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 MoreRecording and Distributing Comedy and Other Entertainment A la DYI
The following two paragraphs are from a contribution by Roger Blazic to a Linkedin Group called, “Comedy Depreciation” Hosted by the very talented comedic writer and performer Frannie Sheridan. Thank you, Roger and Frannie.
“Comedian Louis Szekely, better known as Louis C.K., is profiting handsomely from a $5 video of his latest standup routine, which he produced and distributed himself.
Instead of partnering with a studio, C.K. hired a team with six cameras to tape two of his performances at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan. He distributed the video through a website specially built for that purpose. Within 12 hours of going on sale Saturday, 50,000 people purchased the video, covering all of costs incurred for its production (around $170,000) and creation of the website ($32,000). By day four, he had sold 110,000 copies, making an additional $200,000 off the venture.”
Well readers, both of you? Does this spark any ideas among my fellow entertainers and speakers? It certainly does with me. You can do this, too. Perhaps, not on the same scale, but it needn’t be on the same scale. If you can make a little money and get your name out there, why not give it a shot?
Whether you’re a comedy artist like Louis C.K., a singer (with a band, or a soloist), a dancer, a motivational speaker, or whatever type of performer you are. Don’t just sit there waiting for something to happen or for some agent to discover you!! They don’t have time for that, anymore. Before you’re next gig (What’s that I hear some of you say? You don’t have any upcoming gigs? Stage your own. Rent a small, local theater. If your local theaters are budget breakers, rent a hall at your friendly, neighborhood American Legion, AmVets, Elks, Moose, etc. and sell tickets) , contact a nearby (near where you live or near where your performing venue) college and hire a student (their rates are reasonable because they always need money for tuition, books, tattoos, body piercing, and gourmet/designer coffee) to record your show and prepare it for online distribution and back of room sales.
As for marketing, get some fliers printed up and put them on car windshields at large stores and malls. Don’t bother hanging them in store windows because, since cell phones became the “Swiss Army Knives” of communication and entertainment, nobody looks up while their walking down the street anymore. Mention your upcoming performance on your web site (repeatedly). Tell your friends, Tell your relatives, Tell your co-workers (if you’re transitioning from a day job). Tell other entertainers in your area. Tell strangers on the street. Take out an ad in your local penny saver newspaper.
I will be doing this, on the smaller scale, in 2012. I will be renting entertainment venues around central Ohio (Columbus and surrounding cities) and recording my performances for online distribution and for back of room sales at future events. It will be a brand new, original, comedy variety show featuring: stand-up comedy, comedy magic, prop comedy, physical comedy, humorous song parodies (with guitar), impressions comedy storytelling, and comedic voices.
Read MoreBringing The Vaudeville Style Variety Show Back To Life In Columbus, Ohio
Since setting up a page called “Performers At Large” on meetup.org and joining several groups for comedy entertainers via Linkedin, I have made some very interesting new friends in the entertainment business. Bob Abdou is a ventriloquist who is planning to open a new theater in the Clintonville section of Columbus, Ohio. Bob comes to us from New Jersey by way of Texas. Don’t worry, he’s much better at making people laugh than he is at map reading. Bill Gladwell is a hypnotist, dating coach, and self-described professional mingler who lives in Central Ohio, but performs all over the country. Leo Bowers is a Columbus based musician who has just completed his latest CD. Leo is also a member of several meetup groups for musicians and singers. Kyle Kissell is a storyteller and performance artist who entertains audiences under the name, “Kyle the Unnecessary.” Don’t let the stage name fool you. Although still quite young, Kyle is a savvy, veteran performer who should never be under-estimated.
My plan for 2012 is to rent numerous venues and, in the words of Mickey Rooney’s character, Andy Hardy, “Hey, Kids! Let’s put on a show!” I’ve already seen Bob Abdou perform comedy magic, ventriloquism, and stand-up comedy at Eldorado’s Bar and Grill on South High Street in Columbus, Ohio and he did a great job. Now, I just need check out Bill (if we can get him to stay in Columbus long enough), Leo, and Kyle’s work and give them all a chance to watch me doing what I do (stand-up comedy, comedy magic, physical comedy, pantomime, sketch comedy, motivational speaking). Then, we can start scheduling vaudeville style variety shows featuring whomever is not already scheduled to perform somewhere else.
We will start with small, inexpensive venues like fraternal organizations and, after establishing a loyal following, move to small theaters, and finally to large theaters around Ohio and surrounding states. My plan is for each of us to share equally in the expenses, work, and of course in the profits.
Any stage entertainers (comics, magicians, singers, dancers, jugglers, etc.) out there who would like to “get in on the action” can contact me by telephone at 614-891-7393 or send me an email via this web site. I won’t promise it will be easy. But, I think we’ll have a lot of fun and even make a few dollars doing something we all love.
Read MoreA Great Time Was Had By All
DSC00058 (2) As I mentioned in Tuesday’s post, last night my wife and I visited Eldorado’s Food and Spirits in the Clintonville section of Columbus, Ohio to see our new friend, Bob Abdou, perform his comedy ventriloquist act. DSC00059 The Central Ohio Bistro was jam-packed with people who had come to a high-energy, professional entertainer put on a first class show. DSC00060 They would not be disappointed. After a few minutes of good-natured stand-up comedy, DSC00063 Bob started introducing the animated cast of his Halloween theme show which featured vent puppets as well as marionettes. DSC00064 First it was Franken Steinfeld, followed by the Wolf Man, and the dancing skeleton. DSC00065 Then came Rusty Zippers DSC00066 (an innocent looking little guy who flirted with a lady while performing a mentalist act), the Las Vegas style exotic dancer DSC00067, and Danny, Abdou’s childhood puppet, who literally went to pieces while singing the closing number with his human partner (Danny has a better voice than Bob). I wasn’t watching a puppet show. The characters were truly alive. DSC00068
A natural performer and gifted showman, Bob Abdou has the rare talent of performing comic material in such a seamless fashion that audience members are tempted to think they can do it themselves. DSC00069 Even with twenty-one years of practice, few others could make 45 minutes fly by in such a delightful way. The combination of stand-up comedy, vent puppetry, marionettes, and comedy illusions blended well into a spectacular one-man variety show.
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An Entertaining Lunch With Mr. Puppet
Today I had lunch with an variety arts performer who recently moved from Austin, Texas to Columbus, Ohio. His name is Bob Abdou and he’s a ventriloquist and puppeteer (also works with marionettes). Bob is a vaudeville style comedian who says what he has to say through his puppets. He performs shows with Anti-drug, Anti-bullying messages, as well as clean Halloween shows for kids and adults.
Bob Abdou, AKA Mr. Puppet, offers clean entertainment for audiences of all ages. Check out the pictures and videos on his web site at www.mrpuppet.com. Once you’ve done that, check out Mr. Puppet in person on Wednesday, October 26th at 9:00 pm at Eldorado’s in Clintonville, Ohio. I know I will.
Bob has plans to purchase land and build a theatre in order to give local variety entertainers a place to perform. The venue is to include a museum which will feature Abdou’s collection of over 3,000 vintage (1950-1980) toys.
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