Cornfed Comedy
An archive of stories from a comedy-lover's former blog, capturing the comedians and lives bringing a stand-up comedy culture to the Midwest.
My magnum opus for comedy interviews: Dave Attell. I'm a huge fan of blue comedy, and Dave is one of the names you'll see many comics note as inspiration. I was an obsessive watcher of "Insomniac with Dave Attell" and owned his album and watched all his performances. In 2005, I interviewed him at a comedy club in the Quad-Cities (now closed) before a show. He was kind, funny, and a great sport to chat with some lowly college kid writing a story for her campus paper. Dave, if you're out there, thanks for this story. You're a gem. Originally published: January 2006, and August 2012
Native East-coaster Dave Attell has been on the stand-up circuit for some time now, marking his nineteenth year this past January.
“It’s a lot of fun to travel and do comedy,” Attell said during an interview before his Dec. 9, show at Penguin’s Comedy Club in Bettendorf. “You get to meet a lot of people and see a lot of different places," he said. With a cigarette and a cup of coffee, Attell shared his life behind the microphone from his latest travels to his experiences over the years as a comic veteran. With influences such as Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor and Bill Hicks, Attell created a style all his own with crude jokes and drinking tales. Being in the business for nearly 20 years, Attell admitted that the first three were the hardest. “I bombed for three years in a row. That’s a lot of bombing. So if you really have some self-hatred, it helps you face rejection,” Attell said. “I had nothing else going on at the time. I was working odd jobs and just decided to give it a try.” Attell’s choice to stay with the business was a good one, as he is easily one of the most recognizable comics on the scene. Currently his schedule has been busy, touring the South through the month of January, but he makes frequent visits to the Midwest, including the Quad Cities. “You really get to see a lot of America this way,” he said, noting that he's been steady on the road for the last 10 years. Attell's been able to see the country in other ways, too. As the host of Comedy Central's "Insomniac with Dave Attell," Attell stays up all night with local bartenders and bar patrons, as well as nightshift workers in the various cities he films. The show, undoubtedly, attracts a lot of attention when he goes out. Even if there's not a camera crew. “It can be a hassle, you know. People see me drinking on the show and they expect me to be drunk all the time but when I’m not performing and I’m at a bar, I’m just there to have a drink,” he said. “They come over and want attention and that whole thing and that can get awkward after a while, but I give it to them because I understand what they’re doing.” “Insomniac” began in 2001 on Comedy Central but has since ceased regular production, however, the show’s DVD release has struck a chord with the college crowd by showing the third-shift lifestyle of workers and fellow insomniacs. From clubs to factories, Attell’s show sheds light on the graveyard shift that never got enough attention before. Attell’s show has taken him overseas as well as to places in Europe such as Ireland and Holland, destinations like Mexico and Brazil and even Japan, which was a one-hour “Insomniac” special. Between his hectic tour schedules over the past couple years, Attell has released new material with fellow comedians as well as an uncut stand-up of his own. His most recent release of his stand-up on DVD, “Hey, Your Mouth’s Not Pregnant”, and 2003 CD release, “Skanks for the Memories”, can be found at Attell’s website at www.daveattell.com. In March of this year, the DVD of Attell’s Vegas performance will be released, with featured work from fellow comedians Dane Cook, Greg Giraldo and Sean Rouse from the tour. In all his travels from the United States and abroad, Attell has found places that he he really enjoys. “New Orleans is a great town and I really hope it comes back [after the hurricane]. They really know how to have fun down there,” he said. “Vegas is great too, and Rio de Janeiro, places like that.” Attell recently returned from Afghanistan to perform for the troops. The experience was educational and eye-opening. “Well, I’ll say this…to see what the guys and ladies are doing there, in this rough situation, and they really do give it their all,” Attell said. “They are 100 percent committed to what they’re doing. It makes you feel proud to see it and even with all that stuff going on, they’re still into having a laugh and they’re fun…it was cool, and I felt admiration.” He also got a chance to see Kuwait during his visit, which he explained was somewhat like Los Angeles, California. “You see it on the news and it looks grim, but people drive around, none of them work but they all have money for some reason, and they eat at like, a Bennigan’s or Chi-Chi’s so it’s weird, because those are the things you don’t see on the news. Those people are just going through their day, except there’s no alcohol there so it’s a long day,” Attell joked. Finding the material for the jokes is no stretch either. Attell said he uses stories from his every day life to animate his show although there are elements of fiction. “For me it’s just writing down whatever I think is funny and working it out on stage,” he said. Trial and error in front of audiences is the only way to find out what material works, Attell said. As a prominent comic icon, Attell frequently is approached by newcomers to the business, requesting advice. His main suggestion: Just do it. “A lot of people ask me for suggestions, and all I can say is to go to your local comedy club and try it,” he said. “No one starts out and comes out on top. It takes years to get going and make it your life.” Attell made an analogy for comedy: It's like parachuting—you’ll never know what it’s like until you step off the plane.
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Andy Kindler is a great comedian with decades of experience, and in 2015, Little Village sent me after him to chat about an upcoming performance in Cedar Rapids. Funny enough, Andy and I had a connection from years prior when my mother interrupted his dinner at a Quad-Cities restaurant to tell him she loved his work. Six years later, he remembered that interaction and we had a lovely chat about what's new in his life -- namely the voice of funeral parlor owner, Mort, on Fox's popular show Bob's Burgers. Originally published: March 4, 2015 Andy Kindler is a busy guy. But for the New York native turned Los Angeles resident, everything is going his way. The stand-up comic’s name can be found in the credits of hit TV shows as Mort in Bob’s Burgers, as himself in IFC's Maron, and as a frequent guest of the obscure 90s fan favorite Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, among other things. But Kindler has been touring the country and bringing his special brand of stand-up comedy to clubs for years, and he’ll be returning to Penguin’s Comedy Club on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. “I’ll go anywhere that I’m wanted, as long as it’s fun,” Kindler said in a phone interview. “I’ve been going to Penguin’s in one form or the other since the early 90s. I will always come go back to places [where] I have a good time.”
