I'm on Gotham Comedy Club's First and Only House Improv Team!

Some good news to report: after an audition and a callback, I was offered a spot on Gotham Comedy Club's house improv team.  So now, not only can you catch me performing stand-up comedy all over the city, but you will soon be able to watch me perform improv comedy at one of the best comedy clubs in New York!

Will post details as soon as they become available!

I honestly can't wait for rehearsals to start!!!!!

(BTW, the picture for this blog post is of the cover of Truth in Comedy, a must-read book not only for improv performers but for anybody doing comedy.  Its teachings form the basis of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater training, as well as most other improv training programs.  If you're interested in purchasing it, you can pick up a copy at Amazon here.)

To Marty

I was going to write today about the show I did today for ComedyCures, an amazing charity dedicated to bringing patients and their caregivers the gift of joy and laughter, run by Saranne Rothberg, one of the most inspiring people I think I've ever met.  I've been working so hard to be a professional comedian because I think that I can bring others happiness through my work - participating in the LaughLunch at the Broadway Comedy Club, I was able to do that in a more direct way than I think I ever have.  I'm extremely lucky to have been given such an opportunity and I cherish it - I hope I was able to bring them as much joy, laughter, and happiness as they brought me inspiration and motivation to be a better person.

But for all the happiness I experienced this afternoon performing for some truly incredible and courageous people, I'm currently experiencing great sadness because I just found out that I lost somebody  just as incredible and courageous, Marty Fischer.

I met Marty this summer.  Right after graduation, I started calling around local clubs to see if I could get stage time anywhere post-graduation.  I found out that a new club was opening - the National Lampoon Comedy House - and left a message that I was interested in performing.  Marty called me back and I came down to the Dave and Buster's, where I would be nearly every weekend for the next two months, working with Marty on my act.  Here was a real comedy veteran, who had been in the business for decades and decades, and he was working with me, a fresh comic just starting out.  I think that reflects powerfully on Marty's generosity, kindness, and love of comedy.

People definitely had differing opinions about Marty; not everyone loved him.  But the Marty that I knew was an old-school, kind-hearted man who legitimately cared and looked after the people with which he worked.

Marty was in his 60s when he passed, in the middle of trying to start an entire comedy club chain.  That was the kind of guy Marty was - he had such a love of and for comedy that - even after cheating death a short while ago - he continued to work towards the goal of bringing more comedy into the world until the day he died.

In fact, it was Marty who got me the gig at ComedyCures, a charity with which he was deeply involved and held close to his heart.

About a week ago, Marty and I had a disagreement about ComedyCures.  I was worried that if I did magic, I would be further pigeon-holed as a magician, making it that much harder to be recognized as a comedian by the comedy industry (which is often present at ComedyCures events).  Marty told me, "You're going to do it.... Just do it and we'll talk after.  You'll understand."

Marty was right - after doing the event, I realized that it was an honor to be a part of such an amazing charity period, regardless of my role.  I was being selfish - I would turn down a chance to bring joy to people who needed it the most because of some petty personal career nonsense?  Being there put everything in perspective - my personal issues were ridiculously silly and trivial, especially compared to the immensity of the goal we were trying to accomplish.

I called Marty as soon as I left ComedyCures and left him a voicemail thanking him for giving me the opportunity to work with ComedyCures.  I also told him that he was right, that now that I had experienced it, I understood the importance of my being there, regardless of my role.  I also understood Marty better, knowing what kind of charity he had been such a strong supporter of, knowing how highly regarded he was by ComedyCures people I now highly regard.

I'll probably never know if Marty got that voicemail.  I am, however, SOOO thankful that I was able to have this moment of understanding and appreciation about Marty while he was still alive.

Marty was more than just a comedy colleague - he was a mentor and friend.  Every time I look at my ComedyCures bracelet - which I won't be taking off - I'll be reminded of my obligation to the world to bring it laughter and make it a better place, an obligation Marty took to heart and worked to fulfill every day of his life.

I'll miss you, Marty.

Rest of the Fest

I'm heading back to New York as we speak (yay, Megabus buses having Internet!). The Boston Comedy Festival was AWESOME - I can't thank festival organizer Jim McCue (who's book, Embedded Comedian, is a fantastic read and highly recommended) for choosing me to be part of the competition and for putting together such an amazing festival (thanks also to Helen McCue and the volunteers, too!). Thanks also to Sean McCarthy (author of the industry blog, The Comic's Comic) for the nice write-up in his festival analysis - it's crazy to go from reading the blog to see who made it in the Festival to being in the blog as a comic that did well in the Festival. Finally, a HUGE thank you to Nelson Greaves, for hosting me for the entire week - it was hugely generous and I can't thank him enough. (He's also one of the current co-presidents of the Harvard College Stand-Up Comic Society, so he's helping continue the club I started on campus two years ago, a club dedicated to promoting the great art of stand-up on Harvard's campus.)

Can't wait for next year!!!

Off to the Semis!

