In honor of the hecca

Well friends I was thinking we needed our own reward for the outtake that has the best show of the night. So here it is the official outtakes never say die award. I will bring it to the next show.

BEST SHOW EVER !!!

Congratulations fellow Outtakes on a job very well done. Hats off to all for connecting with each other stronger than ever before. You have no idea how much I wish I could have been a part of that show. Perhaps another time. "Best show ever", is very high praise from Director Bindas, but I believe it is well deserved. Now go forth and be proud !!!!!

What makes you laugh?

I'm in the process of reading "The Art of Comedy" by Paul Ryan. By "in process" I mean just passed the forward and introduction during lunch, and plan on attacking Chapter One tonight when insomnia hits. And I know I should probably read more than the first 8 pages before discussing it on here, but in the intro's "F.A.Q." section, a very profound question was asked:

"What makes something funny?"

It's profound because there is no correct or incorrect answer. Theologist and philosophers can debate and argue and study all they want; what I find funny I am sure at least one of you would find disgusting and possibly racist, and vice versa. So I ask you: to you, what makes something funny? Or, to put it maybe an easier way: What do you find funny?

I think a discussion like this will help us interact on stage, know which lines to cross/stay neatly behind, and what we can bond over to bring the best out of each other. The essence of comedy is truth; if I/we know what truly makes you/me laugh, that can only help our stage presentation.

Viva La Outtakes

I recently bought Jimmy Carrane's book "Improvising Better". It did not take long to get through all fourteen pages. The book left me very excited for the next six months. It goes through a series of issues that beginning to expert improvisers run into. I know that we get into our heads and feel like we make too many mistakes at times but this book re-enforces that many others do the same. It shows me that there are ways to constantly improve and that we are all on the same road as other improvisers are on past and present. Many of the exercises presented in the book have been used before and surely will be used again by Jason. Unfortunately we were not all present for the first rehearsal but I was happy with what I saw and cannot wait to perform with all of you.

Goony Oath

I found my old Goony book while I was in Iowa! We should probably add the book to the reading list. I was also thinking the Goony Oath should be our motto for the next six months.

I will never betray my Goon Dock friends.
We will stick together until the whole world ends.
Through heaven and hell, and nuclear war,
good pals like us will stick like tar.
In the city, or the country, or the forest, or boonies,
I am proudly declared one of the goonies!

So this is blogging... how 'bout that.

Is anyone else concerned that Stevie Ray's book isn't listed at the side, and there could be some sort of karmatic consequences as a result? Not that I've read it. I'm just saying is all.

As I sit here eating my Newman's Own Organics The Second Generation Spelt Pretzels, I'm reminded the master himself passed away this morning. And as I was driving along 494 to rehearsal this morning, I browsed through my Ipod (probably not safe, but not illegal either) looking for the appropriate song to mark the occasion. Since I don't have BJ Thomas' eponymous "Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head", I went with the next best thing. Guns n Roses "Civil War."

Yeah, I know. I can't imagine Newman was much of a GnR fan either. But this particular tune features the famous "What we have hear..." line from the Warden in Cool Hand Luke sampled at the beginning. So I was cruisin' to the GnR, like Newman tearin' it up at the BIR. I think I'll add Cool Hand Luke to my Blockbuster queue.

FYI... According to Wikipedia Newman's Own, founded in 1982, was a For Profit company, with all proceeds going directly to Newman. He in turn donated all proceeds, which reached approximately $250 million as of this year.

Welcome

Great start this morning everyone. This is going to be a great group, i can feel it.
I have sent invites out to everyone, so let the blogging begin.