COMEDY THIS EXIT

U-TURN OK

2012-01-07T16:20:00.001-06:00

You don't have to be a sci-fi geek or even a fan of Star Trek:The Next Generation to understand the moral of this blog entry, but if you are, it's all the better.

I'll try to keep it basic.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the United Federation Starship: Enterprise has recurring encounters with an omnipotent powerful being know only as "Q". Q is capable of such powers that make him seem god-like by our standards.

Captain Picard as a young military cadet has an altercation with an alien race known as the Nausicaan. The Nausicaans are aggressive, militant, and generally all around bad-asses. During a fight with three Nausicaans twice his size, Picard is stabbed in the back, straight through his heart. Due to 23rd Century medical science, he does not die, but lives the rest of his life with an artificial heart.

In our episode, during a battle, Picard is hit in the chest with 23rd Century phaser fire(for non sci-fi fans; think laser gun) The wound damages his artificial heart and he dies. Or so it appears.

Picard suddenly finds himself in the presence of "Q" appearing as God. Q and Picard discuss the wound that causes his "death". Had Picard had a real heart, the wound may not have been fatal, but the charge of the weapon fuses the mechanics of the artificial organ.

Picard relates the story of how he gained the fake heart and regrets the impetuous, arrogant and irresponsible days of his youth that led to his stabbing by the Nausicaan. He wishes that things would have been different.

In a flash, Q whisks Picard back into time as his younger self before the encounter, and gives Picard a chance to avoid the fight. With a promise that the future of mankind would not be altered by these actions. Picard indeed avoids the fight, and saves his real heart and suddenly finds himself back on his ship alive and now, NOT a captain but a Junior officer. "Q" never made a promise that Picard's personal future would not be altered.

Since Picard never took the risk with the Nausicaan, never acted, never knew what fear of dying was, he never progressed, never achieved. He lived a life of quiet mediocrity. He begs "Q" to take him back once again to the fight. He realizes that his actions in his youth, colored who he was as a man. He realizes that the risks and the danger was necessary to succeed. He fights the Nausicaan and is stabbed once again, and laughs as the blade pierces his heart. In an instant, once again, Captain Picard awakes on the medical table back on the Enterprise as the Medical Officer revives him. He is still softly laughing.

In traffic, as well as in life, U-turns are frowned upon. Most U-turns on the road are illegal and can cause accidents, and reverting to old habits and regressing in life are usually to your detriment.

But, rules are made for the occasional exception that they create. On some roads, U-turns are a necessity and sometimes you have to go backward and pick up on some past incident in life in order to succeed.

Like Picard, you can't always avoid the challenge, sometimes the risk is what you need.

I can remember several times, I avoided the "fight with the Nausicaan" and it hindered me later on. Comedy is about risks. The road to comedic success does not have a lot of security, you have to challenge yourself and make the changes. Recently, on my "day gig"; I, at first, reluctantly entered the metaphorical room of Nausicaans and danced around the fight. I wanted to avoid the fight. In the end, I have fought the fight and fell upon the blade and accepted the new challenge of a promotion. The encounter led to a money offer above what I expected. The fight proved fruitful.

If you find yourself passing by opportunity in 2012, either through your day job, your comedy career, or whatever; remember sometimes a U-turn is okay. Go back. Change direction, give yourself a second shot. Don't live a life of regret and mediocrity. Fight the Nausicaan

MILE MARKER 2011

2011-12-31T20:47:00.004-06:00

2011 is almost over and the journey down that road is coming to an end. This little blog has been pretty scarce this year with few, if any, exits to speak of.

I'll not be cliche' about the coming new year with talk of hope, and promise, and change; but I do see an open road ahead of me with quite a few stops scheduled(I couldn't resist, I had to be cliche')

Also, for those who have missed "On The Road With Dave" in 2011; they will be pleased with that blog's resurrection in 2012.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM "COMEDY THIS EXIT!"

2301 DAUPHIN ISLAND PARKWAY

2011-12-31T02:39:00.003-06:00

I couldn't let 2011 get by without posting something on this blog. I never posted my experience at Legend's Nightclub way back towards the beginning of the year, so I'll let the video speak for itself.

MAINTAIN STEADY SPEED

2011-01-01T19:28:00.003-06:00

2011 is here. Make The best of it.

I'm making plans and goals and planning to be persistent throughout the year. I'm not counting on Comedy Central or HBO calling me for a TV special, but I'm planning on being behind the mike much more this year.

As you travel into New Orleans, Louisiana on Westbound I-10, as you approach a bridge, a sign cautions you to maintain a steady speed over the bridge. Sudden slowing can cause accidents. I plan to take that caution seriously this year.

I'll be persistent and steady in actions to further my comedy career. And I will be making some changes towards that career.

Whatever career you have, it's good advice

STAY AWAKE: NEW YEAR ENDING

2010-12-31T19:52:00.004-06:00

2010 ends today.

New Years' Eve is a big night for working comedians. I hear of agents and bookers constantly seeking available comedians to host parties, events and perform at clubs on this last night of the year. I suppose even comics want to spend time with their families during the holidays, and the number of available comedians to perform drops on this night; making the other comedians willing to perform, more valuable.

Personally, I will be attending some festivities in my local city with my family this evening. If I had been more consistent in 2010, I can imagine my family making a compromise to allow me to perform on this night, provided I had spent quality time with them earlier in the holiday.

