The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store

Last night I met up with Australian Comedian Monty Franklin at a legendary club The Laugh Factory. This is such a cool old school looking club with a historical vibe. Monty was hosting or Emceeing the show which had a lot of older acts on some good some not so strong. Monty was great right off the bat talking about being an Aussie in Hollywood and the crowd loved it.

First act on was Mindy Rickles the daughter of comedy legend Don Rickles, Mindy wasn’t the strongest act! Then Brian Babylon hit the stage he has a new with Hannibal Burres on Comedy Central starting this week. Brian started off ok but then got better as the spot went on. Next up was Erik Griffin who plays Montez Walker from WORKAHOLICS he was great off the bat too very funny and he just looks like a funny guy I’d check him out again for sure. Mark Schiff was next he is old school he opens for Seinfeld on the road. Mark did a lot of old stock jokes but the crowd didn’t notice some were laughing but it wasn’t a strong act like I have been seeing. Then a special guest the great Dom Irrera, Start away he started banging out Mark saying that was the best gig he has ever done, He’s finally getting it he’s gonna make etc. He was very self deprecating and he did a lot of crowd work, it was awesome to see such a legend showing you how it is done!

Then we headed over to the Comedy Store we went out the back past Mark Maron, Fitzsimmons, Al Madrigal Bobby Lee was on but it was full again. Jodi Miller came up and said hi Monty introduced me I did meet her last year but I don’t think she remembered me. Jodi made it through Americas got talent last year she is a strong act. So we just hung out and chatted in the front bar for a while. Monty was heading off so i went upstairs to the Belly room for The Urban Show.

This show was cool as there was one white guy on he wasn’t very good but some of them were awesome its a completely different gear the Urban style and when the audience go they really loose their shit its great to watch and be a part of. I can’t remember the names there were too many on but ill try catch another show like this before I go.

Tonights Lessons 

My good buddy and mentor Brad Oakes always says you need gears in comedy great acts can change gears at any time. They have gears here but for the most part in 15min spots they just keep a relentless pace hitting the audience hard. But the gears between the shows were very different. Its just what they are used to.

As an Aussie Comedian find the funny differences between the states and Oz they love it.                                           Talk slower and articulate your words so they can understand you we do talk fast.                                                        Be universal Monty said to an audience member your from Interstate? They had no idea what it meant which was fine for Monty cause he made a joke about it. But it easy to forget what words are slang and what are english.

One thing with the not so strong acts is when a much doesn’t hit they just move on with confidence you wouldn’t even know they show no weakness.

And Monty is a legit gun his Aussie set is great but his US set is even better and he is an awesome guy Im really grateful he got me in and took me around last night.

Tonight ill hit the store and pay for a ticket It doesn’t always pay to be a comedian.

Be cool Stay in School.

Flemo

Night 3 The Comedy Store

Ill start by saying I am Very spaced out today so sorry if this sounds like a lot of rambling!

Last night I headed back to The Comedy Store to check a huge line up with the likes of Bill Burr, Mark Maron, Pauly Shore, Steve Rannazzisi, Dean Delray, Jeff Ross, Joey Diaz Neal Brennan and many more.

I arrived about 30 mins before the show, two girls were sharing a spliff out the front they said hi nice t-shirt here pass it around so I had a brief chat and passed it round. Don’t worry I have My Medical Card Woooo! Tickets were only $15 for this show but it was in the original room which properly only holds about 90 people, the line was huge so I figured I could just head in as a comedian at the end which they are cool with like The Comics Lounge.

While I was waiting a newer comedian from came over and started chatting Al from Texas he seemed to be an encyclopaedia on Comedy this dude knows a shitload comedy facts. He was a nice guy I started to meet a few other younger open mic acts. Alex Duong he was really cool he was telling me about the scene and different shows around town. And Ari Mannis he was working the door at the Store, hey that rhymes! Ari had done some gigs back in Australia including my home ground of at The Comics Lounge on the Mad Monday show with Doug Chappel.

We headed to the back of the room where the comedians sit to watch the show then a waitress came over and asked what drink I wanted for the 2 drink minimum? I didn’t want to sound like a dick by saying I’m a comedian so I said lemonade. Then she asked if I wanted them doubled or something like that which I think meant bring them over now and get the 2 drink minimum thing out of the way. I just stared at her like a dog that’s been shown a card trick! I knew what she was on about I was just playing dumb for a goof. Then someone came over and said oh he’s a comedian you don’t have to buy 2 drinks. Great? No!

1 act in and we get kicked out to make way for the public cause its a full show! Fuck! I should have just paid for the drinks and I wouldn’t have been moved Idiot!

So I spent the next hour waiting to get back in chatting to other acts. One dude was funny as fuck Eric Carter from Mississippi he was crazy along with the full on southern accent. So I missed Burr missed Maron Delray and Shore. It didn’t bother me that much cause ill see them around this week and in Montreal anyway.

Then I saw a familiar face Justin Edbrooke,  I met Justin last year with the boys from the lounge we had lunch he’s a really nice guy.  Justin is an agent for a lot of my favourite acts from Joey Diaz to Ari Shaffir. He said come over and meet Joey Diaz and I said Fuck yes! I will come and meet Joey Diaz!  Joey is one of my favs his podcast and comedy have been a big influence on my Stand up so i was freaking out when I shook his hand. He was very laid back and friendly Jeff Ross came over and had a quick chat but I really wanted back into the room so I could watch these two in action. So i said bye and great to meet you and snuck back into the room.

It was great timing cause I got to see Steve Rannazzisi then Neal Brennan who is a great writer co creator of Chappelle Show He was great I was so happy I got to see him.  Jeff Ross was also great bagging out the audience and going hard at them and getting away with it the crowds really get it its about fun not being PC just fun. Then Joey came out and he was even better live than i could have imagined he goes anywhere without a care but you can’t help but love him. He could talk about the worse possible subjects and get away with it clean!

Once Joey finished the crowd started leaving its weird to watch cause the room is packed then the next act walks up as half the crowd walk out! I hung around and watched another heap of acts I didn’t know them except for Tony Hinchcliffe who I was hanging to see. He really didn’t do any material cause of the crowd size. I learnt that last year you can’t just go into material in a small crowd or it looks weird just lead them into a bit here and there.

By this time I was really spaced out and dragged myself home.

Lessons I learnt Buy a ticket next time $15 bucks 2 drinks killer line up haha.

When they go after the crowd they don’t hold back almost roasting them but they dig it here.

A lot of the twists in the routines you don’t see coming. The really dark stuff like a lot did bits about the shooting last week and didn’t care. Most had a great punch for it so the crowd were with them.

Don’t get really stoned b4 the show then you will remember more of what you saw!!!

Tonight I’m off to the Icehouse in Pasadena I have a spot thanks to Ari for hooking me up then Joe Rogan is on after at 10pm another one of my idols. This will rock!

Be cool stay in school.

Flemo