Live Comedy L.A.

I’m going to start a new feature called “Comedy and Technology”. I will try to spotlight some of the newest interactive, social media, and online marketing tools and how they should and can affect the world of live comedy. Todays tool:

Twitter is a tool that allows you to send quick messages (140 characters or less) to a large group of people at the same time.  You can send the message via the Twitter site, text message, or various Twitter applications that are desktop or browser based.

If you are a comedian, this is another way to communicate with fans in a proactive way. Very few people remember to come to your Myspace to check when you are performing and email is just one way to communicate.  With Twitter, you can send a quick message that goes out to all of your followers on where your next gig is…or while you are at the gig, you can tell them you just bumped into Chris Rock…or you can give them a sneak preview of your next great joke…or a million other creative ideas that you can think of to generate buzz. It’s a way to establish an intimate relationship with fans in quick bite sized messages.

Live Comedy L.A. is going to use Twitter to communicate deals on comedy shows.  Plus, I’ll use it to let people know what comedy shows I am attending…while I’m there. One text sends a Twitter message to everyone who is following Live Comedy L.A.  So if you read the blog or if you are a comedian at the same show, you know I’m there and we can chat.

So get a Twitter account and start following us at www.twitter.com/livecomedyla.

Comedians need to use technology more and Twitter is just one tool that can help you reach out to your audience.  It’s all about proactive communication and promotion.

We’re celebrating live comedy, Live Comedy L.A., and yes…my 30th birthday this Saturday at Red Rock with a show that will blow you away.  The line-up is awesome. If you want to laugh, please come down and enjoy the celebration with me.  The show is FREE.  Yeah…FREE COMEDY.  I swear to you…this line-up rivals any of the line-ups you will see at a major club this weekend.  Hope to see you there.

Linda Pine produces a stand-up comedy show once a month at Meltdown Comics on Sunset called Comedy Meltdown that is at the top of the list when it comes to professionalism. Yet, some how she pulls it off in a kick-back, nerdy environment that I dig.

The show is free. The beer is free and sponsored (yes…sponsored) by Asahi. You actually have to make a purchase at the store to get free beer…which is genius. It could be a $0.25 comic…doesn’t matter. But it’s a win all the way around for everyone. The lighting is great…the sound system rocks…the comics have their own little room. And check out that huge poster behind the stage. This show kicks ass. I recommend it to everyone. All promoters should aspire to this level of professionalism.

Three comedians I would like to highlight from a stellar line-up: Jonah Ray (who has hosting duties for the monthly show), Chip Pope, and Brent Weinbach:

Jonah Ray is a pro at hosting and did a great job at setting up the other comedians. You’ve heard me use the point guard analogy for hosts - he nailed it. Love that.

Chip Pope was a little unconventional tonight and took on the role of a character name R.O. Mance. A British pop singer from the 80’s. HI-larious! I’m normally not a big fan of this stuff during a stand-up show…but he killed it.

Brent Weinbach might be one of the most talented performers I have seen on stage in a while. I really enjoyed the Russian Alphabet bit…the upper-case letter in particular.

This is a must see show…so stay tuned for next month…definitely a fun Friday night out.

There is a ton of live comedy going on this weekend…too much to list…so much that I need to do start my list on Wednesday night in case I forget anybody…which I’m sure I will. At some point, I’ll design the calendar system to keep track of all the comedy…but I’m not going to make it open source because I refuse to send you to bad shows. Here’s the run down:

Thursday//June 26//Katt Williams//Gibson Amphitheater (I’ll be there…say hi)

Friday//June 27//Suli McCullough

Friday//June 27//Shang//Downtown Comedy Club

Friday//June 27//Comedy Meltdown

Saturday//June 28//Joe Rogan + Duncan Trussell//Improv - 8pm and 10pm
Rogan is doing an hour set

Last night, I went to Dan Bialek’s new show “Twelve Shiny Nickels” at The Gardner Theaters. It’s a new concept show where 12 comedians do their best 5 minutes of material so that the audience is in and out in one hour. Sounded interesting given that I think stand-up comedy line-ups should have no more than 6 or 7 comedians at the absolute maximum because no one benefits from a long show with a lot of comedians. No one. Dan’s idea was intriguing because he was going to get us in and out in 1 hour. (more…)

A packed house at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge last night saw one of the best line-ups in the show’s history. Chris Franjola, Christina Pazsitzky, Tom Segura, and Sarah Colona are 4 of the best stand-up comedians in the city and probably the country - and we got to see all of them in one show. It’s a really a tribute to the great job that Matty “Ballgame” Balaker has done. I would also like to give a shout out to the management at Red Rock for giving the show such great support. Prior management was not as supportive, but the new guys have really worked hard to help Matt. They understand what a great asset comedy can be to the establishment.

