The Comedy Etc Show At The I-Candy Cafe In Long Beach

Comedy Etc LA Recap 01/23/2012

2012-01-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

Comedian Carly Carr Kills It

The Comedy Etc Show has moved into Los Angeles. We're at the Tribal Cafe on the 2nd and 4th Monday every week. 01/09/2012 was our first show. And 01/23/2012 was our first show bringing a paid headliner and feature into the heart of LA. Please tell everyone who finds that so hard to fathom, we're now proving that's possible on a massive scale.

My goal taking this show on is to create a positive enviornment where people could work our their material and develop a following. Last night was a big score.

Comedy Etc LA
The Tribal Cafe
1651 Temple
Los Angeles, CA
213 483-4458

Aside from some amazing material by Matt Jones and Christine Little the Comedy Etc Show presented feature comic Tamiko Kirkland and headliner Carly Carr. Both were chosen as the first featured guests for their unrestrained honesty on stage to loosen up the attitude in the room so the rest of the performers could just relax and have fun. Both delivered high caliber, high energy and downright hysterical sets. In addition, the Comedy Etc Show thanks the following performers for gracing the stage, AKA the carpet:

Jake Kroeger
Yuvi Grewall
Alex Davenport
Tommy Lee
Shaman O.
Sean Quinn
TJ Amick
Cory Alexander
David Lucas
Matt Jones
Chris Gorbos
Da Na Defano - Musical Guest
Jeff Worthy
Christine Little
Skillz Hudson
Ryan O'Flanagan
Chase Bernstein
Jason Heltfgot
Leah Kayajaiman
Jonathan Rowell

A damn good draw again

This was a very good show an several levels. First the audience was very high energy giving a very strong response to everyone in the line up. Secondly the comics really delivered quality sets. Especially in the middle of the line up everyone was on fire. Third we had a good very good ratio of comics to noncomics.

The Comedy Etc Show will be back on 02/13/2012. And we will bring back the musical guest, feature and headliner format on 02/27/2012 when our headliner will be Tracie Walker and our feature musical guest will be Rags Moody the III. Until that time the 5th Monday of January and the 1st Monday of February will be hosted by comic David Lucas, who also killed it last night.

Comedy Etc Show Recap For 08/26/2011: Comedy Says Good Bye To The iCandy Cafe

2011-08-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

We draw a huge crowd and audience members in strollers

Tonight we lost a staple of comedy to this economy. When I arrived I was told this was our last show. And indeed, it would be iCandy's last show ever. As the banks refuse to lend to another small business, iCandy will shut it's door and be taken over by the sex shop next door aptly named the Crypt. Apparently people don't want to buy coffee, but they really do want plastic in the shape of a cucumber. Who knew? I'd like to thank all of tonight's featured guests including: musical guest Alex Russell, feature comic Chris James and headliner Alien Warrior Comedian for helping to send the night off with a bang. Despite very little promotional effort, we drew a huge crowd tonight. And hopefully, we put a dent in the remaining debt.

A comedy room is no greater than the sum of the great comics who grace it's stage.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this room great. - Jeff Leon

Not even close to the oddest sight in the neighborhood.

The iCandy Cafe is of course the former Coffee Haven, a name some people still associate with the venue. The eight years of stage time it's afforded comics, musicians and poets has run for nearly a decade. We were eight and a half years into its run. It'd like to thank all the performers who came out to support the place last night, for what would be, the first and last time performers there: Corey Robertson, Tyler Sonnichseon, Taay, Taae and Tina Baldwin. I like to thank the regulars including: Johnny Gold, Mindy Pickel, Jerry Brandt, Chris Adams, Anthony Browning, Joe Caffey and Matt Claybrooks for stopping by one last time. Thanks to Kerry Arnold Stephens for dropping in to say hello one last time. And I'd like to thank coproducer Jeff Leon, for helping with the thankless tasks like teardown, promotion and hosting the show on the weeks I was away.

Wow indeed, that was my home away from home. I'm at a loss for words. - David Marley

Additionally the iCandy Cafe and the Comedy Etc Show are grareful to the following performers for sharing the stage on iCandy's last night.

Garry D. Marshal
Nathan Bacon *
Tyler Sonnichsen *
Amourispoetical Justice - Poetry
Aneesah - Music *
Jason Canning
Alex Russell - Feature Musician
Chris James - Feature Comic
Alien Warrior Comedian - Headliner
Natalie Gray
Corey Roberts *
Darius Campbell *
Jerry Brandt
Anthony Browning
Ghetto Gospel
John Gold
Mindy Pickel
Rude Morales
Chris Angels
Taay Tae - Musician [Damn good one at that] *
Matt Claybrooks
Joe Caffey
Will Couch
Tina Baldwin *
Hustle Diva - Poet, and the perfect send off performer

* First, and ironically, last time at the iCandy Cafe/ Comedy Etc Show

Tonight's musical guest Alex Russell kicks off Comedy Etc.

Over the years the iCandy Cafe/ Coffee Haven has hosted some of comedy's most interesting moments. There was the conservative senior couple that liked to sit on the steps, makeout and then pay attention to Matt Claybrooks just long enough to heckle any jokes he made about John McCain. Back when you called in for spots, there were the numerous times I would call at 8am and the barrista would say to me, "You need to wait until 8:30am to call in. Then I'd call back at exactly 8:30am and one second, get five minutes of busy signals and when I finally got through, and the call didn't go to the fax machine, number twenty would be the earliest number I could get.

Damn that extra second.

It's gonna be one of those places you'll hear great comics talk about
years from now as the place where it all began. - Jerry Brandt

The curtain closes, the crowd thins, and the light dims.

Durring the last four years we've had the most loyal and faithful fans, especially Fraka and Celeste. Celeste was so kind on our second to the last show that she donnated an HD Video camera as our prize give away. We've had hecklers so drunk they were taken away in a fire truck, a police car and an ambulence. We've had musicians give so much to their craft, they passed out on stage and nearly sent the sound system out the front window. We've had friends so devoted they built us a stage, that I've only dropped on my foot one time. Thanks to Shay and all the barrista's who served us with a smile, no matter how disturbing the material got on stage. And we've had the most kind and loyal support of some of comedy's most talented up and comming comics, poets and musicians. And thanks to Kerry for keeping it going seven years before I took over as host.

You still owe me an autographed picture of White Chocolate. Never forget! - Nick Petrillo

And we say goodbye; thanks for the last eight years again.

In one year, we've accomplished a lot. We've paid out more than $1500 to local performers through the venue in just one year. We owe Jon, the owner, a huge debt of thanks for that. We also raised more than $200 for cancer research. And we never asked anyone to bring a single audience member. The talent in the room brought the audience in almost every week. But, this like all things, must come to an end. Like the man stuck on the tracks said as the train rolled forward, "This too shall pass."

So good night Coffee Haven. Good night iCandy. Good night to what was truly Long Beach's own Holy Zoo.

A place with a deep history in comedy that can never be forgot.

As the final curtain was drawn last night at I-Candy.
The show will go on... - Rude Morales

And while this maybe the end of the iCandy Cafe/ The Comedy Etc Show has a soul, a pulse and a heart beat that exists independant of the place that hosts the show.

It will rise again.

For now, goodnight iCandy/ Coffee Haven: R.I.P.

The Comedy Etc Show Recap For 08-19-2011: Comedy Etc Goes Goth

2011-08-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

A class act and a real pro

For this show, I was in Arizona. My dad passed away in May. I was helping my mom sort through his things. Therefore, Jeff Leon and Jerry Brandt served as cohost. We had a decent civilian turnout, though we're still working on driving in more. Our feature musician as Fliberty Gibbet, straight from his appearance on Last Comic Standing. Our feature comic Seven Bless was described as larger than life, sexy, sassy, and feisty as ever. I would have expected nothing less.

The Gothcomedian is a seasoned pro who did a long routine about what kind of girls a heavy guy with makeup can expect to get. The crowd ate him up. Rare for a headliner, he also stayed until the very end, thanked the Comedy Etc Show for having him, and mixed it up with the crowd after his act. Then he thanked us on facebook; that's the definition a real class act.

In addition, the Comedy Etc Show would like to thank the following performers:

Emcees: Jerry Brandt/ Jeff Leon

Ray Chung
Jonathan Bacon
John Abiskeron
Tim Palmer
Joe FitzGerald
Robert
Tymon Shipp
Fliberty Gibbet - Musical Guest
Seven Bless - Feature Comic
The Gothcomedian Mark White - Headliner
Alex Russell
Jeryld Brumfield
Chris Adams
Anthony Browning
Afiya the Diva
Barbara Wurded
Tamara Marry
Gregory Alexander

Seven's funny she makes people's sides hurt

Ray Chung opened the show. It was good to see him back after a long absence from the room. Alex Russell's bluesy guitar playing got a tremendous applause. He was offered him a feature spot in a future show. Showregulars Anthony B., Tymon Shipp, Chris Adams, and John Abiskaron were in strong form. Newbie

Afiya the Diva (2nd time at Comedy Etc) was full of wit, energy, and charm and got a great audience response. Seven/ Afiya, the only was I'd ever miss either one of you at my room is a death in the family. You're both that good and then some.

Next week we're back with a musical guest to be announced, the return of our newly painted stage, feature comic Chris James will grace our stage and our headliner out of Las Vegas, the Alien Warrior Comedian. You don't want to heckle this guy. Or maybe you do, cause I'd kind of like to see the heckler get his ass handed back to him. I'm good either way actually. Meanwhile, our prize give away will be a minature style Comic-Con.

Check the Facebook Events Page for details.

In the mean time like Seven and Afiya's fan pages or else the puppy dies. I know you don't want the blood on your hands.

Finally, thanks again to Celeste. How many shows have fans so loyal, they give us a brand new high definition video recorder to give away. Whatever work we do to push the show in the future is out of love and respect for the most amazing fans any show could ever hope for.

And I'll have much bigger news very soon.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid By

Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

What The Comedy Etc Show Has Accomplished In One Year

2011-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Shayne Michael:

We took over the room at 1708 E Broadway in Long Beach, last October. When I did the idea was to use the tip jar and the budget to proove a few important things. The primary goal of the Comedy Etc Show was to prove that booking and paying good comics would bring in more money and audience members each week. We also meant to prove that booking people on talent and talent alone would provide us with the kind of show we could promote and be proud of. So far, 80 percent of our draw includes ten civilian audience members or more. At the height of the show, we've had as many as 80 people over the course of the night.

In the past year the Comedy Etc Group Inc has also paid more than:

$800 to our headliners which has included comics, poets and musicians
$200 to feed/ pay our feature comics
$150 to feed/ pay our feature musical guests
Raised $200 for cancer research
Given away more than $300 in prizes
I'm not even guessing what we've done with the Matching Money Fund.

This means in one year a simple open mic has put over $1650 back into the hands of artists and the community itself. That doesn't include the money we've raised for the venue itself oustide of the budget for being kind enough to let us host the the Comedy Etc Show there. And, I'm also seriously underestimating what we've accomplished. I'm not including the intagible prizes like the nearby rooms who have started to offer a little cash to performers to compete. I'm not including the intangible respect that goes with saying, "You're worth this and, if we had more, you'd be worth more."

I'm not including how lucky we are to have the kind of fans who love the show so much they donated HDV Video Cameras as a prize to give away. I'm not including how fortunate we are to have the kind of fans that will build us a brand new stage out of materials from their work site in less than a week's time. I'm not including how fortunate we are to have a coproducer that creates the kind of backdrop to make filming look as professional as any comedy club show. Thank you everyone who has helped this build. To every comic I have or have not paid, you're worth more than the audience, the venue or I could give back to you. And we're working on new ways of paying the performers with every passing day.

Now, get ready for the momentum to buid as the snowball starts to roll down hill.

The Long Beach KAS Comedy Etc Show Welcomes

2011-08-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

The Gothcomedian Mark White

By Shayne Michael:

Mark White is a muti-talented performer who is known as the Extreme Being as well as the one and only Gothic Comedian. In a world where stand up comedians increasingly look and sound the same, he's a performer who dares to wear goth makeup and dress in all black, with fishnets and nail polish and get huge laughs with all kinds of crowds.

The Comedy Etc Show
Fri, 08/19/2011
7:30pm - 8:30pm
At the iCandy Cafe
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-3785

08/012/2011 with headliner
The Gothcomedian Mark White
RSVP To this Show

To date, White has taken on black crowds, Latin crowds, gay crowds, young and old crowds. White has also been named LA Times comedy pick of the week nine times including May 4th, 2006 for his performance of his new one man show Cocken Blocken. He has performed with the biggest names in comedy including performers such as Steven Wright, Jerry Seinfeld, Bernie Mac, Margaret Cho, Andrew Dice Clay, Damon Wayans, Otto and George, Eddie Griffin and George Lopez.

He has also been opened for several musical acts as diverse as folk pop superstar Jewel. He has been a featured poet having performed with such poets and spoken word artists as Jimmy Jazz, Angelo Moore and Maxwell the Poet. Sometimes called the Marylin Manson of comedy, one reviewer sums up his stregths, "I like how he takes racism, homophobia, sexism and all the terrible things in the world and get us to laugh at the absurdity of it."

The Comedy Etc Show Recap: 08/12/2011: The King Of TV Rules

2011-08-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

High energy crowds and performers doing encore sets!

