Campus Activities LIVE! at Auburn University
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Hot Comedy For The 2013/14 Programming Season
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Jacob Williams
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Harvard Sailing Team
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The outstanding success of a campus where the students make all the decisions.
Here is a selection of acts that you may want to consider for your wish list. Straight from amazing success at MTV-2, Jacob delivers a show that is both funny and impressive.
Certainly not your everyday sketch comedy team and one that is receiving raves from all across the country
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A Special Interview With One of Comedy Central’s Top Comedy Stars
This Spectacular College Event Is Brought To You By Our Friends At United Talent
IT’S ALL INSIDE
From the Publisher Real Life Laff Guru
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Jobs: Barry Smith 1,000 Days of Comedy AEP Hits A Home Run
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RANDOM THOUGHTS & OTHER MINDLESS DRIBBLE “Safe And Sound” The Perfect Opportunity
If you haven’t had the opportunity to view the video for the cover story (Capital Cities) in our Summer Advisor’s Edition, let me clue you in, it is well worth the four or so minutes of your time that you will spend to watch it. It has been the featured video on our website for the last few weeks, but when this issue goes up, it can be found under the “issues” tab and by selecting “Summer 2013.” The URL link is http://bit.ly/1d3wznc
This is probably one of the most creative and elaborate videos I have seen in a while and certainly a wise investment for an act
with their eye toward the big time. It was just after our story broke this summer that “Safe and Sound” immediately started getting regular airplay on both Sirius and Top 40 Radio.
The concept for this video is a stroke of genius and I imagine pulling it off was no easy feat. Yet it blends the old and the new seemlessly as the artists step from sepia tones from the past into the full color of today and back again. From a designer’s standpoint, the coordination of what is on film and what is live took precise coordination and it is flawless. Not only that, “Safe and Sound”
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is an excellent song and Capital Cities do an excellent job performing it.
We have been so lucky over the years to have had the support of APA (Agency for The Performing Arts). They have trusted us to introduce you to acts on the cusp of greatness and the schools who have taken advantage of them can say they had a chance at greatness before anyone else. These were acts like Plain White T’s, Flogging Molly, Fallout Boy and others. If you haven’t considered Capitol Cities yet, maybe the video will convince you. But don’t wait too long. Affordable great acts don’t stay affiordable very long when they are getting major airplay.
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
BY ELAINE PASQUA
TIMING IS EVERYTHING Tuning Body Rhythm For Performance
Time management is one of the greatest challenges for today's college students. For new students, you are wrestling with the intoxication of your new-found freedom. For all students, you are juggling your class time with studying, papers, activities, as well as your social life.
How can you make the most out of your day so you can be efficient and perform to the best of your ability? A lot of research has been conducted on the natural rhythm of the body and how we perform certain tasks more effectively at different times of the day. Paying close attention to your body's clock can make a difference in what you can accomplish, ultimately leading to success in college and in your life beyond. Scheduling tasks according to your body's rhythm can have a positive effect on your health. Disruptions in the circadian rhythm of waking and sleeping can increase depression, obesity and diabetes. It is best to try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Now I know that is not likely to happen on weekends, but maybe you can strive for that on weekdays. These rhythms can actually be seen in social networking. Emails sent earlier in the day are more often read because people check them first thing in the morning. People who use Twitter tend
to write more upbeat tweets in the morning because sleep is refreshing, leaving us alert and more enthusiastic. If you want your tweets to be retweeted, post them between 3:00 and 6:00 each day when people lack the creative energy to post their own. More emotional tweets are posted at night when people are free of the stresses from the day.
High energy and clarity occurs earlier in the morning, unless you are a night person. This is a better time to engage in those difficult or emotional conversations.
As the body temperature rises through the morning, your cognitive skills improve. Taking a warm shower can actually jump-start this process. Working memory, alertness and concentration tend to increase in the late morning and it improves through midday. If you do not have a class at this time, it would be productive to set aside this block for studying or writing papers.
Alertness tends to decline after a meal, so it may be wise to tackle those more challenging mental tasks before you
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eat. By mid afternoon it all unravels. Have you noticed that you are fighting off sleepiness around 2:00? (I am writing this at 1:50 and my eyelids are getting heavy!) That is when sleepiness peaks for most people. Closing your eyes for 15 minutes can refresh and reenergized you.
Eye-hand coordination tends to peak at 4:00. Tasks involving physical activity are best performed during this time of day. Physical performance is best, with the least risk of injury between 3:00 and 6:00 PM and the lungs are more efficient at 5:00. The joints and muscles are more flexible in the evening, so late afternoon is a fantastic time to head over to the recreation center for that workout. So what is the evening good for? As we tire and the mind relaxes, we lower our inhibition and the creative thinking comes flooding in. Our minds are more open to offbeat ideas and solutions. I have found that the most profound solutions to my challenges come flooding in during this time of the day.
Our body rhythms can vary. Some people are night owls. They love to stay up late, performing best during the wee hours of the night and sleeping late. What is your natural rhythm? Pay attention to your body and structure your day accordingly. You will be glad you did!
Questions on college life? Email me at elaine@elainepasqua.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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Just Between You And Meme
By Steven Kent McFarlin (AKA Spanky)
This morning I checked my inbox and discovered an email from my eighty-three year old grandmother. When I opened it I almost
had coffee come out of my nose; she had forwarded me a meme (of Drunk Baby saying “I’m just, I’m just saying that bitch Dora...I’d explore it.”) This from an octogenarian who only learned how to email two years ago (and still has not mastered how to text) a clear indication of how mainstream internet memes have become. I first encountered the term “meme” in print, as perhaps some of you are doing at this very moment, and for months I mispronounced is as “me me” (a sad indictment of my narcissistic nature) before being told the correct pronunciation is “meem” which rhymes with team. For my older readers, or the rare younger ones unfamiliar with social networking, a meme as defined by Webster’s is: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. The term has broad usage including viral videos, but for the purpose of this column I am referring to current internet memes (and ecards) that are pictures or illustrations combined with jokes or statements.
The word meme was coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, but has recently soared in popularity with the ease of meme transmission via the internet where the interactive social nature allows for almost effortless propagation. Before mass communication with the web, memes reflecting popular culture were derived from catchphrases from TV (“yada yada yada”) and movies (“show me the money”) or commercial jingles and slogans (“I've fallen and I can't get up”). This was a unidirectional exchange, the media companies talked and the audiences listened. With the net, memes are now usergenerated, a bidirectional exchange. You no longer need to be in the media to create statements (usually jokes) about pop culture that can be seen and shared by millions. The power has shifted to the people, just as in prenet days when entertainment options were largely controlled by a small group of TV and movie executives, but now can be created by anyone with a camera and a Youtube account. Internet meme popularity has created a new generation of comedy icons, such as the Ermahgerd girl, Y U No, Overly Attached Girlfriend, Bad Luck Brian, Scumbag Steve and his counterpart Good Guy Gary. I know from personal experience how incredibly popular a meme character can be. I witnessed the South By Southwest Festival this year and by far the biggest buzz for any celebrity in attendance was not for Nick Cave, or Justin Timberlake, or even Prince. No, people waited in line for three hours to see...Grumpy Cat (who was given first class airfare, a private hotel room with king-sized bed, a per-
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sonal assistant, and a chauffeur). Its owner quit their job and now makes big bucks by taking the sour looking feline on personal appearances; such is the power of the meme! An internet image can go viral and be seen by millions literally overnight, whereas Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting in the thirty-seven years he was alive.
