by Ashlee Voorsanger

You're a comedian.  You're writing jokes, doing mics, networking.  There are many ways to get your comedy into the world: bar shows, club shows, college gigs, youtube, twitter. . . all of which can be done near or even from home (YAY!), but what about comedy festivals?

Comedy festivals are another way to network, build your fan base, and (sometimes) get seen by industry.  With over 175 established festivals happening this year alone, how do you decide when or if a festival is right for you?

The following are a few things to consider, and I've asked an industry pro with a unique insight, both as a performer and a producer, to weigh in.

KINDS OF FESTIVALS
There are different kinds of festivals: competition festivals (Laughing Skull), diverse just for fun festivals (Dallas Comedy Festival, which features stand up, improv, and sketch), and the ever elusive invitation variety (Just for Laughs).  Some comedians don't want to be "judged" against other comedians and / or perform under the constraints that some competition festivals impose.  Many competition festivals start out with short sets, that increase in duration as you advance to the next round, and many do not allow you to repeat material.  In addition to deciding if that format is a good fit for you, think about how many minutes of solid material you have and how you would break it down to perform under these circumstances.  There are also festivals that have industry at the shows (Laugh Your Asheville Off).  That is another component that may or may not appeal to you.  To get the most out of any festival, it's best to know what you want going in.

Once you decide which structure is best for you, you can use that to filter to the next level of differentiators.  Some festivals are stand up only.  Some festivals celebrate and include all things comedy: stand up, sketch, improv, and some also include comedic content like short films or other media.  There are also festivals geared towards women, the LGBT community, alt festivals and others.

STRATEGY
Okay, so you've decided to take the next step, and apply for a festival.  Now what?  Do your research.  Find out more about the festival, the venues, past line ups.  That will help you know what to expect and also if you are a good fit for the festival itself.  Talk to other comedians about their festival experiences, ask questions - this is an investment in you and your career and putting some work in ahead of time will help you get the most out of the trip and your experience.

If you are applying to your first festival, you might want to target smaller or newer festivals that may have less competition for spots.  Find out if there is a festival in your hometown, or another place you've lived.  This can help ease anxiety as you will be in familiar surroundings and might have friends of family that would love to see you perform.

COST
Before you haul off and apply to every festival still accepting submissions, there is another rather important thing to consider... COST.  The application itself has a cost associated with it, typically $25 - $50.  Not too big a hit for one application, but four or five festivals later and there goes a couple hundred bucks.  You should also factor in the cost of getting back and forth to the festival, would you need a car, is Uber or another car service a reliable option there (believe it or not SOME places don't have all the options of large metropolitan areas), where will you stay?  You may want to price out hotels or other options.  This is another good reason to apply to festivals where you may have friends or family with a comfy couch or (gasp) a GUEST ROOM!  Of course, don't forget to factor in the cost of food / beverages / related socializing during the trip.  There are some festivals that offer travel and / or lodging, but they are largely the exception and not the rule.

AND THEN WHAT
Alright.  You researched.  You plotted.  You planned.  You applied.  Now what?  You wait.  Some festivals will let you know during the submission process when selections will be made and announced.  Many festivals will send both rejection and acceptance emails . . . some will only send an acceptance emails . . . so that's right, after all this work and research and anxiety - you may hear nothing at all. 

SO YOU GOT IN!
Hey HEY! You got that sweet sweet acceptance email.  It's time to get started.  Decide how much (or how little) you want to do during your trip.  Many festivals will create their own private performer groups on Facebook that will allow you to start networking, and serve as good place to get additional information about the festival / the city / the scene.  You may also want to look for other groups related to  hat city and comedy community to see about mics or shows that are happening while you are there.  If time and budget allow, check out some of the local attractions!  Museums, dive bars, world's largest ball of twine - who knows what cool stuff you'll uncover.

Finally, and most importantly... have FUN.

Ashlee has featured in the Chicago Women's Funny Festival, Big Little Comedy Festival, 
and the 2017 and 2018 Dallas Comedy Festival.

*CLICK HERE for 10 Festival Questions with Comedian and Producer Carole Montgomery

By Ashlee Voorsanger

With over two dozen TV credits (Comedy Central, Showtime, Oprah, VH1 and more), and ten years dazzling an estimated 5 million fans in Vegas, Carole Montgomery is a respected and sought after veteran of stage and screen.  In addition to her own bustling stand up career, she develops and directs solo shows and comedy specials including the critically acclaimed "I'm Your Savior" by Jim Florentine.  For all things Carole, and more details on solo show development check out her website: carolemontgomery.com . 

Follow Carole on Twitter @NationalMom  Follow Carole on Instagram @NationalMom

TEN FESTIVAL QUESTIONS WITH INDUSTRY POWERHOUSE CAROL MONTGOMERY

TWIC: What are some general submission dos / donts for comics?