Tonight we upped the anti. We added table cloths and novelty napkins to improve the atmosphere. When you add in the newly painted stage [anyone need any left over black?], the improved backdrop for filming [which we do for free], you wind up with an awesome show. We had great new comers like Rick Wagner and old friends like Ghetto Gospel; we had two former headliners on the list including James Bruce [headliner of the KAS Show the Thinker Part II] and Tymon Shipp [who was so good we called him up a second time to tag on one of Ghetto Gospel's readings]. The energy in the room was maintained to the very last performance, and everyone had an audience up until the show ended at 11:45pm.

Our feature comic Joe FitzGerald was in best form. And headliner Paul Goebel delivered the kind of set that will bring our civilian audience back. We had a lot of civilians this Friday. It made what we do and the reason we do it worth the effort. The only reason we feed or pay comics at the Comedy Etc show is they're really good at comedy. Period. Their TV appearances, how many people they can bring, the comedy clubs they're connected to or the room they run and can trade spots at are completely irrelevant to me. They have nothing to do with being good or bad at stand-up comedy. Comics like Paul, Joe, Tymon and James are the reasons why. When you put on a good show word will spread like it did tonight.

The Comedy Etc Show would like to thank the following performers for gracing the stage:

Emcee Shayne Michael:

Jerry Brandt - LA's gain is Long Beach's loss.
Nick Petrillo
Johnny Flowers
Tymon Shipp
Ghetto Gospel
Anthony Browning
Joe FitzGerald - Feature
Paul Goebel - Headliner
Jeff Leon
Jeryld Brumfield
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
James Bruce
Rick Wagner *
JJ Pazos
Chris Adams - Same comment I made to Jerry earlier.
Chris P.
Jerry Brandt
Rude Morales
Brian Riot - Musician
G.D.A.

Join the Comedy Etc Facebook Group to see the video footage.

Headliner Paul Goebel Rocks A Packed House

Yes, Jerry Brandt went up twice. When he originally went up there was no crowd. As it happens so often in comedy, people started to trickle in after his set, until we had a packed house. Since we had a shorter list I had no problem letting him up a second time around to play for that crowd. Just call us Marty's Part 2. In addition, G.D.A. and Rick Wagner delivered great sets despite being relatively new to comedy. Brian Riot was our grand prize raffle winner taking home a brand new copy of Saturday Night Live Season Two. Five comics won notebooks and not just because they they needed to write, it was also because they were only fifty cents each. One audience member won a Soduku puzzle beacuase we're trying to attract a smarter audience.

In that spirit, in two week's were giving away a chess set.

Next week's big prize a Jazz HD camera!

Next week, Jeff and Jerry will tag team as cohost. I'm in Arizona for a week. We will be giving away a single prize. It will be a Jazz HD video camera, donated by the always kind and generous Celeste. Fans like Celeste are worth 1000 people who only support you in the hopes you'll drive out and see their show. Fans like Celeste are the reason I will put up with anything to make this show expand and work building our mailing list one fan at a time. In order to win, you will have to make the $3 minimum. This is the nicest prize we've ever given away, so asking the performers to support the venue isn't asking a lot. That show on Friday will draw a lot of comics and fans. We will have an awesome headliner in the Gothcomedian Mark White. Our feature comic will be the amazing, which is an understatement, Seven Bless. And our musical guest will be Fliberty Gibbet, who has appeared among other places at the Improv, on Last Comic Standing and in Johnny Flower's Garage. Don't laugh it's a damn good show.

Get on the Facebook Guest List for extra time.

There will be no advance sign ups for this show.

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Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid By

Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

This Friday 08/12/2011: Win SNL Season Two

2011-08-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

This Friday we wanted to give away a prize at the Comedy Etc Show that was not only funny, but also had a place in Comedy History. So this time around, we're giving away Saturday Night Live Season Two. This show is still considered iconic for their live performances from Studio 8H in New York, the original cast of SNL including Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and John Belushi set the tone for years to follow with their irreverent, edgy humor. They combined anti-establishment political satire with rock-and-roll attitude for a show that spoke to the youth of the 1970's, turning it into an instant sensation.

Although only the second year on the air, the 1976-1977 season turned out to be the last for Chevy Chase, but the first for a young comedian named Bill Murray. Murry started out a little shaky but sealed his place with the creation of the lounge singer twowards the end of season two. The complete second season of SNL contains legendary musical performances by artists Joe Cocker, The Band, Brian Wilson, Paul Simon, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Chuck Berry, The Kinks, Santana and Tom Waits and classic appearances by hosts Lily Tomlin, Norman Lear, Steve Martin, Dick Cavett, Jodie Foster, Candice Bergen, Ralph Nader, Fran Tarkenton, Sissy Spacek, Elliott Gould and Shelly Duvall.

The Comedy Etc Show
08/012/2011: 8pm
With headliner Paul Goebel

At the iCandy Cafe
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-3785

RSVP To this Show
Join Our Mailing List

Sixty Seconds With Headliner Paul Goebel

2011-08-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Paul Goebel, nicknamed the King of TV, is an American actor, comedian and television presenter. The UofA graduate entered the stand-up comedy arena shortly after high school. The comics who have inspired Paul include Eddie Murpy, Paul Reiser and Robin Williams. More specifically, Paul looks up to the comics who performed a lot. To date his biggest moments in comedy have included opening for comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Reiser. "Also when Carrot Top said I was funny,” Goebel added.

The Comedy Etc Show
08/012/2011: 8pm
With headliner Paul Goebel

At the iCandy Cafe
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-3785

RSVP To this Show

Find parking at the park

located at Broadway & Cherry

Paul won the TV Land Ultimate Fan Search and has been a contributor to television blog site TV Squad. Paul earned the nickname the King of TV after an appearance on a radio show called The Johnny B radio Showgram. There was a woman who called herself the Queen of TV because she knew a lot about TV trivia. Paul trounced on her and has been known as the King of TV ever since. While his stand-up idols date back to the 1990s, the television shows that inspired him hail from two decades back and include the likes of the Cosby Show, Happy Days, Mork and Mindy and Saturday Night Live.

He currently hosts a weekly pod cast entitled the Paul Goebel show. The most recent episode featured Garry Anthony Williams, who played Stevie's Dad in Malcom in the Middle. The panel includes Goebel, cohost Jim Bruce and Tom Griffin. Guests are invited on the show to discuss television, politics, and any other topic they decide on. The show talks about TV and has interviewed the likes of Tom Lennon, Wendi McClendon-COvey, Greg Grunberg, Jerri Manthey “Danny Bonaduce was amazing and I always enjoy Mike Schmidt,” said Goebel. He is currently working on a gameshow with the guys who produced Beat the Geeks

You can find Paul Goebel on the following websites

The Comedy Etc Show Recap For 08-05-2011: Yvette The Funny Lady Is An Understatement

2011-08-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

Yvette The Funny Lady Rocks Our Stage

I went into tonight knowing that we'd have a packed list and a full house. First off, Jeff Leon and I really want to thank Randy Durkee for building a stage for the show. He did it in only a week's time. And this is the first time in over eight years there's ever been a stage at the iCandy/ former Coffee Haven Friday night open mic. It had a positive effect on everyone's set. Of course, I now need to start lifting weights to set up. But the trade off is worth it. Thanks again Randy, it was a terrific gift.

Our featured guests included Musician Carol McArthur. Damn Carol is an amazing vocalist and an inspirational singer. She brought the energy up 110% and lifted everyone's spirits the moment she took the stage. Our feature comic was Courtney Ca. Courtney is the kind of feature that forces headliners to work harder. Fortunately, our headliner Yvette the Funny Lady was up to the task. But then what would you expect out of someone who killes at Showtime At the Apollo.

Like Yvette's fan page. Seriously, do it or the puppy dies.

Virtually every comic brought something unique to the stage tonight. Also thanks to Wayne Bigweezy Brown. You were hysterical the entire night without ever taking the stage. Meanwhile, in addition to our featured guests the Comedy Etc Show wishes to express our grattitude to the following performers.

Emcee Shayne Michael:

Jake Kroeger - Creator of the Comedy Bureau
Jerry Brandt - Happy Birthday
Chris Adams
Jeryld Brumfield
Christiana
Jeremy Paul
Carol McArthur - Featured Musician
Courtney Ca - Featured Comic
Yvette the Funny Lady - Headliner
James Brown - No Joke Documentary *
David DJ Roy - No Joke Documentary *
Ali Hemrag - No Joke Documentary *
Jeff Leon
Ana Barba
JJ Pazos
Keith Carey
Zack Burns *
Brian Riot - Musician
Tania Morales
Rude Morales - No relation
The Happy Bastard - AKA Nick Harris - Musician
Aiko Tanaka - Former Comedy Etc Feature
Joe Barco

* First time at the Comedy Etc Show

James, David and Ali stopped by from Canada. They're filming a documentary called No Joke. The film is being produced by Shawn Bordoff with the help of award winning film-maker and director Matt Frame best known for Baghdad or Bust. No Joke follows four struggling but extremely committed comedians who honestly believe that all they need is a real break to prove they're funny. They believe in their heart of hearts that they just need to get out of Vancouver, Canada. They are currently filming the climactic ending of the film: a seven city American tour!

Additionaly, tonight was Jerry Brandt's birthday. Co-producer Jeff Leon wrote a song especially for the occasion. However, since Jerry had left the building before Jeff could dedicate the song to him, we taped it and are embeddding it right here. Special thanks to Tania Morales for holding the freshly written lyrics up for Jeff to clearly see. Next week we're back with an exceptional musician from Orange County Lon Milo DuQuette, feature comic Joe FitzGerald and headliner Paul Geobel.

Check out the Facebook Events Page for more details and for early sign ups for the open mic portion of the show.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid By

Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

Former Comedy Etc Featured Performers on Laugh Stub

2011-08-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

Laugh stub is a website that associates a comic with all the major comedy clubs websites. The more fans they have, the more pull. Therefore, here are some former headliners and features from the Comedy Etc Show in Long Beach that you can find on Laugh Stub. They were always chosen for their ability as a stand-up comic, so I suggest you become a fan of all of them.

Adam Gropman: Adam is a really strong writer who headlined on 06/30/2011. This was the night of the famous catch phrase, #@&! Santa.

Aiko Tanaka: Aiko is one of those few people who is funny no matter what she says. She comes off like a fish out of water. She also struck me as incredibily kind and professional the night she featured for us on 12/10/2010.

Aparna Nancherla: Aparna featured for our show on 04/15/2011. People were asking about Aparna for weeks. She's a very tough act to follow.

Awet Teame: When Awet stopped by on 11/26/2010 as a guest at the open mic, she killed towards the end of the line up when everyone was too tired to listen. She came back to feature for the show on 07/15/2011.

Brett Gilbert: Brett is one of the smartest shock comics I've ever met. Yes the audience leaves thinking, "Did he say that." But he uses shock comedy to slip in undertones of social commentary on politics, religion and social hypocrisy. Very few comics who do shock comedy, do it quite as well as Brett. Brett headlined on 06/10/2011, the night of the heckler that was taken away in a firetruck, a police car and an ambulence.

Chris Z: Chris is a warrior comic, the kind who plays the type of hard rooms other comics stay away from. That'w why I met the guy at Michael's Pub, the best damn dive in comedy over the past five years. He graced our stage on 04/15/2011, tax day.

Earl Skakel: I can't say enough good things about Earl. As a comic, he plays the hardest rooms with the smartest material and kills. They class he shows to other performers is unmatched by 99% of the industry. In short, he's a hell of a comic and a hell of a guy. Earl was kind enough to headline for us 12/10/2010, he had also filled in to feature prior to that.

Gayla Johnson: Gayla recently appeared in the Showtime Special Fierce Funny Women. Her act is tight and unique. She headlined for us on 04/08/2011.

Grant Cotter: Grant is like a smarter version of Dane Cook. The high energy comic featured for us on 02/04/2011.

Ina Romeo: Ina is an incredibily gifted comic in the area of brutal honesty. She can command a room that's lost all control. The last time I saw Ina do that was at Serenity Hall, where the audience had started their own show. Ina took that room back in less than two minutes. She headlined for us originally on 10/21/2010 and returned for our third Comedy for a Cause Cancer benefit on 07/29/2011.

John Clark: John was a recommendation from Earl Skakel. Whenever Earl recommends someone I listen. His material is so quick it's like machine gun fire. John came down to headline on 07/08/2011.

Johnny Walker: Musical comic Johnny Walker impressed me on his first visit, because his music had deep political undertones. I'd never seen musical comedy that good, that was based in politics. His second visit he played his song, the Teddy Bear Orgy and proved he could just be flat out silly. Walker was hysterical both times on 07/22/2011 and on 02/25/2011.

Leo Flowers: Leo is like a more socially adept version of Cosby. His powers of observation in comedy are remarkable. That's how he came in as a runner up in the SF Comedy Festival in 2006 and why he headlined for us on 12/17/2011.

Matt Iseman: Back when I ran the Novel Cafe, Matt was my favorite comic to stop by on a regular basis. After five seasons on Clean House, I was shocked I got him to stop by our room on his birthday on 01/21/2011. Don't let the TV credits mislead you, Matt always has been a hell of a stand up comic and a class act.

Natalie Gray: You know an open mic is really doing well when comics the caliber of Natalie show up with comics the caliber of Jason Canning. We were fortunate enough to have Natatlie stop by to feature on 06/24/2011, the night one comic was offered a job at the Mine Shaft.

Plug: Kareem Chapman Plug was a kid with a natural sense of humor who grew up cracking jokes on his family members and classmates. That sense of humor has made him one of LA's most interesting comic-storytellers. His material often leaves me thinking, damn I wish I'd noticed that first. Plug featured for us on 03/08/2011.

