INCLUDES VIDEO SHOWCASE ON CAMPUSACTIVITIESMAGAZINE.COM
Walk Off The Earth
7
John Cassidy
10
Brent Morin
28
Maggie Maye
32
They came from out of nowhere with an affordable video that has blown up YouTube and the music Industry. The demand for these musicians is Off The Charts.
This guy is totally hilarious and mesmerizing. You won’t want the show to end. This photo was taken at the White House with Michelle Obama. The co-star of NBC’s “Undateable” has gotten a huge amount of attention as of late and his stand-up speaks to America’s youth market.
She may be the new girl on the block but she is certainly making waves. She has already been selected to showcase at FOUR NACA regionals.
THE MASTERFUL STEVE HARVEY 22
History Has Been Kind To Steve Harvey. One Of The Original “Kings of Comedy” Steve Has Spread His Wings In Many Directions And The College Market Is One of Them.
IT’S ALL INSIDE
From the Publisher Real Life Spanky John Cassidy 2015 Hot Comedy
4 6 8 10 14
Adam Grabowski Brent Morin Maggie Maye Barry Smith
27 28 32 35
RANDOM THOUGHTS & OTHER MINDLESS DRIBBLE
Better and Better...
I know there are a lot of organizations out there to occupy your time these days and I preface this by telling you that I have been in involved in the campus market since 1980. That’s almost 35 years. I’ve seen a lot of good and not-so-good things relative to our market and other markets out there.
I was instrumental in starting the International Association Of Corporate Entertainment Producers (IACEP) along with the legendary Dick Smith. IACEP was a non-profit organization that had great leaders at the start but then struggled with leadership after a few years. I introduced the showcase concept to them about three years into the association’s existence; it was accepted and was immediately a focal point of the organization. When the leadership changed, they decided to cut me and Leona Plaugh, the Executive Director, out of the organization. Because my magazine, American Entertainment, had been the organization’s way of reaching out to new members, the association did a quick 180 and fell apart without ever doing another conference. In the meantime, Leona, Ian and I were actively involved in establishing a new or-
ganization that was more widespread in its demographics but dedicated to the world’s best and most experienced buyers. AEP (The Association of Entertainment Professionals) was born. We decided to keep the conference in Las Vegas which had been the prior location for IACEP and at the same property because they had one of the nicest showrooms in Vegas. It remained in Las Vegas the first three consecutive years.
For the first two years, Ian and I used most of our college agency contacts to try to get showcase slots for the organization. There were basically two problems: 1. the buying process for these buyers was completely different than the college market, and 2. A few college acts had some difficulty focusing their showcases toward high-end buyers, who have seen everything before. So this market is the same and different at the same time. As AEP became more established,the learning curve was less of an issue. We all had to learn how to approach it. The AEP demographic includes college and universities, performing arts venues, casinos, cruise lines, theme parks, fairs and festivals, convention and visitors bureaus, theaters, even some military and others. So it is not as specific as NACA or APCA. Apparently Eric Lambert was so concerned that he showed up unannounced the first year to be sure we were not competitive with APCA and he made stringent efforts with military contacts to help them avoid AEP, but military shows were booked anyway by our buyers. Exactly what is AEP and who should be involved? First off, it is not designed to be a reward for your students. Some buyers here are each responsible for millions of dollars in entertainment and all over the world. As we saw this past year, there are campus shows that do very well here. But most of the shows you will see at an AEP showcase, you probably have not been exposed to before. You may see a few acts that work multiple venues because that is the nature of AEP. But it will definitely widen your buying experience and give you many more choices. One of our goals is to introduce you to new and sometimes different talent. A lot of the acts performing, can be negotiated with to play within your budget. Some are going to be more expensive and it will be up to you to decide whether they are worth the investment.
If asked what are the best things about AEP, I would have to answer that everyone is equal. Unlike what some of the other conferences have grown into, it is still a casual, friendly experience without a lot of crazy rules and regulations. It is free-flowing. Every single ed session is geared to the mass audience and is totally interactive. This past summer we had the legendary Kenny DiCamillo from WME help lead an ed session and he handled it answering everyone’s questions no matter what company or school you represented. He was both friendly and enlightening.
The showcases are brilliantly produced and for the previous three years by EastCoast Entertainment. This past year, Rick Stowe from EastCoast planned and scheduled the showcases and sound checks, but the staff of the Grand Opera House handled the production because we were in their facility.
School attendees should be the DSA or anyone on the staff that oversees entertainment, students actively involved in the decision making and especially students wanting to pursue a career in the entertainment field. Because package deals are available to campuses, include anyone on your campus in other areas that book entertainment because there will be buyers here who can give them tips that will make the process easier. For more
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www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
BY ELAINE PASQUA
Sexual Assault and the Campus SaVE Act
As you returned to campus you may become aware of Title IX and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE). This act, signed by President Obama in March, 2013, is a sweeping reform of federal guidelines for colleges and universities to prevent and respond to sexual violence. As of March 2014 the Department of Education has enforced the Campus SaVE Act. This act amends the Clery Act which addresses sexual assault policies on campuses.
In 80 percent of the cases the victim knows the perpetrator – a date rape. In 75% of the cases one or both of the people are under the influence of alcohol. Victims of date rape experience additional trauma as they have to repeatedly face the perpetrator on campus. I want to clarify what actions are considered sexual violence under this law:
Using Force: “No” means no. If a person says no to any unwanted touching or sexual advance, that request must be honored. Consent is a willing verbal agreement to engage in sexual relations. It should be given when both people are sober and it can be withdrawn at any time during a sexual act. One cannot force an individual into unwanted sex or touching.
Campuses are required to report annually on a broader range of sexual violence to now include domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. It improves the process in which victims can file complaints, educates them on their rights, and helps them find support. It set standards for disciplinary procedures and requires campuses to provide education for students and employees. Each campus must designate a Title IX officer who can offer you assistance.
For more information go to: knowyourix.org/understanding-the-campus-act/ or clerycenter.org/campus-sexual-violence-elimination-save-act
Sexual assault is defined as any unwanted sexual contact through physical force, intimidation, or the inability to give consent due to intoxication or mental disability. It is the most under-reported crime on college campuses today. One in five college women are victims of sexual violence. While the majority of victims are women, men are victims as well. Nationally, ninety seven thousand college students are sexually assaulted on campuses each year. It is the most underreported campus crime.
Dating Violence: Violence committed by another person who is, or had been in a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. It can be physical, emotional, economic, psychological or physical threats. Domestic Violence: Abusive behavior towards a person who presently cohabitates, has in the past or has a child with.
Many victims have reached out to me after my programs. They are left with long-lasting emotional scars. Some stated that they can no longer relax in a social setting because they don’t know who they can trust. Many do not trust their friends because they were left in a vulnerable situation while they were drunk. Groups of friends can be divided as they take sides and the victim is further traumatized as some side with the perpetrator. Often the victim leaves their campus because they are blamed or no longer feel comfortable in that particular setting The freshman girl is most often the victim of a sexual violence and it typically occurs within the first six weeks of her first semester. As she enjoys her new identity she might place herself in vulnerable situations, becoming a target of the upper classmen.
Coercion: when a person tries to verbally intimidate someone in engaging in sexual relations.