CM: DO NOT open with "How are you doing?" I will stop watching immediately. If you are taping a set for ANY submission go right into your material. This is a huge pet peeve for me. Material is more important than crowd work. Make sure the sound is good. That is more important than it looking good. I have seen sets shot great and then the sound sucks.

TWIC: Biggest challenge working with comedians in a festival environment

CM: Having the comic understand that this is a festival and not a showcase club. Show up on time and when you get the light it means wrap up NOT do another 10 minutes.

TWIC: How important are previous credits (festivals or name clubs) for comics submitting?

CM: Honestly the tape to. me is the most important, more so than credits.

TWIC: Any "wish I had known xyz" revelations from working on the production side of festivals?

CM: Not really, festivals are a world of their own. As a producer a lot of the work is done before the actual festival. When the fest finally happens it's a whirlwind of making sure the shows and comics run well. Here's something VERY important. SHOW UP! I can't tell you how many times comics just didn't show up for their spot. Be on time, stick to your time. Period.

TWIC: Thoughts on competition vs. non-competition festivals?

CM: I did the SF festival and also the Funniest Mom TV show on Nick at Nite. Doing competitions is silly, no one is better than anyone else. 

TWIC: Advice for selecting a festival for a comedian trying to get into their first festival?

CM: I would go with a smaller one than try for the big ones. This way you can get your feet wet amongst peers that are the same level as you. Trying to get into Montreal when the big guns are going to take top interest isn't worth the emotional investment.

TWIC: Importance / relevance of festival credits?

It depends on what you think the festival will do for you. I always ask what is your goal as a stand up? TV, film, writing? Choose a festival that is going to help you achieve your goal.

TWIC: Is there a strategy to getting to the elusive "invitation" festivals? 

Most of the elusive festivals will only take submissions from representation. I would suggest talking to a club that has auditions for fests and see if you can get on the bill.

TWIC: What was your first festival and how would you rate the experience?

CM: The grandaddy of them all. Just for Laughs in Montreal. I was the first women comic on the Nasty Show. I was on the bill with Dave Attell, Doug Stanhope, Nick Dipaolo and Bobby Slayton. It was amazing. My first competition was in SF. That was heartbreaking.  I was doing great shows and never placing in the top ten. I would find out later from one of the emcees that it was fixed. Another reason I don't do competitions.

TWIC: What is your favorite festival and why?

CM: Prob Montreal but also the NY Underground Comedy Festival because we tried so hard to showcase young comics and comedy in general.

*YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: TO FEST OR NOT TO FEST Things to Consider by Ashlee Voorsanger

BY ARIEL ELIAS

Most comedians lead a double life. At night we are out, speaking publicly into a microphone as we (try to) make you laugh. By day, though, it's a different story. We wake up groggy, tired from the previous evening of open mics, hanging out at comedy clubs, and maybe, if we're lucky, performing in front of an audience. We get out of our beds and blend into the everyday, and more often than not, we go to our day jobs. You can listen to just about any podcast and find out a comedian's process, how and when they write, how often they get on stage. But the daytime remains a mystery, even though we're everywhere. We're all around you, in your offices, restaurants, hospitals, schools. We come from various backgrounds and bring a wide array of skills (and lack thereof). So let's find out how comedians spend their days.

Dan Shaki quit his job as an engineer to focus on stand-up, and ended up working as a tour guide atop a double decker bus in New York City for six years. “It was chaotic,” Shaki explains. “I would give two tours a day, but they were so disorganized, I would go in at noon and do nothing until 6:00pm. Then they’d send me out to Time Square where I would wait a couple hours for a bus, and then do a two hour tour. So I would work ten hours but barely did anything. In the winters, I would get laid off and collect unemployment. The company was so poorly run, it was a big corporation that took advantage of one-time customers. They didn’t care about their employees and they didn’t care about their customers.”

People on the tours started to blend together, but what really stuck out for Shaki was the tour guides themselves. “You would think it was a bunch of college kids giving these tours, but it was mostly older people who, like comedians, were very smart but somehow couldn’t quite function in regular society. It was people who would go to Starbucks in the early evening because that’s when they would throw out the old pastries.  A lot of people would show up kind of dirty or smelly. It was surprising to learn about the people who actually inhabit this city and give these tours.”

There is one person from a tour who stands out, though. “I dated a girl who was on my bus tour. She was a cute girl, so I would ham up my jokes more and direct them at her. You know, just like how you hit on people in stand-up,” he laughs, but it’s not really a joke. At least half the comedians you see on a show are trying to get laid by the audience. “After the tour I told her I knew she was wanted to f*ck me because she was laughing. And she goes, ‘everyone was laughing.’ And I said, ‘I assume everyone wants to f*ck me.’” I laugh.

