Judging and some controversy

Well I was a judge for the comedy competition. I was somewhat excited as last week there was over 100 people. I've also been trying to meet with a gal I was interested in co hosting a poker radio show with her. We've had some missed encounters, she was suppose to come to my show last week that had nearly 200 people but couldn't make it. She was suppose to go to my show tomorrow at the Comedy Store but it got cancelled. I figured this might be a good opportunity to see me. It's usually tough for the judges as some people leave, and some are checked out as it can be a long show. Luckily a few people didn't show up and there ended up only being 7 comics. Most of them were L.A. based and I only recognized one guy from the Sd scene.

It is kind of weird judging. I have to watch everyone and judge how funny they are. Like I've talked about before I've become less of a comedy fan since I started doing it. I don't know whether I'm suppose to judge how funny the jokes are or how funny I find the comedian to be. I think what makes a funny comedian is to be able to adjust to the surroundings. Like I spoke on before with the guy telling me to just do my set even though no one is listening. I don't agree with that. There was only one guy that played with the crowd, and I think that is sign of a true comedian. My idea of a funny comedian is to be funny at every show you're at. Anyone can be funny out front of 200 listening audience members, but if you can make 15 people laugh, you're doing something right.

I went on stage with my friend playing the guitar. We've done it before. It's been a few weeks so I was kind of rusty on how to use him. I think the sketch has potential, we just need to pratice it a bit. I was really unenergetic and dry on stage. I was basically just being myself and chatting. I remember I used to break into that character when I did the Madhouse open mic. The poker show gal said she enjoyed the show, so let's hope she brings me on. I think it would be good for her and myself.

Well the controversy. And it really has nothing to do with me not advancing from the first round, esp. considering I ranked this guy first on my ballot. There was a dude in the contest tonight that was already scheduled for a previous round but he didn't show up. I asked the host about it, and he said "Well we had a couple no shows for tonight, and he was driving down, so I figured it would make for a better show." Well this is wrong on a lot of ways. First off, what stops someone who from a previous round, but did not advance from trying to get on a later week. There's no difference from not advancing whether youre there or not. If this person brought a good amount of crowd members, should we allow them back on every week even if theyre terrible. Secondly, I tried to switch my date the day of my show and was told it was not possible. I was even willing to swap with another comic to keep everything balanced, I was told that would only open it for everyone to be able to swap. I understood. So you can't swap if you ask, but if you show up at later weeks you can? Thirdly, if the host did not know the comic would he have allowed him to get back in the contest. I'd have to guess no. I didn't ask him about it, but if I emailed every comic who missed their spot from the first round to just show up in the last preliminary round will he put them on if there are open spots? It's just really uncharacteristic of him as he takes comedy pretty serious, to the point of I have a tough time just joking with him. I'm just surprised he wouldn't see the fault in this decision.