I welcome this new comedic format with open arms, because humor exists for a reason, and that reason is me. If I’m not writing it, I am reading it, or performing it on stage. I have created comedy in almost every existing format, from greeting cards for Nobleworks, to television shows for Viacom, to humorous commercials for beers, automobiles, and fast food restaurants. So I am thrilled to report I have just been hired to try my hand at creating humorous memes (as well as funny t-shirts, stickers, etc.) By the time you read this my creations should be featured on GrooveCatDeluxe.com Just as you easily recognize Someecards with their signature graphic design of antique clip art with pastel backgrounds, you will be able to recognize mine, which resembles the background for humor I am the most familiar with: the brick wall and microphone of a comedy club stage.
Please go ahead, dive into my meme pool, the waters warm (as opposed to my gene pool, which some say is far to shallow for diving).
Spanky has been described by the press as a “campus entertainment icon.” He offers two great events at one great low price, and has been voted “Campus Comic of the Year” (LaffGuru.com) and the “Campus Performer of the Year” (TalkingAboutMyGeneration.com). Credits include over fifty TV appearances, including: Showtime, Good Morning America, and The Late Show. He is represented by GP College Entertainment.
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
ocated in the heart of the deep South, Auburn University may be 2-3 hours from the nearest major market but it is anything but a small rural campus. With a student population of 25,000, it may be known as one of the predominant football schools in the country, but also a hub of student programming, with a healthy budget, an active schedule and involved student body.
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Featuring an entirely student-run activities board in it’s University Program Council, the school derives its seven figure budget exclusively from student activities fees in tuitions, and offers its students free access to all their
events to encourage participation. With over 23,000 attendees at events last year (nearly all open to students only), it appears the campus population is taking advantage of the opportunity. Mike Rapay is the UPC Advisor, Laura Knizley is the President of UPC and Kristine Adams is the UPC Graduate Assistant, all of whom sit down with Campus Activities Magazine to discuss the ins and outs of UPC and their yearly planning strategies. UPC is comprised of approximately 60 council members, which includes directors and
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assistant directors with between 5 and 15 committee members per council area, which number 11 in total. “There are almost 100 committee members each year which puts the entire body of UPC between 150 and 200 members, depending on the year,” Laura says. “Our campus size is about 25,000, around 20,000 of which are undergraduates with the remainder made up in the graduate schools. We program around 60 events a year in total.” The schedule of programming is interesting at Auburn, while 60 events may not sound like a ton, in fact when you look at the way www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
their schedule works, it is pretty active. “That has probably been the best part since I have been here,” Mike laughs, enjoying his first tenure at a major university, coming previously from Winthrop University and Christopher Newport University prior to that. “There are no weekend programs here at Auburn. Everything runs Monday through Friday and the reason for that is that in the fall, no one goes up against football, it just wouldn’t work. Then in the spring, things like spring break, exams and other things on the weekends tend to interfere as well. So, we focus all of our activities during the week with the exception of Wednesdays.” www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Auburn is situated about two hours from Atlanta, an hour from Montgomery and is two hours to Birmingham, placing it in somewhat of a void when it comes to attractions off campus. “Auburn is very southern,” Laura says, “it’s located in Eastern Alabama but the closest big cities around us are each two hours away, so there are not a whole lot of things going on off campus. The weekdays are generally when people are on and around campus, especially those who live here.” “We have a Research and Evaluation Committee which takes regular surveys to test throughout the years what works best for our student body and staying away from the
weekends seems to be the best option.”
The student body of Auburn is a diverse one, as with most major universities there are multiple fields of study so the population is not uniform. “We are a large university,” Kristine says, “so we do have a lot of different areas of study, but we are mainly known for agriculture, engineering and a great business school. The students are really spread out in demographics across campus, so for that reason there is a really wide range of events that we offer. We plan everything from cooking workshops that people in nutritional and human sciences will be
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attracted to, to major concerts that draw large portions of students across the board. We have a carnival event called Tiger Nights that appeals to just about everyone. There is a really large range of events, whatever your interest is, there is probably something for you.”
Music is popular on campus, as well as some comedy. “On the whole, there is definitely a highlight on quality versus quantity of events,” Mike explains, “We tend to do better with the larger name speakers, comedians and concerts, so we focus a lot on the bigger booms than smaller weekly series of events. In the past we have had T-Pain, but then we are also very much a country campus, with students enjoying the Mumford type of folksy bands (who we haven’t had specifically), and alternative and indie style bands work well also. There is a wide range of music appreciation on campus which gives us a lot of flexibility on who we go after.” Speakers work well also, again primarily focusing on artists of a stature that will draw plenty of attention. “Bill Nye was a huge success for us last year,” he says, “probably because it attracted so many of the science majors here, but he also engaged that sense of nostalgia in a lot of students outside those majors as well. Known artists tend to do much better for us than trying to program a lot of the smaller scale events where it is harder to generate buzz to get a crowd drawn in. We did well with Keenan Thompson. We typically look for artists that start in the $4,000-$5,000 range and cap off in the $20,000-$30,000 area. It is a very wide range that still allows us to really stretch our budget.” While UPC couldn’t afford an act quite the level of Mumford & Sons, last year they were able to host a major concert headlined by Train featuring Hot Chelle Rae (“Tonight, Tonight” and Green River Ordinance. “That was our big spring concert last year; we do have the good fortune of being able to work with a rather larger budget, which is one of the great benefits to students who attend this university. I would say when it’s all said and done our budget is a little bit over one million.”
That healthy budget is 100% student fee funded and UPC makes a concerted effort to make sure the student body is getting their money’s worth. “That is why it is a completely student run organization. Laura and her three vice presidents run the show, as advisors, we just help facilitate that. Because it is the students’ money the idea of having them self-govern is one that appeals to them, and that tends to reap more active participation from the general student body as well. That is also why we only open our events to students; there are a few occasions where we are open to the general public, but 95% of our events are available to Auburn students only. Not even faculty and staff have access, only the students
that are actually contributing to the budget itself are able to attend and they come free.”
It’s not uncommon at many schools to see major concerts opened to the public to help recoup some of the expense of putting on a large scale event, an idea UPC is playing with. “It is a venture we are looking into for the upcoming spring. It’s a plan we are considering, but up until now it has been just Auburn students.”
Auburn sources its talent from a variety of places, but generally seems to do more leg work than just attending a conference and letting showcases pick their upcoming lineups for them. “We do use a middle agent for our major concert buys,” Laura says, “which obviously can really streamline the process and most of the time pays for itself. Because we have directors and assistant directors in 11 different areas, the way each committee finds their programs can vary a lot. We use some talent brokers for our major comedians or concerts, but we have chefs come in for our cooking workshops or sometimes a guest emcee, and we really let the individual committee heads find out about that on their own and everyone’s methods are different. It really depends on the event itself.”
“For music, we usually go through a middle agent,” Mike says, “because there is a lot more that can go into those types of events than other genres of performers. For comedians we generally deal directly with the agencies and pretty much everything else is someone they find online and have researched. They have gone to NACA’s and found some talent there, sometimes they pull out a name that they find in the magazine, but for the most part it’s researching online and talking to students. “We lean heavily on those research and evaluation polls that we do throughout the year.We are constantly going back to look through those because we know it is specifically what our students are asking for.