Giving tours did help with stand-up, though. “My tours, I would say everything just to get to the punchline. I had jokes, and it definitely helped with crowd work. I would go down the line and ask people where they were from, trying to get a laugh. I tried to have a funny story for different areas. Every neighborhood was a bit to me. If I was a better business person, I would have run my own show and used the tours as self-promotion, but I’m not a good business person.”

Today Dan Shaki runs his own business, Streetwise NY. He gives walking tours around New York City, but remains hesitant to use that to promote his stand-up. “I worry about mixing these things (comedy and tours). I worry about people getting offended, but I refuse to tell comedians that they can’t do certain material.” Check out Dan Shaki’s material here and help him quit his day job: Dan Shaki on AXS-TV Gotham Comedy Live

WEBSITE: danshaki.com
TWITTER: @ShakiForTheWin

ariel elias is a writer, comedian, and producer living in nyc.  

follow her on twitter @arielselias

Laughter is the best medicine.

Numerous studies have proven that laughter, long hailed as the "best medicine," also reduces stress, boosts the immune system, lowers cortisol, and if that's not enough - burns calories.  

What could be better than that?  Enter the Gotham Comedy Foundation, created to deliver laughs to those who need it the most.  The Foundation was created with the goal of bringing laughter to hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizens centers, and social service agencies.  

During his own battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, GCF co-founder Bill Drewes, learned first hand the transformative, healing power of laughter.  While enduring his treatments at NYU Cancer Institute, a dear friend (who happened to be an actor and comedian), would stop by to engage Bill in lively banter to take his mind off everything.  Bill noticed other patients also enjoying their upbeat often comedic rapport, and decided that if he survived this illness, he would bring power of laughter to hospitals.

  Bill then teamed up with Gotham Comedy Club founder Chris Mazilli to form the Gotham Comedy Foundation and got to work bring happiness to the masses.  Today, the Gotham Comedy Foundation boasts 30 community partners including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NYU Cancer Institute, New York Cares, and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York.  Shows are produced at no cost to the partner organization, and feature any number of 300 volunteer comedians ready to deliver laughs on demand.

The foundation relies on donations, which can be made through their website GothamComedyFoundation.org, and seasonal fundraisers to continue it's mission of wellness through laughter.  Plans for the future include specialized wellness workshops, and bringing the GCF model to comedy clubs in other cities.

Their final fundraising show of 2016 takes place Thursday November 3, 2016 at the Gotham Comedy Club and will honor Devin Voorsanger (Program Director, Technology Entrepreneurship at the Zahn Innovation Center - City College of New York) and Sandi Webster (Managing Director, C2G), who will be named GCF Lifetime Ambassadors of Comedy.  A donation of $20 will go towards funding the future of the GCF, all laughs included.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE FOR THE FALL BENEFIT OF THE GOTHAM COMEDY FOUNDATION.  6PM THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2016 GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB

GCF WEBSITE

GCF on FACEBOOK

by ashlee voorsanger

Dark. Absurd. Hilarious.

I'm sipping cocktails with Liz Barrett (Carolines, Laughing Skull Festival, AXS-TV Gotham Comedy Live), when the subject inevitably turns to comedy and specifically to juggernaut Frank Liotti.  "Frank is one of my favorites; I could watch him everyday," she says, adding "he performs my favorite kind of comedy: dark, absurd, hilarious."

If limited to only three words to try to encapsulate Frank's powerful presence, those would certainly be a start.  Frank doesn't "take the stage" so much as he chews it up, leaving it shredded for the next comic on the line up.  His presence, even when simply standing there, imposing.  He is a lion on stage, and the audience his prey.  Liotti sizes them up, gets them right where he wants them, then unleashes his signature rapid-fire, stream of consciousness comedy assault - and they love every minute of it.  Frank is one of the rare comedians, who can never be mistaken for anyone else.  There is no, "Oh, yeah, I think I have seen him," because once you have seen Frank there is no going back.  

 
We're in the back of a dive bar on the lower east side.  I giddily watch as Frank takes the mic, wondering what is about to happen.  I scan the room, cataloging the audience reactions: squeals, gasps, claps . . . and the occasional stare, unsure where to laugh, when to laugh, IF they should laugh.  Frank is a no holds barred comedian, and will go to the deepest, darkest place - and make it funny.  You are never sure where his set will go next, and he may not either.  He is a master at working the room, addressing the stiff audience member, and delivering his punchlines like dodge balls hurled at you full force.

