Global Vancouver Comedy Fest

[the groinery]

Originally Posted by Catrel Stevens

The CDR Podcast recording went really well, despite only about 10 audience members showing up and me creeping out Paul F. on twitter. He reprised his role as Ice T for probably the best Would You Rather on the show yet.

Iced T.

Bloody amazing show.

[ResilientRabbit]

Originally Posted by Canadian Content

That was the best I've seen a large Vancouver comedy audience behave in a long time. Only one real douche but yeah in a venue like the Vogue or the Centre they need to bounce those assholes right away. I'm glad Scott and BJ stopped the usher from removing the gal who was yelling at the jackass.

Holy cow, really? I was planning to drive up to Vancouver again today; but after reading your note and what both Scott and PFT wrote on Twitter last night (saying that the crowds are Yuk Yuks were very drunk and rude to them), I may not go. It's a 6 to 8 hour drive round trip. Kind of a long way to go just to be angry and frustrated as I listen to comics have to deal with hecklers instead of do their material.

Why should all of this great talent even bother to go to Vancouver if they can expect to be treated this way? I don't get it. Vancouver is such a fantastic and lovely city in every other way.

[Catrel Stevens]

From Twitter:

Originally Posted by Scott Aukerman

Performing at Yuk Yuks ... Always great when three dudes band together to shout out "You Suck!" in unison.
...
A comic mentioned Twitter and a drunk woman in the crowd shouted "tweet tweet!" at him. THREE TIMES. Whhyyyyy am I heeeeeerrrre????
...
That was the craziest show I've been a part of in a while. @PFTompkins went on last, did no material, just insanely riffed for twelve mins
...
A man threatened to fight him, two girls got kicked out, and a heckler demanded Paul do material about "Obama at the U.N."

This is just terrible. I don't ever remember Yuk Yuk's crowds being that bad. I hope this doesn't sour the idea of the festival next year for our favorite performers...

[Fan of Hilarity]

Originally Posted by Catrel Stevens

I hope this doesn't sour the idea of the festival next year for our favorite performers...

I wouldn't blame them if it did, that crowd was terrible from start to finish. Scott and BJ were heckled five minutes into the show. Not only were they drunk but nobody I spoke to knew who any of the performers were, pretty sad considering how great the lineup was. Kronberg and Bamford had gorgeous sets that managed to get a hold of the crowd temporarily but it ended up getting worse after that. What a fucking disgrace, I hope it's better tonight

[scamboogah]

Are Canadians too polite to hire security to escort the shitty people out?

[Catrel Stevens]

Originally Posted by scamboogah

Are Canadians too polite to hire security to escort the shitty people out?

In the big CDR show Thursday at the Vogue, there was definitely enough security, but they took way too long to actually try and pinpoint who was heckling. They had guards posted where they could see the whole crowd and radio to the rovers/handlers and identify who it was, but when they finally made their presence known (after Scott asked them from the stage) they seemed to have no clue who was doing it. They started to look briefly in the wrong half of the crowd before Scott pretty much just told them to nevermind.

At Yuk Yuk's, though, I'm not certain that they have security, just a beefy doorman or two.

Well, I'll be going to Pardo's two shows today, which will be in very small, intimate conference rooms filled with his fans, so that should be a pleasant experience for everyone, at least.

[Scott Aukerman]

Yeah Vancouver audiences have always been weird to us-- there was the show a couple years ago where, twenty seconds after the show started, someone shouted "you suck!" at me and BJ. We immediately got security to throw him out. And then that same show, someone yelled "who ARE you?" at me...

And while last night was weird, it was strangely funny in a gallows humor kind of way. Paul f's off-the-top-of-his-head material was so amazing to watch-- he was coming up with some incredible stuff. It was really fun to see him antagonize the audience like that. BUT I don't think last night was a Vancouver issue, or a Yuk Yuk's (note the possessive) issue-- it was just a late show Friday night issue. It seemed like a typical crowd of people who were WAY too drunk to enjoy comedy.