Incapacitation: if the victim is drunk; even if there is consent to sexual relations while intoxicated, a crime was committed. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, causing the victim to lose his or her instincts. This makes it difficult to assess a situation that is dangerous or they can’t give consent with a clear mind. Some are raped while passed out.
Stalking: Repeated behavior of unwanted attention, harassment, contact or other conduct that would make a reasonable person feel uncomfortable. This can also include online behavior and texting.
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Presently there is a strong movement towards bystander intervention. Follow your instincts and have the integrity to do the right thing. If you are at a party and believe that a person could become a potential victim, step in and take them to a safe place. It is best to do this with several people. Some should go over to the potential perpetrator and strike up a conversation as a form of distraction. In the meanwhile others can take the potential victim to a safe place. Our simplest acts of reaching out and helping someone can make a profound difference in their life.
Questions on college life? Email me at elaine@elainepasqua.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Review by W.C. Kirby
Walk Of The Earth didn’t blow up over night but it was pretty close. If you haven’t heard of them, you will! They are the most requested cover band in the world right now. In fact they are so good that well-known national artists are actually asking them to cover their songs. Based in Burlington, Ontario CN, they first got huge worldwide attention for all FIVE members playing on ONE guitar for Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.” And maybe “exploding” is too weak because they garnered OVER 35 MILLION YouTube plays in less than TWO WEEKS.
For the last five years the band has generated an unprecedented flood of media interest. In fact, I first saw them on “CBS This Morning.” New fans from around the world immediately fell in love with the band’s organic, independent, sincere and honest original songwriting, cover interpretations and beautifully filmed videos.
The chemistry between the members of the group is undeniable. Marshall, Sarah and Gianni’s vocal stylings mesh www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
seamlessly with Taylor’s haunting harmonies and keys all the while soaring over epic medlodic arrangements held together by Joel Cassady’s driving and prolific percussion work. All you really have to do is take a look at any video of them on YouTube to understand why they have become so amazingly popular. “They are a band in demand by other bands. Their low budget, homemade videos have been seen more than 400 MILLION times, which could make them the most famous cover band in the Internet Age.” (Ben Tracey: CBS News)
“We didn’t think there was anything extraordinarily special about the video,” band member Gianni Luminati said (referring to ‘Something That I Used To Know’)”. But all that changed on just four hours. The video blew up and now has twice as many views as Jay Z and Justin Timberlake garnered for “Suit and Tie”. Check them Out at WalkOffThe Earth.com or see the video on our website: campusactivitiesmagazine.com CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE®, AUGUST 2014, 7
By Steven Kent McFarlin (AKA Spanky)
A Love Story!
There are few things in life that are more rewarding than sharing a mutual love. In my rare dark days Feldman is always there to lift me up out of the deepest depression. In fact, I often wonder “Who rescued who?” Having ears that size makes Feldman a great listener. I believe the best reason to wear a Bluetooth headset is that people on the street do not question my sanity because they are unaware I'm actually having a conversation with a dog. (I also believe if you have a dog you don't talk to you should see a psychiatrist.)
I am in love.
There, I said it. Well, actually I wrote it. And although this amorous profession is not written in stone, but merely ink, it is out there now for all the world to read. Furthermore, I declare this is an undying love. A love I will have until my death, and perhaps beyond. I am in love...with my roommate. Please allow me to introduce you to the object of my affection. Meet Feldman.
How could anyone not fall in love with a face like that? This face is the first thing I see most mornings, and it never fails to get my day off to a good start with a laugh.
I pity the unfortunate souls who do not know the joy of an animal’s companionship, because for almost three decades I was one of them. As a comedian that spends upward of thirty-five weeks each year on tour, having a dog seemed simply out of the question. I couldn’t even keep a house plant alive. (I killed an Air Fern, which I didn’t think was even possible.) However, thanks to my dear friend, Lisa (who I now refer to as my “babymomma”) all my time at home is spent enjoying Feldman’s camaraderie.
Lisa and her family have a soft spot in their hearts for rescue dogs. Over the years Lisa has taken in dozens of abused or neglected dogs, and currently has eight (her sister has twenty-six!) and Feldman was lucky enough to be one of them. Some time back I wanted to purchase a dog and asked Lisa if she would be willing to take care of it when I was on the road. She proposed I choose one of the dogs she already had and when I saw that face the choice was clear. Feldman looked up at me with eyes that seemed to plead “Pick me.” (Speaking of those eyes, Feldman is named after the late actor, Marty Feldman. Google him and you will see why.) It was love at first sight.
It was also the best decision I have ever made, for my love is abundantly reciprocated. For example, whenever we go on walks on frigid winter days I think "I must really love Feldman to be willing to go out in this cold." Then I realize Feldman must love me more for not pooping inside where it is warm. In fact, we don’t use the term “walks” anymore, because Feldman’s favorite thing is to find scents other dogs have left behind, thoroughly sniff them, and leave a liquid response on top. Now instead of asking “Do you need a walk?” I ask “Do you need to check your pmail?”
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Over the years we have learned much from each other. I am ashamed to admit Feldman has learned that if I am dusting or running the vacuum then we will soon have visitors, so at first sight of me cleaning house the dog runs to the front window to watch for company to arrive. And by example, Feldman has taught me a very satisfying philosophy of life: "More wag. Less bark." I confess that my relationship with Feldman has almost lasted longer than both my marriages combined, indicating my commitment issues are limited to my own species. This little furry bag of love is now near seventy (in dog years) and has slowed down some because of the advanced age (Feldman now only chases cars that have their brake lights on.) And the thought I will probably outlive this adorable creature is more than my heart can bear. As a friend once told me, “The problem with loving is that pets don't last long enough and people last too long.”
But until our inevitable separation occurs I plan to delight in every moment of our remaining time together. Right now Feldman is burying a bone in the garden, which makes me laugh. Silly dog must be trying to grow a cow.
Steven Kent McFarlin (AKA “Spanky”) has been described by the press as a “campus entertainment icon.” He offers two great events at one great low price, and has been voted “Campus Comic of the Year” (LaffGuru.com) and the “Campus Performer of the Year” (TalkingAboutMyGeneration.com). His credits include over fifty TV appearances, including: Showtime, Good Morning America, and The Late Show. He is represented by GP Entertainment.
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
HHHHH I never dreamed from looking at Cassidy’s promo that I would enjoy a show so much, but when he performed for the buyers at the AEP conference in Wilmington, DE in June, I was astounded how great this guy really was. This show was not only funny, it was captivating, intriguing and more. Best of all it is entirely clean and a show you could buy for any audience. But you don’t have to take my word for it, Disney bought the show on the spot at the AEP Conference. John and Jen could not tell me that because of legal obligations with the Disney contract, but I got word directly from Troy Pederson, the buyer for all Disney operations.
Strangely enough John thought the show went okay but he felt he had done shows that were far better. Honestly, I am not sure how much better a show could be to top that one.
First off, one of the guys from the audience he picked out to come up on stage was the videographer for the conference from Mobius Media and a mixed martial arts master. John told me, “I didn’t know until after the show that he probably could have done me in if he wanted to, but he was perfect and the audience loved his participation.” John Cassidy is not just a balloon man but a magician and comedian who embellished his show with balloons the
same way Jeff Dunham uses his suitcase of wooden friends. Obviously balloons are an integral part of Cassidy’s show but his off-the-cuff humor, audience interaction, and relationship with the volunteers he brings on stage, really make the show a winner. Interestingly enough, John has only been involved with the campus market for about three years and while he does other venues, campuses comprise about 60% of all the shows he does now.
