SUMMIT COMEDY Chuck Johnson and Summit Comedy celebrate 12 years in the Campus Market.
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SOLO CIRCUS Michael DuBois goes solo and his new show is a smashing success.
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RALPHIE MAY 24 The Big guy is a Big Hit! If you want a celebrity comedian whose shows packs a punch, Ralphie might just be the answer.
2010 COMEDY ISSUE BEN BAILEY 32
You probably know him from “Cash Cab” on the Discovery Channel but Ben is Quite an Accomplished Stand-up Comedian and a Hit on College Campuses.
HOT COMEDY FOR 2011 Part-One of our top comedy picks for 2011 from a huge list of candidates. D E P A R T M E N T S
From the Publisher Laff Guru Agency Profile Real Life w/ Elaine Pasqua
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Comedy Feature CAM Pet Project Hot Comedy 2011 Entertainment Warehouse
Z-MAGS® ONLINE VIDEO INTERACTIVE EDITION: campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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RANDOM THOUGHTS & OTHER MINDLESS DRIBBLE
Campus Activities Magazine’s® New Website Scheduled In August
The staff of Campus Activities Magazine® has spent most of the summer working on some huge developments we think will make strides in expanding the campus market and campus activities professionals. Perhaps the most impressive of these is the new Campus Activities Magazine® website that will debut shortly.
Last winter, we decided we needed to do something that would impact the campus market and bring all of the campuses together, not just those who were members of NACA or APCA but a complete community that would envelope all the campuses in the country. We had developed a database website a few years ago but weren’t satisfied with its functionality or our control of the data. We decided we wanted to do something with a Facebook look and feel and that was completely interactive with both Facebook and Twitter. So, we went in search of developers who we felt could achieve this goal for us. Through our Z-Mags partners, we found a group of young guys who had developed a successful company integrating social networking into databases.
They took us on an clients and with them, we have developed the first all-inclusive social networking website and database for campus entertainment. The beauty of this site is that it is not limited to one organization membership or the other, but will be absolutely complete. Any student programmer from any college can join. Any agent and any agency doing business in the campus market can join. Any artist
who wants to perform in the campus market can join. But what makes it even more attractive to everyone is that it is FREE. Yep, free!
Programmers, directors, key campus personnel, artists, agencies and agents can all join for free by simply completing a profile to log in. All campus information is PRIVATE. We will not sell, barter or trade your information with any outside sources.
Artists and agencies will be able to create profiles that include booking information, phone numbers, web sites, email addresses. They can post photos, sound bytes, videos, riders, isolated rates as well as co-op rates.
All artists and agencies will be completely searchable by a wide array of information including but not limited to name, location. genre, agency and more. Schools will be able to search tour schedules and look at blocks. They will be able to submit interest forms with one click directly to the responsible agents and negotiate contracts directly through the web site. Many times you can get an answer in minutes rather than days.
dise through the website. This gives you the opportunity to move more goods and establish a bigger relationship with your audience. For more information on this feature, contact Ian Kirby (ian@cameopublishing.com). The site will feature many of the same benefits of Facebook and will include the blog feature. Contacts from Facebook should be able to be imported into your CAMEO (Campus Activities Magazine Entertainment Online) profile. As of this issue, we are currently beta-testing the new site for bugs to resolve as many issues as possible before taking it live. But it should be active in the next few weeks.
Since artists and agency involvement is crucial, we will be assisting these folks with setting up their memberships first. This new site is more complex than our existing site but our staff will assist all agencies and artists with getting their information entered and the necessary data stored in the database.
Artist Report Cards (ARCs) can be submitted online and viewed instantly. Schools can get a feel for how a particular artist performed at other venues and artists can discover areas that need improvement.
For campuses, sign up is much more simple and your access will only take minutes. Please note that this site is for campus activities board members and professional campus entertainment buyers only. Each applicant will be screened to be sure they are actively involved in the buying process and associated with a college or university.
For artists, there will be a drop-down menu where you can sell your merchan-
Obviously the distinct advantage of this
Larger agencies can indicate middle agents (when necessary) for celebrity talent so that school buys can not only determine the cost of the talent but travel and backline.
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The 2011 Readers Choice Awards nominations and voting will also be handled on this site. Buyers must have an active. approved profile to be able to nominate and vote in the upcoming awards process.
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new site is that will provide services many colleges and universities are having to pay for currently, at no charge. The information will be expansive rather than limited to one segment of the industry and it will be available immediately as it is received.
Rebecca Faessel At The University of Akron To Head Up Campus Activities Magazine’s® Ambassador Program
Rebecca Faessel at the University of Akron will coordinate the Campus Activities Magazine® Ambassador Program. The job of Ambassadors on each campus is to be sure the school submits Artist Report Cards (ARCs) on each event held on campus and provide the magazine with details about programs their student body found exceptional and worthy of editorial coverage. They will also help their buyers become
active in using the new website and Campus Activities Magazine’s® Facebook page and report any problems or ideas to make them better and more effective.
As the program develops, Rebecca will be selecting Senior Ambassadors who will be responsible for a specific state or region. These will be students who desire to make a career in the entertainment industry. Senior ambassadors will have the opportunity to have their resumes submitted to agencies and industry leadership for possible internships or positions upon graduation.
William Patterson University Is The Site for the 2010/11 Rock ‘n Road Show
William Patterson University was the winner of the current Rock ‘n Road Show sponsored by Auburn Moon Entertainment. The campus will work with
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Auburn Moon to select a date acceptable to the artists and the school for the free two-day show. Included will be Mieka Pauley, Ronnie Jordan, The Great College Drive-In Movie and Hotspur. Campus Activities Magazine® will supply the publicity and will be on-site to do a story on the campus program and the show.
Akron University won the show in 2009 and that show will be held on August 3031, 2010. Coverage will follow in Campus Activities Magazine’s® October issue. Coleman Entertainment Group will be sponsoring the 2011/12 show. Entries are available now. All your campus has to do is submit Artist Report Cards. Each report submitted is one qualifying point. Report on all shows between now and May 31, 2011. The top ten (10) schools with the most points will go into a drawing for the 2011/12 winner.
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Two Agents Walk Into A Bar…
DISCLAIMER: I KNOW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT BEING AN AGENT; I APOLOGIZE THE FOLLOWING COLUMN IS SO ONE-SIDED. PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY OF THE AGENT JOKES CAME FROM AGENTS
This column started with a post on Facebook asking what my friends had to say about the relationship between performers and their representation. The response was overwhelming (although most chose to reply via a private message for fear their agent might see a public post). Here’s a brief sampling of the dozens of contributions I received: What's the difference between a vampire bat and an international agent? One is a fearless, evil, bloodsucking monster, and the other is a small, harmless, mouse-like creature with wings.
What's the difference between God and a Hollywood agent? God doesn't think He's an agent.
What's the difference between a bantam rooster and a New York agent? A rooster clucks defiance.
Clearly, the relationship between agents and their clients is sometimes strained at best and downright hostile at worst (I might as well have asked how people feel about their mother-inlaw).
Why do agents have the tarnished reputation of being dishonest, unethical, megalomaniacs that leech off other’s talents? For the same reason that creative types have a reputation for being moody, irresponsible, self-absorbed eccentrics; each occupation attracts a percentage of people who have those negative traits in their nature. Naturally not all agents are sleazy and not all artists are flakes, unfortunately, enough are to establish stereotypes.
These stereotypes are perpetuated by the undercurrent of antagonism created by artists and agents being hopelessly dependant upon each other. It is very similar to the stereotypes that reflect the enmity that exists between genders: men don’t listen and women talk too much, men are obsessed with sports and women are obsessed with shopping, etc. The love-hate relationship found between husbands and wives is also found between agents and artists. Although both forms of relationships may have negative moments, they both remain desirable because of the positive synergy created; in show business, like marriage, working together can produce results not obtainable by working alone.
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The simple truth is half of show business is business, and most creative types are not hardwired to thrive in that arena, so even if an artist believes agents are evil, he knows they are a necessary evil. Having an agent you hate is often better than having no agent at all. Regardless of how an artist feels about his agent, more often than not, he endlessly craves the agent’s attention and approval, as illustrated by the following joke: A comic gets a call from his neighbor, who regretfully reports, "I have really bad news for you, buddy. Your agent came to the house, started a fire, wrecked your car, killed your dog, and molested your wife.” The comic gets excited and blurts, "Ok, let me get this straight: My agent came to my house?!"
