Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Only ONE person leaves a comedy "contest" happy...
I have a fundamental disconnect when it comes to the topic of "judging" the arts. I think it's fine (and ideally, desirable) to judge them against your own standard of worthiness...whether you choose to share your most precious resource, your attention, on them. In fact, you must. That was how I found that I really, really like opera.
But the idea of judging two or three or a dozen pieces of like art against one another in attempt to distinguish one as being "The Best"...that is a different story. I don't think that is the filter by which art was created and shouldn't be the filter through which it is viewed.
Though comedy contests have immense value, a valid meter of performance success they are not.
OK...if a comedian goes onstage at a contest and they eat it...they are not gonna' win. They shouldn't. Fine.
But if several acts are well received, generating laughter and a positive vibe...who is the winner? Weren't all of those acts conceived, written, rewritten, honed and performed to achieve that precise result. Did they? Yes!
Then they were successful comedy performances.
But, which one was the best?
Who cares?
So then, why do comedians enter contests? Three reasons.
1) Because we are comedians, if you assemble an audience, we want to be there.
2) In a regular comedy club week, as a comedian you only get to see the other 2 comedians booked on your show. At at a contest, you can reconnect with a bunch of folks you haven't seen in a long time and catch up on juicy comedian gossip. You think that Aunt Bea and Clara were big gossip hounds? They've got nothing on stand-up comedians.
3) Finally, someone has to win...why not me? And sometimes the prizes are sweet.
I've been on both sides of this thing. I've won a couple of contests. I've lost a bunch of them. The only person who feels like it wasn't rigged was the person who wins. That's OK. Just go and have a good time...soak it all in. Comedy contests are like the Super Bowl. You don't go for the game, you go for the experience.
By the way...I've got a contest tonight...
But the idea of judging two or three or a dozen pieces of like art against one another in attempt to distinguish one as being "The Best"...that is a different story. I don't think that is the filter by which art was created and shouldn't be the filter through which it is viewed.
Though comedy contests have immense value, a valid meter of performance success they are not.
OK...if a comedian goes onstage at a contest and they eat it...they are not gonna' win. They shouldn't. Fine.
But if several acts are well received, generating laughter and a positive vibe...who is the winner? Weren't all of those acts conceived, written, rewritten, honed and performed to achieve that precise result. Did they? Yes!
Then they were successful comedy performances.
But, which one was the best?
Who cares?
So then, why do comedians enter contests? Three reasons.
1) Because we are comedians, if you assemble an audience, we want to be there.
2) In a regular comedy club week, as a comedian you only get to see the other 2 comedians booked on your show. At at a contest, you can reconnect with a bunch of folks you haven't seen in a long time and catch up on juicy comedian gossip. You think that Aunt Bea and Clara were big gossip hounds? They've got nothing on stand-up comedians.
3) Finally, someone has to win...why not me? And sometimes the prizes are sweet.
I've been on both sides of this thing. I've won a couple of contests. I've lost a bunch of them. The only person who feels like it wasn't rigged was the person who wins. That's OK. Just go and have a good time...soak it all in. Comedy contests are like the Super Bowl. You don't go for the game, you go for the experience.
By the way...I've got a contest tonight...
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Comedy in Bowie...TONIGHT
This is mostly sold out, but there might be a few seats left.
8pm
The American Legion, Disney-Bell Post 669605 Old Laurel-Bowie Road
Bowie, Maryland 20720
Friday, November 12, 2010
OK Rich Rod, You're Off The Hook With Me.
grudge
It has been 1062 days since coach Rich Rodriguez, the Guru of Glenville, scurried from the West Virginia University football program, the university community and the Mountain State itself for the maize and bluer pastures of Ann Arbor, MI.
Acrimony followed and litigation commenced. We heard wailing of voices and heard gnashing of teeth. And ever since that day I have had two favorite teams in NCAA football...the Mountaineers and whoever the Wolverines had on the schedule that week.
Rodriguez has had a tough go of it and at times it seems Coach Stewart's men are only marginally better off. The NCAA investigator types have sniffed around us both.
