Effective Marketing with YouTube Videos

As a Christian Comedian for women's events,  I am often approached by church groups who are looking for a clean comedy performance.  They find me in a number of ways including mailings, word-of-mouth and SEO.  Therefore, I spend many hours each day trying to get to the top of that very important Google search.

The Overlooked Power of YouTube

In addition to finding the ideal keywords, meta tags and descriptions for my site, I am continually searching YouTube videos regarding the most recent developments for optimizing websites.  Ironically, the YouTube video I discovered recently discusses the optimization of YouTube videos!

Dave Bowen is very clear in his instruction and he offers daily tasks for serious students of YouTube SEO.  I recommend his videos to other keynote speakers and Christian Comedians hoping to advance their videos for promotion.

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Christian Comedian

Christian Comedians Need Business Sense Too

Christian Comedian Sally Edwards

Regardless of the type of speaking career that a Christian Comedian pursues, it is essential to develop business skills.  Being the most entertaining or funniest Christian Comedian will not necessarily propel you to a headline spot.  Effective marketing is equally (if not more) important that will make you shine and get you booked often and for increasingly good pay.

Event Planners seek clean comedians who entertain without offending.  That is what will keep the comedy trend in churches thriving.  To recognize this as a new speaker and Christian Comedian is invaluable.  Building a mailing list and a successful social media campaign will connect you to friends, family and fans.  If an event planner sees that you are motivated establish a solid career through online connections, your value has increased tenfold.

Because professional comedians are prone to creativity, they generally focus on writing funny stories. The reasoning is that "funny stories" brings rewards.  I have performed as a clean stand up comedian for over 20 years and I have seen some of the "funniest" never quite make it.  The brilliant comedians can fall by the wayside, appreciated for their genius only by other admiring comedians.  This occurs when business sense does not quite catch up to creative sense.

Last year, I booked an event and I experienced first-hand what event planners see as "value" in a Christian Comedian.  I initially made efforts to create the funniest show possible.  With a limited budget for advertising, I was reliant upon word of mouth and basic internet social media to get the word out in a very short amount of time.  Ironically, the "funniest" no longer had the same value to me when I was on the other side of the booking fence.

The comedians who were most valuable to me were the ones making an all-around effort.  They were contacting friends, making mentions on Facebook, Stumble Upon, Tumbler, Digg and Twitter and writing blogs.  My most valuable act of the year was a new comedian who did a great guest set and invited thirty friends.  He did his homework, created a buzz and got the laughs.  The event was successful and made me understand the true value of a working Christian Comedian.

The Secret to Staying Happy in Your Comedy Career

I've been performing stand up comedy for twenty-five years and this is long enough to see comedy careers go up and comedy careers go down. Simply checking out a comedian's timeline on Facebook will give a quick peek at the cycle of stardom and the toll it takes on a performing career.  The most desperate/depressing posts are generally by comedians who made it "big" at the start of their career and feel it will never get that good again.  They spend the rest of their life floundering as they try to regain that feeling of greatness achieved by way of a coveted television spot or sitcom.  Of course, there are also the comics who feel they've never really "made it" and traveled a misguided road only to be met with one disappointment after the another.

How is it possible to stay happy and focused without encountering a lifelong roller coaster ride of those ups and downs?  I can tell you that I see that answer with complete clarity.

First, ask yourself, "What is a comedian?"  The answer most people give is quite obvious. "A comedian is someone who makes people laugh."

It is not complicated.  A comedian is not described as a "star"; a comedian is not described as someone who has their own sitcom; a comedian is not described as someone who has the most YouTube hits or followers on Twitter.

A comedian is someone who makes people laugh.  If you take your own ego out of the equation and appreciate the fact that you were given the awesome gift of making people laugh and feel happy, you will learn to appreciate and love your craft regardless of ups and downs.  A comedian changes a person's life for the better.  How fortunate we are as comedians to be given this gift.  Comedy is about your audience.  They are the true stars of your own show.  If a comedian can appreciate this very basic concept, they will always feel successful and blessed and no longer be a victim of their endless internal struggle.