Rosie Tran: Rosie reminds me of the popular girl, with an awesome sense of humor that treated everyone with unmatched kindness despite her popularity. She's got excellent material as a comic, but she's also excellent at rolling with the situation when improv comedy is more likely to win the audience over as she proved when she headlined for us on 01/07/2011.

Shayne Michael: I've never featured or headlined for this show. That said, as emcee of the Comedy Etc Show, I am at almost every one. My comedy career began in 1989. My style of comedy tends to lean on the dark side making light of subjects most comics avoid.

The reason I'm pushing these links is that registering with Laugh Stub gets your biography on the Improv's website. Even if, like me, you have no desire to play a comedy club right now, having fans of the club get easy access to your bio and upcomming shows is absolutely a good thing. So I suggest all comics do register with the site. These were the only 16 of our former featured guests who have a Laugh Stub page to promote.

Coming soon, former features who still use their MySpace page. That will be a really easy blog to publish because I think there are only two.

The Comedy Etc Show Presents Yvette The Funny Lady 08/05/2011

2011-07-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

Leaving audiences in stitches The Funny Lady of Comedy “Yvette” is making a lot of noise on the west coast comedy circuit. Best known for the creation of her many down home characters from Sista Chestina to BessyMae Jenkins to Lil Laura.,and everyone’s favorite the Ghetto Gangsta Sista from the hood. Yvette is becoming a household name.. When asked where does she come up with all these characters?... Yvette simply smiles and says it’s “all in the family” Combining her true life experiences with a bit of drama and crazy prop antics Yvette is in a league all her own. Yvette is commonly recognized in the weirdest way…..Yep, you guest it the“Tongue”.The tongue debuted on Hollywood Live hosted by KiKi Shepherd and sent the audience in hysterics! You’d have to see it to believe it! The “Tongue” is literally 6” long, she calls it her “husband taker”.

The Comedy Etc Show
At the iCandy Cafe
08/05/2011: 8:00pm
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 437-3785* Parking at the park at Cherry and Broadway

The Funny Lady of Comedy /practical joker “Yvette” was spotted in a high end hotel behind the floral arrangement giving Denzel Washington a glimpse of the tongue. Needless to say Denzel thought he was seeing things. The tongue has been reported spotted by many celebrities such as Lennox Lewis, Five heartbeats, Eddie Griffin, Dominique Wilkins, Rolanda, and Motha Love, judge Maybeline and many more. A MUST SEE PERFORMANCE generating major after shocks. If you ain’t ready, Get ready The Funny Lady of Comedy will be coming to a comedy circuit near you!

Get on the Guest List now.

See Shayne Michael In San Bernadino 08/03/2011

2011-07-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

Nena's Mexican Restaurant

642 North D Street

San Bernardino, CA 92401
(909) 885-4161

No theme this time-just headliner level comics-and guaranteed laffter!

Come out and see the show gathering steam!

Every week a surprise performer, food and drink specials and it's free!

My Guest List For This Show

Comedy Etc Show Recap For 07/29/2011

2011-07-30T02:38:00.000-07:00

The huge new backdrop thanks to coproducer Jeff Leon.

First off, I haven't had a chance to count the donnations for the American Cancer Society, so I'll do that in a seperate post, but from the look of it, people were very generous. My dad would be very grateful for everyone's generosity. So, on behalf of Jeff and I, a heartfelt thanks.

We also have an incredibly nice, very large, professionally produced and mounted backdrop thanks to the show's co-producer Jeff Leon. The dimensions are 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide. We're working on putting together a raised stage.

As for tonight's show, momentum built very quickly. But then again, when the comics who aren't your featured guests are the the caliber for Tymon Shipp, you can expect a really high quality show. Nick Petrillo had the best debt limit joke. Chris Adams had the best comeback for the emcee; always pay attention to detail before you raz anyone on stage. Everyone had moments where they were really on and stood out. So, we extend our thanks to feature musician Rico, feature comic David Lucas and headliner Ina Romeo. Jeff and I would also like to thank Randy Durkee, Steve Carey and musicians Chris and Brian Riot for gracing our stage for the first time.

In addition to saying it was especially nice to have former Long Beach regulars Rose Hienz, Tim Palmer and Celeste Davis back, Jeff and I would like to thank the following perfomers:

Emcee Shayne Michael:

Chris Adams
Tim Palmer
Randy Durkee *
Steve Carey *
Joe Fitzgerald
Johnny Flowers
Rico - Musical Guest
David Lucas - Feature Comic
Ina Romeo - Headliner
Tymon Shipp
Nick Petrillo
Lenny Shelton
Rose Hienz
Jerry Brandt
Celeste Davis
Jeryld Brumfield
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
Brian Riot!!! - Musician **
Nick Harris - Musician
Rude Morales
The Crazy Russian
Chris - Musician *

* First time at iCandy since the new format began.

** First time at iCandy, and yes, according to the list, his name is spelled with three exclamation marks.

Jeff and I would also like to thank the Comic Bible. The Comic Bible is an amazing trade magazine that I knew back in the 1990s. When I asked who was familiar with it at tonight's show, nobody raised their hands. When I showed the quality of the information they were providing, every comic wanted one. The Comic Bible was kind enough to give us 10 copies to give away, bumping up the cash value of tonight's give aways to more than $100. In return I'm asking all former iCandy Performers do me two favors.

Friend the Comic Bible of Facebook.

Like the Fan Page for their magazine.

Seriously, add them as a friend and like their fan page or the puppy dies.

Let me pretend this is a joke that didn't work and repeat that: add them as a friend and like their fan page or the puppy dies.

At tonight's show we gave away $100+ in prizes

Next week we're back with headliner Yvette The Funny Lady, feature comic Courtney Ca and musical guest Carol McArthur. In all likelihood there will be a camera crew coming in from Canada to film a documentary, so reserve your spots early. I expect a packed house.

Because the people filming the documentary are coming in from Canada, and you can't get much further from Long Beach than Canada, we're going to respectfully reserve the advance signs up spots next week for them.

If you'd like to be a part of that show, get on the Facebook Event's Page Guest List. People on the guest list get extra time, just for putting up with the constant updates.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid By

Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

Comedy Etc: Show Recap For 07/22/2011

2011-07-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty good draw & a high energy crowd

Tonight's show was full of such great energy one performer new to the venue called it the best open mic he'd ever seen. That was probably a little generous. But overall, it was a very good night. All in all, it wasn't our biggest draw, but it was clearly in the top ten. In terms of the positive energy, it was probably in the top five. Nearly everyone did well. There was also an audience there almost until the last performers took the stage. Some of the new performers like A.J. Whitman and Anna Barba were absolutely amazing. Especially amazing was the fact that Anna killed despite saying she'd only been doing comedy for a few months.

Local Long Beach comics, and creators of the Drinking Buddies podcast, Jerry Brandt and Chris Adams were in top form. Some old friends from the music end of the industry stopped by including Cyrus and Ketanna. We got to watch musician Nick Harris try his hand at stand-up comedyy for the first time. All our featured guests were terrific. Johnny Walker, whom I touted for his ability to turn politics into musical comedy, busted out into a song called the Teddy Bear Orgy. It was one of the silliest, yet at the same time the most clever kinds of musical comedy I'd ever heard. I'm still laughing at the line, "Teddy Ruxpin is a slut and Whinney the Pooh takes it up the..."

Never mind, it was really damn funny.

Feature Elton Castee and headliner Vern James did not disappoint. But more importantly, every open mic comic added something unique and memorable to the show. So in addition to thanking our featured guests the Comedy Etc Show and the iCandy Cafe wish to thank all the civilian audience members and the following performers for gracing our stage.

Emcee Shayne Michael:

David Moore
Jerry Brandt
Brandon Jedi
Rafael *
Victor Vega
Derrick Lemos *
Cyrus - Musician
Caleb Porter *
Johnny Walker - Musical Guest
Elton Castee - Feature Comic
Vern James - Headliner
Nick Harris - Musician/ Comic **
A.J. Whitman *
Anna Barba *
Jeryld Brumfield
Keith Carey *
Chris Adams
Joe Caffey
David Marley
Daryl Jimmerson
Ketanna - Musician
David Elqobort
Garry - GDA
Ghetto Gospel - Who defies labels

* First time at iCandy since I took over the room.
** First time doing stand-up comedy anywhere.

Johnny Walker is one damn good musical comic

Next week we're back with our third Comedy For A Cause Cancer Benefit. This show will feature our second returning headliner, Ina Romeo. Our feature comic will be the ever talented David Lucas. And Rico, who runs some of the most awesome shows in the OC will be the night's musical guest. We're going to try to break $200 for cancer research with this show. For those who don't know the story, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer early this year and passed away late May. In his honor, all donnations from the tip jar on the last Friday of the month are earmarked for the American Cancer Society for cancer research.

Also there is a good chance this week, if not next, we'll be giving away ten copies of the Comic Bible to our performers. The Comic Bible is the best print resource for comedy that has ever existed. The publishers were kind enough to give me a copy last week that I was able to share with some of the performers on 07/22. Hopefully, by 07/29 ten performers will be able to take one home with them, in addition to the prizes we give out every week. I highly recommend all comics friend them on Facebook and like their seperate page for the magazine. The caliber of information the Comic Bible put out in the 1990s, has never been matched. Giving us ten copies to give away, will give ten comics a huge advantage in terms of knowing what's current in comedy.

So if you want to attend that show, confirm you're coming on the Facebook Events Page. Putting up with my notices does give you a little extra stage time.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid
Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

Comedy Etc Show Recap For 07/15/2011: Why Comics Should Always Be Paid

2011-07-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

When it comes to quality, the turn out is always there.

I once posted on my Facebook Page a light draw was no reason not to pay the comics. After all, if McDonalds doesn't turn a profit it does not mean their employees do not get paid. Last night the draw was so light comics were trying to give back prizes and pay. But honestly the fact that we have a budget and can pay anyone is why we consistantly get the best of the best. It's also the reason that the draw last week was around 80 people over the course of the night and standing room only throughout the entire show, and the three weeks before that were pretty good too.

We may have had a light draw, but anyone who saw feature comic Awet Teame and headliner Jesse Case, will be coming back. They were both that good.

A light draw is not a legitimate reason not to pay the comics.

McDonalds doesn't make their employees give the money back

just because they didn't turn a profit.

Besdies, last night the draw had to do with factors beyond our control. Realistically, the press had been warning us about the impending shut down of the 405 for months. Carmaggedon had scared people so badly all the freeways were a ghost town last night. It's ahame more people didn't come down. If you believe the posts like "what if we threw a traffic jam and nobody showed up," you could have got anywhere you wanted, including iCandy, in record time. And damn you missed some great comedy and music. In the end however, the fact that we had 20 comics on the list, and 19 who stuck around was probably the best we could have expected to do. Hopefully we can get Awet and Jesse back soon because that was the kind of set it would be ashame for anyone to miss out on. At least three people told me Jesse was one of the funniest and the most original comics they had ever seen anywhere.

In addition to our featured guests the Comedy Etc Show and the iCandy Cafe wish to thank the following open mic comics and musicians.

Emcee Shayne Michael:

Crisp - Musician/ Poet
Jerry Brandt
Nick Petrillo
Johnny Flowers
Lon Milo DuQuette - Musician *
John Talaul *
Dave Greilach *
JJ Pazos
Awet Teame - Feature Comic
Jesse Case - Headliner
Anthony Browning
Kris Rubio *
Christiana Gois
Paul Hamrahan - Musician *
Jeremy Paul
Allan Steiner
Jeff Leon
Rude Morales
Say Em

* First time at iCandy since the new format began.

Nick, I'll get that autographed picture to you soon.

We'd like to appologize to Shane Kanola for not getting to your set before you had to leave. If you'd like to return next week you can have any slot on the list you'd like. I'd like to express our thanks to Paul Hamarhan, Crisp and especially Lon Milo DuQuette. Having a few excellent musicians in the mix always makes it a better show. Lon, I'm still laughing at the, "My grandfather was a bastard line," that came out of nowhere. Kris, Anthony excellent material for something you just wrote that day. Rude, the feeling's mutual we were glad to have you. And Jeremy, you should really use that accent all the time.

Next week we will be back with a full prebooked line up. We kick off that show with the return of musical feature Johnny Walker. The last time around Johnny was probably the funniest musical feature I'd ever seen. Our feature will be the very unique Elton Octavious Castee and our headliner will be former iCandy regular Vern James.

Visit the Facebook Events Page for details.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid
Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

This Friday 07/15/2011 at the iCandy Cafe Headliner Jesse Case

2011-07-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

This Friday at the iCandy Cafe, headliner Jesse Case and feature comic Awet Teame. I couldn't find a bio for Jesse Case the former contestant on Last Comic Standing. So here's a madlib bio I found on his MySpace page. You remember MySpace? The 8 track tape of the social networking world.

If you'd like to attend this show, check out the Facebook Events Page for details.

Comedian Jesse Case

Headliner: Jesse Case is a (gender) stand-up (job), taking the world by (noun)! With a (adjective) (noun) with, and a way of (verb)ing audiences across the (land-mass), leaving them begging for (measurement), a rise to (social status) is inevitable. Perhaps you've seen (he/she/it) on your (appliance), perhaps you saw him (verb) in your town, or perhaps you're (emotion). In (year), Jesse Case won the prestigious (comedy competition.) Having performed in several premier (building)s, Jesse has left (group of people)s (verb)ing, "(DEITY) that was hilarious!"