“Campuses are the greatest market in the world. I love doing those shows. Students are so fresh, interactive, and supportive. They are not jaded. Many times my show is a relief from intense studies, maybe even exams, and it is a time when they can sit back and have fun. They don’t have to think about anything but the moment and it works for me and for them. Honestly, if I could afford to, I would do the shows for free. They are that good an audience. While Sophie K Entertainment books the shows, John’s wife Jen along with their young daughter, travel with John and Jen handles the business end of things while he is on the road. “You know what,” John relates, “ I have had a million jobs and got fired from every one of them. This is the only thing that has ever stuck and I love every minute of it. I got a magic kit when I was
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six years old and started doing that. Then when I was nine, I got a bag of balloons and added that to the mix and started doing that. I supported myself through college doing this stuff.
“My father always told me to find something you enjoyed doing and to that for a career. I don’t think this is what he had in mind.” It was after 0911 that things changed for John.
“I had been doing sleight of hand magic and all of a sudden the place where I had been performing ceased to exist, so I decided I had to do something different to survive. There are a million magicians out there who are satisfied with doing everyone else’s material. But the more they do that the more they are like everyone else. Nothing makes them different.” Of course the balloons, as simple as they might seem, help make this an outstanding show.
“My show is set up by my wife and myself and it is really a simple load in. The only time we ever had any trouble was when one school had a rope bridge we had to use to get to the venue.” While the campus market is John’s favorite place to perform, he does do fairs, festivals, corporate work and cruise line www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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shows. Obviously now he can add theme parks to that list of credentials.
“You know entertainment has changed so much in the last 10 years or so. Because of DVRs and Netflix, a lot of what the world sees happens at different times. Pretty much only sports still happen in the minute. But that is the benefit of live entertainment and what makes it so special. It is happening right then in front of you and everyone in the audience has a chance to experience it together and it will never ever happen again and that is what makes it so exciting.” I often like to throw artists a curve and try to get them to discuss the trials and tribulations of being on the road. So, I asked John what was the worst show he had ever done. “I got hired to do this retirement home and there were maybe twelve people at a table and 250 people in the room.
They are all sitting around in the cafeteria slurping up broth. So I proceed to go to the first table and I said, ‘My name is John Cassidy and I am here to make you laugh.’
“Eleven of those people never even looked up from their bowls but one old guy said to me, ‘We’ve already laughed.’ The point I am making here is if you invite an entertainer to play this kind of place, make sure they are having a good time. Invite their families to join them for the performance and they will be much more excited about being part of the show. And perhaps it would have been better not to plan the show while they were eating.
“The most important part of doing comedy is ‘listening.’ It is my job to listen to the audience. That is the only way I can
make them happy. And it almost always works. You get a reading on the temperature of the room- are they tired?; are they excited?” Often times when campuses fail to promote a show or they book an act against another major attraction, the artist ends up having to perform for a small crowd.
“ I have seen this happen and you know what, many times the artist seems to be mad at the audience. If I end up having eight people in the room, I am going to do the best show I can and I want those students to leave that room feeling their time was not wasted and they were entertained.” Tell me about hecklers. Have you ever been heckled at a show? Matter of fact, I had the 7 year-old kid heckle me last night. He threw rocks
at me and just how do you handle that? I could not verbally respond to him because he probably only knows twelve words. In actuality he wanted to help me in the show so the best thing that came into his mind was ‘I’ll just throw rocks at him.’ I looked at him and said, ‘Are you throwing rocks at me.’ And he immediately responded ‘No, I am throwing stones.’ “Let me answer that in a different way, a heckler can be a wonderful thing for a show though. Most hecklers respond to certain aspects of the show that are easy to control because most times the heckle and the response can fit into the timing. But if you have someone screaming and even a little out of control, it can throw the timing of the entire show off. But if it is a wellplaced heckle, I love that because it is
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generally easy to come back at and work it into the show.” What makes John’s show incredibly interesting is the work that goes into developing the format for the show.
A lot of magicians have a “cut and paste” format and many of them do exactly the same stuff as the guy the campus had last year.
“Unfortunately, it is too easy for magicians to buy tricks from a magic store or online. I spend a lot of time developing things I feel are unique and I test them until I feel they are worthy of being seen by my audiences. Obviously some will take longer than others to perfect and I have one or two that should be ready soon. When I go to a campus, I want the students to see something different and I will never ever give them the same exact show.”
I have to admit that I went into John’s showcase not expecting anything different than what I had seen the night before and I was pleasantly surprised not only by his display of tricks, but how he held the audience in the palm of his hand. It was a show that most people didn’t want to end. We here at Campus Activities Magazine® really hope you will consider John if you really want something exciting and completely different. You won’t be disappointed.
To book him, contact Kate at Sophie K Entertainment at (212) 268-9583 or on the web at sophiek.com To see a video showcase of John Cassidy, please view this story online at campusactivitiesmagazine.com www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
773.481.2600 (PH) 773.481.2601 (FX)
2014 BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE 2013 ENTERTAINERS OF THE YEAR Campus Activities Magazine
INFO@BASS-SCHULER.COM www.MissionIMPROVable.com
ALEX STONE
His hard work and determination have led him from his early days as an absurdist joke writer to his current role as one of the most impressive young storytellers in comedy. Alex was just chosen as one of the top 100 comics to appear on the brand new season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and he was also recently selected to participate in the Best of the Midwest competition at the 2013 Gilda’s LaughFest, as well as the 2014 Limestone Comedy Festival. His prolific nature and originality has made him a regular at the Chicago Laugh Factory and has also earned him an appearance on the Independent Film Channel. Alex was also recently featured in both the Chicago Tribune and the Huffington Post.
DYLAN MANDLSOHN
Dylan Mandlsohn’s rubber face and array of charismatic stand-up characters have made history by making him the first Canadian comic to be a back-to-back finalist at the prestigious San Francisco and Seattle Comedy Competitions. Hitting his mark at Montréal’s world famous Just For Laughs and also The Boston Comedy Festivals catapulted Dylan into being selected to perform for The Comcast Network which spread his wings into new television and film territory. Additionally Dylan recently starred in his own Comedy Now Special for The Comedy Network and CTV. This won him a prominent spot as a member of the critically acclaimed The Groundlings Improvisational Troupe. He has two Gala performances at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Halifax Comedy Festival.
EMMA WILLMANN
Emma Willmann is one of the hottest new comedians coming out of NYC. Starting her comedy career while a student in Boston, MA, Emma quickly moving through the Boston comedy ranks and only a year into comedy won first place in The Boston Beantown Comedy Riots. Largely influenced by growing up in rural America, being dyslexic, gay but with lots of guy friends, Willmann moved to NYC, where she immediately appeared on ComedyTimeTV, The Woman in Comedy Festival, The New York Comedy Festival, hosted The Hoboken Comedy Festival, and made her national television debut on Gotham Comedy Live with Louie Anderson, and will appear in an upcoming episode of the Investigation Networks, Deadly Affairs.
