Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
You know your comedy career is "BOOMING" when you do a Gas Station.
You know your comedy career is "BOOMING" when you do a Gas Station.
This past summer I was asked to do a show in Avon, N.C. with a good friend and funny comedian Nick Cobb.
Nick Cobb official standup comedy website
I jumped at the chance to do a real show with someone I knew would be fun to work with again.
Nick flew here to Raleigh, N.C. and I drove us the rest of the way to Avon, N.C. ( about 5 hours ). As we got closer to Avon, we started to realize how out of the way the it truly was. I say that due to the fact my iPhone service got weaker and weaker the closer we got. But not being able to use my iPhone might of been a good thing because nothing scares Southerners like technology.
We finally got our destination and checked in at our hotel. The hotel was right on the beach and was conveniently located right across the street from a gas station / mini-mart. Like every mini-mart, it had all your basic necessities. But this mini-mart went a step further! It even had a private movie theater hidden by a secret door that blended into the wall perfectly that sat 30 in stadium movie theater seats. But wait! that's not the end to the AMAZING mini-mart features. Nope! The private, secret hidden theater also doubled as a "standup comedy club"...Yes, you read that right! A STANDUP COMEDY CLUB!!!
Wow, my agent must be working overtime! TO make sure all the islanders were aware of the show going on that weekend, they were gracious enough to advertise us on a white board in the window. we didn't have our names in lights, but we were mentioned right under "Boars head Turkey $9.54 a lb". The name really added the icing to the cake! It was called "Big Wave Daves". Which ironically was what I hoped would come and wash that place away right before we had to do the show.
We were set to do two nights of shows, two shows Friday and two shows Saturday. The first show Friday night had a crowd of 3 people. Two very nice local senior citizens, and the owner. If that didn't make up for the 5 hour drive, then I don't know what would. lol Insert sarcasm here.
Actually to be honest, the show went great and I did 25 minutes for those three generous people. The second show was canceled due to the fact that there was no crowd. Avon N.C. is a fishing town that is on the outer banks of N.C. and people don't usually stay up late because they get up at the crack of dawn to fish.
The second night was a better turn out! This lady came up to Nick and I after the first show and said she loved it, but that we disappointed her. When we asked her why, she replied with this. " I told my son you were going to do a lot of "pussy jokes", but you didn't. I really hoped you would of done a lot more "pussy jokes". The more she said "pussy jokes" didn't distract me from the fact that some point of the day, the selling point to her son by her was the fact they were going to do "pussy jokes". I could just imagine how it went down. I can see the son refusing to go over and over again, but then the mom in a stroke of genius deal making yells out from down stairs...." ok, but you are going to miss out on all the "PUSSY JOKES".
After each show we went back to the hotel we were staying at at the expense of Big Wave Dave. It was a simple hotel room. If you consider simple to be an aroma of pee and sand. But to make up for the lovely aroma, they threw in a high-tech entertainment center.
And yes, that is a 15 inch laptop (which I had with me, thank god!)with shitty speakers that were reminiscent of a two cans tied to string to play telephone when I was 5.
And if you look closely at the last picture, you can see Mr. Cobb enjoying the real reason how and why we enjoyed/tolerated the whole weekend.
This past summer I was asked to do a show in Avon, N.C. with a good friend and funny comedian Nick Cobb.
Nick Cobb official standup comedy website
I jumped at the chance to do a real show with someone I knew would be fun to work with again.
Nick flew here to Raleigh, N.C. and I drove us the rest of the way to Avon, N.C. ( about 5 hours ). As we got closer to Avon, we started to realize how out of the way the it truly was. I say that due to the fact my iPhone service got weaker and weaker the closer we got. But not being able to use my iPhone might of been a good thing because nothing scares Southerners like technology.
We finally got our destination and checked in at our hotel. The hotel was right on the beach and was conveniently located right across the street from a gas station / mini-mart. Like every mini-mart, it had all your basic necessities. But this mini-mart went a step further! It even had a private movie theater hidden by a secret door that blended into the wall perfectly that sat 30 in stadium movie theater seats. But wait! that's not the end to the AMAZING mini-mart features. Nope! The private, secret hidden theater also doubled as a "standup comedy club"...Yes, you read that right! A STANDUP COMEDY CLUB!!!
