Superman's Voice...

This may be too esoteric to explain in a written blog entry, but something I heard cracked me up and I have to give it a try.

I downloaded some old (1940's) Superman radio serials on iTunes, and I've been having a ball listening to them (they're free at "Old Time Radio Hour," if anyone's interested). In these old episodes Bud Collyer uses two distinct voices -- a more reasonable, higher-pitched 40's-businessman voice for Clark Kent and a lower, more serious voice for Superman. You'll hear things like "this looks like a job FOR SUPERMAN."

So in the episode I was listening to recently, Clark, Lois Lane and another character were trapped in an old mine by a cave in. Clark couldn't move away the rocks with them standing there without giving away his identity, even though they had no light and it was pitch black dark in the mine. So Clark concocts some ruse to get the other folks to go off elsewhere in the mine, and then starts clearing enough rubble away for them to get through.

He's alone, presumably still dressed as Clark and talking to himself out loud.

And he says, "now that they're gone, I can clear these rocks away AS SUPERMAN." And there are a few minutes as he narrates his actions to himself -- "A FEW MORE... THERE -- THAT SHOULD GET IT" -- all in the Superman voice. Then in the Clark voice: "now I just have to wait for the others to return and explain the rubble wasn't as firmly in place as we'd thought..."

I guess in 40's radio, the closest thing they had to a special effect was the wonderful vocal talent of Bud Collyer (who voiced Superman from the 40's radio show through Saturday morning cartoons in the 60's), but it cracks me up thinking about this man alone in a cave in street clothes changing his voice so he can talk to himself heroically about what he's doing.

 Alone. By himself.

Hah. Here's a page with a .wav file of Bud Collyer doing both voices in one sentence.

Benefit Flyer

FightBreastCancerFlyer -

Video for Rocky Top Comedy Contest

Here's the video my wife and I made for the Rocky Top Comedy Contest.

My New Comedy Plan

My comedy's been feeling a little flat the last few weeks, and I think I know what to do about it. It comes down to taking comedy more seriously, and that means showing up prepared like a professional (which I'd love to eventually be).

Here's what showing up prepared means to me:

• Have five to ten minutes (depending on venue) ready every time I go on stage.  No more "this is what open mics are for."  Open mics are for new material, but that material should be ready for a test run, not a wisp of a concept to elaborate from on stage.  It has to be written and gone though at least five practice rounds.
• Never drink before I'm on.  Then get wasted and enjoy everyone else's set.
• Write at least two minutes of new material a week.
• Stop showing up naked.
• Never take a notebook on stage.  It's important to try new stuff; I just need to have it ready.

I'm not saying I won't improvise or that I'll have a set memorized word-for-word like a sonnet, but I do believe knowing all your points and their order gives you the freedom to play around with what's going on in the room.

Looking forward to some fun sets.

The Name Thing

Well, I’m all confused. I don’t know how to introduce myself or what to tell people to call me. Half the time, I don’t know to respond when people are calling me by name. And friends aren’t sure what to call me.


A stage name is important to me. I love doing stand-up comedy, but it’s unlikely to supplant the income I’ve made from sales and management over the years. In this Google age, hiring and promoting managers routinely search applicants’ names. A hit that shows me doing political or blue material could kill my prospects without my ever knowing why. It could also cause headaches in my current position.

So I’m Art. At least on stage or on the internet.

I can make things simpler, though. I can start with introducing myself by my real name and then explaining that I use a stage name. Feel free to use my real name when we’re talking, or in any non-stage context. Or keep calling me Art, if that feels right to you.

Here’s the cool part: I never thought any of this would be an issue! When I stepped out on Coffee Underground’s open mic stage in January, I never imagined comedy would be a regular part of my life again, or that I would have to figure out how to communicate with dozens of great new friends. Thanks for that, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a great problem to have.

Thursday Night at the Vortex

Becca and I did the Vortex last night. Great crowd, except one guy who felt his participaiton was required.

Pineapple Jacks

I open Becca Steinhoff's wonderful "Occasional Acts of Brilliance" show at Pineapple Jacks. My primary motive for posting this clip is to show off my unparallelled cinematography skills.

Another Night at Tomato Tuesdays

Feel like I'm getting my comedy legs back here after a couple of flat weeks. 

Last Night at Coffee Underground

Eh.

The Athens, GA of Stand-up?