As the countdown begins, I'm sure that I will be looking forward to the coming new year and making plans or conjuring dreams of what 2011 will have in store for me. I, generally, become a bit melancholy at this time in regards to what I want out of life and what I have achieved and I make those cliche' resolutions to improve my life and change my habits. Sometimes I get results, sometimes, not.

One such resolve for 2011 for me will be to stay awake. Not drift off in the middle of the year. Not settle in. Not hibernate through the long winter and emerge in the Spring with "sleep" still in my eyes. Not to look around and go back to bed.

Driving down the interstate, I see small triangular yellow signs warning drivers to STAY AWAKE. In 2011, I will not be caught asleep at the wheel.

Photo by Shondra Hull

CAUTION: PAVEMENT ENDS

2010-07-04T02:49:00.003-05:00

If you're a fan of "On The Road With Dave" then you'll remember that back in April of this year, I announced that due to a change in format that my publishing platform from Blogger had made, I would have to postpone publishing any further from my regular blog until I could migrate the entire blog to a different format.

I had to delay the migration because although my hosting company, GoDaddy, supports my new choice of WordPress to begin publishing the blog once again, it requires a NEW hosting plan, as well. I don't do change very well. So, I continue to delay the migration.

Needless to say, the change over has not started, and I'm receiving some comments back at OTRWD wondering where I've been. Rest assure, I'm still here, alive, and quietly living through status updates on Facebook. So, while the "Road" has hit a patch of gravel, I promise to update here for a while and catch you up on the goings on in my life.

HISTORICAL MARKER: EDGAR BERGEN

2010-02-16T01:28:00.002-06:00

"Comedy This Exit" pulls over for a moment to recognize an Historical Marker in the world of comedy and ventriloquism.

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen was born on February 16, 1903. 107 years later he is still remembered fondly, studied intently, discussed loudly, and remains the benchmark to which all ventriloquists are compared. Happy Birthday, Edgar!

Artwork, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy--1938--by Dick Weston

UP AHEAD

2010-01-01T00:20:00.002-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM COMEDY THIS EXIT!

As the sign says, Comedy This Exit leaves 2009 at the last turn and moves on up the road in conjunction with the blog, On The Road With Dave, to bring you the 2010 adventures of yours truly, Comedian Dave Robison. Here's hoping that the new year brings along a lot of "exits" and chances to perform a helluva lot of comedy gigs--with at least some of them paying gigs.

SANTA CLAUS CROSSING

2009-12-24T00:01:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM "COMEDY THIS EXIT"!

As a public service to all travelers, comedy or otherwise, you can keep track of all Santa Claus crossings and sightings at NORAD Tracks Santa as well as following Santa along with NORAD at Twitter and become a NORAD/SANTA fan at Facebook. You can also view Santa at Google Earth via the NORAD site or download the iGoogle gadget.

Don't Let Christmas Eve pass you by or Santa cross in front of you without being prepared.

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas.

PHOTO FROM SYDESJOKES

ROADSIDE STOP: DAVEWEAR

2009-06-24T15:49:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCING SHWAG!

The word's origin comes from those funny cigarettes that contain no tobacco, and the contents thereof being common and cheap. That is to say; the "shit we all get". In other words, it wasn't the good stuff.

In the entertainment industry, Shwag is the stuff like T-shirts, posters, can coolers, and bumper stickers given away at concerts or sold after the concerts.

"On The Road With Dave" now introduces a line of shwag that I think IS the good stuff.

DAVEWEAR is your chance to wear "DAVE" On YOUR Road to where ever life takes you. ON SALE NOW is the "On The Road With Dave.Com" T-shirt currently featured in Black in sizes Small to X-Large.
(Larger Sizes Available Soon)

The shirts feature the large, attractive OTRWD chevron on the back with a smaller logo on the "pocket" side in the front. BUY ONE and show your support for "On The Road With Dave".

Purchasers of the T-Shirts who send in a photo wearing a shirt at a tourist spot, club or just out and about will be featured monthly at "On The Road With Dave".

More "stuff" that you can all get will be coming in the next few months. More Shirt colors, can coolers, and drinkware will be available. (I'm gonna like the shot glasses.) So, make this roadside stop often to check on new items.

T-Shirts are $20.00 Plus $3.00 Shipping and Handling and will be shipped from the designer in 3 weeks. It's a matter of trust, guys...I can't stock a full inventory yet, so each order is processed individually.

ALL ORDERS ARE CURRENTLY PROCESSED ONLY THROUGH PAYPAL

HEAD ON OVER TO MY NEW ROADSIDE STAND; DAVEWEAR...Dave's Shwag....Whatever.

DO NOT REVERSE! SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE WILL RESULT!

2008-12-31T17:48:00.004-06:00

It's the end of 2008, and as is the fashion of most blog writers, this would be the day to publish a year-in-review-look-back at some of the significant blog entries of "Comedy This Exit" over the past year.

But, since the archives are still small, I think readers can look back at the 2008 archives fairly easy without any direction.

2008 was a good year for me and stand-up comedy. I had paying gigs. Not as many as I would have liked, but in some circles I had more paying gigs than a lot of comics that I'm aware of. I made some good contacts, some good friends, and some money.

So, in keeping with the exit-sign-road-sign theme of this blog, my advice to myself comes in the form of those parking lot signs you see, warning you about those spikes that can make your tires go flat...

"DO NOT REVERSE! SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE WILL RESULT!"