Wow, my agent must be working overtime! TO make sure all the islanders were aware of the show going on that weekend, they were gracious enough to advertise us on a white board in the window. we didn't have our names in lights, but we were mentioned right under "Boars head Turkey $9.54 a lb". The name really added the icing to the cake! It was called "Big Wave Daves". Which ironically was what I hoped would come and wash that place away right before we had to do the show.
We were set to do two nights of shows, two shows Friday and two shows Saturday. The first show Friday night had a crowd of 3 people. Two very nice local senior citizens, and the owner. If that didn't make up for the 5 hour drive, then I don't know what would. lol Insert sarcasm here.
Actually to be honest, the show went great and I did 25 minutes for those three generous people. The second show was canceled due to the fact that there was no crowd. Avon N.C. is a fishing town that is on the outer banks of N.C. and people don't usually stay up late because they get up at the crack of dawn to fish.
The second night was a better turn out! This lady came up to Nick and I after the first show and said she loved it, but that we disappointed her. When we asked her why, she replied with this. " I told my son you were going to do a lot of "pussy jokes", but you didn't. I really hoped you would of done a lot more "pussy jokes". The more she said "pussy jokes" didn't distract me from the fact that some point of the day, the selling point to her son by her was the fact they were going to do "pussy jokes". I could just imagine how it went down. I can see the son refusing to go over and over again, but then the mom in a stroke of genius deal making yells out from down stairs...." ok, but you are going to miss out on all the "PUSSY JOKES".
After each show we went back to the hotel we were staying at at the expense of Big Wave Dave. It was a simple hotel room. If you consider simple to be an aroma of pee and sand. But to make up for the lovely aroma, they threw in a high-tech entertainment center.
And yes, that is a 15 inch laptop (which I had with me, thank god!)with shitty speakers that were reminiscent of a two cans tied to string to play telephone when I was 5.
And if you look closely at the last picture, you can see Mr. Cobb enjoying the real reason how and why we enjoyed/tolerated the whole weekend.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas gifts that are a tough act to follow.
It's that time of year again, where friends, family and loved ones get together to eat, drink, and be merry. Oh, it's also that time of year to give gifts you want to get rid of or spend the least amount of money on.
Last year I think I out did myself with the gift that no body can get rid of, or ignore. Introducing, the limited edition, one of a kind, "The Official Denis McDonough Standup Comedy Nite Lite".
I know that this nite lite is a tough act to follow, But I think I found two gifts to give this year. I can't tell you what they are yet, due to the fact those two LUCKY people might read this. I will post an update soon with pictures.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Last year I think I out did myself with the gift that no body can get rid of, or ignore. Introducing, the limited edition, one of a kind, "The Official Denis McDonough Standup Comedy Nite Lite".
I know that this nite lite is a tough act to follow, But I think I found two gifts to give this year. I can't tell you what they are yet, due to the fact those two LUCKY people might read this. I will post an update soon with pictures.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I made the rookie mistake of getting mad on stage!
I made the rookie mistake of getting mad on stage!
I did it, I admit it! I did dumb thing of getting mad at the crowd last night at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh N.C.
I am no rookie, but last night I was easily sucked back into the rookie mode of getting mad and being mean to the crowd lol
I use to always put myself down in a funny light hearted way when a joke wouldn't go as planned or the crowd missed the punchline...it was and still to a degree is my defense mechanism. I would get laughs and used it as a way to get the crowd back. But I teetered the line of convincing the crowd I was not funny and the line of making them see I am good at breaking the awkwardness of a joke gone bad. I think you need to find a happy medium between those two worlds...(Breaking the awkwardness and saving a joke).