Just as most young single people dream of marriage, most new performers dream of signing with an agent. But as the old joke goes, marriage is like a hot bath, once you get in it, it ain’t so hot. (I’m not sure who has screwed me more often, my ex-wives or my exagents?) My personal history with agents has been a roller coaster ride of alternating ups and downs. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Third Agent: Harry Unlike, then
First Agent: Jack U Unlike
My first agent, whom for legal purposes I’ll call “Jack” (as in “Jack the Ripoff”) was in that small percentage that gives other agents a bad name. I wouldn’t call him a snake in the grass, more like a cross between a lion and a cheetah (because everyone he dealt with called him a lying cheater…Ba-Da-Bing!) For example, I learned from his former secretary that Jack would send a booker the photographs of each of his twenty clients in one Fed Ex envelope, then bill each of the twenty clients the shipping charge, netting himself hundreds of dollars in undeserved profits. I dumped Jack after I caught him taking a 40% commission. Why did New Jersey get all the toxic waste dumps, while California got all the agents? New Jersey had first pick.
Second Agent: Rob
Like
After I left Jack things quickly looked up. My next agent, whom I’ll call “Rob” (because that’s his name) and I formed a relationship that lasted the next eighteen years (longer than both my marriages combined). Our relationship eventually resembled an old married couple and our lengthy time together created a mutual affection that was never too far below the surface. With his help I was voted “Campus Performer of the Year” and “Campus Comic of the Year” (twice!)
But as with many marriages, we both eventually yielded to the temptation to see someone new. When he added new acts to his roster I began to feel like a suspicious old wife when her husband gets a hot new young secretary, and I was soon seduced by another agent’s offer to join a start-up agency.
Like, then Like
My third agent I’ll call “Harry” (inside joke) was, and still is, a dear friend, that was launching a new agency. When Rob and I had an amicable split, I became the first comic on Harry’s roster. In retrospect I now see this was a mistake, because Harry stayed in business for only one year, and the abrupt unexpected exit left my career in the lurch. (Fortunately our friendship remained in tact.) Why don’t sharks attack agents? Professional courtesy. Almost Forth Agent: Bertha Unlike & Defriended
Enter an agent, whom I’ll call “Bertha,” who owned an agency I was familiar with from my decades of attending conferences. She eagerly expressed interest in representing me and we spent hours on the phone discussing how we might make each other rich. I was 99.9% certain I had found the agent of my future. Then many days passed while calls went unreturned; NACA submissions were rapidly approaching when I finally got Bertha on the phone and was informed that several weeks prior, her staff opted not to represent me. She had not even shown the common courtesy to let me know! Two agents are having dinner in Beverly Hills when a gorgeous blonde walks past them. The first agent says, "Wow, I'd love to screw her". The second agent asks, "Out of what?"
Forth Agent(s): Tim & Rich
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I’m happy to report this ride is ending on a high note, actually two high notes; I am thrilled to have Tim Moyer and Rich Nikodem as my new agents. Their company, GP Entertainment, has only been around since 2004, but has come very far very fast and shows no signs of slowing down (already voted this year’s runner up as “Agency of the Year.”) And I’m very proud to be on the same roster with Justin Kredible, the four-time “Entertainer of the Year.”
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First Manager(s): David, Jim, & Like Steve
But wait, it gets even better: I also have a new management company, Next Round Entertainment, whose staff includes show biz heavy hitters like David Jelenko, the all-around-nice-guy Jim Oliver, the marketing genius Steve Hofstetter, and a star-studded roster that spans a dozen different college agencies. If you don’t know about Next Round yet, you soon will. In fairness to all agents, before I close I should acknowledge that having to deal with the inflated egos of dozens of performers on a daily basis must be a very challenging chore (I only have to deal with one, and half the time I think he’s crazy) so these next few jokes are on me: How many new comics does it take to screw in a light bulb? 100: One to do it and ninety-nine to ask "How long has he been up there?" How many veteran comics does it take to screw in a light bulb? Only one, they don’t like to share the spotlight.
How many superstar comics does it take to screw in a light bulb? One: They just hold it and the whole world revolves around them. I’ll conclude with one last parting shot:
How many agents does it take to screw a light bulb? Actually agents will screw most anything… FOLLOW THE LAFF GURU AT: facebook.com/laffguru or twitter.com/laffguru GET THE LAFF GURU ON YOUR SCREEN AT: laffguru.com GET THE LAFF GURU LIVE AT: gp.collegeentertainment.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Summit Celebrates Twelve Years
When it comes to comedy agencies in the campus market whom you know you can absolutely depend on to provide a great act and buying experience every time they’re asked, the numbers seem to be few. There are a handful of agents out there who are not only trustworthy and represent good talent, but also understand the perspective and circumstances of the campus programmer. Summit Comedy has certainly come to represent the pinnacle of this standard. Recently celebrating its twelfth anniversary, founder, owner and primary driving force behind the outfit, Chuck Johnson, is justifiably proud. The entertainment force he created out of nothing has recently expanded to include a brick and mortar office, two full time agents and
boasts not one but two comics in the final six of “Last Comic Standing” in Roy Wood Jr., Tommy Johnagin. “I think that’s a feat nowadays for a new agency trying to make it out there,” Chuck comments proudly.
The agency operates under a trident tactic, focusing on three separate target markets with distinctly different needs. “There are three spokes to our wheel; we operate in the corporate, college and club markets respectively. There really isn’t much outside of those three types of gigs that would require a special focus.” The reality is, Chuck handles anything under the comedy sun. While his core roster consists of talent generally afford-
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able by college and club clients, Summit also handles any requests for performers on the higher end of the spectrum. “When people ask, I’ve always said ‘Anything in the comedy world.’ From the highs to the lows, it doesn’t matter if you are looking to spend $100 or $100,000. We can pinpoint their needs exactly.”
For the first ten years of the business’ existence, it was navigated solo with Chuck at the helm. Two years ago Robin Menier joined the force after leaving the tutelage of her mentor in the market, the illustrious Joey Edmonds, (formerly of Edmonds & Curly, one of the most revered comedy duos in the campus market). “I had never hired anyone until Robin and I think some
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areas of the business were being overlooked simply because I didn’t have enough time in my day to attend to it all. She fell into my lap and it has been a boon to let her run all the aspects of our college division.”
“For the last two years, I have been THE college division of Summit,” Robin says. “I have gone to every conference I could attend with Chuck picking up the ones I couldn’t so we would be consistently represented in the marketplace. I have obviously been in the market for a long time, working professionally for ten years before Summit and even before that in campus activities as a student. I actually celebrated my twelfth years in the field along with the agency!”
Robin’s day to day activities have to date been cloistered in the seclusion of her home, so the Summit office will be a new experience for her. “I have been working from home for the last ten years. This is going to be a new and different experience for me to be in an office building and I am excited about it. To be honest, I am definitely an extrovert and love people and it will be fun to share the office with Melissa and have that social aspect of the work day too.” Recent addition Melissa Beer joins Team Summit after gaining well rounded experience at one of the premier operations in the campus market, The College Agency, which represents a wide variety of talent outside of the pure comedy sphere. “Melissa coming on board I think further solidifies Summit's place, experience, and abilities within the college market. Chuck says, “Of course I still stay involved in the market, but these two ladies are really going to provide full service to our college clients.”
“My husband and I actually bought a home recently in Woodbury,” Melissa says, “which is where Robin happens to live. After all of that shook out, I was looking for a change professionally and approached Chuck. I will be helping out with the college market and am excited to be on the team and learn from their expertise in comedy.”
Both of Chuck’s new agents were brought on to accommodate Summit’s impressive growth in the college market and were clearly drafted as elite agents www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
with equally impressive resumes. Robin and Melissa both fall in perfectly with the vision Chuck held for the agency at its inception. “I knew immediately that I never wanted to put all of my eggs in one basket. I’ve seen so many agencies pigeonhole themselves in one way or another that I made a concerted effort to stay fluid, dynamic and always diverse enough to remain stable if certain markets wax and wane. There are plenty of other ways to make money in the comedy business.”
Part of being a great comic is knowing your audience. Part of being a great agent usually comes down to knowing their comics’ audiences. Putting the right acts in front of the right people is what makes having a comedy specialist so valuable, especially when a buyer isn’t sure what they want. Or, perhaps if what they want is dead wrong for their event. Either way, it’s hard to have the expertise necessary if one isn’t completely immersed in the talent pool. Fortunately, Chuck very much is. “I have been on many panels when different groups will fly me in specifically to discuss things like the difference in markets and audiences and how to be a better comic. I have always said to every comic I have worked with, ‘If you can tailor your act to the crowd you are facing, you will usually be asked back.’ Whether it is a cruise ship, corporation, college or a night club, if they just tweak material here and there, they can be very successful and keep the buyers very happy.” Working with so many comics, there are obviously some who want to maintain their original act to the benefit of their artistic integrity, but often with a negative affect on the amount of work they do. “I know many comics who are quite content to drop f-bombs in their act and just remain in the comedy clubs. They are happy with that, but we have many clients on our roster who can (and do) work any market they choose because they have put a highlight on that flexibility.” Chuck doesn’t impose himself or Summit on the comics. Quite the opposite. He encourages all the performers they work with to develop their own style and presence. That doesn’t mean of course, that it doesn’t help to taken in some pointers.
