Upcoming Shows - May 25, 2013 10:00 pmPHIT House Team Night
- May 25, 2013 10:00 pmPete Holmes
- May 25, 2013 11:00 pmCagematch
- May 26, 2013 11:00 amComedySportz for Kids
- May 26, 2013 5:00 pmPHIT Conservatory presents: "Hydra"
- May 26, 2013 7:00 pmPHIT Conservatory presents: "Hydra"
- May 26, 2013 8:30 pmThe Deans
- May 28, 2013 7:00 pmChaperone + Kait & Andrew
- May 28, 2013 8:00 pmThe Not Just Comedy Show
- May 28, 2013 8:00 pmComedy Bonfire: Episode Two
- May 28, 2013 8:00 pmCutlerfest 2013
- May 28, 2013 8:30 pmPHIT House Team Harold Night
- May 28, 2013 9:00 pmKomedy at the Khyber
- May 28, 2013 9:30 pmPHIT Improv Jam
- May 29, 2013 7:00 pmPHIT Sweeps Weeks
- May 29, 2013 8:00 pmConklin's Comedy Night
- May 30, 2013 8:00 pmLaff Therapy Thursdays
- May 31, 2013 7:00 pmThe Comedy Works
- May 31, 2013 8:00 pmThe N Crowd
- June 1, 2013 7:30 pmComedy Sportz Philadelphia
- June 1, 2013 7:30 pmSarcasm Comedy Club
- June 1, 2013 9:30 pmSarcasm Comedy Club
- June 1, 2013 9:30 pmThe Comedy Works
- June 1, 2013 10:00 pmComedy Sportz Philadelphia
- June 5, 2013 8:00 pmConklin's Comedy Night
AEC v1.0.4
|
By Aaron Hertzog, on July 15th, 2011
 Jim Grammond is a Philadelphia comedian and host of the new Philly Improv Theater panel show Reasonable Discourse with Jerks, which will make its debut Wednesday, July 27th at 8:30PM. Jim also writes a blog and is very active on Twitter.
How and why did you get into comedy?
I got into stand-up comedy because growing up in the stand-up crazed 80′s I loved it, everything from Bill Cosby to Sam Kinison. After watching it for years I finally thought I would try it.
How would you describe your style as a comedian? What influences and factors do you think contribute to that?
For me this is interesting (I guess) since I am coming back to comedy after a few years away. My previous style was kind of dry/angry/weird, which sort of reflected who I was. I’m still weird, but less dry and angry. So I’m trying to change my style now to reflect that.
Do you have a favorite show or venue you like to perform at? What about it makes it fun or special for you?
Helium’s my traditional favorite, but I’m really enjoying the new venues that have opened up to comedy in the past few years, like the Shubin and Connie’s Ric Rac. Most venues have some redeeming characteristics. Most.
Do you have a single favorite moment in Philly comedy or one that stands out?
Seeing a comic get off stage at the Laff House and go outside to fight an audience member. More than once.
Do you have any sort of creative process that you use with your writing or your performance? Or a sort of method that you use to develop comedic material?
My new favorite tool is Twitter. I’m on there at @jgrammond. It forces me to write concisely and is great for developing a premise for a new bit. I used to be very into memorizing the bits I wrote, but am trying to get away from that as it can sound really unnatural on stage.
What is it about stand-up that draws you to it?
I’m an attention-craving nerd who always wants to show I’m the smartest person in the room (even when I’m not, which is often). So stand-up is a natural place for that attitude I guess.
Do you have any favorite performers in the Philly scene? Why are they your favorites?
I’m going to answer this a little differently and mention the Philly comics who were just starting or really young when I went on my comedy hiatus who I think have gotten really good. That list includes people like you (note from the editor: I am Aaron Hertzog), Steve Gerben, Joey Dougherty, Blake Wexler, Pat Barker, Brendan Kennedy, Mary Radzinski, and I’m sure plenty more. I’m not even including the people who’ve moved away. I’m also glad Oakland or Oaklyn or whatever his name is is still around. He’s a treasure.
Do you have any bad experiences doing comedy that you can share? A particularly bad bombing or even an entire show gone haywire?