It's impossible to fathom that THIS Frank, just a few years ago, was too scared to get on stage.  He landed a bartending gig at Stand Up New York, and surrounded himself with comedy.  He turned down repeated offers for stage time (insert gasp from struggling comics everywhere), but managed to get brave enough to sign up for a class with Jim Mendrinos (Comedy Central, HBO, BBC).  Cut to his first time on stage, a mic at the legendary Comedy Cellar.  He's number 22 on the list of hopefuls, and follows an aggressively homophobic comic who had cheerfully regaled the room with what would happen to a gay man (er, not the words he used) if found on his stoop.  In what is now trademark Frank style, he quickly diffused the room, making a playful yet pointed jab at the previous "comic."  When asked to describe that first time on stage in three words, he offers "waitstaff was laughing," which was enough to get him hooked.

After this promising start at mics and bar shows around the city, he took a three year break from comedy, before coming back full force in late 2009.  The shows got bigger, the sets longer, and then his first headlining gig at a nightclub in Washington DC.  "Brutal," he remembers.  "Flop sweat like I had meningitis."  I ask him about his "go to" to shake off a bad show: "Taco Bell," he states, definitively.  Not all was lost however, as a staff member from New York's legendary Carolines happened to be at that very show, and was able to get him spots at arguably one of the world's most famous stages.  "You never know who's out there," he adds.

A born and bred New YaWKAH, Frank has spent little time living outside New York state, save a stint at Yale where he earned a degree from the Yale School of Drama.  He has portrayed criminals and addicts on TV's Gotham, Blue Bloods, Law and Order SVU, and HBO's High Maintenance, but comedy is where he breaks all the barriers.  No material is too dark, and it is never "too soon" for Frank to wrest the funny out of a situation. The comedy world is catching up to his 100mph brilliance.  He has featured in the prestigious Boston Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, Los Angeles Comedy Festival, Laughing Devil Comedy Festival, and the Long Island Laugh Off, and he was a finalist in every festival he’s entered to date.

He finds comedic inspiration in life outside comedy, "hanging out with people who bring out my non-cerebral, funny side."  Citing his best friends (both comics) and his treasured niece as those who do just that, "the better my mood, the better.  When I'm miserable the notebook stays closed."  As you might imagine once you have experienced Frank on stage (you can't simply "watch" Frank Liotti, you experience him with all of your senses), his writing often happens during an extemporaneous rant on stage (exactly why he records all of his sets), and then is honed and tweaked until it is a sleek missile of a joke waiting to be fired.  Lest you think Frank is all "seat of his pants," there is a thoughtful stoicism just underneath that burly visceral exterior.  When pressed for any "pre-show ritual," he brushes it off, "Nah.  Maybe take a minute to walk away from everyone else and take a breath, look at my list, put it away, look at it, put it away, start to look at it, throw it out."   

Today he's just back from a sold out show in Orlando, where he took the stage with Alec Mapa (Broadway's M. Butterfly, TV's Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Showtime's Baby Daddy).  Although it was Frank's birthday, he "didn't tell the other comics because that's tacky," and he went to work doing what he does best.  Turned a difficult crowd around and left them laughing at the dark absurdity of life.  No Taco Bell chaser needed.

WEBSITE: frankliotti.com
TWITTER: @frank_liotti
INSTAGRAM: @frankaholic

by ashlee voorsanger                                                                                                                               photo by Phil Provencio

I'm standing in the back of the Manhattan's Beauty Bar waiting for Liz Barrett to get off stage. There's not a seat to be had in the back of this funky bar / nail shop / comedy spot, as the followers of "Grin and Barrett" (Liz's monthly comedy show) have packed the room for the third anniversary show.  The drinks are flowing, the laughs rolling, and the pink glittered walls sparkling as comic after comic delivers a killer set.

Once the show is over, Liz thanks each of the comics, and as many of the audience members as she get to, for supporting the show.  She graciously works the group of women who have giddily assembled to tell her they are her newest fans - a couple already quoting some of her signature bits.  She offers to buy them a drink.  

She extricates herself from the post-show chaos, and grabs a seat (replete with old school beauty salon hair dryer helmets), finally able to - almost - relax.  She sips her vodka soda (with just a splash of cran, "no one knows what a SPLASH of cran is anymore," she laments), and exhales.  "Well, another show in the books.  It was a good show, right?," she asks, as tipsy audience members continue to stop by and thank her for a great night.  "Sometimes, just having ONE person tell you they forgot about their bad day during your set, makes the whole thing worth it."

packed house for Grin & Barrett at Beauty Bar                                                                                     photo by Phil Provencio

While busy curating her own career, Liz has managed to cultivate a devoted following for her monthly show "Grin and Barrett," as is evident tonight.  The show has remained free, while consistently featuring "credit heavy" comedians (Conan, The Tonight Show, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, to name a few), as well as newcomers who are fast on the rise.  She also delivers one of the most diverse line ups in the city, and has been selected, twice, as a top pick for comedy by Time Out New York.  When asked about the stresses of producing her own show, she singles out, "Getting asses in the seats.  An Audience.  I stress every month about how to get people there."  The show has regularly been standing room only at it's new home, Beauty Bar (14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues).

