Well, it's been an eventful month, and it's only the 16th!
I decided that this summer, I'd perform at least once a week. So when I saw a myspace bulletin for a comedy competition at Capt. Brien's Off the Hook Comedy Club on Marco Island, I called up and entered. The competition was Wednesday, June 13th, not the most convenient day for a business owner/aspiring comic to do a show. But I figured what the heck - go and have fun. So I went. And I won the round for that leg of the competition! Not easy! My keyboard had been moved just before the show...and the cables got tangled up around the dolly my keyboard sits on. When I went to move the keyboard, the keyboard fell off the dolly! Fortunately, I've been working out and was able to pick up the keyboard 
and set it where it needed to be, and did 2 songs. And then my time was up! I never got to my closer, the Paris Hilton parody. A few rounds later I watched Harley, a guitar act do a fantastic job for his first time on a comedy stage! Right after him, my friend and fellow Sarasota comic Dan Mahoney showed off with a very good set as well. The three of us made the finals...and the audience voted for the winner by applause. It was close but they voted for me! So now the finals are June 27th, which put me in a predicament, because I'd already promised friend and fellow 
Punta Gorda comic Max Doyle that I'd be at the Celtic Ray that night. Fortunately, Max was there and said "Go for the money!" and the Celtic Ray show will be rescheduled for a later date, so I may compete for the title of "Funniest Man on Marco Island".
and set it where it needed to be, and did 2 songs. And then my time was up! I never got to my closer, the Paris Hilton parody. A few rounds later I watched Harley, a guitar act do a fantastic job for his first time on a comedy stage! Right after him, my friend and fellow Sarasota comic Dan Mahoney showed off with a very good set as well. The three of us made the finals...and the audience voted for the winner by applause. It was close but they voted for me! So now the finals are June 27th, which put me in a predicament, because I'd already promised friend and fellow 
Punta Gorda comic Max Doyle that I'd be at the Celtic Ray that night. Fortunately, Max was there and said "Go for the money!" and the Celtic Ray show will be rescheduled for a later date, so I may compete for the title of "Funniest Man on Marco Island". So I had my one performance for that week down. But then, Les McCurdy called and asked me to do a few more shows that same week with veteran headliner Scott Novotny. 
Scott works clean, which presents a challenge for most comics (including me). Because, the last thing you want to be is the filthy potty mouth opener for the squeaky clean headliner. And I'm proud to say, I did 5 shows without dropping the "F Bomb" once! But you've got to catch Scott's act. He is an amazing guy to watch, and also does a family night comedy show which you can bring the kids too. Please check out his website and catch him next year when he's back at McCurdy's. 
Photos: courtesy of Phyllis Bator of the Marco Island Sun Times
Scott works clean, which presents a challenge for most comics (including me). Because, the last thing you want to be is the filthy potty mouth opener for the squeaky clean headliner. And I'm proud to say, I did 5 shows without dropping the "F Bomb" once! But you've got to catch Scott's act. He is an amazing guy to watch, and also does a family night comedy show which you can bring the kids too. Please check out his website and catch him next year when he's back at McCurdy's. 
Photos: courtesy of Phyllis Bator of the Marco Island Sun Times
1: Traci performing at Off the Hook Comedy Club 2: Traci, Harley & Dan Mahoney, the semi-finalists 3: Brien Spina, owner of Off the Hook Comedy Club, Traci, and a really awesome DJ/emcee whose name escapes me right now
Photos: courtesy of Dan Schaerf
4: Traci, Scott Novotny, and Linda, McCurdy's Club Manager 5: one of the funny characters Scott Novotny does