As I've mentioned (ad nauseum) to friends, I used to do stand up at a lot of open mics in the eighties, and I'm just blown away by the difference between the way things were then and today's lively comedy scene in the Asheville-Greenville market (alphabetical).

The first thing that impresses me is the hard work and talent that dozens of sharp young men and women pour out onto whatever audience they can find. You don't see the old cliché of these venues -- the drunk guy whose friends have convinced him to wing it because he always makes them laugh. Instead, you see comics who've written and prepared and are -- with rare exceptions -- very funny. Comedians who have a tough sets go home, put their material in the shop and come back funnier (and funnier still the next time).

An incredible sense of camaraderie also defines a sharp contrast between our local comedy world and the one I saw all those years ago. People support each other, critique each other's work and are genuinely glad to see each other. As each person gets better, it challenges others to do the same, and the environment builds better and funnier comics.

Lately, I've been wondering if this is somewhat unique -- do most areas have this kind of vibrant comedy community? Or is Greenville-Asheville like Athens was to alternative music in the eighties? I dunno. I do know I'm happy to have found this group of people, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Coffee Underground, March 15

Ok, this is getting ridiculous. I've got to learn how to get off a stage with some degree of grace and professionalism.

Tomato Tuesdays March 9, 2010

Made a few gaffes here. Neeed to always make time to practice. Lot of fun, though.

Monday at Coffee Underground

The word's getting out about the great show the Greenville comics put on, and there was a packed house for most of the evening. I really had a blast. Got to work on my closing.

At Vortex Caberet, March 4, 2010

There's a wonderful variety show in Asheville on Thursday nights at the Grove house (11 Grove Street). You'll see bands, magic acts, comedy -- I was really impressed by an accordian player. This is my set at the Vortex.

March 1, 2010 at Coffee Underground

A great crownd at No Expectations Comedy's open mic at Coffee Underground.

First time hosting

I hosted Tomato Tuesdays tonight, but I was so wired I forgot to turn my camera on.

So I ruled. Tore the house down. And I will maintain that position until someone produces video evidence to the contrary.


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February 16 at Tomato Tuesdays

February 16 at "Tomato Tuesdays at the New French Bar" in Asheville, NC. I took some good advice from a friend and dropped Kermit/Motown and Popeye (for now). Not giving up on either one, but I need to really finish both. I've been going out half- baked on both bits, just because I love their concepts.

February 9 at Tomato Tuesdays

Had a lot of fun with this one. I finally found a place to practice, and I was able to run the set out loud a few times beforehand. Before-hand? Before hand?

Took the week off to write and practice. Went to see the last half of Tuesday's open mic at The New French Bar, and it was a lot of fun.

January 26 at Tomato Tuesdays

I enjoyed doing this set, but it still suffers from a lack of the confidence that will come from practicing it over and over. I can still be spontaneous and mix it up, but I have to be very comfortable with my delivery and timing.

At Coffee Underground 1-25-10

A short set at Coffee Underground. Tried a new bit, and I had about 50% success -- the material worked, but the visual fell apart. I knew what I had in mind when I fell down, but I didn't communicate it to the audience at all. Feeling more comfortable and having a lot of fun.

Regional Showcase

Friday and Saturday, I saw some local comics perform at Funny Business' Regional Showcase in Asheville.

They were terrific. I'd seen several of their acts before, but even those seemed fresh to me polished up and presented in this exciting venue.

What was really fun, though, was seeing their faces after the show, as they mingled with the crowd. They were on fire -- thrilled with the show, burning with excitement, coming down off the thrill of the evening.

It's inspiring. It makes me want to write and practice. Way to go, folks.

January 19 at Tomato Tuesdays

Figuring it out...

I've got to figure out the balance between writing new material and polishing up stuff I've already worked on. I think the answer for me is to find a place -- alone -- and practice a set over and over. Get very comfortable with the order, develop clean transitions and also leave in flexibility to throw in a new idea or two.

In the eighties, I was in College and my school's Theatre Arts department had what they called a "black box" theater, which was left open all hours. The accoustics were perfect; you didn't even need a mic. I'd work until 1 a.m., and then go stand in an empty theater and work my set over and over. Good times.

January 18 at Coffee Underground

December 12, 2010 at Tomato Tuesdays

Testing... Testing...

Trying the blog app.



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