Something FUNNY'S going on

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Amateur comedian Tim Gray

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Al Rae

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Cara Lytwyn

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Paul Rabliauskas

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John B. Duff

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Jason Beck

"So, I'm trying to convince the telebanking phone clerk, I am who I say I am. I tell her 'I live in Winnipeg. My occupation is a comic. Someone steals my identity, they'll give it right back.' "

-- Ryan Ash, amateur comic

Like a volcano belching hot rocks, the Winnipeg entertainment scene is producing hot amateur comics at numbers out of synch with the size of the city. From a paltry eight to 10 local comedians four years ago there are now 40 to 50 amateurs trying to make a name for themselves on Winnipeg stages. There are at least a half-dozen open mic nights in town now -- and a strip bar that pays comics three beers to offset booing from randy customers.

Three veteran comedians with decades of experience are mainly responsible for this phenomenon: Jason Beck, who fought to start open mic stages; John B. Duff, who's been hosting weekly open mic shows showcasing 20 comics a night; and Al Rae, whose Winnipeg Comedy Festival provides a yearly stage and chances to rub shoulders with the stand-up comedy stars.

Want to experience this scene first-hand? Your best bet is Sunday night, when host Duff runs off a lineup of amateurs performing five-minute sets at The Cavern. Like New York clubs, this bar under The Toad in Osborne Village boasts a flashing red APPLAUSE sign, rec room ambiance and a big spotlight on the microphone stand.

Says Duff: "I started The Cavern show because there were so many kids clamouring for stage time and not getting it. I also started this room because I had a fire in my belly," says the man who won Funniest Person With a Day Job at Rumor's in 2004. "I wanted desperately to grow. The only way to do that was to get a lot of stage time -- and we had to create it for ourselves."

Comedians are a strange breed and Duff (a chef in his money-making life) doesn't take guff from these former class clowns, belting out his famous line: "Show up, sign up, stand up!" Smart comics get there at 9 p.m. to get their names in the jug. At 9:30 p.m. on the dot, Duff introduces himself from the sound booth, runs down the aisle and jumps onstage. He's taking the spot nobody wants -- first guy up.

This man obviously loves the stand-up experience -- good, bad or ugly.

The only break new comics get at this gig? No hecklers. "People have the wrong idea about what their role is when they go to see a comedy show, "says Duff. "They think, 'I'm helping if I mouth something out.' Nothing could be further from the truth! Their job is to show up, shut up and laugh." Disruptive customers get sent upstairs to The Toad to cool their heels.

Word has got out and headliners from Rumor's are known to sneak over on a Sunday night to try out new material. Toronto-based Gilson Lubin, who blew Winnipeggers away at Rumor's earlier this summer, is one of them. "I've gotten to see some strong comics at The Cavern. Going to these open mics will make them even stronger. There's a lot more stage time in Winnipeg than Toronto, where there's at least 200 comedians I know and 100 more I don't know."

Al Rae, founder of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, is thrilled about the burgeoning local talent. "You don't know how delighted I am about what guys like John B. Duff and Scott Porteous have built."

Rae is always looking for talented new comics.

"We started the festival with five show events and three one-hour TV shows for CBC. Now it's 28 shows over six days with five one-hour TV shows and 80 comics."

"I planted the seeds," says Jason Beck, who started pushing for open mics at Rumor's 12 years ago He fought with friend/employer Ross Rumberg of Rumor's Comedy club -- the only professional comedy place in town bringing in New York and L.A. acts. Rumberg said he didn't think people would pay to see amateur comedy.

Says Beck: "At Rumor's, the concept of amateur night comedy was getting to do five minutes after the headliner. Guys like Derek Edwards or Brent Butt would blow the room way and everyone had to follow that." So Beck decided to start a side gig of open mics for amateurs. "First we got 10 people in the room, then 30. People came out. We started to build momentum."

"I approached Ross about having open mics on Monday nights -- and packing the place," says Beck. "He said I was completely out of my mind, that nobody would come to see open mic. But he later agreed to start Winnipeg's Funniest Person With a Day Job. Every comic had to sell 10 tickets to friends to guarantee the crowd, but it set some naturals on fire.

"A lot of these people who had been doing my night started their own rooms, and it blossomed. My shows have continued, but now there's a lot of rooms people can play. I really respect what John B. Duff, Scott Porteous and other guys are doing to develop comedy in this city."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 15, 2010 A8