A few highlights:
- Christina Pazsitzky’s performance last night proves that the judges on Last Comic Standing do not choose the funniest people. I find it impossible…and I mean impossible…to believe that there are even 10 people in any city funnier than her. America got to see maybe :30-seconds of her act. Not fair. She’s unreal. She has reached a point in her comedy career that being on stage is second nature. She doesn’t have to think. Choosing to pursue stand-up comedy full time was a great decision. Please…for the love of holy hell…go see her live.

- Tom Segura did 20 minutes of new material that I have never heard before and it was incredible. I have seen Tom about 7 or 8 times. To do that much material…and for me to never have seen it…means he’s a great writer.

- When Sarah Colona performs…I feel like I’m getting a raw look into her life…and it’s so amazing. She is why stand-up comedy is so cool. When she jokes about her age and the number of men she slept with and her “roofy girlfriend”…it’s real…and it’s hilarious.

- Chris Franjola did the impossible last night…he dealt with a ridiculous heckler…and still pulled off a terrific set. I love Franjola. He’s a pro. Plus…he mentions my website on stage. He said, “Live Comedy L.A…what the fuck is that”? Genius…if you ask me.

- Chris Millhouse and Jessica Glassberg also performed. I think both had great stage presence. Especially Chris…he was very cool up on stage. With some material development…he’ll be solid.

Great time again at the Laugh Lounge.

HEY…make sure to check out Sarah Colona on Chelsea Lately on E! on Thursday night. Tivo that action so you know who I’m talking about.

Tuesday is always a big night for live comedy in Los Angeles. Tonight is no different - Dane Cook, Judd Apatow, Sarah Silver, and many more on the card.

Laugh Factory - Jay Davis Comedy:
Jay is friends with all the best comedians in the city and they all do his Tuesday night show at the Laugh Factory…including Dane Cook (who will probably be there tonight).

Info:
10pm @ Laugh Factory
E-mail Jay @ his Myspace for half of the tickets (which means $10). Get there early!!!

Upright Citizens Brigade:
UCB has two unbelievable shows tonight - Comedy Death Ray with Sarah Silverman and Marc Maron and See You Next Tuesday with Judd Apatow (yeah…that Judd Apatow).

Info:
Comedy Death Ray @ 8:30pm
$5

See You Next Tuesday @10:30
FREE

Red Rock - Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge:
I venture to say that tonight’s line-up just might be the best in Laugh Lounge history. Colona, Franjola, Pazsitzky, Segura all in one line-up? Really? For Free? Really?

Info:

Los Angeles comedian, Jeff Short, is starring in the new Sharp Aquos commercial. Jeff joins Dwayne Perkins as recent L.A. comedians who have represented big brands on the small screen. Keep an eye out for the commercial on cable stations everywhere…and if you happen to catch it on network TV…shoot Jeff a note and tell him congrats…because that means big bucks.

Former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2-time NBA Champion Houston Rockets, and University of Michigan alum Rudy Tomjanovich was in the house last night for a stellar line-up for Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock. Other notables in the crowd included Brad Stewart from No Name Comics and my girlfriend ; ).

Alonzo Bodden is always incredible to watch at the Laugh Lounge because of how informal and intimate the setting is. He seems very comfortable with the audience. It’s the ultimate in live comedy. I’d love to see an All-Star Show at the Laugh Lounge…maybe for my birthday show (hint…hint). The rest of the line-up was great. I loved watching Keith Healy. He has improved so much…terrific to watch. Jen Murphy was dirtier than ever…and I loved it. Rebecca Michael nailed it. Patrick Keane…as Alonzo Bodden said…is an incredible joke writer. And Patrick Keane…as Alonzo Bodden said…is an incredible joke writer. And Laura Hayden was awesome in her white jeans on the 28th day.

The crowd continues to grow…and I hope L.A. keeps supporting live comedy. See you around town…go laugh.

Buy Alonzo Bodden’s new CD - “The Bootleg”

3 months after buying my tickets and 10 years since I last saw him in concert, I am finally going to the Chris Rock show tonight at the Gibson Amphitheatre! Quite possibly the greatest comedian of our time. If you are there, say hi…he’s going to kill!