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Those are a great resource and do a really good job of finding out what students want.”
UPC relies heavily on relationships they build and maintain with reputable agencies in the market, however that doesn’t mean they are gun-shy about trying out new folks either. “There are always the agencies out there that we trust and have strong relationships with but that doesn’t stop us from reaching out and talking to new agencies either. For the most part, the type of speakers and comedians we are looking for aren’t always exclusive to a single roster, so we really like to work with the ones we have familiarity and a level of comfort with.”
UPC does programs in a variety of places, including their basketball arena, outdoor events on their sports fields and smaller scale events in ballrooms and meeting spaces. With a healthy budget, an active student population and a very robust programming board, Auburn University sets the tone for their region in programming, and seems to completely fulfill their mission statement to “provide an engaging atmosphere that enhances the Auburn experience by programming events planned, organized, and executed by students for students.”
For more information on UPC and the programs at Auburn, contact Mike Rapay at (334) 8445361 or mrapay@auburn.edu. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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RusseLL HicKs Russell Hicks’ improvisational style combined with his seamless mix of original material, has left many audiences coming back to see him again and again. He was recently featured in the LA comedy magazine Stand Up Talk, as one of the “6 Best Comedians in LA for Crowd Work and Improvisation”. He was also a regular panelist on “What’s News?” hosted by DirectTV." Joey edmonds presents: (818) 426-1279.
cOLLin mOuLtin: Collin does over 300 shows a year around the country, including performances at comedy shrines. Collin has shared the stage with Paul Reiser, Lewis Black, Jeff Garlin, and Robin Williams, as well as Dave Chapelle, Margaret Cho and more. He has a half-hour special currently running on Showtime, regular airplay on Sirius and a regular on Bob & Tom. summit comedy (888) 925-7073.
Jessica LYnn JOHnsOn: She takes students on a hilarious journey as she explores the media’s impact. OBLIVIOUS TO EVERYONE is an international one-woman show that centers around a Paris Hilton wannabe who has developed multiple personalities due to her obsession with pop-culture. She portrays a slew of characters of different age, sex, and race to examine American media. talentplus (314) 421-9400.
Liza tReYgeR: Liza Treyger is from the former Soviet Union where jokes aren’t allowed, so she moved to America and has been telling jokes in Chicago and loving it. For close to two years she was creator and co-producer of one of Chicago’s most-loved weekly showcases, Riot Comedy. She was recently named to Comedy Central’s prestigious “Comics To Watch” list for 2013. Bass/schuler entertainment: (773) 481-2600
seXY HOuR: Sexy Hour is the only Improv Comedy Show exclusively about guys, girls, dating & love. Watch as the two actors make up the entire show on the spot based on your suggestions. Sexy Hour takes the fun, excitement & awkwardness of dating & turns it into the best comedy show of the year! neon entertainment: (800) 993-neOn
maRK nORmanD: Mark appeared on TBS’s “CONAN”, Comedy Central’s “INSIDE AMY SCHUMER”, and won Caroline's March Madness competition, beating out 63 other comedians. In 2012, Mark appeared on John Oliver’s “New York Standup Show” on Comedy Central, and taped the pilot of “Best Week Ever” for VH1. He also appeared on “Last Comic Standing.” Kp comedy : (866) 769-9037
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www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
natHan BRannOn: Nathan brings smiles and hilarious anecdotes to the stage every time he grabs the microphone. He has opened for national headliners such as Dave Chapelle, Dave Attell, Arj Barker, Shang, Larry Miller, and has photoshopped himself into photos with many more. Nathan was also seen in NBC’s new series, “Grimm” this year. auburn moon agency: (800) 566-6653.
JOsepH tRan: Comedian, Magician, Aaasian
DeReK gaines: From Derek’s thought provoking material, to his stage presence, to his genuine likeability factor...this ‘tainted church boy’s comedy is nothing short of brilliance. Credits Include: VH1, BET, Just For Laughs-Montreal’s 2013 ‘New Faces’ Showcase. Once you see Derek perform, you'll understand why he’s called, Derek “The Greatboy” Gaines. metropolis management: (877) 536-5374 .
tHe gOOD, tHe BaD anD tHe sLOppY: The Good, The Bad, and The Sloppy Tour is the brain child of the comedic minds of Evan Ferl, Chris Cope, and JC Currais. The three comedians from Florida come together under one roof with plans to bring down the house. They felt it was better for the world to get to see the whole trio in one amazing showcase. They were nominated BEST COMEDY PERFORMERS for 2013 by the readers of Campus Activities Magazine® and have been featured on TBS, FOX, ABC and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. “The Best Show We Had All Year!” Greensboro College Bass/schuler entertainment: (773) 481-2600
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
With his disarming demeanor, clever wordplay and energetic vibe, Joseph Tran resurrects the traditions of the variety entertainer and brings it into the 21st century. One part magician, and one part comedian, Joseph’s fresh combination of signature magic and stand-up comedy is perfectly suited for college crowds. Be colleges: (877) 404-3836 x 212.
JennY zingO: She is featured on IFC’s “Young, Broke, and Beautiful” and has been nominated “Boston’s Best Comedian” for 2013. She MC’s as her alter-ego LIZ FANG for Boston’s Rogue Burlesque. The Boston Globe raves “…She’s gotten really funny and has developed a warm, weird comedic voice …” Examiner.com states, ” The consistency of her humor and improvisational skills kept the audience in stitches all night.” Joey edmonds presents: (818) 426-1279.
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DeOn cOLe: Deon has been a featured comic in the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the CanWest in Vancouver. He was a finalist in NBC's Stand-Up for Diversity Showcase and he won BET's Robin Harris Award for most original comic. He has been part of the BET Comedy Tour, the Def Jam Tour, the Budweiser Superfest R. Kelly Tour and the Mary J. Blige Tour. Diversity talent: (770) 210-5579.
tHe DOn’t We BOYs: The Don't We Boys is a critically-acclaimed, fast-paced sketch comedy show in the same vein as MTV's "Human Giant" and Comedy Central's "Key & Peele". It's like "The Second City" on steroids! Our goal is to explore high stakes situations in relatable ways and relatable situations in extraordinary ways. We do sketch comedy...Don't We Boys! Fresh variety: (603) 518-5783.
pete BLaDeL: In just a few short years, Pete has worked with notable comedians such as John Mulaney, Amy Schumer, Neal Brenan, Wyatt Cenac, Jeff Dye, and Tim Meadows among others. His parents are very proud of him, mostly because he hasn’t lived in their basement since 2009. auburn moon agency: (800) 566-6653
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anDReW scHuLtz: Andrew is currently writing and commentating on MTV2’s hit “Guy Code”, the highest rated show in the network’s history. He also has appeared on “Hip Hop Squares”, “Epic Fail”, and the VMAs and MTV Movie Awards. He’s also performed alongside top acts such as Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Louis CK, Tracy Morgan, Bill Burr, and more. Kp comedy : (866) 769-9037 www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
DaKaBOOm: Dakaboom is post-modern vaudeville. This somewhat edgy music-driven comedy duo combines the musical genres of pop, hip-hop, opera, jazz, musical theatre, electronica and a cappella to modernize and reinvent the vaudeville art form. It’s a mix of many different worlds into one perfromance that wiil have your audience laugh with awe. Don’t miss this unusual experience of Dakaboom. DegY Booking: (732) 818-9600
sean BOtt: From preshow teasers to build crowds for your events, to post show mingles creating awesome experiences for your school, crazy things happen during Sean Bott’s show. A handful of borrowed coins will melt in a student’s hand, thoughts will be secretly planted in student’s heads only to emerge in unforgettable ways during the show. Bass/schuler entertainment: (773) 481-2600 www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
zacH sHeRWin: Sherwin spits fresh, nerdy rhymes about everything from his humiliating sixthgrade defeat at the Ohio State Spelling Bee to blood pressure measuring cuffs. He was named Boston’s Best Comic of 2009 and performed to much acclaim in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. He has appeared on VH1, CNN Headline News, and the front pages of CollegeHumor and was featured in Sierra Mist's recent "Funny Breaks" promotion. the gersh agency: (310) 274-6611.