“I never once have said to a comic ‘You should write cleaner!’ I am simply there to tell them what is out there and available and what their limitations might be. But beyond that, I don’t influence them to all be perfectly clean cookie cutter acts. Having said that, I do include in many of my panel discussions the fact that I have never, ever had a client call and say ‘We didn’t like him because he was too clean.’ Never happened in 12 years and I don’t think it will. It certainly has come through in the reverse; the worst thing a comic can do is offend an audience who’s specifically requested something on the cleaner end of the spectrum.” What it really comes down to is having a team on your side you can trust to get you the right act for your audience. “If we send out a comic who screws a gig up, it hurts everyone on the team, and that’s how we refer to ourselves. We are Team Summit and all the comedians on our roster reflect on us. It makes a difference, positively or negatively. If one of our comics wins “Last Comic Standing,” that is huge for Summit and every other artist on our roster. If people call for Tommy or Roy because of ‘Last Comic,’ there is a good chance if one of them doesn’t get the gig, one of our other people will. On the same token, if Kevin Bozeman or Will Marfori goes in and screws up a show by dropping 100 f-bombs, the rest of the Summit roster doesn’t have much of a chance in the future with that client. Neither of those would do that by the way, they are two of the classiest acts we represent (laughs).” Summit is the ultimate choice for buyer’s who want to be assured not only of quality talent, but also of talent that fits the bill for your event. So, whether you are a college or military buyer or have an event for a corporate, association, special event, fair, festival or club, you can be sure the pros at Team Summit will have you punching just the right ticket.
BOOK IT! For more information on Summit Comedy and their outstanding roster, contact Robin or Melissa at (800) 947-0651. For virtual links including online media of Summit’s artists, log on to our website at www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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BY ELAINE PASQUA
As an upper classman I have seen freshmen who have struggled upon entering college. Do you have advice for them to make this transition smoother? Numerous first year-students discover that they are not adequately prepared for the challenges of independent life on campus. In fact 26 percent of first-year students who enter college either drop out or do not return to the same institution their second year. Often referred to as “The Red Zone,” the first six weeks of freshman year is the most crucial to determining the overall success of a college student. It is important to remember why you are attending college in the first place. College is a stepping stone for your future success and you don’t want to throw away this opportunity. You and your family have worked hard for this. Always prioritize your academics as first and foremost!
pers and other long-term projects for the last minute. It adds a lot of stress and you will not perform as well.
It is crucial to nurture yourself. Many freshmen are intoxicated with their new-found freedom and they just go crazy. This is not to be a free-for-all, again, remember your goals for success. Get plenty of sleep. When you are sleep-deprived you decrease your memory retention which negatively affects your grades. Also sleep is crucial to your emotional well-being; you need to recharge both mentally and physically with a good night’s sleep. Eat a wellbalanced diet and watch out for that freshman 15! Some college cafeterias have all-you-can-eat style food service. Watch your portions and don’t eat until you
The greatest challenge for a college freshman is time management. You will find that you will not have the same structure as you did in high school. Some days you may have only one class and others can be quite busy. It is easy to become distracted with socializing, the internet, video games or Facebook. Structure your day so you are accomplishing your academic work first and play later, balance is important. Find a quiet place that is most conducive for studying. Often that is not your dorm room. Organization is the key. Utilize a calendar to keep yourself on track for your deadlines and refer to your syllabus. Don’t leave pa-
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feel full. Stop before you get to that point and you will not put on the extra pounds.
Exercise is also very important for your physical and mental well-being. You feel better and have more energy when you are in top physical shape. You do not need to look like Joe Atlas to achieve this! When you exercise the brain secretes more endorphins which will elevate your mood and you will have a more positive outlook on life. Take advantage of the exercise equipment that is available to you in the recreation centers or walk on a regular basis.
Watch the partying! I have met students who are now on the 5 or 6 year plan because they flunked classes their freshman year. Partying was their priority. A college education is expensive today. You don’t want to add to that financial burden. I met a girl who was working at an auto rental counter. She shared that she had a full scholarship to a prestigious state university and partied hard her first semester. By the end of that semester her GPA was a whopping .8! She lost her scholarship and her parents were so angry they made her move home, pay for her own education and attend the local campus which she hates. At that point in time she should have been a junior. She was still a freshman because she was working full time to pay for her education. I asked her what she would say if she were to give advice to incoming freshmen, she replied, “Remember why you are here.” Alcohol is the high-risk behavior that interferes most with a successful college education today. Learn to have a good time without that social
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lubricant. We see many negative outcomes from lower GPA’s, increased drop outs, unprotected sex, sexual assaults, accidental injuries and deaths, aggressive behavior and property damage.
It is natural to feel homesick. For some students it does not occur until several weeks into the semester. Remember that most students are in the same situation as you, being away from family and old friends. This is your chance to build a new family and long-lasting relationships. Join clubs and organizations that interest you. There you will find like-minded people and start to develop a sense of connection with the campus community. Remember there are many resources and people there to help you, take advantage of that. From my years of experience I have found that those who are employed on college campuses are most caring and dedicated; from professors, to Deans, counselors, staff in student activities, athletics, wellness, etc. They truly have your well-being at heart. Don’t be afraid to develop a mentoring relationship. You may have challenges with your roommate. Be considerate of each other’s needs and learn to openly communicate your feelings to keep the relationship healthy. This is an exciting time in your life. You will have positive experiences and some challenges along the way. Don’t let them get the best of you. Some of our greatest lifelessons and strengths come from adversity. How you handle adversity is what builds character. Remember college is a privilege not a right. Don’t take this time for granted and have fun!
In partnering with Campus Activities Magazine® I will be regularly writing a column that answers reader’s questions on issues challenging college students today. For the past 13 years I have had the privilege of presenting programs to thousands of college students on the life-altering impact of high-risk behaviors, particularly unprotected sex and alcohol. Having personally spoken with hundreds of students and administrators I continually learn about the issues of college life from you. Nothing gratifies me more than having the opportunity to help a student who reached out to me after I visited their campus. If you have any questions on college life, alcohol, sex, drugs, etc, please email me at elaine@elainepasqua.com. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Live Novelty is a unique breed in the entertainment industry. While the umbrella term can cover a wide variety of artists, we traditionally think of them as either magicians, jugglers, ventriloquists, mimes, fireeaters, hypnotists or others.
What if you could take multiple varieties of these artists and merge them into one exciting, entertaining and always fresh presentation that always keeps the audience amazed and guessing?
Solo Circus might just fit that bill. Michael DuBois is the star and driving force behind this show, which has been performed as a duo as Adult Circus for the past couple of years with Michael’s long time friend Chris Chelko, who now only performs occasionally because of a great career opportunity with NBC. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Now Michael strikes out on his own with his one-man Vaudeville experience. From championship-winning juggling displays to magic, acrobatic stunts and even an exclusive slack rope routine – something extremely rare which has to be seen to be truly appreciated.
Michael has been performing professionally since 2004 when he graduated from Penn State, but it was actually his college days and exposure to campus activities boards and clubs that brought him inside our world. Performing local campus dates even before graduation, Michael was primed to be an excellent college entertainer with this prior experience in the marketplace. “I consider myself a one-man variety show. The concept is that I act
as the ringmaster for the circus, as well as playing the part of all the acts within it. I am in a transition from a straightforward trick/variety show into something that is much more theatrical.”
Michael even had a wonderfully tailored ringmaster’s coat made especially for him. Besides setting the ambience for the performance, Michael takes the role a step further and uses it as a means to tell the audience some of the history and background behind what they’ll see throughout the night’s performance. “The range of my show includes anything one would expect to see in a visual circus performance and perhaps a bit more. There is juggling, magic, unicycle tricks, the slack wire and of course, a lot of comedy.”
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Perhaps the crux of any performance like this is the ability to connect with an audience and make them laugh. It takes a special breed to become a truly great novelty entertainer. The world is wrought with performers who possess amazing technical skills, yet their impact and resulting success are severely hindered by their inability to entertain. Michael has made this notion a pillar of his performing mentality. “I think the laughs I get and connection with the audience are the strongest part of my performances, though the tricks you see here will blow you away as well. I have some new stuff I am working into my routine, like a cannon that I’m very excited about. Knife throwing will be there, as well as a new mini-teeter board.” This is a small board set at an angle with an object on one end, when Michael stomps on the other, things become airborne. Michael is growing into the new concept of his show, and letting his acting chops develop with the rest of his repertoire. “I am slowly working my way into the new idea. I had this really cool ringmaster jacket made,” he says, with a touch of a little boy on Christmas morning in his voice. “The whole idea was that this other character can introduce the acts. Before the idea, I would find it hard to transition from say, a juggling routine into a mind reading piece while transitioning the mood from the whimsical to the more cerebral. Now, the ringmaster takes care of it. All of it is still me; I am not some completely different character throughout each piece of the show, but it does give me some space to use different aspects of my personality that better fit the particular situation. I can be mysterious when mind reading, or be a goofball when juggling.”
those skills as a framework for a theatrical entertainment experience while keeping an eye on the bigger picture has been Michael’s aim. “I am trying to create a show that has legs and is much different from anything else out there. There are a ton of comedy juggling or comedy magic performers, but I think I am setting myself apart by creating a slant that is way different and something I can eventually put on Broadway.” If successful, people will probably try to carbon copy Michael’s format eventually hoping for the same success, but they’d have to build a heck of an arsenal of tricks to do it. Even if one had in mind to use the “ringmaster” format, good luck learning to juggle, mesmerize, unicycle, slack rope, eat fire, etc. One thing that creates great and spanning careers for entertainers is foresight and vision. One must not get so caught up in the moment and their comfort zone that they don’t look forward. Michael is doing just that and has some very unique notions for where he’d like to see his show end up. “I almost think of it like it will be the
It gives Michael the unique opportunity as well to play characters off of each other or make saves. The ringmaster can complement the mind reader and crack on the juggler. “I can make fun or congratulate myself in a humorous way.”
