ALL FUNNY BUSINESS
Annual comedy competition returns to Albany, Saratoga Springs
CAPITAL REGION » Annual comedy competition Make Me Laugh is returning the the Capital Region, giving local comics an opportunity to make local audiences laugh.
In November 2014, Erik Anker won the Make Me Laugh Albany contest, and by January 2015 he was booked on a 42-day comedy tour hitting 22 cities and ending in Anchorage, Alaska. “I never could have guessed winning a comedy contest would offer such benefits,” Anker said of the win. Similarly, last year’s winner Adam Gabel, just returned from a 30-day tour throughout the midwest with the Comedy’s Best Kept Secret Tour.
Make Me Laugh is committed to furthering the careers of burgeoning comedians across the United States. The contest is held in more than a dozen cities, and it’s still growing.
Winners have performed at NJ Funnyfest, Hoboken Comedy Festival and as part of the Comedy’s Best Kept Secret Tour.
Young comedians interested in participating are asked to either submit a fourto six-minute video online, or show up to the open auditions held in each city for a chance to perform in the preliminary, semifinals and final rounds. Online submissions are judged separately and come with a submission fee but offer yet another opportunity to qualify for the competition.
During the competition, each night three to six comedians will get bumped to the next round. Judged by local celebrities, established comedians and comedy bookers, Make Me Laugh organizers strive to get the sure the community and local clubs involved.
This year, events will be held at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs as well as Lark Tavern in Albany and the University at Albany. Prize shows will be held at Comedy Works Saratoga and Albany Funnybone.
“The whole virtue of the contest is to offer opportunities outside the local comedy market,” said event producer and comedian Dan Frigolette, a Schenectady native who starts his comedy career in Syracuse. Today, he tours around the United State performing comedy and has been featured on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Artie Lange Show, W Kamau Bell Show and the Wendy Williams Show. “Oftentimes in a city like Albany there is only one or two comedy clubs to perform at and that could limit individual comedians from getting a lot of stage time and moving forward in their career, I found this to be true when attempting to start my career in Syracuse.”
Make Me Laugh Winners are given paid comedy opportunities on the road, and in New York City and New Jersey and a hand-
ful of benefits such as press, podcast opportunities, and headshots.
In addition to Frigolette, other judges for this year’s competition include comedian Ben Kronberg, who’s been on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers, last year’s Winner Adam Gabel, along with a mixed bag of local celebrity judges including Benita Zahn from WNYT, Vinny Fazio from Stockade Kids, the Chief of Police in Schenectady Eric Clifford, CBS6 Anchor Jack Lamson, Kristi Gustafson Barlette from the Times Union, reporter Lauren Halligan from The Record and The Saratogian newspapers and other entertainment writers Michael Hallisey, and Ali Hibbs.
Submissions are open now for comedians at www.laughusa.org to submit a video. A limited number of slots will be made available on Nov. 2 at the Lark Tavern for live open auditions to those who RSVP through email or on the website. There will also be a private audition round held at UAlbany with the Sketchy Characters Comedy Group.
Comedians accepted will perform one or all of the Make Me Laugh rounds starting with the preliminary round on Nov. 9 at Putman Den in Saratoga Springs, the semifinal round on Nov. 10 or finals on Nov. 11 both being held at Lark Tavern in Albany. Prize shows for the winner to showcase their talent will be held on Nov. 15 at Albany Funnybone, Dec. 22 at Lark Tavern and on Dec. 23rd opening for Dan Frigolette at Saratoga Comedy Works.
Tickets and more information are available online at www.laughusa.org. All shows are for ages 18 and older.
Tickets cost $12 presale and $15 at the door for all events.