Ben seiDman: Ben Seidman is the only person in history to be named the Resident Magician at Mandalay Bay, Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. After several thousand performances at numerous luxury casinos, Seidman has become known as a powerful young staple of the Las Vegas entertainment scene. His residency at Mandalay follows a three-season contract as creative consultant for Mindfreak on A&E, during which he designed the illusions performed by Criss Angel. Most recently, Seidman was chosen to be the face of the newest Toshiba/Intel campaign: a hidden camera reality show directed by Jamie Kennedy, during which Ben used his pick-pocketing skills to slip computers into people’s handbags without them knowing. The “I Was Framed” campaign went viral with over two million views and continues to grow. summit comedy (888) 925-7073. campus activities magazine®, august 2013, 17
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any of you will perhaps remember the first incarnation of the very funny and very successful “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N’ Out” some years back on MTV. Now, the show has been reborn on the network’s sister station MTV2 and its premiere episode garnered the highest ratings ever for a show on that network. Jacob Williams has landed a regular slot on the program. You may remember seeing Jacob on last year’s season of “America’s Got Talent” where he was well received and pushed on to the Vegas semi-final round before elimination. Despite not being a finalist, it got him noticed which led him to MTV2.
Jacob is a regularly touring campus comic now and it’s no surprise this would be a comfortable home for him. As a matter of fact he began his comedy career on campus. “I started doing comedy in college,” he says, “so that’s why I am really excited about performing in the college market. In the beginning I was terrified of talking to people in general, so I thought ‘What better way to get over that fear than to talk to tons of people at once; and not only talk, but to try to make them laugh?’ I was fascinated by the idea of comedy, that this was a career someone could actually have, because I always loved watching stand-up. When I got to college, one of my friends tried it and that gave me the motivation to do it too. He was just a normal guy, if he was giving it a shot, I should too. I was hooked immediately.”
Jacob’s first “big break” didn’t come until a couple of years later, but he says there were a few steps while he was still in college that were very encouraging. “One of them was winning a couple stand-up contests, and by winning one, I actually got the opportunity to open for Pauley Shore for his Showtime special in Las Vegas. At the time that was very surreal; I was just a college kid and was flown to Las Vegas to open for this famous name. I ended up winning another contest, which gave me the opportunity to open for Nick Cannon too.”
This was the first time he and Nick Cannon crossed paths (check out our cover story on Nick in the Nov 2010 issue at www.campusactmag.com) but it wouldn’t be the last. “That really helped motivate me pretty early on. Then of course ‘America’s Got Talent’ was my biggest break up to that point. Now, with ‘Wild N’ Out’ I feel like I have made another real step, because it’s the first project I have become a regularly feature player on; that is just an amazing feeling and has been great to be a part of. It’s not just a 90 second slot here and there like on ‘AGT,’ it really feels like I am a part of a legitimate cast of a major show. It’s great to know I can’t get voted off this one (laughs).” Jacob credits patience and perseverance much more than simply raw talent for his current successes. “I feel like it is one of those things where you have to start with noting, but if you just keep doing it, all the little successes add up to be greater than the individual parts. You start of with ‘How do I even write a joke?’ to trying to write a better joke to writing five minutes, then 30, then being able to do a full hour. Hopefully good things happen along the way, and in my case they have.” Jacob focused on practice, practice, practice. “I was (and am) always getting on stage as much as I possibly can. Eventually I got some pretty good videos of me performing which really opened some doors to bigger opportunities.”
Coming full circle back to the campus market, Jacob says he learned the most right here at home. “I would say I picked up most of what I needed by just going to comedy shows on my own campus, I would go up on stage whenever I could, but I was the only comedian on campus (laughs), so I would have to wait until the program board booked a comedy show to try and get up and do an opening set for the featured performers. We had Tommy Johnagin and Pete Holmes and a lot of other really good people that were great about giving me a chance to get up on stage for a few minutes
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to practice my craft. I would always ask them advice and they were very accommodating but the number one thing they told me was that I needed to move to somewhere that I could get as much stage time as possible.”
Jacob realized that his small campus in Wisconsin wasn’t going to be the place his comedy career would take off, so he made the move to the nearest major market, and a true hub of comedy. “I moved to Chicago before I finished school, but still graduated from Beloit College in WI. I spent some of that time taking classes in Chicago, spending as much time on stage as possible and learning a ton about improv.” It’s an interesting combination of skills that he has, because as a general rule of thumb you see many comics who are either good at writing their material and doing stand-up, or you see comics who are amazing with off-the-cuff improvisation. It’s fairly rare to find a blend of the two. This blend is certainly one that will suit him well for the format of “Wild N’ Out,” which features different styles of comedy including improv, stand-up, insult comedy and games.
Jacob says when he performs, he still flashes back to his days as a student. “I was really inspired by the comics I saw on campus. When I was a freshman just starting out, I always went to those shows and I remember thinking, ‘That is the best job anyone could ever have, just to be able to perform at colleges, to come for an hour and get to talk about whatever you wanted and make people laugh and feel good at the same time. It’s a very gratifying feeling and I am completely grateful for the opportunity to be making a career out of it. I am so happy that I am able to do what I wanted to do when I first started college.” Contact Franco Talent at info@FrancoTalent.com or (401) 236-8636 for more info on Jacob and bringing him to your school .
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There are certain comics who have gone on to great things that we in the campus market like to consider “our own.” Comics that have spent years working and making a name for themselves, and have often been booked by hundreds of colleges long before they gain any sort of national acclaim, and once they do, we all like to say “We had them on campus when...”
Amy Schumer is certainly one of those comics. Making her first national television appearance on the fifth season of “Last Comic Standing,” Amy was a face recognizable to devout fans of comedy or that show, but would not be widely recognized until years later.
Now, she’s the star of her own Comedy Central series “Inside Amy Schumer,” which has been renewed
for a second season and has made her a recognizable face everywhere she goes. Amy sits down with Campus Activities Magazine to discuss the show, her growing popularity and the road that lead her here. Amy says so far the reaction to her Comedy Central series has been great, equating far bigger turn-outs in the clubs. The funny thing is, she hasn’t had a chance to see the corelation in the campus market, since the show just premiered April 30, 2013, right around the end of this past school year (that means your campus might be one of the first to book her after she’s made it “big”). She is excited about the prosect of seeing increasing crowds at her college shows. “I totally hadn’t even thought about that, but it’s really exciting. I have been doing colleges for about 7 years, but I would think the in-
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terest would be significantly increased now, because the CC show itself plays very well to that demographic.”