But last nights crowd was a fickle one. I know, i know you shouldn't blame the crowd!!! but anyone who has ever been on a standup stage has to admit...some nights (very rare nights) you CAN blame them, there are exceptions to that rule and I am sticking to that!!!! no matter what any other of you comics say lol
Last nights crowd picked apart the first 6 comics before me. They ranged from never been on stage to being on stage for a while but hasn't quite found their persona or act yet. The crowd was talkative and vocal about how they felt about your act. Picture the same attitude of "Showtime at The Apollo" but with rednecks! Yee haw!
I got up there and was pretty confident I was going to bring the show back and get them to laugh. The first few jokes were a good indication of my soon to be snowballing anger towards them lol I think my first few jokes are very strong and have been tested over years of doing them...but not to them! They were silent and very good at starring at me.
Them giving me the silent treatment really threw me off and the old stupid defense mechanism reunited with me and took over. I went to a dark place and started to pick out the people who I saw were the root of the talk back heckles. I am usually good at that! but last night I couldn't think of anything witty or funny to come back at them with. I would of done better if I came back with "Oh yeah? Well I am rubber and your glue!". That would of killed next to my witty remarks lol
Well I look at last nights set like this...
If you don't have a set like that every now and again, you will keep all the anger in and let it fester. I think you should do a set that you just throw away and let all your anger out on. I am talking about the type of crowd you have to fake and not let them see you realize your bombing. I know its all part of showbiz to get out there and act like everything is ok when it's going bad...or struggle to get them back. It can be good therapy! and prevent you from finding a nice tower and a bolt action rifle to take out your anger with ;)
I know there will be some of you that will throw the whole U can't blame the crowd rule and the our job is to entertain the crowd at any cost rule!
But I still think you need to get out the demons on a crowd that is not going to make or break our career!
If only Lee Harvey Oswald had an open mic near him!
I did it, I admit it! I did dumb thing of getting mad at the crowd last night at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh N.C.
I am no rookie, but last night I was easily sucked back into the rookie mode of getting mad and being mean to the crowd lol
I use to always put myself down in a funny light hearted way when a joke wouldn't go as planned or the crowd missed the punchline...it was and still to a degree is my defense mechanism. I would get laughs and used it as a way to get the crowd back. But I teetered the line of convincing the crowd I was not funny and the line of making them see I am good at breaking the awkwardness of a joke gone bad. I think you need to find a happy medium between those two worlds...(Breaking the awkwardness and saving a joke).
But last nights crowd was a fickle one. I know, i know you shouldn't blame the crowd!!! but anyone who has ever been on a standup stage has to admit...some nights (very rare nights) you CAN blame them, there are exceptions to that rule and I am sticking to that!!!! no matter what any other of you comics say lol
Last nights crowd picked apart the first 6 comics before me. They ranged from never been on stage to being on stage for a while but hasn't quite found their persona or act yet. The crowd was talkative and vocal about how they felt about your act. Picture the same attitude of "Showtime at The Apollo" but with rednecks! Yee haw!
I got up there and was pretty confident I was going to bring the show back and get them to laugh. The first few jokes were a good indication of my soon to be snowballing anger towards them lol I think my first few jokes are very strong and have been tested over years of doing them...but not to them! They were silent and very good at starring at me.
Them giving me the silent treatment really threw me off and the old stupid defense mechanism reunited with me and took over. I went to a dark place and started to pick out the people who I saw were the root of the talk back heckles. I am usually good at that! but last night I couldn't think of anything witty or funny to come back at them with. I would of done better if I came back with "Oh yeah? Well I am rubber and your glue!". That would of killed next to my witty remarks lol
Well I look at last nights set like this...
If you don't have a set like that every now and again, you will keep all the anger in and let it fester. I think you should do a set that you just throw away and let all your anger out on. I am talking about the type of crowd you have to fake and not let them see you realize your bombing. I know its all part of showbiz to get out there and act like everything is ok when it's going bad...or struggle to get them back. It can be good therapy! and prevent you from finding a nice tower and a bolt action rifle to take out your anger with ;)
I know there will be some of you that will throw the whole U can't blame the crowd rule and the our job is to entertain the crowd at any cost rule!
But I still think you need to get out the demons on a crowd that is not going to make or break our career!
If only Lee Harvey Oswald had an open mic near him!
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