembly Required” and “The Balancing Act”), “Comedy Songs” (originals and old tunes will new, comedic lyrics), and “The Comedy of Language” will includes comedic definitions, hilarious poems, and (al a the late Victor borge, phonetic pronunciation, and inflationary language).
We will also be adding a new demo of a performance I gave as part of a showcase at the Improv Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio (Go, Browns!)
I hope you find these changes helpful when viewing my web site. As a seasoned performer who has worn many hats over the years, I thought I should showcase the entertainment elements I offer in more user friendly manner.
Read MoreAn Ounce Of Preparation – - The Entertainer’s Insurance Policy
Like most seasoned performers, I have learned to roll with the punches that the entertainment industry throws. Just when I thought I had seen it all, I received a reminder that, change is the only constant in this strange and wonderful business.
Recently, I was hired to perform stand-up comedy at a “retirement community” here in the Columbus, Ohio area. I usually arrive twenty to thirty minutes early so I can check out the room and set up my sound system. This also allows me the luxury of seeing audience members arrive for the show. In these smaller venues, I like to acknowledge each person’s arrival and get to know them a little.
The first surprise occurred upon my arrival, when I realized the venue was really more of a nursing home than a retirement center. That’s fine. Everyone deserves entertainment. Then, after welcoming several early arrivals to the show, and not getting a response, my point of contact explained that most of the residents were deaf. Fortunately, I was prepared. I don’t usually do this, but, I had brought along some comedy magic tricks and pencil balloons from my days as a clown. Somebody must be looking out for me because I had never brought these items to a stand-up comedy show before. Anyway, I ended up doing a “variety show” that included the comedy magic, some of the stand-up comedy (with the aid of an interpreter), and an assortment of balloon animals, flowers, etc. And a great time was had by all.
Why have I told you this story? Because it demonstrates that a little curiosity, followed by the right preparation, goes a long way in this business. Asking the right questions, when booking a performance, can help you know and address the needs of your audience (no two are alike), and enable them to thoroughly enjoy your show. The client will be pleased because they will get the most bang for their entertainment buck.
This performance was a wake-up call. I have gotten back to basics. When scheduling a performance, I now use a booking sheet that prompts me to ask certain questions (size and type of venue, size of audience. average age, energy level, any hearing or sight impairments of other issues that would impact their enjoyment of the show). Unless you work extremely clean at all times, you wouldn’t do your comedy club show, word for word, at a church or corporate gig. But, what if you arrive at a venue, expecting to perform your current stand-up material, and the place is surrounded by school buses? Asking the right questions, in advance, will keep you properly prepared and looking professional.
Read MoreA Fourth Alternative to Comedy Club “Pay to Play” and “Bringer” Shows
Greetings, my fellow stand-up comedians, improvisation performers, comedy magicians and other persons of infinite jest. Wow! Where in the world have I been? My last post was eight days ago. The past week has been (Never say, “has been” to someone my age) an insanely busy one. More about that later. I do remember that our recent theme has been looking for alternatives to comedy club owners and managers who employ “pay to play” (i. e. five bucks to get on stage) and “bringer shows” (bring at least five friends for three to five minutes of stage time). The options I have offered so far include: (1) Performing at retirement centers and senior centers where you can get thirty to sixty minutes of stage time per gig (and, possibly, getting paid rather than paying to perform), Renting your own venues and putting on your own shows, and using atmosphere performing (also known as “table hopping” or “strolling entertainment”) as a means of getting paid to showcase your ability and availability to perform on stage.