I once did a show in the basement of a shady Phoenixville “bar”—I don’t think they had a liquor license. It was like no one told them prohibition ended. There were five people in the audience and I was the only white person within eight blocks. Before the show, the police were there looking for a local young hoodlum named “Butt-Butt”. I bombed real, real bad, but the after party was fun.
What do you think the Philly comedy scene needs to continue to grow?
It’d be great if a bunch of people could breakout of the stand-up scene here without having to move to NYC or LA first, like a comedy version of what Nirvana/Pearl Jam/Soundgarden did for people’s impression of Seattle. It’s cool that Luke Giordano just basically did that.
Also, the trend of doing and promoting stand-up shows in actual theaters rather than bars with makeshift stages has to continue. Bars are really hard to put on shows in. People in bars are usually there to drink and talk to their friends, not listen to weirdos with microphones.
Do you have any personal goals for the future as you continue to perform comedy?
It’s nice right now that I don’t have a real, ultimate goal. I know people say if you don’t have a goal you won’t be dedicated, but I’d rather just do it for fun right now and see where that leads. I will say my job-related-to-comedy goal would be a TV writing gig, preferably for a late night show.
By Aaron Hertzog, on July 12th, 2011
 Secret Pants is a fitting group to kick off WitOut’s new Spotlight on a Group Series. A fixture in the Philly sketch scene, Secret Pants has been filming and performing live sketch comedy since 2004, have created some of the most memorable moments from Bedtime Stories (now The Theme Show) are regulars in the yearly Philly Sketch Fest and have produced their own sketch show extravaganza Welcome to the Terrordome as well as multiple successful shows at Philly Improv Theater. They found viral success with their man on the street gameshow Bush or Batman, and their Booty Shorts for Men sketch was mentioned as a favorite by Justin Timberlake on his Twitter. We asked members of Secret Pants some questions about the group, and they appointed member Larry Wiechecki to answer them.
Witout: How and when did you get together?
Larry Wiechecki: Secret Pants has been together since Spring 2004. A majority of the members had taken a comedy writing class at Temple together. Sam, Brian Kelly and I(Larry) didn’t go to Temple. BK and Sam both had friends who were in the class and invited them to a meeting. I lived with BK at the time, he invited me. The first initial meetings were basically meet and greets. Bryce and Steve both had butt cuts, Brian Craig may have had one too. Steve definitely had a visor. We started out with 13 members, we are down to 7.
WO: How have you seen your style evolve in the time you’ve been together?
LW: I don’t think our style has evolved too much as far as our ideas and writing. With all of the years of experience together, we know what works and what doesn’t. As well as who’s good at doing what. In that sense, we may have matured/evolved.
WO: What are some of your favorite shows or moments from shows?
LW: For me, it was easily our 5th Anniversary show at the Actor’s Studio. All of us had been drinking and we sat backstage, we were behind a screen, making each other laugh and generally having a good time. We were very loose that night, going out of our way to make each other laugh while performing. During a sketch Brian Kelly surprised me with a Greek accent and I could barely deliver my lines I was laughing so hard. Also, any Bedtime Stories at the Shubin was always a lot of fun and not because of the show. Not that the show wasn’t fun, but hanging out with the other performers in the basement is/was my favorite part of doing shows.
WO: Do you approach your live sketches and filmed sketches differently, and how?
LW: I wouldn’t say that we do. There aren’t many sketches that we have that we couldn’t perform either way. We put as much detail into our live sketches as we do our video sketches. We’ve always gone that extra mile for our live sketches to real set the scene.
WO: How have you seen the Philly sketch scene evolve in the time you’ve been around?
LW: There are definitely a lot more groups. It seems a lot more people who are involved with the Philadelphia Comedy Scene, whether it be stand up or improv, are trying their hand at sketch. Also, with the PHIT providing sketch writing classes and doing Sketch Up or Shut up at the Shubin, it seems it will keep evolving with new, young faces.
WO: Have you ever had an idea for a sketch that you loved, but the rest of the group didn’t? Tell me about it. Did you end up scrapping the idea, or using it somewhere else? Did it work out for the best?