Going back almost 10 years, we find Amy starting off as a budding comic in New York, when she first hit the stage June 1, 2004. Many people think the national exposure she gained when she placed fourth on the fifth season of “Last Comic Standing” in the summer of 2007 was her first big break, when in fact she had been making a name for herself around Gotham Comedy Club and the New York scene, even having her own half hour “Live at Gotham” episode. She considers this her “big break” but also makes it clear that the mass exposure of being on prime time network TV sure got a lot more people knowing her name. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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There weren’t a lot of people out there who didn’t recognize her yet for good reason; Amy hadn’t been around performing long enough for them to, a fact that some of the other comics on that season grumbled about. “It was funny, because when I was on ‘Last Comic’ I had only been performing for about two years. I hadn’t been on the road at all yet and hadn’t even done any colleges. To be on prime time in front of 6 million people a week, after being in front of no more than 100 at a time was very intense. I think some of the other comics on that season, who had been on the road and performing for 10 or 20 years were a little taken aback that I was able to land a slot on the show so soon in my career.” Amy says from that point on, performing in the college market made a major difference too. “Colleges have been a big part of what’s helped me succeed and move along in stand-up. It’s a great place to work on material and just get better. I am really interested in seeing what would work at comedy clubs and in other venues, but especially colleges. It’s a great
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way of measuring how funny a joke is. College students are still young and excited by life, they haven’t become jaded yet; I especially love orientation shows.”
Amy says besides the crowds being great to work with, there are certain challenges we are all familiar with in the campus market that can teach a comic to be versatile and work nearly anywhere. “Sometimes the setup won’t always be ideal. I’ve been to colleges where there is no microphone, or no stage, or you realize you are performing in a cafeteria while students are trying to eat (laughs). Of course there are lots of schools out there with big beautiful theaters, which I have seen more and more often as my career has advanced, but in some of those other places it’s like being in training because there are these factors working against you that you just have to push through. It really does make you a better, stronger performer because you never know what you are going to get. I’ve shown up and found out I would be performing for 1,000 people in the middle of the summer, or in a gym with no mic, or a
lecture hall where the lights barely illuminate the room. It’s certainly been an adventure.”
The day following our interview, Amy was set to go on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” where she will describe the toughest gig she’s ever had. “I showed up and was performing at an Iranian hunger strike in front of The White House. You just never know what you are going to do if you wind up a stand-up comedian, and I give the campus market a lot of credit for helping me learn how to deal with those sorts of situations.” Amy is not what you would call a “clean” comic, with her material being well suited for a young adult crowd or Comedy Central, but no so much for the major networks. It begs the question of how she was able to work clean enough for her appearances on “Last Comic Standing.” “I can’t believe the stuff that they let me say on that show,” she says laughing. “I am still really proud of the material that I did on there and they were very cool about it. You know, I don’t really curse
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that much (although now I can, I don’t have to be as careful because Comedy Central will just bleep it), but I didn’t curse on ‘LCS’ or have any material that was too sexual at the time. It was kind of strangely TV ready and because with the nature of that competition show all the sets were so short, I was able to have ready made little three minute segments. I think the other more experienced comics who had been performing for like 25 years had a harder time whittling it down to such a short set. My stuff was still kind of edgy, but I think people see the comic and not just the jokes. I think folks saw I was coming from a good place and doing the best I could.” That’s one of the major draws for Amy and what makes her so good at what she does. Amy could be extremely funny just doing radio, but when you combine the power of her humor with her sweet, allAmerican girl disposition, it creates a more profound impact on an audience. It’s almost like hearing a nun tell a dirty joke, what makes it so funny and memorable is the fact that you didn’t expect to
hear it from someone who you might think would never say it. Now Amy is no nun, and her jokes are not all what you would call ‘dirty’ but the same principle applies.
Amy may not have won “LCS” but placing fourth in the competition certainly moved her career up a few notches. There is a certain curse that hangs around reality show winners (name someone from “AGT,” “American Idol,” “The Voice,” or “LCS” who has won the competition and gone on to any further success and I’ll name you ten who you never heard from again), so Amy thinks perhaps that things did work out for the best. The next step in her climb was her work on the Friar’s Club Roasts, which she came out shining in. Again, you don’t expect this sweet looking blondie to get up there and slam a celebrity, but Amy did, often outdoing some of her far more famous fellow roasters (and even giving the fabled Lisa Lampanelli a run for her money). “I think the Roasts were a huge game changer. After ‘Last Comic’ I just
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put my head back down and focused on getting more experience and getting stronger as a comic. I went on the road and headlined for a year and then went back to opening for Dave Attell and Jim Norton. By the time the Roasts came up I was ready and I think in any business, opportunity plus preparation equals success, and I was ready for this opportunity. The Roasts were huge for me.” Amy gave quite memorable performances at both the Roasts of Charlie Sheen and Roseanne Barr if readers want to check them out.
Jumping back into the present, Amy tells us more about “Inside Amy Schumer,” how it was created and her reaction upon finding out the project was in the pipeline. “Comedy Central has been very lovely to me throughout my career. Before ‘LCS’ I was given a short special on CC. They put me on TV for the very first time and I credit that appearance with opening the door for me to be on ‘Last Comic.’ They have always just emitted a very warm feeling towards me and let me know the door was always open, to TV show ideas
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or other projects with them. So, before I even did the Roasts I was taking meetings with them, trying to come up with an idea and develop it into something that could work for the network. In between the Sheen and Roseanne Roasts, we knew we were going to make a pilot. They are very conscious of the performer and great about being supportive in making the show you want to make, not offering a contract and then finding yourself in a show completely different than what you thought it would be.” They told Amy to make whatever she wanted and shoot the pilot. “We were about to shoot the pilot and I was thinking we would do it in a talk show format, because I knew they were looking for a certain time slot and I said to myself ‘Let’s just give them what they want,’ even though it wasn’t really what I felt like I wanted to make. Then Jessi Klein, who is one of the executive producers of my show (who also worked as a writer on ‘Saturday Night Live’) and I went out for drinks and she told me ‘I think you could be squandering this opportunity and you
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should really focus on making the show you WANT to film. I walked home and thought about it and realized she was right and called the other executive producer, Dan Powell and told him we were changing everything. We had to meet tomorrow and tell the network. We ended up filming the pilot and I felt really good about it and thought if they never make the show, I would be forever proud of the pilot.” Some time went by and Amy filmed her CC hour long special “Mostly Sex Stuff” in San Francisco and was still in town the day after in the gym with her sister. “I answered a call on the elliptical and it was all of my agents and management team on the phone. I gave my sister one of the earbuds to my phone and we found out together that the show had been picked up. We both sat there and cried in the gym.”
Thanks to the incredible reaction from the public, the show is now in production for it’s second season and features some extremely talented writers and actors on
board. “The reaction was so overwhelmingly positive and sweet, I feel from people their love for the show and it is just so cool. I decided I was just going to make the best show that I could make, that I love and hope it resonated with others. I hoped people would like it but I wasn’t sure, but people have just been so kind and enthusiastic about it. My life has changed so much.”
