Live Comedy L.A.

Over the past 3 or 4 years I have watched Bret Ernst and to a lesser degree John Caparulo, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Ahmed Ahmed work the L.A. comedy scene. I actually remember the first time I saw Bret at the Laugh Factory in 2004 do his roller skating joke…it was unreal then…and it was even more unreal watching him do it on a gigantic screen that is currently showing in theaters across the country in Vince’s Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show. Needless to say…I loved the film. But more than anything…I love the fact that these four gentlemen have the opportunity to show their skills to millions of people across the country. It’s great that Vince Vaughn felt compelled to take the time to help these guys out. It’s something that I would love to be able to do one day as a supporter of stand-up. He didn’t just lend his name either…you could tell he was working hard to promote each show and was with the comedians through out the 30 days. I thought director Ari Sandel did an incredible job of capturing who the comedians were on a personal level…giving the audience a sense of what their insecurities are…and delivering a very real experience for the audience. It didn’t seem contrived. Just fun…and very funny.

I encourage everyone to go see this movie…but more importantly…I encourage everyone to go see these gentleman live in the clubs. In addition, I hope it is clear that great comedians like Bret Ernst, John Caparulo, Sabastian Maniscalco, and Ahmed Ahmed are performing in clubs everyday…especially in our great city. Get out there and see them…support them…and tell your friends about them. We’ll do our best here at Live Comedy L.A. to keep you in the loop on who’s going to be where and when.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO SEE ARTIE LANGE ON APRIL 5

April 5th, 2008 - The Day Heaven Comes to Earth.

Or for the those of us that are stand-up comedy AND college hoops junkies…the day the great Artie Lange will perform in Los Angeles and the day of the 2008 Final Four. It’s shaping up to be one of the great days in the history of mankind…and really…I can’t overstate that enough. Don’t ask me to do anything that day…nothing…I’m in front of my TV…watching the greatest sports spectacle that exists…and then I’m off to the Gibson Amphitheater to watch a legend…Artie Lange. I’m going to be doing a lot of things to get ready for that day…so let’s take a look (just mouse over the link - don’t even need to click - and check out the content in the SnapShot):

1. I may buy stock in the producers of my favorite content…let’s check the stock prices: CBS Corp. (CBS) and Live Nation, Inc. (LYV)
2. Definitely going to be laughing at Artie videos on YouTube…and getting chills from great Final Four moments.
3. Probably gonna need directions to Gibson Amphitheater and wishing that I needed directions to the Alamo Dome.
4. Probably not playing World of War Craft…but hey…whatever floats your boat.
5. Hitting up Artie on Myspace.
6. Preparing for the next Mid-Major to make the Final Four by reading my favorite blog.
7. Seeing if Flickr has any cool shots of Artie.
8. Listening to “One Shining Moment”.
9. Checking out Artie’s IMDb.
10. Doing some research on Wikipedia on the History of the Final Four.
11. I’m definitely going to do some shopping - perhaps a DVD….or maybe a book.
12. Or maybe I’ll just check out where it all happens…HERE and HERE.

Hope you can join me - Artie Lange Tickets Available HERE!

I’m a little slow with this one…but try “GIBSON” in the Ticketmaster box to get on the pre-sale today.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the great Artie Lange!  I’ll be there.

Another option for your live comedy “pleasure”…this show brought to you by the folks at Whip It Out Comedy. Gotta love the sex, hot chicks, and stand-up comedy tie-in they have going on. Solid line-up, including The Crime Fighter Sam Tripoli. Show starts at 10pm at the Hollywood Improv. Click HERE for more show info and FREE tickets!

Your stand-up comedy options are a-plenty this Tuesday (Feb. 5th) evening in L.A. We talked about the killer line-up at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge already…but if you feel like seeing some alterna-comics at UCB…Comedy Death Ray is the show. I personally have not been…but I can’t say enough good things about Maria Bamford. I think you’ll also enjoy Harris Wittels and Rob Delaney. Plus…you get Marc Maron. I haven’t seen him before…but he’s pretty big. The point is…you have choices for stand-up comedy on Tuesday night. One is free…the other is $5. Try going to see a good movie for those prices.