The sweetest sound to me are the words, "I haven't laughed this hard in years!"  That is truly the sound of success.

Female Clean Comedian - Sally Edwards
ComedyBySally.com

The Down and Dirty Show - Frank Fontana Welcomes Clean Comedian Sally Edwards - Home Improvement News

I was honored to co-host the "Down and Dirty" Show with Home Improvement Guru Frank Fontana this week.  In addition to being a wonderfully nice person, his radio persona is very engaging and he has the talent to allow a comedian to set up a joke and deliver it well!

And - he takes a nice picture.  Thanks Frank!

Click Here to go to The Down and Dirty Show with Frank Fontana

Also on the Show were two Incredible Women!

Jill Paider - Jill travels the world and specializes in photographing food, people and architecture.  Photos on her web site are nothing short of stunning!

Kelly Rizzo - Kelly is hosting a new television show based in Chicago called "Food Junkie" in which she visits restaurants and discovers all sorts of tricks-of-the-trade from a back door perspective.

Comedians and Halloween

Am I performing in a comedy club tonight.   Nooooo...  Halloween is one of those nights when people (as in "audience") love to dress up and make scenes.  There are some holidays to steer clear of in the entertainment world and I think Halloween is a formidable challenge.  A costumed adult will takes advantage of his or her anonymity when watching a comedy show.  A mask or a well-painted face is tempting enough to bring out the heckler in even the most reserved customer.

Halloween is well-suited to bars where there is loud music and dancing.  Since effective comedy relies so strongly on good lights and good sound (and good jokes), it is better for the ghouls and goblins to make their screams and shrills in a party atmosphere.

Tonight I'm dressed as a cowgirl and I'm waiting for the doorbell to ring!

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Re-invent Yourself Mid-life!

A Comedian's Perspective - Reinvent Yourself at Mid-life

Why do adults plunge into a mid-life crisis?  Perhaps it is the naming of the personal phenomenon.  Afterall, "crisis" does not conjure feelings of great joy and happiness.  Rather, it causes one to imagine greeting cards with pithy sayings about being "over the hill."  Let's step away from that doomsday picture for a minute.

Now imagine that mid-life is inherently regarded as a fantastic life hurdle that one has just crossed. I see self-confident adults who dare to reinvent themselves. These adults are having fun, traveling and discovering new career pathways of adventure.

There are so many options for living in this world. Why do so many human beings label themselves as only one thing? The obvious answers are need, money and opportunity. Once a person is established in a successful career, it is not a popular and/or intelligent choice to simply walk away from it all. A successful career is great for the ego, the stability and of course, the family. However, what happens when retirement is on the horizon? Does it have to signal gloom and doom?

A counselor once told me, "It's not what happens to you in life. It is how you interpret it." This is one of the most invigorating statements I have heard. With just a change of thought process, an individual has the personal power to turn everything good. All that is needed is a positive attitude! I approach midlife crisis in the same positive manner.

Midlife crisis can be viewed as a midlife "dream." Take that extra energy and put it into projects or plans for the future. I had my own midlife crisis when I realized I was overwhelmed in the world of stand up comedy from having to perform up to ten shows a week. With my husband's encouragement, I became a corporate comedian for women's events. Now I am able to perform one show per week that is as profitable as an entire week of standup comedy in a club. As a clean corporate comedian, I am asked to appear at luncheons and banquets. This is much more conducive to my early to bed, early to rise schedule and it presents the challenge of performing entirely solo. I am on the other side of my midlife crisis discovering a new type of audience and new performing platforms.

If you're approaching any type of "crisis" you may wish to redefine it. Referring to a midlife "crisis" as a midlife "discovery" may give you an extra edge in enjoying various life stages. Interpreting life in a positive manner will open exciting paths of self-discovery.

Clean Corporate Comedy for Women's Events

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Sally Edwards is a Clean Female Corporate Comedian who tours nationally. Sally Edwards' clean comedy has been featured on A&E's "Comedy on the Road" and Showtime's "Comedy Club Network."

Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau in Chicago. For booking information see: http://ComedyBySally.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7624286

Stand up Comedy - Your First Appearance on the Comedy Stage

Tips for Performing Stand-up Comedy

You think you're a funny guy or girl and you've gathered enough courage to perform on New Talent Night at a local comedy club. How should you prepare to face a room full of strangers and make them laugh? First, you need your arsenal of funny material. Take time during the day to sit down and write a joke with a simple joke structure. The simplest and most basic form of joke writing is "set up and punchline". "Setting up a joke" is providing basic information about an experience or topic. It establishes a place, a feeling and a presence. The punchline element produces the surprise and the unexpected ending. A genuine surprise elicits laughter from an audience which proves your joke is effective. 

 Memorize your jokes and rehearse them either mentally or verbally. Create a visual picture in your head of the subject matter and your first jokes will be more easily committed to memory. Continue rehearsing your jokes daily until they can be recited out loud and with confidence. Achieving a relaxed conversational tone will demonstrate command of the stage and put an audience at ease. Many new comedians assume they can stand on stage and be an "off-the-cuff" guy or girl. This can be a dangerous assumption. The first time on stage can be intimidating and it is very possible that increased nervousness will steal your mental reflexes and response time. You will be facing lights and strange faces as the audience stares at you, and you alone. Most likely, you will feel robbed of your humorous creativity as you know it. Having a solidly memorized "set" of material will give you a performance safety net on stage. It is better that improvising skills are utilized once an audience is engaged and laughing. 

 The first time on stage triggers the primal fear of facing a roomful of unfamiliar faces. You are taking on a very formidable challenge when standing on the comedy stage. Don't be too hard on yourself. Congratulations on conquering a fear that is only second to death. It does get better and more fun as you feel more comfortable on stage and as you get to know your "character". Performing on a weekly or nightly basis will make the joke writing easier and the performances will appear more natural. Taking those first few steps on the comedy stage are giant leaps in terms of personal goals and a lifetime of effort and enjoyment.    

ComedyBySally.com

Clean Comedian Sally Edwards Hosts Zanies' "Top Ten"

On Tuesday nights beginning on October 22nd at 8:00 p.m., the best and the brightest Chicago comedians will be taking the stage at Zanies Comedy Club located in the new MB Financial Park at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, IL 60018.  After spending a few years away from the comedy club scene in order to pursue my clean corporate comedy at special events and women's conferences, I am returning to the Zanies Comedy Club stage in Rosemont, IL to host their special weekly comedy event called "The Tuesday Ten." 

Adding a new performance night at Zanies Comedy Club offers a great opportunity to established comedians to showcase their talents.  Whether comedians are performing new material or old standards the show will rock.  I absolutely love hosting comedy shows at Zanies in Rosemont because the room is intimate yet dynamic. The sound is fantastic which gives an added punch to the very funny material the comedians are delivering.  Hope to see everyone there!

 

Zanies Comedy Club & The Tuesday Ten with Sally Edwards

After spending a few years away from the comedy club scene in order to pursue my clean corporate comedy at special events and women's conferences, I am returning to the Zanies Comedy Club stage in Rosemont, IL to host their special weekly comedy event called "The Tuesday Ten."  On Tuesday nights beginning on October 22nd at 8:00 p.m., the best and the brightest Chicago comedians will be taking the stage at Zanies Comedy Club located in the new MB Financial Park at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, IL 60018.

Adding a new performance night at Zanies Comedy Club offers a great opportunity to established comedians to showcase their talents.  Whether comedians are performing new material or old standards the show will rock.  I absolutely love hosting comedy shows at Zanies in Rosemont because the room is intimate yet dynamic. The sound is fantastic which gives an added punch to the very funny material the comedians are delivering.  Hope to see everyone there!

Carrot Top - Behind the Scenes with the Comedy Stars

Before Carrot Toplanded a very sweet consistent gig in Las Vegas, he took his very funny prop comedy act on the road.  I first met Carrot Top at Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago.  Carrot Top was headlining for the week and I was the feature act.

     I knew I had a rough road ahead of me because pre-plastic surgery Carrot Top was a very cute redhead and he already had a huge fan base.  When a comedian becomes semi-famous and draws a crowd, his or her fans do not relish the twenty to thirty minutes they spend watching the feature, or middle act. 