Book Him At Bass/Schuler Entertainment Book Him At Cutting Edge Entertainment Book Her At GP Entertainment (888) 221-6538. (315) 859-1745. (773) 481-2600. 14, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE®, AUGUST 2014
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
LANDRY
Landry is Canadian born interracial love child whose hybrid existence,when mixed with a little dysfunction, makes for a fantastic recipe of comedy goulash. In 2007 he relocated to Atlanta to hone in on his craft, and in 2010 he took the title of “Best Male Comic” in the Atlanta Stands Up Awards. Taking inspiration from personal life experiences, his writing style carries a unique and passionate tone. Landry is downright hilarious and his “crossover” comedy style appeals to people from all walks of life, age groups and ethnic backgrounds. He was a finalist in the 2010 Great Canadian Laugh Off, the 2011 World Series of Comedy, the 2012 Miller Lite Stands Up Competition and he was the winner ofthe 2011 Boston Comedy Festival.
MICHAEL PALASCAK
Two years ago Michael blew up on the late night circuit as he performed on both The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman in the same year. This was a nice follow-up to winning a national HBO talent contest at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas–The Lucky 21. This past May, his Comedy Central half hour special debuted to rave reviews on Twitter. After college, he moved to Chicago to pursue comedy. This past summer Michael reprised the role of the postcollege son living at home in the Comedy Central web series Growing Up and Getting Out. Michael also has trained as an actor in Chicago at The Acting Studio, Act One, and Victory Gardens and in LA at Lesly Kahn.
LYNN TREFZGER
For over 25 years, Lynn has given life to a trunk full of comical characters. She has performed for audiences worldwide for Cruise Lines, colleges, theatres, private, and for corporate events. Audiences are treated to Lynn’s vocal illusion talents, when they may meet a drunken but lovable camel, a grumpy old man, a feisty little girl, and you may even see some other audience members who are brought up to the stage for the action! Her off-the-wall audience interplay is spontaneously funny, no two shows are alike! Her performances are tailored for both family and adult audiences. Lynn is featured in “I’m No Dummy” along with other ventriloquist stars such as Jay Johnson, Jeff Dunham, and Jimmy Nelson.
Book Him At Cutting Edge Entertainment Book Him At Bass/Schuler Entertainment Book Her At DCA Productions (773) 481-2600. (212) 245-2063. (888) 221-6538. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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CARMEN LYNCH
DERRICK KNOPSNYDER
Since he was a little kid he always wanted to be a comedian, then after his first year in college he decided that there is no better time then the present and took to the stage for the first time in May 2010. After doing open mics from May till October he got his first paid gig! Since then he’s done many shows with a bunch of great comics.
Carmen Lynch started off as a flamenco dancer at the age of five but eventually became uncoordinated. She made her late-night debut in 2012 on The Late Show with David Letterman and has been a semi-finalist on two seasons of Last Comic Standing. She has also been on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" and "Inside Amy Schumer." Carmen has performed for the troops several times in Iraq and Kuwait, toured throughout Spain telling jokes in Spanish, has been in the Aspen Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, Moontower Comedy Festival, and Great American Comedy Festival. Her web series can be seen on www.aptC3.com. She also has scoliosis.
At 23, Derrick Knopsnyder is one of the fastest rising comedians in Pittsburgh, and the youngest comedian to be a regular feature act at the Pittsburgh Improv. He’s also won the The Stand Up To Cancer Comedy Competition in Huntington WV, and was a finalist at the Cleveland Comedy Festival.
Book Her At KP Comedy (866) 769-9037
Book Him At Neon Entertainment (716) 836--NEON.
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MISSION IMPROVable
The MISSION IMPROVable Comedy Team is just a few audience suggestions away from creating a brand new and original production that’s all about whatever you tell them! This fast-paced and exciting new form of comedy is a combination of MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” and “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” – but there is a bit of a twist. Just like in the old TV series “Mission Impossible,” the Chicagoan actors in Mission IMPROVable pretend to be agents. The audience members are the co-agents and participate in the hilarious theater games or “missions” by yelling out suggestions. The on-the-spot randomness provided by the audience makes each mission truly unique and very often hysterical. Book Him At Bass/Schuler Entertainment (773) 481-2600. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
CARLI & DONI
Carlie & Doni’s music video Gangsta Waitress shot to the front page of Funny Or Die! in less than a week. With cameos by Lily Tomlin and Richard Lewis, thecomicscomic.com said “watch all the way to the end to hear Tomlin and Lewis cut loose on the musical comedy duo of Carlie and Doni.” The girls perform all around the country and are quickly becoming a popular cult favorite. In a year they went from unknowns to performing as the headliners at The Laugh factory, The Comedy Store and UCB. They were voted Best comedians in L.A. for 2011 by Los Angeles Magazine. Carlie is half Mexican and loves foreign men, Doni is a lesbian and has trouble spelling. Book Them At Sophie K Entertainment (212) 268-9583. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
PATRICK KEANE
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2000, Patrick has appeared on Comedy Central’s ‘Live At Gotham’, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the Bob and Tom show, Comics Unleashed, the Montreal Comedy Festival and is a regular at the Improv and Comedy Store in Hollywood. He has appeared with Nick Swardson, Joel McHale, Kevin Nealon, Kevin Pollok, Bobby Lee, Henry Phillips, Eddie Gossling and Bil Dwyer. With multiple appearances on the Late Late show with Craig Ferguson, his record setting viewership on Comedy Central, and his ability to tell the difference between people from Ireland and people from Northern Ireland, Patrick is the obvious choice to be the next host of the Oprah Winfrey show. Book Him At The College Agency (651) 222-9669.
VLADIMIR CAAMAÑO
With the name “Vladimir” no one expects a Dominican from The Bronx to take the stage. Vladimir is an NBC Standup for Diversity Finalist and was a popular member of the 2013 tour. Most recently, he’s been seen on “Gotham Comedy Live”, Standup 360, ComedyTime, and NUVO’s “Standup and Deliver”. His comedic style is the fruit of an immigrant Dominican family living in New York City and is as an elegant combination of urban grit and intellect. Whether discussing his dislike of cats, traveling to college without luggage, or mimicking his parents struggle to pronounce his name, you will enjoy watching this comedian weave a hilarious fabric of truth and absurdity. Book Him At Sophie K Entertainment (212) 268-9583.
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RYAN CONNER
Ryan Conner “has all the makings of a great stand-up,” says Punchline Magazine. In a few short years, he has developed a style of sharp story-telling that is “unique and extremely funny.” His stand-up act has earned him a position as a contributing writer for “Saturday Night Live”. Other TV credits have ranged from being in a pilot for the NFL Network to writing for MTV’s “Ridiculousness”. Ryan is a regular at many of the top clubs in the country. He has also worked with some of the best comedians of this generation, including Dave Chappelle, Colin Quinn, Mike Birbiglia and Mitch Hedberg. All this has led OnTap Magazine, Washington DC’s leading entertainment guide, to label him a “stand-up comedy phenom.”
PETE LEE
Pete Lee is one of the hottest acts on the college circuit today. Thanks to his highly rated Comedy Central Presents half hour special, Pete has packed venues at over 500 colleges and universities across the country. Pete was raised in Janesville, WI by divorced parents and a 19-inch television, which is probably why he pursued a career in entertainment. Soon after moving to NYC, he was selected to perform at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, where he was voted a standout performer. In 2008 Pete made his network television debut performing on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” finishing as a semifinalist. That same year, he made his television acting debut on the CBS Soap Opera “As The World Turns.”