-Jesse's hobbies include building Lego sets, walking, playing several instruments one at a time, and writing mad-lib bios in the third person. E-mail him if you make a funny/creative one with friends.

On Facebook | On Twitter | On MySpace

Comedian Awet Teame

Feature Comic: Awet Teame is an Eritrean, East African Comedienne with a Bostonian edge. She talks a little about being born in Eritrea, then coming to the States only to discover no one including herself, knew where her country was on the map. An Emerson College Alumnae who moved to LA to pursue her dreams of wearing many hats in the Entertainment Industry including Stand-up and Acting. She was a Casting Assistant on Animal Kidding and Flavor of Love. She served as an Associate Producer on the feature RevoLoution and obtained her first acting credits on a film The Post Woman. You may have seen her Stand-up performances at The Hollywood and San Jose Improv, San Francisco Punchline, Seattle Underground, The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Ice House, Flappers Comedy Club, and at Universities.

Last time Awet was at iCandy, she killed.

On Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | On MySpace

Comedy Etc: Show Recap For 07/08/2011: Matthew Broderick Films Don't Sell

2011-07-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty packed house last night,

Last night we had a full list. We probably had 70 - 80 people go through iCandy last night. Though it was never that packed at any one time. Co-producer Jeff Leon and I would like to thank last night's musical guest, from Sipology Gary Robertson. Gary was kind enough to donate two CDs for the prize give away. Between that and our self produced DVD for former headliner Tracie Walker, nobody was the slightest bit interested in taking any of the two Matthew Broderick films that were offered as prizes.

I would also like to thank the gentleman who donnated the other DVDs including the Terminator and Office Space. I had no clue they were pirated until I opened the case and saw that blank DVD with the words "Terminator" and "Office Space" written on them with a Sharpie. For the record I will never give away that kind of prize because it defeats the purpose of trying so hard to pay the performers if I were to give away pirated DVDs.

Also thanks to our feature comic, the incredibly talented Lea Marlene and our headliner John Clark. Lea you're a wonderful comic. You underestimated the caliber of last night's set. You were just as terrific last night as you were during the set that prompted me to ask you to feature. The audience last night was just a little more subdued; but, they were that way for everyone. John that's the most times I've ever seen a comic use the word "up" in a bit. I was going to work the word "up" as I made up a compliment, but I really couldn't think up how to do that. So after trying to eclipse that bit by upstaging it, I threw up my hands and gave up.

By the way, tell Earl Skakel word up for recommending you.

What else's up. We'd like to give a shout out to the following open mic comics for showing up:

Emcee Shayne Michael:

Sean McBride
Chris Dunham
JJ Pazos
Jerry Brandt
Joe Fitzgerald
Carlos Escobar *
Chris Adams
Cordel Joker Pace
Gary Robertson - Musical Feature
Lea Marlene - Comic Feature
John Clark - Headliner - DC Improv Set
Christina Gios
Jeremy Paul **
Ari Katcher
Jeryld Brumfield
Victoria *
Wyatt Cote *
Alan Steiner
Crispy - Musician *
John Abiskeron
Timothy - Musician *
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
Rude Morales
Seven Bless

* First time at iCandy

Our wonderful feature comic Lea Marlene

** Congratulations to Jeremy Paul for placing 3rd at the 22nd Ultimate Laugh Down last Thursday. Jeremy of course made the joke I get on his case for doing 2nd hand sets at iCandy because he doesn't take the room seriously. I simply pointed out that if he had, maybe Jeremy would have come in first. Or maybe, it wouldn't have taken 22 tries to come in third. Jerry Brandt, maybe I am a slum lord, but at least I own a home. How are you enjoying paying off your landlord's mortgage. Oh wait you're on unemployment and the GI Bill, so I'm paying off your landlord's mortgage. Damn, you win this one, for now.

Chris hysterical new bit. Carolos, Wyatt and Joe great material. Victoria the reason so many people complimented you is you have some amazingly original material. And originality is what really seperates the good comics from the ones that rise to the level of amazing over time. Seven Bless awesome to have you back. You are amazing even when you're just testing new things out. And having you walk into the room absolutely made my night.

A Brief Note On Professionalism

Last night's feature musician: Sipology's Gary Robertson

A note about advance sign ups. They're capped at four because if I signed up everyone who asked in advance last week the list would have been full when the majority of comics signed showed up for the 6:30pm sign up. Don't take this personally, but once I get to four people, I have to start saying no.

Also, the purpose of advance sign ups is to get new people to the venue and give people who don't live in Long Beach a chance to get to the venue when work prevents them from making sign up. This is in everybody's best ineterest because having new people there every week brings an element of fresh faces to the show. If you live in Long Beach, you should be able to make the 6:30pm sign up. You have no freeway traffic to contend with. Additionally, it would defeat the purpose of having any advance sign ups if it was always the same people every week. This is why, as of last week, you can't do the advance sign up two weeks in a row. Also if you don't have a job or only live a few miles outside of Long Beach, please be fair to the comics this was really meant for. If you live ten miles away and no job prevents you from making the 6:30pm sign up, it's really unfair to take the four open spots from the comics who need it.

Finally, we'd like to appologize to David Hallon, Robert Kern and Jimmy K for not getting to your slot before you needed to leave. Next week if you'd like, the three of you may have any slot on the list you'd like. The Comedy Etc Group is about treating comics with respect. If you have no respect for the other performers, you're missing the point. Next week we'll be back with headliner Jesse Case.

Check back soon for the Facebook Events Page.

Final notes. I will be enforcing the policy that those on the Facebook Events Guest list get extra time. If you put up with the updates I think you earned it. Finally please like these two pages. The Joke Gym is one of the best open mics in the Arcadia/ Pasadena area. I was there this Thursday. Every last comic stayed to support everyone else. Every last comic listened to everyone else. And Paula and Scott run that room with an air of professionalism you will never see anywhere else. Like their Facebook Page now. One more will bring them to four hundred fans, and I know that would mean a lot to them. Finally, like the Comic Bible and friend their profile page. They are the original Comedy Bible. The book by Judy Carter doesn't hold a candle to the high quality information they have provided to comedians over the last ten years.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid
Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

Comedy Etc Show Recap: 06/30/2011: F%@#! Santa

2011-07-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

When you book on quality you get an audience

Our show tonight featured the return of former musical gues Debbie Goodman and headliner Adam Gropman. Debbie was formerly with the musical group Your Mom. It was always awesome to introduce her when she played iCandy. How often do you get to say, "Now coming to the stage: Yo mamma?" Since then she has changed the band name to the Streaks, launched a solo effort and released a self titled EP on CD baby. You can find that CD along with all CD's from former musical guests and feature iCandy comics at this page. Debbie also has a Facebook Fan page. You can find that page along with all former featured guests with fan pages here. Adam Gropman, hails from Boston. He's has his own one man show which was highly recommended to me by the producers of Comics on the Spot in Marina Del Rey. He has also been a columnist for the long running Shecky Magazine, which has released the dirt on stand-up comedy since 1999. Both are examples of what you get when you book a show on quality alone. Eventually the audience shows up even when you didn't ask them to.

9 iCandy Perfomers With CDs

It's really a shame because I was going back and forth with a booker from the Comedy Store who bragged, without me some comics who haven't been passed would never play the Main Room. Let me state unequivocally, if you are booking comics with no experience in the Main Room of the Comedy Store you have destroyed all credibility that playing the Main Room gives anyone. Two kinds of comics should play the Main Room. Comics who have been passed by management and comics who are out every night somewhere because, eventually those comics will shoot by the comics who drag ten friends to a new show every other month like a lightening bolt.
Anyhow, in addition to my sincere thanks to our exceptional featured guests last night. Thank you to the following exceptional open mic comics:

Will Couch
Blaine Nelson *
Eric Wech
Rick Wagner *
Johnny Flowers
Cheung King
Henry Torres
Sam Bowen *
Musical Feature: Debbie Goodman
Headliner: Adam Gropman
Amy *
Christian - Musician/ Comic
JJ Pazos - Got the audience to invent his call backs
Say Em *
Keith Stadler **
Greg *
Cash Levy *
Ghetto Gospel - Poet
Ketanna - Musician
Rude Morales *
Andy Kern

* Eight new performers at iCandy.
** First time doing stand-up anywhere.

Musical Guest Debbie Goodman rocks iCandy Again

JJ Pazos had the set of the night. He yelled out, "F!%^!# Santa," during his set. Soon the poet Ghetto Gospel was also calling it out as if it were a call back the audience had invented for the comic on stage without the comics help. Eventually it became the through line for the night. Imagine that, the audience doing the call backs for you. Also thanks to Sam Bowen for stopping by, you had an incredible set. Our appologies for the heat. Unfortuntately, iCandy doesn't have much of a air conditioning system. I'll be looking into some table fans for next week, if the show can afford them. Thanks to Cash Levy for stopping by. Cash was a regular featured guest when I ran the Novel Cafe. Since then he has appeared on Comics Unleashed, the Late Show with Craig Fergeseun and the Bob and Tom Show. Hopefully we can get him to come back to headline the show soon.

We also appologize to Kvon, Tamara and former feature guest Courney Ca. Whenever someone leaves before their set we try to better accomodate them the following week. So the three of you can have any number you'd like if you'd like to stop by next week. Courntey, email me through Facebook about another feature set if you'd like. You were awesome the night you featured for us last year and I'd be grateful to have you back soon. Next week we're back with headliner John Clark, a recomendation from Earl Skakel. When Earl recommends you it's like getting the thumbs up from the Godfather of comedy. Our musical guest will be Gary Robertson, the guitar player and vocalist from Sipology.

Here's the Facebook Events Page for that show.

Support Us & Our Effort To See Comics Paid
Joining the Facebook Group / The Comedy Etc Mailing List
Review the open mic @: Bad Slava / Open Mics dot Org

The Comedy Etc Show Recap: 06/24/2011: The Mine Shaft Is Hiring

2011-06-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Be careful which body parts you boast about. Long Beach comic Jeryld Brumfield was sparing with headliner Vince Harper about the size of his, I'm sure you can finish that thought without me. Anyhow, word got back to the manager of the Mine Shaft and Jeryld was offered a job at the Mine Shaft during his set. The Mine Shaft is the gay club, next to the sex shop next to the iCandy Cafe. The hecklers didn't get to Jeryld. The lack of audience members that comes with going last didn't get to Jeryld. But that job offer really started to mess with his head causing him to stutter through a few lines in his set.

When open mics attract comics like Tymon Shipp....

Last night was our second official benefit for cancer research. We pulled in $58 for donation to the American Cancer Society. This means between the two benefits for Cancer Research we've pulled in about $184 total. Our next benefit show will be held on the 29th of July. This week headliner Vince Harper, feature comic Natalie Gray and musical guest Dean Evans really delivered the kind of sets that would easily pack comedy clubs if comedy clubs booked people on ability alone. There were no hecklers this time. Nobody passed out. Though there was an odd moment when local singer Bud decided to sing his second song in Italian. People passing by probably thought a Roman Catholic Mass was going on inside when that happened instead of a comedy show.

In addition to our three featured guests, the iCandy Cafe and the Comedy Etc Group wish to thank the following open mic comics:

Jesse Case *
Bud - Musician
Eli Olsberg
Johnny Flowers
Joe Fitzgerald
Henry Torres - Musician
Anthony Browning
Tymon Shipp
Jake Weisman *
Andy Kern
Joyce Tauos - Welcome back Joyce
Jerry Brandt
Chris Adams
Darnel Evans *
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
King Cheung
Sam Bowen *
JJ Pazos
Jeryld Brumfield

* New to the iCandy Cafe

... your room will always be packed with a real crowd.

You know an open mic is something special when you can get comics like Jesse Case to make the trek out of LA to a neighborhood with parking in the gay ghetto of Long Beach. Thank you to the comics who were kind enough to allow themselves to get bumped so they wouldn't miss the Metro ride home. The comic who kindly moved his set back so that comic could get home safely may have any place on the list. Next week we will be back with our first show of July and some big surprises tied to the 4th of July weekend. We will also be featuring headliner, and creator of his own One Man show which was highly praised last week by one of the producers of the Comics on the Spot Show. That headliner will be Adam Gropman. We will also be featuring an exceptional musical guest Debbie Godman will make a long overdue return to Long Beach. It will be an all around exceptional show both at the open mic and prebooked level.

Check back soon for the Facebook Events Page.

In the mean time, join the Face Book Group for the Comedy Etc Show. It's dedicated to seeing comics get paid without any guest requirement attached.

The Comedy Etc Show Recap: 06/17/2011 A Night Of Three Firsts

2011-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

First time performer Josphine watches the show

Tonight we achieved three new goals beyond paying our featured performers. This week our tip jar did really well. The venue paid to have us there. And, the Comedy Etc Group produced a DVD for a fellow comic that sold three copies, netting our former headliner Tracie Walker some cash she isn't expecting. Imagine that, making money at a show you're not even booked at. Not only are Jeff and I not charging Tracie to produce the DVD, the first time we see here we're gonna hand over the money a long with a bunch of DVDs she can sell herself.

I challenge all the people who run these, "Bring 10 people to my room for six minutes of stage time to compete with that."

Tracie Walker's Gospel Comedy Now Available

So what else happened? Well one of our musicians, Budd, held a note so long, he passed out. He nearly took the sound system with him and went through thre front window. At the time he was singing the Lord's Prayer. Then after he passed out, he arose from the dead and insisted he finish the song. That shows an amazing dedication I have never seen from any other performer. Of course Jeff and I were both standing behind Bud to ensure he didn't fall through the front window before he finished the song. Don't feel self concious about the incident. Everyone in that room had a sincere respect for your dedication to your craft. You a bar for the night nobody will ever surpass.