    The room was packed and Carrot Top Fever was in the air. I delivered the best show I could but the impatient crowd did not return my energy.  I felt defeated.  That sense of defeat was amplified when Carrot Top hit the stage.  The crowd went wild with his first “How you guys doin’?”

     Carrot Top can work a room.  Each prop and joke surpasses the cleverness of the one preceding it.  At the time, his piece de resistance was a joke about fellow comedian Pee Wee Herman who had recently been arrested for indecent exposure.  Pee Wee Herman starred in his own funny children’s show even adults enjoyed.  However, he fell out of grace when he was caught playing around in a movie theater – with his privates.

     Carrot Top held up a jumbo popcorn container with a big hole in the bottom and shouted out, “Pee Wee Herman’s Popcorn Box!”  The crowd went wild.  It was a true eruption.  The audience was totally in sync with their comedy hero and it was in stark contrast to the ambivalent way they had welcomed me.

     I wanted to level the playing field.  I decided to play a joke on Carrot Top during the second show scheduled for that night.

     Following Carrot Top’s awesome performance, he chatted with fans and then made a beeline for the second floor green room where he could rest, relax and gather his thoughts for the second show.  Carrot Top did not watch my show and I decided to take advantage of that fact.  He would not know what I was planning while on stage.

     The second show started and I was met with the same ambivalence as the first.  They wanted Carrot Top.  I decided to get in on Carrot Top Fever.

     Because he left his trunk full of props on stage I had access to Carrot Top’s entire act.  I opened the trunk and saw the giant popcorn container with the hole in the bottom.  I held it up to the audience I said, “This is one of Carrot Top’s favorite jokes.  Let’s play a trick on him.  When he holds up this container and says, ‘Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box ‘(big laugh), don’t make a sound – not a sound!”  I could see the delight in the faces of Carrot Top’s fans.  Everyone loves a good joke.

----------------------------------------------------------

     Carrot Top was at his best.  The crowd was with him and he was getting ready for the kill.  He reached into his trunk of wonders and pulled out the popcorn container.  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said in a booming voice, “Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box!”  ….  Silence…. Not a sound!  “Ladies and gentlemen – Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box!” he shouted again.  Nothing!  The Carrot Top fans were pulling through for me!  I was stunned, delighted and even a little bit scared (of who might be kind of upset!) 

     “Ladies and gentlemen,” Carrot Top said as he stooped forward toward the crowd, “What don’t you guys get?  This is funny.  Really.  This is funny!  How can you not laugh at that?” Carrot Top held it up one last time, waved it around and dejectedly gave it a long toss into his long black trunk.

     Facing a sea of Carrot Top fans, his loyal audience let me into their circle to have some fun that night. Carrot Top demonstrated great sportsmanship when he found out the audience was in on the joke.  He took it all in good spirits and that night he was generous enough to let everyone share in the spotlight.

Performing at Zanies Comedy Club with Carrot Top - Behind the Scenes

CARROT TOP

          Before Carrot Top landed a very sweet consistent gig in Las Vegas, he took his very funny prop comedy act on the road.  I first met Carrot Top at Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago.  Carrot Top was headlining for the week and I was the feature act.

     I knew I had a rough road ahead of me because pre-plastic surgery Carrot Top was a very cute redhead and he already had a huge fan base.  When a comedian becomes semi-famous and draws a crowd, his or her fans do not relish the twenty to thirty minutes they spend watching the feature, or middle act. 

    The room was packed and Carrot Top Fever was in the air. I delivered the best show I could but the impatient crowd did not return my energy.  I felt defeated.  That sense of defeat was amplified when Carrot Top hit the stage.  The crowd went wild with his first “How you guys doin’?”

     Carrot Top can work a room.  Each prop and joke surpasses the cleverness of the one preceding it.  At the time, his piece de resistance was a joke about fellow comedian Pee Wee Herman who had recently been arrested for indecent exposure.  Pee Wee Herman starred in his own funny children’s show even adults enjoyed.  However, he fell out of grace when he was caught playing around in a movie theater – with his privates.