Book Him At Bass/Schuler Entertainment Book Him At The College Agency (651) 222-9669. (773) 481-2600. 20, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAZINE®, AUGUST 2014
ERIC SCHWARTZ
An unassuming nerd unleashes a mind-blowing show filled with musical comedy, physical antics, multicultural satire and social commentary. Eric Schwartz is one of the most creative and original comedians working today, earning the description, “everything there is to love about entertainment.” Schwartz is possibly the only artist in the history of the world to get raves from Gloria Steinem and Hustler Magazine. Eric's songs go from the political to the profane, sometimes both http://www.ericschwartz.com/band_bio/ #sthash.w5422iVo.dpuf. Schwartz has also garnered radio play on stations as diverse as Howard Stern's 100, Raw Dog Radio, The Ed Schultz Show and All Things Considered. Book Him At The College Agency (651) 222-9669.
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JOHN CRIST
Fresh off a tour of over 275 shows in 2013, award-winning comedian John Crist started 2014 with his first TV appearance on Live at Gotham. Crist’s edgy, yet clean comedy comes highly touted as a Denver finalist of the 2013 Comedy Central’s Up Next Comedy Competition, winner of the 2012 Denver Improv’s Got Laughs Competition, winner of the 2012 Loonees Comedy Competition and finalist of the 2012 Comedy Works New Faces Contest. In addition to several recent appearances on the Bob and Tom Show, he had the recent honor of performing on a USO Comedy Tour for the Troops in Kuwait. “That’s definitely one of the highlights of my career.” Crist says. “Going into a war zone to make soldiers laugh was a surreal experience that I’ll never forget.” Book Him At The College Agency (651) 222-9669.
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FERAZ OZEL
Afghani-Pakistani comedian Feraz Ozel provides crowds with a diverse and energetic brand of insightful comedy. Throughout his youth, as the loveable fat kid, Feraz learned to see the humor in everything, even if he did have the biggest breasts in class and could only see his toes on a good day. In addition to comedy, Feraz is passionate about health and fitness and as a certified trainer gives fun and informative talks on exercise and wellness, but . . . he still hates kale. Feraz was recently seen on "The Doctors" on CBS, and is a part of Ahmed Ahmed's Next Generation of Evil comedy tour. He won the Funzine Comedy Competition in Budapest, Hungary and was a finalist in San Diego's Funniest Person competition. Book Him At KP Comedy (866) 769-9037
NICK GUERRA
Nick Guerra aka "The Little Long Haired Comic" has blasted onto the comic scene and has quickly become one of the most memorable comedians you will ever see. Originally from Texas, Nick can be seen all over the country touring with Jo Koy, Michael Yo, and Pablo Francisco. Nick has recently appeared on fellow comic Gabriel Iglesias' hit Comedy Central series - "Stand Up Revolution/; and blew the crowd away with his comedic approach on relationships, current events, and personal experiences. He was a writer and actor on rapper Pitbull's "Mun2 show La Esquina," the in house comic on Jo Koy's "Raw," and recently appeared in "Last Comic Standing." Book Him At KP Comedy (866) 769-9037
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INTERVIEW AND STORY BY IAN KIRBY With this month’s focus being on comedy, the CAM staff is excited to have such a recognizable face in the comedy world on our cover for this issue. Interestingly enough, Steve Harvey recently made the decision to step away from pure standup to focus on his many television, movie and book projects, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still excited to get out there and make people laugh. What’s even better is that whether he’s speaking to corporate audiences, community groups or college students, he’s able to not only bring the laughs, but truly motivate and inspire those audiences as well. You might recognize him from the iconic film “The Real Kings Of Comedy,” or perhaps from television on “The Steve Harvey Show” or as the host of “Family Feud.”
His new book Act Like A Success, Think Like A Success is set to be released by the time you are reading this. It is the follow up to the #1 bestselling book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like a Man, which also spawned the major motion picture, Think Like A Man, featuring Kevin Hart. He’s taking the principles laid out in his new book and helping college students apply them to becoming their own successes.
Mr. Harvey and Gerald Washington, the SVP of Global Development at Steve Harvey Worldwide Group, Inc both give Campus Activities Magazine® exclusive interviews to talk about his career, life and his new book, which will be supported by extensive live dates in the campus market, booked exclusively through IMG Speakers.
To become a success the level of Steve Harvey or other notable entrepreneurs, it’s clear that they don’t have a lot of time to waste. Steve’s schedule starts every day at 4AM. He says that work ethic was something ingrained in him very early on. “That was given to me by my father,” he says. “He impressed that upon me from a very young age. Now, I didn’t always apply it (laughs), but I have always known it. That is the hard part. In college, I didn’t properly apply it. Right after I got out of college, I began that process and I have applied it ever since.”
As it turns out the time he spent in college definitely wasn’t wasted as he used his time for developing his...social skills. It surely couldn’t have hurt, since he was building his people skills, something not to be overlooked for a comedian. That’s not to say that Steve didn’t still put the motivation his dad instilled in him long before his collegiate career. “Even before my higher education began, I was always a hard worker. I always had multiple jobs and did so while I was in college as well. Never missed a day of work. Now, I wasn’t a great student, but since I never missed a day of work you could say even in college I was practicing the lessons my father taught me. I was just not as focused on my educational endeavors as I should have been.”
Once Steve was out of college, he began to focus 100% on his success. “I am an extremely hard worker, but I have a philosophy that drives me to work so hard: I spend all of my time building my dreams, so that
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when I get some time, I can live my dream. That is what drives my work ethic.”
The vehicle to get him there became standup comedy. “When I turned 27, I became a professional comedian. It happened all in one night. My first time in a comedy club was October 8, 1985 and I won an amateur comedy night. I went to work the next day and quit my job. I made $3,000 my first year in comedy, so I immediately put myself on a struggling path, but it was what I was born to do and I knew it from the moment I set foot in a comedy club. I had identified the gift earlier on, I just didn’t have a vehicle to attach it to. The moment I found out about standup, I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I was bitten by the bug and have been on stage ever since.”
It’s not uncommon for the creative rightbrained types to be less skilled in areas of logistics and organization, but Steve chose a path in college that gave him an early advantage in a standup career. He chose to major in advertising with a minor in photography. “I really picked the advertising major because I had a buddy from Dayton who had done the same thing, and it sounded good enough to me (laughs). I remember watching the show ‘Bewitched’ on TV when I was a kid and Darren was an ad man, so it sounded cool to me. I was actually really good at photography though and in fact I have a son in college right now with a major in photography and a younger son who does art shows with his photography. I think perhaps we have a gifted eye in the family for that.” www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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In reality for Steve though, the photography endeavor wasn’t practical. “It was too expensive for me then. Being before the digital age, you had to buy the camera but also film, rent a darkroom, buy the chemicals, paper, etc. It wasn’t nearly accessible then as it is today.”
By the time Steve was out of college, neither of his areas of study particularly applied to his life. Instead of going to work for an ad agency or behind the lens, he went straight on to the production line. “I started at Ford Motor Company straight out of college.”
Once he hit that comedy night and set himself on the path to fame, his college studies came back to be a great help. “The advertising and photography majors turned out to be a valuable education because I selfpromoted all of my shows. I became my own agent, manager and publicist and because of my understanding of those subjects, I had a real edge on some of the other guys out there struggling to make it. His standup career exploded and landed him multiple film and television roles, which made him start to realize that his reach could go beyond just making people laugh.