LW: YES, yes there is one sketch that I always wanted to do, but no one else wanted to. It was called “Fight the HIV with Magic.” I can only assume no one wanted to do it because it consisted of me wearing blackface, top hat, cape and Magic Johnson basketball jersey. Magic was hosting a telethon to collect money, not for HIV awareness, but to save his own life. He’d say repeatedly “You don’t want me to die, do ya? Give your money.” Then when we shot and performed live the Juggalos sketch, I had to put my money where my mouth is and put on blackface. I can now never run for President. There was also “Forklift Academy” which was just Police Academy with forklifts. That was never written or shot because of my own laziness.
Secret Pants can be found online here, on Facebook and members of their group are hosts of regular Philly Improv Theater shows Sketch-up or Shut-up and TV Party.
By Aaron Hertzog, on July 8th, 2011
 John McKeever is a Philadelphia comedian who co-hosts the Bird Text Comedy Show at Helium Comedy Club with Tommy Pope and Luke Cunningham. He was recently featured in this ESPN Commercial. He only felt like answering nine of ten questions…
How and why did you get into comedy?
I started going to open mics here and there a couple of years ago but never steady. I started going all the time about a year ago because I’ve always really enjoyed the process of writing jokes and then working them out on stage for a possible laugh. I just didn’t want to get too old and regret never pursuing it full time. I also don’t think I’m fit to lead a normal 9-5 life.
How would you describe your style as a comedian? What influences and factors do you think contribute to that?
I guess I would just say my style is conversational. I’m just not a great at writing one-liners, I think that’s a really unique talent. Some people can do both really well, like Chip Chantry or Luke Cunningham, which boggles my mind. I like to just get on stage with an idea and work it out with different crowds and different tags without ever committing to a permanent structure. I just make sure I get from A to B without rambling too much. I think having a loose structure keeps me, personally, from being too rigid on stage like an actor trying to remember his lines. I also have a terrible memory.
Do you have a favorite show or venue you like to perform at? What about it makes it fun or special for you?
I like Helium and the Raven’s open mic is the best. Noche’s open mic is a lot of fun sometimes too but it’s more of a bar atmosphere so it’s harder to just tell people to stop talking, especially when they came to a bar to do just that. Jack and Paul do a good job with it though. The Hey Everybody show @ the Shubin is a great show because there’s always a cool crowd and great performers.
Do you have a single favorite moment in Philly comedy or one that stands out?
There’s so many but when Aaron Hertzog said onstage at the Raven “I’m going to tickle your throat clits with my word dick”, Darryl’s “Hatchet” bit and anytime I see the Feeko’s perform are on the top of my list. There is great show almost every night in Philly, which makes it really exciting to be a part of this scene.
Do you have any sort of creative process that you use with your writing or your performance? Or a sort of method that you use to develop comedic material?
I give my wife a topic, I tie her arms and feet to one of those big circus spinning wheels and as long as she gives me good tags or punchlines, I don’t fire the paintball gun.
Do you have any favorite performers in the Philly scene? Why are they your favorites?
There’s so many and for so many different reasons. Like I said earlier I think Luke Cunningham and Chip Chantry are both great performers, excellent writers and really great influences to those just starting out. I love Tommy Pope & Steve Gerben’s storytelling, it’s so funny it and invites everyone in and usually gets so intense that you become scared for their well being. Hesky has a great observational style. He’s so relatable and never not funny. Then you have people like Aaron Hertzog and Brendan Kennedy who are always trying something new with total confidence and making it work for them. Sean Quinn is new to the area but he’s just a natural. Darryl’s bits are probably my favorite. His commitment is just unreal. When I tell a joke and I feel heat, I bail but when Darryl tells a joke it’s like “I’m not going anywhere and you fuckers are gonna think this is funny wether you like it or not” and then it kills. There’s so many others that I’m probably leaving out.
Do you have any bad experiences doing comedy that you can share? A particularly bad bombing or even an entire show gone haywire?
I bombed at a show in Port Richmond one time and the whole time this guy was heckling me. At one point I made an AIDS reference and the guy yells “way too personal!”, which was weird because throughout the whole show I was hoping he had AIDS.
What do you think the Philly comedy scene needs to continue to grow?