While staying busy with voice acting, guest appearances and touring, Kindler is also in the process of finishing his new album, “Hence the Humor,” which he expects to be out later this summer After over two decades of touring as a stand-up comic, Kindler says there's no better time for good comedy, reminiscing about the early 90s when getting on stage at a club meant you came back night after night. In the meantime, he indulges in the "good comedy" when he can. So who does Kindler recommend? “There are some great acts out there,” he said, adding Todd Glass, Maria Bamford, James Andomian and recent Green Gravel Comedy Festival headliner, Eddie Pepitone, to his list of greats. Aside from enjoying and performing comedy, Kindler plays the Belcher family’s business neighbor and friendly mortician, Mort, on Fox's hit animated series Bob’s Burgers. “It was only because of Loren [Bouchard, creator of Bob’s Burgers], who wrote me into the pilot,” Kindler said, joking that he "almost never gets anything I audition for." But he added that working on the show gives him a chance to work with a creator and former castmates, like H. Jon Benjamin, from the Dr. Katz days. But the excitement of being part of so many projects (and popular shows) is not lost on him. “I’ve been very lucky. Stand-up is frightening at first, but the last couple of years, things are just starting to click together,” he said. Nathan Timmel, an Iowa City-based comedian, founded Comedy for Charity, which each year hosted several local comedians and donated the proceeds to a local cause. In 2015, it was for Team Avery, in honor of a local one-year-old fighting a rare musculoskeletal cancer. With the efforts of laughter and a silent auction, more than $6,000 was raised to help Avery and her family. Avery sadly passed away in 2015, and future proceeds were shared to aid the fight against pediatric cancer. Originally published: August 4, 2015
Timmel, who hosts the annual charity comedy showcase, said despite what Avery is going through, he was happy to help support the Flick family -- who are also his neighbors -- in any way he can.
“Trying to cobble together some cash to give the family dealing with everything is the least I can do to help,” Timmel said. The show also featured area comedians Colin Ryan, Mike Lucas, Ava Cheyenne, Lucas Jones, and Daniel Frana. A silent auction was also held to support Avery's fight. Jessie Brown, Team Avery’s spokesperson, said Comedy for Charity will help the Flick family with medical bills, travel expenses and daily living. Brown said Avery’s mother, Heidi Flick, has taken two years of unpaid leave from her teaching career to care for Avery, all with the support of her husband, Justin, and Avery’s big sister, Peyton. “We've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community for this family,” Brown said, “and we're so grateful for their generosity and support.” Besides a spill-over jazz concert cramping the style of the 7 p.m. start time, the show and silent auction went off without a hitch, raising just over $6,300 for the Flick family, who has rerouted their lives for Avery's cancer treatment. Timmel thanked those who participated and performed on this Facebook page over the weekend. "I will fail in trying to thank people individually, but my God...standing room only. Probably the most crowded I've ever seen The Mill," Timmel said. "Team Avery Flick was amazing. They went with the flow during changes and obstacles and acted with grace and ease all evening." Story update: Avery Flick passed away after a 13-month battle with cancer on Oct. 24, 2015. All proceeds and donations in her honor have been sent to her staff of doctors and nurses in an effort to continue their research of pediatric cancer. Hersh Rephun was introduced to me and Cornfed Comedy a few years into the blog gaining steam. He moved to Iowa (his wife's origins) with their five children and decided to throw himself into the Iowa City comedy ring. These days, Hersh is an entertainment manager and agent, but still performing comedy and his one-man Tiny Ukranian Poet gig on the side. In this story, he shares all the things that he was working on. Originally published: November 2, 2014
Cornfed Comedy: You've got quite a backstory of comedy - Caroline's, The Comedy Store, and you recently released a music comedy show in Hollywood. Now you've got a TV series - Tiny Ukrainain Poet Caught on Camera. What can you tell me about your current projects?
