Every year each comedy club in NY gave a Christmas Party. One of the best ones was at Caroline's Comedy Club.
In 1988 they rented a photo booth and this is a picture of Larry David, creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I together. Obviously, we were drunk.
I love Larry for many reasons, not the least of which is that he put me on his two TV shows. But the main reason is because of something he did for me in the late 80's.
I had auditioned for and made it into Catch A Rising Star, the best comedy club in New York at that time. Not once, but twice. I had been thrown out by one booker but managed to get back in when another booker named Cynthia took over.
Cynthia really liked me and I got lots of stage time. Then she had a stroke. I wish I was making that up, for both her sake and mine.
So the club hired their bartender to take over. HI, WELCOME TO COMEDY!
The bartender didn't like me. And the more I knew he didn't like me, the worse I treated him. I do not recommend this as a career move.
The bartender slash booker, let's call him Hassle, would put me up when there were no other comics hanging around the bar area. In those days, you had to pay dues by hanging out at clubs for hours at a time, every single night. Then the booker would walk up, tap you on the shoulder and say, "You're on next." And you'd better have been prepared because the odds of you getting another chance after bombing were slim.
Because of that, I've never hung out at bars because I'm always waiting for someone to say, "You're on in 5."
Larry and I played a lot of the same clubs and he noticed I didn't get a lot of stage time at Catch. So one night he asked Hassle to put me on more.
Hassle liked Larry. Admired him. Thought he was a genius. And totally ignored his request.
Hassle said he didn't think I was funny. Larry said I didn't work like most comics. I didn't sit down and write jokes. I made up jokes while I was on stage. Which was harder.
Hassle didn't care.
Larry asked him to reconsider. He didn't and still never put me on unless there weren't any other comedians available.
I only heard this story because other comics had been at the club when Larry did this. And they told me.
Because of Larry I can't stay friends with anyone who isn't supportive of my career. So thanks Larry, for saving me from a lot of people like Hassle.
If you add an "o" to the anagram Hassle, you get the word Asshole.
In 1988 they rented a photo booth and this is a picture of Larry David, creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I together. Obviously, we were drunk.
I love Larry for many reasons, not the least of which is that he put me on his two TV shows. But the main reason is because of something he did for me in the late 80's.
I had auditioned for and made it into Catch A Rising Star, the best comedy club in New York at that time. Not once, but twice. I had been thrown out by one booker but managed to get back in when another booker named Cynthia took over.
Cynthia really liked me and I got lots of stage time. Then she had a stroke. I wish I was making that up, for both her sake and mine.
So the club hired their bartender to take over. HI, WELCOME TO COMEDY!
The bartender didn't like me. And the more I knew he didn't like me, the worse I treated him. I do not recommend this as a career move.
The bartender slash booker, let's call him Hassle, would put me up when there were no other comics hanging around the bar area. In those days, you had to pay dues by hanging out at clubs for hours at a time, every single night. Then the booker would walk up, tap you on the shoulder and say, "You're on next." And you'd better have been prepared because the odds of you getting another chance after bombing were slim.
Because of that, I've never hung out at bars because I'm always waiting for someone to say, "You're on in 5."
Larry and I played a lot of the same clubs and he noticed I didn't get a lot of stage time at Catch. So one night he asked Hassle to put me on more.
Hassle liked Larry. Admired him. Thought he was a genius. And totally ignored his request.
Hassle said he didn't think I was funny. Larry said I didn't work like most comics. I didn't sit down and write jokes. I made up jokes while I was on stage. Which was harder.
Hassle didn't care.
Larry asked him to reconsider. He didn't and still never put me on unless there weren't any other comedians available.
I only heard this story because other comics had been at the club when Larry did this. And they told me.
Because of Larry I can't stay friends with anyone who isn't supportive of my career. So thanks Larry, for saving me from a lot of people like Hassle.
If you add an "o" to the anagram Hassle, you get the word Asshole.