     Carrot Top held up a jumbo popcorn container with a big hole in the bottom and shouted out, “Pee Wee Herman’s Popcorn Box!”  The crowd went wild.  It was a true eruption.  The audience was totally in sync with their comedy hero and it was in stark contrast to the ambivalent way they had welcomed me.

     I wanted to level the playing field.  I decided to play a joke on Carrot Top during the second show scheduled for that night.

     Following Carrot Top’s awesome performance, he chatted with fans and then made a beeline for the second floor green room where he could rest, relax and gather his thoughts for the second show.  Carrot Top did not watch my show and I decided to take advantage of that fact.  He would not know what I was planning while on stage.

     The second show started and I was met with the same ambivalence as the first.  They wanted Carrot Top.  I decided to get in on Carrot Top Fever.

     Because he left his trunk full of props on stage I had access to Carrot Top’s entire act.  I opened the trunk and saw the giant popcorn container with the hole in the bottom.  I held it up to the audience I said, “This is one of Carrot Top’s favorite jokes.  Let’s play a trick on him.  When he holds up this container and says, ‘Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box ‘(big laugh), don’t make a sound – not a sound!”  I could see the delight in the faces of Carrot Top’s fans.  Everyone loves a good joke.

----------------------------------------------------------

     Carrot Top was at his best.  The crowd was with him and he was getting ready for the kill.  He reached into his trunk of wonders and pulled out the popcorn container.  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said in a booming voice, “Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box!”  ….  Silence…. Not a sound!  “Ladies and gentlemen – Pee Wee Herman’s popcorn box!” he shouted again.  Nothing!  The Carrot Top fans were pulling through for me!  I was stunned, delighted and even a little bit scared (of who might be kind of upset!) 

     “Ladies and gentlemen,” Carrot Top said as he stooped forward toward the crowd, “What don’t you guys get?  This is funny.  Really.  This is funny!  How can you not laugh at that?” Carrot Top held it up one last time, waved it around and dejectedly gave it a long toss into his long black trunk.

     Facing a sea of Carrot Top fans, his loyal audience let me into their circle to have some fun that night. Carrot Top demonstrated great sportsmanship when he found out the audience was in on the joke.  He took it all in good spirits and that night he was generous enough to let everyone share in the spotlight.

Comedy Mom - My Funny Stand-up Life

Comedy Mom!  My Funny Stand-up Life is now available on Amazon!

Amazon

Below is the synopsis:

"Comedy Mom! My Funny Stand-up Life" by clean female comedian Sally Edwards is a very funny and inspiring book about parenting and stand-up comedy. Sally Edwards is a mom and comedian who overcomes paralyzing stage fright by discovering hilarity in the raising of her own children. Experiencing an unsettling childhood, Sally Edwards lives her teenage years at an all-girls' Catholic boarding school where she first discovers she has a gift for making people laugh. The birth of Sally's three children with Zanies' Comedy Club Executive Vice President, Bert Haas, inspires a wealth of funny stories with a positive and uplifting message!

Humor Book - Comedy Mom! My Funny Stand-up Life! by Comedian Sally Edwards

My book is published!   Now on my site for purchase - soon to be on sites worldwide!

Comedy Mom!  My Funny Stand-up Life

Available at ComedyBySally.com

"Comedy Mom! My Funny Stand-up Life" by clean female comedian Sally Edwards is a very funny and inspiring book about parenting and stand-up comedy. Sally Edwards is a mom and comedian who overcomes paralyzing stage fright by discovering hilarity in the raising of her own children. Experiencing an unsettling childhood, Sally Edwards lives her teenage years at an all-girls' Catholic boarding school where she first discovers she has a gift for making people laugh. The birth of Sally's three children with Zanies' Comedy Club Executive Vice President, Bert Haas, inspires a wealth of funny stories with a positive and uplifting message!

Smile - You're Doing Stand Up Comedy!

I am a stand up comedian who did not smile. Not only was I a stand up comedian who did not smile, I was a wife, mother, friend and stranger who did not smile. The odd thing is that I thought I was smiling.