HR: The two primary pursuits right now are standup and the The Tiny Ukranian Poet Caught on Camera (TUPCOC) show. I tend to create in layers, so when (co-creator) Stu Wilson and I set about crafting TUPCOC, we designed a comedic talk show that evolved into a sitcom/talk show hybrid, which now has a live stage show/touring component. And that, of course, led to our recording an album of the spoken word/music pieces created for my Tiny Sirko character. CFC: You're a comedian and clearly, an actor (and dare I say, aspiring poet?). How do you balance the roles? HR: For a long time, I felt like I had a split personality. I'd started as a standup in my 20s, then got into advertising and marketing. I was good at that, but felt like a comedian acting like a PR guy! So four years ago, I decided to just be Hersh and let it all fall where it may. There's no question that for Stu and I, our background in branding helps the show and my comedy. It all balances out. CFC: You've taken up in Iowa for a little while (you said your wife was from the area, correct?) so what are your plans while you're here? HR: We've got quite a growing little comedy scene in the Corridor! Yes, my wife's from Marshalltown and I've enjoyed my time here over the years. So this year, given that I'm on the road quite a bit, shooting and performing in the Midwest and East Coast, it felt like a good idea to move our home base from L.A. to Iowa, where we have family. CFC: What other projects do you have coming down the pipeline? HR: Once the TUPCOC pilot is completed, we'll start pitching the series. Creatively, the live component will take center stage, so to speak. It's a one-hour show comprised of spoken word and music, called "Tiny's First Steps", and we're mounting a theatre tour, small theatres between Chicago and Las Vegas, ideally. CFC: Do you have any shows coming soon you'd like to pitch? I know you've done Catacombs of Comedy, which is a very popular comedy attraction. Do you have any other stops? HR: I just performed at Penguin's in Cedar Rapids, which was awesome. More shows will be announced soon, so I'd just tell people to follow me @HRkills for the latest info! And info about all the projects can always be found at www.HershRephun.com. CFC: It looks like you're also a dad AND comedian (something my blog has been covering a lot these days with some other local guys). How does fatherhood affect what you do? HR: What? I've only got, like, 5 kids. What's the big deal? Truth is, I've been a dad for longer than I've been a comedian, and it's influenced everything I do. My kids are amazing and brilliant and ambitious and inspire me and surprise me constantly. They've all been hugely helpful in terms of supporting and and being a sounding board for my comedy. My oldest son is a better standup than I am but focuses on writing, which he also does better than I. My younger son has a head for business, something I've never really had, combined with a profound decency. My oldest daughter is on her way to being a designer and has styled lots of shoots before even turning 18! Then there's the 7 yr old, who wants to be a singer. And the baby, well, she is a late bloomer; if she doesn't have her s*#% together by the time she's six months old, something will need to be done. Nathan Timmel is a friend of Cornfed Comedy, and of me. A talented stand-up comedian with road gigs on a regular basis, he juggles his time between Iowa City and the stand-up life. With two kids, a "dad award," a few books about life in general, he's never got time on his hands. He's also the founder of Comedy for Charity, which raised thousands for various causes around the Corridor. Originally published: November 2, 2014 The book (available in digital or paperback) features letters Timmel wrote to his daughter while working as a traveling comic. Corn-fed Comedy had the opportunity to chat with Timmel about his book, his life, and why how he keeps being so damn good at balancing it all.Nathan Timmel is no rookie when it comes to comedy. He's also not a rookie when it comes to parenting. The father of two, who recently won a "Dad of the Year" contest, thanks to his wife's nomination to the Iowa City Mom's Blog. This doting dad also balances his two little ones (Hillary and newborn Truman) with being a comedian. So now, he's taking the best of both worlds and putting them in a book, with his second printed release of It's OK to Talk to Animals (and Other Letters from Dad). Timmel already has a bookshelf of minibooks available on Amazon, including his last minibook tale, The Four Legged Perspective. Cornfed Comedy: So you wrote one book already, from the point of view of your family dog. Now you've written one that's a series of letters to your little girl. Why another book?
Nathan Timmel: This is my second full-length book, and my... ninth? Somewhere around there. Ninth written offering overall. In addition to the two full-length books, I have seven 99-cent mini-"books" available only on the Kindle. The one you mention, The Four Legged Perspective, One Dog's Take on Burp Rags and Baby Sisters, is technically a mini-"book." Which may answer your question, "Why another book?" Apparently I can't stop writing. I just enjoy the process. Plus, I was sort of "ordered" to do this. My wife saw an article where a parent wrote their child a letter, and liked it. She said I should do that, only to a greater degree; instead of one letter, constant letters. Because I travel for work--my job being a stand up comedian--I'm gone most weekends. This was a way for me to remain attached emotionally to my little girl while I was far from home. I would tell her what we did together early in the week, maybe talk to her about my life... anything that was on my mind, I'd scribble down for her. CFC: What do you hope she [your daughter] gains from this book someday? How about her new brother? NT: Oh, I have no grand plans of my writings making a dent in her life. She's going to be a teenage girl someday, and then a young woman in college, and so on and so forth. At a certain age she'll probably look at the letters as embarrassing; at another age she might enjoy them (say, if she becomes a mom someday). I'd love to pretend the letters are going to help her avoid some of the pitfalls I undertook when growing up (choosing bad partners to date; worrying about things that don't need worried about), but I can't imagine they'll have too much of an impact. More than anything, it's like a written photo album. Instead of looking at pictures and having memories of a certain time in life, she'll be able to read about this year of her life. As far as her brother goes (just a few days away from being three months old)... well, I'll probably have to write to him now, won't I? Otherwise there'll be sibling rivalry, her taunting him with "Dad loves me best; he didn't write you a book!" and so on and so forth... Basically, the pressure is on. *sigh* CFC: You're quite a busy dude - two kids, and your second book, and still doing comedy. How do you keep it balanced? NT: I'm not sure I do keep it balanced. I mean, comedy is my job, and most parents have jobs... The good thing about my work situation is that when I'm off in another city, that's when I can get my work done. When I'm home, if a kiddo is up I'm tending to them. It's really difficult to write or work when someone wants your attention. (Side note: both kids went down for a nap at the same time today, which is how I'm answering these questions. As a parent, you LIVE for nap time. It's when you do the laundry, get dishes done, etc. When they're asleep, you can accomplish the mundane tasks of day-to-day living.) CFC: You recently won a dad award - tell us more about that. What did you think about it? NT: My wonderful and beautiful wife, Lydia, entered me in the "Iowa City Mom's Blog" contest for Dad of the Year. She wrote an essay explaining why I should be the Dad of 2014, and the readers agreed with her. I can't remember how