Michael isn’t single-minded in his objectives. Many great novelty artists fall into the trap of being so enamored with the incredible skill they’ve built, they miss the forest for the trees. No one really appreciates dry technical skill, but using 20, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE, August 2010
‘anti-Cirque du Soleil.’ I don’t mean that with any negative connotation whatsoever, I just mean that the formula and structure of my show will be the complete opposite. With Cirque du Soleil, you have a huge budget, many people on the cast, amazing costuming and face paint and crazy sets. You have performers that literally dedicate years to perfecting one routine they do over and over for very long periods. I want my show to be one person doing everything with a raw feel.”
Michael feels (and he’s right) that the multitalented facet of what he’s able to do renders his show the most amazing. Really, how often do you see a single performer able to execute so many random and varied feats? “To me, the idea is the audience sees it as ‘Wow, that guy’s a great juggler ... oh dude, now he’s going to do the slack line... and this, what now!?’ That creates more excitement in my mind because people believe there’s no way one person could do that many things. When you watch another circus like Cirque du Soleil or Ringling Bros. (which I love) you’ll see an act come out and do eight minutes. They have worked their entire lives for that eight minutes, so it better be perfect. In a show like mine, where one person carries so much, many more things seem to have the possibility of going wrong and in the audience’s perception, the performance is much more taxing on a single entertainer than a grand team of specialists.” One guarantee that this show will be easily bookable, low maintenance and a pleasure to bring to campus is Michael’s clear intention on making it so. “I think with my business background, I have put an emphasis on creating a show I know I can make a good living doing. For one thing, I know that taking a one man show to programmers and planners is much easier. I can say ‘I can do it all for you and I’m the only one you have to pay. I can make it affordable for them and, because all the accountability comes back to me, I am completely invested in making it a great experience for them.”
Michael isn’t just doing tricks to get attention; he loves the world of performing, Vaudeville and all of it’s history, some of which he www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
So, he was already 18 when he got access to the other people that could help him take his game to the next level. “I had a normal childhood in athletics and school and wasn’t prepping myself for this lifestyle. Once I got to college, there was a paradigm shift in my mentality. I got very lucky and once I realized I wanted to perform, I was able to.”
Michael has had some significant boosts in the past several years, including a prior cover of this publication (2006) and a handful of “Tonight Show” appearances.
Michael began his professional career (at least making money) in college. The president of Penn State University, as magic enthusiast himself, first hired him for a tailgate party to perform roving magic. “That showed Chris and I that we could really get paid to do this. We started passing out business cards to all of these big time people that were donating money to the school and word of mouth started to spread.” Increasingly, local events proceeded, then moving to New York allowed Michael to enter the high-end social event market. “It started small and grew from there. We started booking magic conventions and met Jim Karol, who broke us into the college market.” shares in his show. This doesn’t leave him with blinders on however, taking his play book page by page from the greats of yesteryear. Sure, their influence is there, but Michael’s show is all his own. “I haven’t studied one ringmaster in particular per se, but I have been in love with circus since I was a kid, so I have seen what’s out there. Having said that, I really want the show to be true to me. When I come out on stage, it is going to be Michael. Of course, there are different elements of me, but you won’t see me hamming it up trying to copy some especially boisterous ringmaster stereotype.” Michael’s history in performing goes way back, his fascination started with a pretty typical story. “My grandparents took me to see the ‘Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth’ when I was four years old. After that, I was in love with circus. As a kid, I was always very hands-on and if I saw something that interested me, I wanted to play with it and learn how to do it myself. I went to a Montessori School which was itself a very hand-ons and interactive experience and that trained me to use my hands and dynamic thinking in life.” www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Michael built his repertoire of skills over his youth and by the time he got to college, he was ready to network and take things to the next level. “I was really fortunate because when I got to Penn State, they had a magic club and a juggling club, both of which gave me a chance to meet other people doing what I did. It helped me out a lot.”
Michael ruminates about the coming generation of novelty performers, who have unparalleled access to training and information for the performing arts that less than 10 years ago weren’t available to him. “I can’t imagine now what its like. With YouTube and the Internet, the progress that happened in the last few years is amazing. With juggling, it’s unbelievable. When I was growing up, there weren’t many resources. I learned to juggle in a middle school gym class, I never had books or videos or circus camp or whatever. Now, juggling and magic and circus are so accessible. You can search for tutorials on just about anything you want to. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, but at least its there. If only I had that as a kid, who knows how much further I might have gotten with those tools. Imagine in five or ten years the talent that will be coming up.”
Michael tips his hat to a couple of veteran performers who he credits as being catalysts for his professional career in the campus activities market. “About a year before Chris and I joined Jim Karol Productions, The Evasons and Dale K were at Penn State and we sat down with Dale for a talk. He really was amazing to us and told us what was out there, opening our eyes to all the real possibilities in performing for a living. It’s funny, because he probably thought of us as two dreaming little college kids with stars in our eyes, but now I’m doing exactly what he is, performing in the same market right alongside him and the other top guys. It’s sort of cool how it ended up.” Now with GP Entertainment and ready for a big school year in the coming months, Michael is the perfect act to consider for a completely unique and head-turning event. He’ll do stunts that will wow your audience and have the entire campus buzzing. It’ll be perfect for a packed house when you want to rebook him.
BOOK IT! For more information on bringing Michael DuBois to your campus, contact GP Entertainment at (866) 812-8248 or for virtual links log on to our interactive website at www. campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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Many folks will recognize Ralphie May (it’s kind of hard to see a guy like that once and not remember him). You may remember him from the first season of “Last Comic Standing,” or perhaps any one of his three one-hour Comedy Central Specials taped in three consecutive years, a current record. Ralphie is obviously a big guy and that’s part of his signature. It covers some of his subject matter, as avoiding it completely would be somewhat like an elephant in the
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room (excuse the pun). And while Ralphie does talk about his experiences as a large fellow, it certainly isn’t the only or even the predominant theme of his comedy. The topics of his finely tuned art are not contrived just to suit some schtick so he can beat the “fat” horse to death, but are in fact nearly all built around Ralphie’s actual experiences and insights based on his life. He says he doesn’t sit down to write comedy, the funny finds him (and he never runs out of material). In fact, the fat jokes may become progressively less common in Ralphie’s life, as he has been losing weight and continues to focus on this goal. Not one to be motivated by vanity in the past, Ralphie now has the best reason in the world to be as healthy as he can be, two young children. August 2010, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE, 25
While he still appears to be a young guy (and young at heart he is), Ralphie is a true veteran in the industry and has been performing standup for 20 years. Ralphie jumped in at a young age and saw some impressive success before he could even legally vote. “When I was 17, I got to open for Sam Kinison a couple of times by winning a comedy competition. There were also a couple of national talent scouts that had me in the finals for some movies. Having that success at such a young age and beginning to headline while my friends were in college was tremendous for me. All I ever wanted to be was a standup comic. For anything else, I probably should have gone to college, but my early years on the road was the education I needed for this career.” Many comics drift listlessly through life before finally figuring out that their frustration and feelings of being misplaced in the world can be vented onstage and enjoyed by others, but this is not Ralphie. He is one professional who had his sights set on the goal of standup when most of his peers were spending their time riding bikes and playing video games. “I knew I wanted to be a standup when I was 13. I always knew I loved it and wanted to do that, I just didn’t really think it was possible. I come from a small town in Arkansas where a lot of people got out as soon as possible, unless they wanted to work on a farm or in a factory. I guess one could say I certainly rose above my station (laughs).” Ralphie says he is proud of the way he threw himself into the
fire to learn the art, but also recognizes that it wasn’t without some help from friends. “I got out there and really worked, my education was in front of a crowd. I learned standup from a great comic in Houston, Texas. Danny Martinez took me under his wing and showed me how to be a standup. He was great; he taught me to be fearless and honest and always tell the truth, even if it is bad against you. Tell the truth especially if its bad or embarrassing, more people laugh that way. I have always been a person who attracted situations like that to talk about.”