Everybody works really well together and there is a ton of support. That’s the kind of thing that makes this comedy scene so great. If we keep supporting each other and going telling people about all the great shows in Philly, it will become a monster. It already is. Also, and I don’t like this anymore than anybody else does, but we have to make a decision between Darryl and Chris.
Do you have any personal goals for the future as you continue to perform comedy?
I just want to grow as a writer and a performer. My biggest goal is to become a writer who fucks stand-up on the side.
By Aaron Hertzog, on July 5th, 2011
 There are a lot of regular comedy shows here in Philadelphia, and in our new feature ShowFile (it’s a profile of a show!) we are going to make sure you know a little bit about what is out there for you to enjoy. Our first Shofile is on Rant-O-Wheel, an improvised storytelling show held at Philly Improv Theater at 7:00PM on the first Wednesday of their two-week runs. We asked host Jaime Fountaine some questions about the show.
WITOUT: How long have you been doing Rant-O-Wheel?
Jaime Fountaine: The first Rant-O-Wheel show was held in August 2009, at The Dive, during my Second Stories show. We’d put one on every few months or so, until July of last year, when Greg Maughan gave me the opportunity to do a monthly show at PHIT.
WO: What gave you the idea for the show?
JF: My friend Steve Martinez told me about a game he used to play when he was hanging out with some anarchists (he’s from California). They had a giant wicker wheel into which they’d woven slips of paper with various ideas and issues relating to social justice. You’d spin the wheel and then rant on the topic it had chosen for you. We thought if you shifted it from social change to storytelling, it could be a lot of fun.
WO: Explain the format of the show.
JF: At the beginning of every show, right after I make sure everyone knows what a noun is, I fill up the wheel with audience suggested words. Each contestant spins the wheel three times, and has five minutes to make up a story that includes all three of their words. The only rule is that you can’t use all three words in rapid succession and then expect to talk for another four-and-a-half minutes. Other than that, anything is fair game.
WO:Do you have any favorite moments from your time hosting the show (any especially memorable stories, or surprise guests?)
JF: One the most surprising performers was a man that volunteered under the name “Douche #7” who, instead of telling a story, warbled an off-pitch version of “I Can’t Live (If Living is Without You)”. Then he disappeared into the night.
It usually helps when shows take on themes, whether it’s because I’ve put one in place (like when Steve moved to Baltimore), because the audience has agreed on a certain theme through their noun suggestions, or because of some other factor, like the time the show turned into a hotbed of awkward sexual oversharing that just kept snowballing.
There have been a lot of great stories to come out of the show, although I think my favorite is still the story that grew out of Steve and I trying to finish half a wheel of words by ourselves and turned into the story of how we, the illegitimate children of an itinerant Native American brush salesmen, came to find each other in a desert.
WO: What are the elements that make up a good Rant-O-Wheel story?
JF: Confidence, whether or not you’re faking it, is key. If you believe that you can sell a story about scalpings, vacuum cleaner repair, and Walla Walla, Washington, the audience is much more likely to go along with you. Some people find it easier to go up there with the framework of a real-life experience or an existing story (like The Little Mermaidor Blood Meridian), but it’s not necessary. It can also help to be a little, but not overly drunk. It helps with bravado.
WO: What is it about comedic storytelling that you love? What about it is different from other types of comedy?
JF: I’m a writer more than I’m a comedian. Even when I’m doing comedy, it’s more a character telling a story than straightforward jokes. I’m a lot more interested in the backstory than I am the set-up and punchline, laying down an entire universe for the audience, and then trying to convince them to live in it for five minutes. Some people can do that with jokes, which I admire, but I need the space to sprawl out.
The Rant-O-Wheel format is especially exciting, because it’s about beating the limitations of a few words and a few minutes. It’s not exactly the stuff of OuLiPo, but it’s in a similar spirit – that a lot of fascinating things can still come out of a very controlled environment.
Since the show really depends on audience participation, the show is audience-driven in a very different way than a lot of other comedy shows. They don’t just set the tone; they’re the impetus for the entertainment. Everyone is responsible.
By Aaron Hertzog, on May 5th, 2011
 Aubrie Williams is an improviser on Philly Improv Theater‘s house team King Friday and her own sketch group, Local Holiday Miracle.