I'm not looking back; I'm looking ahead.

Here's to 2009 and even more gigs, more attention to expanding my act, and more time on stage. Here's to being a feature act; even a headliner or a corporate comic.

And, I'll keep on networking with all the folks out there.

And, and, if you wanna network with me in 2009; I'm at ALL of these places.

DAVE'S MY SPACE

DAVE'S FACEBOOK

DAVE'S LINKED IN

DAVE'S TWITTER

DEMAND DAVE

DAVE ON THE COMEDY SOAPBOX

And of course, as always, you can leave comments here or at "On The Road With Dave".

Thanks for a great 2008.

DETOUR: VACATION

2008-12-22T16:30:00.006-06:00

As 2008 winds to a close, I am on a much needed vacation. Ten glorious days off which include Christmas week. This past weekend the wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary a few days early and went to New Orleans.

I couldn't help but have a cliche' photo taken of me in front of the "Welcome To Mississippi" sign at the Stennis Space Center Welcome Center. After all, Mississippi is my home state and every comedian has a few photos of themselves standing in front of state welcome signs. Why should I be any different?

And in case you are wondering if this "old-jeans-comic" can clean up--then you'll be happy to know that I don't look half bad in a suit standing with my wife in the Hotel Monteleone lobby in The French Quarter of New Orleans.

COVINGTON, LOUISIANA

2008-10-17T20:48:00.010-05:00

Last Friday and Saturday night I had the opportunity to perform at The Gut-Buster Comedy Room in Covington, Louisiana. It rocked!

I was contacted about a month ago by Terry Comeaux, comedian and booker, from the New Orleans area and asked if I'd be interested in performing at The Gut-Buster Comedy Room located inside The Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites on the New Orleans North Shore area. I jumped at the chance.

I left my "day job" early on the 10th to make the two-hour drive over to Covington via I-10. My car had just been fitted with a new tire and an oil change, but I was worried about making the trip after dark, because the old Buick was running really rough. If it did happen to break down, I wasn't looking forward to being stranded on the highway somewhere between Moss Point, Mississippi and Slidell, Louisiana. Fortunately, the Buick made the trip like a champ--a bruised champ, but a champ just the same.

This particular gig wasn't paying for a motel room (I was scheduled as the "Opener"), but I opted for my own room in Slidell, LA, just 20 or so minutes from Covington. The price of a Motel 6 for two nights would be just a bit more than the price of gas and making the trip nightly back to Mobile. I checked into the Slidell Motel 6 around 4PM and promptly went into a short panic session.

The Gut-Buster Comedy Room is a large venue seating over 200 people and promoter Terry Comeaux had booked me, sight unseen. I was nervous. Would I be funny? Would I be funny enough? Would this gig make or break me? I eventually settled myself and relaxed. I was ready.

I decided to leave the hotel early and head over to the Holiday Inn. I wanted to grab something to eat and look the room over prior to showtime.

The Covington Holiday Inn is located at 501 N. Hwy 190, just off Interstate 12. The Gut-Buster Comedy Room occupies one of the Hotel's banquet rooms on the second weekend of every month. The room is impressive.

Ballroom chandeliers; covered tables; great sound system; professional lighting, including spotlight; large stage; and everything is arranged to the performer's benefit and the audiences' enjoyment. I met Terry and his partner(whose name escapes me, sorry) and they knew exactly what they were doing with the execution of the room and the promotion of each weekend.

"Nerves" grabbed me once again when Terry asked me, "Where's your dummy?"

When Terry and I first spoke on the phone the previous month; he had asked me about my ventriloquism. I told him I was mainly doing straight "stand-up", but I was introducing my ventriloquism back into the act. I have been focusing on getting my stand-up routine to a point where I was happy with it; before I started working with my ventriloquist partner, Skyler. I had brought Skyler with me to Covington and was going to use him over the weekend, but Skyler had second thoughts.

During the process of dressing Skyler for the show, he had a "body malfunction". I know Skyler will be mortified that I'm telling you this; but his right leg came off. There wasn't time for an "emergency surgery" before the show. Terry seemed disappointed and that bothered me. But, I was ready to "go it" alone.

Showtime came, and the room was full. The audience was drinking. Good music was playing, thanks to the sound guy, (Really, they had a "sound guy"...not just somebody that plugged in the microphone) and Terry took the stage to welcome the enthusiastic crowd. Terry is funny and the audience is ready.

"...Let's bring to the stage, BILL Robison!"

In a split second, I decided Bill Robison wasn't in the room and took the stage in his place. It so happens, that Terry knows a Bill Robison in the Covington area and he just made a slip of the tongue. I made the most of the situation and re-introduced myself to the audience to a lot of laughing and some applause.

And they continued to laugh. The audience was great. I felt comfortable on stage. "Bits", I had been tweaking in recent weeks, were working the way I wanted them to. My "standard" jokes received bigger laughs and my "crowd work" was comfortable and the audience members played along at the points that they were supposed to. I had two "pauses" after two bits that suggested to me that the jokes may have reached the point where I'll cut them. I'm really in love with the two jokes and I've tried to nurse them along; but it's time to say good-bye and set them free.

I closed the set a little weaker than I anticipated, but the audience laughed and applauded me off the stage. If I didn't "kill" Friday night, I think I, at least, "mortally wounded".