In discussing her hopes and goals for the show, Liz replied "I would like to get to the point where I just have smaller line ups, bigger names, and longer sets."  Given her ability to put her head down and make it happen over the last few years, this seems a given.

She was born in New Jersey, but roamed the country as an Army brat before settling in NYC 12 years ago.  After a not so funny layoff, she signed up for a comedy class, and the rest is - well - history in the making.  It's been said that success is not a straight line, and no where is that more painfully obvious than the arts, and perhaps in comedy specifically.

In fact, mid-way through the aforementioned comedy class, Liz was about to hang it up.  Feeling stalled and unhappy with her progress, she told herself "this is it" and stayed up most of the night working on new material. That attitude has served her well, not only was her next class a triumph, it would sow the seeds for the trademark deadpan that is now delighting audiences in New York and beyond.

Liz Barrett delivering the deadpan.                                                                                                        photo by Phil Provencio

Years ago, she remembers seeing Louis CK at the famed Comedy Cellar.  At the time, he was "just another comedian" and stood next to her eating fries.  She certainly couldn't have known then, but in just a few years, she would headline her own show at Carolines on Broadway (May 2016).  It's important to note that "just a few years" on a calendar, and "just a few years" on a COMEDY calendar, are quite different.  Hours are spent honing material: writing, rewriting, performing, revising, trashing, un-trashing, hating, editing, loving, doubting...  Several nights a week are spent waiting for scant minutes on an open mic to polish and tweak said material... Not to mention, the financial investment of simply getting to and from mics, shows, writing sessions, classes, marketing, therapy (if you're lucky).  The lifestyle is not for the timid, and many incredibly gifted comedians end up pursuing other interests.  When asked about her headlining gig at Carolines, Liz admits, "When I came around the corner and saw my photo on the poster outside Carolines, I cried (even though there is no crying in comedy).  All the nights when I thought I should give up, I know thought - OK, I can do this."

Drawing inspiration from "the absurdity of life," her dead-on deadpan connects with comedy lovers from every background - who are, as she is, just focused on "gettin' by."  2016 has seen Liz headlining Carolines, as a finalist in the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, and regularly on stage at numerous clubs in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco to name a few.  She was a guest on Sirius-XM's Bennington Show, and recently started to work with the website Ruthless Spectator and Rob Bartlett.  Time Out NY recently said, "The acerbic, NYC-based comic brings her signature brand of dark, batty stand-up to Carolines. With recent appearances on Gotham Comedy Live and at the Boston Comedy Festival, Barrett is quickly on the rise. Catch her before she goes supernova."  And the Barrettheads (her growing fan base) are listening.  

Get to one of Liz's shows soon, and maybe one day you can say you saw Liz Barrett when she was "just another comedian eating fries" next to you.

WEBSITE: lizbarrettcomedy.com
TWITTER: @lizcomedy
INSTAGRAM: @lizcomedy

GRIN & BARRETT
FACEBOOK: GrinBarrettComedy
TWITTER: @GandBcomedy

Photographer Phil Provencio: philprovencio.com

by ashlee voorsanger  weds sept 9, 2015

New York native Chris Gersbeck may be new to the comedy scene, but he has wasted no time in getting a monthly show on it’s feet and becoming part of the booming comedy community in Astoria, Queens.  His show, Everythign is Dumbn, has been steadily growing into a neighborhood favorite, celebrating its six month anniversary this week at QED.

Everythign is Dumbn started in April of this year as a birthday show for Comedian / Producer Gersbeck, and was immediately booked as a monthly show, which has landed heavy hitting comics like Todd Barry (Comedy Central, David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel, Louie)  and Aparna Nancherla (Comedy Central, Conan, VH1, Late Night with Seth Myers, @midnight) – not to mention Emmy award winner David Feldman (creator of The Jack and Triumph Show, and writer for Steve Martin, Robin Williams, and Roseanne among others).

This month’s edition, Diabetes is Dumbn, happens Wednesday September 9”, with proceeds going to the American Diabetes Association, and featuring comedians who either live with diabetes or are close to someone who does.  It is sure to be an awesome night of comedy with a cause.