Today, Let’s focus on the comedy clubs who do not charge a fee for stage time or expect you to pimp out five or six of your friends (So the club owner or manager doesn’t have to pay for advertising) in order to get a few minutes of stage time. In a recent email from Dave Schwensen, Author of several very helpful books including “How To Be A Working Comic” (I have a signed copy – More on that later), I learned of a very benevolent individual, named Slava Yaryshkin (I think he might be Irish – lol), who is trying to help us all get more stage time. Slava is endeavoring to list all open mics, both music and comedy, in the United States, on his web site at www.badslava.com. This free tool is a definite “must use” for any comedian, singer, or band seeking an audience to perform for. I have already found eleven “open mic” opportunities (and spoken to six people to confirm days and times), in Columbus, Ohio, that was not aware of. Thank you, Slava, for your willingness to share the results of your hard work. And, thank you, Dave for passing on this wonderful resource. Please note, this effort of Slava’s is a work in progress. You should check the site, www.badslava.com, at least weekly for updates in your area. By my count, we now have least four alternatives (and numerous options within each alternative)
to the “pay to play” and “bringer show” comedy clubs. So, if you’re not out there performing your comedy routines on a regular basis, whose fault is it?
Now, for the reason (One of them, anyway) I have been too busy to write a blog post since last Wednesday. I spent last Saturday attending a Stand-up Comedy Workshop (always keep learning) at the Improv Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio (A 140 mile drive from Columbus, but, well worth the trip). The instructor, Dave Schwensen, an author, comedian, speaker, and a long-time comedy club manager (Dave is the only person who has managed the Los Angeles Improv, the New York Improv, and now, the Cleveland Improv) is able to approach the business both the comic’s and the comedy booker’s points of view. For someone who has worked with many of the comedy greats of our generation (Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Ray Ramano, etc), Dave is very down to earth and approachable (He even signed my copy of “How To Be A Working Comic”).
Dave limits size of the twelve hour (Noon to 4:00 p.m. for three Saturdays) workshop to ten people, in order to provide the perfect mix of individual and collective instruction. My classmates include a magistrate, a truck driver, a college student, a former college activities director, a snow removal specialist, and a former stripper turned born-again Christian (The Lord really does work in mysterious ways).
Last Saturday, we were each paired with another group member for some onstage improvisation a la “Whose Line is it Anyway?” It was a lot of fun and a fantastic way for the beginners (not the grizzly, old dudes, such as yours truly) to ease into their first time on stage. Then we each had about ten minutes on stage to try out some of our original comedy material in front of Dave and the group. I don’t know why, but, I’m always more nervous with a small group than with a large crowd. But, once I got past the first couples of jokes, it was like shaking hands with an old friend. There is nothing, in the world, like making people laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The next two Saturdays will consist of more time, on stage, trying out material before a captive audience of Dave and the other comedians. Then, the Wednesday after the last Saturday (January 25th at 7:30 p.pm.), we’ll be performing our routines in front of a live audience (I wanted a “dead audience” but we weren’t able to dig one up) at the Cleveland Improv. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come out and see us. While I have given numerous performances at private, corporate, and civic events, I’m a bit new to the comedy club scene. I’m really looking forward it. But, for now, our homework is to write new stand-up comedy material and, then, to write, write, and write some more. Hence, the reason it has been eight days since my last post.
Read MoreComedians and other performers,Boycott Comedy Clubs that employ pay to play and bringer shows.
Once again (this time as a discussion topic on the Humorous Speakers’ Bureau via “Linkedin”, we hear and read the sad refrain about comedy club owners and managers who require budding comics to pay for stage time and bring five to ten friends to the club in order to get a few minutes on stage. Even my local (Columbus, Ohio) “Funny Bone” Comedy Club expects each open mic humorists to pay a $5.00 cover and bring a minimum of five friends who also have to pay a $5.00 cover as well as order drinks ($3.00 for half a can of soda) and food (if you want to call that food). That’s about $100 for 5 minutes of stage time ($20.00 per minute or $1,200.00 per hour)? Do they really think we believe their rent is actually $43,830.00 ($1,200.00 per hour multiplied by 24 hours in a day multiplied by 365.25 days in a year divided by 12) per month? And, even if their rent were really that unbelievable amount, do they seriously expect beginning comedians and their friends to foot the entire bill?
What do I do about the pay to play/bringer policy at my local Funny Bone Comedy Club? I don’t perform at the Columbus Funny Bone Comedy Club. I honestly don’t believe any of my body parts will fall off if I never perform stand-up comedy at the local Funny Bone Comedy Club (So far, so good). I’m sure there are many successful comedians who once never paid to perform their comedy act at a Funny Bone comedy Club or any other pay to pay comedy club or bringer show comedy club. I, personally, would much rather work out my new comedy material at a retirement center where I can get 30-45 minutes and I don’t have to pimp out my friends, and sometimes I can even get paid.