Saturday night, I arrived back at The Holiday Inn with my semi-repaired ventriloquist partner in tow. The plan was to bring Skyler out for a few minutes at the end of my "stand-up" and do some "local humor" that would result in an argument between Skyler and myself. Local humor involves jokes tailored to the area and the venue.

Terry met me before the show and was excited that Skyler was with me. He also was worried that my prior night's act might have been too risque'. I had not dropped the "F-bomb" like the Feature and The Headliner had, but my act might have been too "sexual". He asked could I drop one bit entirely and possibly edit some more. I promised that I would try to comply. Terry is a great guy and he wants the best for his audiences. Unfortunately, the request rattled me.

"....and now let's welcome DAVE Robison!"

So far, so good. My opening worked, as usual. Audience participation was good. On-stage edit. Timing Off. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. On-stage edit. Timing off. Forgot segue'. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. Deleted bit. Timing off. Pause. Forgot Bit. Timing off. Laugh.

Then came the awkward introduction of Skyler, bringing him to stage. Laugh.

Ordinarily, I would place Skyler on a stand, similar to a microphone stand with a small table attached, that Skyler would sit on. Saturday night, I decided I would use the traditional Ventriloquist stance, and prop my foot on a stool and place Skyler on my knee. Because, I was already nervous, when I placed my foot on the stool and weighted my leg with Skyler; my leg began to shake up and down, bouncing Skyler up and down like he was a baby on my knee. I re-positioned my foot to stop the bounce, but I wasn't able to control Skyler with the dexterity that I needed. His movements were "jerky." I was self-conscious. Suddenly, he wasn't my "partner" with funny jokes; he was a foreign object in my hands. The pauses were too many. The jokes were gone. I closed to polite applause.

It wasn't a total bomb, but it wasn't the previous night's performance.

I apologized to Terry, but he graciously said don't worry about it. But, I did.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my fellow comics that allowed me to share a stage with them.

I had performed with Jason Thompson once before. Jason is from Little Rock, Arkansas and is a strong "feature" performer that deserves to "headline" much more often. His jokes about being a father and growing up poor in Arkansas can be heard over and over again providing laughs at different spots each time.

John Wesley Austin is a Cowboy-Hat-Wearing Headliner from Augusta, Georgia with some smart "Southern" humor, and a pretty good singer and guitarist offering up Country Music parodies, and even an attempt at "rap". His "bit" about NASCAR drivers with their wives and children in the backseat of the car was hilarious. His observations about married life leaves you repeating his "tag line", "That ain't right".

All in all, it was a great weekend. I got laughs, I got paid. And if the comments I received after the show from audience members were indicative of my performance; then I can hold my head up high. I batted .500 and that's pretty good.

Thanks Covington.

ANNISTON, ALABAMA

2008-06-24T19:38:00.005-05:00

Between Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia; off of Interstate 20 is the city of Anniston, Alabama. If you are ever in Anniston, I'd recommend going to
The Smoking Moose nightclub.

I performed at The Smoking Moose, Saturday, June 14th, for their Comedy Karaoke night hosted by Benji Wright.

I had contacted Benji a few weeks prior to scheduling the show through Benjie's MySpace page. Say what you will about Myspace, but the site works for me when it comes to meeting people and networking. Benjie is an "old school" comic that believes in giving other comics a chance to show their stuff. After talking to Benjie through MySpace email; he decided to invite me up to Anniston.

I enjoyed traveling the 4 and 1/2 hours up north I-65 and over on east I-20, except I ran through a few fierce thunderstorms on the other side of Montgomery and had to deal with some road construction on I-65. (There's always road construction somewhere on 65)

I arrived at the Anniston Downtowner Inn several hours before the show. That's right, friends; this gig included a paycheck AND a room. The Downtowner is an older hotel in Anniston, but clean. I'm sure many "road comics" have stayed at much worse, and I felt pretty good checking in with no problems. Benjie had taken care of the arrangements and all I had to do was say my name, show my ID, and sign in. (Insert sigh of relief here)

I gave Benjie a call and told him I was in town and he recommended I grab something to eat at a local barbecue place called Betty's. Pretty fair BBQ and cole slaw. I did enjoy eavesdropping on the two couples and their kids sitting in booths across from me. Their dinner conversation centered around a local city festival concert and attending a new movie at the local drive-in theatre. Back in my old hometown, our drive-in closed almost 20 years ago; it was nice to hear of a small town drive-in still in existence.

I stopped backed by the hotel after supper, grabbed my "cheat sheet" and headed to 1214 Noble Street and The Smoking Moose.

The Smoking Moose is a cool nightclub located in the renovated downtown area of Anniston. Other clubs are located on the street mingled with downtown businesses and shops along a street with brick paver crosswalks. The neon sign of the club has a nostalgic look to it and half-way reminded me of a cigarette pack with several cigarettes sticking out of it--maybe that's just me.

Inside the club, you are greeted with a dark interior, rich in wood, photographs and old signs. A stage jutted out onto the dance floor that faced ample comfortable seating and pool tables were located in the back of the club. Chase lights surrounded the dance floor to guide your feet on the changing heights of the club's floor.

And the Smoking Moose? Yep, mounted on the wall above the bar, a large moose head with a western-styled shaggy foot cheroot in his mouth. And, I forgot to mention the Cigar Indian acting as a sentinel as you entered the club.

But, what about the Comedy, Dave? I'm getting to it.