It’s easy to tell how hesitant she is about bragging, but she can’t tiptoe around the truth. “I would say...I guess I have to use these words: I’m a little bit famous. And uh...yeah. I would never say I’m ‘famous’ or really famous or ‘kinda a big deal’ or whatever, but I am not completely unknown now. Right now I’m in an airport off in a little private waiting area, because if I were just out waiting at the gate people would be coming up to me and asking for pictures or taking pictures without me knowing. That’s not really fun. The loss of anonymity has been a little bit hard to deal with believe it or not. I never set out to become famous, I just want to do what I love and make people laugh. I live in
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New York and I’m not a big enough deal to be a big attraction, I like to walk around in the day and just be unnoticed, but that’s not how it is anymore, especially in places where people aren’t really used to seeing people from TV.”
Amy clarifies that she is not complaining. “It has been totally worth it, TOTALLY. And you know, at a lot of college shows I am so excited to meet everyone. During my normal life or working at clubs I don’t really like to stick around and do pictures
(mainly because you never know what kind of creepers will wander up), but at colleges it’s a different atmosphere. I feel much more comfortable around them and will usually stick around after the show to meet the activities boards and take pictures with the students. That is kind of a nice break for me to do, to get to really soak up the good vibes and get to talk to normal people without feeling uncomfortable. I really enjoy it, I will stay and take a picture with everyone who wants one, unless there is some
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pressing reason I have to go.”
The second season of “Inside Amy Schumer” will premiere in 2014, but until then, bring the star to your campus and get a taste of her comedy for your students in person. Contact Heidi Feigin at United Talent Agency at 310-246-6009 or feiginh@unitedtalent.com for more info. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
One of my most profound work-related insights actually came to me during a particularly traumatic day in the first grade.
ried my paper to the front of the room to hand it in for grading, i was confident that my teacher would agree that my work was something special.
it was on a day when the teacher was having us finetuning our penmanship. Specifically, we were working on our numerals. Repetition is the key to learning a new skill, so on this day we’ve been given a deceptively simple task - fill an entire page with the number “2.” this was hardly a surprise, as yesterday had been “1” day.
now, scratching out a page of “1”s wasn’t very challenging - try it, you’ll see. a page full of “2”s, however, proved to be life-changing.
Later, after recess, she handed our papers back. my final, epic “2” had been crossed out - a red “X” right through it. and written above it, in equally bright red ink, was a single word... “WROng!”
Early Education Job Experience
i grabbed my jumbo pencil and opened up my super-wide-ruled firstgrade notebook and got down to work. after knocking out a few generic deuces, i glanced over at my friend Freddy Ellis’s notebook. Freddy was going cRazY with his assignment. check it out - at the place where the “2” first hits the bottom line, that place right before it usually makes a sharp right, Freddy was making a little loop! a little whoop-de-do. no straightforward, carbon-copied, mass-produced “2,” for Freddy. His “2” had style and finesse. if it’s at all possible for a “2” to have mojo, well...his did.
i liked what i was seeing, so i decided to copy him. Hey, why not set a solid foundation for your educational journey with some good old fashioned plagiarism, right?
i put a little Freddy Ellis flair into my next “2,” and it felt good. it swooped. my huge, tree branch of a pencil suddenly became a delicate instrument of art. i made another “2,” putting a slightly bigger swoop in this one. another one followed, with even more swoop, and then i finished it off with just a bit of an upturn, a little jaunty www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
By Barry Smith
tail. a prototype curly-Q. i didn’t get this from Freddy. Oh no, this was my very own creation! and i still have three quarters of a page left to go!
ahhhh...so this is what school is going to be like? Days spent exploring new avenues of creativity? awesome! How lucky am i that i get to do this for many years to come. and, i thought, if school work is this cool, then REaL work is bound to be even better! Work! a lifetime of the unfettered exploration of your creative bliss! i can hardly wait! What followed was a page of increasingly ornate “2”s. Each new attempt brought forth more swoops and spirals and curls, resulting in a page of some of the most amazing “2”s since the days when people first started to count beyond 1. phew...what a masterpiece.
i had taken a simple assignment write “2” on the page over and over again - and made it my own. i’d truly given it my all; i’d thrown my entire being into this day. and i must say, my final “2” was something to behold - an elaborate creation that looked more like an intricate, ancient celtic knot than a simple, boring number. as i car-
and she had a point. that final “2” was barely recognizable as a numeric character. Sure, it was fancy and expressive and personal and creative, but that wasn’t the job i’d been assigned.
So, my little 6-year-old self had a moment of employment realization: some job situations are going to require you to be wildly creative and innovative. Some will demand that you do exactly what you’ve been told. Some will be a combination of the two. and you have to pay close attention, because it’s not always clear which is which, and mixing them up is easier than you think. it was a good lesson to learn early on, and has served me well. But i have to admit, it sure took the fun out of the following day’s assignment - number “3” day. Sigh...such wasted embellishing possibilities…
Barry Smith is a writer, comedian and speaker. His presentation, “Every Job I’ve Ever Had” is based on the lessons learned from his life of offbeat employment choices and how these lessons can help students in their own career evolution. "Barry's show was a refreshing guide to career exploration and served as a wonderful reminder that we can find happiness by following our passions." - Bryn Kass, Senior Class Council President, Tufts University. To book Barry contact Gina at Kirkland Productions (866) 769-9037 or booking@kirklandproductions.com
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Sammy Obeid performed on "America's Got Talent" last year, making it to the Vegas rounds. "Howard Stern was a big fan and gave me a lot of praise on the show, which was really cool." Sammy was also recently featured in a documentary premiering on the Starz Network called the "Coexist Comedy Tour" which featured several comedians, each from a different religion. For all you foodies out there, Sammy has also been featured on “Throw Down with Bobby Flay." "My buddy owns a tacoria in San Francisco, and we did a roast of the place which was featured on the show."
For nearly the past three years, Sammy has been a man on a mission. About two years ago, he realized he had gone through one full year of doing shows without missing a single day. So, his 1,000 Days Of Comedy project was born. "Today is day number 934 and I guess that is the one thing that really sets me apart, because no one else has done it before. I am writing a book about it and filming a documentary. Before this, the world record was two years, or 731 days, which I surpassed last Christmas.
"It has been a very intense process, trying to get from city to city on time and to make sure I am making it up on stage every single day. There have been a lot of close calls, which I will be talking about in the book and the documentary as well." www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Stylistically, Sammy has a pretty unique background for a stand-up comic that gives him a bit of a different approach than most. "First of all I was a math major before comedy, which was a strange transition I don't think you see a lot in comics. I write very original and personal material and am of mixed heritage, being Lebanese, Palestinian and Italian – so I come from a diverse background and in a place that is very diverse (the Bay Area). People never knew what race I was so I fit into a lot of different social circles. I think that has granted me the ability to perform comfortably in front of a lot of different kinds of crowds."
Sammy's comedy could certainly be described as intellectual, and a perfect fit for the campus market. "I kind of ask people to use the top of their intelligence, though I try not to go over their heads. It does happen sometimes by accident, but much less in the campus market than public club dates because students are a sharp crowd and ready and willing to learn and understand new ideas and concepts. It never really fails with them."
