Live Comedy L.A.

FYI: Trying some things with Snap.com functionality…just mouse over the links and see what happens. Should be able to see web pages and Youtube videos right here without leave. Cool stuff!

Line-Up:
Matty “Ballgame” Balaker
Dave Lease
Adam Richmond
Bernadette Balagtas
Michael Batts
Brody Stevens
Alonzo Bodden

Red Rock was jammed again for another Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. Pretty great for Thanksgiving week. I love how management is really embracing this show. They have rearranged seating…added tables…adjusted lighting…hell…we might even get a waitress up there if this keeps up.

Matty “Ballgame” Balaker -
Matty did some great call back material to the last show when a crazy woman essentially attacked him on stage. It’s great that Matt recognizes the regulars and makes them feel welcome. I want to mention Matt’s customer service skills quickly while I have a chance. We talk about this a lot here but it is rarely implemented at the clubs and especially at the rooms. Before and after every show, Matt is introducing himself to each person in the crowd and thanking them for coming. I’ve never been thanked for attending a show at the Improv or at the Laugh Factory…and I pay money to go there. Take note folks.

Dave Lease -
It was my first time seeing Dave and his first appearance at Red Rock. He was really good. Loved the joke about hell at the end.

Adam Richmond -
Adam is nuts…and it’s awesome! Tons of energy…and really fun. He ended his set with a brilliant line. The one thing a dude doesn’t want to say to a woman in a very intimate moment…”I want you inside me.” HILARIOUS!

Bernadette Balagtas -
I love Bernadette. She’s hilarious, clean, and really cool. She’s the type of comedian that everyone can appreciate.

Michael Batts -
Michael is Bernadette’s husband. They do a great back and forth when he comes up on stage and she sits down. I’d like to see some new material from Michael…but that is only because I like him so much. The Jaime Fox stuff gets me everytime.

Brody Stevens -
Everyone knows how much I love Brody. Some people just don’t get him…he is definitely an acquired taste. But I think he’s brilliant. For some reason, people take his stage persona as being serious, because his style is so unique. I’ll make it very clear…he’s joking!!! I think it’s amazing when he says stuff like “I’m brilliant. I know math. I got my degree online.” He provides this contrast of himself that is just amazing. 818 till I die!!! BTW…joke of the night. “I’m not one of those West Side Jews…a Montana Ave. Jew. I’m a Valley Jew. A blue collar Jew. My dad ran the Swap Meet.” I’m almost fell over laughing at that.

Alonzo Bodden -
I can pretty much guarantee Alonzo Bodden gives his best performances at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. You can tell he is so relaxed…and he’s just kickin’ jokes. No pressure. Just he and the audience. It’s so much fun. And some how…when he performs…there is always great interaction with the crowd. This time he reminded a “heckler” that he can rely on the heckler to always be there to help him. It was absolutely hilarious…especially if you see a lot comedy or if you are a comedian. Terrific.

Sorry for the lack of posting…the job search is killing me.  This should be fun as alway.  Alonzo is great…especially at Red Rock.  I love Brody.  And Bernadette is great too…clean.

Promoters, comics, venue owners/operators…make note…if you are putting on a show with 10, 12, 13, 15….17 (yes…17) comedians…you are killing stand-up comedy.  KILLING IT!  No audience member wants to sit through this.  It’s brutal.  Nobody enjoys it.  Marathon stand-up comedy is not good for the business.  People don’t remember the comedians, get bored, leave, have a bad time…and then tell their friends that it really wasn’t that great.  Maybe they saw one or two good comedians…but they can’t remember their name because there were 15 of them!!!  Plus…what comedian wants to wait around all night…only to perform to an audience that has no energy…and is ready to go home?  No comedian I know.  All comedians need stage time…I get it.  And I can appreciate rooms that are geared towards comedians. But do the art, the business, and your colleagues…a favor…don’t bill your show as “Incredible” when you have 12-17 comedians.  It won’t be…it’s impossible…and you are only setting the audience up for disappointment.  Expectations need to be managed.  Book 6-8 comedians.  If you want to help each other out with stage time…set-up early shows.  But if you are lucky enough to book a quality room, in a great area, at a great time…don’t screw it up by overbooking your line-up.  Quality control is still your number one priority.  Think about the audience…and they will keep coming back.