I'm off to the first two semi-finals rounds of the Boston Comedy Festival to root on my friends and fellow comics at the Hard Rock Cafe in Faneuil Hall.  Honestly, I don't know how the judges are just going to pick two from each round for the finals.

I'll most probably be on a bus tomorrow from Boston to NYC, so expect a ruminative post tomorrow.

BTW, have you noticed the new blog layout?  Or the new calender widget on the right side of the blog?  Don't judge me, but that took about 2-3 hours.  So much for this whole "Internet" thing being time-saving.  I bet Rosie on The Jetsons broke down all the time, but it was too boring to show on television.  I can imagine George Jetson holding down Rosie's power button, trying to reset her for the 7th time that day, complaining about the fact that Rosie runs Windows 2200, cursing the fact that he didn't have enough money to buy the iRosie which he heard runs better but is also a bit over-hyped... Anyways, I should get going!

The Craziest Thing You Will EVER See

Right before graduating, Matt Di Pasquale asked me to submit a humor article for a magazine he was working on publishing, a Harvard-sanctioned porno mag called Diamond Magazine.  I passed, as it was way to risky to associate my name with something that could potentially be offensive, terrible, etc., etc.

Well, I was right to wait.

I wish I had the time to point out every that's batshit crazy about this issue (download it here - warning: definitely not safe for work), but I don't have 17 years to commit to dissecting this.

I will point out some of my favorite parts:

* The cover: Is he really on the cover?  Really?  I can only imagine Matt's sale pitch: "All Playboy and Hustler ever give you are pictures of beautiful, naked women.  At Diamond, we give the readers what they really want: shameless, half-naked shots of our hairy editor.  Diamond: Where vanity meets profanity."

Also, the tag, "Know Your Politics: Cause It's Getting Time to Vote," should be sold as a bumper sticker.  At least in the blue states.

* Page 7-8: If you don't have any real letters, why not print the random phrases your tech guy used to test the contact form?  Or letters from people interested in joining that I'm sure they wanted to be printed on a freakin' letters page.

* Pages 13-24: Diamond is supposed to be a nude mag (at least according to Matt and to the Harvard Crimson which recognizes that the word "nude" attracts many more hits and readers than "diamond," as evidenced by every article ever that they've written involving Diamond.) but here are twelve - twelve! - pages of Fiona as clad as possible.  Where are the boobies?!?

* Page 29-38: This is an interview with Matt Di Pasquale (surprise!) by Matt Di Pasqaule.  Read that again: he interviewed himself.  In fact, if you weren't clear about that, he makes sure to point that out on page 38: "Did you just interview yourself? Kinda... but how will they know?"  Indeed, how will they ever figure your brilliant self-interviewing scheme out.  Harrison, do you know? Why, yes - thanks for asking!  Could it be because he just said it or maybe because the name of the interviewer and interviewee are the same?  I think it's both.  I think you're right.  (This also makes exchanges like "I did a bit of local organic farming and played hockey.  Field hockey?  No, ice hockey" totally ridiculous.)

And then - if you were worried about not getting to see any nudie - you get to page 33 and... PENIS!  Exactly what men were expecting to get when they download his "nudie mag."

Also, in case any woman was turned on by this absurd photo, he made sure this question and answer were printed on the page: "Anything prospective applicants should know?  I fart under the covers.  Dutchover style, baby!"

 

The obvious thing to point out is that he's breaking the law and exposing himself out in public, in broad daylight.  How did he not get arrested?

The answer is that he took these pictures in, like, 3 seconds.  Look at the man with the red cap on walking off the bridge on the right side of the photo.  In the subsequent photos, notice how he's only inches further away.  In other words, Matt wore his towel to the bridge (page 34), then threw it off (page 33), turned around for a sec to show his ass (page 35), and then turned back around again for another shot that looks almost identical to the first one (page 37).

That's not a photo shoot - that's just a crime.

Page 34: "She said my splooge tasted like unripe bananas."  No comment.  I'm glad his Mom was referenced on the letters page as being proud.

Finally, on page 38 - after a NINE page interview with HIMSELF, Matt concludes by asking and then answering himself: "How do you think this interview went?  I think it went great! :) Unfortunately, we'll have to cut it short.  I could keep on going and going, and if I don't stop now, we'll never get this magazine out."  First of all, who is this "we"?  You're interviewing yourself.  And, second, was nine pages not enough?

I can only hope that issue two features even more in-depth interviews with this ball-baring super-streaker.

As I said in the beginning, there's only so much time I have to devote to this monument to unintended hilarity, so I'll have to stop myself there.  But take a few minutes, download the issue, and enjoy yourself.  No, not like that, ya perv.

Rocking Out at the Hard Rock Cafe

I was one of 96 comics chosen to compete in this year's Boston Comedy Festival.  While I didn't make it to the next round, I did have a great set (and, especially in the world of competitions, which involve everything from luck - what comedians you go up against in each round - to politics, that's all you can really do).  As one comic told me before I came up to Boston, "The best thing you can do is just have fun.  Make sure you're enjoying the experience instead of worrying about how you actually do."  And, man, was doing that show fun!