many other essays were written or entered, but I thought my winning reflected more on my wife's writing ability than my own Daddying skills. But either way, I thought it was great! I got a pair of new gym shoes, a handful of free haircuts, and best of all, a one-hour massage. And there is little in life better than a free massage. CFC: A lot of your social presence is comedy about life as a father. Do you find as a dad that a lot of your material is shaped by real-life experiences, or are you keeping that out of your routines? NT: It depends on where you look on social media, actually... on my personal Facebook page, yeah, you're going to see a ton of proud daddy pictures. If you look at my Twitter or Comedy Facebook page, things aren't that tied to my family. Not because I like keeping things separate, but I understand the difference between work and home. My personal Facebook page is filled with friends, so I'm going to update them with personal stories and pictures. My comedy page... well, not everyone there gives a crap about my daughter. They just want a quick giggle and to get on with their day. While I will post about my family on the comedy page, it's definitely not the main focus of the page. With my stand up act, however... well, I'm a very personal comedian. I talk about my life, my thoughts, my experiences. So having a family means I'm going to talk about that. I just try to make sure it's not just me waxing philosophic without a point. That would leave the audience bored as can be, thinking, "Oh for the love of... will he just shut up about how awesome his kids are?" It's gotta be funny, because people came out to laugh. CFC: This book is a lot about missing Hilly's life while you were on the road. Are you spending more time at home these days, and if so, how has that changed for you? NT: I took about three weeks off from the road around the time my son was born. I did the same thing two years ago when my daughter arrived. But other than that "getting situated" period, no, no more time at home than before. My life loves it when I have the rare weekend off, but the thing is: no travel means no pay. And diapers are expensive. And college, ugh, even more so. My dream would be to win the lottery, and then only go do comedy every other weekend. But until those winning numbers come to me... CFC: Just an FYI, you've got a 5-star rating on Amazon right now. Will you write another book someday? NT: I can't see myself not writing another book... but at the moment, I also couldn't tell you what it might be about. Probably something leaning toward my son, as said (sibling rivalry and all)... but yeah. Having just finished this one, my head is a little empty at the moment. Need to re-charge the batteries before jumping into the deep end again. CFC: Do you have any shows you wanna sling in the meantime? You're growing quite a fanbase! NT: (laughs) How far does your blog reach? Where does Google Analytics say you get most of your hits? I mean, I can always plug shows, heh. Right now, my annual Comedy for Charity show is on the horizon, but there's no date set in stone. Otherwise I'd be plugging the hell out of that. Always good to have a packed house when the money is going somewhere good. Janelle James, the endlessly talented comedian and voice actress, was born in the Carribbean and raised in the Midwest, and as a comic on the road, had plenty to share about all those experiences and then some. Janelle sat down to chat with Cornfed Comedy before a show in Iowa City, in 2013. Originally published: March 13, 2013
In fact, Janelle will be performing in Iowa City at The Mill for Bobby Ray Bunch's Comedy Showcase on Saturday, March 30. I love that through this blog and the comedians in my area, I get to meet other Midwest-bred comics. Janelle is a perfect fit: Raunchy jokes, stories about family and musings on aging make up her set, and here in Iowa City and with the crew at The Mill, she'll fit right in.
Corn-fed Comedy: Share a little about yourself. You've opened for some pretty big acts, including Todd Barry and Rob Delaney. What got you to where you are now, and how did you get your start? Janelle James: I'm a grinner, I'm a sinner, I'm a lover and I like to drink and listen to The Steve Miller Band while answering interview questions. I got my start at an open mic in Champaign, IL at a bar called Memphis on Main. What got me to where I am now? A plane, then a cab to with a crazy Russian cab driver who "really likes beautiful black ladies". (I'm in Brooklyn, NY right now) CFC: For comedians who aren't familiar with your work, what are some of your favorite topics for comedy and why? JJ: My favorite topic for comedy is myself as I'm a classic narcissist who likes attention as well as the feeling of relief I get by confessing things onstage . But I also talk about other things as well, sex, kids, aging, life, religion, things that make me rage or go WTF!? etc. CFC: Not only are you a Midwest comic (Midwest power!), but you're a woman. There seems to be a tough ceiling to break for female comics, and even people like Chevy Chase have said "women comics aren't funny," which is total bull (in my opinion). What makes being a female comic different, or, not-so-different? JJ: Chevy Chase said that? Well, he's no Bill Murray so screw him. I try not to get into the whole "female comic" thing. I'm just me out here trying to tell jokes. I think I'm funny so there. I get a lot of men and women who come up to me after shows to say "Oh you are the funniest female comic I've ever seen" and I'll take the compliments, 'cause I fucking love compliments, but I'm hoping it slowly turns into you are the funniest comic I've ever seen and leave the female out. The "female" takes the shine out of the compliment because really, how many female comedians are there anyway? Not many compared to the boys, so is it really an achievement to be the best out of a few? I want to beat EVERYBODY!!! CFC: Got any favorite places to perform? Big cities, small cities, the in-betweeners? JJ: I love love love to perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club in Peoria, IL. I've met and had so many great conversations with amazing comics there and their audiences are so much fun and always ready to laugh. Dan (the owner) gives the local comics many opportunities to perform. Second, Memphis on Main in Champaign. I still do the weekly open mic there whenever I can and I will be really sad when I'm not able to anymore. Just a really great supportive environment to work on new stuff run by the comics of CUComedy. Also, I love that The Mill keeps having me back. Never would I have thought I would be popular in Iowa, but that's my own narrow-mindedness talking, obviously Iowa knows what's hip! I'm grateful for every opportunity to talk into a mic. CFC: You're based in Illinois, so you know what comedy in the Midwest is like. How does Champaign/Urbana compare to places in Iowa? JJ: I haven't performed in enough places in Iowa to compare. Champaign doesn't currently have a comedy club (maybe someday?) but I'm sure comics in Iowa know just as well as they do in Champaign that if you want to be a comic in the midwest, especially if you aren't already in Chicago...you're going to be doing a lot of driving. I don't mind. The car is the only place I get to listen to gangster rap on full blast without fucking up my kids. Scott Long is a fabulous comedian with the chops to perform anywhere -- and he has. But he always calls Iowa home. Scott and I connected a few times through Cornfed Comedy, and he was always gracious to share his tips for life on the road as a stand-up. Originally published: July 6, 2012 On Friday, July 13, I got to see an awesome set of comedians perform in front of an intimate group of 20 or so people at The Mill in Iowa City. Emcee Colin Ryan, featured act Bobby Ray Bunch and headliner Scott Long no doubt noticed that the room wasn't packed, but still gave a gut-busting performance.