Tickets go on sale to the general public for Artie Lange’s stand-up comedy show in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal City Walk on Saturday, February 9th at 1PM. There is an internet pre-sale that starts on Friday, February 8th…I am still trying to figure out those details from Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The show is on April 5th (that’s the same day as the Final Four…for those that care…it could be the greatest single day in the history of the planet for those of us that love stand-up comedy and college hoops).

You will be able to purchase tickets HERE.

I have said it before and I will say it again…I believe Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge is the best stand-up comedy show in Los Angeles right now. Matty “Ballgame” Balaker gets great comedians…there is no cover…there is no drink minimum…there is no line…the atmosphere is totally friendly…and the show lasts a perfect 90 minutes. I’m not saying it’s the best business model…I’m just saying it’s the best stand-up comedy show. I go every time the show is put on…which is the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month…and it’s a great time. All the comedians agree…this is a stellar room for comedy in Los Angeles.

Tuesday’s line-up is sweet and I’m sure I will talk more about it next week…but I’d like to highlight Andrew Norelli right now. He is one of L.A.’s hidden jewels. He is simply one of the best stand-up comedians in our city and I would venture to guess in the country. Get to this show to see him…in the mean time…check him out in this VideoShot.

I have several friends who are very good stand-up comedians. Top notch, no bullshit performers. Unfortunately there are a lot of these people out there. It has been my observation that the difference between a very good stand-up comedian and a great stand-up comedian is the ability to promote oneself and to have no fear in doing so. Let’s put aside writing ability…because if you can’t write…you’re dead in the water right off the bat. If you want to become great…or even well known…you need to promote…or you will hover in the middle somewhere for your entire career. In our society, that means embracing technology at it’s earliest adoption points…and embracing every consumer touch point. This means you just can’t be a writer…you just can’t be a stand-up comedian…you have to be a business person that manages your own career. So many comedians I see seem to think writing is enough…letting other people get them a gig here or a gig there is enough. The tools are available for comedians to be known by everyone in the world.

Dane Cook and Joe Rogan are two prime examples of comedians who have embraced technology to become gigantic. These two gentleman are on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as jokes and personality are concerned…save the fact that Dane doesn’t drink and Joe gets high everyday. However, they both fully understand that the way to success in our society and economy is using the internet and technology to boost your career. And they both understand it’s an active approach…that needs to be tweaked and played with constantly. Comedians are use to perfecting something and not going with it until it’s exactly right. That’s not the world we live in…people who try new things on the internet are rewarded…and so will you.

Both have recently started using a service called justin.tv - a live video service community. Every comedian should be on here…immediately. I mentioned something to a friend about doing live shows on justin.tv and he said comedians are hesitant about being taped. I told him…great comedians embrace technology and the unknown…middle market comedians are afraid.

Bill Burr is definitely one of the top comedians out there…and now that he has moved to Los Angeles to do stand-up comedy (instead of NY)…we are lucky to get to see him quite frequently at places like the Hollywood Improv. He has a joke about the exploding population that had me screaming like a 12-year old girl…let’s hope he tells it tonight or tomorrow. Take a look at this VideoShot and check the details below on how to get FREE tickets to see him this weekend.

Click Here to go to the Improv website…pick a show…and purchase tickets.
Upon check out…input PROMO CODE: BIL (yes…one “L”)…and create an account. There will be a $3 service charge for each ticket…which is actually $0.50 more than before…but still a solid price to see Bill Burr.  You can get up to 4 tickets.  If this doesn’t work…call the Improv and give them the code over the phone…that usually works also.  My suggestion…get there early and have the tortilla soup and the spicy chicken fingers…then you’ll get the reserved seats.  But that’s just how I do it.