Last night I went to watch the legendary Paul Mooney at the Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, Virginia. Wow!!!  I was amazed at how wonderful he was.  He never left the stool and made minimal gestures, but his words, facial expressions and well coreographed movements had everyone in the place in hysterics.  I can't wait to work with him this weekend.

I went for an audition this morning and I've learned a little something about myself.  I need some more experience in the area of auditioning.  It's still a pretty intimidating experience.  I can get on stage in front of thousands of people and be more than content, but put me in front of a casting director and a camera and I turn into Rainman.  It's such a cold and impersonal experience.  They get you in there, shove you through the process and don't give you any direction.  It's something that I need to work on.  Maybe I can find some acting classes somewhere.  Or at least locate someone that does seminars on auditions.  Well see.  I'm out of here.  I have some calls to make so I'll hit y'all up later.  Peace.

So sorry for the long delay in updating this website.  I'm sitting in the business center in this hotel in Evansville, Indiana and it smells like somebody took a leak in here, so I'm not going to be in here all that long.  I'm working this weekend with a guy named Monte Allen from Gainesville, Florida and 'The Cowboy Comedian'.    They seem like two nice enough guys.  This hotel is a dive though.  I'm getting that gag reflex going in my throat.  They really should call somebody in here to clean the carpets... 

Anyway,  I've been doing a lot of driving over the past several weeks.  I was in Virginia Beach, Viginia last weekend with Gary Owen and Kenny Smith.  We had some smashing shows.  I was the emcee, Kenny Featured and Gary of course closed out the shows.  I love that club.  It's new, the people are cool and the atmosphere is awesome.  And now I'm out here in Evansville.  Not quite the same but it'll do.  I left the beach area early so that I could go out to Cincinnati early to feature for Sheryl Underwood.  All I got to say about that show is... it was a show.  I did my time and walked.  It was, what it was.  Nuff said.  On Tuesday, I hosted the Apollo night show in Cincinnati and had a great time.  I got to work with a lot of their local comics and the headliner was Shawty, from Atlanta.  I worked with him before and he tore the club up, just like he did this time.  Only for me, it was more fun this time because I was able to understand what he was saying.  That down south way of talking takes a minute to get used to. 

I had to get an oil change and two new front tires for Sea Biscuit, which put a dent in my wallet, but I had to do it.  I've learned my lesson about oil and cars.  I was a car killer, but no more. 

I'm trying to come to grips with promoters that overbook.  I drove all the way out here to Evansville because I was hired to feature and when I get out here I find out that the Headliner is bringing his own feature and that I'll be emceeing the week.  Can I tell you how bad that sucks.  That messes with everything - timing, money, moral.  It took me a minute to calm down and put my audience first.  This is a long drive to be emceeing.  I'm pissed, but I'm praying on it.  It's Friday, we have two shows tonight, two shows tomorrow and one show on Sunday.  After that I'll be trying to get out to Columbus to audition for Dave Stroupe.  We'll see how it goes.  I'll keep you informed.  I'm going to try to get a laptop with internet access so that I can update these more often, but until then I'll be looking for places that don't smell like urinals.  This place is foul. 

I'm on the phone with my muse and all I can say is... tangent, tangent, tangent.  It's 5:30 in the morning and my muse told me that I shouldn't make promises such as... 'I'll update the website and diary tomorrow!' and then not do it.  That's foul, in her opinion and also in mine.  So I'll try (try is the important word here.)  to get in here and update it more often.  Plus, I have some loyal visitors who are bothered that they have nothing new to read when they come to the site. 

I've been working with Danny Bevins and Jason Dixon at the Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, VA.  Both fellas seem pretty nice.  Danny is very funny.  He's got a very distinctive style and I appreciate the fact that he has his own voice.  I feel that at sometime in every comedians career they have to get real and let the people know what they actually think about things that are going on in the world.  What's in your brain?  Does anyone care what's in your brain?  Can you make them care? 

I can't think!  I'm trying to type and talk and think, all at the same time and it's not working.  So I'm going to try to hit you back later.  And maybe I'll finish a thought when I do.  I'll holla.

I've been spending some time making sure that this website is up to par because I'm assuming that I'll be getting some extra traffic due to the Hysterical Management Newsletter that gave my site a shoutout.  Yeah!  I went Portsmouth, Virginia on Saturday to perform for the Narcotics Anonymous National Convention.  I had a ball.  I performed with Mike Lapara, Jeremy Griffin and Laughin Lenny out of Washington D.C.  It was a great show.  The area that we performed in seated about 1500 people and I'd say that we had a turnout of about 350 people.  The show started a little late but the audience was hot.  I had a great time.

I went to the Bone on Sunday and finished out the weekend with Danny Bevins and Jason Dixon.  All told it was a pretty good weekend.  Big ups to my man Bam Bamm for the Narcotics gig.  I've got a birthday coming up at the end of the month on the 29th and I like shiney stuff, and motorcycles.  Anyway... I went to the 955 club last night and got to watch some of the folks from Washington D.C.  -  Herbie Gill, Erin Jackson, Sean Gabbert.  Then there were a couple of people from Richmond that performed.  Mike Lapara and John D. Miller (who now lives in Richmond).  Today, Tuesday, brings another Apollo night show at the Funnybone and Gary Menke comes back into town.  We'll see what's up!!!!!!!  I'll let you know what's up!!!!!!!!

