Tuesday October 27th, 2009 - Lake Villa, IL

   There’s a disturbance in the force, and I think I like it. I received a terse email from Eric Yoder today telling me he was removing me from a show I had booked in Oconomowoc, WI in late November. He’s the son of John Yoder, owner of the Funny Business Agency.

   Coincidentally, it’s also the agency that books Giggles in Brookfield. I’ve been working on and off for John Yoder for over twenty years. Now he’s passing the reigns off to a pair of his sons and the inevitable shakedown is happening. The kids want their own people.

   I’ve never met Eric personally although we’ve had some email interaction. I first had an encouraging impression of him but today ended that idea. He said he’s firing me not only from the gig in Oconomowoc but also from ‘all future Funny Business work’. Whatever.

   The last several years have seen a steady decline in ‘all future Funny Business work’ as other bookers are taking many of their accounts. I used to work quite a bit for them but in the last few years that’s really tapered off. I don’t think I did anything for them last year.

   Giggles was the only gig I had for them this year, and that wasn’t anything due to them. My friend Shelley asked for me to do her reunion show and that’s why I got that booking. I mentioned it to Eric and all he could muster up for me was a pissy little Saturday out in Oconomowoc for lousy pay. I said I’d do it because it’s not far from where I’m living.

   It sure isn’t a career maker, and in fact NONE of their work is that. It’s close to Chicago and more of a convenience thing than anything else. Would it be ‘nice’ to work for them? Sure, I guess so, but ‘nice’ doesn’t cut it. I’ve been nice all my life and then this happens.

   What rubs my ‘nads raw is how it took place. Getting a smug email from a kid who has no clue what goes into a successful comedy show is just plain disrespectful and I refuse to take that from anyone. I hate to burn a bridge but I’ve done it before and it didn’t kill me.

   Neither will this. In fact it will indirectly make my life inherently better in the long run. At one point it was possible to rely on the John Yoders of the world to make a living with minimal hassle. The money wasn’t great but decent enough to keep bills paid and survive.

   In recent years it’s gone down not only in money but in quality of shows. It’s downright embarrassing to have to follow some of the horrific ‘acts’ that get booked by the agencies, especially Funny Business. Doesn’t anyone watch a tape anymore? No, they don’t care. It isn’t only me complaining about this either. Every veteran headliner has had to endure it.

   Young aspiring comics that can schmooze and party well get bookings and it’s up to us as competent headliners to carry the whole show. We’re penalized for excellence and I’ve been sick of that for years. There’s nothing wrong with being a mediocre or bad comedian but I have a major problem when there’s an attitude attached to it. That’s how it’s been on the road for years now, just because there are too many incompetent bookers allowing it.

   Actually, I’m surprised it took so long for this to happen. I saw the gig in Oconomowoc on my calendar and had a feeling it would get yanked. Those people have no idea how the world of comedy works. They’d rather do something like that out of personal spite than to book a quality show for the client at a ridiculously low price. The client is the loser here.

   The NFL allows wife beaters and dog killers and drug abusers and most any other rotten and disgusting villain play if they can get the job done. They don’t care about the off field quirks, they just want results. That should be the way it is with bookers too but it never is.

   I feel like Ray Liotta’s character in Goodfellas when Pauly gave him a stack of cash and said “Now I have to turn my back on you.” Liotta’s character said “$3200 for a lifetime.” That’s exactly how I feel right now, only I never got my $3200. But I did give a lifetime.

   I remember driving in blizzards in rattle trap cars hoping to get to the gig on time just so John Yoder could get his commission. Yes, I got paid, but was there ever even a little tiny thank you in return? NEVER. They never paid the guys back who did them giant favors.

   They didn’t have to because they knew some other desperate comic would jump at their phone call to do exactly the same thing. They had all the power and all the cards for years and they got spoiled. Now the playing field is changing but they’re still acting like royalty when in fact the game is passing all of us by. Funny Business is still living in the 1980’s.

   Unfortunately a lot of comedians are too. I admit, I haven’t been nearly as on top of it as I should when it comes to marketing on all levels and especially creating my own work so I don’t have to be beholden to the whims of some kid who got the power from his daddy.

   It would have been nice to get treated with some respect, but that never happened. Ever. I always had to fight and scratch and claw for work from them and I did get some over the years, but it was never their sweet ‘A list’ runs. I always got the leftover scraps and it was appreciated at the time but it could have been a lot better. John never really had a passion.

   He just filled holes in schedules and never had a clue as to how to put a show together. I don’t have a problem with a guy making a living but he should have sold shoes or paint. I don’t know why he chose comedy, other than he was in the right place at the right time.

   I don’t have anything personal against John Yoder, or even Eric. I let Eric have it with a detailed email of my own, pointing out the favors I’ve done for them and how it never did find a way back like it should have. If they want to fire a super strong headliner that’ll get to the gig and deliver and doesn’t drink or do drugs, that’s their loss. I’ll go around them.

   I’m really sorry it had to end this way but on the other hand I’m excited because it’ll be up to me to find new ways to make a living, which I am determined to do. The Yoders of the world have had their day, and it’s rapidly coming to a close. I will out hustle them and I can do one thing they can‘t - COMEDY. I can put together shows, but they can’t do any.

Tags: Ray Liotta Goodfellas

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