But don't let all this dissuade you from coming... We came out here to perform! And we're having a good time. I've seen the lineup for tonight and it's pretty incredible (but so is the edge of the fest lineup - and that has Cross on it).

The good things at the fest (because I've been too negative!) -- the city is beautiful, the hotel we're in is great, the people behind the festival are super nice, the cdr was actually my favorite one out of the four we've done here, the podcast taping went well, Rory Scovel's set at Yuk Yuk's last night had those of us backstage crying laughing and staring in amazement... This has been really fun! Thanks so much to all you guys who have come out.

[Canadian Content]

Originally Posted by ResilientRabbit

Holy cow, really? I was planning to drive up to Vancouver again today; but after reading your note and what both Scott and PFT wrote on Twitter last night (saying that the crowds are Yuk Yuks were very drunk and rude to them), I may not go. It's a 6 to 8 hour drive round trip. Kind of a long way to go just to be angry and frustrated as I listen to comics have to deal with hecklers instead of do their material.

Why should all of this great talent even bother to go to Vancouver if they can expect to be treated this way? I don't get it. Vancouver is such a fantastic and lovely city in every other way.

It was a very different vibe over at the Cultch venue. Two theatres both with crowds ready to listen and laugh. But I think people there went to see the specific shows and performers. People that went to Yuk Yuks or in the past went to Comedy Death Ray just went to an event they read about in the paper, to see generic comedy. They wanted chicken fingers and got a fancy meal. Add venues trying to make money from beer sales and you've got trouble.

Next time instead of playing the stand up venues in town for folks like PFT or Bamford maybe try the improv ones or the smaller theatres.

Oh and don't hire Tom Arnold again. Aside from a nice odd bit of improv with Tij at the end of the show that was a series of very long train wrecks in between each act.

[pg13]

Originally Posted by Scott Aukerman

Rory Scovel's set at Yuk Yuk's last night had those of us backstage crying laughing and staring in amazement...

Details?!?!

pg--Big Scovel fan, and I know he was very excited about performing in at this event...I wondered what he'd come up with...--seattle

[Catrel Stevens]

Originally Posted by Canadian Content

It was a very different vibe over at the Cultch venue. Two theatres both with crowds ready to listen and laugh. But I think people there went to see the specific shows and performers.

Ya, I saw the SF Sketchfest show last night at the Cultch and the audience couldn't have been better. Everyone was quiet, attentive, and responsive. And all of the performers were great. (Cole Stratton, Janet Varney, Oscar Nunez, Scott Adsit, and Taz Vanrassel)

Thanks for the opine on the fest, Scott. Glad to know you guys aren't attributing any of this to our (mostly) fair city.

[ResilientRabbit]

Originally Posted by Scott Aukerman

But don't let all this dissuade you from coming... We came out here to perform! And we're having a good time. I've seen the lineup for tonight and it's pretty incredible (but so is the edge of the fest lineup - and that has Cross on it).

Thanks for adding that. I did, indeed, drive back up from Seattle this evening and so far I've been having an amazing time! Just watched Andy Kindler do his talk show in a tiny room at the Westin. Awesome. So many great shows ahead tonight! I won't let drunk frat boys out on a Saturday night discourage me.

But if you heckle someone I admire, expect a rabbit punch to the kisser! KAPOW!!

[colestratton]

This is my first visit to Vancouver, and all I can say is that I'm in love with the city! I can't speak to the crap crowds some of the shows seem to be getting, but both of the audiences for our SF Sketchfest Theme Park improv show were FANTASTIC. Super polite and responsive--it was a pleasure to perform for them. The Cultch Comedy Lab is a cool little space (around 70 seats, I think), perfect for the intimacy that's needed for improv. Looking forward to exploring more of the city tomorrow, and I hope we get to come back again next year!

