Live Comedy L.A.

Quinn Dahle is an L.A.-area comedian with similar credits to every other comedian in our city. He appears at the Improv, the Laugh Factory, and M Bar among others. He has a “Blue Collar”, hillbilly sense about is humor. One of the good ole’ boys.

Last Tuesday evening, November the 4th, a history making evening, Dahle was scheduled to perform at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. The Laugh Lounge is often featured in this space for the quality of its programming, the professional manner in which it is run, and the terrificly loyal crowd that supports the room twice monthly. On this day, the crowd for the show was uncharacteristically light. In fact, the crowd was light in establishments across the city given the significance of the evening. If you don’t recall, the citizens of our country were at home glued to their televisions, eagerly anticipating the results of the presidential election.

Dahle took this opportunity to demonstrate unprofessionalism that is entirely unacceptable to this fan and supporter of stand-up comedy. After arriving at Red Rock for his set, Dahle saw the small crowd and expressed his “nervousness” about performing to show runner Matt Balaker. After assuring Balaker he would still perform, Dahle decided to bail entirely on the set mid-intro. Escaped out the back door.

In my opinion (and it is not humble at this moment), Dahle committed an act of unprofessionalism that is unforgivable.

If you expect to one day become more than just a no name comedian, it is important to conduct yourself professionally in all circumstances. Whether you are in front of 800 people or 8.

In a city like Los Angeles, you never know who might be in the audience. The great ones have that in the back of their mind each and every night. Not sure Quinn Dahle is one of the great ones with a move like this.

Turns out an executive from E! Entertainment was in the audience.

Update:
Marty Ross filled in for Dahle on the spot. He was there just to support the show. Slammed down a nacho and hit the mic like a professional. The show must go on!

Line-up:
Quinn Dahle
Josh Mullins
Matt Bronger
Jen Murphy
Sean Green
Daryl Wright
Dan Gabriel
Ian Bagg

Friday night…8pm…THE Hollywood Improv…that’s a prime time show. You know how many people were there…maybe 30…if we count the wait staff. Ian Bagg deserves better than that…in fact…stand-up comedy deserves better than that. Honestly…it makes me sad. The Improv needs to get their act together quickly…because they are getting lazy…not only with promotion of their shows…but with supplying a quality product, innovation, and creativity. If they don’t start applying fundamental business principles to the comedy business…they are going to go the way of the Comedy Store very quickly. You heard it here first. Look…the folks over at the Laugh Factory (with the exception of Brother Woods…great guy) are a bunch of douche bags. Jamie Masada and his staff treat patrons like shit…and I’ve heard worse about the comedians. But I can tell you this…he knows how to run a business. Friday and Saturday nights are packed there. He puts up the best comedians…during the prime time shows. You have to do that…for the good of the game. I’m going to get to the comedians now…but stay tuned for my blog on how the Improv can improve…I’m going to offer my suggestions because it’s by far my favorite club. I love it. And I don’t want it to become the Comedy Store.

Quinn Dahle
Quinn definitely brought it back around this time. He was faced with a small, tough crowd…and I felt like he did a good job loosening things up. Plus he didn’t say everyone was from Comedy Central when introducing them. Still would like to see more personal intros…but he did a great job. This is the great thing about comedy…I love watching improvement and struggle…and the process. It’s fascinating to me.

Josh Mullins
I guess Josh runs the room at Le Stats down in San Diego. A lot of my favorite comedians go down there…so it sounds like a good room. Josh is pretty low key and solid with his material. Nothing is popping for me…but he dealt with the small crowd well. This was a tough show folks…seriously.

Matt Bronger
I think I’m spelling his name wrong (PLEASE IMPROV…get a line-up card for every table…it’s a simple promotional tool that will help everyone…I promise). Matt was mostly clean. Started a little slow and all over the place…but I’ll tell ya’…the guy closed pretty strongly. I loved the joke about not being able to find your penis in freezing cold weather at a Chicago Bears game when you are in the bathroom…that’s a riot. Plus the owl stuff was very funny.

Jen Murphy
Jen was totally cute…sorry…I’m a dude…that’s the first thing I noticed. Not as hot as my girlfriend…but still (threw that in just in case…you know what I’m sayin’ fellas…). She said her vagina was sagging…hilarious!

Sean Green
Sean popped in for a quick 4 or 5…nothing is sticking with me.

Daryl Wright
There is nothing like discovering a new comedian who is really funny. It’s awesome. Daryl was great. He went up with the all important…”I don’t give a fuck attitude” and just had at it. His clan material was stellar. He’s really good…looking forward to seeing him again.

Dan Gabriel
Dan is very good. I love the jokes about having a baby in a week instead of 9 months…awesome. He’s polished…you can tell.

Ian Bagg
OK…let’s just say it right now…Ian Bagg is gifted. He is truely a gifted comedian and I don’t understand why he doesn’t have a show, a tour…something…christ. He goes up there…and just starts firing away with what almost seems like nothing. I’m not sure he has writting material. He uses the audience in a way that is more unique than anything I’ve seen before. Is there a better “crowd worker” in the business? If so…I haven’t seen him/her. I really love going to see him…and so should every other person who enjoys stand-up comedy…because he is one of the VERY few stand-up comedians who will give you a different show every time you see him. His skill level is incredible. At this show…some dude in the audience got served his divorce papers that night. Perfect. Ian tried to hook him up with some lady in the audience…just awesome!

Line-Up:
Quinn Dahle
Louis Katz
Daniel Tosh
Matt Ralston
Daniel Kinno
Matt Fulchiron
TBD Comedian
Doug Benson

This was the “Best and Brightest” show at the Improv. I’ll be honest…this line-up was too big…and there were too many comedians looking at notes for this show. I guess I don’t expect that at the Improv…which is my favorite of the three big clubs in the city. This was like a mish mash line-up…new comedians who didn’t seem ready to be there…and a GREAT comedian who they put up too early. Not sure what was going on with this one to be honest.

Quinn Dahle -
Quinn is not a host. Didn’t have the material to warm up the crowd…and the only credit he used for every comedian was that they were from Comedy Central. Hey…I loved seeing him…but I don’t think it’s fair to put him in the host role. The clubs need to give this role more importance. Just my opinion.

Louis Katz -
First time seeing Louis…he had some good stuff…but nothing stuck with me this time…which isn’t necessarily bad. However, he used his notes a ton. I just think if you are at the Improv…you shouldn’t use notes. At what point do comedians not use notes. It’s actually becoming a problem…if they are using them at small work out rooms…small paid rooms…bigger paid rooms…weekday shows at the big clubs…then when aren’t they using them. Just an observation.

Daniel Tosh -
You can see my many takes on Tosh in previous blogs…he’s one of the best…I love him. His “Chilly Doggin” reference was awesome. The guy kills it. Don’t know why they put him up so early.

Matt Ralson -
Don’t know why his set isn’t sticking with me…probably because I’m writing this 3 weeks too late.

Daniel Kinno -
I’m making a prediction…Kinno will be one of the young, hot comics in the very near future…much like Bret Ernst was back in 2004. He has good presence and great material. I’ve seen him twice now…and he kills. Needs to drop the notes at the Improv though.

Matt “The Fullcharge” Fulchiron -
The only other time I saw The Fullcharge was doing a tight 3 at Red Rock. He busted out a sweet 12 and I dug it. He’s got the goods. He tells jokes so fast it’s almost too hard to remember them. But he’s damn good.

Doug Benson -
Love Benson. Seen him a million times…and he still kills. He did McGriddles…which is the best joke…I can never hear it too many times. Hope he wins Last Comic Standing.