I cheered all nine of his 2008 losses and rejoiced seven more times last year. I smirked through the three losses in a row this season, stopping with UM's 3OT victory last week.
Somewhere it all got very hollow. Inadequate. More than a little pathetic. And I don't want to do it anymore.
So, I release you Rich Rod. You are evicted. The square foot of real estate 'neath my 'coonskin cap doesn't have room for you as a tenant anymore. So long and farewell.
If WVU plays Michigan, I'll root for the 'Eers, but not against you, Rich. You see, when I give you that focus, I am diminished. Oddly enough, when I cheer you, I grow stronger... having triumphed over petty animus.
So, go get 'em coach. Beat OSU, Beat Iowa. Hell, beat Toledo. Win the Big Ten and make me a winner.
I regret that it took me 1062 days to figure that out.
[gruhj]noun, adjective, verb, grudged, grudg·ing.
–noun
1. a feeling of ill will or resentment: to hold a grudge against aformer opponent.
That's it. Enough is enough...I don't have the energy to keep hauling this guy around in my noggin.
Acrimony followed and litigation commenced. We heard wailing of voices and heard gnashing of teeth. And ever since that day I have had two favorite teams in NCAA football...the Mountaineers and whoever the Wolverines had on the schedule that week.
Rodriguez has had a tough go of it and at times it seems Coach Stewart's men are only marginally better off. The NCAA investigator types have sniffed around us both.
I cheered all nine of his 2008 losses and rejoiced seven more times last year. I smirked through the three losses in a row this season, stopping with UM's 3OT victory last week.
Somewhere it all got very hollow. Inadequate. More than a little pathetic. And I don't want to do it anymore.
So, I release you Rich Rod. You are evicted. The square foot of real estate 'neath my 'coonskin cap doesn't have room for you as a tenant anymore. So long and farewell.
If WVU plays Michigan, I'll root for the 'Eers, but not against you, Rich. You see, when I give you that focus, I am diminished. Oddly enough, when I cheer you, I grow stronger... having triumphed over petty animus.
So, go get 'em coach. Beat OSU, Beat Iowa. Hell, beat Toledo. Win the Big Ten and make me a winner.
I regret that it took me 1062 days to figure that out.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
$1 Comedy Show in Baltimore
CLICK THIS LINK TO BUY YOUR $1 TICKETS↓
2010-2011 Laughing Skull Comedy Festival - The Best in Standup
I was invited to the participate in the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. The Regional qualifier is at Magooby's in Baltimore on Tuesday, November 16 at 8pm. Cover charge is only $1 when you buy tickets using promo code TerranovaVIP...
10 Tips for a Bad Corporate Comedy Show
10 Tips for a Bad Corporate Comedy Show
- No need for a stage. The audience can kinda' see Kelly, right?
- Don't worry about the sound or lights. The venue probably takes care of that...I think.
- Wait until "the last minute" to contact Kelly. He's probably available, isn't he?
- Always introduce Kelly right as dinner is being served. People love to laugh with their mouths full of food.
- Keep the show room as warm as possible. Drowsy audiences are great for comedy.
- Be sure to have the banquet staff bus the tables while Kelly is performing. It'll be easy to hear over the clatter of dishes.
- Keep the audience as far from the stage as possible. The "comedy moat" makes for great audience interaction.
- Make the awards presentation as long and drawn out as possible. The audience will be in the mood for comedy when they wake up.
- Don't ask Kelly to help with the awards part of the program. He would just make it entertaining and well-paced.
- Ignore Kelly's Customized Comedy Questionnaire. Who wants stand-up comedy tailored just for them?
Of course, you avoid all of these pitfalls when you hire me,
Professional Corporate Comedian Kelly Terranova.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
New Day, New Blog
The last time I blogged was in 2007. That was when the internet was a nothing more than a couple of guys with a TRS-80. My how the times have changed.
Not sure what will wind up here.
Mostly it's a place to write. No sense in blowing 25 cents for spiral notebooks at Target.
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