Scott, an Iowa native and University of Iowa alum, has been touring nationally for the last 15 years. A husband and father of 3, he's been heard nationwide on the Bob & Tom Show, and his comedy writing has been seen on Fox Sports through Frank Caliendo's John Madden bits. He's also been on NBC, XM Satellite Radio and more. The guy's been busy -- and he's an act that shows no signs of stopping. David Burke with The Quad-City Times recently referred to him as the Louis CK of the Midwest. Besides being a touring standup comedian and TV writer, Scott has also written a book of comedic essays entitled Dysfunctional Thoughts of a 21st Century Man, plus released a comedy CD and 2 comedy DVDs, which you can pick up at his live shows. If you see Scott in your area or hear about him, do yourself a favor and GO. Not only is he an Iowa native which he deserves an epic high-five for, but he's a damn hardworking comedian who performs like there's 100 people in the room. And there should be. He's talented as all get out. Scott recently took some time to answer a few questions for our humble little blog here, and share his path to stand-up comedy and comedy writing. Corn-Fed Comedy: You have done some shows throughout Iowa - including Iowa City. What are the biggest benefits and challenges for stand-up comedy in a place like Iowa City (from your perspective)? Scott Long: I think the biggest issue is that there needs to be a place that is a weekly room. Comedy fans in Iowa City need to know that on, let's say Thursday, there is a a professional comedy show at the venue. Doing random shows and regular open mic are good, but to help really build a good comedy scene there needs to be consistent pro comedy shows. CFC: How has comedy changed in the Midwest during your time as a comic? Have you seen an increased interest or are things still the same? SL: Here's a little secret. To make a real living just doing standup comedy you need to be in the fly over states, as NYC and LA don't pay the comics shit. I would say its about the same but there is a split going on in standup like there is in politics. Some people want the more alt style of standup, while others want the more traditional. And there isn't much in between. Because of this, the comedy scene has gotten more segmented. This makes it more difficult to work every week, but does give more people the opportunity to make crap money instead of fewer people making a decent living. CFC: You do a lot of comedy writing, as well as your stand-up comedy. How does one break into the "comedy writing" gig? How did it come about for you? SL: I would say you pretty much need to move to LA or NY. You also need to know someone who has connections when you get there. Most writers on TV shows are not former stand-ups. The biz has changed that way. Harvard Lampoon people and second city/groundlings people network with each other, so it's hard to break that stranglehold. The biggest reason I got my writing job with FOX was because the person they hired didn't know how to write for Frank Caliendo and I did. Other elements were involved but that was the major element. CFC: Life on the road is the way of a comic -- but many young comics aren't parents, either. What is life like for a traveling dad / comic? SL: It is a difficult balance you need to manage. Anyone involved with being a touring entertainer knows it's a life setup for self absorbed tools whose number 1 focus is themselves. I have learned to be more biz savvy as I am taking care of 5 people, not 1. Lots of added pressure with that, but has made me more focused, which has been a benefit. CFC: Just for fun - and to play off your act - where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? You don't have to answer this if you don't want to. SL: I actually think about that a lot. I guess I still see myself doing standup but also doing more one man show type stuff where there is a message to what I am offering. I try to have about 3 different projects going on at 1 time, so if something doesn't work out, I have a couple other directions I can go. I love the creative freedom my life offers me, even though I have to be fairly strict about how much I can give it as I have a full life being a family guy. Colin Ryan was another friend of Cornfed Comedy, and always willing to share his story. As a new husband and dad, Colin was finding the time to do his comedy in the small clubs through the Iowa City area. And as a transplant from Iowan, bringing his own unique viewpoint of life in the Midwest. Originally published: January 23, 2013 Iowa resident and stand-up comedian Colin Ryan is a busy guy. Between his stints on the open mic stage to being a devoted father and husband, he managed to answer a few questions for our Corn-fed Comedy readers about being an Iowa transplant from Ireland, fitting into the growing scene and still finding time to enjoy his life at home. If you haven't gotten a chance to see Colin, shame on you. Full of wit and that Irish charm, Colin's tell-it-like-it-is about life and fatherhood make him a clean, fun comic that is all about having a good time. Special thanks to this Iowa comic for taking the time to talk about his life and love of the stand-up stage with our blog. Corn-fed Comedy: Share a little about yourself -- where are you from originally, and how long have you been doing comedy? Do you have any comedy influences?
