(address: same as the name!)
Troy, NY

FEATURING

William Hughes

Ethan Ullman

w/s/g Henry Phillips

hosted by [...]]]>

present:

HOORAY FOR THE U.S.A.

A comedy show about how awesome America is
because America is awesome!

Friday, July 6th, 8pm

@ 51 3rd St.

(address: same as the name!)
Troy, NY

FEATURING

William Hughes

Ethan Ullman

w/s/g Henry Phillips

hosted by Kevin Marshall

$5 suggested cover price

Friday, April 27th
The Comedy Gold Showcase
The Mine (Broadway, Saratoga NY)
8:00pm; FREE
Facebook link 

Sunday, April 29th
Happy Funtime All-Star Variety Show
Rumpy’s Tavern (16 Church St., Lenox MA)
8:00pm; FREE
Facebook link 

Saturday, May 5th
Phil Spelman featuring [...]]]>

Come out and see me drop bombs on the mic! Comedy bombs, that is.

Friday, April 27th
The Comedy Gold Showcase
The Mine (Broadway, Saratoga NY)
8:00pm; FREE
Facebook link 

Sunday, April 29th
Happy Funtime All-Star Variety Show
Rumpy’s Tavern (16 Church St., Lenox MA)
8:00pm; FREE
Facebook link 

Saturday, May 5th
Phil Spelman featuring Kevin Marshall
Comic Syndrome @ Savannah’s (1 South Pearl St., Albany NY)
7:30pm; $15 ($25 w/ food)

 Saturday, May 12th
Cage Wars
Kevin Marshall gets his ass beat in an amateur boxing bout
@ The Saratoga Springs City Center (522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY)
Facebook link

===============

Yeah, that last one’s happening. Last update I had is that I have an opponent, it’s also going to be his first fight, and it should be confirmed hopefully soon. Once that happens and I know it’s a definite, I’ll let people know when/how to get tickets. Well, I think you should get them anyway because it’ll be an entertaining show regardless, but yeah.

The reaction from some people to this has been…interesting, to say the least.

To be honest, I wasn’t going to tell anyone at all I was doing it until after the event. I found out very early on that this was going to be impossible, so about three weeks ago I told a handful of people and finally broke the news to my mother, the one person whose reaction I was most concerned about, last week.

This is something that I’ve been mulling for over a year now, but the timing and circumstances were never right for it. I’m engaged in training now, know what to expect, and know the dangers and risks. This isn’t something I decided to do just to do it, not realizing what I was getting into. Some have insinuated or directly stated as such, which from some sources was laughable and others was heartbreaking. The idea that I, as an adult, wouldn’t know what I was getting into in an amateur boxing match and would go in fully unprepared is both upsetting and especially insulting to my intelligence.

Of course it’s dangerous. Sometimes people do dangerous things because they feel compelled to or have a self-destructive streak in them. I certainly have the latter; anyone that knows me intimately and/or for longer than the last six years could certainly attest to that. I can’t disregard that it’s a factor. But to say I have no idea that I’ll get hurt, that I’m unprepared to take a beating? That’s ludicrous.

But more than anything, I’ve had a nagging desire to do something like this for some time. When I started training at NY Boxing, it increased, particularly knowing I’d have guys like Shawn and Shannon Miller in my corner. Both have been of great assistance in preparing me and especially looking out for me. If it were anyone else, I’d be a lot more hesitant. But with those two having my back and in my corner, I know I’m at least in good hands. These are guys who I know and trust, and have seen them looking out for me. They made it clear from day one that they wouldn’t and won’t put me in a situation they don’t think I’d be prepared for.

In short, I’m serious. I wanted to do it for some time. Then, one day, I went in and sparred with someone for the first time. I got hit with a hard right that opened up my lip and dazed me. I don’t think the guy I was sparring with could see it, but a big smile hit my face. Getting hit and coming back from it gave me a rush that I haven’t had since I went sober. That’s the moment that it went from curiosity to urge.

So I understand if you’re a family member or a friend and you’re concerned, but I know what this is and I’m prepared to face it. I know I’m in good hands, but that doesn’t mean I’m ignorant of all the risks associated with this. I’m doing it because I want and need to, for myself.

I won’t ask that you understand, because if you can’t and won’t, that’s on you and there’s nothing I’m going to say that will change that.

See you at the shows.

Comedy for a Cause @ The Waterworks Comedy Lounge
FEATURING:
– Shawn Gillie
– Jennifer McMullen
– William Hughes
– Michael Raive
– Kevin Marshall

All of the proceeds go towards the Sexual Assault & Crime Victim’s Assistance Program of Rensselaer County.

Must be 18 [...]]]> JUST ADDED!