Diabetes is Dumbn

9PM Wednesday September 9, 2015

QED - 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria, New York 11105

$10 – proceeds benefitting the ADA

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW DETAILS AND LINE UP

by ashlee voorsanger  weds sept 9, 2015

This Week in Comedy checks in with comedian / producer Chris Gersbeck, to get a comedian's take on producing a show.

TWIC: When and where was the first show you produced?

April 15, 2015 at QED. 

TWIC: What is the name of your current show and how long has it been running?

Everythign Is Dumbn @ QED. The first show was on my birthday, mentioned above. It was such a success it became a monthly occurrence thereafter.

TWIC: What has been the biggest challenge in producing comedy shows?

Making sure I get people in the door every month, but also having unique aspects to the show that sets us apart from all the other great shows happening every night. 

TWIC: How do your lineups come together? Is it based more on the comic's availability or is the goal curating each show with specific kinds of performers?

I keep a list in my notebook for each month's show (usually two months in advance), and when I see a comic who really impresses me I write their name down, then reach out to them to see if they're available. The only real thing I really look for in a performer is if I find them hilarious. Then I have a dream list of comics I'd want to have headline, and bug them until they get back to me. 

TWIC: What is your biggest hope / goal for the show?

I would eventually love for it to be a weekly show without any decline in quality or attendance. I might have to quit my day job first though. 

TWIC: Describe your show in five words.

Super funny and insanely dumbn. 

TWIC: Proudest moment as a producer?

Getting Todd Barry to headline my show. 

TWIC: What is your advice on getting started in producing a show?

Become friends with the owner and staff, and be prepared to work harder than you expect to. Also, don't expect to get booked on someone else's show just because you booked them on yours. Routinely trading spots rarely makes anyone's show a higher quality. 

TWIC:  What tips do you have on finding / booking a venue?

Same as above, and don't rely only on social media or press to fill seats. 

TWIC: What would you tell someone who is promoting a show?

Get out on the street and hand out fliers around the neighborhood and to literally everyone you meet. Be friendly to everyone, and make the show a pleasant experience to everyone involved to get returning customers. 

TWIC: Your advice on Professionalism in comedy?

Be supportive, be punctual, respond to emails quickly and don't be a dick. 

TWIC: What are your thoughts / tips on networking with comics?

Sticking around after open mics or shows and networking, even if just for 5-10 minutes goes a long way. I see comedians I find really funny all the time, but I never get to talk to them because they're gone before something ends. I can think of at least five comics I'd love to book but I never get a chance to talk to them.

TWIC:  What would you tell a comic who wants to get booked on more shows?Show up to shows you want to do before asking for a spot. Meeting a producer in person and showing your support will definitely bump you to the top of a waiting list. 

chris gersbeck       chris gersbeck

everythign is dumbn   everythign is dumbneverythgn is dumbn

by ashlee voorsanger  sat aug 1, 2015

Comedy & Carbs: The 2015 Empire Biscuit Comedy Festival

Comedy club    snore.

Bar    loud

Basement    dark

Laundromat   done it

Library   shhhh

Hotel   boring

Apartment   creepy

Converted garage   hot

Rooftop   weather

BISCUIT SHOP.

A tiny, fabulous, 24hour biscuit shop.  It’s PERFECT.

One night in February, as a couple of comics grew delirious and punchy on a bus trip to a comedy festival, inspiration struck.  “We’ll have our OWN comedy festival!  And we’ll invite the best and brightest comics in NYC!  Each show will be full of headliners!  It will be three days of amazing comedy!  AND we’ll have it in a biscuit shop!” 

Lesser dreamers would have abandoned such lofty and quirky goals once the luxury of a good night’s sleep had set in.  Some may have gotten as far as approaching a venue, maybe asking a couple of comics if they would be interested, should it ever become a reality.  It’s entirely fair to say that – well, exactly THREE – would go so far as to present to comedy lovers, comics, and New York City - the 2015 Empire Biscuit Comedy Festival.

Enter Andrew Tavin, Brandon Scott Wolf, and Tovah Silbermann, each comedians in their own right – and now comedy festival producers.  Andrew and Brandon hatched this crazy idea on a dark bus en route to Ithaca, and once they confided in friend / comedian / producer Tovah – this trio could not be stopped.

Brandon Scott Wolf, Andrew Tavin, Tovah Silbermann                       photo by Liz Zharovsky

Having performed on countless shows in weird places, produced numerous shows, joked in and worked for festivals – they set about making this a reality.  First stop: Empire Biscuit on Avenue A.  Now, it certainly helps to know the owners, but having the owners jump on board immediately to support your goal of comedy + carbs, is absolute kismet.