[rocketroger]

I'm totally embarrassed by some of the rude crowds and I have a couple minor beefs with the festival organizers, but all in all I had a great time this weekend.

CDR on Thursday was a lot of fun and the CDR podcast recording was hilarious and the 8 of us who were there loved it. Also the Pardo double feature was a blast. I wish they had found a better room, but this was my first time seeing Jimmy live and it was hilarious.

The Sunday Cross show was kind of an odd-ball thing 'cause a lot of us were expecting stand-up but DC was really great about the musunderstanding, and it was a lot of fun when Aukerman came out for a chat.

I skipped Yuk Yuks Friday night 'cause I thought there might be hooliganism, but the desgree of the asshole-ness kind has me regretting that descision----seems like it would have been something to see. Sorry I missed PFT that night.

[ackbar]

had an awesome time overall

death ray was solid from beginning to end, nnf taping was as good as expected & you fascinate me was even better than expected. the jimmy/pat dynamic is great.. and after seeing both, i think i even prefer jimmy hosting this show over match game.

didn't know too much of weinbach or notaro & left a fan of both (brent weinbach especially). my friend who came to cdr wasn't familiar with anyone on the bill & loved maria bamford's set especially (which i agree was excellent).

[the groinery]

Did anyone catch the Stop Podcasting Yourself taping with PFT?

[ResilientRabbit]

Wanted to pop back in and add that I had an awesome time on my second night. Saw bit and pieces of roughly four shows and posted a quick wrap up with photos on my website. All of my pics from the festival (including CDR) are in this Flickr set. Overall, well worth the drive from Seattle. Even had the chance to meet a few AST and MaxFun types along the way!

Also, Scott was right: Rory Scovel is terrific! I saw him at Best of the Fest at the Orpheum and really enjoyed it.

Saw Brent Weinbach twice -- first at CDR and then again briefly at Andy Kindler's talk show. Before that, I had only heard his CD. This was my first chance to see him live. So that was a special treat as well.

[pg13]

Originally Posted by ResilientRabbit

Also, Scott was right: Rory Scovel is terrific! I saw him at Best of the Fest at the Orpheum and really enjoyed it.

We've got to get you out of the house here in Seattle more often, Rabbit. Scovel nearly LIVED in Seattle and performed often, mostly on PRoK shows, while he was here...so much so that some people think of him as a "Seattle comic" (though, honestly, he's not.)

Good things, other than Bumbershoot, are happening right in your back yard.

pg--Whenever and wherever you get the chance to see him, I heartily recommend Rory Scovel to everyone I know that loves comedy. That's why I was curious to hear what he'd done that was cracking up Scott and the other comics backstage...--seattle

[ResilientRabbit]

Originally Posted by pg13

We've got to get you out of the house here in Seattle more often, Rabbit.

Good things, other than Bumbershoot, are happening right in your back yard.

I'll write more about Seattle comedy soon. Don't worry. My lack of coverage in that area to date is certainly not arising from any lack of respect for all of the great work that is done here. It's more just due to other limitations on my time.

But also, FYI, my goal for the RR website will always be to cover interesting and/unusual comedy events wherever they happen. There are already other folks, far more knowledgeable than myself, who cover the Seattle scene in great detail.

[Tuohy]

Originally Posted by the groinery

Did anyone catch the Stop Podcasting Yourself taping with PFT?

This is now on itunes and it's a total riot.

[daveshumka]

Originally Posted by Tuohy

This is now on itunes and it's a total riot.

Thanks, though the recording was dicey. Ours was the first podcast they did and we weren't sure what the room would be like or if anybody would show up at 3:30 on a Thursday. We had a couple dozen people there, it was really fun, and Paul was a delight. It's available at http://stoppodcastingyourself.tumblr.com

We also recorded non-live episodes with Rory Scovel and Jon Dore that will be posted next Monday and the following Monday, respectively.