Colin Ryan: I moved here from Ireland in 2010, I had lived there my whole life and to be honest had no real intention of emigrating or really going anywhere, but I met my wonderful wife Lindsay in 2004, we got married in 2007. Now I’m here, which is nice. I have been doing comedy off and on since 2005, the first gig I did was an open mike in the Craic House (This has a different meaning in Ireland) with my old school buddy Enda Muldoon (who was legitimately funny from the start and is now tearing up the comedy scene in London). When I started I was a really bad musical comedian, who would take regular songs and change the lyrics to make the song rude. I am sure at the time I thought I was pretty cutting edge however it took about a year until it started to permeate into my skull how truly, stomach-churningly awful I was. I think I tried then to develop a more political act, which was a bit better, but still pretty mediocre because while I am interested in politics and can at times become passionate about stuff, my pseudo Bill Hicks rants were undermined by stuttering delivery and shaky hands that appeared more like adolescent anxiety than a call to arms. Since I moved over here I’d like to think I have developed a lot as a comic, in that I now normally enjoy myself on stage, am fairly confident in my delivery and am confident that my material reflects my actual beliefs. It is also kind of cool being an Irish act in the Mid-West, as I have a kind of circus freak attraction vibe going. People automatically seem a bit curious as to why I am there and what I could possibly want to say. Another factor is that I’m now 35, married, have a mortgage, back pains and a child, so I really don’t need the approval of audiences any more. It’s nice to get it and I enjoy it, but I do this now more for therapeutic reasons so if I crash and burn on a stage I tend to reflect with good natured curiosity rather than despondency. As far as influences go, like many comics when I started I really wanted to be Bill Hicks, but I have mellowed in my older age and realized I am actually quite apathetic about most things. Currently my favorite working comic is Stewart Lee, a British comic who I feel has reinvented what a stand up can do. As far as American comics go, I love Jamie Kilstein and Lee Camp (who I got to open for in Des Moines last week, name drop ahoy), who kind of do the Bill Hicks thing but from a more progressive outlook rather than a libertarian one. CFC: As you probably know, comedy is really starting to saturate in the Midwest, particularly with the tight scene of common faces in Iowa. What has this transition been like for you, especially since you're an Iowa transplant? CR: I love the Iowa comedy scene and I have to give a huge amount of credit to Tom Garland in Iowa City and Dan Umthum in Des Moines. The Des Moines scene is fantastic it is kind of like an artistic collective, with loads of people doing loads of cool stuff, Iowa seems to be organically growing that way. Both Dan and Tom seem to have built these thriving comedy scenes out of nothing. I have a lot of respect for both guys, who are great performers in their own right. I saw on twitter that Tom was playing a huge gig in Las Vegas last week, which made me really happy, I don’t think I know anyone who has put as much into time and energy into his career as Tom and it really shows. For me it has been really fantastic tapping into this scene, everyone has been incredibly friendly and welcoming. I have never noticed any backstabbing or bitchiness, everyone just seems to get on with it. I’ve made a lot of really good friends all over the state through doing this, for example last Friday I did a benefit show with James Draper and a load of other comics from the Quad Cities and Des Moines, it was a great night and it was a load of fun hanging out with those guys, those kind of nights have really helped me transition to life in a new culture. CFC: How has life on the road treated you? You're a husband and devoted dad now, so what has that transition been like? CR: I don’t really feel I have ever been “on the road” so to speak as I generally only have done a couple of gigs at a time. I have never really pursued this as a career, I love doing comedy but the idea of monetizing my act has never been a huge motivator for me, if I started getting paid for it, it would become work and thus lose its therapeutic benefit. Having a kid has changed things though as I really have to prioritize my time. Currently I’m in the process of finishing grad school, doing an internship while still working a job and trying to figure out how a baby works, so things are a little crazy at the moment and comedy has become a casualty. I really miss doing the open mics, because I have not had the chance to do much new material and I really hate having to regurgitate the old stuff when I am booked for something. Once I recorded my CD “Atheist by the Grace of God”, (recorded by Underground Comedy and available on bandcamp.com, in case you were wondering), I promised myself I would draw a line under my old material and come what may develop a completely new set. Unfortunately that has not been really possible ilatley. That said I have started writing a lot lately and am hoping to start getting some new stuff together after I graduate in May, with a goal to develop a new half hour of decent material within the year. CFC: What's your stand-up life like? Are there any "home clubs" in that you're growing a following with? CR: Like I mentioned, it is kind of on hold at the moment, but I love doing comedy, there are really very few art forms where you can either succeed or completely fall flat on your face in such a public way. As such, I am always excited to get on stage. I think the Monday night show at the Yacht Club in Iowa City is phenomenal, the audiences there have been fantastic and I am really itching to get back there and do a set. I also love doing the Circa 21 in Rock Island Illinois, George Strader puts on an amazing show there with the Blacklist Improv troupe, I always love going to Des Moines to do the House of Bricks as well. But definitely the shows I have enjoyed the most since I got here have been Bobby Ray Bunch’s Showcase’s at the Mill. Bobby is awesome at putting on a show and on Saturday it will be my third time headlining there and both times I have played there before have been magic. CFC: What advice do you have for other comics - especially those in Iowa? CR: Well firstly I am not sure who would actually seek my advice unless their question was “How do I spend seven years doing comedy and still be an open mike act with limited commercial viability?” I do have my thoughts on what I feel makes good comedy, although I should acknowledge the subjectivity of said thoughts and thus their lack of real value. Firstly, I always enjoy seeing an act where the individual has a level of awareness about their self and how they present to the audience. I love when a performer has taken the time to develop their own voice and has written material that is congruent with their stage persona. Every time I see Bruce Jay, Jake Vevra, Andrew Cline, Bobby Ray or Andrew King, I always feel I am looking at a well cultivated three dimensional stage persona. This always makes their acts very satisfying to watch. It is fine having technically good material but if the audience does not emotionally connect with the comic then it can be a bit grating to sit through the set. Secondly (and this is a personal taste thing) I am not hugely into comedy that is mean spirited and directed at people in society that are in a less privileged position then the comic themselves. It is kind of forgivable in the open mic community, but when I see a professional comic mocking people with learning disabilities, the homeless etc., I just tune out, the whole idea of a millionaire making more money by picking on the weak in society always makes me a little queasy. Finally, I always like my comedy to be about stuff. The comedy that I have always enjoyed, people like Richard Pryor, George Carlin Bill Hicks and Stewart Lee, always appealed because the act seemed like a delivery system to make a broader philosophical point. George Carlin’s set always seemed incredibly important because he clearly had something immensely profound he wanted to impart and comedy was a vehicle for this. His best stuff like the re-definitions of PTSD, the Great Electron, or his stuff on the American Dream, always made you feel a little uneasy because it was very close to a universal truth that we were all of aware of but had partially disassociated from. To my mind great comedy going back even to Jonathon Swift’s A Modest Proposal is always at its best when it is being used to point out the gaping chasms of logic in our collective consciousness and the in-congruence between our higher ideals and the reality of our imperfect world. "Women in comedy" is such a strange topic. It's siloed, always, apart from the history and evolution of comedy, and I hate that. In 2011, I interviewed a new female comic on the scene, Morgan Hart, who shared some of her experiences with this exact topic, and what it means to be a comic in the Midwest. Originally published: January 16, 2012
Corn-fed Comedy: What brought you to comedy - and Iowa?