How and why did you get into comedy?
I saw my first improv show st UCB when I was 18, and was so impressed at how this piece could be created from just a one word suggestion. I continued to love watching improv from then on, but was scared to death to try it. I was a theater major, so inevitably we had to do some improv in classes — and I bet if you took my pulse on those days, my heart rate was equivalent to someone about to jump out of a plane. Long story short, I decided to face my fears when an improv class was offered at Temple. I quickly realized that the fear was irrational and that I now got to have playtime as an adult, which was awesome. I even started my college improv club cause I didnt want the fun to end after class did. Improv also acted as my gateway drug into sketch comedy.
How would you describe your style as a comedian? What influences and factors do you think contribute to that?
I guess in comedy I draw from what I like watching and find the funniest, which makes some of what I do a product of all of my influences. Stella, Tina Fey, David Cross, UCB, Gilda Radnor and anyone ever involved in a Christopher Guest movie are some of my biggest influences.
Do you have a favorite show or venue you like to perform at? What about it makes it fun or special for you?
I’m quite partial to the Shubin, cause it kind of feels like home now. I had my fist improv show there in ’07, and now between class shows, Sketch Up or Shut Up, and King Friday, Ive gotten to spend a good amount of time up there. It’s intimate and you get to see a lot of familiar faces. It’s like the “Cheers” of BYOB comedy venues.
As for shows, there are tons of great ones that happen monthly, but I’ll try and narrow it down. I’m going to say Sketch Up or Shut Up. It is always great because you get to see what everyone’s been up to between shows and see how an audience reacts to what you’ve been working on.
Do you have a single favorite moment in Philly comedy or one that stands out?
For me, it was this past July at DCM (Del Close Marathon) ’12 in NYC. It was my first DCM, and I got to see Philly represent improv hard in a city where there is so much of it going on, and that was a great feeling. It was also my first time performing in NYC, and to get to do that with King Friday on the UCB stage (two hours before the original UCB performed on the same stage) was pretty freakin’ awesome and lots of fun.
Do you have any sort of creative process that you use with your writing or your performance? Or a sort of method that you use to develop comedic material?
It’s funny because every time I tell a non-improviser that I have improv rehearsal, they always respond with, “How do you rehearse improv? Isn’t it all made up?” With improv, it’s important to stay in practice cause the more that you do it, the more comfortable you get in doing it, and from there I think you definitely get better at it. Also, with a group, you can really build a group mind through being around each other a lot so it’s very important to have steady rehearsals. I also like to take different workshops and revisit old notes and reread Improvise by Mick Napier and The Small Cute Book of Improv by Jill Bernard.
What is it about sketch and improv that draws you to it?
If I had to sum it up, probably the people and the laughter. It is a great community filled with so much talent, and everyone seems to be constantly inspiring each other. I love that. Also, I enjoy laughing, and if you’ve ever witnessed me as an audience member, I bet you know this.
Do you have any favorite performers in the Philly scene? Why are they your favorites?
Rare Bird Show was the first Philly improv group I had ever seen, and I was so impressed. Everytime I watch them they make me want to work harder as an improviser. I am very much loving The Amie & Kristen Show and Grimmachio. Both duos are always so on and connected and present. You can learn a lot from watching great improv. Man, this is tough. I also love watching all of the PHIT House Teams (YAY to house team night for letting me do this all in one night!), BWP and Cubed who do amazing premise based improv, Whipsuit, Horner & Davis, Medic, Stranger Danger, Rosen & Milkshake, Passiones … to name a few, haha.
For sketch, I love Secret Pants, Meg & Rob, The Feeko Brothers, Camp Woods, Bare Hug, Hate Speech Comittee. Again, tough question cause there is so much awesome going on. I have many favorites.
Do you have any bad experiences doing comedy that you can share? A particularly bad bombing or even an entire show gone haywire?
I think my first show with King Friday I was having way too much fun watching them perform that I literally had a moment where I was like, “Oh crap, I’m performing too. Get out there.” I also laughed so hard on the sidelines that I missed out on a few key details. I have since worked on not doing either of those things.