That's what happens when the audience holds the laughter in. The performer tries so hard they hurt themselves.

We also had the longest list ever with 25 performers, since the show began with a total of twenty eight performers including one first timer, one former cop/ current pornogrpahy producer who hand't performer stand-up in 10 years and two last minute arrivals who used to frequent the venue when Kerry ran the show. Andy, sorry you had to leave before your set, next week you can have any spot on the list. We'd like to thank headliner Marie DelPetrie for an awesome set. And feature comic Johnny Gold for keeping his promise to stick to classic material. I know that was hard to do, but I respect you for it. Tell Mindy, Jeff and I thank her for letting you perform tonight. In addition, thanks to the following open mic comics.

Johnny Flowers - Only One Set Late
Jerry Brandt
Natalie Grey
Chris Adams
Ricky Rincon
Cyrus - Musician **
Anthony Browning
Bud Morris - Musician
Reggie Flenory
Andres Chavez
Eric Wech
Josephine Pooitevin *
David Moore
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
Nick Petrillo
Christiana Gois
Jeremy Paul
King Cheung
Spanky **
Jeff Leon
Jeryld Brumfield
L. Robb **
Hashi R. **
William Nave **

* First time at performing anywhere
** First time at the iCandy since the new format began

Singer/ Guitar Player Cyrus Passes Through LBC

I choose to get up despite adversity, despite bad luck, despite high gas prices, despite bad sets, despite the low turn outs, despite intense hecklers and all odds stacked against me, not because it's easy, but because it's hard and I have faith in my ability to overcome anything, no matter how unrealistic it may seem.

Next week we'll be back with our third Comedy for a Cause Cancer benefit. Our headliner will be Vince Harper. Our feature will be comedian Natalie Grey. The musical guest is to be announced, but I suspect we will have one, we're going to try to get Ketanna since this is a cause close to his heart. Over the last two benefits we have raised $129 for cancer research, in both incidents donnated to the American Cancer Society. We're going to set a goal to double that. Visit the Facebook Events Page to get on the guest list for this show. We're doing this one right.

The Comedy Etc Show Recap: 06/10/2011: The Four Alarm Heckler

2011-06-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

The ultimate heckler, the kind you remove with a fire truck

What can you say about the show that attracts the most intoxicated guy in Long Beach? What do you do about the guy who heckles everyone until he's removed by an ambulence and a fire truck, at the same time? My thanks to every comic who put up with the insanity, especially tonight's feature comic Nick Petrillo and tonight's headliner Brett Gilbert. This was the worst heckler I've seen in twenty years of comedy. There was a guy who pointed a gun at me in Wyoming who wasn't as bad as tonight's, Mr. "stop talking into that microphone because I need to be the center of attention right now."

Of course the worst heckler of all time drew a crowd

Russell Corona, this was the Rape Joke heckler on steriods without any coherent point. There was one point where Sam, as we like to call him, simply lifted up the cover of the in house piano as if to say, "Screw your regularly scheduled show, I'm putting on my own show now." We tried talking to him. We tried being nice. We tried being mean. We tried making jokes at his expense that would go over his head until the laughter would drown out the heckles. But when all that just led Sam to treaten Nick with the warning, "Watch it, I'm with the Spanish, German, Mexian, Alcholic Mafia," we just stopped the show and giving away door prizes until the cops arrived.

We thought he was gone by Brett's set, Unfortunately, every five minutes like clockwork Sam would pop his head through the glass door to warn us, "I'm calling 911 on you guys." Because that's what the Spanish, Americam, Danish, Cornish Hen mafia does. It was an amazing threat from a guy who brought an empty liquor bottle into the venue the size of Larry Hagman's liver. For the most bi-polar heckler of all time, it was the most epic ending I've ever seen.

If Edgar Allen Poe wrote about a heckler, tonight is what his mind would have committed to the printed page.

Now, rather than focus on that, I'd like to focus on the much more positive happenings. Brett Gilbert walked an amazing line between commenting on the situation tastefully when Sam returned to the room and perfomring his classic material when Sam left the room again. We were also grateful to have our stage graced by four wonderful newcomers to our room, the wondeful writing of Ricky Rincon and the comic stylings of Steve Torres. We were lucky to have our stage graced by a terrific poet Candy as well as a soulful singer Jackie B. It was also nice to see amazing sets from Jeryl Brumfield, former feature musician Ketanna and the always funny and charming [and tonight's birthday girl] Natalie Grey.

Happy birthyday Natalie.

We'd also like to thank the following open mic comics

John Gold
Joe Fitzgerald
Ricky Rincon - New Comer *
Johnny Flowers
The Piano Based Heckling of Sam I Am Not Everisto - King of the Hecklers
Dr. Lu
Natalie Grey
Steve Torres - New Comer *
Candy - Poet *
Jackie B - Musician *
King Chueng
Jeryld Brumfield
Joe Caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
Ketanna - Musician
Will Couch
Jeff Leon

* New Comer

Guess who's at the door with Brett in that position?

We appologize to Laura S., Anthony Browning and Mindy Pickel. Things got a little crazy, and a few people left. Laura, we'd still love to have you back because great musicians like yourself just make it a better room. Anthony, WTF, we were two comics away from calling you onto the stage. Sometimes, I think you show up just to mess with my mind. Mindy, I respect you for sticking up for the little guy, even if I disagree with your final assement of the situation. Next week we'll be back in full gear with a wonderful headliner, finalist from the Eagle Rock Comedy Festival who was recommended to me by a comic who's judgement in quality comedy is bar none. That headliner will be Marie Del Petrie. Check back soon for events pages galore. The following week we will present our third Comedy for a Cause cancer benefit, with all the money in the tip jar going to the American Cancer Society for cancer research.

Thanks to everyone who sat through the craziest night in comedy I've ever endured. If what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I think we can all call ourselves Iron Men right about now.

Comedy Etc: Show Recap For 06/03/2011

2011-06-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Gotta get the job done anyway I can

Emcee, Shayne Michael, was not at this show so that he could attend his father's funeral on Friday and Saturday. Jeff Leon took over hosting duties to keep the show running, in honor of Long Beach Comics, the best kind of comics I know. Here is his recap:

For the The 6/3/11 Comedy Etc. show the pre-show funnies started at the the corner of Broadway and Hermosa at 6:30 PM and came to a temporary crescendo at the doorway of ICandy cafe at about 6:45 as a middle aged chemist in a white paisley shirt pushed a shopping cart containing a leaning tower of sound equipment up Broadway cursing, sweating, and retrieving fallen items all the way. Hey, a co-producer does what he

Christiana Gois unveiled some clever new material. The show peaked with gifted singer Bud Morries serenading comedy veteran Ellen Whomsley and ending the song with a kiss to her hand. Strong newcomer Jeryld Brumfield won the crowd with his very original urban comedy. In his first time here, singer/guitarist Scott Alvarado won the audience over with his impressive guitar chops and was extended an invitation to come back as a musical feature.

Steven Colbert*
Chris Dunham
Gary deWitt Marshall
Chris Adams
John Abiskaron
King Cheung
Ellen Whomsley
Christiana
J.J. Pazos
Jeremy Paul
Bud Morries*
Tim Gale
Jeryld Brumfield **
Joe caffey
Daryl Jimmerson
Scott Alvarado*

Johnny Flowers

* Musician
** New to the Comedy Etc Show

We raised $23 in the tip jar for Cancer Research. This is slightly less than the $106 we raised at the Stevie Mack benefit. However, if we exceed it at the next Comedy for a Cause Benefit Show, I'll match that $23 and double it. This would being Comedy For A Cause's total dent in cancer research up to $150. Believe me I intend to make that # look miniscule by the time I'm done here. The show had its ebbs and flows.

For the first hour there were 10-15 people there. Despite that, we had plenty of quality. At about 8:30 we filled up to about 30 but by 9:30 lots of performers who had performed left. We ended with the same small crowd and good feeling in the air that we started with. Anyone who left because they couldn't get on in time, email me about getting up at next week's show.

Recap by co-producer Jeff Leon.

In memory of Michael Whitehead: 1943 - 2011.

Now, in honor of my dad, it's time to put an exclamation mark behind the Comedy Etc Project people. I ain't playin anymore.

Comedy Etc Show: Recap 05/27/2011

2011-05-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

For next week's show anything place in the tip jar will again go to the American Cancer Society, in honor of my dad who passed away today at a Mesa Hospice at 8:55am. I was on my way to Arizona to see him for the weekend when I got the call right outside of Indio. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it home fast enough to be there before he passed.

Last Night's Show Summary

Headliner Matt Claybrooks Rocks The Room

This week we featured only one special guest, headliner Matt Claybrooks. We were giving the former writer for Everybody Hates Chris and consultant on Chris Rock's No Appologies Tour a well desrved concert set to honor his eight years in comedy. Despite a high speed chase that badly shut down the 405 we had a pretty full list and a good size audience. We said hello to new friends like Eric Wech and JJ Pazos. Former feature Dennis Vargas stopped by as did Tymon Shipp, so there was an incredibily high caliber of comics leading into Matt's set. We'd like to thank Kwest for putting a personal touch to honoring Matt's eight years in comedy. Jeff Leon and I would also like to thank the following open mic comics.

Andres Chavez
Jake Kroeger
Russell Corona
Yuvi Greewall
Eric Wech
Joe FitzGerald
Tymon Shipp
Dennis Vargas
Jack - Poetry
Ellen Whomsley
Ghetto Gospel - Poetry
Chris Adams
Jeff Leon
JJ Pazos
Joe Caffey
King Cheung
Daryl Jimmerson
Johnnie Flowers

Tania, thank you for your support today. Justine Dorsey, we're sorry you weren't able to stay for your set. Eric, thanks for the kind words. It's the caliber of the comics we attract that create that positive energy. Being primarily frequented by comics, I can't tell you how much we appreciate the occasional musician and poet. If you'd ever like to come back let me or Jeff know and we'll get you up in any slot you'd like. Ellen, it was great to have you back. Thank you Ghetto Gospel and Jack for bringing those poetic verses to our stage. Jack, I might never agree with you politically, but I deeply respect your ability to write some incredibly memorable verses.

Next week, Jeff Leon will serve as host. I will be in Arizona for my father's funeral. My dad recently died of stage four bladder cancer. I have a few articles about the recent days and his early life on my Facebook Fan Page. I will be instructing Jeff, since there is no headliner for this show, that all proceeds, both from the tip jar and the weekly budget will be donnated to the American Cancer Society for Cancer Research. The supporters of iCandy are some of the best comics I know and clearly the most generous. I know this because our first Comedy For A Cause show netted us $106 for cancer research with only 18 people in the room.

Here's the Facebook Guest List for this show.

In memory of Michael Whitehead 1943 - 2011

Tomorrow At The iCandy Cafe: Headliner Matt Claybrooks

2011-05-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

Guest List For Tomorrow's Show

Comedy Etc: Show Recap For 05/23/2011: Wow

2011-05-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Again a good sized crowd stays until the last act.

Over the last six months we've paid out over $1000 to LA comics, we've managed to arrange to drive one headliner from LA to the show and safely back home and occasionally, we also have what I'd call the perfect show. These are the kind of nights when all the open mic comics are amazing. The featured guests just rock the room. And our feature musician is the perfect compliment to an already amazing line up. Last night was that and more. I only wish I'd gotten more pictures because it was an amazing evening. Unfortuntately, the batteries in mine went dead.

The theme for the night was Pride in Comedy. I chose the title, to compliment the theme of the Long Beach Pride weekend, a yearly event to honor gay rights. That said, last night's show wasn't about gay or straight comedy, it was about pride in who you are. That's the main reason I wanted Tamiko Kirkland and Carly Carr to co-feature. And they both delivered sets that had a headliner-level caliber to it. I asked Rags Moody III to return due to the positive and uplifting nature of his music. He was the perfect compliment to the energy Tamiko and Carly bring into the room. Because of the generosity of our crowd, we were able to overpay everyone involved in the show. Take generous care of our wonderful new barrista and really give back to the room.

Comics like Derrick Fennley and David Moore were astounding. Our returning poet, Ghetto Gospel, from nearly five years back when the venue was still called the Coffee Haven brought back an air of nostaglia to the room. And Seven Bless, wow. Just wow. You are more amazing than nine tenths of anyone on any comedy club bill. And even then number ten would just be keeping up with you. Wow. In addition to thanking our new barrista, thanks to Shay, owner John, our civilian crowd and doorman Kwest, we'd like to thank and honor the following open mic comics.

Andrew Chavez
Alice Yoo
Nick Petrillo
Henry Torres - Music
Andy Kern
Bob E. *
Chris Adams
Tymon Shipp
David Moore
Jeff Leon
Derrick Fenley
Ghetto Gospel - Poet*
Will Couch
King Cheung
Daryl Jimmerson
Joe Caffey
Joe Barco
Seven Bless *
Johnny Flowers
Bobby Kern

* First time at i-Candy since the new format began

Dead batteries. The pics don't do last night justice

We also had a heckler to close out the show. He mercilessly interrupted Bobby Kern's set, until Bobby just put the mic away gave up. The heckler was actually interrupting Bobby on the setup in most cases, so he wasn't really listening. Seriously, guy. You can verbally abuse Bobby Kern? Amazing life skills. What are your other talents? Beating up a baby dolphin with a baby seal? Everyone who left early will be happy to know, the mild-manner host, took the stage after Bobby's set, doing a little extra time after the last comic for no other reason than to rip that heckler a new one. He ended up walking out during my set as we relentlessly made fun of his idiocy and utter lack of ettiqutte. Then we turned the negative energy he created into a chance to show our support for the new barrista and the venue. He lost the bettle on every single level of the playing field last night and walked out with his tail between his legs, and the venue was actually happy to watch it happen.