Ralphie isn’t purporting to be a comic genius (though his fans may disagree), but whether through pure talent or with the help of some good ‘ole conventional luck, he’s found plenty in his life to talk about on stage. “I’m no Larry David,” he says modestly, “but
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for some reason I have always been a person who attracted the right scenarios in my life to make good stories on stage. I’m just in the right place at the right time and these great stories crop up.” He gives a few examples. “One is being stoned while personally witnessing the ‘Miracle on The Hudson.’ That happened. It was crazy. There are so many things that happen to me that just don’t seem to happen to other people. Every album I have recorded has one or two stories like this, whether it’s being solicited door-to-door pussy at home or being heckled by a room full of midgets.” That’s right, apparently some enterprising gentleman out there must have figured his employee's curbside marketing techniques were inefficient, so he decided to take the product directly to the consumer. “Apparently this pimp and hooker were going door-todoor soliciting people. So, I hear this knock (and my girlfriend is there) and this guy is like ‘Hey man, you want to party?’ and I’m like ‘What...?’ not realizing what’s going on. He asks me again and I go ‘What are you talking about man?’ He leans in and goes ‘Man, you want some pussy or not?’ This black guy and white girl are standing in my hallway and it finally dawned on me what was going on. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s a pimp and his ho yo! This is dangerous ... and how can this actually be happening to a comedian, because this is hilarious!’ For some reason this kind of stuff just happens to me all the time.” www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Check out some of Ralphie’s DVDs for his “archived” selections, or just bring him to campus with a special request! One of his favorites (available on his “Girth Of A Nation” special) chronicled his going to an urban movie theater primarily patronized by an African American audience. “I was in black movie theater,” he says, “and they were very vocal and hilarious during the previews and movie. They were mispro-
This was before LCS, but even then I was getting late night appearances on NBC & CBS and BET was playing me all the time. My stock was coming up even before “Last Comic,” especially once I got a spot on “Mohr Sports” on ESPN as a writer and performer. That was a good show.”
Ralphie’s charisma seems to breed success no one can
Ralphie is completely flexible and naturally keeps his show fairly clean. He doesn’t use gratuitous language or gross out jokes just to get a reaction. More often, his comedy is based on social quirks and intricacies we can all appreciate. On top of that if there is language or subject matter you’d rather have Ralphie avoid, he is more than happy to. nouncing words like ‘O-chin’ for ‘ocean’ and ‘cuba diving’ for ‘scuba diving’ during a preview for ‘Open Water.’ It cracked me up and became one of my hallmark bits.” Ralphie isn’t one to mince words or avoid topics because they are edgy or controversial. Embracing hip hop culture himself, he often uses this culture as a basis for his comedy. Some pieces of his material is more controversial than others, but it’s clear Ralphie isn’t commenting from a biased or negative point of view. His comedy more celebrates our differences than to simply ridicule any group.
slow down. “I was on Kimmel 11 times in my first four months. I always thought Jimmy was hilarious and still do. I think he’s a genius.”
Ralphie’s success to that point was impressive, but he doesn’t equivocate about the incredible impact “Last Comic Standing” had on his career. “After that show there was such a groundswell of support for me, I was overwhelmed by it all. Everyone was excited to be involved with the project, but who knew that was going to be the hit show of the
In the comedy clubs, Ralphie’s material is a bit more blue and questionable than what he brings onto the campus scene, especially upon request. One may get the idea from watching his YouTube videos that Ralphie is more risque than he really is. In fact, Ralphie is completely flexible and naturally keeps his show fairly clean. He doesn’t use gratuitous language or gross out jokes just to get a reaction. More often, his comedy is based on social quirks and intricacies we can all appreciate. On top of that if there is language or subject matter you’d rather have Ralphie avoid, he is more than happy to.
He has other great stories he’ll share with your audience, like being heckled by a room full of little people. “Being heckled by 27 midgets really happened to me in Baltimore, down at the old Improv. I have so many stories like this, most of the album of “Prime Cut” are real stories about my life and my relationship with my wife. It is all ‘me.’ People say ‘Wow, you write a lot!’ No, I just live a lot, you know? I wish I could write this stuff instead of having to live it, because that’s not always fun or easy.” Ralphie’s success has been hard earned and a long time coming. Consider his 20 years performing was only publicly punctuated by his first major exposure to mainstream audiences as runner-up to Dat Phan on the opening season of “Last Comic Standing” in 2003. “I was probably 10 years into the game when I started making a splash around 2000. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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summer? Who knew we’d be Emmy nominated and considered one of the best new programs on television? We had a great run and it was a blast.” From there, Ralphie seemed to click very well with Mr. Howard Stern, who only helped to increase his exposure. “Howard blew me up, I went on his show for a ten-minute slot and ended up staying for three hours. That doesn’t really happen a lot with Howard so I was on Cloud Nine. I am such a radio geek, I love it. I think it is phenomenal medium, one of the best out there honestly. It connects with listeners so well and clearly, especially with comedy. You drive and listen and empty your mind and enjoy. For me to be in the same space with a guy like Howard Stern was crazy.”
Ralphie is an extremely well-rounded comic and performer. He is professional, courteous and funny as hell. Whether you want a raucous comedy club style performance or a more controlled and family friendly affair, Ralphie can accommodate you. With a long list of credits and lots of exposure on television, Ralphie is sure to be a draw for your students. This will be especially true when a deal just inked with Comedy Central goes all the way through production for a new sitcom on the network. Starring Ralphie and fellow LCS vet Lavell Crawford, “Brothers From Another Mother” will be an odd-couple style sitcom about two lifelong friends who find out they are half brothers when their father passes away and leaves them his barbecue restaurant. Keep an eye on Comedy Central for it.
Ralphie will pack the house and leave your audience in tears and couldn’t be more gracious in the process. He is humble, talks to fans and audiences after shows and knows just how to give the right performance to make the person booking him look great.
BOOK IT! For more information on bringing Ralphie May to your campus, contact Heidi Feigin at United Talent Agency at (310) 246-6009. For virtual links, including videos and other online media of Ralphie, log on to www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com 28, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE, August 2010
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Campus Activities Ma Special Rewards Program
Remembering Andy
HOW A LABRADOR RETRIEVER CAN TEACH US ABOUT LOVE, LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS AND HUMANITY This is a story that affected me personally. I just happened to be at the place where Andy met his end. Some of my colleagues will probably think the subject is totally unrelated to the entertainment industry. But actually, it is a lesson in humanity, faith, love and the one thing that affects us all in this business – relationships.
animal hospital. If you have ever found yourself in this situation, places like this are extremely busy on weekends and late nights and early mornings. The staff is limited and the wait is long no matter what complication your pet has faced.
Mid-way through my five-hour wait, a couple came in and spoke to the receptionist. Their family dog of 16-years had taken ill and they were distraught about what to do about it. Andy had suffered a seizure. The doctor sent an intern out with a cart to bring the dog into the hospital as we watched. This once strong, healthy and vibrant white Lab was shaking. As he was carried in, he looked with a sad and trusting eyes to the people who raised and nurtured him. He was scared and confused and I am sure wondered what happened and why. Andy’s look of love and acceptance had the entire waiting room in tears. We all knew what the outcome would probably be but none of us could ac-
Jessie
was moving out of the area and because his dog’s female partner had been part Golden Retriever, he didn’t want the pups. The female had been placed earlier that day and when our family saw Andy, he was the obvious choice. He was 3-months old and full of life. He took to us as quickly as we took to him. He grew up with my kids and he was as much a part of the family as any of us were. Whenever we planned an activity, Andy was a part of it. I can’t even begin to express the love that dog had for us and we for him.”
Andy gave all the appearance of a Labrador Retriever but with slightly longer hair and a little less of a boxy face. But those eyes... they tugged at your heart-strings. “Even at sixteen, Andy was playful. He was excited to see us even if we had only been away for a few hours. He was protective of the kids but in a gentle way. Labs just have the reputation of being kind. He never met anyone that he didn’t like. Andy probably
Dozer
Cole I have five dogs. When my boys grew up and started lives of their own, my dogs replaced that missing place in my life. This past Saturday, Layla, a pup rescued from the animal shelter, came out of the woods at the back of the farm with a very small fawn that looked like it had probably died shortly after birth. While I didn’t see her chew on the dead animal, I knew it was possible. I buried the deer with the tractor to keep it not only from my dogs but other wildlife in the area. I guess I really buried it because I felt it was the right thing to do.
In the early hours of the morning, Layla started wretching (this was a veterinarian term. I told them she acted like she was trying to bring something up from her belly or throat). This required a visit to the local emergency
cept it. For a few brief moments, Andy touched our lives too and I think if there was anything any of us could have done to change destiny, that would have been the moment we would have stepped up to the plate. But it was out of our hands. An hour later, Andy, rolled up in a blanket, was wheeled out to his family’s truck and gently put in the bed.