What do you think the Philly comedy scene needs to continue to grow?
I think It is at a great, promising place right now. People are really dedicated and working hard, and there seems to be a constant interest from new people in joining the comedy community as well. It’s great to see so many new faces popping up onstage all of the time, and different combos of people from various disciplines of comedy joining forces and starting new groups and projects. I think if it stays on this track, and I have no doubt it will, that we will be taking over the world in no time. Muahahahaha.
Do you have any personal goals for the future as you continue to perform comedy?
I would like to do more festivals and such for both sketch and improv. With improv, I would like to continue to study and also study different forms and genres, and keep performing consistently. Just get more and more comfortable and more and more brave. I think I have in the past few months, but I know I can oush myself even further. With sketch, I would like also to perform more, but I’d like to film more sketches as well. We just shot our 1st one and had a blast, so I’d like to do way more of that for sure! I also play guitar and ukulele, and have joined forces with some other lovely ladies who do the same, so I’d like to eventually get up on stage and perform some musical comedy!
By Aaron Hertzog, on March 25th, 2011
 How and why did you get into comedy?
I got into comedy cause it was always a good feeling when I made people laugh as a kid. I was a bit shy and weird so it was a quick way to be accepted. I certainly did not get into for the money. There is no money in comedy, folks. Anybody got a dolla?
How would you describe your style as a comedian? What influences and factors do you think contribute to that?
I am brash. I like to play old ladies, and funny guys. I am physical. My training has caused me to slow down a bit and not worry so much about getting a laugh. I mostly just try to have a blast on stage and play with the people I work with, and make them laugh.
Do you have a favorite show or venue you like to perform at? What about it makes it fun or special for you?
I love playing in an intimate house where people are close. I love also going out into the crowd if the tenor of the show calls for it, so its always exciting when that is a possibility. Some place like the Shubin is great when it is packed with folks, it feels so cozy and allows for shared experience. Don’t get me wrong, I have played on bigger stages and enjoy it too, but that feedback from the audience is so important, as a comedian, and I just get a better sense of it in a smaller theater.
Do you have a single favorite moment in Philly comedy or one that stands out?
Hmm … I remember a scene that Adsit and Gausas did where they playing characters on a date. They were warming up to an awkward kiss, and as they got closer and closer, they kept speaking to each other and they gradually were touching lips and talking at the same time. It was very funny. I would like to see more of that kind of risk taking form Philly teams. I loved it.
Do you have any sort of creative process that you use with your writing or your performance?
Or a sort of method that you use to develop comedic material? I do not write, but I do direct some. I think it is important to be very aware of the source. I like starting with the performer, and going from there. A line coming from one stand-up or actor / improviser will go over much differently that from another. I think it is important to know how you are seen as a comedian in just about any genre of comedy.
What is it about improv that draws you to it?
The collaborative spirit and the instant gratification is what draws me to improv. The empty space to create that it provides is thrilling and terrifying at the same time. I love the freedom involved in non-scripted work and as the challenges it poses to me as a director, a writer, and actor, choreographer, lyricists, and composer of my own work.
Do you have any favorite performers in the Philly scene? Why are they your favorites?
I like to watch Marc Reber, Jess Ross, Matt Holmes, AJ Horan, Ralph Andraccio, Nathan Edmondson, Amie Roe, Emily Davis, Brandon Libby and pretty much anyone who gets up there to have fun.
Do you have any bad experiences doing comedy that you can share? A particularly bad bombing or even an entire show gone haywire?
Ugh, yes. Plenty of bad shows. An improv troupe I was part of did an improv show at the Happy Rooster once. No one wanted to see us. They wanted to have dinner. We were being rude. Ugh. Terrible.
What do you think the Philly comedy scene needs to continue to grow?
The comedy scene needs to continue to invest in its own development by seeing the shows that are doing it right, be there in other cities or our own. Also a permanent home for comedy would be a great help to developing and audience for the scene, which in turn, will develop the scene.
Do you have any personal goals for the future as you continue to perform comedy?
My goal is to take bigger chances as an artist, to be more comfortable with not knowing what comes next. Any who knows me also knows I want to push for performers to get paid more for what they do. I eventually want to make a living at this stuff.