I have one question for all of you who are complaining (and rightfully so) about the unfair policies of these comedy clubs. What are you going to do about it? ”What can we do about it?” I hear you asking. Well, if you’re too young to remember the fifties and sixties (and most of you are), ask your parents or grandparents about the anti-war protests, boycotts, “sit-ins” and the civil rights marches. I’m guessing some of your parents and grandparents even took part in these historic, world changing events. What about the bus boycott (Ever heard of Rosa Parks?) in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957? The owners of the bus company were forced to end their racist “blacks in the back of the bus” policy or face bankruptcy. This was a peaceful demonstration that brought about real, permanent change.
Every year we observe Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday by not going to work. Why don’t we honor his spirit by actually doing something? By standing up to injustice and saying, “Hell no! We won’t take it any more!” Why don’t we all band together? Let’s start by boycotting all of those comedy clubs that have “pay to play” and “bringer show” policies. And let’s tell all of our friends, relatives, and fellow entertainers to boycott them, as well. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Agitate, old lions!”
Then, save up all of your pay to play money for a month or so, pool your resources and rent a hall at a local fraternal lodge (Elks, Moose, Eagles, American Legion, etc.), or a small, modestly priced, local theater. I know some of you have theater experience from your high school or college days. It’s time you put it to work again. If you’re not too proud to set up chairs and clean up afterward, you could even earn some money instead of paying money to comedy club owners or managers. Charge a small admission fee such as $5.00 and split the profits. Each comedian will get more than five minutes on stage and, quite possibly, make a few dollars on the deal. If the comedy club owners and managers don’t see the error of their way, keep renting out your own entertainment venues and staging your own shows. You’ll probably come to realize you didn’t need those comedy clubs, after all. And those comedy club owners and managers will realize they need you more than you need them. I’m certain Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks will be looking down and smiling.
I already boycott comedy clubs who use these policies. Beginning in the new year, I will be renting entertainment venues and staging my own shows. If anyone in Central Ohio (or anywhere else) wants to join me, you can contact me via my web site.
Read More
Where I’ve been, where I am, and Where I’m going
One of the main purposes of these regular blog posts is to keep the readers apprised of my continuing efforts at writing and performing comedy material. So here goes: I recently purchased a guitar and will soon begin taking lessons. Lately, I have also been writing humorous parodies to popular rock, country, and Christmas (and other seasonal) songs which will become part of the new comedy variety show I will begin performing early next year. The show will consist of four elements: stand-up comedy, comedy magic, prop comedy, and, of course, the new comedic song parodies (making use of my new guitar and lessons).
The most recent turn in my career as an entertainer took place yesterday, when I enrolled in a stand-up comedy workshop which is to be taught at the Improv Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio during the first three Saturdays of January, 2012. The instructor will be none other than Dave Schwensen, comedian, motivational speaker, talent Coordinator for the Cleveland Improv (and former talent coordinator of both the New York and Los Angeles Improv Comedy Clubs), and author of several comedy “how-to” books including “How to be a Working Comic.” I am really looking forward to attending the workshop as all participants will be afforded the opportunity to perform onstage at the Improv. In addition, I am looking forward to meeting the other comedy artists (up to nine of them) and hearing their career stories. I will be driving up from my home near Columbus, Ohio. The other comedy performers, I assume, will come from around Ohio and surrounding states.
Once I have completed the comedy workshop, I will be renting small venues (such as the halls in fraternal lodge facilities) in which to perform the aforementioned, four part, comedy variety show throughout central Ohio and surrounding areas. Soon after, I hope to move the show to small theaters, and eventually to larger theaters. I will also, of course, be available to perform the stage show at private, civic, and corporate events. Anyone interested in reserving a performance date for this four part comedy variety show can contact me by telephone at (614) 891-7393 or via email at info@funnymanbobsimpson.com or bobsimpson1954@gmail.com.
Read More
Get Connected