Comedy Karaoke is a good twist to other Open Mikes I've attended or even other Comedy Nights or Comedy Zones at other clubs. The schedule consisted of paid comics and amateurs getting on stage for the first time or still working on fledgling acts. I'm told that under certain circumstances, audience members are encouraged(or forced) to get on stage, as well.

On this night, Benjie Wright opened the evening with his brand of redneck humor. Benjie works for a local Birmingham radio station and is a regular at the Stardome. Benjie is a good host and the crowd liked him.

Brandon Kilpatrick and Cameron Gillette were the two new comedians. Both had been on stage a few times. I'm sorry to say I can't remember which comedian did what material; but both had some good moments. One of them had definitely been influenced by either Steven Wright or Demetri Martin and performed with a dead pan delivery of one liners and non sequiturs--Original material but you could see the influence, right down to a few bars of music blown on a harmonica.

Next up, was yours truly. I had been nervous about the night for a week or so. I did not want to disappoint Benjie because he had taken a chance on bringing me to the club, sight unseen.

My opening bits worked pretty good and I could hear the laughter. Some newer material did so-so and I got a great response from an enthusiastic audience member exactly where I wanted to get the response. On the downside, a bit that I truly love doing got little response from yet another type of audience and I feel it's time to send those jokes to the Great Joke Shredder. I finished pretty good. Benjie informed me after the show, that I lost my way once when a bit did not go well and appeared a bit nervous...but I settled down afterwards. Good observation and I noted it for further refinement.

The closing act was Xavier from Birmingham and also a regular at The Stardome. His urban material went over well, and he overcame a bachelorette party that entered the club during his act with no intention of watching stand-up comedy that evening. He was strongest interacting with the crowd and his material was solid. I also liked his "what the f@#k" attitude, "yeah like ya'll are really gonna hurt my career." But, that's an attitude I could not easily pull off.

After the show, I talked to a few of the audience members thanking them for coming out and supporting Stand-Up Comedy in Anniston and spoke with the "open mike" participants. Benjie and I shared a few more beers with the bar manager and I "ogled" at a few of the college co-eds that entered the bar. Benjie and I lamented that as married men that is all we are allowed to do. I thanked the manager of The Smoking Moose and Benjie for allowing me to perform and was almost talked into going to another local bar by one of the patrons at The Moose, but declined and went back to my hotel.

The next morning I awoke to the sounds of a couple in the next room. The man was either receiving his "Father's Day" present or possibly becoming a Father. Either way, I envied HIS stamina and HER lung capacity.

Given the opportunity to return to The Smoking Moose, I'd jump at the chance.

2961 DAUPHIN ISLAND PARKWAY

2008-05-10T21:10:00.001-05:00

About two weeks ago I get a call from local Mobile, Alabama comedian Jacques West, AKA 2Loose, about a new nightclub in Mobile. 2Loose was to be hosting a Comedy Night at the club and wanted to know if I would perform on the inaugural night.

The nightclub is called "3O Something" located on The Dauphin Island Parkway.

Normally, If I hear about a new club opening in my area that will be offering comedy to its patrons, I try to check out the club before I perform. This wasn't any different. I went to the club the following Friday.

30 Something is what I would describe as a "supper club"; a restaurant with a stage. In fact, the building that houses the club was once a national chain steak/buffet restaurant. The new owners of the building did some remodeling, including a bar, and made the place look pretty classy. It looked like it would be a great place to get on stage and make some people laugh.

The night I visited, the club was "packed". Gina Brown was singing and putting on quite a floor show with jazz and Mo-Town favorites. The crowd lived up to the club's name and were generally older. This was an upscale "grown folks" place with some nicely dressed, attractive(some were downright gorgeous)people out to have a good time.

I was "sold". I wanted to perform here.

The following Thursday night, I show up at the Club a few minutes before the doors are scheduled to open. I arrive to a mostly empty parking lot. No worries, though. In Mobile, "the party" usually starts late. I wanted the extra time before showtime to prepare, to meet the owner/manager, and to check out the stage set-up.

So, I'm wandering around the parking lot of the club, because one of the employees opened the door about 15 minutes after the club was scheduled to open to inform me and one other couple that it would be 20 more minutes before they were ready to open.

While I'm wandering(and smoking), I notice that the club marquee says nothing about Comedy that night. It just says Live Music on Friday and Saturday. Okay, that's not necessarily a bad thing, after all this is just the first night that they are offering comedy; you probably wouldn't want to promote that, would you?

Anyway, the staff finally opened the doors and I go inside the club.

If you'll recall; the last time I showed up for a gig, the club was closed. So, that battle was won--this place was open and the bartender remembered me from the night I visited before. I guess I should point out that on that particular night, I was the only Caucasian in the place...so I guess I wasn't that hard to remember. The bartender and I talked for a while about which nights were busy and which nights were "dead". She informed me that Thursdays were "dead"; which was why they were experimenting with Comedy--to increase the crowd.

Showtime was nearing and so far, only 4 people had entered the club. 2Loose had even yet to show up. I was getting a bad feeling. At about 9:30, 2loose, the other comics and a small entourage show up. The cast included "headliner", Odis Odog, a comic from Atlanta who had appeared on BET's ComicView; Chris Flanagan, a Mobile comic that had performed with me in New Orleans; A fledgling comic also from Mobile, simply billed as "Slim" and "HuggyBear Da Poet", a friend of 2Loose's and a spoken word artist/poet. Still, it appeared that we might be performing for each other.

