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COMEDY WALK Hosting Procedures

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS! PRINT AND BRING WITH YOU! READ COMPLETELY!

You're going to have a fabulous time as one of our hosts at COMEDY WALK!

Dress business casual or cocktail party. Bring a flashlight and a good watch. Arrive promptly at 7:30pm at the Chicken Room for the all-hands meeting.

The Chicken Room
Spring Arts Tower
215 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Study your comedian line-up (available on the website) and take any notes you need so you can refresh your memory the night of the show. Do not read comedian intros from paper while on stage. Memorize before you go up. Intros are short.

There are often day-of-show changes, either a venue becomes unavailable or a couple comedians need to change out. Double-check the program on the website that nothing has changed before you leave for the show.

Wranglers and Camera Operators

Each room should have a wrangler and DV camera operator. The wrangler is your assistant. The camera operator documents the show. If you have friend who would like to be your wrangler or camera operator, that's often best. Put me in touch with them ASAP so I can coordinate. If you don't provide your own helpers, I will assign a wrangler and camera operator to you, assuming we have enough volunteers to go around.

Show Schedule

Before going on, remind each comedian he has ten minutes, including your intro and applause, that you must keep the show on time. Also tell him you will cue him when it's time for him to wrap up. And, remind him that afterwards, when he has a few minutes free, he needs to see Gabrielle for his 3-minute video interview.

• 7:30 Meeting at the Chicken Room
• 7:45 Your 3-minute video interview with Gabrielle. She will ask you about you. Be ready to talk about the most exciting thing that's happened in your career recently or coming up.
• 8:15 In your room preparing. Check that your first comedian is there and ready to go. Tell him, "I'm going to introduce you by saying...." Check that he approves of your intro. It should be brief, like the blurb in the program. If a comedian wants more intro, he can talk about himself on stage after you put him on.
• 8:25 Your Room Warm-up... "How is everyone? Who's from Chicago? Who's a Lakers fan?..." Your Intro... Say who you are and the most interesting thing about you currently. Show Intro... "This is COMEDY WALK. Who here printed tickets? Please leave those at the door. It helps us to know who came to which show. COMEDY WALK has a website, www.comedywalk.com. You can also find us on MySpace." Comedian Intro... "We have a great line-up of comedians for you tonight. Our first comedian is...who was just in..."
• 8:30 First Comedian Performing. While that's happening, check that your next comedian is ready and approves of your intro.
• 8:39 Thank Comedian... "That was...who will be performing at...next... Give it up for...!
• 8:40... Briefly intro yourself and the show again... "I'm... and this is COMEDY WALK. Find out more at www.comedywalk.com." Intro Next Comedian... Repeat thank you and intro procedures with another comedian every ten minutes. Stay on time!
• 10pm Wrap. After the last comedian, intro yourself and show one last time, then say good night and thank you. If you have a room cameraman, get the tapes so you can give them to me or an associate producer. With the help of your wrangler, tidy up the room.

DO NOT LEAVE until Brady comes by and locks the room or you're officially relieved by me, Gabrielle, Hillary or Brian. If you can chat a little after the show, come to the New LATC. That's where everyone collects before leaving for the night.

Cabaret Room
The New LATC
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Cuing Comedians

The host is responsible for keeping the show on time and making sure the audience is inside the room. Your room should never go "cold", that is, have nothing happening on stage.

Do not allow people to stand in the doorway. With the help of your wrangler (if any), direct people into the room. When off stage, stand directly in front of the comedian so he can look to you for cues. Do not lurk in the wings. Standing near the door is typically the best spot. You can simultaneously move people into the room, watch for the next comedian to arrive, and cue the comedian on stage.

When the comedian is at about 8 minutes, he should start to wrap up. Cue him by shining your flashlight toward him. Let the comedian finish his joke and wrap up naturally.

What Shouldn't Happen

Comedians should be in the room at least 10 minutes before their set. The comedian should seek you out, but sometimes they forget and simply sit down in the audience. Find them.

A comedian should never start late. Most comedians perform two sets. Comedians are instructed to leave on time, to make their second set on time if the first room is running late. With six simultaneous stages, the show schedule is like a train timetable. It must be followed.

A comedian should never no-show, balk at going on, or bolt during a set. However, sometimes it happens. Usually there's another comedian in the room or next door who you can grab to fill in.

Comedians are accustomed to comedy clubs that often start late. Don't succumb to the suggestion of waiting until more audience arrives before starting. You're responsible for keeping your show on time. The comedian can perform to you if for some reason no one else is in a room. If you don't start, it's likely no one will come into your room because there are five other venues happening available to see. You're competing for audience. If you find yourself without a comedian, do more room warm-up or get a comedian to jump in. Do not let your room have an empty stage. It's harder to restart than to keep going.

Comedians may be hilarious, average or sometimes bomb. Feedback from the hosts and audience helps us decide which comedians to invite back. Take notes of how each comedian does. If a comedian no-shows, balks, bolts, or bombs, I need to know about it. In case you're interested, the June 2008 Comedian Feedback.

Something unplanned always happens with a live show. Roll with it. Have fun. Be safe.

You have my mobile # to call me during the show if needed. I move around all six venues during the show.

Robin Rowe
Executive Producer