The Comedy Cellar

Part of the popularity of comic books comes from the fact that they are a great reminder of carefree childhood days when you could have a good laugh at the simplest of jokes. They are also much loved owing to the underlying cryptic messages that they send across while being laced with humor on the outside. Add to that the art involved in these deeply influential works and you have got a product that finds a special place in many a heart. Besides, there can be a financial aspect to this hobby too. We will look into that later in this article.

The hunting grounds

If you are an enthusiastic collector of comic books (as I am), you will have realized that building a good comic collection is possible only if you know the right sources to find them. One of the best places to find even the rarest of books is at comic conventions. Besides, that is where you get the meet fellow enthusiasts and catch up on the latest in the comic books world; information that can prove invaluable. Other than conventions, yard sales and used book stores can also be extremely cost effective sources for collectible comic books. What is useless garbage for other people could be gold for you. Apart from all of these, one of the best sources is the Internet itself. There are always people clearing away old stuff and giving them away in online auctions on popular sites such as eBay. Just hanging around these places might get you some really nice additions to your collection.

You can also search online for comic books forums and message boards. Following the discussions there will give you more ideas. Some forums even have dedicated sections for trading where you could buy, sell or trade your comic books.

Caring for your comic book collection

Just having the best comic book collection in town is surely not enough. The value of a collection increases many times if it is properly maintained and kept in mint condition. To endure this, folding the pages or flipping through them too roughly is a big no-no as this can easily lead to the pages crumpling or curling up. The use of a Mylar Sleeve is also very much recommended when it comes to storing of your comic book collection. It prevents moisture reaching the books which is important. There are special comic book boxes available in which these books should be ideally stored. Remember that the resale value of a comic book collection depends largely on the condition as also the rarity.

Selling your collection

Sometimes, you might have to consider selling of a part of your collection in order to raise funds for further additions or because they are redundant. Some even sell them off since complete collections can fetch a lot of money from other avid collectors. In such cases, you might consider looking for buyers at the same places where you sought to buy them. Prices for comic books rise with age and there are always keen buyers out there. Complete collections will fetch a lot more than random individual comics.

In short, collecting comic books is a very interesting and satisfying hobby owing to the kind of influence these have in modern culture. In addition to the hobby part of it, comic book collection can also be an impressive money maker if done the right way.

By: Bernard McClay

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Are you thinking of becoming a standup comic because you’ve repeatedly been told that you’re naturally very funny… you really enjoy the way people think you’re funny… and actually it’s some kind of a power trip to keep a group of people in stitches hanging on to your next words!

Making a living doing a regular comedy routine 2 or 3 hours a day, earning applause and laughter while traveling to places around the country hardly seems like ‘work’ to you… You might be dreaming of graduating from the local gigs you’re now getting to some more prestigious assignments, but think again… you might need to consider taking formal standup classes!

A lot of the classes are offered for short periods of a few weeks, and only a few hours per day or evening… there are advantages in being thrown in with a group of people having similar attitudes and reactions to life’s situations… with chances to hone your skills against new competition. Opportunities to perform are also part of the class experience.

They’ll actually teach you how to deliver a joke. Think about it. Did you ever hear a joke that one person told and it was a real scream that when told by somebody else fell flat as a pancake? It’s all in the delivery, and a formal training can greatly help with that delivery.

Then there’s the matter of leaving your familiar environment where you’re likely to be getting the kind of support that reinforces your belief in yourself. In this business you also need to develop a thick skin… not everyone is going to like you and some may flat out boo you off the stage!

Just imagine a possible 8 weeks amidst strangers who aren’t influenced by any familiar ties… that alone would allow you to take a good look at your career choice. Supposing that experience has fortified your resolution to pursue your career in the world of comedy, there are certainly great resources you can find right at home to continue honing your comedy writing and delivery skills.

Today’s world of entertainment offers many different paths, there’s a lot of comedy around but not all of it is live. People have 100 cable stations to watch and we have enough television comedians to please different tastes.

Before television there were some good radio comedy shows but delivering standup comedy jokes in a room in front of a live crowd is the traditional way it’s been done for generations and it does seem that it used to be easier to get people to laugh… when their horizons were more limited… things that seemed funny years ago don’t seem to be so funny anymore.

Personally I prefer comedy shows that naturally provoke funny exchanges between the performers like the Cosby Show for instance to the Leno and Letterman shows. I also like political satire shows like Colbert and Jon Stewart and some of the Saturday Night Live shows… but the effect depends on whether I am watching by myself or with a group of friends… it’s more fun when the joke is shared.

Being among a crowd of people enjoying laughter at a live comedy show is a wonderful feeling and the comedian deserves our grateful applause.

By: Fran Civile

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Comedians seem to be the supermodels of the millennium. They are hosting radio shows, presenting the news and even winning seats in congress. Recently, some comedians have even wandered into the realm of documentary production. And I don’t mean documentaries about themselves working as comedians. They are producing documentaries tackling serious subjects.

In 2008, Bill Maher produced Religulous, a documentary starring himself travelling around the world asking people about their religious views in an effort to understand why people believe in a higher power. He clearly had an agenda: prove through comedy that people who believe in God are stupid. While the movie was funny and thought provoking, his obvious bias was sometimes distracting. Michael Moore is also no fan of objective film-making. And while I enjoy his movies as well, I don’t always trust so-called facts presented in such a staunch one-sided view.

Chris Rock’s soon to be released Good Hair, takes a look at black women’s quest for straight , long hair and the internationally multi-billion dollar industry that supports it. The movie will hit theaters in about a week but the trailer has already created a national discussion about African-American hair. Perhaps Rock’s appearance on Oprah had something to do with it. At any rate, the subject matter is both touchy and niche specific – two adjectives that can often keep films from being made. Rock’s daughter motivated him to make the documentary when she called a friend’s hair “good.” As a black American with natural hair, I can only hope Rock’s documentary is eye-opening and insightful and doesn’t just go for the cheap laugh.

I hope more comedians make documentaries. It could be good for the genre. My thinking is, if the big name stars bring people out to theaters to see one documentary, perhaps those same people will come back to see more. Perhaps they will watch different types of documentaries.

By: Sydnye White

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