Morgan Hart: I was born and raised in multiple small towns here in Iowa by an occasionally medicated mentally afflicted mother with a family history of alcoholism, mental illness, and other significant moments that molded the women of my family into Feminazis. I have always felt funny, both physically and socially. I was constantly seeking attention and being put in time out; which gave me time to work on facial expressions. I was in speech and drama club in high school but never considered it as a career. My mother wasn’t able to assist with college, which left me working full time and going to school at night. At 22, I got knocked up, married, and bought a double wide during this time I lived a quiet and miserable representation of my childhood. At some point I was working two jobs to keep my family afloat, as my ex-husband drank it away. In 2009 I decided to return to school, after a promotion to the IT department. I was excited to learn a new trade but always felt a gnawing guilt that somehow I was missing my daughter’s (Madden, born in 2004) childhood, messing her life up, and wasting my life being angry. In September of 2010, my church was having a series based on “The Dream Giver” a book by Bruce Wilkinson. Upon completion of that book my mind set; I was made to be funny! At that point, I still had a year of school left, a full time job, and a daughter to support financially. It would have been careless for me to quit school and my job to pursue my “dream”. I got in touch with an old acquaintance from high school, Nick Moore. He is a comedy writing genius and the only reason I actively started performing. September 9th I graduated college for the second time, performed my first set on the next week. CFC: How has pursuing comedy affected you personally -- what are some of the biggest challenges? MH: Personally, it has been the most humbling pursuit I’ve tried; every time I step on stage it feels terrifyingly wonderful. I have only been doing comedy since September 2011, I can’t really say much about performance challenges. Right now, my biggest challenge is finding the time to grab a mic. CFC: Many say comedy is a man's game. Jerry Lewis said women "aren't funny." What are your thoughts / impressions about being a female comedian? Are there any other female comedians that you look up to? MH: Most females find Jerry Lewis annoying, I know I do. He was part of a generation that didn’t look upon women in a positive light. I still have a grandmother that tells me not to pick up money off the ground, because “a black person, could have touched that”. It’s a perspective that I can’t understand and don’t really want to waste my time, enlightening her on the progressive of acceptance in society. Same with Mr. Lewis, he’s old and it just wouldn’t be a fair fight. I love being a female comic; you can’t have a weenie roast without a campfire, right? I am not scared of all male atmospheres, I went to a technical school (mostly male) and I work in IT (information technology) that is also saturated with testosterone. Every single comic, male or female all have a connective core with our humor. When I was young enjoyed Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Jane Curtain, Tina Fey, Maria Bamford, Paula Poundstone. CFC: What kinds of trends have you seen with comedy in the Midwest and in Iowa? MH: The only thing I have noticed since starting, is that open mics are popping up all over Des Moines and I LOVE IT! CFC: Who would you LOVE to open for? Where would you LOVE to perform? MH: I would love to open for Louie C.K., Patton Oswald, Maria Bamford, or The Untamed Shrews. I was looking through my journal from 2010 and one of my goals was to perform at The Funny Bone; never actually thinking I would for at least 5 years. I performed at the Funny Bone on October 30th, 2011 it was an open mic night but it was still The Funny Bone. Tom Garland was one of many comics I interviewed during my blog who really believed in Iowa and the more rural parts of the Midwest (not just Chicago) becoming a destination for comedians and comedy lovers. He's energetic, passionate, and always was willing to sit down to chat about his craft. Originally published: May 25, 2011
But while Iowa hasn't exactly found itself on the map for comedy, places like Penguin's Comedy Club in Cedar Rapids and Funny Bone in Des Moines continue to draw crowds. But for Tom Garland, he wants to see a comedy club in Iowa City, so he's doing what he can to make it happen.