For example, Sammy can throw out quite a few textbook references. "These are references that people essentially learn in high school and some in the college. Most people know them, but once you've spent years out of school they kind of fade away. For college students though, the references are very apt."
In other words, he tries to play to the general public without dumbing things down. "I don't make a lot of strange, esoteric references that most people don't get. Some comedians do and get off on the fact that they are funny only to the highest echelon of academics, but that's not me. It doesn't make me feel good to make anyone else feel dumb. I want my comedy to be elevated to a certain point, so that it's not so generic you've heard it all 100 times before; but I don’t want to reach the point of alienating anyone. It’s not overly complicated, but it is intellectual and requires a bit of higher level thinking. I think that is what makes me unique and a perfect fit for the college market.” Sammy provides a rare form of comedy that is accessible to all ages. While he can perform in any situation, you may want to also consider booking him for your events where nontraditional students or their families will be present. “I can perform for a crowd full of grandmothers and then go to a crowd full of young hipsters and get a good reaction in both places.” Sammy can perform for all college functions including orientations and welcome weeks. He also does corporate gigs and religious groups.
Contact KP Comedy at 866-769-9037 or booking@kpcomedy.com for more information.
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here are quite a few sketch teams floating around out there, but not many who have been as successful or as are experienced as Harvard sailing team and there are even fewer who focus almost exclusively on the college market.
T
“the perfect sketch comedy troupe for a college audience! Hilarious, easy to work with, and everyone loved the show!” -John O’Donnell, advisor university of Richmond activities Board
With credits like montreal’s “Just For Laughs” Festival, the national college comedy Festival, weekly shows at peoples improv theater in nYc, Winners of a new York nightlife award for “Outstanding comedy group,” Friar’s club $10K Film Festival sketch competition and nominated for mtv networks’ comedy awards for “Best Original viral video.” With almost 45,000 Youtube subscribers and a few million views, this act has its bona fides in place. also a notable difference from your typical four-person touring sketch troupe setup is that Hst has nine players, packing a whole lot more talent into just one package of a high energy, fast paced comedy show.
We talk with clayton early, chris smith and Jen curren to find out more about the acts history and style of performance.
the first obvious question is “Where did the name come?” “it came from long exhaustive research,” chris says, “and data gathering over three years and thousands of options. Different letters, languages...no but seriously we picked it because we though we would look cute in nice looking sweaters.” Well Kashmir does look good on just about anyone.
the troupe has been performing together for ten years, with its origins forming around the campus of nYu. “all of us except for Billy scafuri went to college together at new York university,” clayton says. “We were training at a place called the atlantic theater company through nYu’s tish school of the arts. We spent about three years taking classes together, however it was drama training surprisingly,” he finishes, with a caucophenous level of background noise
made by children in the background at the very theater training center he just mentioned. “Billy grew up with chris on Long island and he would come to our shows. He was interning at snL at the time and so after we graduated we decided to put on a comedy show. i think it was something that chris and Billy initially imagined. they wrote a bunch of sketches and got us all together and we did one show in the middle of Long island filled mostly with the safuris and smiths, so it was a friendly crowd. Of course everyone loved it and told us we should keep doing it.” nine years went by and aside from the numerous awards, the team has amassed an impressive collection of shows in their wake, all of them not at comedy festivals taking place in the campus market. the show isn’t strictly scripted sketch comedy, the troupe also utilizes a fair bit of improv, keeping each show fresh and making them not only unique to each audience, but exciting for the performers as well. “there is a good mix of both forms,” Jen says. “When we are performing a live show we have a pretty clear cut idea of the points we want to hit, a basic blueprint of what we are trying to build, but there is always room for improv. We are all really good friends, so we like to leave some room to make each other laugh on stage and whatever funny, weird thing that might come up in the moment.”
initially after the show in Long island, the group realized they had something that was gelling quite well and soon after were able to land a slot
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where they were really able to work on their chops. “We put together a half hour show that we split with another group at the pit (people’s improv theater),” chris says. “We did that maybe once a month and after a few of those shows rolled into our own hour long weekly show. We went back and forth between the pit and the ucB-nY (upright citizens Brigade) in the first couple of years, doing weekly performances.” Hst has quite a collection of videos on /www.youtube.com/user/Hstsketchcomedy), some of which have gone viral, the most notable of which is “Boys Will Be girls,” which at current count is over 5 million views. “When we make videos,” she says “we also start with a relatively clear cut script but save some time to do improv in the videos as well. it definitely provides a sort of energy and unexpected spice to what we do, which i
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think translates well to the viewing audience. it’s almost like if we don’t know exactly what to expect, neither do they and it adds an element of surprise to the comedy. it’s a good mix, but we are technically a sketch group not an improv troupe.”
the weekly station as the pit lasted for about two years and allowed Hst to really hone in on their craft and more importantly, their comfort level and interactions with each other. imagine the level of difficulty of getting the traditional four-person format to click well and then slightly more than double it for Hst’s nine members to get it right. “For the first year, it was a little bit more sporadic shows whenever we could get them,” chris adds, “but by the time we were into the second year we had hit a groove and were performing all the time.”
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there was a lot of growth in that time, as clayton explains. “those first shows were a lot of fun, because they were typically small and low pressure so we got to experiment and grow, but after several months of doing that, the improv element, the friendship and the writing strengthened and we were ready to start taking on bigger and more frequent shows.” in the last two years almost all of Hst’s live performances have been in the campus market. “in the last couple of years we have been focusing on the big campus shows and traveling,” Jen says, “and doing a lot more videos. almost all of our touring work is in the campus market.”
Hst has truly found a home in the campus market. not only is the format a natural fit for the audience, the team just really likes it. “When we were doing shows in new York, it was a really intellectual, 20’s and 30-somethings crowd that we got used to. We actually had an experience after the first couple of year where we went to do some shows in charleston, south carolina and it was an entirely different experience. the crowd was people that were a little bit older, maybe out on a Friday night for a date with their husband or wife and they laughed at different jokes and reacted in a new way to different parts of the show. that was the first time the realization hit us that certain jokes work in an urban environment, some work better in a suburban environment and the age range of the audience made a big impact as well.” Once they began performing in the campus
market they realized the same line of logic applied. “colleges follow along that line, we never know what to expect. some audiences are keyed in to every little thing we say, some only laugh at the big pivotal joke moments. it all varies and we have found that college crowds are generally a lot more fun and fun-loving than your sort of academic, jaded new York city audience. they love it when we sing and dance and they get super energized about the fun physical stuff we do, so it’s always a much more fun, bigger than life and lively show when we are on a campus.” audience participation is always a plus in the campus market and it’s not lacking in Hst’s show. “Funny you should ask,” clayton says, “We do actually have a sketch that we call ‘audience participation’ that we perform at the college shows because they are so amped to be there. it is a charged up crowd, they are excited to be there, and often they are familiar with us because they are a demographic that is so plugged into the viral video scene. When they are already familiar with our work it’s not only veery gratifying to us, but it just makes them all the more excited to be there.