“About a year and half ago,” Gerald says, “as he ventured into the idea of writing this book, the youth demographic is one he wanted to penetrate heavily, not only because they are our future, but because they are in a place where these lessons can be of the most value in their lives. Preparing them with tools and knowledge that may not be offered in a college course was his goal.”
One of the toughest things for Steve to do was walk away from the one thing that had supplied his way to success: standup comedy. “With my career,” Steve says, “and really in my life as a whole, deciding to retire from standup was the most difficult decision I have ever made. I have not been forced to choose to do something that pained me more, ever. Not even close. Deciding to marry my wife wasn’t easy,” he jokes, “but it was the best decision I ever made. But walking away from standup was like turning my back on my oldest and best friend. Standup comedy was at the core basis of every element of my success. Every show or appearance that I make and every skill I have is based on that original gift.”
Sometimes the wisdom of others is what we need to help us attain clarity for our own path. “It was incredibly hard for me to come to terms with that, but I learned from a very good friend of mine named T.D. Jakes, that in order to get to the next level, you always have to give up something that you care deeply about. In your life that could be certain friends who you thought were great. Sometimes you gotta remember that everyone who came with you can’t always go with you. You have to stop associating with certain people or you may have to move out of town and leave your home, sometimes you might have to quit a job with people you care about. You always have to give up something to go to the next level. I knew that in order for me to continue as a game show host, launch this national talk show and write more books like the one that is dropping soon, I would need more time to work on it and still be able to cultivate and nurture my wife and family. I had to give up something that was very dear to me. It takes a lot of faith in yourself to do that but I haven’t looked back. Sometimes you have to go, you just have to jump.”
Steve has been able to make that sacrifice because of the sights he has set on the greater good. He understands that the time he puts into his broadcast career will reach as many people as possible, and the time he does spend on stage should be used to change as many lives as possible. This is why the student demographic is one of the only ones that Steve is taking a considerable amount of time to show up in person for. “I think that has always been innately in Steve,” Gerald says, “once he was able to get his head wrapped around where he was going in his career. Once it went from him trying to become a celebrity and a success to being those things, there was a shift or change. He was able to redirect his energy to becoming a motivator and inspiration to others. He had gone through enough in his life that he feels like he now has the knowledge to turn around and give it back to America.
Steve has four distinctive programs he presents to campus audiences, and it’s hard to imagine going wrong with any one of them, as they cover an incredibly universal set of principles and practices. Even still, Steve is very cognizant of each individual group he is speaking to. “Of all the speaking that I have done, the college audience is my absolute favorite, because I have a great message for people who are trying to figure it out. I have a great mes-
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sage for people who are trying to determine what the next step is. I have a great message for people who are starting to build their lives and their careers. I think the colleges I have been to have received me very well and those places are my favorite of all the groups I have presented to. Speaking at Georgia State and The University of Akron and other places have been of great benefit to me personally and I hope it has been even more beneficial to them. I believe that if I had been able to gain such valuable information at their stage in life, from a person who has climbed from nothing to almost every level, my journey may have been that much easier.” Steve’s fondness for the college demographic comes largely from their keenness to pay attention and apply the knowledge he is trying to impart. “When I am speaking to a college crowd, I know I am speaking to a group of people who’s thoughts are already success-oriented. You don’t go to college without the intent of making a success of yourself.” He strives to not only motivate them toward their studies, but also to prepare them for what’s next. “I teach them a valuable lesson about what to do once they acquire that piece of paper. If you are not careful and don’t know what your next steps are, that degree becomes nothing but a piece of paper. It’s a sheepskin that is beautifully framed and hanging on the wall. You want to take that supreme effort that you have put out to become a graduate and make that work for you. That’s when you need to know the principles of success. College teaches you many things, but the true principles of success come through life’s teachings. I believe that is what I excel at. I have gotten three of my daughter’s through college, all of whom are working and becoming quite successful themselves. I have two sons in college, so I know the message and the demographic very, very well.” The four programs are all linked in message, but hone in around different specific points. “The Power Of Your Dream” is at the root of his talks. It is the foundation by which all other things in life grow. “There is nothing...NOTHING greater or more valuable than your dream. Nothing. Your dream is more important than your education. The reason that I say that is because your dream will propel you to get an education, if it’s the right thing to help you attain that dream. There is a scripture that says ‘A man without a vision or without a dream www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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shall perish.’ I know many uneducated people who are extremely successful. It is your dream that sits at the front of the driving force behind your life and the more you dream, the further you can go.”
“Motivating You To Your Greatness” is an extension of the first program. “Finding your greatness is about taking the dream you have set in front of you and harnessing the tools you need to build it. You have the degree, now what? What are the principles of success that you need to know that will propel you into your greatness? It’s about focusing on the specific thing you can do to hone in consistently to make yourself great. It’s using the education and drive to get to your destination.
“Common Sense Isn’t Common” is an allaround turnkey program that can be appropriate for any audience, but again can be used most fully by student audiences. “You’ve heard the term ‘educated fool?’ (Laughs) There are many of those, man, and I’ve learned that common sense just isn’t that common. There are some core things that will never change and you can
learn these things whether you have a college degree or not. Common sense is a beautiful thing; common sense saves you a lot of pain. For example, I have known many women who are well-educated and successfully climbing the corporate ladder that can’t get a real relationship right to save their lives. I know many men who do the same and just can’t seem to master the principles of manhood. These are things you have got to learn along the way...it’s what life is really about. What you do to other people comes back to you and how you treat people does as well. One of the great principles of success is that the more people you help to become successful, the more successful you become. Well, that sounds like common sense to me but there are many people out there who seem to think if you hold a person down you will appear to be bigger. If you hold a person down, that allows you to rise up, but that’s just not true and that’s how I know for a fact that common sense just really isn’t that common.” “The Power Of Moving People” can never be underestimated. “At one point I thought
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there was a statue that I wanted for my back yard. It was a goal of mine. It was of a man carving himself out of stone. The name of the piece was ‘Self-Made Man’ and for years I wanted one of those. But, the more successful I became the more I came to realize a very important point: there are no selfmade men. Everyone needs somebody. You cannot complete the journey of success by yourself. You have to partner with people, you have to rely on people. You are going to need people to accomplish tasks that you don’t have the skill sets or time to do. In other words, you have to be a people mover. You have to learn how to motivate people and understand a key principle: all great leaders were once great servants. So in order to get people to follow, you have to be a great servant.” Steve Harvey will be all over the country serving students in the coming school year, despite his busy schedule on radio, TV, in film and making personal appearances. Contact IMG Speakers at (212) 774-6735 or speakers@img.com about possible dates in your area. www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
“CONSISTENTLY HILARIOUS” ADAM GRABOWSKI 4x Highest Rated Comedian Since 2010, Chicago comedian Adam Grabowski has headlined more than 350 colleges! For 4 years in a row, he has received the highest ratings of all comedians in our Artist Report Cards. Adam’s consistently hilarious work with colleges has resulted in many Reader’s Choice Awards, including: 2012 Fastest Rising Star, 2013 Comic of the Year, and runner-up 2014 Entertainer of the Year.
