Friday, December 10, 2004

Susan Alexander has done an awesome job of running two showcases and one open mic each week. Thank god for the Susan Alexanders of the world. god is pretend, but Susan is for real.

The only "problem" is one of getting more stage time. Susan usually gives me 7 or 10 minutes, but I've never been offered a longer set. Granted, I haven't asked for one. But, what I heard is that stage time decisions are made on the basis of how much of a "bringer" you are. I take issue and umbrage (as much as I can carry) with this approach. What I think many bookers overlook is that if you have a comedian who, for whatever reason, isn't "bringing" people to the show, but they're killing every time they're up, then that comedian is adding to the overall brand image of your show. Maybe non-marketers don't get this. It is not in the best interest of your show to give comedians with lesser talents more time just because they brought people with them. The quality of the show and therefore the impression of that show in the eyes of your customers, especially the ones that didn't come to see a specific comedian, suffers. I rather think it is better to have people come in of their own accord simply because they heard this is a kick-ass comedy show.

There were plenty of festive holiday prmotional magnets to go around, and for dinner I had Taco Smell. Yum.

Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Mixed Nuts: Comics on Meds at Rooster T. Feathers. We're really building up a following. And why not? It's a great show. We didn't get our stuff together in time to hand out pill cups of candy, but we did sell a lab coat or two.

Here's the thing about Comics on Meds: It's a great idea and a great show. As far as I can tell, NO ONE else is doing anything like this. I am so proud of us. We're informing people as well as entertaining them. I feel real good about that. Real good.

This time around, in addition to regulars Howard Stone, Reannie Roads and Randy Hauser and headliner Doug Ferrari, we added another bipolar to our group -- Howard Meehan. What a hoot. This show is a great show. I can't say it enough, obviously. Oh, and for dinner I had nothing. A big bowl of it too.

I handed out magnets after each show. Tom Pecora signed my CD, "Happy Ha-Ha Holidays." He stole that from me.

Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4, 2004

Working with professional comedians -- people who have been doing this for 10 years or more, make their living from comedy, have numerous tv and other credits -- is completely different from working with other comedians in the Bay Area who are basically in the same boat I'm in -- a rather leaky vessel that was thrown together hastily not all that long ago. In other words, I thought I knew how to row a boat, but all I really know how to do is bail. Okay, maybe that metaphor doesn't work exactly, but the point is, I learned a lot. And one of the things I learned is that I must be doing something right. Phil Palisoul, the headliner, said, "Don't stop doing comedy. You're good at this." 0n the other hand, he also said, "You've got a wonderful husband there. Don't lose him." So maybe I shouldn't be putting too much emphasis on what Phil had to say. :-)

I love working. Really love it. And by working, I mostly mean getting paid to do comedy. But, I love comedy enough to keep doing it and not get paid very well. Which is where the majority of stand up comics are.

The most coolest thing of all was getting the chance to introduce Alonzo Bodden, winner of Last Comic Standing 3, and who -- after doing a private gig that Rooster's owner Heather had booked him for -- stopped in to do a 10 minute guest set. It was all very exciting.

Dinner was variable. On Saturday Roosters had a private party, and there was food left over. Otherwise, I had hot dogs and popcorn. Just like I would have if I had been at home.

Thursday, December 2, 2004

My first night as a "regular" opener. I never did get dinner. I had a burrito at like 3:30 and I guess that was enough. I'm fighting a cold, so I had hot toddies all night. It was a private party for a banking group. They were a great group of people, but they started drinking at 6 pm and really never stopped. Although I got a few laughs here and there, Tom Pecora reminded me that they have to be paying attention in order to get the joke and then laugh at it. It was tough work, but I did hand out a lot of festive promotional holiday refrigerator magnets. And somebody gave me a holiday sweatshirt. I guess I didn't do so badly after all.

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

Did a early set at Roosters, then headed out to pick up pizza from Kukar's. Apparently George Kukar died right after Thanksgiving. He was like 87 or something like that. At the show, I started off my telling the crowd that I am a Krazy Kat Lady, and they roared. I think it was because of the way I was dressed. With my cat shoes and everything. Tim Lee did a great job as host, and although I wasn't there, I heard Sal Calanni rocked. Way to go Sal!

More dinners . . .

Copyright 2003, 2004 Elizabeth A. Schumann. All rights reserved.