callback

I got a callback for the Laughing Liberally show. (This is a touring group of comics who are, obviously, liberal and do political material.) The final auditions are an actual show, open to the public, so I'll post details soon for any liberally-minded peeps in New York. 

I've also sent in some submissions for The Idiot's Guide to Jokes. I can feel the prestige inching up my spine already.

I did not win the Carnival Comedy Challenge Wednesday night, but I was told that a booker who was one of the judges wanted to give me work. Apparently, this is how the Challenge operates -- the audience-participation contest exists to get a paying audience in there, but the judges actually give work to whomever they want.

There was, however, some intelligent design behind the competition -- instead of everyone just voting for the comic he or she came to see, there was a ranking system, wherein each audience member voted for first, second, and third choices, so if one comic were fantastic, didn't bring anyone, and became the overwhelming second choice of the audience, he could win. 

Cleverly arranged, although I did hear talk of some comics (we were also allowed to vote) marking themselves first choice and then marking the worst comics they could find as second and third, so as not to give points to their competitors.

Amusingly, one of the judges told me I talked too fast to play in the South (which, of course, is where I am from).

Performing in Philly with Neal Pollack tonight!