“so in the ‘audience participation’ sketch, we require them to say certain words when we say certain words throughout the sketch and it always goes really well and they seem to really enjoy it. i would also say that even sometimes outside of that specific sketch, you can tell just being on the stage when the lights come up and we are in a particular formation or say one or two lines of a sketch they are familiar with, they are instantly murmuring through the crowd and there is this palpable exactment they generate from seeing something live that they are familiar with from seeing online. they are pulling their phones out and taking pictures and texting their friends and that is always fun to see that level of involvement and excitement for this thing that we have all created together.” Let Harvard sailing team come create that level of fun and excitement on your campus. contact Doug edley at the gersh agency at (310) 205-5885 or Dedley@gershLa.com.
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the association of entertainment professionals (aep) hit one out of the park with its third annual signature event at the south point Hotel, casino & spa in Las vegas this past June. not only was attendance up 23%, but with educational sessions on the newest 3D mapping techniques ( with affordable options for colleges) and “there’s no Business Like nO Business” buyers found out when it was okay to FiRe their agents and agents found out how to FiRe clients. attendees found that they really could get a great resort hotel in vegas for $49 a night - one that not only touted reasonable priced food courts, but a megaplex cinema, 64-lane bowling alley and an equestrian arena. it was a conference dream come true and those in attendance were ecstatic with the value.
savannah Jack from Don casino productions in Orlando was by far the most popular act to take the stage. exceptional audience interaction and a standing ovation. Five staRs
Kazual from metropolis management was a popular hit for buyers. and a carnival Hot pick.
Kyshona armstrong from Diversity talent received rave reviews from the audience.
Xclusive from metropolis management got attention for his unusual performance.
Darrell Joyce from Don casino productions was exceptionally funny and cLean.
spanky from gp entertainment emceed and came up with a hilarious new skit.
midwest Dueling pianos from Bass/schuler provided an audience participation option.
if you missed this year’s conference, be sure to add this affordable option to your 2014 budget. preliminary plans are for aep to be on the east coast this year for the very first time. proposed dates are June 19-21, 2014 at the grand Opera House in Wilmington, De. if you have never had the chance to visit this historic theater, prepare to be impressed. guest accommodations will be at the Doubletree (Hilton) a few steps away from the grand. the grand is a state-of-the art restored facility with two theaters (the grand and the Baby grand). it allows for plenty of function space and the plan currently is to have all functions for this conference onsite at the grand 34, campus activities magazine®, august 2013
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All Photos: EmmAlexis Photography
While attendees got exceptional meals, first-class service and informative educational sessions that were interactive, the experience came from the incredible talent showcases. sponsored by carnival cruise Lines, this year’s talent hit the mark when it came to excellence, diversity and affordability. Buyers found incredible new options they never knew existed. the showroom was a fully functioning state-of-the art facility and each showcase was professionally produced by eastcoast entertainment. Below you will find not only the top acts with the highest appeal but some old campus favorites that showed new twists for multiple markets. if you missed this conference, take a look at what you should be considering and make sure you make it a priority next year.
Bodh'aktan, as you can tell from the kilts, was one of the best celtic Rock bands i have ever seen (and i have seen more than my share). the audience loved them. Five staRs
acrobazia from imagination entertainment showed awe-inspiring feats of strength.
D’mo Brass (dmoBrass.com) was a brass band with style and a special flair.
Don Friesen (donfriesen.com) delivered comedy straight from his showtime special. clean.
Red Hot Band from innovative entertainment was the best dance band of the conference.
morgan Leigh Band from Full circle entertainment delivered clean crisp vocals.
the cube from imagination entertainment was another feat of strength and durability.
property. showcase application dates will be announced soon and a complete schedule will follow. this is your chance to learn from and interact with all the different segments of the entertainment industry (colleges and universities, performing arts centers, casinos, fairs and festivals, theme parks, cruise lines, military, special events, corporate functions, theatres and more). Learn from interactive sessions with true entertainment professionals and carry your experiences and your knowledge back home. this is one of the most affordable and rewarding entertainment experiences you will find. Become part of the aep Family. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
campus activities magazine®, august 2013, 35
I’ve travelled across the country as a comedian/radio personality and media activist. Since finishing graduate school, I’ve been addressing the issues of corporate media and public misinformation in my programs on college campuses. I believe that our freedom of speech and expression hangs in the balance, and what I’ve seen makes me hopeful. The college students that I see thirst for knowledge, hunger for relevance, and in the face of challenges and obstacles, still know how to laugh.
very, very cynical about the future of this nation, actually, the future of this world, if it wasn’t for you guys.
Despite the cards being stacked against it, critical thinking is alive and well on college campuses. I base this off the students I’ve
We need the media—it provides the place where we learn about the issues facing our communities, nation, and the world. The very idea of a democratic society existing without the media is like a car existing without an engine, a fish existing without water, a mop bucket existing without Justin Bieber, it’s just not going to work.
Now more than ever the need for quality information is apparent. If recent events have taught us anything (Zimmerman Trial, Edward Snowden, NSA, AP Scandals), it’s that we have a media that’s not only not interested in playing hardball, they’re not even up for slow-pitch, hell, they’re not even up for giving it a go off the tee. The need for true investigative journalism, hard-hitting questions, and the pursuit of truth as opposed to sensationalism is arguably at an all-time high. The way I see it, Journalism should be as attractive of a major right now as computer science was during the Dotcom Boom. That’s not the case, though. That’s not the case because the general populace does not necessarily see the media as a public good but rather an assumed vault of misinformation, skepticism and cynicism. Our media structure is in a rut, and brilliant young people that have the potential to significantly add to the public sphere aren’t getting to do so because of a lack of opportunities and economic pressures. I’d be
met during campus engagements, or the ones I met at the College Media Advisers Conference in New York this past March, or at the National Conference for Media Reform in Denver. I base this off reading the transcript from the Journalism students at the University of Wisconsin, who saw the NSA coming to campus not solely as an opportunity to get resume pointers and hear stories about office Karaoke, but as an opportunity to demand the truth that they had the right to know and ask questions directed towards obtaining that truth. Questions that the “professional” journalists in the “real world” hadn’t been asking.
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These bright minds are all part of the larger campus community. A campus community that you make better by providing entertaining, diverse and thought provoking programming. When it comes to the campus activities world, I’m still learning my way around. Every experience changes me, inspires me, and makes me realize how much I still have to learn. Ironically enough, the last time I felt this way was my Freshman Orientation. I’m honored and privileged to be in this position, and I hope that you’ll give me permission to stay for a long time.
So, now that I have you attention, I wanted to start off by saying thank you. Thank you for bringing programming to college campuses all over the world. Thank you for making a campus community a campus community and not just a place to attend classes and send a check several times a year. Thank you for giving students past and present experiences that they’ll take with them for years to come, including this student. I may not remember every lecture I’ve ever had, but I still remember Max Weinberg’s college talk, I even remember getting cold feet during the Q & A session because I wasn’t convinced I had a good question (I wanted to ask him what it was like recording “Thunder Road” during the Born To Run sessions). The work you do is imperative, especially now as we are amidst so much unrest and it is up to the young minds of tomorrow to bail us out. A college degree can help us earn a reasonable living, and a campus community can help us envision a better world. Here’s to a productive and prosperous Fall of 2013. For more info contact: G.G. Greg at the G.G. Greg Agency (440) 266-1732 or email him at gggregagy@aol.com www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
“SAFE AND SOUND” Just Went To #1 at Modern Rock Radio and Broke The TOP 10 on Billboard’s 100 Singles.
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