Bulmers Comedy Competition 2009

SlimJ

Good aul Cieran McMahon is running this comp again. We should have a place to talk about it.

http://www.standupireland.com/

Who else is doing this? (Or I should say, who of the six comics in Dublin who post here is doing this? )

Deadline to get your applications in is tomorrow, but you can pay an extra tenner if you get your application in by 3 August, after which the window closes for good.

Heisenberg.

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grames_bond

i dont have the money to enter but good luck to those who have! im probably going to be at the show the winner supports so ill see them there!

SlimJ

Scien wrote: »

Was gonna post about that here but decided i could do with less competition!

I'm in!
Only have a couple of gigs under the belt but gonna give it a lash anyway, if more for the stage time than anything else.

Good onya. (Who are you?)

Grames- c'mon, you ain't got fifty quid?

Heisenberg.

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grames_bond

SlimJ wrote: »

Grames- c'mon, you ain't got fifty quid?

it's €60 by this stage....and no i really don't!

beamo

got my entry form in this week for this, what do people generally do material-wise for this? do most people generallyuse the same set throughout or does a bit of variety make a big difference?

Heisenberg.

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Damon Blake

Do what you want, whatever material you have that you think is funny is the best way to go, not what you think the crowd may or may not want. Last year what was arguably my best set contained stuff I didn't use anywhere else, I just did bits of edgier of material to see how the crowd would go, they seemed to enjoy it.

It's best to have a good solid joke to begin with, it seems to reassure the crowd that they're going to be entertained.

And don't worry about repeating your sets show to show, generally it's a different crowd every gig. Good luck to everyone performing and whoever wins act like an adult and don't wear the sash and tiara. It's degrading.

beamo

Scien wrote: »

You have to get through your heat first to be worrying about that!

Indeed but a little bit of forward thinking never goes amiss!

The heats are up on the stand up ireland website, i'm in the first heat next wednesday, would have preferred a later one but there ya go

Heisenberg.

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SlimJ

Results from last night?

The website has the contestants as:

Colm McGlinchey, Greg Marks, Edwin Sammon, Trevor Browne, Kevin Goldsmith, Wilbert Ryan, Gary Lynch, Ian Perth

That lineup may not be correct, because I know for sure there's been comedians moving around the calander. (really annoying cinderalla comics who are "busy" or "have plans" or "can't make that night") (like me)

Mungaman

Yo yo anyone know if this comp is full? Closed? checked the site and it said 21st July then 3rd August? I also checked the heat line up and there seemed to be a few spaces???
Cheers Danny

Heisenberg.

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Gross Halfwit

Scien wrote: »

I went along alright but didn't stay for the result.
Edwin Sammon wasn't there, Stephen Elliot was, and was easily the funniest, in my opinion.

Thank you very much. Trevor Browne was on top form too.

Oh & in case anyone is wondering ... Myself, Trevor Browne, Colm McGlinchey & Gary Lynch went through last night.

SlimJ

Congrats to the first four quarter (semi? I always f that up) finalists of the competition. How was the crowd, size-wise?

Gross Halfwit

The crowd was a delicious size of about 50+ I reckon but I don't have official numbers. They were attentive, respectful & above all in the mood for laughter. Hope these crowds keep up!

beamo

Gross Halfwit wrote: »

The crowd was a delicious size of about 50+ I reckon but I don't have official numbers. They were attentive, respectful & above all in the mood for laughter. Hope these crowds keep up!

Indeed they were, i didn't get through but was happy enough with how my set went, well done stephen, top notch as always and the best of luck for the rest of the competition

Mungaman

Gidday all,

Someone kindly posted me an email link to Ciaran who is organising the comp. I've emailed but got no response anyone got his number? PM me I want in if its not too late.
If your not cool with that? someone who's in the comp or knows him get on the horse and help a brother out( metaphorically speaking I'm not really your long lost brother, I have four brothers already and another would be weird and another to buy ****ty gifts for at Christmas and get in on the treasure map I found )
Cheers Danny

Galvasean

Congrats Mr. 'wit. Glad you made it.

And congrats to the other comedians whose material I am not so familiar with.

orestes

Didn't enter this myself, couldn't afford it and have been away from gigging for a while now so would need a few gigs to knock off some rust before I'd go back to competitions and the likes. Best of luck to everyone who is in it and congrats to the folks who have already gone through

Damon Blake wrote: »

Good luck to everyone performing and whoever wins act like an adult and don't wear the sash and tiara. It's degrading.

Hehehe, ouch

Heisenberg.

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SlimJ

Scien wrote: »

Best of luck to all 4 & everyone else going through to the quarters.

Hey thanks man!

Anyone else notice that the standard this year seems very high? It seems like last year there were loads of inexperienced comics, wheras this year they're thinner on the ground. Makes for better shows for the audience I suppose, but tough going for the comedians.

nehemiah

Was at last nights show. A very good standard all round. I think I was one of the few neutrals there last night though!

frobisher

Scien wrote: »

Lisa Joyce, Chris Kent, Gerry McBride & Jim Elliot went through.

No such joy for myself, happy with the set though.

Best of luck to all 4 & everyone else going through to the quarters.

I was quite impressed myself too. Who were you (feel free to PM rather than say on board if you wish). I was very impressed by Gerry McBride, or did him being alst help a lot? I was chatting to Ciaran who runs it too, lovely fella.

I just missed the entry but my first ever show is this Thursday in the Halpenny so I think I've a while to go before making last nights standard. I'll defo be going to more shows. If you see a bloke in a black hat it might be me!.

Heisenberg.

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frobisher

Scien wrote: »

I was on 2nd last, just before Gerry.
Only my 3rd gig so wasn't expecting much. Just knocking up some stage time tbh.