Campus Activities Magazine sat down with Adam for a very candid interview.
First things first, people love all the ‘90s references in your jokes and funny graphs. Why the ‘90s?
Oh you didn’t know? It is the 90’s. Look around you! The ‘90s never went away. It was laying low until it could make a full comeback. In all seriousness, I love making jokes about the stuff we
grew up with as kids because it’s a common language for young people. We all remember the stuff, and it’s hilarious to look at those things from an adult perspective. How so?
Let’s take Disney for example. We all loved the movies and didn’t read into them as kids, but as adults we can look at them more clearly. Sleeping Beauty: the prince makes out with a sleeping girl. It should be called Law & Order SVU. Beauty and the Beast: she doesn’t know he’s a prince. She just wants to date and hook up with a water buffalo. Cinderella: love at first sight…. but has absolutely no clue what she looks like!
Hilarious! Now back to the real interview. What does it mean to be the highest rated comedian 4 years in a row? It means I’m doing my job! My mom always told me, “If you plan to do something half-assed, don’t do it at all.” She also used to tell me, “It’s ok if you’re not the best, just make sure you have fun.” I guess I want to do things full-assed and have fun while doing it. (Adam laughs) All jokes aside, it means the world to me that I get to do what I love and that people enjoy my work.
4 years in a row... How has your show evolved to keep these colleges happy?
The thing that keeps my show evolving is the excitement of performing in a different state, on a different campus, for a different audience each night. Every night is a new op-
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portunity to connect to a group of smart young people and explore new topics. No show is the same and that’s what keeps this so fun for me. Now, at 27, I incorporate many things to keep my shows fun and engaging, like funny graphs, weird powerpoint presentations, and even improvised stand-up comedy based on audience suggestions. I love using visual humor because it is so much a part of our daily lives. How did you start getting booked at colleges?
At age 21, I produced and recorded an hour long comedy special. I rented out my high school’s auditorium and filled it with 150 people from my town. I was so nervous, but I did it and the show was amazing. I then used that footage to start booking college shows.
You started booking yourself at 21! Was it hard getting into the college market? Oh yes! I loved it, but it was tough. I had to learn everything from the bottom up, and I had to spend all of my money on comedy: conference fees, promotional items, and traveling. All of it! Before the start of my fall tour in 2011, I had $127.00 in my bank account... but I didn’t care because I had booked 30 college shows that semester, and I knew I could officially make this my full-time job. How have you expanded beyond colleges?
I now do a lot of corporate, private, and club shows, but my new career path is acting. I do commercial acting and I have a reality TV show pilot in the works. The show may or may not involve the adventures of myself and another college touring artist. Tell the schools why they should book you.
Gladly! I take my job very seriously. On the surface, my job is to give each school a hilarious, unique, attention-grabbing comedy show. In reality, my job is to ensure that the show is as successful as it can possibly be. Arriving early, getting to know the activities board, promoting the show around campus, giving away fun promo items, setting up the technical equipment, even fixing the wiring of the lighting, I want to make every show as great as it can be. I love the educational aspect of performing at colleges. I enjoy teaching the art of putting on a great comedy show. For MORE of Adam Grabowski call, write, or click: 708-899-ADAM www.AdamGrabowski.com , GrabowskiComedy@gmail.com
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SPECIAL 2014 COMEDY FEATURE
Brent Morin is an increasingly popular standup who has lately become noteworthy through his role on NBC’s “Undateable.” The show has been renewed for a 10 episode second season on July 31, 2014. While Brent’s star is on the rise and he is quickly becoming a recognizable face, his standup career has been some time in the making.
ble at it.’ Somewhere in my head I had always thought I would be good at it, so it ate at me. I just kept doing it while I was in college and eventually became addicted to it.”
Attending Columbia College in Los Angeles, Brent was in a good location to get a standup career started and attending an “I started standup when I was in arts school in L.A. indicates his college at about 18 years old. I desire early on to be in the enwas in film school and wanted tertainment industry. “To write, true criticism on my writing. I direct and act were always my went to a comedy club and saw interests, so I thought standup lots of first timers and my own might be a good way to end up thought was ‘I could do that,’ so in that. Honestly, it is kind of working the way I had hoped it I did. I was terrible.” would. I still do standup, I didn’t Brent was somewhat discour- know if I would once I had used aged, but also motivated by the it to get the TV and film gigs I trial. “I decided I didn’t want to wanted but I found I love it so go out like that. I didn’t want to much I don’t think I will ever be some grandfather saying ‘I walk away from it completely.” tried that once and I was horriwww.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Brent’s influences in comedy early on aren’t so clear cut to him, neither is the moment he decided he wanted to be in this career field. “People ask me that all the time and it’s hard to answer. I think by first or second grade I was on the path. I have always been surrounded by the arts. My older brother was a concert pianist and I remember that growing up as a teenager. He was eight years older than me so I remember him being in college and we would have opera singers living with us and I had to go to every musical, play and concert he had a pianist. My little brother was a violinist and a figure skater, so he was a performer as well. He never did both at the same time unfortunately, or he’d be a lot more known than me (laughs).”
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With his parents so fully involved in the arts, Brent says his perspective on creativity and live performance was shaped early on. “I started very young and I was never really embarrassed to try new things out. I created a lot of stuff on my own and never really liked listening to the influence of other people.”
You might wonder what Brent’s parents thought about having one son as a concert pianist, another as a violinist/skater and the third as, well...a standup comic? “They love it actually,” he says laughing. “The thing is my little brother who played violin was a professional figure skater for a while, then just up and decided he wanted to be a doctor, so he went to school to learn how to be a surgeon. My
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older brother played Carnegie Hall when he was like 19, but then stopped and went into the tech field. I was the only one who stuck with the creative arts and what is interesting is that if my mom had her way, she would love for all three of us to perform. She’d love my brothers to be a starving pianist and an Olympic hopeful. From her point of view life is about going for what you love and working as hard as you can to get it. It’s the same as my dad always said. So for me, the standup part is something I never
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planned on doing but the writing, directing and acting was. Now, I get to act in a sitcom on primetime network TV and am making large steps toward my goals. They couldn’t be more proud. I never had parents who were like ‘maybe you should think about a backup.’ It always felt natural for me to pursue that dream.” And Brent has his dream within reach. “At my age, it’s crazy. I am 27 years old and in Tampa right now about to perform at The Oddball Fest, with the people that are literally my heroes.
I am playing an amphitheater with Louis C.K. tonight! It’s crazy, ridiculous and awesome.
Enjoying his explosive standup career, a slot on ‘Undateable’ and looking forward to a long career in Hollywood, young Brent Morin is at the prime place in his life to be a perfect option for the campus market. Get him while you still can! For information on bringing Brent Morin to your campus, contact Matt Blake at CAA at (424) 288-2000 or MBlake@caa.com.
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“LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE” Maggie Maye is the epitome of a fresh face in comedy, . . . and in the college market. Originally from a small town in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, she always wanted to be a comedian. “As a kid I would watch Whoopie Goldberg and Robin Williams and Comic Relief and I just always wanted to be like that when I grew up. I always wanted to be someone that made people laugh. As I grew up that desire materialized in acting more than regular standup, but I was always writing. I would write different sets and material trying to work out my sense of humor.”