Flanagan and I talked for a while about the Mobile Comedy scene and lack thereof, and some trials and tribulations we had shared in the past as well as the current gas prices and how they were affecting "road comics". I complained to Flanagan that I was nervous about the small crowd; and I figured the show would just be called off.

2Loose had no such fear. The show would go on. By then, the club had about 25 paying customers.

"HuggyBear" took to the stage and welcomed everyone to the club, made a few announcements and introduce the host for the evening, 2Loose.

2Loose "worked" the crowd, did a "bit" directed at the only white couple in the place and did a bit on "MySpace". (Both bits were similar to material I had, DAMN) and then introduced "Slim".

This was "Slim's" second appearance behind a microphone. The rule is to never discourage a new comic. If you have the guts to get on stage, you deserve respect. I'll follow that rule.

2Loose got back up after "Slim" and introduced Flanagan. Chris Flanagan is young, cute, clever, and extremely funny. In "showbiz" vernacular--He Killed!. He took the crowd and made them friends. The guy has a serious future in comedy; if he keeps at it. His "break" will come.

I followed Chris. I was still nervous. I had some new material; some material that was good; and some material I had to "re-work" at the last minute because of a similar thought pattern that 2Loose and I had shared. I got some laughs, but on the whole, I thought I "died". Flanagan gave me a pep talk at the end of the night and reassured me that it wasn't as bad as I thought. It seems that I did some good crowd work, some off the cuff stuff was good and I looked comfortable. (Even though I wasn't) But, I thought I could have been better.

Finally Odis Odog took to the stage. (One other critique of the night would be that 2Loose had padded the roster too much. Too Many Comics, too much time. By the time the Headliner hit his mark on stage the crowd was tired and some had left.)

But Odog was in his element and did some good material with a great deal of "urban attitude". He was funny, and played well to the remaining audience. It was nice to see a "headliner" work his magic.

The night was another step for me in building my act. I made some changes in material based on my performance and I feel it will work better next time. I also deleted some material. A few bits I had tried previously on three different types of audiences. It was time to cut that material loose.

With the current gas prices, my next few gigs need to be close to home and I have a few options that I'm working on.

Until next time, look for me at the next exit.

FT. WORTH, TEXAS

2008-02-05T21:43:00.000-06:00

When you're a wannabe comedian living in an area where real-live Comedy Clubs don't exist, you pray, you hope, you dream of your first "brickwall" comedy club gig.

A week or so ago, It seemed that my prayers had been answered in the guise of Comedian Brent Dawson. Brent and I met at "Comedy Soapbox" and seemed to get along fine through the magic of the Internet; so when I found out he had a gig in my hometown at a "comedy night" at a local club, I was anxious to meet him and see his act.

At about the same time, Brent had offered me a chance to emcee with him in Ft. Worth along with fellow "soapboxer", Andy Kaufman. This wasn't a "comedy night" gig...I was finally gonna perform in front of the mythical brickwall I had dreamed about; an actual comedy club with "Comedy" in it's name.

So, Brent comes to Mobile, AL, he performs at the club and I have the honor of not only hearing his act and laughing throughout, but also I was scheduled to do a guest spot that night and at the last minute my guest spot turned into an emcee spot.

Unfortunately for me, "emceeing" to 10 people at a club on a slow night in the middle of "Mardi Gras Week" was not the best way I had wanted Brent to see me for the first time. But we weathered it. AND he STILL wanted me to do the gig in Ft. Worth.

So, the next day, I buy some travel size toothpaste, a new shirt, and I even cut my "longish hair" before my trip so as not to scare the Texans.

Friday morning, I leave Mobile, Alabama for a 10 hour drive to Ft. Worth Texas--cell phone, a carton of Marlboros, and a Mapquest print out at my side. The trip is long, boring, tiring and uneventful; except that driving through Monroe, Louisiana should require you to wear a gas mask. The city smells like the entire population got together and decided to fart at the same time.

I arrive an hour outside of Dallas at 4:30PM. This sounds innocuous until you realize that puts me in the middle of Dallas during Friday afternoon rush hour.

Let me just say that white lines, and lane markers seemed to have faded away
on I-635, and the lane shifts suggest the road contractor may have been drunk during the project. No matter. I get behind a semi-truck and snake my way to my destination. At 5:30, traffic is at a crawl on Highway 75.

"Hey Dave, welcome to Texas"

I finally arrive at Brent's apartment and despite the traffic and the trip; I'm still "jazzed". Brent meets me outside in the parking lot. I get out of the car, stretch, and exchanged that usual talk you have with someone after arriving from a long trip.

But, I notice Brent isn't exactly rushing me up the sidewalk to welcome me into his apartment for the weekend. He seems hesitant. Quiet.

He finally says, "The show's been cancelled. The owner says they've begun a remodeling project"

I say out loud, "OOOOOOOOKay. These things happen. Not your fault. I totally understand."

On the inside I scream,
(Shit! Are you fucking kidding me? I just drove ten hours. Now what?)

Brent informs me that he already has a Plan B in motion. He's been online emailing people and on the phone calling people and is looking for a new venue for the Saturday night show. Oh yeah, I finally make it into Brent's apartment and meet his wife, small son and the dog. Brent's wife is cool and the kid is cute.

So, we are talking and Brent's wife suggests we just take a drive to the club and see what kind of re-model project is going on. The club is an hour away, but what the hell, what's one more hour in the car? I'm game. We arrive at the closed club. No re-model project. The club has a notice on the door that the owner has been locked out due to non-payment of rent.