I had some time to talk with Matthew Thompson, Andy’s owner, while he waited on the vet to make the final call. “We picked Andy up from an animal shelter near Columbia, MO in 1994. A man and his wife had separated and their Lab had just had pups. The wife
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wouldn’t have made a good guard dog and that is not what we wanted. We wanted him to be our friend and he never let us down.” If you go by the “old wive’s tale calculator” (which has been proven to be incorrect), with seven dog years for each “people” year, Andy would have been 112 years old. But even if we are off by ten years, Andy didn’t come close to looking his age and perhaps that is the benefit of being a dog or it could be that he lived a happy and stress-free life. Just from meeting Matt, I have to think that the latter had something to do with it.
“Making the call to end Andy’s life is probably the most difficult decision I have ever made. I can’t imagine our family without him after all these years. The doctor
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agazine’s Announces To Prevent Animal Cruelty said the radiographs showed there was significant damage and that even if he recovered, he would probably never walk again. It would be difficult seeing Andy that way and we wanted to remember him the way we knew him. I’m sure that if it had been his choice, he would have wanted that too. For sixteen years we had each other and Andy knew how much he was loved. I don’t think one day passed that he didn’t realize it. He might have thought that he was the one who was lucky, but I assure you it was us who had the luck. We loved each other, no matter what!” For most animals at the emergency hospital, the owners elect for cremation simply because they don’t want to put themselves through additional grief. For Matt and his family, this was not an option.
“He was and still is, one of us. We are going to give him a proper funeral and bury him at a place on the property where we can go and visit him. It almost seems ironic that Andy was born in Columbia, MO and ended his life in Columbia, SC halfway across the country.” For me, this speaks of family but it also teaches us about relationships. I know in the computer and internet age, we have become pretty impersonal. We seldom talk on the phone and we rarely meet in person. Business is just business. But that is not the way this industry started and I hope it will not be the way it ends.
Business should be about relationships, knowing and caring about each other. It shouldnt be about the product alone. It should be about the confidence that who you sell to and who you buy from will look
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out for your interests, guide you along the right path and stand behind your commitment. It should not be about buying cheaper but buying smarter. Anyone can sell you junk if they don’t have to stand by what they sell.
nized in our magazine and will go into a pool to earn recognition among your peers and a FREE weekend of entertainment sponsored by Campus Activities Magazine®.
There are so many animals out there in shelters who could make excellent companions and life-long friends. Shelter animals are often more balanced in temperment because they share good traits from more than one breed. Many of them have been abused and it will take a while to gain back their trust. Others are simply confused about why they have been abandoned.
The more creative you are, the more attention you will receive from this magazine and the worldwide community of activities buyers.
One of the things I have been adamant about in our business model since our first magazine was published in 1992 was that we are out to build relationships...to get respect. You have to give respect in return. Andy knew the answer to how to achieve a lasting relationship.
The “Today Show” has made significant progress in recognizing some of the dogs available at the New York Animal Shelter and their success rate has been exceptional. But there are shelters all across the country with animals with kind loving hearts that are put to death on a regular basis because there are no foster or adoptive homes for them. Even with all the programs to adopt Greyhounds and rehabiltate Pit Bulls to work with children, too many animals meet their demise in your town and mine. It is for this reason, we want to start this project. Any campus activities board that has an event to benefit the adoption or welfare of animals, will be recog-
Any action to benefit animal welfare counts. Have an event or start a program to benefit the ASPCA, your local humane society or any nationally recognized animal care organization. Spend a weekend working to move forward the cause of animal adoption, stop animal cruelty in your area or promote spay and neutering to prevent over-population.
If you are an agency or artist, sign up with us to donate a show for the campus who does the most to make an impact on the lives of animals.
At the end of this campaign, the school we select will be able to choose two artists from the list of supporting artists for a week-end of free entertainment sponsored by the agencies involved and Campus Activities Magazine®. We will do a full-feature on the event, the artists and the campus and their contributions to animal welfare. The campus will be responsible for the facility, lodging and travel for the artists chosen but the agency will work to minimize that cost by working to arrange a routed date. If you are a campus acrtivitiers board member, director or artist/ agency, put your heart in the right place and lets work to stop the useless killing of animals who could be loved by someone in your area.
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Ben Bailey is a performer millions of people are familiar with through his hosting of Discovery Channel’s “Cash Cab,” but surprisingly most people don’t realize what a talented stand-up comic he is.
He just recorded a one-hour special for Comedy Central, which will air this spring. “I think that will go a long way toward bringing my comedy to the forefront. I love doing ‘Cash Cab’ and it’s fun to be recognized for it, but I would like to get back to my roots and be known as a comic.” Ben has been performing professionally for over ten years now, sort of falling into it by happenstance. “I moved to Los Angeles from New York to become a movie star,” he
laughs. “It wasn’t immediately working out and I had a series of odd jobs in the interim.” One of these sundry occupations was as a limo driver, which on later reflection was a great primer for his “Cash Cab” role.
The occupation that would eventually land him on stage however wasn’t much more illustrious. “I got hired to answer the phones at a comedy club and just happened to be hanging out backstage with a few comics one night. I was telling a story or something and had all of them in stitches when the club owner came up and asked me how long I had been doing comedy. ‘I just started!’ I said. He began putting me up on stage and I developed an act from there.”
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Ben put in tons of hard work before he really got somewhere, landing the “Cash Cab” gig and becoming a national name. “It really has been amazing,” he says. “Despite not being an entirely creatively flexible scenario like stand-up, it has provided me a great opportunity to raise my profile and meet some incredible people. I’ve learned a lot too.”
The premise of “Cash Cab” is that the host, Ben the cabbie, drives around New York City (just like any other cabbie) trolling for fairs. When someone is lucky enough to hail the “Cash Cab” they get to play a trivia style game show on the way to their destination. Some of the questions are easy, some are hard, but Ben has picked up on a ton of random info in the process to be sure. “I am amazed every time at the things some people know, as well as the things some people don’t. I try not to be biased against people who don’t know the seemingly obvious questions, I have learned a lot myself. I study all the answers before the show because I obviously can’t read from a card while I’m driving the cab, so the question for me is one of retention, not outright ignorance (laughs).” Something must have leaked into his memory banks and if there really were a “Celebrity Jeopardy”, it seems Ben would have a shot. “I was watching ‘Jeopardy’ for the first time in several years the other day. I used to feel pretty dumb when I watched it, but the other night I answered 15 questions correctly in a row, so maybe there’s something there. The funny thing is, I’m actually friends with Alex Trebec now,” he jokes.
Joke or not, Ben is rightfully rubbing elbows with some of the other great TV hosts and he has the Emmys to prove it. “It’s still kind of a surreal shock. I don’t know if I’ll be announced as “Emmy Award winning Ben Bailey” before every comedy show (laughs), but it is a feather in my cap and I’m sure it will open doors.” Being nominated in 2008 and 2009 as well, Ben was clearly excited to receive the nod this year for “Outstanding Game Show Host” in the Daytime Emmys, solidify-
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ing his position as one of television’s top hosts.
Ben’s ability to read audiences and cater to their differing demographics is what makes him such a great choice for campuses, as evidenced by his long track record of college dates. Even in the comedy clubs, Ben has a fairly clean show, but his ability to clean things up to satisfy even a G-rating make him an obvious choice for a family audience. “My take on comedy isn’t really a dirty one. I sometimes swear superfluously for comedy club crowds because they want to hear it. Surprisingly some college audiences are the same. “One of the most appealing aspects of the college market in my mind is the variety of shows I play within it. Sometimes, I get requests to be as dirty as possible for tough and rowdy audiences. Sometimes I get requests to keep the show as clean as possible for more conservative venues. It doesn’t really affect the show that much one way or the other. Everyone still has a good time, but it keeps things interesting for me.”
It’s hard to be a comic and not offend some people at least some of the time, that’s kind of what the whole business is about. Now, while most comics don’t intend to offend, bringing awkward subjects to light and having the maturity and insight to laugh at them with good nature is a way for our society to deal with delicate issues that have few other means of coming out.