Next week we'll be back with one special guest. It will be Everybody Hates Chris writer Matt Claybrooks who will be celebrating his eighth anniversary in comedy. Check out the Facebook Events Page for more detauils.

By the way Seven did I mention you were amazing?

Tomorrow At The iCandy Cafe

2011-05-20T01:01:00.000-07:00

Rags Moody III

Tamiko Kirkland

Carly Carr

Facebook Guest List

Comedy Etc Show Recap: 05/13/2011: Better Late Than Never

2011-05-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes to get stage time you have to play a garage

On 05/13/2011 our headliner had to cancel so our show to honor Long Beach comics will need to happen at another time. Day jobs will do that to you. We had a shorter open mic list, and not nearly the civilian draw we had last week. What can you do? We drew almost twenty five civilian audience members last week with no promotion at all. That's what booking good comics will do over time. So, we're going to be expanding anyway. A few notes about that will follow below.

In the mean time the Comedy Etc Show would like to thank the following open mic comics.

Alice Yoo*
Jerry Brandt
David Moore
Christy Acock*
Jeremy Paul
Yuvi
Dr. Lu
John Gold
Mindy Pickel
Bobby Kern
King Cheung*
Jeff Leon
Joe Caffey
Darrel Jiminson

* First time at iCandy

Also thanks to the comics who showed up late after the show had come to a close. In the mean time, I'm announcing that the Comedy Etc Show will be expanding in the months to come. It's time for something to rise from the ashes of the Comedy of yesteryear. It's time for those who nuture talent to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and those who shun it in favor of half-ass performers who turn people off to comedy to be shunned like the cancerous growth on comedy that they are.

Tomorrow, Pride in Comedy featuring Rags Moody the III, Tamiko Kirkland and Carly Carr. The comic line up was chosen for a strong sense of self identity. Our feature musician Rags, has an uplifting side to his musical gifts that will compliment them nicely. The Facebook Events Page is now up. It is Long Beach Pride, so leave early to find parking.

Host/ Comedian Shayne Michael At The Long Beach Town Center

2011-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

This was a clip from a recent show at the Long Beach Town Center at Carson and the 605. The video camera was a little far from the stage so the audio didn't come out quite as well as I hoped it would, but it was still a really good show. Thanks to Rico Fisher for putting on a great show and promoting it so a real audience would actually show up. Whenever you see a show in the Long Beach/ Orange County area with Rico Fisher's name attached, just assume you're going to see a good show.

The Comedy Etc: Show Recap: 05/06/2011: A Great Night

2011-05-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

A great turn out of civilian/ nonperformers.

I did very little to promote last night's show. So our turn out is all from our dedication to quality. But last night was about so much more than quality comedy. Last night was about respect. How many LA shows do you know with the kind of fans the will go to LA, pick up their headliner, and have multiple volunteers to get them safely back home to LA, in a time of $4.25 gas? All I have to say about that is wow and thanks, Jeremy Paul. Thanks Tania Morales. That was the kind of respect for performers that could bring comedy back to what it was during the 1980's Comedy Boom.

What did you miss? Great comedy,
free chocolate and great food.

Because of this respect for the art, virtually everyone had a great set in front of about twenty civilian audience members. Because we didn't have a marathon line up, that civilian audience saw and enjoyed virtually everyone on the line up, featured performer and open mic alike. Even people who hadn't done comedy in years were amazing. Our sole musician was amazing. The new staff member serving our loyal fans was equally great. Feature comic Adam Rank and headliner Tracie Walker lived up to their potential, and they both have a hell of a lof of potential. Last night was the kind of night you live for in comedy.

Our motto is excpect excellence. Well for last night, excellence was delivered all across the board. Thanks to the following open mic comics and musicians:

David Moore - Good to have you back
Daniel Eachus - Follow this guy's blog
Jerry Brandt - Support Jerry/ Chris Adam's Cancer Benefit at the Art Theatre
Bo Dagwood Lotti
John Russell*
Bill Lyday*
Jeremy Paul
Tania Morales
Kyle Ramods*
Ryan Gray [Musician]*
Franchise

* First time at the iCandy Cafe since I took over hosting.

It's like magic; simply booking comics of Tracie
Walker's caliber makes the audience appear

The list was actually longer as we had five comics show up after we wrapped up. Try and be there by 9pm, because the show has to be over by eleven we can't stretch time out beyon eight minutes. So when we have this few sign ups to start the show, if you show up at 10:30pm, there's a good chance the show will be over. That said, thanks to Joe Barco, Mindy Pickel, John Gold, Bobby Kern and Johnny Flowers for trying to support the room. Thanks to Mindy and Joe for helping me tear down and clean up. But more than that, thanks for the class it took to support a room and stick around to wish me a happy birthday, when the show was over and any chance for stage time had passed. Did I mention there was an air of class last night LA comedy almost never sees?

To all our resident poets, wish you had attended last night, you would have turned a great show into a classic show. Next week we're back to honor Long Beach comedians with headliner Chris Adams and feature Jerry Brandt. The Facebook Events Page will be up soon.

Former Headliners, Features and Musical Guest With Facebook Fan Pages

2011-05-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

The idea behind a Facebook fan page was to allow entertainers to get around the 5,000 friend limit. At the iCandy Cafe we've had a few performers who have these Facebook fan pages. But honestly they're a little hard to find. So here's a list of the comics, musicians and poets that featured for us with Facebook Fan pages. If you'd like to become a fan click on the comic's name and then click on the "like" button next to their name at the top of the page. With each performer, I tried to give you an idea who would most like their style.

By the way, this page is no way a ruse to get anyone to like the Shayne Michael's: Fan Page.

The Comedians

Adam Rank: Adam Rank is a writer for NFL.COM who made his TV debut on the NFL's Fantasy Football Preview. He quickly made a name for himself with his quick wit, keen observations and proving that no topic is off-limits. His take-no-prisoners approach has made him a favorite in Orange County

Aiko Tanaka: Aiko one of the comedians who's funny between jokes. Aside from being beautiful, professional and funny, she already has 937 fans, so obviously Aiko doesn't really need our help here. You'll like Aiko if you like comedy that's a little avant-garde with an Asian flare.

Brett Gilbert: Brett is one of the few comics who does shock comedy correct. It's both abrasive and very intelligent at the same time. He's fun to listen to because he constructs the joke so well the people he's making fun of are unlikely to realize they're being spoofed.

Courtney Ca: The best comedians are hysterical in the worst situtations. Courtney impressed me most with her improv/ in the moment skills. Currently, she has 25 Facebook fans. That number should be a lot higher.

Daniel Eachus: Daniel is a younger/ one-liner comic. I didn't see him try to progress into story-telling until recently with a five minute bit on a practical joke at Dennys. That's when I realized Daniel had risen to another level in comedy. I also believe there's a reward if you see this guy without a hat on.

Debbie Lockhart: As our show producer Jeff Leon said, Debbie is the kind of girl who punctuates every single joke with every movement of her body. She's quick witted. People who enjoy her with like comedy with an inuendo of a slight sexual flare.

Deirdre Richards: The second person we featured on our Saturday Nite Stand-Up Spotlite. Deirdre is feisty, original and a a machine gun of rapid fire comedy.

Drew Mercury: Drew is stand-up comic who resides in Irvine California and hails from Freeport, New York. He has only been in comedy for a short while. Despite that, he has a keep power of observation much like Seinfeld. He tends to notice the small things people overlook that bind us together with laughter.

Grant Cotter: Grant is a little like Debbie in that he's all over the place. Like Courtney, he also has a talent for improv and rising above difficult situations.

Jeremy Paul: Jeremy Paul has a talent for staying on one subject for extended periods of time. He is a founding member of The Akaaba Group, a group of similarly unique comedians.

Lang Parker: Lang's the Tom Boy of comedy who comes off like she could beat up Nancy McKeon. That said, she's has a delivery similar to Paula Poundstone, except she's not at all political on stage. This is the comic that Buddy Hackett said, "You're a star," to on Last Comic Standing, shortly before Hacket passed away. Hackett underestimated this girl.

Leo Flowers: Leo Flowers is something like Bill Cosby in terms of his stroy telling ability. But then again he also has insight on occasion the likes of Bill Maher. Flowers tends to live in the middle of both worlds. You'll like him most if you like clean, observational comedy.

Marie DelPetrie: Marie headlined iCandy the night a singer held a note so long he passed out. Thank god it happened after her set because that's a lot of pressure to put on anyone. Awesome comic, highly recommended by several very respectable comics.

Matt Claybrooks: If you like Chris Rock, you'll like Matt Claybrooks. He's just as edgy, just as insightful and just as talented at holding hypocrites' feet to the flame. The fact that he only has 2 Facebook fans needs to change ASAP.

Matt Iseman: The Go-To Guy on the Style Network's home makeover series Clean House. Matt, who was a doctor before moving to LA, is one of the best examples of clean comedy I know. He reminds me a lot of Brian Regan, but a little more subdued.

Natalie Gray - When Natalie Gray stopped by with Jason Canning one night, both comics immediately impressed me as being polished professionals. Fortunately, I was able to get Natalie back to feature. I'm not sure to this day, if Jason Canning ever saw the mail,

Natisha Anderson: Natisha is a smart, edgy and funny comic who calls out racist with metaphors about unicorns. She's always funny, even in between the jokes. If you'd like Maria Bamford with a slight political, social and cultural edge, you'll love this young comic.

Plug: Plug was a kid with a natural sense of humor who grew up cracking jokes on his family members and classmates. That sense of humor has made him one of LA's most interesting comic-storytellers. His material often leaves me thinking, damn I wish I'd noticed that first.

Rosie Tran: Rosie reminds me of the pretty cool girl that you grew up with, that never looked down on those less popular than her. Always funny, always good natured, Rosie has no problem finding fans these days, which doesn't surprise me at all.

Seven Bless: Funny, sassy and amazing virtually every time she takes the stage. The first time I saw her perform I was blown away. Despite being very late in the line up, she stood out from the opening to her closing line.

Stevie Mack: He has the same boisterous personality of Stevie Mack. When he headlined our first Comedy For A Cause benefit for cancer research, we raised $126 with only 18 people in the room. He gave 110% on stage.

Tymon Shipp: Tymonn is the Cosby of this era. This corporate comic who has a minor edge due to working for the probation department is always spot on for any show.

The Musicians

Adrian Watkins: Adrian is an exceptional singer and guitar player. Most recently he was invited to play the OC County Fair. Every time he's played iCandy he's topped his previous performance, which is not easy to do.

Debbie Goodman: The once former Long Beach resident graced our stage on 06/30/2011. Still an amazing vocalist and performer. Debbie draws all music from personal experience and lists a wide and diverse range of major influences including: Pink, Sarah McClachlan, Paul Oakenfold, Janis Joplin and Nirvana.

Desperado Orchestra: This duo consist on a guy who plays guitar and a girl who plays violin. Their music has an upbeat reggae side to it.

Judson and Mary: Much like the Desperado Orchestra, the guy plays guitar and harmonica. The girl plays violin. This duo has a hint of Bob Dylan, the Eagles and just about every classic rock band I can name. As a duo, or Judson McKinney solo, these are two of the best local musicians I have ever heard.

Kiddauno: A great rapper/ performer that I met at Hallenbecks in the NOHO district. The Facebook fan page is new or there'd be a lot more activity on it.

The Poets

Eric Morago: Eric, who recently released an album, I don't like Straws, is one of iCandy's best resident poets. His lyrics about love and romance are the kind that you remember in your sleep as you think, "Damn I keep going through all those same issues too."

Hustle Diva: Hustle Diva is the kind of poet that will become famous even if poetry itself never will. She's beyond interesting and easy to listen to, she's the kind of poet that will compel her audience to pursue their passions and become better people all at the same time. I can't recommend following this young poet enough.

The Wrap Up

Now, anyone I left off, who headlined, featured or served as a featured musical guest, I couldn't find a fan page for. Who on that list do I absolutely recommend following from each category. That's a no brainer: Comedian Matt Claybrooks, musicians Judson and Mary and poet Hustle Diva. Oh and if you like my, akin to a Steven Wright who evolved beyond one-liners, Shayne Michael's Fan page is Right Here.

KAS Comedy For A Cause Cancer Benefit Tops Tip Jar With $106

2011-04-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Headliner Stevie Mack gives more then 110 percent

Last night we hosted the first KAS Comedy For A Cause Variety Show. The idea was to donate all the proceeds from the tip jar to a reselected charity. This month that cause is cancer research. Despite a smaller draw, headliner Stevie Mack, feature comic Jay Ko, musical guest Peter Axel Prins and special guest Will Morton managed to draw more into the tip jar than any other show in Comedy Etc history. This first entry into KAS Comedy For A Cause history raised an even $106 for the cause. While it might not sound like a lot of money, it's more than double the tips we usually make. Now, we’re going to host five more charity drives for five different causes the last Friday of May, June, July, August and September. And after the five months is up, the Comedy Etc Group will take the show that drew the best and made the most for its cause to a bigger venue.