We decide to go ahead and eat at a nearby bar and grill. In the parking lot, Brent see's what he thinks is the dude's car. I inform Brent that I am in a strange town, and do not want to take a cab back to his place and inform his wife he's in jail. Luckily, for all concerned, the car was not the club owner's.

It really does get better the next day.

Brent secures the "Clubhouse" of his apartment complex for Saturday night. The apartment complex belies the term "apartment complex" in that it probably had more residents than the town I grew up in; and the "Clubhouse" was more than ample and comfortable.

Our other comedian never shows. He did arrive in Texas and was informed of the cancellation and the new Plan B; but declines to perform. So, Brent and I welcome the crowd to the "Clubhouse Comedy Club" minus "my brickwall" and Brent welcomes the crowd and informs them that a "Get Dave Home" jar is available for donations and I perform to an appreciative crowd. I even get a nice compliment after the show from a lady who said, "You should have done more!" Isn't "leaving them wanting more" a basic tenet of comedy? That's good and the "Get Dave Home" jar DID get me home with a little to spare.

So, I didn't get my brickwall comedy club, but I did perform with a great comedian, and a new friend and I earned some serious "road comic" cred. Plus, I made them laugh. It might even be safe to say, "I killed." Maybe, I am a comedian, despite the brickwall.

LEAVING TRACKS

2008-01-05T12:09:00.000-06:00

Just Thought I would mention that you can now "leave tracks" of your visits to Comedy This Exit and Skyler's Gravel Road.

You can now leave "Comments". At the inception of these blogs, I thought I would make each entry static and non-interactive; but afterall, they are blogs; and blogs deserve comments.

Carry on.

REST STOP: YEAR END SUMMARY

2007-12-29T14:59:00.000-06:00

On my quest to leaving "wannabe comic" status to becoming a full-fledged professional comedian; I'd have to say that the year, 2007, has been very good to me.

After venturing into the only open-mic venue in Mobile, Alabama, I made a fateful trip to New Orleans to meet some fellow MySpacers one Saturday afternoon at Checkpoint Charlie's

At the meet-up I met New Orleans comic, Boomer Doell. Boomer is a funny guy, and after talking a few minutes he told me about a venue that he was then booking. A few weeks later I headed to the Urban Cup Cafe in New Orleans for my first paying gig in many years.

The crowd was nice, they laughed at my bits and I was jazzed about holding a microphone on a stage once again.

This gig led to few more at Urban Cup with varying results and then an opportunity to perform at another "room" up the street.

The Kumflama Boutique and Beverage Bar as a comedy venue had potential. It was located on a popular stretch of Magazine Street in New Orleans with several nearby bars and shops. Street traffic was brisk and Boomer and myself were hopeful that with the right promotion and the right mix of comics, that we were going to have a kickass regular gig.

Unfortunately, the timing or unbeknownst factors affected my later trips to the venue. The crowds were hit or miss and my scheduled nights seemed to be the "miss" portion of the schedule.

On the upside, the travel back and forth to New Orleans led me to make some great contacts with fellow comedians and club owners for future dates in 2008.

The downside was a traffic ticket at 2AM by one of NOPD's finest officers. Believe me when I say, there was nothing funny about the experience. And, I don't wish to repeat the event at any time in the future.

Back in Mobile, I also connected with a few more comedians traveling into town and their advice and referrals look to make 2008 even better.

Keep watching "Comedy This Exit" and "On The Road With Dave" for future updates and scheduling.

I wish you a Happy New Year and come see me when I'm in your area.

568 DAUPHIN STREET

2007-03-15T19:24:00.000-05:00

Mobile, Alabama is trying real hard to bring stand-up comedy back to club go-ers.

Wednesday nights, The Chemistry Bar and Lounge at 568 Dauphin Street offers an open mike venue to all performers willing to get on stage and show their talents.

The roster of performers features rappers, singers and poets in the style of Russell Simmon's Def Poetry, and much to my delight, comedians.

Last Wednesday night, March 14th, I decided to finally stand on the Chemistry stage and tell a few jokes.

About two weeks ago, I made a trip to downtown Mobile, Alabama, on a reconnaissance mission to check out a club called The Chemistry Bar and Lounge. The Chemistry is located at 568 Dauphin Street just a few block up from the "main" strip of bars, clubs, and lounges that make Dauphin Street; Mobile's version of Bourbon Street "Lite".

On my way up the street to find the club, I stopped and asked directions and was surprised by one guy's response.

"Oh you mean that BLACK club! Yeah it's two more blocks up"

The two things that surprised me most, was

1. The music and atmosphere of ALL the clubs in Mobile, with the exception of the really redneck country bars, could accommodate a wide racial diversity.

And

B. I couldn't believe people still label bars and lounges by their predominant clientele. C'mon people, we have to be smarter than that.

Anyway, I found the club and settled in with a beer and some nice conversation with the owner.

The club is about 3 years old with two rooms and two full bars. One side provides pool tables, television, comfortable chairs, stools and couches.

The other side or "main room" has tables, stools, the main bar, and music and speakers to show everybody how to "bounce".

The stage is a small one-step riser and the lighting is stark; there's no footlights or colored gels overhead, but the performer is well lit.

I watched that night's performers and had a great time and was eager to return the following week.