Five years ago, my husband said to me, “Sally, you’ve got to learn to smile on stage!” I said, “I do smile. What are you talking about? I’m very happy.”

I saw the videotapes and realized I was wrong. Five years ago, I began to teach myself to smile. I made it my mission and passion. I wanted to communicate correctly how I was feeling. If I met someone, I thought to myself, “Make youself smile!” When I greeted my children when they came home from school, I thought, “Make yourself smile!” And, of course, on stage, it was a constant, “Make yourself smile!”

At first smiling felt very insincere because it required a constant mental and physical effort. However, as I continued my efforts, I realized that, in fact, it was much more sincere to be happy and communicate that emotion. It changed my life so greatly for the better. If you are not a natural smiler, now is the time to make the change.

I’m convinced that smiling is hereditary. Some people have such an easy time with it. They’re smiling all the time from an early age. Consequently, they seem to have more friends, successful careers and happier children. Truly they have unknowingly harnessed the power of this great secret.

Does your dog smile? Mine does. And I’m willing to bet that you’ve noticed that your dog smiles too. Doesn’t a dog’s smile make you feel great? A dog doesn’t smile often but when it does, everyone notices and everyone comments. A smile counts and it goes a long way.

Now it’s your turn. Even if you smile only as often as your dog, you have the ability to teach yourself to communicate more effectively and sincerely. It requires a concerned effort and will feel very unnatural at first. It will feel like you’re not being “you”. That’s the good news! You’re becoming a better “you!”

Smiling comes very easily to me now. I feel as if I have made a great discovery and I am truly enjoying it. The other morning as I walked my two dogs in the park, I ran into a friend and he gave me a wonderful compliment. He said, “Sally, it’s good to see you. You always look so happy!”

That’s because …. I am.

Mom Stories - "Mom, Who Am I?"

   I don’t know what goes on in kindergarten but I can tell these kids are doing a heck of a lot more than me when I was five.  I know that “David” was the longest name I’d ever seen and I still had no idea was “M,N,L,O,P” was when I entered first grade.  Kids today are reading at a third grade level at a time when my father would simply look at me and say, “Don’t flunk sandbox.”

            This was never more apparent to me the day Christine came home from kindergarten and said, “Mom.  We’re going to play a game.  Standing in a white lace dress and ankle socks, Christine looked like an angel and she spoke with the innocence of someone who didn’t know they were about to challenge the incredible competitive character known as “Mommy.”  Christine continued in a soft voice.  “I’m going think of something in the world and you get three guesses to figure out what I’m thinking of.”  Maybe this heavenly being knew a little more about playing the big slots than I gave her credit for.  It seemed that the “world” is a pretty big playing field and the human component of “thinking” could not be scored in a fair and honest manner.    I became aware that the odds of winning were stacked in her favor.

            I began to guess.  “Christine, you’re thinking of your big red doll.”  “No!”  “Christine, you’re thinking of your baby doll.”  “No!”  “Christine you’re thinking of that lamp right over there.”  “No!”   I’d lost – but by how much?   I had to know now.  “Christine, what may I ask were you thinking about?”  Christine looked at me in the eyes as if she was pulling in her poker chips.  …. “Mount Fuji!”  … I wasn’t even close.  “Christine?”  “What.”  “I want to talk to your teacher.”

Couch Stories

    STANDUP COMEDIANS AND COUCH STORIES

    The unfortunate adventures that standup comedians experience over the years are often referred to as “couch stories.” They generally contain elements of pain and embarrassment for the performer and repeating them has a cathartic effect until they become funny and tolerable.  A good story telling comedian knows that pain becomes funny over time.  A great story is memorable gold when riffing on the couch with a talk show host should that welcome opportunity arise.

    One of my favorite couch stories concerns a very talented comedian by the name of “Gilbert Gottfried.”  (Now a favorite face on the line up of roasters as seen on “Comedy Central.”) 

     Gilbert is a very unique comedian from New York who delivers his material in a whiny voice and squinted eyes.  What is most unique, however, is his very original material based on subject matter that originates somewhere far off in left field.  Gilbert Gottfried’s appearance is as unique as the jokes he tells.  His height and weight border petite.

