The Funny People Cometh
That’s right, everybody. In case you hadn’t yet heard (because you’re either living in a cave, under a rock, or in a cave AND under a rock), the 2012 NZ International Comedy Festival is very close. Deliciously close. Mmm yeah taste how close it is. Ooh that’s the stuff.
Anyway, if your rock and/or cave situation has left you wondering “What the hell is the NZ comedy whoozit?” I’ll tell you.
The NZ International Comedy Festival is a fantastic three weeks on the NZ comedy calendar. It comes around every April/May, and brings the best local and international comedians together into a giant smorgasbord of giggles and amalgamation of chuckles. I know, right? A smorgasbord AND an amalgamation. That’s pretty great.
Check out www.comedyfestival.co.nz for information about the shows that you can see.
Normally, at this point, I’d be promoting my own show, or a project with which I’m passionately involved. So what’s the show I’m promoting? What’s the show I’m about to tell you about?
None! That’s right none. This year, your favourite comedian, Brad Zimmerman, has stepped back, and sat his sexy butt down in the passenger seat. It’s gonna be an awesome (stress free) three weeks, filled with incredible shows to see, and I can’t wait. Boom.
The best thing about the comedy festival is that it’s the one time of the year that the New Zealand public actually knows that comedy exists in this country. For the rest of the year, the average kiwi has no idea that comedy happens in their little country, and as a performer it’s frustrating as hell.
That’s the most important thing about the festival, in my opinion. It’s the one opportunity us pathetic little comedy peons get to acquire some well-earned recognition for our hard work and determination. Also, the the mild possibility of being seen by somebody influential is an added bonus.
Anyway, the whole point of this little post/whinge was to let you know the festival is almost here. Two weeks away, or something like that.
So please, New Zealand public, visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz, buy some show tickets and support live comedy.
Simple Pleasures: A Tale of Childhood Regression
Mmmmm delicious.
I sit here (“here” meaning the place where I currently am, not anywhere else, in case that needed to be cleared up) enjoying a tasty soft-serve ice cream, which I have just purchased from none other than Mr. Whippy.
Now, you may or may not know what Mr. Whippy is. Whether you do or don’t, there’s a pretty good chance that you probably have an ice cream truck in your area. Whether that truck is called Mr. Whippy, or Frosty Boy, or The Ice Cream Guy, or Captain Shove This In Your Face, the experience is always the same: awesome.
Before this very moment, I can’t remember the last time I had one of these things. (I got the sherbert one this time. You know the one I mean, with the pink sherbert on it). Even though I don’t know when my last one of these was, I know that these ice creams were a huge part of my younger years. A huge part. A HUGE part.
As with a large number of people who grew up in New Zealand, a disproportionate amount of my life was spent on or near a beach. There was always sand, there was always water, and there was always ice cream.
But now, although I am only in my mid-twenties, I have a career, a mortgage, an upcoming wedding, and a sometimes-overwhelming amalgam of responsibilities plugging up my brain and flashing in front of my face.
But not right now. Right now is different. Right now is special. Right now I’m sitting in a comfortable chair, slowly sampling a perfect reminder of my past years.
This is truly one of those total emotional childhood regression moments. I’m a delighted child right now. From the instant I heard the truck coming down the street with that familiar “Doo doo doo doo doo doo” (okay so the tune doesn’t come across very well in writing), to the moment I put my lips up to taste the creamy sherberty goodness, it was like the last ten or twenty years of my life never happened.
However, as satisfying and liberating as the regression feels, I’ve just finished the ice cream, and now it’s back to reality. It’s back to mortgages and jobs and traffic jams and bank accounts (and thanks to the ice cream, it’s back to adult digestion issues).
Just thought I would share this moment with you, as seemingly pointless as it is.
In hindsight, I should’ve taken a photo of the ice cream.
Catch some TV Comedians in your town!
Hello Lower Hutt!
No, don’t be alarmed. I know you thought everybody had forgotten about you, but I haven’t forgotten. You’re still in my thoughts. I sometimes dream of you. It’s not creepy or anything. It’s usually sweet (‘usually’ meaning sometimes it’s sweet, but sometimes it’s nasty and filthy the way you love it, Lower Hutt, you dirty minx).
