Last Weds. night was the first time I Hosted a show in NYC. I was very intimidated and nervous about doing this for a long time. I had been asked if I hosted and I think that Im more of a feature act. Really what I mean is Im scared shitless to host. To me the host sets the tone for the entire evening and a lot rests on their shoulders.
So when I found out that I was to host I was honored and worried all at the same time. I have hosted a total of 8 times. I did it a few times in Philly where it was a 3 person show. In Morristown NJ where it was the same deal 4 times and once at 88 Keys in Woodbridge for a showcase of 10. Last night I was to put up 24 comics a few more or less. They were still seating when I had to begin so it was really difficult to do crowd work...with people walking 6 at a time in front of me trying to be seated. I did a small bit of bantering and crowd work and did my set that I feel establishes who and what Im about. I came off like the Mommy of the night... I was the designated adult. I did about 7 minutes and had to cut the set short and get this train rolling. My job entailed the following. To introduce the comic coming up. Then to hit my trusty Walmart timer to "set". Then I would run out of the room and find out who my next two comics were. There was no set list yet because not every comic was checked in I guess. So Id run up to the producer he'd give me a name I would go find the comic (easier said than done) ask him how to pronounce their name and credits. Then I ran back to the room and lit with my cell phone the comic one minute before they were to wrap it up. Then light them again one minute later ....your done. Then Id Reset my clock run up to the stage. Repeat their name ask them for "one more round of applause for Shekey Jokester" say something like we got a really big show tonight lets just keep it going the next comic coming up plays all over the city give a warm welcome too...... and it went like that for 3 hours. I wish. For the most part it went very smoothly. I would do a small bit every 5th comic about 90 seconds or less. Then roll on.
Keeping in mind that I have never done this kind of show let me say I had no idea how much work and stress it all was. Just the running and finding everyone was hard. The lighting the comics and keeping the show on schedule was very difficult. It seemed that so many of the comics would not look to the left of the stage because they knew I was going to be there with the light. Then when I lit them again at times up...they pretended that it was the I have one minute more to go light. I don't know if I buy this....one guy went 3 and a half minutes over. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn't give him a hard time...I told him that he went over and for his own sake he should have an idea of how long his set should take to be on the safe side if he misses a light. That is how I always worked when I did a showcase and still do. My last show at Gotham I was to do 10 minutes. I thought they lit me 2 minutes early...just because I had run the set at home for days and timed it. Turned out I got more laughs than expected and a applause break ate up time too. The other problem I found was that finding the comics to get them in the room was a job in itself. I was working on a list that was 3 comics at a time and needed to ask them for credits and pronunciation. Then with 3 minutes left on her set one comic left the sage with me halfway down the hall. I come running into the room and jumped on stage. Who knew that she only had 4 minutes of material...I wish I did. The room was uneven and I found people were feeling like they had to only laugh for their person they came to see. I tried to bring the energy up and started adding one liners to them mix. Sad but true I don't have a lot of one liners but somehow I pulled them out of my fat ass. I would find myself as I was timing comics panicking what one liner to use next. Then to make it even more of a challenge Eric Alexander comic and camera man extraordinaire would ask.... "can you do a few minutes I need to reload". I would then have to go into my 40ish Uni-Vac computer of a brain circa 1960's and choose a bit. Mind you all this stress and be and FUNNY TOO. Now let me tell you something about me. I do not have poker face.... none at all. SO frazzled was how I felt....but I couldn't let the club or the audience in on this so I acted as if I had it all under control. Much to his credit the producer more than once told me I was doing a fantastic job, which was encouraging. The room got tougher as the night dragged on. Comics got antsy and came up to me asking when was their turn. I felt their pain. I dint have a set list. Then the shit hit the fan. I introduced a comic and mispronounced his name. Lets pretend his name was Goodsman.... I called him Good-man. He gets on stage and says thanks for butchering my name. I'm sorry. I know a persons name is the most important word in the English Language...but I'm doing my best. When he was done I made sure I said GoodS-Man. Later in the night I introduced a comic who on the List his name read Dave. So I introduce Dave Insert last name. He comes on stage and says You fucked up my name thanks its David not Dave. Do I need this. You try this Im thinking. Lastly we lost a comic. So when the show was about to end he comes up to me... I tell him we couldn't find you. He was sitting in the front row all night. I gave him about 3 extra minutes of stage time as an apology.
The show ended and I was really pleased with how I did. I have a new found resect for anyone who does this and can do it well. Its a huge job and only looks easy when done well. It was the most work I have done and the hardest thing I have done since taking care of an infant. It never seemed to stop. There wasn't a second to relax. Yet I felt elated to have pulled it off and be funny at the same time.
My favorite part of the show was introducing a comic who was doing standup for the first time. I really worked the room up and tried to make it special for him. He was really very good for a first timer. After his set he thanked me for such a nice introduction and warming the room for him. It was a pleasure. I look forward to the next time I get a chance to host ....hopefully It will get easier. I will be hosting at RB's for the Soapbox in a few weeks and will also be Hosting once a month for Tuesdays edition of the Morrison Motel at the Limerick House on 23st. I really want to learn to do this well and doing is the only classroom.
As I was getting ready to go home 2 guys came up to me and asked me if I could be interviewed for a documentary they were filming that night. They interviewed many comics that night. We shot for about 20 minutes. They asked me some interesting questions...that really were quite revealing. One question they asked was what joke do you love that just doesn't seem to work. I told him my Shlepper Mom joke and they liked it. I love that joke but have learned to hate it because it is so iffy if it will get a laugh. I left that night feeling like " I guess this is real... I am a comedian" Then I drove home and made Tuna fish salad at 3 am and packed everyone's lunch for the next day.
Comments are below
I was there...
Posted on 10/04/2005 at 08:32 AM by Aaron Haber
and thought you did a great job!!!
Where did you host?
Posted on 10/04/2005 at 09:10 AM by H. P.
but it sounded like you got a booty of experience. Although it sounded alot like my daughter's kindergarden class, with the running after the little children and the temper tantrums at nappie time. I'm glad it went well.
Peace
Posted on 10/04/2005 at 09:31 AM by Kelly Shannon
Sounds like all went well. Somehow, I can't picture you being scared of anything. You always seem so calm and collected.
I Have No Doubt You Rocked
Posted on 10/04/2005 at 12:54 PM by Adam Sank
And I'm sure you'll be MC-ing there again in no time. xoxo
I will wear better shoes
Posted on 10/04/2005 at 01:09 PM by Robin Fox
Thanks everyone... It was funny last night I did a set at the NYCC and thought to myself...wow this is easier. I still loved the challenge that hosting offers and I know it is the quickest road to getting funnier.
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