The Kvetch Board!

SeanWilkinson??? · Joined: 26 Feb 2009 Posts: 159

A few things:

I don't really agree with it in any instance, but the contest part of this rule would seem kinda reasonable if it said 2-4 weeks, not 90 days and also something like 30 miles, not 90. A half year of competitions in a large portion of New England is not going to hurt attendance at yours, and is only going to keep comics away.

The non-BCF venue part of this makes no sense from a quality-of-show standpoint. Not just because those venues' attendance probably doesn't affect yours, but also because if we are truly not allowed to work on our festival set in other rooms it could potentially hurt the quality of the show (now that I have my first-round-exit excuse out of the way...). As other people said this is probably just to punish rooms that don't sponsor BCF shows, and if that's the goal, just do what you need to do to make sure you're a bigger draw than them. Nothing wrong with competition with other venues, just don't try to sabotage their lineups for the week and alienate the comics in the process. Best-case scenario is it leaves a bad taste in peoples' mouths, which it seems to have already done.

Also, we won't know we're getting in for a little while, so if we have Eastern Mass dates booked for that week and then we get in, are we really expected to cancel all those dates for what will probably only amount to a 5 minute set at the Hard Rock? That helps no one.
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I,KenReid · Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 1742 Location: Somerville, MA

masspike · Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

Does this rule apply to Jim McCue? Will Jim ban himself if he breaks the rule?

ScottyL · Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 1139 Location: Somerville

Artie J · Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 534 Location: here

so basically no one can perform at The Vault,Nick's, or Cheer's during the BCF. or Kowloon or Giggles(11.5 miles away)or The Studio. Or private, or corporate gigs within the area.
So if I choose to 'compete', I put my family in potential financial insolvency.
Damn those dependents!
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Rineman · Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 119 Location: Here.

Scotty,

Where else have you done comedy to be able to say this type of thing is more common than we all know? Not asking sarcastically, just to gain perspective on what other cities/regions this is common, especially in terms of contests.

LUMPY · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 99

Here's an idea..... Don't enter? Or enter and see if they reject you for it. At least you'll get credentials and a reason to bitch.

shane mauss · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 275

I traveled all over the world doing stand up.
The only time I ever see a rule like this applies to headlining a club.
A club pays you good money, flies you in, puts you up. You are the closing act and hopefully drawing some people and are hopefully more appealing than the other big club in the same area.
If you worked the other clubs, this would cut down your draw at both clubs.
It makes sense.

And SOMETIMES festivals will say, "if you do this fest, you can't do ours."
In my experience, these festivals fly out the comics, give them accommodations, and pay them.

There is no legitimate reasoning behind this rule for this contest. It comes off very childish and shady. I'm surprised Jim hasn't came on here to straighten this out. I guess I'm naive to think this must be some mistake.

I've made it a point to be a part of the BCF every year for no pay (usually giving up gigs). I've always been thankful for the festival and thought it was a good thing for the community.

This is weird

shane mauss · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 275

And regarding the festival comment I made. It has always just applied to other festivals and not clubs and such.
You can't tell local comics that they can't work for 6 months.

Ted Pettingell · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:13 am Post subject:

I'm only writing because I'm drunk and can't fall asleep because Shawn Donovan is snoring and ruining this road trip we have going. Looking forward to this post being the reason I am banned from all events with real comedy industry at them. Good luck Shawn Donovan in the festival this year.

Love
Ted "taking the blame for everyone else" Pettingell.
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Zoe Williker · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 109 Location: Watertown, MA

Sisqo's Little Brother · Joined: 31 Jul 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Parts Unknown

Hey friends!
What if you already submitted before you read ALL the rules because you naively assumed that this was a legit comedy festival and you have work in or around the festival dates in the Boston area...do we get our money back (especially considering that we would eventually be DQed from the festival if we even got in because of dates we had before we knew the festival was even going to be moved to November)? How were we supposed to know that this isnt as much a comedy festival, in the spirit of comedy festivals that introduce out of town comics (like myself, I'm Sisqo's little brother...he was in Dru Hill and did the thong song if you remember...it was even referenced in the movie Dodgeball so...no biggy. anyway, like i was sayin) to new comedy scenes so we can network and get a feel for the where we might want to work out of town?

This seems to just be a spiteful and bitter bully putting on a jerk contest. I cant think of any other fest that hurts its local comics...the very thing that adds legitimacy to the festival. A comedy festival that takes place in one of the biggest and most reputable comedy cities, banning its local comics from working in or around where they live and make a living for 90 days...just so they can be a part of a contest? Thats insane. I mean, you guys DO remember the "Thong Song" right? It was a hit!

How are they gonna find out that you're working somewhere anyway? Are they really gonna check your myspace calendars? If you get in the fest, say you even win it, are they gonna strip you of the title, Miss America style for some non sense just because Jim has beef with Mottley's? Is Jim gonna really enforce this rule on the boston comics and think he has any right (he does have the right, its his festival and if you think HE IS BEING A DOOCHE BAG, you dont have to enter anyway)? A long time ago, I heard Jim was a boston comic once...he should know that no one in Boston is a draw so no one stands to even hurt the success (or failure) of his festival. My brother has silver hair "let me see that thooooong." The no-perform rule is disgusting, especially if it actually goes all the way down to "one nighters" and open mics...how are boston jerks supposed to work out to get in shape for the fest? Are they supposed to work out at the Hard Rock's open mic? Do they even have one? Are comics supposed to work out and get in fest shape at the comedy club at Cheers? Is that still even there? I heard it shut down...another good idea by Jim, im sure. "Baby, make the booty go...baby make the booooooty gooo-oooo!" The no-perform rule almost guarantees that no quality boston guys will get into the fest. Essentially it says we only take guys from boston who arent working...either guys who cant get work in their own town or guys who strictly work the road, gonna be a lot of dunkin donuts and "kids dress funny" jokes representing boston in the fest this year. Maybe thats the right move, as a guy from out of town, we always hear that the BCF is fixed and only boston comics win that sh*t anyway. This seems like a solid way to guarantee that no working comics from boston can even try to win this year. Boston open-micers vs the world. Hey, all i know is Dru Hill is getting a reality show and I'm about to sweep the fest, i just started featuring at the Chuckle Cave so get ready to eat my dust.

I started off with a point, I think its that this years BCF is probably the one that will run the name into the ground and take away the legitimacy as soon as word gets out on how Jim is the Dick Doherty of comedy festivals (i hear about that assh*le alllllll the time from every boston comic ive ever worked with...ever. Someone told me he has a hot wife even thought hes like 80...is that true?). "Even though we aint got money, im so in love with ya honey" thats not my brother's song, its just one i like.

I'm out.
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Angry Donkey · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 9 Location: The farm

I think if you want to prove to someone how "stupid" a rule is you need to follow that rule to the letter. So if you think this rule is stupid or crazy then follow it and see what happens. If you're all right about it then the festival will suffer for the lack of quality comics or, the rule will make the festival stronger and next year you can enter a festival that will be better for all involved. Do what you want but stop bitching about it.
And no, I don't know what I'm talking about.
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