For example, one of Ben’s routines you can find on YouTube has a bit about a lazy eye. The routine is funny and not in bad taste, but would he hold it back in a room full of people who had lazy eyes? “I don’t think so,” he says. “Because they are the people who would probably appreciate the joke the most. I once did a show where the entire audience was either physically or mentally disabled. Now, there were a few comics performing there that night, but none of us were told anything about the gig or audience before hand. So, by the time everyone saw what was going on, they were all kind of nervous and afraid of the elephant in the room. I was the last act and not one person made mention about the special nature of this audience. I thought that was silly. These people may be different in one way or another, but they don’t want to be patronized either. Addressing their situation with good humor is a way to let them know their problem is being addressed and related to. It doesn’t show them any respect to simply act like everything is completely normal. They have to deal with a different set of challenges than other people do, and I think shedding some light on that is appreciated. The same theory goes for my lazy eye routine.” Ben walked on stage in that particular show and commented “Boy, I’d really feel bad if this audience walked out on me!” The room absolutely exploded. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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Ben walked on stage in that particular show and commented “Boy, I’d really feel bad if this audience walked out on me!” The room absolutely exploded. “That turned into an incredible show. Everyone in that room was with me and had a great time. I think they respected the fact that I recognized them for who they were. I didn’t talk down to them, but I also didn’t act like I was completely oblivious to their situations either.” “That turned into an incredible show. Everyone in that room was with me and had a great time. I think they respected the fact that I recognized them for who they were. I didn’t talk down to them, but I also didn’t act like I was completely oblivious to their situations either.”
Ben’s humor is widely acceptable because his wit is intelligent and insightful. He’s not the kind of guy that sits down to write something funny. The ideas come more organically driven by real-world experiences that Ben sifts through his quirky filter. “I am just struck by ideas at random
times and have to get them down whenever I can. I don’t constantly write new material, it just sort of comes when it comes.”
Having just recorded his one-hour special for Comedy Central, Ben now faces the proposition of having to build a new set. “Once you use something for TV, it’s pretty much done as far as usable material goes. Sure, you still use the audience favorites in a set on campus, but you have to keep things fresh as well. Comedy club audiences especially don’t want to see you go word for word through a routine they’ve already seen on television.” Ben’s new special will be released on DVD as well, so if you host one of his shows, the members of the audience who want to stick around and meet Ben will have the chance to get them signed. “The past few nights, I have been dealing with some back pain, so I haven’t been up to staying after the shows, but on every other occasion I almost always stay until the last person leaves. I really like to meet the fans, and I understand it’s a very unique and special feeling for them to meet someone they’ve seen on TV. I know I’m no Jay Leno, but I can see the light in the eyes of the folks who really enjoy meeting face to face and, it feels good for me to do my best to leave a lasting impression.”
Some of you may have the chance to bump into Ben this year in St. Louis, where he will be meeting folks in the booth of KP Comedy at NACA’s national convention.
Ben is an interesting guy with many things to talk about. He’s a somewhat imposing figure at six and a half feet tall and as an ironman competitor, stays in excellent 36, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE, August 2010
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shape. He’s also a guitarist, one relaxation technique he does use to help spring forth new ideas. “I like to play guitar and sometimes it does help me relax and clear my mind. Usually clearing the mental clutter is all it takes to see something as funny.” Keep an eye on Comedy Central in the spring for Ben’s special, and tune in to the Discovery Channel for new episodes of “Cash Cab.” It’s a fun show to watch and has left Ben with some memorable experiences. “I have had all kinds of people in the www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
cab and yes, most of them ask me if I am a real cabbie. I studied the book, took the test and am a licensed cab operator, thank you.”
Sometimes, Ben gets the “Cash Cab” fanatics. “I have had people tell me they knew the show was filming in a particular city at a certain time and they literally would roam the street for hours hailing every mini-van style cab they could find looking for me. I would imagine there are many bona fide cabbies out there who would’ve cursed me on those nights (laughs).”
Ben is a very personable guy and a true pro. He’s been at the comedy game a long time, much of which has been spent performing for and entertaining students just like yours. Consider bringing him in for the show you want your students to remember.
BOOK IT! For more information on bringing Ben Bailey to your campus, contact KP Comedy at 866-769-9037 (kpcomedy.com). For virtual links, including video of Ben’s comedy and access to his personal website, check out this story at www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
August 2010, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE, 37
Comedy has long been one of the staples of the Campus Market and for over 40 years considered not only a top choice for programmers but easy to promote and present. Compared to other forms of entertainment, it can be relatively inexpensive because it doesn’t require a huge amount of production or load in/out costs. It can attract a wide demographic and can be escape that students are looking for
JAY MALONE: Jay Malone has been
RACHEL FIEINSTEIN: Rachel developed her hilarious, character driven style by opening for her father’s blues band as a kid and doing impressions of various loud and jarring relatives. She has numerous appearances on "Comedy Central" and “Comics Unleashed” as well as the “Just For Laughs” comedy series on TBS. Rachel just taped a half hour special, “Comedy Central Presents Rachel Feinstein” which aired in March. Rachel is a finalist on NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing’ this summer. Bass-Schuler Entertainment bass-schuler.com
COLLIN MOULTON: Less than two
MYQ KAPLAN: Myq Kaplan has made it as a finalist on Last Comic Standing this summer! His half-hour "Comedy Central Presents" special aired in 2010, following his debut on the "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" this December. Myq has also appeared on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," won "NY's Funniest Standup" competition in the New York Comedy Festival and was featured at the 2009 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. JOEY EDMONDS Presents joeyedmonds.com
DEON COLE: Deon Cole is one of the most requested headlining comedians on the college circuit nation wide. He is a successful actor, having appeared in MTV's Short Circuitz and Wild N' Out as well as Barbershop 1&2. As a standup, he has been featured in Comedy Central's “Laffapalooza”, HBO's “Def Comedy Jam”, BET's “Comic View”, NBC's “Showtime at the Apollo”and more. . He was a finalist in NBC's Stand-Up for Diversity Showcase and he won BET's Robin Harris Award for most original comic. Black Comedy Tour & Diversity Talent Agency BlackComedyTour.com
BUZZ SUTHERLAND: 16 Time Come-
headlining comedy clubs across North 2009 he shot his own half hour Showtime Comedy Special which will be airing in the spring of 2010. He will be returning to the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival this year to shoot his second gala. Jay is also an accomplished actor and has appeared in guest starring roles on “Monk” (USA), “NICIS LA” (ABC), “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS), “Boston Legal” (ABC), “Worst Week of My Life” (CBS) and “Dollhouse” (FOX). Jackie Miller Knobbe APA/ 310-888-4289
years after getting started, Collin won his first comedy competition (the 2001 Rocky Mountain Laff-Off), and later that year found himself featured on Comedy Central’s “Best of the Improv.” 2003 proved to be another successful year for the up-and-comer, as he was a “Best in Fest” feature at the renowned Montreal Comedy Festival. Collin has a Showtime Stand Up episode on the air starting July 2010 and is regularly featured on the Bob and Tom Show Auburn Moon Agency 800-566-6653
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dian of the Year, Buzz has performed on thousands of college campuses across the country. His outrageous facial expressions to dead on impressions keep audiences rolling with laughter! He has performed on HBO's "Comic Relief," MTV, CMT, A&E, as well as sharing the stage with headliners like: Tom Petty, Ray Ramano, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Jim Gaffigan. Buzz's ability to be funny without being offensive makes him a no-brainer for any event! Coleman Entertainment Group ColemanProductions.com
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when faced with the rigors of campus life and studies. And probably more importantly, there is no lack of artists. This is Part 1 of a two part series on our top comedy picks. This section deals with affordable comedy choices. Next issue you will find a selection that includes additional choices plus celebrity talent for larger events on campus.
CARMEN LYNCH: Carmen Lynch started performing as a flamenco dancer in Spain, but eventually received her psychology degree from The College of William and Mary. After failing the psychology portion of the FBI exam, Carmen moved to New York to pursue acting. She’s been on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” toured with Paul Rodriguez, and appeared on two seasons of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” She is a Mad Magazine contributor. Carmen has scoliosis. KP Comedy KPComedy.com
BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHERS: They were voted Seattle's
KIRK FOX: This hip comic was such a hit on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” they had him on twice last year. Kirk currently has a recurring role on the hit NBC series “Parks and Recreation” and is also regularly seen on Comedy Central and various late night and variety shows. He showcased at this year’s NACA national convention, where he displayed that his quirky humor is the perfect fit for college campuses.