Comedy for a Cause @ The Waterworks Comedy Lounge
FEATURING:
– Shawn Gillie
– Jennifer McMullen
– William Hughes
– Michael Raive
– Kevin Marshall

All of the proceeds go towards the Sexual Assault & Crime Victim’s Assistance Program of Rensselaer County.

Must be 18 and up with a valid ID.
Tickets:
$10 advance
$15 at the door
1 drink minimum.

SACVAP provides education, prevention, and crisis care services to victims of crime and their loved ones. Stop by, get a drink, have a laugh, and support the cause!

Quick sample:

There’s, like, eight more? I don’t know, I suck at math. But you’re bound to find something you’ll like.

In response to criticisms that he only books acts that are ridiculously famous or white men from the Mid-West, Brill offered [...]]]> Comedian Eddie Brill, a veteran of the scene and the guy in charge of booking stand-up comedians for “The Late Show with David Letterman,” was profiled in a piece for the New York Times.

In response to criticisms that he only books acts that are ridiculously famous or white men from the Mid-West, Brill offered his critique of crazy dames who deign to get up and tell jokes:

Only one woman (Karen Rontowski) was booked in 2011. “There are a lot less female comics who are authentic,” Mr. Brill said. “I see a lot of female comics who to please an audience will act like men.”

Jessica Kirson, a comic who has performed on “The Tonight Show” several times but not on “Late Show,” responded: “What does that mean?” She added, “I like Eddie but the only way to make it as a female comic is to have strength and be assertive and confident.”

Look, Jessica honey doll sweetie cakes babe pie, here’s the thing: dames are just trying to be men up there! Right? Surely there’s a lack of authentic voices coming from female comics whereas it comes from male comics in spades.

From anecdotal experience I can dismiss that concept, because I find that while there’s more men doing stand-up locally, there’s a lot that are putting on an act. Even the acts Brill books are often going through very rigid, specific motions that have original material that you feel you’ve heard before. Is that honest?

What it comes down to, I fear, is that mindset still possessed by many veteran comics that women aren’t funny. It’s often cited, in fact, that John Belushi thought women weren’t funny and wasn’t shy about saying as much. But he also thought it was a good idea to speedball himself to death, so grains of salt and all that.

What I’m getting at is this: I’m sure Brill is a nice guy, just as sure as I am that he’ll insist he was taken out of context. But the idea that women are up there trying to act like men is intellectually offensive and downright untrue. It posits a very narrow and pig-headed definition of gender roles and feeds into hackery. It’s one of those statements that, I’m sad to say, makes me feel dumber for having heard or read it.

Gender roles aside, I find Brill’s thoughts on “honesty” in comedy interesting. I say Brill’s, but he’s certainly not alone in invoking that concept. Everyone from the beginner trying to reconcile his shortcomings (LIKE ME) to veterans with a more informed view on what constitutes comedy has a view similar to this, but it’s rarely explored or extrapolated upon.

Honesty in comedy is sort of a misnomer, isn’t it? It’s almost a Catch-22. If I was to get up there and just be “honest,” it might get real depressing real quick. So what do we mean by honesty? I suppose it depends on who you’re asking. If you ask me (you didn’t but this is my blog so fuck you, you did!) the only truly dishonest comedy is the kind that circulates and perpetuates material and acts that the comedian doesn’t think is funny but knows “works” with audiences.

Sure, there are comedians that portray a character or persona onstage. Are there any that don’t? Brill cites Carlin. Does he think Carlin walked around bug-eyed doing socio-political rants all day? Does Lewis Black scream out in frustration every three minutes when he’s at the grocery store? Is Stephen Wright walking across the country with his missing dog a few feet behind him?

My point is that even when a good stand-up adopts or exaggerates a persona or does character work, there’s honesty in it, and to try to disown or belittle it in any way – even unintentionally or in defense of your day job – is a disservice to the form.

Women doing stand-up doesn’t make them want to be like men, it makes them want to be stand-ups. It’s a shame that guys like Brill, good as he is, are so entrenched in the brick backdrop mentality that it prevents new, exciting comics from coming forth and getting exposure on Letterman. Which, by the way, puts stand-up comedians in the notoriously low-rated final segment. So why are they worried about trying something different in lieu of slathering mayonnaise all over the screen?

Enough of my ranting. Here’s some funny shit.

Natasha Leggero in two bits: in the first video, two minutes of quick bits. In the second video, a nice transition from crowd work to rants about the music industry and the effects of piracy. Good juxtaposition between her persona work and more traditional, straightforward bits.

Amy Schumer in one of my favorites. In this video, she deals with a drunk heckler in Atlanta. Her actual stand-up is even better.

Maria Bamford on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Bamford’s style is riveting. It’s genuinely funny, but also transcends to the level of performance art.

Tig Notaro on Conan O’Brien (cited in the New York Times piece).