Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090054
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Chris Henson {LEAD} One thing stand-up comedians learn right off
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
What comes across as flip and funny is often scripted and rehearsed.
"It looks easy," says Jimmy Butler, owner of the Roanoke Comedy Club. "But that's a professional. It's very different when you get up there your first few times."
Every Thursday night Jimmy invites local talent to cut their comic teeth on stage, in front of an audience, before the headliners take over.
There was a space open in the line-up for last Thursday. I decided to try out my funny bone, for the sake of research.
Jimmy gave me some pointers to help me develop a routine: "Write it down. And practice making it sound natural."
That's the trick, after all. A good comic stands up there and says all these hilarious things like they're right off the top of his head.
Jimmy also told me one of the secrets comedians use to maintain continuity in their shticks. If you see a comedian take a sip from a glass of water on a stool there's a good chance he or she has notes or even an outline scrawled on a napkin next to the glass.
In figuring up material I first tried to pick a topic.
When my wife said she would not be able to come I decided to tell vaguely humorous stories about our honeymoon and my in-laws. How would she know?
My favorite story is about when she and I, newly wed, were driving to Nags Head. There was long lull in the conversation, probably from all the hard work involved in getting married. So, I took the opportunity to reflect on the recent events: how lucky I am, how in love I am, etc.
I looked over at her and saw she had a rather somber look on her face. When I asked her what she was thinking she looked startled and then announced, "I was thinking of different ways I could kill you."
Pretty funny, right? The rest of my material was just as side-splitting - that is to say, I couldn't think of anything to do at all.
So, Thursday night rolled around and there I was, pacing across our basement floor trying to remember how to get from my honeymoon misadventures to the story of my in-laws' trip to Amsterdam.
I finally wrote an outline on a big paper napkin.
I was nervous when I got to the Comedy Club, and so decided to have something from the bar. While sitting there Jimmy asked me how long my routine was. I told him it was somewhere between eight and 30 minutes, depending on how much I remember.
"You'll do it in five," said Jay, the bartender. "Your first time up there always goes quick."
I talked with the one of the evening's professional comics.
I kept trying to make her laugh. She never did. I asked for some water - my mouth tasted like tree bark.
This was when I noticed that I had left my napkin/outline at home.
While my name was being announced I weighed in my head which would be harder to do - force people to laugh or to cry? A famous actor once said, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
As I pulled my numb feet onto the stage I hoped that if I died it would at least be funny.
Once up there I made a few people laugh, several people groan and one person leave. I don't remember what I said at all. It's a blur.
But afterward I felt pretty good overall until I ran into five of my wife's co-workers.
"How much will you pay for this?" they asked. They had one of those micro-cassette recorders. On it they had taped every incriminating word of my routine, including the cuss words my father-in-law shouted when he was in Amsterdam.
Apparently I didn't offer enough. They kept the tape.
Jimmy gave me a few pointers afterwards. Each one started with: "This would have been funny if you had ..."
At the bar Jay offered this consolation: "Told you it would go by fast,'' he said. "Next time take it easy."
Next time, I thought. Next time I'll talk about my parents. They live four hours away.
Moral: It's not easy standing in front of people and being funny. Especially when they expect you to. You never know what people will laugh at until you've tried it on them, and by then it's too late.
That's why you should always leave comedy to the professionals.
Like Brett Leake, for instance.
"He's bring-your-mother clean and under-the-table funny," says Jimmy.
Brett will return to the Roanoke Comedy Club tonight, Friday and Saturday to celebrate the club's 10th anniversary.
"You've gotta see this guy," says Jimmy. "He was our very first emcee on our very first night 10 years ago. The guy is big-time now, and he's coming back to headline for us."
Big-time, indeed. In the past decade Brett has performed on ``The Tonight Show'' four times with Carson and Leno. His wit and wisdom have been featured on ``Entertainment Tonight,'' ``Stand-Up Spotlight,'' ``Comics Only,'' ``Short Attention Span Theater'' and ``Evening at the Improv'' on NBC, VH-1, Comedy Central and A&E. He's been all over the U.S. headlining shows as well as opening for the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Paula Poundstone, Rita Rudner and Kevin Meaney.
Brett has the gift of observation. He creates a show filled with hilarious insights into everyday existence.
From an early age Brett Leake has suffered from a form of Muscular dystrophy that slows his steps. However, at 36 he tours extensively, 275 shows a year.
For 10 years the Roanoke Comedy Club has been the valley's source of laughs. And while the venue has changed over the years from the Hotel Roanoke, to the Patrick Henry and now at Williamson Road at Kerns Avenue downtown, the high-quality humor continues to be a popular draw.
This weekend the laughs will be loudest. 10 years is worth celebrating. Jimmy has a great line-up, all professionals. They know what they're doing.
I promise to stay in my seat.
I will, however, be glad to tell you the Amsterdam story in private.
Tonight's show starts at 8:30. Friday's shows are 8:30 and 11. The first show is smoke-free! Saturday's shows are likewise at 8:30 and 11. Joining Brett Leake will be Jeff Caldwell and Dennis Allard. Call for reservations at 982-5693.
by CNB