Maggie didn’t have much confidence initially in the sets she wrote, until she did. “I wrote out a set one day and thought it was kind of funny, but not quite ready. A voice in my head then said ‘If you don’t try this now, you are never going to do it.’ That fear of not ever trying what I really wanted to do scared me enough to call up an open mic night and sign up to perform. I never looked back from there. It’s like when something switches on inside of you and you realize ‘Oh, this is what I have been looking for.’” Since then, Maggie has performed at several comedy festivals and opened for acts like Godfrey, Hannibal Burress, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Being about halfway between New York and L.A., she wasn’t in one of the cities traditionally thought of as major comedy market. Fortunately, it turned out there was a thriving scene just near her home town. “I was very lucky, because I started doing standup in Austin, Texas. Austin has just a fantastic
pool of talent and venues to perform in. In just the years I have been doing this there seems to be more and more really talented people coming out of the area. There are even people coming from Seattle, New York and L.A. just for the purpose of doing standup, which I think is phenomenal. We are getting great recognition from the rest of the standup community in the country as being a great place to come and perform. So, I was very lucky to be able to start my career there.” Those of you not familiar with the area may not have caught the significance of this to the college market, but it turns out this was the perfect training ground for a campus comic hopeful. Austin is a college town, claiming not only the University of Texas at Austin, but also Concordia University - Texas, HustonTillotson University and St. Edwards University, among others. With a total population shy of 1 million, the campus community is very large, considering just UT boasts over 50,000 students by itself. “I was really lucky to start in Austin because it has very smart crowds. Compared to some other major urban markets, the population is very well educated. I love playing to university crowds because they are smart and they want to think. They have taken the leap in their life to spend the next several years learning, and I have found those types of people to be very receptive to my particular brand of comedy.” Maggie began her career working shows in and around UT and it gave her a taste
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for the market. “I started off doing a lot of different shows at UT and it was fantastic. It makes me so excited to go out and see other colleges and perform for those students. I can’t wait for this year to get started.”
She has had some experience with campus activities boards and their booking processes, and with KP Comedy, she has an agency that really knows the market. You can be sure she will know the drill come game time, but this is her first year in the organized conferencing world of NACA. “In previous years I have done shows for fundraisers at universities and some academic fraternities. I have also done some residence life and housing events with incoming freshmen. It is really fun to be the very first entertainment they see when they come to college, many of them living in a new city and on their own for the first time. I hope that the fun they have that night is something that helps put them at ease in that transition.” For this to be Maggie’s first year in the NACA market, she is already on fire. Call KP Comedy and get a prime slot on her routing this year while you are reading this because Maggie has been selected for not one, two or three, but FOUR showcases. “I applied for four and I just heard back that I was selected for them all. I am so excited for that and to perform for those conference delegates. My agent, Gina Kirkland, made it very clear that we might have captured lightning in a bottle here, because that kind of result from a first time applicant is pretty rare. I am very much looking www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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forward to going in and killing those showcases and hopefully being very busy in the campus market.”
The interesting thing is perhaps Maggie has come in at just the right time and with the right agent. She has a personal connection to the campus activities world that could have led her into the market before she was ready. “I have a brother who actually works at the University of Texas-Pan American and he used to be the campus activities director there. He has been telling me for quite some time that I would love the NACA circuit and I should get involved with it. I have been keeping him up to date with what has been going on this year and he is getting me so excited. He has told me about how the conferences are really built of a community and everyone is having lunch or dinner together there and watching the talent. It sounds like such a fun time and a great opportunity. I am super excited!”
Maggie’s style is smart, obviously, but she’s very fun and upbeat as well. “I feel like I talk about my upbringing and background so people can see the lens through which I view the world. I see that standup is very subjective; it’s a collection of personal thoughts and opinions which may not line up with other people’s. So, I talk about myself and how I am not the stereotypical person some people might expect by looking at me, in other words I like a lot of things that you might not expect a young woman of my background to be into. I also have a lot of observational material in my sets. These are things I notice and think are weird, sometimes things we all do without thinking. I like to explore things that people do automatically because it’s ingrained in us, not because its something we each independently decide is right on our own.”
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Maggie is introspective and contemplative, traits that many college students are freshly cultivating. “I’m a thinker; I like to think a lot and share those things with other people. Most of the time I think those things are pretty relatable to a wide audience, but it seems to resonate especially well with the college demographic. That is really exciting. I could not have found a better place to do comedy than the college market and to have been lucky enough to not only connect with KP Comedy but also have such great success with the showcase selections seems like it could be the beginning of a dream come true.” For more information on bringing Maggie Maye to your campus, contact KP Comedy at (866) 769-9037 or booking@kpcomedy.com
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I gained two valuable bits of knowledge during my time working as a corporate Audio Visual Technician: 1) that the smartest people in the world may not be smart at everything, and 2) what the perfect tool is for unjamming an old timey slide projector. Here’s the story: I’m the AV Tech in a Conference Center and I get an emergency call from one of the groups using the facility, an assembly of aeronautical engineers. Yes, rocket scientists. I race to where they’re meeting and as I enter the darkened conference room I hear a terrible static coming from the speakers. It’s like a Sounds of Nature relaxation track playing backwards. On Red Bull. The engineers have given up all hope of continuing their meeting over this ruckus and are essentially cowering in the corner. Their eyes light up with hope when I walk in, as if they’re engineer puppies in a shelter and I’m there looking to adopt. I’m told that the noise started right after the last presenter finished his talk, and nobody can figure out what the problem is. I’d like to think someone actually said, “Help us, AV Tech, you’re our only hope.” But it was kinda loud in there, so I can’t be sure. Glancing at the projector I see the problem immediately. The last speaker obviously finished his presentation, which I sincerely hope was titled “Why Paying Attention To Details Matters,” then took off his lapel microphone and draped it across the projector. In doing so he positioned the microphone right in front of the projector’s fan. Imagine the sound it would make if you grabbed a microphone and blew into it. Constantly. Well, given that a fan is essentially a device that blows constantly, it’s not too much of a stretch to figure out what happens if you put a microphone in front of a fan. But the engineers were mystified. I walked over and
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calmly lifted the mic from the projector and the scary sound stopped immediately. I was trying to not be too arrogant about it, but how often do you get a chance to be the smartest guy in the room? Especially when the room is full of, like, really smart people? They thanked me profusely and then went back to using words that I didn’t understand. We all come to the party with different interests, strengths and skill sets, and getting clear on yours is an important part of your career journey. I don’t know how to build airplanes, but at that moment I knew how to make it so that the guys who DO know how to build airplanes could go on discussing it. I’ll take care of the audio problems, you guys keep designing planes that take off, land, and stay in the air in between those two activities. I’ll probably be on one of those planes some day, so I’m more than happy to contribute. An ever-growing symbiosis exists in the world of work, with each of us having our own parts to play. What’s yours going to be? And by the way - the perfect tool for unjamming an old school slide projector? A standard household butter knife…without butter on it. You’re welcome.
Barry Smith is a writer, comedian and speaker. His presentation, “Every Job I’ve Ever Had” is based on the lessons learned from his life of offbeat employment choices, and how these lessons can help students in their own career evolution. "Barry's show was a refreshing guide to career exploration and served as a wonderful reminder that we can find happiness by following our passions." - Bryn Kass, Senior Class Council President, Tufts University. Book Barry at Kirkland Productions - www.kirklandproductions.com
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