After Dinner Show

Saturday night, I had a show in lower New Jersey. The organization was holding their annual fund raising banquet and I was hired to close the show with a 45 minute comedy set. There was a lot of great talent on the bill, excellent singing, piano playing, guitars and even a saxophone quartet. I did what I usually do before a show, went into my shell and watched the audience to determine the best method of connecting with them.

Comedy can be a subjective creature. What is funny to one audience can fall flat on the next. It is important to be able to read the crowd and adjust the show to them. This was a very mixed audience, from young teen to senior citizen - about 200 in all. That makes the job even more difficult since you have a wide variety of humor levels to contend with. Younger audiences want the hipper comedy they see on TV - the older crowd tends to revel in the style of great comedians of the past.

To make a long story short - the evening ended with a standing ovation. I was truly honored. They have already scheduled my show for 2010 - so I have some huge expectations to meet on a completely different program. This morning, I received an e-mail from a member of the board:

"I am still hearing (and probably will continue to do so for a while) how great your show was!

When we spoke back stage (in reality – back kitchen), I told you how I had hyped up the act to ticket buyers because I was so impressed by what I had seen on the internet and you said you hoped you could live up to my words (modest for a performer, I like that). Oh my gosh, everything that you did was funny, entertaining and amazing all rolled into one! You “WOWED” the audience!

Thanks so much for making it one of the best shows ever! Selling tickets for next year’s show will be a cake walk thanks to you."
Rhonda Gage
Board of Directors

In truth, I want to thank them and every organization, individual and corporation that has ever hired me. Because of you, I get to earn a living doing something I love - making people laugh!
THANKS!

2008 Rising Star Award Winner

Late last week I received word that I was named the top grossing ventriloquist on Gigmasters and presented the 2008 Rising Star Award on their system:

Dear Tom Crowl - Rising Star Award Winner 2008,
The press release for the Rising Star Awards went out on the newswire Wednesday, March 18th. The link to the release is below:
http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20090318/NY8565818032009-1.html

And again, congratulations from all of us at GigMasters!
Sincerely,
Kevin H. Kinyon
Founder & President, Gigmasters.com, Inc.

It was a nice surprise. I have enjoyed the opportunities Gigmasters has presented in the last year and look forward to 2009!

Corporate Entertainment

Wow, it is already the middle of February. 2009 is flying by too fast.

In January I had the pleasure of providing entertainment for a corporate event in Iowa. The weather was freezing but the audience was hot - and they graciously gave me a standing ovation at the end of the show. There is no better feeling, than making an audience laugh and then being rewarded in that fashion. It makes me realize exactly how lucky I am to be doing something I love.

In February I finally got to go someplace warm! Louisiana. I was doing a customer appreciation event for another corporate client. Again, the audience stood at the end of the show - and they weren't trying to leave!

I want to thank all the new friends I've made in the last two months and let you know I truly was honored by the gesture. As 2009 progresses, I look forward to the travel and shows. I hope to see you on the road!
Tom

Happy New Year

2008 was a great year. 2009 appears it will be even better. I've got some great reading ahead, lots of plans and ideas and a renewed desire to implement. My show schedule for 2009 is filling in nicely and after my rest, I'm looking forward to visiting some places I've never been!

I'd like to thank everyone who has encouraged me over the past twelve months. I look forward to growing the friendships we have and creating new ones.

For today, I now think I'll go watch the parade, some football, and spend the day with my family! Happy New Year!

Rest...

The plane flight from San Francisco was tedious. I was anxious to get home. The lay-over in Chicago was made worse by the fact the final flight was delayed by over an hour. We then got to sit on the runway for 90 minutes. I returned tired and fighting jetlag for the next couple of days.

Friday night, I gave my final performance of 2008 - and it was a blast. I have just as good a time as the audience and they were having FUN. The best part, the event was minutes from my home and I was actually able to sleep in my own bed. A treat this holiday season.

Now I have time to rest and relax. I want to enjoy this holiday and the rare non-working New Years to spend with my family. We've got relatives coming in and I get to see my nephews and my soon to be god son.

Thanks to everyone who has made my year so great. I truly appreciate the opportunity to entertain and am blessed that so many have enjoyed my programs. Your laughter keeps me going - and I realize I am a very lucky man.

Have a safe and happy holiday season.
Tom

In the Air Again...

Wow am I tired of flying. The plane out of Midland ran late, the lay-over at Dallas was shorter than expected so lunch was devoured on the run. Another 4 hours in the air to San Francisco and then two hours behind the wheel of a rental car to go about 40 miles in rush hour traffic.

Here I am, locked in a room, too tired to go out and even see the sites. Figured I'd type my thoughts before I force myself to stay awake past tomorrow night's show time.

Today on both flights I met some interesting people - who thought my lifestyle was fascinating. I'm grateful to be performing for a living. I'm grateful to have the shows. But the travel isn't as exciting as everyone thinks. You spend a lot of time alone, again, un-naturally...

Flying...

Today I was up at 3 AM to catch the first of two flights to reach my destination in Texas. I've got a corporate show tomorrow evening and wanted to get in early to acclimate. I had just done an out and back to Salt Lake City last weekend, two days at home and here I go again. Friday morning I climb on a puddle jumper to Dallas, then fly to San Francisco for my Saturday night show. Sunday I get home late.

I'm already tired of getting on planes - but I am very grateful for the shows and appreciate the opportunity to make people laugh.

Well, time to catch a nap, get dinner and then start practicing. Tomorrow I've got a V.I.P. client with plenty of employees that need to have a great time.