Anyway, there’s an incredible Live Stand-Up Comedy show coming your way, that I think you should know about. Are you a fan of television? I know you are. You’ve got “I watch TV for several hours a day” written all over your sexy face.
Well, then you’ll be excited to know that TV comedians James Nokise (Pulp Comedy, TV Comedy Gala), Jerome Chandrahasen (Rhys Darby’s Comedy Christmas Cracker), Cori Gonzalez-Macuer (7 Days, The Jono Project, Cleo Bachelor of the Year) and Jeremy Elwood (7 Days), are bringing you a sweet-as-the-sweetest-corn comedy show featuring Wellington’s top up-and-coming comics.
And who are these so called “up-and-coming” (meaning their comedy careers are coming in an upward direction) comics? Well, I’ll tell you who they are. Just be patient.
They are Rick Threlfo, Hilaire Carmody, Sam Smith, Jonny Potts, and none other than Brad Zimmerman. If you’re paying attention to what website you’re looking at right now, you’ll know by now that the last guy, Brad Zimmerman, is me. That’s who I am. I’ve been that guy for ages and it’s working out so far. He’s got all sorts of exciting things going on.
You should really be a part of this thing. It is guaranteed to be the most exciting thing that will ever happen in Lower Hutt. You’ll love it.
Here are the details, so you can Facebook them, or Tweet them, or text them, or good old fashioned write them down:
Young Guns Comedy Show
Venue: Little Theatre Lower Hutt
Date: Thursday 9 March, 8pm
Price: $20 Concession, $25 General Admission
Holy cow! Wow! Surprise! Shock! Exclamation! That sounds totally wicked! It sure does, Lower Hutt. It sure does. Now go tell your friends, go to THIS LINK and buy your tickets in advance, and then go make yourself a hot chocolate because you totally deserve it.
Remember, this show is ONE NIGHT ONLY so, if you miss it, you’ll be kicking yourself forever and ever, and every story you tell for the rest of your life will begin with the words “If only I went to that Comedy Show, then maybe I…”
Now here’s a picture of a goose
The Perfect Date This Valentine’s Day
Dear Internet Folks,
This ia just a quick little reminder about the Valentine’s Show coming up (a week to go). Tickets are on sale here, or you could try your luck with door sales on the night. The risk is yours. Ooh-woo-ooh scary.
Anyway, here’s the confirmed lineup of comedians for you (it has changed slightly since the last post)
Natalie Britten
Hadley Donaldson
James Nokise
Sam Smith
Nathan Winter
Brad Zimmerman
and hosted by Jerome Chandrahasen
There will also be some special guests as well, so don’t miss out on those.
The venue is still Meow Bar (9 Edward Street, Wellington) who boasts a fantastic array of drinks and treats, including a very impressive gluten-free selection.
Love and other such things,
Brad
P.S. The delicious chocolate giveaway goodie-bag of yumyum-ness from Whittaker’s is still looking very delicious. That much hasn’t changed. It taunts me. It calls my name at night when I’m trying to sleep. You better come and win it for your sake and mine.
Laughing For Love
As some of you may know, I am getting married in December of this year. Some of you didn’t know that. Now all of you know that. You have no excuse. I have given you this information now.
What you choose to do with it is entirely up to you. However, I would appreciate if you didn’t somehow use the information to torture small animals or kidnap children. That’s bad. Don’t do that with my information. If you absolutely must do one of these activities, please find a way to do it without using the information I have given you. I don’t want to be involved in your strange and twisted fancies.
Anyway, back to the point, I am getting married later this year.
As the woman I am marrying happens to be British, there are a lot of people who will be coming a long way to be a part of our special day. A very long way. Go google the word “Antipodes”, to find out just how far they have to come. In fact, they’re coming from so far away, that if they were any further away, they’d be closer (or in space).
As a minor effort to help ease the financial burden of some of these important people, I am raising funds. I have chosen to raise funds the traditional way: with a fundraiser. I know, right? Wow. How did I think of it?
The fundraising medium I have chosen, however, is way better than all those other lame fundraisers you see around the place. I’m not just putting some annoying guy on a street corner with a bucket of change, and a powerful guilt-stare.