  I was a bit star struck driving up to Milwaukee where I would be performing with Gilbert at The Comedy Café – an intimate room where the crowds are always pumped and ready to laugh.  Gilbert is a true talent and I knew the three days of performing with him were going to be top-notch.  One of the thrills of being a comedian is being able to work with people whose comedy I admire. 

 “Hi.  How are ya’.  Hi, how are ya’.  Nice to meet chu.  Good.  Good.”  The room was filled to standing room only as I tried to work my way to the green room of The Comedy Café that evening.  Gilbert Gottfried had also arrived and was trying to part the waves of adoring fans.  His intended goal was also to reach the same door leading to the stairs that would take him down the long narrow hall to the green room.  Head down, eyes squinting, he rarely made eye contact of those he met. 

     Reaching the swinging door we bumped into each other long enough for me to say, “Hi Gilbert.  I’m Sally and I’ll be your opening act tonight.”  …  “Hi.  Very nice.  Pleasure to meet chu.  Good.  Good.”  And those were the only words we exchanged that week.  He seemed to neither see nor hear me when I ran into him again and again over the course of three days.

     As a young comedian, it is very exciting to know that your act is being watched by someone in the business you admire.  It is also in the best interest of the headliner (the “star” of the show or closing act) to watch his or her opening act to ensure that they do not repeat the same premises and/or jokes to the same audience.  It is a type of self-preservation.  As a headliner, it is humiliating to bring up a topic that your opening act has explored.  It is an embarrassment to repeat subject matter and reduces perceived professionalism.

     Gilbert Gottfried never watched my act.  He wasn’t worried that I’d bring up any of his original and entirely bizarre premises.  He wasn’t worried that I might be so funny that he could not follow me.  He never made an effort to see my show or in engage in friendly conversation with me.  I was invisible.

    Gilbert went on stage and although he started slow and steady, he reeled the audience in with his incredible imagination.  He talked about the bizarre and he intrigued his audience as they listened to his story about how he went outside one morning and found a turtle in the radiator of his car. Anything is possible in Gilbert Gottfried’s world.   As he exited the stage, two very tall big breasted blondes became his moveable bookends as he made his way directly past me to the narrow hallway that took him back to the greenroom.

     It had been three days since Gilbert Gottfried had acknowledged me as an acquaintance and fellow performer.  In three days, I grew tired of being invisible and I decided it was time for a prank that would shake Gilbert Gottfried out of his big boobed, blonde stupor.

    Saturday night I approached Gilbert in the green room.  He looked at me as if he was seeing me for the first time.  I said, “Gilbert, I’ve been opening for you all week.”  ….  “Ah, yeah.”  “Gilbert, I continued.  Have you watched any of my shows?”  …. “Ah no.  I haven’t had a chance to get up there.”  “Well Gilbert, you know that bit that you have about finding a turtle in the radiator of your car?”  …. “Yeah.”  … “Well I do a bit about finding a turtle in the radiator of MY CAR!” 

   The screaming started.  Gilbert Gottfried grabbed his chest and fell forward yelling, “Oh my god.  No!  Tell me – No!   It’s not true!  It can’t be!  Oh my god!  Oh my god!” …  “Gilbert!”   He raised his head as he neared a genuflecting position.  “Gilbert, I said. It’s O.K.   I’m just kidding.”

ComedyBySally.com

Clean Comedy Events for Women's Groups with Keynote Speaker Sally Edwards

It has been a wonderful week booking Clean Comedy Events for Women's Groups.  Clean comedy that is non-offensive allows women to laugh without the fear of embarrassment.  We have a great time and everyone is a winner!  Upcoming Clean Comedy Events for Women's Groups include:

Catholic Women's League of Rockford - Sept. 18th - Keynote Speaker and Comedian

St. John Neumann, St. Charles, IL - September 27th - Keynote Speaker and Comedian

St. John United Methodist Church, Louisville Kentucky:  Nov. 14th - Keynote Speaker and Comedian

Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL - Dec. 14th - Keynote Speaker and Comedian

Keynote Speaker and Comedian Sally Edwards

Clean Comedy for Women - Sally Edwards' Keynote Speaker

http://ComedyBySally.com

Zanies Rosemont - Amazing Room for Comedy!