Anyway, I showed up early on the 14th and was immediately met by Yahshua Kickliter (that's his real name) who is a fellow MySpacer and aspiring comedian. Yahshua promoted his appearance heavily on MySpace and due to an abundance of local friends managed to bring in 20 or so people on his own. He's got the "bringer" to an art, and he didn't even know what a "bringer" was. I sat and had a beer and watched as people came in.

At showtime, the emcee and freestyler, Tony, got the crowd of 80 or so pumped and introduced the first performer.

This performer bears mentioning simply because he was...how shall I say it..unique.

You could best describe this "act" known as "The Show", as a "concept" or performance artist. "The Show" always goes on first, and his "act" seems off the cuff and unrehearsed. On that night, he opened with a dance to the stage followed by a recitation of nursery rhymes. After the completion of Jack and Jill, whereby "Jill comes tumbling after," The Show fell to the stage floor and appeared to try to get up off his stomach several times, and then began what looked like a simulated sex act with the floor. He feigned a cleaning maneuver afterwards and took his bows.

Needless to say, the remaining performers avoided the "spot" even though it was imaginary.

Some poets took the stage following "The Show" and outdid themselves with social commentary.

Yahshua went up next. He was pumped, eager, and had a good time. His friends were not disappointed.

Then came my turn.

I had told my co-workers that if I showed up at work the next day, strutting around ; then I had done well. If I showed up with my head down, they could assume the worst and not ask me about the evening.

I'm glad to say that I showed up the next day with my head held high, but not strutting per se'. I didn't "kill"; but I definitely "wounded".

My "internet addiction" bits killed; "my life as a married man" did well; but my biggest disappointment was a bit I thought would work well in the club sorta died.

Suffice it to say, that I need a different audience to "rip on Jesus". The owner informed me afterwards, "Dude, even "thugz" got religion". Lesson learned.

But if I want a "home club" in Mobile; I feel like I could perform there on a regular basis, provided I keep writing new material and again, not do any "Jesus jokes".

YIELD: MYSPACE

2006-11-19T19:03:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Steve The Nuclear Guy's advice I closed my newly signed up MySpace account and waited two days and signed up under the Comedians' MySpace.

I'm still building my profile and plan to include all my interests, hobbies, occupations, fetishes, vices, and vital secrets about my undergarment preferences.

What I won't be doing is--messing with the background. I looked at a bunch of profiles, and the ones where people added a photo as their background are really hard to read. Words disappear, or appear to float really weird in front of me...maybe it messes with my depth of field perception or maybe it triggers some unknown seizure disorder from part of my past I can't remember, but anyway I have trouble reading them.

So, out of respect for others like me, I'm keeping a bland, generic background for now.

I was really glad that Tom wasn't mad at me for canceling my initial account. I know he wasn't mad, cause he immediately signed on, AGAIN, as my first friend. Thank goodness for that. And because he still liked me, I got another comedian to request to be my friend, also.

Anyway, if you feel like joining Tom and my only other comedian friend, you can visit me at http://www.myspace.com/daverobison

SARALAND, ALABAMA

2006-01-29T20:22:00.000-06:00

Just joined Comedy Soapbox in my quest to get some gigs. The Soapbox is filled with some valuable resources, as well as their own blogging section. I'm not sure I'll blog there or not. But I might at least create a "front page" and a link back to "Comedy This Exit"

MOBILE, ALABAMA

2005-11-02T15:41:00.000-06:00

When you start talking to yourself at the age of ten, you got to know trouble is going to follow you from there on out. Someone should have told Dave.

Dave Robison began practicing as a ventriloquist at 10. By the time he was 16 he was pretty popular in his small Mississippi town, entertaining at birthday parties, banquets, and civic functions. Local press coverage was the norm for Dave as a teenager, and Dave often thought of taking his local celebrity-hood to the next step and to become a star outside of his hometown by going "on the road".

Dreams of a stand up comedy career were put on hold with an early marriage, early kids, and early debt, along with trading a multitude of jobs with periods of unemployment. Dave finally settled in to becoming an industrial video producer and Public Relations professional.

Then in 1999, Dave discovered the Internet, it was like the modem cord was injecting sweet bliss into his veins. He couldn’t have been more excited if it had been an Amway meeting. (Oh yeah, did we mention Dave sells Amway too? Yep, it only gets worse)

Now, from Mobile, Alabama comes Dave Robison, a confessed Internet-aholic, tired of making people LOL with a keyboard inside a chatroom; and ready to walk out on a stage with a microphone in his hand, rather than a computer mouse.

Dave is not alone on stage going through AOL withdrawal without assistance. Breaking him down, so he can build him back up, is Dave's comedic partner of 20-some years, Skyler Leglantier.

Although made of wood, Skyler is the most animated piece of pine on stage and he has an attitude made for spontaneous combustion. Don't think Muppet® when you hear this puppet.

Comedy by Skyler and Dave is in pre-production in Mobile, Alabama and will be available once again for corporate events, college campuses, and nightclubs soon. (Sorry folks, Skyler won't do kids' birthday parties anymore)

Keep up to date here at "Comedy This Exit" for show schedules and upcoming contact information from Ventures Entertainment.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2005-07-23T00:17:00.000-05:00

In keeping with the theme of "On The Road With Dave", you'll have to endure the "construction" analogy of building this comedy exit.

We aren't open to "traffic" yet, but we're close.

This will be your off-ramp to the latest news for the Skyler and Dave Comedy Team.

Keep watching for the next Exit.