Instead, I am assembling a stellar compilation of local comedy talent, and putting on a show for you fine people. How does that sound? Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? Yeah, you love it.
Speaking of love (awesome segue, Brad), since the point of the show is to help bring people to my wedding day (i.e. the day my lovely lady and I celebrate our love), the show will take place on that most love-love-lovely of days; Valentine’s Day. That’s Tuesday 14th of February, for all the men who didn’t know (am I right, ladies? I’m totally right).
Looking at you, I can tell you’re the kind of person who has always disappointed your partner on Valentine’s Day (no, I don’t mean like that, but since you mention it, you could try a little harder…). Don’t disappoint them this year. Dress up nice, take them out, treat them right, and give them the gift of laughter. Make it the best Valentine’s Day yet.
Featuring top local comedians, including:
Jerome Chandrahasen
“Infectious enthusiasm and a delightfully lateral view of the world” – Theatreview
Sam Smith
Winner 2011 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest
Nathan Winter
Nominee NZ Comedy Guild Best Gag 2011
Brad Zimmerman
“A confident, engaging performer… quite the wordsmith” – Chortle
And more great acts to be confirmed.
This Valentine’s Day laugh-fest is proudly sponsored by the Wellington Humorous Arts Trust (www.humorous.co.nz), and Whittaker’s Chocolate (www.whittakers.co.nz), who have kindly donated a delicious chocolate goodie package to be raffled away to a lucky audience member. Could it be you? Possibly.
In summary:
Laughing For Love
8pm, Tuesday, February 14th
Meow Bar (9 Edward Street Wellington)
Tickets $18 ($15 Concession)
You might win chocolate!
Tickets available at www.eventfinder.co.nz (search Laughing For Love)
Choice Not Chance (aka “Brad Should Never Rap”)
I, Brad Zimmerman, was lucky enough to recently be involved in a competition called ‘Scribe With Me’ for the New Zealand Choice Not Chance campaign against problem gambling.
The competition consisted of writing either a rap, a song, a poem, or a short story about the dangers of problem gambling. Naturally (owing to me being rather gangster and whathaveyou) I chose to write a rap. I wrote the shit out of that rap. I wrote that rap like somebody somewhere was on fire, and the only way to put them out was by writing a rap (for some reason). What I’m getting at is that I was a regional winner for Wellington, and runner-up nationally.
Being a part of the event was an honour, but the real prize was to participate in a recording studio day, at Munkee Studios in Wellington, with Scribe and some of the winners from around the country.
And what a blast that was! Hanging out in a recording studio with a cool group of people; now I know what Jay-Z feels like. Except my life is better because I don’t have to deal with that Beyonce chick. Eugh. Shudder. Poor Jay. Hang in there, bro.
The winners from around the country were all really awesome people, and each brought something really unique to the experience. Scribe, for anyone who didn’t know, is a wicked dude (and crazy tall).
Here’s a picture of me recording a rap in the studio. Clearly, from my facial expression, purple t-shirt, and “thug-like” body language, you can tell I’m the hardest mofo on the block (da blok?):
The competition was all to raise awareness about the dangers of problem gambling, so obviously it is a very serious subject matter, and I have nothing but respect for the organisers and the whole Choice Not Chance organisation.
However, I suck at rapping.
I know it’s hard to believe (on account of my aforementioned “gangsterness”) but I’m actually very bad at it. Hilariously bad.
Although I do have to give “mad props” and “big ups” to “mah boy”, Robbie Ellis, who made the wicked beat you hear behind my awful, awful rapping. He whipped that shit up like a seasoned pro, when he should’ve been preparing for a live show. Thanks bro. You pulled a sexy magic rabbit out of that hat. (Did I just call a rabbit sexy? Yes I did. Deal with it.)
Follow THIS LINK to hear my ridiculous rap track (over Robbie’s sweet beat), and also the really awesome raps/songs/poems/short stories from the other national winners. Do it.
And then head along to the CHOICE NOT CHANCE HOMEPAGE to learn more about what these folks do for the community.
Also, if you’re a problem gambler, get your head out of your ass and get some help.