Thanks to the wonder of the Internet, here's an actual clip from my performance tonight:

Birthday Comedy

It was my birthday on Sunday and, like my birthday two years ago, I spent it on stage.  Actually, I did three shows, the last three I have to prepare for today, in which I compete as part of the Boston Comedy Festival.

I’ve been working my butt off for this Festival: performing 7-8 shows a week; recording, watching, and analyzing every show that I do (a task made easier by my video camera and, on occasion, the Griffin iTalk Pro, which has been absolutely indispensable since I got it in June); and fine-tuning those perfect 5 minutes for the show.

It’s crazy to think that I’ve been working tirelessly for three months on this and that the day has finally arrived!  Wish me luck!  (Or that I at least break a leg.)

It's the Little Things

Susie Essman said during an interview that it’s her job as a live performer to make every show unique and unrepeatable: that the audience should realize that no show will every take place exactly like the show they just saw, making it their own special show.  I love that insight and apply it to all my shows.

 And as much as I work hard to make sure my audience gets a unique show, once in a while, an audience member will do something that makes the show unique for me!  Tonight, at the People’s Improv Theater (where I was graciously asked to perform by Stone and Stone, the twin duo you may have seen on Last Comic Standing), an audience member gave me a high-five as I walked towards the back of the theater after my set (something he only did for me and no other comics before or after).  It’s a really little detail, but it made my night.  So, if you’re planning on coming to a comedy show (you can check my schedule if you want to see where I’ll be performing next!), keep in mind that you can make a comic’s night as much as they will make your’s!

New Headshots, New Home Page

It was finally time to get fresh, new headshots done.  In finding a photographer, I lucked out with the unbelievably talented Eden, the photographer who runs Amazing Photos Studios in downtown New York.

 In fact, if you check out the home page on my website, you’ll see that I’ve incorporated one of the new headshots (and linked to this blog!).

Quick Question

Why is it that a comedian who plays the guitar is a singing comedian but a comedian who performs magic is a magician?

Two's Company, Two Thousand's a REAL Crowd

SEPTEMBER 1st, 2008 - Gould Plaza sneaks up on you as you cross 3rd St. and work your way past Washington Square Park.  It's building, building, building, then an airy, open plaza, with buildings extending like hugging arms around it.

I was performing as part of NYU's Inter-Residence Council Hall (IRHC) Welcome Week at Gould Plaza and, as my time to go on approached, I watch a two-block long line filter into the Plaza.  The most people I had performed before was about 800 people at Harvard's Sanders Theater; even still, I could feel the adrenaline inject itself as the entire plaza became a sea of bodies and faces.

However, due to a series of mishaps involving Clearasil, which dried out my face, and an allergy to certain kinds of pollen, my eyes started becoming puffy and swollen right before going on stage.  In front of 2,000 people.

As you can tell in from the picture, though, I had sunglasses in my messenger bag, so thankfully only I (and now you!) know my little secret!

Just goes to show: in show business, always be prepared for the unexpected!

I Killed On Stage. Literally.

Comedians tend to be a morbid bunch, so it's not really surprising that there are a lot of death-related stand-up comedy terms.  A comedian who's doing well might say he "killed" or "crushed" or "destroyed" or "slayed 'em" or "knocked 'em dead."

But last night, things got a little too literal.

I was performing at the Surf and Turf Grille, which is right across from Nathan's Famous hot dog stand in the heart of Coney Island.  What made the venue really interesting, though, was that the stage was located at the front of the restaurant, which was opened to the street.  Instead of a wall, the comedian's back was to the exposed sidewalk.  The backdrop was Coney Island itself, with no physical division between the inside venue and the outside environment.

This lack of boundary made for some interesting moments.  As one comic made a joke about the police, several police cars literally came whizzing by behind him.  As another comic finished his set, a homeless person/crack addict started going through the trash across the street.

But evidently, during my set, someone was literally murdered two blocks away from where I was performing while my back was exposed to the entire street without any protection.

During the rest of the set, I was interrupted by ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks, all going over to the site of the murder.

And despite all that, I killed.  Figuratively.  In fact, this venue not only didn't impose time restrictions on the comics but did exactly the opposite: if you're doing well, the audience forces you to stay on stage.  After 15 minutes, when I tried to call the host back up, he and the audience refused: "You're doing really great!  Keep going!  We love you!"  After 20 minutes, the same thing happened.

In the end, I did 30 minutes of what I felt was the most real kind of comedy you could do: it was spontaneous, it was full-force, it was in the moment.  I was in a tangible, palpable relationship with the audience, so involved that we forgot about the drama enfolding directly behind us.

My life as a comedian has been strange but wonderfully so and this one crazy night - practically outside, in the middle of a deserted amusement park, with police swelling all around, and the scent of hotdogs and cotton candy in the air, I was able to bring a group of strangers together for a few beautiful moments.  And we all laughed together.