Cornfed Comedy: The standard first question for my comics: What got you started in comedy? Did someone influence you, or was it just the joy of making people laugh? Tom Garland: I started doing comedy a little over a year ago. At the time, I had no idea I would ever become this involved with it. I did have a little background in making people laugh. I wrote humor columns for my high school newspaper, "The Xavier X-Press," and another small publication in Iowa City called "Rough Draft" (formerly "The Booze News"). I also produced 10 episodes of the YouTube series "True Planet" but had always wanted to try performing live. I tried out an open mic at Penguins Comedy Club and had a really fun time. Doing stand up is by far the most addicting thing I will ever do. From the moment I got off stage for the first time, I was in hook, line, and sinker. As far as influences go, I've always felt far more impacted by local comedians than those on a national scale. Watching local guys like Keegan Buckingham, Greg Goettel, Tim Unkenholz, Andre Theobold, Tom Sharpe, Colin Ryan and Danny Franks really impacted me and taught me more about the grind of being a local comic than I could possibly learn from watching someone like Jeff Dunham. On the other hand, there have obviously been famous comics I've looked up to. I'm a huge fan of Eddie Murphy, Mitch Hedberg, Andy Kaufman, and Jim Gaffigan. I'm not sure if any of their talents and methods show through in my act, but that's who I grew up watching and admiring. I continue to strive to someday hit that level. CFC: As a member of the Iowa City community, what is your impression of the local comedy scene? Though the closest club is in Cedar Rapids, what are your hopes with bringing comedy acts to local clubs? TG: Up until basically this last year, there was no such thing as a comedy scene in Iowa City. Greg Goettel (a fellow comedian that I work with regularly) and I started up two open mics. I emcee The Summit Nightclub's 'Comedy Showcase' and Greg is the emcee for 'One Night Stand' at The Yacht Club. This, along with the comedy shows that The University of Iowa books for student events, makes Iowa City now one of the best cities in Iowa to gain stage time and experience in. Penguins Comedy Club in Cedar Rapids does a great job of developing local talent as well. That's where I got my start and I'll always respect what they do there. I still continue to perform there on a regular basis. As far as "bringing comedy acts to local clubs" goes, things aren't too promising. Most of the clubs here aren't interested in booking major names, but as I mentioned above, for The University of Iowa that's a completely different story. Over the past year I opened for eight different headline acts that they brought through, including a sold out show in front of 1,100 fans at The Iowa Memorial Union opening for Joel McHale (NBC - Community, E! - The Soup, Spiderman 2). CFC: Whereabouts in the United States have you had the opportunity to tour? What have those places been like compared to your experiences in the Midwest, or in Iowa City particularly? TG: I actually have yet to go on a full out "tour". This summer I'll be doing some time in Washington D.C. and possibly Los Angeles. I have however, traveled all over the state of Iowa and performed in nearly every major city. I've had some great experiences on the road and love to travel. It's always fun to see fresh faces laugh. Also, usually on the road I get to do a little more time on stage. I opened for Tom Shape (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham) in Clarksville, IA and got to do a 45 minute set before he went on. It was by far the longest I've been on stage and one of the most fun times I've ever had as a performer. CFC: What do you love about comedy - not only performing, but about other comics you've met or performed with? What makes some of your favorites stand out from the rest? TG: I love the feeling of when you know you have an audience locked in. You can see them slowly feeding into the set up, anticipating the punchline, and then dying laughing at the twist and tag-lines. Its a really special interaction you just don't get to have with the average person in any other line of work. It's no secret that there is definitely a "lifestyle" associated with doing stand up. It's nice spending time with other comedians, because they understand the rollercoaster ride of the industry. The people I've had the most fun with, ironically, are the ones who take a very serious approach to comedy. Although it may seem like at times the comedian in front of you is completely rolling "off-the-cuff", chances are they're probably not. I enjoy spending time with comedians who constantly write new material, experiment with different angles to take in their act, and conduct themselves professional, despite whatever kind of situation we may be performing in. CFC: As a comedian, what is it like having so many different platforms to reach people, but while also having so many platforms with other competing comedians? Facebook, Myspace, Twitter...how has the comedy world embraced them, especially as an up-and-coming comic? TG: Some people just don't know how to use social media to their advantage. If you're going to push yourself farther down the road as comedian, the easiest way is to quit using social media to be, well, social. I wouldn't recommend using Myspace unless you want to perform on How To Catch A Predator. Facebook and Twitter however are great tools. Twitter is basically my online joke book. It helps me write material and condense my thoughts to 140 characters. Often times in comedy, finding the shortest set up and punchline to deliver a quick hit, is one of the biggest struggles. I use Facebook on the other hand to do most of my marketing. It sure beats the heck of out standing on the street corners and handing out fliers. The secret is to just have fun with it and to be conscious of how much you "plug" your material and shows. No one wants to be bombarded with advertising of any kind, but if you pepper it in between some light hearted humor, crowds can be extremely responsive and before you know it you'll start developing a following. CFC: Where do you see Iowa City's comedy in a year? Where is it headed, or better yet, where would you like to see it go? TG: The comedy scene is Iowa City has only just begun to boom. Someday I'd like to see a comedy club open up there. Judging strictly based on attendance from multiple shows I do there each week, I'd say there's clearly a market for it. Realistically with the fight going on due to the 21-ordinance debates, I doubt you will see one for awhile. Until then, we'll have to just keep making people laugh on whatever scale possible. I would like to see some bars book some larger acts. There's no reason why B-listers wouldn't want to headline Iowa City clubs. There are some huge venues that don't take advantage of comedy. They would rather book a DJ to play a loop of something you can download on your iPod and mix yourself at home while you sit naked in your moms basement. Maybe that's the way club entertainment is headed. I think there will always be something to be said though for an act (musical or comedic) that writes their own material and can perform it live without the help of a computer. CFC: What is your dream as a stand-up comic? Any act you'd kill to open for? Any particular club you'd kill to play in? TG: I'd just like to keep the work coming in on a consistent basis and get on to some sort of nationwide tour (preferably touring mainly comedy clubs and colleges). Comedy is notorious for its success swings. After the show I did with Joel McHale, I felt on top of the world. There was 1,100 people there and I killed. The next night I was booked to do a show at a bar. 6 people showed up and I completely bombed. If I can find some level of happy consistency, really that's all I'm looking for. My dream is to do some work on television. I'm also really eager to do some time in any of the major U.S. cities. Obviously clubs like The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store are high up there on the list. I'd kill to open for anyone who is especially hot right now. I really enjoy the work of a lot of the comedians who have had a breakthrough in the last year or so (Aziz Ansari, Bo Burnham, Daniel Tosh, TJ Miller, Doug Benson). However, I realize it's a long road to the top. For now, I'm happy just being along for the ride. |
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