IVAN PECEL: "Making Juggling Toler-
THE COLLEGE MUSICAL: From the comedic minds of Kelly Meyersfield and Evan Wecksell, “College” is an original, two-person (six-character) musical that follows Amy, a naive freshman, through the hysterical highs and humbling lows of college life and relationships. While the show is entertainment first, it also hits on such issues as casual sex, alcohol abuse and STDs. Wecksell is most recognized from VH1, E! and Comedy Central while Meyersfield has played leads in such musicals as “Pippin” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Cutting Edge Entertainment www.cuttingedgeentertain.com
DANNY BROWNING: Three time fes-
United Talent Agency www.unitedtalent.com
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Funniest Comedy Team, are Guinness World Record holders, and were hailed by Jamie Lee Curtis as, "Amazing and fantastic!" On “America's Got Talent” Sharon Osbourne called them "Hilarious" and Piers Morgan described them as, "hip, funny and well choreographed; the total package!" Their comedy never stops even when performing stunts like spearing vegetables, juggling with only a foot or the famous machete death leap. DCA Productions dcaproductions.com
able..." Leave every notion of what you “thought” a juggler was at the door. Bringing the term “High Energy” to an entirely different level, Ivan delivers an unforgettable show unlike anything you have seen before. As funny as a stand up comic, and as skilled as a chinese acrobat, Ivan is the new generation of performers and is one of the best at what he does. If you didn’t love this art form before his show, you will afterA or at least tolerate itA MTV, ESPN, SpeedTV, and America's Got Talent! Fresh Variety, LLP/ freshvariety.com
tival winner, Danny Browning has a unique mass appeal. With his laid back demeanor and sharp wit, Danny finds humor in situations that everyone can relate to, and blends it with the perfect balance of improv. Don’t let his midwestern charm fool you. He will walk the line that will take the show wherever the audience leads him. His humor and unpredictability will assure that you will have an unforgettable evening.Media Credits include: Comcast, AOL Radio, Sirius/XM radio. G.G. Greg Agency / www.gggreg.com
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STUCKEY & MURRAY: Stuckey & Murray are a comedy music duo featured on the 2010’s Last Comic Standing. They have won the affection of millions of fans by appearing on E!’s “PreOscar Show” and The Discovery Channel’s “Cash Cab”. These guys write funny, clever songs with catchy melodies that keep the audience laughing. Their online music videos and sketches have over 20 million hits and they’ve built a fan base around the world. IC ARTIST AGENCY/ www.icartistagency.com
JEFF DYE: “Last Comic Standing” Finalist Jeff Dye is quickly
CHRISTELA ALONZO :Cristela Alonzo is one of standup comedy’s bold, new talents. With a powerful and engaging presence, she quips on her favorite topics such as pop culture, music, video games, and her life growing up in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. In the last 5 years, Cristela has performed all across the country, appeared on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”, the South Beach Comedy Festival and the Latino Laugh Festival. INNOVATIVE ARTISTS/ innovativeartists.com
RYAN REISS: Ryan Reiss is a stand up comedian, writer and
T.J. THOMAS: Hailing from south of Chicago, this comedian
has been seen on Bill Bellamy’s “Who’s Got Jokes”, “The Bob & Tom” Radio Show, and shot pilots for both the B.E.T and NBC networks all while being a relatively new face in the comedy business. Get ready for one of the freshest and most fierce comedians working the country today. Todd “JT” Thomas! OLSEN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP/ olsenentertainment.com
ELIOT CHANG: Eliot Chang's comedy is honest, unapologetic and not based on predictable ethnic stereotypes. His sharp biting opinions combined with his trademark polished wardrobe help to make his act memorable. Every year he tours America for eight months and has performed at over 400 colleges. He can be seen on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" and in his own halfhour special "Comedy Central Presents: Eliot Chang". NEW WAVE ENTERTAINMENT/ asibucao@nwe.com
ANDREW KENNEDY: Andrew Kennedy was born in Bo-
GEOFF KEITH:
actor based in New York City. Ryan began his career as a comedian while attending NYU, and quickly became a favorite act on the scene. Ryan's quick wit, instant likeability and unique way of engaging any audience have made him one of the most sought after comedians in the NY Clubs, and a favorite Audience Warm-up performer for the Mike & Juliet show on FOX television. BASS-SCHULER ENTERTAINMENT/ bass-schuler.com
A PAIR OF NUTS: Yamil Piedra and Johnny Trabanco have been performing together since 1998 when they met in college. Their work has garnered them critical acclaim and has been featured on “Last Call w/ Carson Daly”, BET, Discovery Channel, YouTube, FunnyorDie.com, CollegeHumor.com, and Comedy Central's South Beach Comedy Festival 2010. Their live stage show is TALENTPLUS ENTERTAINMENT/ talentplus-campus.com
becoming one of the most recognizable faces on the College Circuit. In addition to Hosting MTV’s new show “Numbnuts” executive produced by Ashton Kutcher and premiering this fall, Jeff has starred in his own half our special “Comedy Central Presents: Jeff Dye” and has appeared on “Live at Gotham” and TBS’s “The Very Funny Show.” ICM / AGinivisian@icmtalent.com
gota, Colombia, has lived in Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Hong Kong, United States and is completely fluent in Spanish. After being invited to perform as a "Master" at the Montreal Comedy Festival, he starred in his own sitcom called “Related by Marriage.” His half-hour special is currently airing on Comedy Central and was voted in the top twenty by viewers for two years in a row! SOPHIE K ENTERTAINMENT/ www.sophiek.com
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After his first time on stage Geoff Keith walked off and heard an audience member telling his table, “remember that kid’s name.” Featured on MTV’s “Disaster Date” as well as “Live at Gotham”, Pablo Francisco’s: “OUCH!”, “The Late Late Show”, “Comics Unleashed”, “One Mic Stand”, and “Chelsea Lately”, Keith’s likeability on stage, along with his quick wit and superb timing, has earned him the respect of celebrity acts. NEON ENTERTAINMENT/ neon-entertainment.com
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HALLI BORGFJORD:The next big thing in comedy! Halli
HAL SPARKS: Hal’s New One Hour Special “Charmageddon” on Showtime is currently available in stores nationwide. Former Host of the Emmy Award Winning “Talk Soup” and can be seen providing hilarious commentary on pop culture on VH1’s “I Love the 80’s, 90’s, New Millennium.” His Film Credits include Spider Man 2, Dude Where’s My Car, and Extract. Hal recently recorded two comedy albums to be released in the fall of 2010. ICM / AGinivisian@icmtalent.com
SARA COLONNA: Sarah is currently a writer and roundtable regular on the hit late night talk show “Chelsea Lately.” Sarah has appeared on several other TV shows, including Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” ”The United States of Tara,” “Monk,” “Strong Medicine,” and “Invasion” and was a SemiFinalist on “Last Comic Standing.’ She also flew to London to tape BBC’s “The World Stands Up,” featuring the best comedians in the world. KP COMEDY / kpcomedy.com
ERIK RIVERA: Erik's quick wit along with his commanding stage presence, charisma and infectious smile make him a favorite at colleges throughout the country. Erik has had the honor of performing to a packed house at The Kodak Theatre along side Carlos Mencia, and is honored to be the only comedian to perform two consecutive years for The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute at the Warner Theater in Washington DC, hosting the event in 2009. BASS-SHULER ENTERTAINMENT: www.bass-schuler.com
ALDA RODRIGUEZ: Aida Rodriguez hails from the multi-
JOSH WADE: Josh Wade is one of the most entertaining co-
BRIAN O’SULLIVAN: Armed with an acoustic guitar and an unwavering comedic wit, Brian O’Sullivan has performed across the country including Second City, The Ice House Comedy Club, The Comedy Store and TV and Radio Stations along the way. He is fresh out of college, and has a natural connection with the youngadult crowd. His musical comedy explores pop culture and observations about the everyday life in a hilariously entertaining way. THE COLLEGE AGENCY/ thecollegeagency.com
ARVIN MITCHELL: Arvin Mitchell has hit the comedy scene running since his debut on BET's “Coming to the Stage”. As the former bartender and co-host of BET's “ClubComicView”, he has attracted fans in the U.S. and abroad. In 2010 Arvin was the highlight comedian at the NACA National getting more bookings than any other comedian at the conference. His comedic style appeals to both urban and mainstream audiences worldwide. SUMMIT COMEDY/ summitcomedy.com
Borgfjord is a fresh face that has exploded onto the comedy scene. Due to his relentless study and passion for comedy Halli was a natural on stage. Much like his idols, Carlin, Chappelle, and Seinfeld, Halli is known for his quick wit and ability to point out the insanity of everyday life, making him versatile and ready to perform in any venue. COLEMAN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP/ ColemanProductions.com
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cultural enclave of Miami. Wowing audiences on the Hollywood scene with her regular appearances at The Improv, Laugh Factory and Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Los Angeles, Aida has toured the nation and performed with such heavyweights as Russell Peters, Damon Wayans, Chris Rock, and Paul Rodriguez.
Auburn Moon Agency / 800-566-6653
medians today. Time Out Magazine said, “Dhe’s that funny friend you want at your party.” Josh’s comedy reflects personal experiences with which everyone can relate. He regularly tours university campuses to rave reviews. He has appeared on “Saturday Night Live”, Comedy Central, National Public Radio, and most recently, in a new pilot for MTV networks. THE COLLEGE AGENCY/ thecollegeagency.com
JL CAUVIN:
JL began to perform standup comedy while in law school in D.C. His law school transcript was the first joke he created. He has been in the DC and Boston Comedy Festivals, was featured on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and NESN's “Comedy All Stars”. J L's incredibly diverse act has led to two CD releases: 2006's Racial Chameleon and 2008's Diamond Maker. He’s also been featured in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jokes. SPHINX ENTERTAINMENT/ sphinxmg.com
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