Stand Up Bootcamp – Day 1

Editor’s Note: Comedian David Lew has agreed to exclusively document for AmericasComedy.Com, in a daily report, the latest Stand Up Boot Camp run by two very famous funny men, Louie Anderson and Kyle Cease. The boot camp takes place over 5 days, 8 hours each day, at the World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood where some of the most famous comedians of our time were first given the opportunity to perform and fine tune their acts. That tradition continues today. There will be guest speakers that range from national headliners to managers and agents.

Day 1
I arrived at 9am at the Comedy Store. I quickly remember what it’s like living in LA when we were asked $10 to park at 9am. The students are waiting outside anxiously awaiting bootcamp to begin. There’s a student we’ll call “Jill” who is making her rounds, memorizing every students name. I walked in with Halli Borgfjord, (who is a good friend  and also assistant to Louie and Kyle) we bypass the students and we go in search of Kyle or Louie. We find Louie backstage of the main room. If you’ve never been to the Comedy Store, its incredible. Actually, it’s only incredible to anyone who knows the history of the Comedy Store.

9:23am- Students are given their bootcamp passes and seated in the main room. Everyone is still meeting each other, but the chatter ceases when Kyle and Louie hit the stage.  Kyle and Louie announce that there will be some surprise drop-in guests later on.  Then Kyle grabs the microphone… and bootcamp has begun.

Kyle gave a brief intro, and then Louie took over by giving a brief history of his journey from Minneapolis to Los Angeles and becoming a mainstay at the Comedy Store.
Before Louie introduces the first guest speaker of the day, he tells everyone what his goal is for the bootcamp: “That you are closer to your goal of being a better comic.” Plain and simple, straightforward, and honest.

12;00pm- We have our first guest speaker of the day: Tim Sanders, author of “The Like Ability Factor.” He was a fantastic speaker focusing on the power of networking. His advice essentially told us to focus on giving instead of taking; making sure you do things for others with an authentic need to help. And through that positivity, good things will begin to happen.

12:30pm- Second speaker of the day: Shore Slocum. One of the first people to work for Tony Robbins; he covered the power of pushing through difficult situations; erasing the caps we have as far as our capabilities as people. Shore said one of the more powerful quotes I have ever heard: “It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.” And in regards to comedy, no truer words could ever be uttered.

1:41pm- Kyle has just announced it’s lunch time. After the lunch break, the next guest speaker will be Ralphie May; the first guest speaker focused on stand up.
The amazing thing so far is that after 4 hours of speaking, not one mention of anything that’s only benefiting to comics. All of the lessons and stories that have been told are things that can be applied to any aspect of someone’s life.

3:00pm- Our last speaker The first comic guest speaker of the day:  Ralphie May. I have been to 4 boot camps, and I believe that Ralphie is the most honest, in your face speaker the boot camp has had. He opened by saying “Lets get this out of the way, not all of you are going to be great comics.” And that set the down for the brutally honesty that he let out while he spoke for a better part of two hours. He covered such topics as mistakes young comics make, mistakes that have ruined careers of established headliners, and more. He also mentioned he has 12 hours of material logged in his mind. Oh how I wish I had that problem.

Well, that wraps up Day 1 of Bootcamp.  Tomorrow promises more amazing guest speakers. I heard Craig Shoemakers name earlier. Stay tuned.

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