Judd Apatow

I really connected with Sicker in the head.  My comedy idol was Steve (do I need to say Martin?).  I listened to Wild and Crazy guys a million times.

A number of years ago - I tried out Stand up myself.  Absolutely loved it.  Started at class at Gotham, I think around 2003.  Then I did a bringer show in every club until I exhausted my friends list,  After the I ran an open mike in Jersey and did a few other shows in Jersey.  Unfortunately, never went as hard care as I should have.  And now I haven't played in years, but I still have the urge to every now and then.

I mainly wanted to tell you about one aspect of my act - the Drum routine.  I think I was always encouraged by Steve to have something to stand out - Steve had his banjo - I had a big frame drum - Bodhran.  Later I used a modified one that was developed by a fantastic world percussionist - Glen Velez who was who I had in mind and a fan of at the time.

So, this was well before my official Stand up start - back at Cook College Rutgers.  They had a gong show.  My idea was to combine my drum, some overtone singing (another signature of Glen Velez) and a mix of classic rock music.  I never fully was able to rehearse it fully prior to getting on stage.  I think to gain some courage I have a few shots of peach schnapps.

I was backstage - act after act was getting gonged.  I knew mine had zero chance.

I finally got up there and made it through the bit!  I was fortunate that one of the judges was one of my teachers who defended one of the other judges from gonging me.

The act was born.

I didn't win the show, but my roommate recorded it.  The tape was replayed many times.  And as much as things could go viral, several cassette tapes were dubbed from people who wanted a copy.

After that, I could rarely go to a party where i wasn't requested to perform the bit.  At the time it was a Remo drum, so there would be a chant of Remo - remo - remo!

After college - it was pretty much retired.

Jump ahead around 10 years back to my stand up start.  A year or so in, I thought - let's try the drum routine.  It killed - again.  And stayed with my act afterwards.  It was nice because I could easily add 5 minutes to the routine.  Again - performing most at open mikes in jersey never gave me the proper audience/or to develop to the next level.   Then I met my wife, falling in love can kill a comedy routine.

I did have one final opportunity - the Radio Chock show on 92.3 had a gong show with CHUCK BERRIS!  OMG.  What a dream, I grew up on the Gong Show.