The Boston International Comedy & Movie Festival began back in 2000 as a way to showcase New England stand-up comedy talent to bigger audiences and the entertainment industry. Given the long line of successful comedians who got their start in Boston, it seemed to be a natural fit for such a festival. The audience agreed, and the event has grown every year. In addition to the traditional stand-up comedy routines, the festival also includes improv, sketch comedy, and one-person theatre shows, as well as the newly expanded movie portion of this festival.
Over the past seven years, they’ve expanded to over a week of festivities, including outdoor family-friendly events and $10,000 in prize money for the competition winners. The addition of The Boston Park Plaza Hotel as the official host hotel and hub of the event has created a more centralized feel, and partnerships with other sponsors have helped them to include over 30 Boston venues and to bring in stars such as Lewis Black.
This year, over 96 comedians from around the world will compete for the prize money. Improv, sketch, and showcase acts will run throughout the week, and the film exhibition will take place at the historic Coolidge Corner theater.
We continue to wind things down with a longer-than-usual episode, featuring a phone call from Steve Gerdes, a look at future spinoffs, a horrifying ghost story from Sean and BRAD EDWARDS, and the debut of The Gobblezologist.
Stand UP Comedy Level Two: Performance class is scheduled for August 3, 10, 24 & 31. Class fee is $200. There are two sessions to choose from: Early (5:30-7:15) and Late (7:30-9:15). The early class will probably fill up first so if you can be part of the later session that would help out.
About the class:
I limit the sessions to 8 people so we can have enough for an “audience” and can give everyone ample time for feedback.
Students who have taken the writing class have priority when signing up, followed by new students who have had SOME performing and writing experience outside of the School of Laughs.
In each class you will go on stage the first time for 3 minutes. After your set you will get feedback from myself and then the other students. Feedback will include ideas and angles to clarify your premise, punch line and tag lines suggestions, as well as constructive criticism on your stage presence, delivery and ability to relate.
The second time you get onstage I will interrupt you at some point and have you either explore a premise deeper or exaggerate a performance technique to get a different response.
Each week there will be some “homework” geared toward preparing a more solid set for the next time.
The class is 100% constructive but you will need to have a little thick skin to take advantage of everything involved.
Students who successfully navigate the writing and performing class are invited to a GRADUATION show at Zanies where they will perform a 3 minute set. The set will be video taped and given to you on a DVD along with an evaluation of that set. The graduation set must be CLEAN.
Stand UP Comedy Level ONE: Writing class is tentatively scheduled for MONDAYS September 21, 28 October 19, 26 5:30-7:30p.m. at Zanies. Class fee is $200.
Rik Roberts
Many have asked, “Which class is best for me?” Ask yourself the following questions. Be honest with yourself!
How solid is your material now?
Do you know the reason each joke gets a laugh?
Are you tuned into which techniques you use that suit you the best?
Are you able to mix it up for different types of crowds?
Can you turn a story into a comedy bit?
Do your jokes get consistent laughs?
Are you able to get a laugh every 15 seconds or so?
If you don’t know some of the answers, then you’d benefit enormously from the writing class!
Sign ups will begin a few weeks before the class starts.
If you have any questions about any of the classes feel free to e-mail me and ask.. otherwise here’s a look at what’s coming up..
The Bu$ine$$ of Comedy class is tentatively scheduled for Monday, September 14th. Thanks for your patience. This will be a one evening seminar, from 5:30-8:00/8:30 at Zanies, cost is $75. Sign ups will begin September 1st.
Why a Business Class???
Because you will earn more about the comedy business in this 3 hour session than some comics learn in their entire career. After you pre-register you can submit ANY and ALL questions to be answered at the class. You can take this class without any previous experience. It is a real eye opener into the world of comedy as a living.
Among other topics we will address:
What goes in my promo kit?
When should I approach the clubs?
How do I get in with bookers?
How do I promote myself?
Do I need a web site?
What is deductible?
HOW MUCH DO COMEDIANS MAKE?
What market am I best suited for?
What is a realistic time line for my career?
Am I too old to start a career in comedy?
What do I need to have before going “on the road”?
What merchandise sells? Where do I get the merchandise?
What should I do for free and where do I draw the line?
and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!
Stage time for former students at ZANIES!
Zanies has asked if I would run an open mike twice a month on TUESDAYS specifically designed to get my graduates more stage time. The open mic’s have been a huge success! Typically 8 – 12 comics get stage time each show. That is 16-24 spots for comics each month!
Set lengths will vary from 3-7 minutes and there will be opportunities to emcee the shows as well. These shows are a direct result of all the quality new faces who have taken the classes and their material to the next level.
I do want to make it clear, though, that ZANIES books the show. I just HOST it. So, if you want to participate, go to ZANIES.com and click on the open mic link for details on how to sign up!
I will be hosting the OPEN MIC on August 11 and 25. Show starts at 7:30pm. Call or e-mail me for FREE TICKETS
Gift Certificates
Don’t want to spend the money on yourself for classes? Have someone else do it! You can let people know you want to take these classes and have them pay your tuition with a gift certificate. Just have them e-mail me and I will guide them through it. The gift certificate is available for any of the 4 week courses for $200, and for the Business Class for $75. All pre-paid certificate are fully refundable if you decide not to take the class.
Join the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the comedy event of the year!
RiffTrax.com presents RiffTrax LIVE: Plan 9 from Outer Space, an evening of LIVE riffing on the Worst Movie Ever Made on Thursday, August 20th at 8PM
Join Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), now of RiffTrax.com, as they are reunited LIVE at the Belcourt Theater! This event will feature the world premiere of a brand new, never-before-seen short and non-stop hilarious riffing on a COLOR version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”- a 1959 science fiction/horror film written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr.
This event will be hosted by Veronica Belmont, the Host of Tekzilla on Revision3 and Qore on the PlayStation Network, with Musical Guest Jonathan Coulton and a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful.
Everyone Loves Free Stuff…
All event attendees will receive FREE exclusive digital goodies including a never before seen downloadable short, an autographed digital photo of the guys and a song by the RiffTones! A URL and code will be given out at the end of the event.
This one night event will be broadcast LIVE out of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, TN into over 400 movie theaters nationwide. Don’t miss an exciting evening of LIVE riffing, zombies, aliens, cheesy performances, wisecracks, laughable special effects and more!
Unfortunately, the live event at the Belcourt is totally sold out.. BUT maybe you can get tickets to see the event on-screen at Green Hills 16 and the Opry Mills 20.
Mary Mack
Every year Montreal’s “Just For Laughs” festival selects some “New Faces” for a series of special showcase shows. In their words, “Today’s hottest up-and-comers try to catch the eye of talent scouts and network executives in the most important sets of their lives. Come see tomorrow’s stars today!” Of course, these “new faces” are generally well established, proven talents with many accolades and recognition and credits to their name long before the festival took notice.
For example, this year one of the New Faces is our own Mary Mack. You might remember this nationally touring headliner from her appearances on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”, or on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” or on the “Bob and Tom Radio Show”.
Congratulations to Mary! She and the rest of the New Faces perform “the most important sets of their lives” Tuesday thru Thursday this week at the Cabaret Juste Pour Rire.
Over the past seven years, they’ve expanded to over a week of festivities, including outdoor family-friendly events and $10,000 in prize money for the competition winners. The addition of The Boston Park Plaza Hotel as the official host hotel and hub of the event has created a more centralized feel, and partnerships with other sponsors have helped them to include over 30 Boston venues and to bring in stars such as Lewis Black.