Line-Up:
Matt Baetz
Jessica Glassberg
Matty “Ballgame” Balaker
Josh McDermitt
Sarah Colonna
Chris Franjola
Brian Scolaro

Let me tell you why I love live comedy…you never know what’s going to happen. This Stevie Nicks look-a-like chick kept interrupting the show. It was kind of funny at first…but as all obnoxious crowd members go…it got annoying. Ballgame handled it well…but eventually she had to be tossed…loved it. Look folks…as much as we think live comedy is some type of interactive thing…90% of the time…it isn’t…so per usual…keep your yapper shut. If the comedian wants to engage the crowd…he’ll come calling…don’t worry. There is nothing worse than an audience member thinking they are funny…you’re not…no really…you’re not. Me included. Big crowd last night…the show may have reached the tipping point…people are starting to talk about it. Onto the comedians.

Matt Baetz -
Best host in town…hands down…it’s not even close. Not only does he get the crowd warmed up with very good material…he knows every comedians name…and you can just tell things were loose. Matt hosts in a way where he doesn’t make it about him…it’s about the show. By doing so…he comes off way more professionally…and his material and skills shine. Not to mention he was dealing with that d-bag lady in row 2. I’m not kidding…she kept saying she was from Texas…so damn annoying. But Baetz handled her. This guy is a gamer…go see him…ASAP!

Jessica Glassberg -
I really liked her slutty baby material…she called her Slutty McSlutterson…and she did some Pussy Cat Dolls action. I think she hung with the jury duty material for about 3 minutes too long…but I’m sure she was testing. She has good presence…and she’s cool. Some material development and she’ll be good to go.

Matty “Ballgame” Balaker -
Ballgame was solid…unflapped by Stevie Nicks…he powered through his set. The unfortunate thing is…because of this chick…I’m having a tough time remembering his material. But he handled her really well…didn’t lose his cool…got the crowd laughing at her…never lost his confidence on stage…and kicked ass. Folks…this chick actually walked on stage…anything less than Ballgame kicking her in the ass was a miracle. That’s a pro, ladies and gentlemen.

Josh McDermitt -
My first time seeing Josh. He was solid…his joke about you are what you eat was great. He said, “I don’t agree…I’ve never eatin’ a 29 year old loser who still lives at home with his dad.” Awesome. Looking forward to seeing him again.

Sarah Colonna -
Sarah is great. So cool. She’s getting Britney, Paris, Lindsey, Tom Sizemore, and The Hof…all in a house for a show called….”So You Think You Can Drink”. Genius. I love the roofy girl too. And she cut the her vibrator joke at the end at the perfect spot. Awesome set.

Chris Franjola -
I’m telling you right now…there are very few comedians on Franjola’s level. He’s off the cuff…he’s current…he’s quick. Can we get this cat a show or something…seriously. Can we put him, Sickler, Segura, Brody…I could go here…in some stuff. Franjola closed with his sex joke…which kills. I also love the one about his neighbor taping himself having sex…that is unreal. Go see Franjola…seriously.

Brian Scolaro -
There is one joke I will never get tired of…and Brian may be sick of it…but I’m not…and no audience I have ever seen is…the sneezing joke. I think it might be the best joke of all time. I scream like a chick every time I hear it.  His caveman material was great too. Scolaro was awesome…he’s a cool dude.

Great time last night…if you aren’t going to stand-up comedy…you are missing out. It’s too good not to go.

Hope some folks got to see HECKLER last night at AFI FEST.  It was really good.  So cool to see comedians in a movie talking about hecklers and critics.  Great insight.  The crowd was great too…Greg Fitzsimmons, Andrew Dice Clay, one of the Sklar Bros., Matty Ballgame…were all in the house.  Very cool living in L.A. and getting to see stuff like this.  I hope people take advantage of our great city and the great comedy we have going on.  By the way…don’t heckle…really…just be keep your yapper shut.

Great show on Tuesday the 6th at Red Rock…I’ll be in the house.

Did you know BJ Novak from The Office is a stand-up comedian? He plays “Ryan”…the MBA student now at corporate. I haven’t seen him yet…but I’m going tonight. The Hollywood Improv has a promo code for free tix. Go to their website and enter FUNNY when you buy the tickets. They say it’s free…but it’s actually $2.50…whatever. Check it out…I’ll be there with my girlfriend.

UPDATE: JUST CALLED THE IMPROV - They are sold out for the 8pm show tonight. Not sure if they will accept the code for 10pm tomorrow…but try. He’s there 10pm tonight and 8pm and 10pm tomorrow.

P.S. In the spirit of self-cross promotion (I think I just made that term up), my run as President of Shelf Shark is coming to end…so I’m in the market for a new job. If you, a friend, a colleague, etc. needs a business savvy, revenue generating, creative character…let me know. On here I say I don’t know anything about anything…but I may know a few things about somethings. I do have other experiences and qualifications besides this blog…and inventing phrases like “self-cross promotion”…check them out:
Thanks!