In addition to our featured performers, the iCandy Café did what it does best last night, draw a variety of performance types. We drew three great musicians, Bud Harris, who honestly sounds like he’s straight from an American Idol Audition. We also drew the always talented Ketana and Doug Button. But in addition, the night would not have been complete without an exceptional poet, which we found in CSULB’s James Harris. Though, according to James it's called spilling, not poetry. Having James and Bud back on the same night made for an exceptional night, even when the show was little more than an open mic.

As one of the comics said, you’ll see better performers at your average open mic than you will at the Comedy Store, the Ice House or the Laugh Factory. I agree 100 percent. It’s also cheaper and there’s no two drink minimum. In addition to our feature guests, we’d like to thank the following open mic performers.

Derrick Fenley*
Jeff Leon
Yuvi
Joe Fizgerald
Andy Kern
Jeremy Paul
Chris Adams
Bud Morris
Anthony Browning
Joe Caffey
Ketana
Darrel
Doug Button
James Harris
Johnnie Flowers

* First time playing our room

Our new improved set at the Comedy Etc Show

Next week we’re back with the KAS Comedy Etc & Open Mic Variety Show. For this special installment that will fall a day after my 40^th birthday, what I really wanted was to have back headliner Tracie Walker. Our feature comic will be the always talented Adam Rank. And the musical guest, who is joining our stage for the first time, will be Amanda Holmes. Just listen to some of Amanda's music, she's an exceptional addition to our listed of featured musical performers. Check out the Facebook Events Page if you want to be on the reservation list/ which always gives performers extra stage time or if you want more details. And thanks again to everyone who donated last night. Considering it was a smaller draw, about ten performers and ten civilians, I think we can say we did very well last night.

Comedy Etc Introduces Comedy For A Cause

2011-04-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

Over the past six months the Comedy Etc Show at the iCandy Café in Long Beach has used a small $35 budget and the tip jar to pay local comics, musicians and poets more than $1,000. Tomorrow, the Comedy Etc Show is taking on a new challenge. We’re creating a new monthly event: The KAS Comedy For A Cause Show. Every last Friday of the month all funds from the tip jar will go to a new charity. Six months from now, we’ll choose one of our first six causes and host an even bigger fund raiser in an even bigger venue. This week, our show with headliner Stevie Mack, will be an effort to help fund cancer research.

KAS Comedy Etc Show
In Cooperation with the iCandy Café

Presents

Comedy For A Cause:
Cancer Benefit
8:00 - 8:30pm
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA
90802: (562) 437-3785
　
In 2009, the National Institutes of Health estimated the 2008 overall annual costs of cancer totaled $228.1 billion. The direct medical costs were $93.2 billion. The indirect mortality costs were $116.1 billion. That means a lot more people died than got better. Moreover, the lack of health insurance prevents many Americans from even getting good, basic health care. When cancer becomes involved treatment can become prohibitive. These individuals with no health insurance and those with Medicaid insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer, which in most cases is not treatable. Because most performers live paycheck to paycheck, we will all know someone who lives through this scenario before too long. For those who can afford treatment, the two widely used treatments for cancer include chemotherapy and radiation. Ask anyone who’s watched a friend or loved-one endure either, and you’ll quickly conclude there needs to be another option.

How can a tip jar put a dent in a disease that killed a half a million people in 2009?

I know the first question you might ask is, how can a tip jar that averages $60 on a good night, do anything to put a dent in a disease that killed a half a million people in 2009? The same thing was probably said about Comic Relief, an organization started in 1985 to raise money for the homeless in the UK. Despite this, since it’s inception, Comic Relief has raised over $650 million pounds for that cause. That $650 million at some point began with a simple $60 donation. And to date, you can hardly count how many people are better off because someone allowed that small vision to snowball into the huge charity organization it is today. Jeff Leon and I started Comedy Etc with an attempt to institutionalize the idea that entertainers should be paid to perform. Now we intend to add in the good that comes from giving back to the community into the equation. So keep your eye out for Comedy For A Cause, because this won’t be the last charity we take on.

What Musicians Can Get Out of the Comedy Etc Open Mic

2011-04-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Local musician Steve Colbert at the in house piano

For musicians we offer a few things nearby open mics in Long Beach don’t.

First we’ll give you two songs. The two most popular local open mics will only give you one. With our Samsung Expedition sound system, it’s just a matter of plugging in, even with if you‘re performing in small groups. We also have an in house piano and we always have multiple mics. And we’ll even plug your album if you have one at our page entitled Eight iCandy Performers With CDs. In each show, we have guest spots in every open mic for a featured musician who performs an extra song and is fed on the house. We’ll plug you in the write up after the show, especially if there’s something special and unique about your music. We maintain a growing mailing list. And, every single show we do is promoted in more than ten different places, so we almost always have an audience of non-performers at the show. We also have giveaways to keep them there, so we’re constantly increasing our draw.

Yes there’s more comedy than music there, but that will never imply that poets and musicians aren’t welcome. Kerry Arnold Stephens, the comic who created the iCandy open mic, did one thing very well. He created an environment that embraced all performers: comics, poets and musicians alike. Hence Kwest’s poem, “Who will you see? Sometimes a girl from off the street who just likes to ring a bell.“ It’s this kind of mix of performers that not only creates the best open mics. Primarily, that’s because you’re usually performing in front of someone new, which gives you a fresh read. But a mix of different types of performers always makes you a much better performer. Who teaches a musician to craft the best lyrics better than the best Long Beach poets? Who teaches you the value of rhythm better than the best Long Beach musicians? And who teaches you how to keep an audience engaged and smiling better than the best Long Beach comics?

Why do we do all this? Because at iCandy, we harbor the deepest respect for all genres. That’s why our headliners, who are paid performers, have included musicians, poets and comedians. In the opinion of the Comedy Etc Group, all performers should be treated with this level of respect, at the very least, if not they should be treated with a hell of a lot more. That's why there will be a sense of grattitude that you were there in the first place. That’s also why you will always hear: "Thank you, please come back," after your set is over and you leave to go home out the front door.

The iCandy Headliners: The Best of LA's Best

2011-04-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Carlease Burke	Chris Ramirez	Chris Z
David Zasloff	Debbie Lockhart	Earl Skakel
Eric Edwards	Eric Morago	Gayla Johnson
Gina Rodgers	Hustle Diva	Ina Romeo
James Bruce	Lang Parker	L.G. Ross
Leo Flowers	Mark Fernandez	Matt Claybrooks
Matt Iseman	Richard Weiss	Rosie Tran
Roy Cruz	Tracie Walker	Tymon Shipp

Join our mailing list to hear about more great upcoming shows.

The KAS Comedy For A Cause Cancer Benefit Welcomes Headliner Stevie Mack

2011-04-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Headliner 04/29/2011 Stevie Mack

You’ve seen Stevie Mack on NBC, UPN, Last Comic Standing, HBO, SpikeTV, BET, Discovery Health Channel, the Howard Stern show, E! - True Hollywood Story, VH1, MTV, in movies, music videos and commercials.

This Friday comedian Stevie Mack will be part of a series of charity benefit shows. Every last Friday of the Month the Comedy Etc Show in cooperation with the iCandy Cafe will be hosting Comedy for a Cause. In each show, all funds from the tip jar will go to a preselected charity. This Friday everything going into the tip jar is going to cancer research.

KAS Comedy For A Cause
Headliner Stevie Mack/
Feature Jay Ko/
Musical Guest Peter Axel Prins

iCandy Cafe: Friday April 29th: 8:00 - 8:30
1708 E. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 437-3785
Facebook Events / MySpace Events

In the 90’s he began producing so many comedy shows comics began to say, “Stevie Mack will put up a comedy show anywhere! Even at a fast food drive thru...LOL” Crowned the King of Comedy Walk, he continues to build a dedicated following while headlining at major clubs and universities across the country guiding the audience with his quick wit and savvy style, allowing guest to feel connected to his humor on an interpersonal level.

He expanded his improvisation and acting skills by joining the Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade improv troupes. He is the writer and host of Stevie MAck Radio™ and Stevie Mack TV™.

Annoucing Comedy Etc: For One Night Only

2011-04-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

We go all out and then some.

If you're looking to fill up a slow night, but you don't want the risk of offering a budget or an ongoing thing: we've invented a show just for you. It's a one night only prebooked show. We will select the best three comics and a guest musician for a one-night only themed stand-up comedy show.

If you're worried about the subject matter, you can speficy that you want clean comics only. You select the date, preferably one month in advance to give us time to promote it. We will charge a marginal cover, $5 and do all the promotion. All funds coming from the door will go towards paying the three invited guests. All food and drink sales you will keep.

The goal would be to bring as much business as possible to your slowest night and we would be methodical in our attempt to turn that new business into return customers.

We will provide the backdrop so that filming becomes an advertisement for your establisment. We will provide the sound system and stage lights. We have access to LA's best comics. If it works you can do it again, if it doesn't you've lost nothing.

The ideal venue would be realtively close to Long Beach and have:

An exceptional menu my coproducer and I could really pump up
Be clean and well maintained in appearcance
Have adequate street parking
And have good foot traffic.

Our goal in this new show type is to find venues that we can build a reputation and a customer base for over time so that doing another show would be a win-win situation. If you think your venue could use a one time special event to bring new loyal customers in, email Shayne Michael, and we'll set up a date.

You have everything to gain and nothing to loose.

The Comedy Etc 8th Anniversary Show Recap

2011-04-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Resident poet Kwest/ G-Pimpin' works the door.

Last night the iCandy Café did what the Comedy Store, the Ice House and the Improv rarely do, if ever. It invited nine special guests on talent alone. Then it paid them for doing their job, thus creating a show worth seeing from beginning to end. Last night, the kind of talent that graced our stage was the level of talent that helped earn places like San Francisco’s Holy Zoo a slot in the history of the evolution of comedy. Last night the Chris Rocks, the Rita Ruders, the Steven Wrights and the Louis C.K’s to be, were in Long Beach, fighting the closure of the bridge at 7th street to participate in our 8th Anniversary Street.

For more photos, check out the Facebook Photo Album for this show.

The crowd builds/ great perfomers will do that.

For this eighth anniversary show we invited two special guests and nine headliners which included three exceptional six comics and three musicians. But those eight weren’t the entire story. I once wrote on Matt Claybrook’s, writer for Everybody Hates Chris, it’s not the stage that makes a place special, it’s the performers who grace that stage. When the people you didn’t invite on talent includes: Chris Adams, Jerry Brandt, Jeremy Paul, Rose Heinz, Anna Lane, Mike Kirschenbaum, Nick Petrillo and Chris Dunham you have show nobody will forget. It becomes the comedy show comedy clubs should be booking, even without the invited guests.

The open mic with production value plus.

When the musicians you didn’t know were coming include a newly formed band formed by a 14-year-old Henry Torres, a guy named Bud, who’d last any American Idol audition, Doug Button, Scott, Will and Kristen you have an audience that will walk away grateful they had the chance to see these up and coming musicians while they were still free to watch. When a poet the caliber of Hustle Diva does a guest set right before your second headlining musician: Rags Moody the III reads two pieces on perseverance and love, you have the kind of show that may change lives.

But when the paid performers you did invite to intermix with that talent includes Deidre Richards, Drew Mercury, Adrian Watkins, Richard Weiss, Lang Parker, Rags Moody III, Mark Fernandez, James Bruce and Judson McKinney you are putting on the show that, if the Ice House had any sense, it would be booking right now. You have the kind of show that only happens once every eight years. So in honor of eight years of stage time and 7500 minutes. With our thanks to the iCandy Café, its owner Jon, baristas Shay and Candy, resident poet Kwest and the show’s creator Kerry Arnold Stephens, the Comedy Etc Show wishes to thank the following performers.

Deirdre Richards
Chris Adams
Henry Torres - Musician
Drew Mercury
Jerry Brandt
Joe Barco
Jeremy Paul
Rose Heinz
Adrian Watkins - Musician
Daryl
Kwest - Poet
Joe Caffey - Comic/ ventriloquist
Anthony Browning
Richard Weiss
Matt Claybrooks
Kirk Moses *
Ketanna - Musician
Lang Parker
Anna Lane
Mike Kirshembam *
Bud * - Musician
Chris Dunham
Hustle Diva - Poet
Rags Moody III - Musician
Scott Alverado * - Musician
Doug Button * - Musician
Will and Kristen *
Mark Fernandez
Johnny Flowers
James Bruce
Judson McKinney - Musician

* First time at the iCandy since the new format began.
Bold type indicates was a special/ invited guest.

Unfortunately former iCandy host Kerry Arnold Stephens could not attend because he was not feeling well last night. Our applogies for anyone who may have attended last night to see Kerry.

Adrian Waktins was so good, he did two sets.

Last night also marked the appearance of more seating, a new backdrop, with bigger six inch lettering to make taping look like it’s occurring at a professional who. You’ll know how much money Jeff and I sank into it when performer clips start to appear on Youtube. Last night marked prize four give aways including DVDs like Eddie Murphy Delirious, Louis C.K. Hilarious and Louis Black’s: Stark Raving Black. Last night included a special gift to one musician who clearly wasn’t expecting to leave with a $20 gift certificate to Sam Ash. Last night included new table cloths, pictures of former iCandy Coffee Haven shows on every table to honor the history of the venue and free candy and peanuts for everyone.

A show so good the audience was building at 11pm.

Yes they were primarily there to make people thirsty, so they’d support the venue, but they were still free so get off my case. Last night if you weren’t at the iCandy Café, you missed out on events in comedy history that only come once every eight years. If you missed last night, you missed out on history.