The birth of Empire Biscuit is another tale of triumph.  Jonathan Price, a southern boy (Durham, NC), with a biscuit and a dream – teamed up with a like-minded Yonadav Tsuna (Memphis, TN) and decided what they needed - and NYC certainly deserved - was biscuits.  Fresh, homemade, southern-style biscuits… available on a 24 hour basis, no less.  Day or night, these Southern gentlemen would guarantee that no New Yorker would have to go to bed without the comfort of carbs! 

Even with years of restaurant experience between them (they met waiting tables together in NYC), neither of these fresh-faced carb-crusaders had any idea how to start a restaurant.  They did know enough to assemble a team of people with the experience they lacked, and set about the business of biscuits.  For that all important component of a new business – capital – they turned to Kickstarter.

Lest this sound like a modern day fairy tale of boy meets biscuit, waits tables for years in NYC, meets another boy who loves biscuits, boys decide to open shop and change the face of biscuits forever – the road was not without it’s bumps.  For example, upon opening in 2013, the shop was flooded with patrons so hungry for this staple of southern comfort, they not only ran out of biscuits, but had to shut down for a couple of days to regroup and tweak their processes because EVERYONE LOVES BISCUITS.

Cut to 2015, with Empire Biscuits now humming along 24 hours a day, our trio of comedy-festival-producers-to-be sell their idea of the “largest comedy festival held in the smallest biscuit shop” to Jonathan and Yonadav, and the 2015 Empire Biscuit Comedy Festival is officially born.

Comedian / Producer Tovah Silbermann has many credits under her belt, not the least of which is being the second Tovah that Jon Hamm (of tragically cool Don Draper / Mad Men fame) has ever met.  She offers this up very excitedly when asked about some of her favorite comedy experiences to date.  Her enthusiasm for comedy, comedians, and producing comedy magic is contagious even via email.  Through numerous late night email exchanges, the subject is never “me” or “I” – it is always “we”, and when asked what her personal goals are for the festival, she says she hopes that she will be able to “book even larger festivals and projects . . . so I can showcase everyone that I love!”

FIND:   

Tovah on Twitter    

Tovah's Making Ends Meet Podcast    

The Awooga Comedy Hour

Midnight Comedy Questions with 

Comedian / Producer Tovah Silbermann

TWIC: How long was the process -- from the idea for the festival to opening night?

TS: The idea for the festival happened in February and we've been busting our butts since then! 

TWIC: What has been the biggest challenge in putting the festival together?

TS: Although all of us have either performed or volunteered for festivals before, and we have all produced countless shows in NYC, none of us really thought about all of the details that putting a fest together requires. We originally went into it thinking "we'll just book out nine shows. Easy". Instead, we quickly realized we also needed to figure out PR, design work, logistics with the vendor, ticketing and much much more. It's been a lot more work than we anticipated but we've enjoyed every minute of it! 

TWIC: How did the lineups come together? Was it based more on the comic's availability or was the goal curating each show with specific kinds of performers?

TS:  A little bit of both. Our goal from the start was to only book comedians that might be considered the headlining act for any of our normal shows. So we thought about who we loved to see perform and also what sorts of credits would be notable (Last Comic Standing, Late Night, Comedy Central Specials) and we started asking comedians who fell into those categories, but offered them a range of dates and as the festival started to get more booked, it became much more of a puzzle making sure we could fit everyone in in ways that would make the lineups interesting, diverse, and also complimentary.

TWIC:  Describe the mix of comics for the festival in 5 words.

TS:  Funny, Fresh, Famous, Friendly, and FUN. We were supposed to alliterate right?

TWIC:  Who makes you laugh that are local / underground comics?

TS: Some of my favorite local comedians are actually performing on the festival. I love watching Nate Fernald, Julio Torres, Joe Pera, Liza Treyger and everyone else on the fest!

If we're talking people not on the fest, then I've been really into the comedy of Catherine Cohen, Luke Mones, Yoni Lotan, Mark Vigeant, Anna Drezen and about a billion other people. I need to make more fests so I can showcase everyone I love!

TWIC: Last stand up special you watched?

TS: Vegan on the Way to the Complain Store by Eugene Mirman. He's one of my all time favorite comedians

TWIC: What was the first comedy show you attended?

TS: I think it was an improv show at UCB. I distinctly remember Betsy Sedaro on the team. As soon as I started going to shows I felt immediately at home in NYC. 

TWIC: Your comedy idols?

TS: Eugene Mirman, Kumail Nanjiani, John Mulaney and Flight of the Conchords are some of my all time favorite comedians and my idols. I love how silly and energetic and bizarre they all are. 

TWIC:  Describe your first time on stage in 3 words.

TS: Terrifying, Confident, Euphoric 

TWIC: What is your career highlight / favorite comedy experience so far? 

