Hope that makes the concepts clearer…?

Cheers

Anthony Miller

Managing Director

Pear Shaped in Fitzrovia

The guy who runs this place is not, nor has he *ever* been a comedian. He runs a comedy workshop that you *have* to attend for 8 weeks at the cost of $125. After the 8 weeks, they have a show from the class, and if you get good, then you might have a chance to mc.

That’s not comedy for comedy’s sake. It’s basically running comics through a gauntlet waiting for comedy he approves of, which might not translate to your own voice.

I also was at another club in florida, where the MC had to read 5 minutes of plugging every upcoming show imaginable, which was the most god awful part of the night. The owner was very strict about getting that information out verbatim. One night the MC messed up a line in the marketing pitch and got reamed for it, despite the fact the comic was doing his best of making it entertaining by trying to throw jokes (lord forbid!) into the commercial. I was not amused by the management…

Clean or not, as long as it’s funny and original no one should care. I’ve seen more people walk out tonight on clean corporate comedy then dirty comedy. Clean comedy isn’t always funny. Face it. And half the places that care about that has a clientele that is dirtier out in the lobby anyway.

Basically, comedy is getting watered down and there’s a lot more pressure on comedians (aspiring or working) to be a marketing person. It’s only perks if you can actually tell a joke on stage.

After playing down in FL this week, some of my ideas of modern comedy and it’s business has changed a bit….

Sorry to get a little off topic here…

WEDNESDAY OPEN MIC RULES AND REGULATIONS
There will be a show limit of ten (10) acts.
To sign up for the show, email Chris in advance or talk to Chris on the night of the show.
Acts that are present but not included in the show will be given priority inclusion in the next show.
Shows begin promptly at 9:30pm.
For stagetime, you must be at the Comeback Inn at least 30 minutes before showtime.
Windtalkers was that movie with Nicholas Cage, did anybody see it?
If you are not present at 9pm, (30 minutes before showtime) you lose your spot.
Stagetime will be determined prior to the show, based on the number of acts.
Acts will be given a signal two minutes before their stage time is up.
If you go over on your time, you will get a warning.
Two warnings equals one demerit.
Three demerits and you lose your gin ration.
Seriously though, go over time and you’ll get your time cut.
Speaking of cutting things, clip your fingernails.

CONTENT RESTRICTIONS
This will be a content controlled show, so to avoid offending the audience please refrain from mentioning;
the possible drawbacks of a progressive income tax,
things that your fellow comedians may find boring, including but not limited to;

They allow a small core of comics who do well and emcee for them to skip the sign-up process and just show up anytime, and I have to confess I was one of those guys for a while when I still went there. Nice for some, but not really fair.

According to their rules you will only train at our school of comedy and nowhere else? That’s absurd. And your training will only happen once a month. Even more absurd.

If that club hasn’t gone under, they will either change their rules, or go under.