   Comedy is most definitely like a drug.  I know a lot of comedians who have tried to "kick the habit" and failed (or shall I say succeeded!)  It is rooms like Zanies in Rosemont, IL who will suck you back in every time.  The outstanding sounds, lights and eager audience make well written jokes play like music.

     My own stand up comedy career has steered me towards daytime and early evening corporate events but the love of comedy clubs lurks around every next corner.

    Last Friday was Zanies Comedy Clubs "soft" opening night - let's say an "opening" night rehearsal.  I'd been offered a spot to be one of the first comedians to perform in the new room and I turned it down.  This was my husband's "baby" (My husband is Bert Haas - VP of Zanies) and I wanted him to soak up the credit and celebrate with him.  My only focus was giving him flowers on stage.  I wanted to tell him that after 25 years of "husband" jokes, it was absolutely time to say "thank you" and "congratulations" and "job so well done."   I wanted Bert to walk on stage and receive the flowers and get acknowledgement because he deserves it.  I did not plan to "do time" (comic's expression of performing on stage.)

  My idea did not seem to sit well with the host because he was concerned I might bring the show's opening to a "serious" or perhaps "emotional" halt and I completely understood.  He was concerned that the flowers might bring a slowing element to the stage that night and he asked that I first "do a little time."  I eventually agreed to perform but with great reservation.

    The reason for my reluctance was actually very internally acute.

    I resisted because I knew the comedy drug would kick in and kick in strong and I'd be back in the 2:00 a.m. comedy club scene mentality.  All my fears were well-founded.  With a glass half-full, I celebrate re-entry into late-night funny.

  The audience that night was outstanding and I've been "rehooked."  After many years of performing at daytime corporate events, I am re-entering the comedy club circuit.  Stand up comedy is a drug beyond personal control. Let all beware.  If you grow up seeing things "funny" and perform in a great room, there is no escaping.

France - Culture vs. Concrete

Don't misunderstand me - culture rocks!  Or do I mean a lot of culture is made of rocks, marble and concrete.

The good news is that we just returned safely from a trip to Paris.  The unfortunate news is that I traveled to France as a "debt" I owed to my husband who was kind enough to move from a Chicago suburb to a small town  that is one hour away from his place of work in downtown Chicago.  Bert runs Zanies in Chicago.  Thank goodness we both love to laugh.  It's saved our marriage, again, and again and again.

I appreciate Paris and all that it stands for but a visit wasn't necessary.  I'm afraid of airplanes and heights and I dread big cities because of the noise and overcrowding.  You'd think that would be a lifelong argument to not make the trip but Bert had romantic ideas from watching all those black and white movies that he loves so much.  He just forgot that I wasn't in any of them.

I have also become an "anti-hoarder."  After watching how the world works for so many years, I have very little appreciation for the material world.  Walking past shop after shop, after Parisian shop, I knew the costly and beautifully made clothes were wasted on this tourist.  Ever since our move to a small town I can't bear to go shopping.  I imagine every trinket for sale in a plastic garbage bag as it appeared when I donated and/or threw it out when I lightened the load in our new house.

Bert is obsessed with clothes.  He dresses well and puts on a great appearance.  We were the odd couple of this new black and white movie.

The best part of the days were the outstanding restaurants where we ate magnificent dinners.  I'd like to say there was no downside to this one however the downside is apparent the moment you enter the city.  Parisians are thin and they look good!  How do they do it?  We were now playing the part of the Fat Americans in our movie.  Well, it turns out they smoke quite a lot.  That fit well into the scene if our black and white came out in 1944.

What's important to me now is a healthy and loving family and making other people in the world feel good.  There's no store or monument for that.  It's building from the inside out.  I like to do it in green fields surrounded by rescue dogs or standing on stage and delivering stand up comedy that makes people laugh to tears.  My entire movie is in color and I love every minute of it!