It's 2:00 in the morning and I'm kinda tired.  Tonight I worked at the Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, Va.  I thought that I was going to the beach to work the Apollo Night there, but I was called last minute to work in Richmond.  Apparently, the headliner, Mitch Hedberg, missed his plane from where ever it is that he was and couldn't make it into town on time.  So I got to perform.  I could almost say that I got the call to replace Mitch Hedberg.  Well I could say it!  It wouldn't exactly be true, but I think that it's all in how you interpret it.  Also on the show was the emcee, Nick Cantone along with Damon Isom, Ryan Conner from Washington, D.C. and Bodacious from Norfolk.  The show was okay.  That's all I can say about it. 

I've got to have a writing session in the next few days.  I've got a lot of stuff that I've done in the past few weeks that I haven't written out yet.  It's just a part of my process.  I haven't had a good sit down at the computer to hammer out my material in a few weeks.  I've been getting major stage time and it's paying off.  I feel extremely confident when I step onto the stage now.  It's a good feeling. 

I got my itenerary from Hysterical Management in the mail the other day and boy am I glad.  I go on a three week run for Carol Pennington and I can't wait.  I just love traveling.  I can't wait to get on the road.  Maybe it's because I'm single, maybe it's because I love doing what I'm doing but I can't wait to get on the road.  Going from town to town and dealing with people in smoke infested bars, clubs and casinos accross this country  just sounds appealing to me right now.  I get to bring my style of humor to people who would have otherwise never heard of me.  I'll have hours of stage time under my belt by the time I'm done and thisI know will only add to my stage presence.  Plus, I should be able to pay a bill or two by the time I get back. 

Anyway, I'm done rambling.  I don't have a gig for this weekend which means that I'm not making any money but I'll be making calls and looking for fallout stages.  I'll let you know If I find any.  Peace for now

Wow!!!!!  I woke up this morning feeling kind of sick.  That's what happens when you drink your weight in alcohol.  I was at the Easy Street Cafe last night.  I was only going to go to enjoy listening to my buddy Kenny Chu but he was sick as a dog and couldn't perform.  So he called me and asked me if I'd take the headline slot.  Which I did because I'm a mic whore and I needed the money.  Well, it's my birthday today and I told them that last night.  Somebody started buying shots.  I started drinking shots.  Apparently I became this racist, sexist, bitter, and angry man who should not have had his voice amplified.  Well, well, well!!!!!  What do you know?  Odyssey can't handle his liquor. 

Today's a new day and by the way it is the cut-off day for quite a few things.  I'll be handling my business affairs a little differently.  I've got a new ride and I'm driving.  You can hop on board people but keep your hands off the steering wheel!  I know that's cryptic but that's how it goes on this side of  'none of your business how old I am.' 

Im getting ready to head out on Friday and start this run for Carol Pennington.  What a great lady.  She's the kind of person that I wish everybody would be like when it comes to business.  I know I'm gonna enjoy working for her.  I'll let you know how the gigs go.  I'm gonna try to stay on top of this diary while I'm gone.  I'll keep you posed.

I went out to Have a Nice Day Cafe last night after the show at the Funnybone in Richmond.  It was smokey and loud.  I was there with Gary Owen and some of the staff from the Funnybone.  Great people to hang out with if you ever get the chance.  Kevin, the manager, surprises me everytime I see him out.  He's all work at work, but he does loosen up a bit outside of the club. 

Anyway, I got the news that Mitch Hedberg died around 1:50 in the morning.  Kevin called me and told me.  I thought that he was joking.  I'm a comedian and I don't think that joking about people being dead that aren't dead is funny.  He assured me that he wasn't kidding and then it hit me.  That's what was going on last week.  I don't know how he died but we all have our ideas.  He was suppossed to be at the Funnybone in Richmond the week before and never showed.  I was called in, along with Damon Isom, to fill in as a feature.  The scheduled feature, Randy Kagen, moved to the headliner slot.  I remember being backstage with the emcee, Nick Cantone, talking about what might be going on with Mitch.  I said to him, 'I hope that he's all right but I get the feeling that I might be giving an interview for 'E' True Hollywood Story, talking about how I got called in to fill in for Mitch Hedberg."  It's a shame.  I pray for his family and his fans.  Rest in peace Mitch.

Gary Owen is in town.  Great guy to hang out with.  I'm still trying to get some dates with him.  It's my nephews birthday today.  He's three today and so I'm going to share my birthday cake with him and my other nephew and my niece.  I love them.  Then I'm hanging with my friends for a while before getting ready to ship out tomorrow on my 'tour' for Hysterical Management.  Can't wait.  I'll let you all know how it's going.  Peace for now.