By Luke Giordano, on March 10th, 2011
 Mary Radzinski: Hey girlfriend!
Carolyn Busa: Hey sister!
MR: So do you have your dress picked out?
CB: For what? Easter’s really late this year…
MR: For Monday!
CB: What’s Monday?
MR: Laughs on Fairmount starts this coming Monday March 14th!
CB: WHAT! Mary, that’s The Bachelor finale. I thought we had plans. ‘Member? you were going to dress up as Emily? Her fiancee died in a plane crash? And you haaate planes.
MR: I thought you were joking about that. Did you really buy a Chantal wig? And yes. I do hate planes.
CB: Yeah.
MR: Kay. Well, Can you DVR it? We have a bunch of people coming. It’s kind of a big deal.
CB: I guess so. The Bachelor can wait. Who needs guys anyway? Am I right?
MR: Heck yeah!
[Mary and Carolyn high five.]
CB: Sigh. I hate men.
MR: Me too. But that’s why Laughs on Fairmount rules because you and I are in charge. No guys to bring us down!
CB: Yeah!
MR: Yeah!
[Mary and Carolyn high five.]
CB: …it’s just I really want them to like us.
MR: Who? Easter’s really late this year.
CB: What? Stop it.
MR: Sorry.
CB: Guys, Mary. We want guys to like us.
MR: What are you talking about? They’re gonna love us! I mean with your red hair and my spray tan, we don’t even have to be funny. We just have to show up.
CB: I guess you’re right. Gosh Mary, how are you so pretty AND smart?
MR: Oh Carolyn!
CB: Oh Mary!
[Mary and Carolyn hug.]
MR: So I’ll see you Monday, then, at Urban Saloon?
CB: Yes! Monday at the Urban Saloon on 2120 Fairmount Ave. Right across from Eastern State Penitentiary! Sign-ups start 7:15, and the show starts at 8PM.
MR: Yeah, Carolyn, calm down, I know all that.
CB: Sorry, WitOut told me to make this staged interview seem informative.
MR. Well done Buse, well done. See you on stage … at 8PM … sign-ups at 7:15 … across from the–
CB: Mary!
MR: Sorry.
Laughs on Fairmount on Facebook
By Aaron Hertzog, on March 4th, 2011
 Mike Rainey has developed himself a reputation as one of Philly’s most brutal comics, as well as one of the quickest on his feet. He can be seen monthly with his segment Story Time with Mike Rainey at Chip Chantry’s One Man Show (with Special Guests).
How and why did you get into comedy?
I thought I was funny but didn’t have the balls to perform. Then, I saw Jim Norton and was blown away by the fact that someone could make me laugh for an hour straight. I soon after started writing jokes but still couldn’t work up the nerve to perform. I then went to see the band Tool perform and there was a moment where the lead singer, Maynard James Keenan, just spoke to the crowd while the band played softly in the background. I just remember him saying the words “take risks” and I felt like I had been punched in the chest. At that point, my mind was made up and I was finally going to do it. One of the reasons why I love performing comedy is that I always get so nervous before a show that I either throw up or have diarrhea.
How would you describe your style as a comedian? What influences and factors do you think contribute to that?
I’ve been predominantly set up / punchline from day one, mostly about current events or nonsense that I made up. Lately though, I’ve been working on bits that are more personal and just trying to grow out of what I’ve relied upon up until this point.
Do you have a favorite show or venue you like to perform at? What about it makes it fun or special for you?
My favorite venue is The Shubin Theatre (Philly Improv Theater). Almost always a packed house and it is intimate enough as to where I can perform without a mic, which I prefer. As a performer, the most you can hope for out of an audience is for them to be willing to listen. The rest is up to you. The Shubin always allows that.
Continue reading TEN QUESTIONS WITH… Mike Rainey
|
WitOut Network Welcome to WitOut, a blog about the Philadelphia comedy scene. Get in touch with us at contact@witout.net.
     |
Jim Grammond is a Philadelphia comedian and host of the new Philly Improv Theater panel show Reasonable Discourse with Jerks, which will make its debut Wednesday, July 27th at 8:30PM. Jim also writes a blog and is very active on Twitter.