Next week we’ll be back with a benefit for cancer research that will include headliner Stevie Mack, feature Adam Rank, musical guest Peter Axel Prins and special guest from the Million Laughs charity group Will Morton. Next week, everything we collect in the tip jar goes to cancer research. If you miss out on that, not only do you miss out on history, you miss out on history doing something for society, using nothing more than four incredible performers and weekly open mic.

Check the Facebook Event Page for details.

The Comedy Etc Show Welcomes Back Kerry Arnold Stephens

2011-04-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

Kerry Arnold Stephens: It would not be the Comedy Etc Show without the creator of the show making a guest appearance. Jeff and I thought it was only appropriate to add one more. Since leaving the iCandy Open Mic, Kerry Arnold Stephens has gone on to shows at Flappers, the finals in the Ultimate Laff Down and has appeared at the Ice House as a guest in the Sunday Best.

Eight Years/ Eight Headliners

April 22nd, 2011: 6:30pm - 11:00pm
the Comedy Etc Show @ the iCandy Cafe
1708 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-3785Facebook Events Page
MySpace Events Page

When Kerry featured at the iCandy a while back, he was every bit as on as any other headliner we've ever had there. We're very fortunate to have him there this Friday to cap off what will be a very good line up from beginning to end. There's a reason the Comedy Etc show was named after Kerry. It was his effort that created this show for Long Beach comics, and it was his dedication to it that kept it running for an additional seven years. What three letters could ever be a better symbol of a devotion to putting the performer's first? What other three letters could so clearly signify, this is a venue that welcomes everyone?

Within that eight years Kerry went out of his way to make iCandy a spot that welcomed everyone, who practiced all art forms. It every sense it became a true open mic, a place where everyone felt safe and welcome, as if they were among family. That's why KAS is on every sign for the Comedy Etc Show. That's also why, Kerry will return as our ninth special guest for the 8th Anniversary Show. Seriously, how can you go wrong with the fiesty Deidre Richards opening a show, Kerry capping it off and eight former headliners sandwiched between?

You can't.

Want To Win Lewis Black's Stark Raving Black

2011-04-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

This Friday at the iCandy Cafe's 8th Anniversary Show we have some special prize give aways. Originally, I was going to give away a copy of a George Lopez CD, but I decided against getting prizes just because they were cheap. Instead I wanted to give away the DVDs that either had a classic place in history or recent releases that both fans and comedy fans were excited to come out. As a result, this Friday at the 8th Anniversary Show, in addition to our big give away, we're also giving away DVD copies of Eddie Murphy's Delerious, Louis C.K.'s Hilarious and Lewis Black's Stark Raving Black.

This is still a five-star album after 239 reviews at Amazon. Dressed in a skin-tight red leather suit and delivering endless streams of obscenities faster than Richard Pryor ever did, Murphy is captured in this raunchy HBO special at his confident, swaggering, comedic peak--a posture that soon disappeared after a string of bland Hollywood comedies. Here, however, his energy and sheer virtuosity command complete control over the audience for 107 minutes. There's no apologizing for the immature stereotyping, blatant homophobia, and sexism. No topic here is safe from Murphy's uproarious tongue-lashings--including the comedian himself.

One reviewer called this C.K's best special since Shameless, "which is my all time favorite of his. The passing of George Carlin left a huge void in the world. and the closest we will ever probably have to another Carlin is Louis C.K." In this unique and dynamic live concert experience, Louis C.K.'s exploration of life after 40 destroys politically correct images of modern life with thoughts we have all had... but would rarely admit to. Louis C.K.: Hilarious, premiered at The Sundance Film Festival as the first stand-up concert film presented at Sundance and has received rave reviews confirming why Louis C.K. is the most respected comedic voice of his generation.

Stark Raving Black Productions proudly presents the comedy of Lewis Black in 80 minutes of outrageous stand-up humor. Shot at the historic Fillmore Theatre in Detroit, Stark Raving Black features Lewis Black serving up his blistering social and political commentary on current events. The movie is a culmination of his very best material from his sold out shots throughout North America and Europe in 2009. Also included is a 70-minute documentary on Lewis Black's life and career titled Basic Black. The documentary gives an intimate portrait of what it's like to "lick every inch of the ladder" on the way to becoming one of the most successful comedians in America.

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the prizes we'll be offering this Friday night. In order to be in the drawing you will need to support the venue with any purchase, get a ticket from the barrista and put it in the cup for the random drawing. We'll be doing at least five prize gve aways Friday night, including two for prizes not listed here.

iCandy Menu: Online As Of 04-19-2011

2011-04-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the great drinks and meals you can enjoy at the iCandy Cafe at 1708 E. Broadway in downtown Long Beach while watching the Friday Night Comedy Etc Show and the Sunday Shimmy Showcase.

With Special Guests Deirdre Richards, Drew Mercury, Adrian Watkins
Richard Weiss, Lang Parker, Rags Moody III, Mark Fernandez
James Bruce, Kerry Arnold Stephens and Judson MicKinney

This Friday's show celebrates 8 years of stage time, 7500 minutes of generosity that has allowed musicians, comics, dancers and poets to hone their craft over the last eight years with eight headliner. Check out the Facebook Events Page for the show's line up on 04/22/2011 starting at 6:30pm.

There is also a full dessert menu

Expresso Drinks
Drink	Small	Medium	Large
Macchiato	$1.85	$2.40	$2.95
Americano	$2.00	$2.50	$3.00
Cappuchino	$3.25	$3.50	$4.50
Vanilla Late	$3.50	$3.75	$4.50
White Mocha	$3.50	$3.75	$4.50

Add any shot or soy substitution: $0.75

Make room for cheese cake

Other Hot Drinks
Drink	Small	Medium	Large
Chai Latte	$3.55	$4.55	$5.00
Hot Chocalte	$1.95	$2.50	$3.00
Apple Cider	$3.00	$3.75	$4.50
Coffee	$1.75	$2.00	$2.25
Hot Tea	$1.75	$2.00	$2.25

$4.00 Breakfast Wrap: Comes with egg, cheese, tomato, spinich, & your choice of meat including ham, turkey or sausage.

Ask about the combo plates

Breakfast
Meal	Price	Meal	Price
Bagel & Cream Cheese	$2.50	Egg & Cheese Bagel	$3.00
Breakfast Croissant	$4.00	Ham & Cheese Croissant	$4.00

$7.00 Lunch/ Dinner Combos: Any sandwich, chips and a soda or any sandwich and a side salad.

Ham, turkey, tuna chicken or salami

Lunch/ Dinner
Meal	Price	Meal	Price
Chicken Salad Wrap	$4.00	Tuna Croissant	$5.00
Chicken Salad Croissant	$5.00	Ham, Salami or Turkey	$5.00
Spinich Greek Salad	$7.00	Tuna Salad	$7.00

Obey your thirst for entertainment

While there is a $3 minimum to perform, all the money we earn there and in the tip jar is reinvested in the talent, the show or the venue. Additionally, at the iCandy Café, $7 is getting you a national headliner, a sandwich, a bag of chips and a Coke. At most comedy clubs, $7 wouldn’t even buy two drinks. Overall, it's a really good deal.

www.facebook.com/quietcomic
www.twitter.com/quietcomic

Ten iCandy Perfomers With CDs Avaiable

2011-04-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

The iCandy Cafe and the Comedy Etc show wanted to tell you where you could find CDs from some of our former headliners, features and musicians. These are not affliate links. They are simply our way of saying thank you by directing you to a place where you can hear extraordinary performers again and again and again.

I would have added more artists, but it seems very few of us have created one yet. If you have performed at iCandy and I missed yours, just let me know the link where our audience members can find it. My goal with this post is to get more local performers into a place where they have a simple product like a CD to promote themselves. So here's the page at CD Baby, where you can sign up.

And here are the artist I could find CDs for.

The Comedians

Brett Gilbert: Headliner: 06/10/2011

Amniotic Fluid: Mp3 $9.99

Brett Gilbert is one of those really honest comics who can be absolutely filthy, but still hysterical. You may have caught the guy on Becker, House or Bones. But outside of his TV appearances his stand-up comedy has always been one of the most intelligent versions of shock comedy I've ever heard. This CD is nicely done because the average clip is less than two minutes and you can hear half of each in the previews. This means, you really know exactly what you're gonna get.

Matt Iseman: Headliner: 01/21/2011

I Want A Happy Ending: Mp3 $9.99

You might recognize Matt Iseman as the host of Sports Soup on Versus or as the Goto Guy on Clean House and Clean House Comes Clean (the #1 and #2 shows on the Style Network). You can look for Matt in Transformers 2 and also in reruns of Casino Night on the Game Show Network or Scream Play on E! Or maybe you've seen him on the Drew Carey show or General Hospital or in one of his 25 national commercials. Or maybe you saw one of his hilarious sketch comedy shows with the world famous Groundlings. Before that, he was still one of the best stand-up comics I knew.

The Musicians

David Zasloff: Headliner: 03/04/2011

Born To Be Happy: $15 CD/ $15 Mp3

David Zasloff is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter, film composer and is considered a master Japanese shakuhachi flute player, trumpet player, shofar player, pianist, percussionist, guitarist and autoharpist. He would follow this 1993 release with I Feel Great in 1993. Here's a clip from a 5-star review at Music Connection Magazine: " Zasloff presents a collection of themes that often sound like world jazz, especially She Did It. Warm Heart is a whimsical number, and is counterbalanced by the mellow, moody Suite Shakuhachi."

Debbie Goodman: Musical Guest 06/30/2011

Debbie Goodman: $5.00

Once a Long Beach resident Debbie Goodman hails from Nashville. She describes herself as Pink meets Bonnie Raitt. She describes a wide range of musical influences including: Pink, Sarah McClachlan, Paul Oakenfold, Janis Joplin and Nirvana. Currently, she performs live all over LA with an amazing band to take a few covers and some exceptional original songs it to the streets in a louder, more bluesy, rockin way. Her album at CD Baby is more of an EP. While it only contains three songs, the inclusion of Was It Worth It alone makes the CD worth the purchase.

Johnny Walker: Musical Guest: 02/25/2011

Stuffed Animal Instincts: $9.90

Johnny Walker stepped into the national spotlight with his appearance at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas last November. That event showcases the best new, cutting-edge comedy talent and is presented by the partnership of TBS and AEG Live, one of the largest concert promotion and touring companies in the world. The following week, Jay Leno featured Walker’s festival footage on The Tonight Show, introducing the comic to millions of homes all across America. When he served as our featured musical guest, he mixed a compelling blend of political insight and musical comedy I'd never even seen another musician attempt before.

Judson And Mary: Musical Guest: 10/29/2010

In The Hands Of The Sun: CD: $5.94

One five-star reviewer calls Judson and Mary a melodic folksy duo with a new sound. The violin in haunting, the singers are genuine and the poetry of the lyrics is uncommon in today's world of indie folk rock. He may not be generous enough. Judson and Mary/ or the solo artist Judson McKinney will bring you back to a rime when rock music was all about art and each new verse had a deeper meaning than the last. This is the kind of artist, that like Don McLean's American Pie, can create an 8-minute anthem about a forgotten city like Echo Park and you won't want to end. Epic is not generous enough.

Out Late: Lead Singer Graced The Stage on 04/15/2011

Out Late: CD $14.97/ Mp3 11.99

Out Late is the name of Diana Di Gioia’s band and album. They visited our venue 04/15/2011, the last night of the Long Beach Grand Prix.The songs speak from an older perspective, of regretting not coming out much younger and what was missed by that; and appreciating a lover from wiser eyes with humor. The music is funny, sexy, smart and irreverent lyrics take center stage, perfect for your out and proud collection. Styles range from rock to folk, & from blues to country, with great harmonies and vocals.

Rags Moody III: Musical Guest: 10/15/2010, 11/19/2010

Secret Garden: $12.99 CD/ $9.99 Mp3

Rags is an R&B, Neo Soul, Pop, Folk and Spoken Word poetry mix the stuff that makes Rags the Sea Food Gumbo Artist. His first album, Secret Garden, is an great mix of R&B, Pop, Reggae and Spoken Word Poetry. The artist has an eclectic flavor, while moving down his own path to find an original destiny. At the time, Rags was a homeless street vender searching to find a piece himself in every song he writes. A lot has changed in that time, including his next release: Same Universe.

The Poets

Hustle Diva: Headliner: 02/04/2011

She Is Poetry: Available At Her Website

Hustle Diva began her writing career as a novelist. Along the way she developed a unique talent for an intense brand of compelling poetry. Enjoy the smooth and funky grooves of the incomparable Ricardo Love over the eclectic lyrics of Charlene "Hustle Diva" Green. Ricardo's versatile beats and melodies are the perfect complement to Charlene's moving poetic tales—like milk 'n' cookies. This one-of-a-kind collaboration will take you on an entertaining and spiritual journey that you'll want to experience over and over again.

Eric Morago: Headliner: 01/28/2011

I Don't Like Straws: $9.99 CD/ $11.99 Mp3

Eric Morago is a spoken word artist who believes a poem's performance is as important as how well it's written. He's a southern CA local with a heart like a sunset and metaphors just as glowy. A former poetry slam champion, his written work now appears in journals, anthologies, and in a new book published by Moon Tide Press. I Don't Like Straws chronicles some of Eric's earlier poems from his days competing in poetry slams with some of his newer poems from his book, "What We Ache For."

Check back, more artist will be added as I find them.