TS: I think my career highlight was when I was helping out at one of Eugene Mirman's shows in Williamsburg Park and they didn't have much for me to do except they asked if I could wait by the backstage entrance and when JON HAMM shows up, could I please show him to the trailer. Turns out I'm the second Tovah that Jon Hamm has met. 

Other than that, I am constantly overwhelmed that my favorite comedians and my friends are turning into one big group. I constantly feel lucky that I am surrounded by such talented and hilarious people.

TWIC: What is your biggest hope / goal for the festival?

TS: If I'm being selfless, I want everyone to have fun! We really put a lot of thought into every facet of the festival to make sure the comedians and the audience are going to have an amazing time and I hope it's a smashing success.

If I'm selfish, I hope this festival gives me the opportunity to book and produce even larger festivals and projects. Booking shows is my favorite part of this game. Whenever I put together a good lineup, I get a huge rush that I assume cocaine must feel like. I would love more opportunities to do that on bigger and badder scales!

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Comedian / Producer Brandon Scott Wolf is a working comedian, not only as one of Brooklyn’s favorite bartenders, but also as a contributor to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update,  and Funny of Die News among others.  If he looks familiar, you may have seen him on a dating site – particularly HIS dating site: datebrandonscottwolf.com which is THE #1 online dating site for Brandon Scott Wolf.  Having performed all over NYC (including in a barber shop), he immediately saw the opportunity (and the NEED) for an experience so New York, that it could only be a full-fledged comedy festival in a lower east side biscuit shop.

FIND: Brandon on Twitter   Brandon's Website   datebrandondscottwolf.com

Comedian / Producer Andrew Tavin who can be heard cohosting Podcast Monsters, is quick to point out that each and every ticket for the festival INCLUDES a biscuit and a beverage, and not just an ordinary biscuit, a PREMIUM biscuit.  While his focus is certainly on this year’s festival, Andrew is already thinking about possibilities for next year – which one can only assume involves more premium biscuits. 

FIND: Andrew on Twitter   Andrew's Website   Podcast Monsters

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2015 EMPIRE BISCUIT FESTIVAL LINE UP

FIND: Empire Biscuit Comedy Festival on Facebook and on Twitter @BiscuitComedy

SHOWS ARE $14 BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE
LIMITED TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

 * * click the comic's name for more info * *

7PM SUNDAY AUGUST 2
Julio Torress (Comedy Central's Comics To Watch)
Liza Treyger (Comedy Central)
Alingon Mitra (Last Comic Standing)
Joe Pera (Comedy Central)
Sean Patton (Maron)
Andrew Tavin (Awooga Comedy)
and more!

9PM SUNDAY AUGUST 2
Guy Branum (No Strings Attached Movie)
Hadiyah Robinson (Comic View)
Giulia Rozzi (Comedy Central)
Jim Tews (Louie)
Griffin Newman (Draft Day Movie)
and more!

11PM SUNDAY AUGUST 2
Brett Davis (The Special Without Brett Davis)
NANCY (UCB)
Casey Jost (Impractical Jokers)
Livia Scott (IAF.TV)
Tovah Silbermann (Forever Dog Productions)
David Bluvband (The Chris Gethard Show)
and more!

7PM MONDAY AUGUST 3

Shakir Standley (Last Comic Standing)
Joe List (Comedy Central)
Sue Smith (Vh1)
Ben Kronberg (Last Comic Standing)
Robert Dean (Comedy Central)
and more!

9PM MONDAY AUGUST 3
Saurin Choksi (White Guy Talk Show)
Nate Fernald (The Pete Holmes Show)
Calise Hawkins (Funny Girls)
Mike Drucker (Fallon)
Abbi Crutchfield (Vh1)
and more!

11PM MONDAY AUGUST 3
Nick Vatterott (Comedy Central)
Matteo Lane (Guy Code)
Hasan Minhaj (Daily Show)
Jeffrey Joseph (Comedy Central)
and more!

7PM TUESDAY AUGUST 4
Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver)
Andy Sandford (Conan)
Joe Zimmerman (Comedy Central)
Nore Davis (Inside Amy Schumer)
Nick Turner (Comedy Central)


9PM TUESDAY AUGUST 4
Mike Recine (Conan)
Michelle Wolf (Seth Meyers)
Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central)
Sasheer Zamata (SNL)
Kevin Barnett (Friends of the People)
Brandon Scott Wolf (SNL's Weekend Update Contributor)
and more!

11PM TUESDAY AUGUST 4
Seaton Smith (Mulaney)
Sean Donnelly (Comedy Central)
Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central)
Phoebe Robinson (Girl Code)
Carmen Lynch (Inside Amy Schumer)
Aparna Nancherla (Conan)
and more!

General Admission, Seating is limited.  For questions please email comedy@empirebiscuit.com

*Lineups are subject to change