Ciaran told me your new alright. I was impressed, especially with how you opened. Very strong for a beginner. Well done!

Heisenberg.

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iownaface

first post here.
at the show tonight and delighted with who went through. the best 4/ disappointed with no aidan killian on show tonight, but barry mack, totally wired, adam burke and eddie (?) sammon, went thru and were all the best of the night. the clown dude was probably not worth the time, but again, each to their own. thoroughly enjoyed the show.

havent seen any other rounds, but strong crowd through tonight. anyone else against the crowd voting thing for 100% of the vote...given people bring such a big crown to a small venure?

SlimJ

iownaface wrote: »

anyone else against the crowd voting thing for 100% of the vote...given people bring such a big crowd to a small venure?

I get what you're saying here, but I'm sympathetic to the needs of the contest as well- they need to make money to put it on, pay the host, etc, and the best way to get a crowd is to make sure the comedians have a vested interest in bringing a friend or two.

I mean, sure, idealogically it might not be the best way to determine who "wins" - but then, the nature of comedy already makes the idea of a competition kind of ridiculous, doesn't it?

SlimJ

Last night's heat:

Ray McDermott, Tony Black, Mark Hanratty, Joe Reilly, Mike O’Leary, Eugene Maher, James Looney, Ronan J.Grace

Perusal of my Farcebark News Feed illuminates nothing. I demand updates! Results! Scandals!

Gross Halfwit

True ... the updates are nonexistent! Very shoddy indeed!

SlimJ

OK so I've just received an email from Cieran, separating folk out into their quarterfinal heats. However, we all have to confirm and there may well be changes, so I alphabetized the quarter-finalists thus far and marked Sunday's winners with :cool: and Monday's with :P.

Adam Burke
Barry Mack
Colm McGlinchey
Chris Kent
Edwin Sammon
Enda Muldoon
Gary Lynch
Gerry McBride
Jimmy Looney :cool:
Jim Elliott
Joe Reilly :cool:
Justin Wade:P
Lisa Joyce
Mark Hanratty :cool:
Mike O Leary:cool:
Shane Browne:P
Steve Elliott
Trevor Browne
Totally Wired
Vinny Mc Hale:P

So, this Sunday the 23rd is the last first heat... lineup is posted as

Tomie James, Danny O’Brien, Simon Mulholland, Kevin McGahern, Brian Walshe, John Rowley, tbc tbc

SlimJ

Yo anyone know who came through on Sunday?

ttilting

Still no updates ? ? ?

this section seems pretty dead . . . Is there a secret other place where Irish stand comedy is discussed, that i don't know about?

I know Aidan Killian got through. Will post the others when I hear news.

SlimJ

Papa Smut wrote: »

I know Aidan Killian got through. Will post the others when I hear news.

And how, pray tell, did you know that? Posting unsubstantiated gossip will not be tolerated. You, sir, are no gentleman!

Gross Halfwit

According to bulmerscomedy.com ... "The winner of this years competition will perform as special guest to Puppetry of the Penis in the Olympia Theatre on Thurs 24th Sept and in O Keeffes, Clonmel as part of the Bulmer’s Comedy Festival on Nov 20th and 21st ( www.clonmelcomedy.com )."

Well at least we now know what the prize is ...

I'm also reliably informed that Kevin McGahern is through to the quarters too.

Damon Blake

Kathleen King and Simon Mulholland got through as well I hear. I only popped in for a few minutes but it wasn't the most jovial of crowds.

Is there a secret other place where Irish stand comedy is discussed, that i don't know about?

Facebook is quicker generally, and a good way to find out what politicians are a fan of the IRA and sexy underwear.

SlimJ

Semi final heats:

Mon 31st: Gary Lynch– Colm McGlinchey – Chris Kent – Totally Wired – mike O Leary - Vinny Mc Hale – Trevor Browne Simon Mulholland


Wed 2nd: Steve Elliott – Gerry McBride – Barry Mack – Justin Wade – Jimmy Looney – Mark Hanratty - Kevin McGahern – Kathleen KIng


Wed 9th: Lisa Joyce – Jim Elliott – Adam Burke – Edwin Sammon –Joe Reilly- Shane Browne – Enda Muldoon – Aidan Killian

Also, it appears I was wrong when I assumed that the winners were selected by 100% audience voting. The top two audience vote-getters go through, and then the judges pick two more.

Gross Halfwit

Quarter Finals in th Bulmers Competition results from The 31st -

Vinny McHale, Totally Wired, Trevor Browne and Chris Kent went through.

Fair play to all involved but the results surprised me a little. I thought McGlinchey & Mulholland were locks! I think Totally Wired have this comp in the bag though ...

But Anything can happen in Thunderdome!

Come along tomorrow night for what promises to be a hard fought & hilarious battle of wit(ticisms) ...

Steve Elliott – Gerry McBride – Barry Mack – Justin Wade – Jimmy Looney – Mark Hanratty - Kevin McGahern – Kathleen King ... all duking it out in the squared circle!

Do it! Doyles, Wednesday, 8.30 pm! €Monies!

SlimJ

Some FB sleuthing leads me to believe that last night saw Steve Elliott, Gerry McBride, Kevin McGahern and Mark Hanratty make it through.

Gross Halfwit

SlimJ wrote: »

Some FB sleuthing leads me to believe that last night saw Steve Elliott, Gerry McBride, Kevin McGahern and Mark Hanratty make it through.

That's the truth of it! Was just coming over to say! It was a hard fought, close contest. Congrats to we few that went through & commiserations to those that didn't.

Gross Halfwit

Go to the Bulmers Quarter Finals in Doyles tonight & support the lads!

It's on at 8.30pm! Do it cos you'll be sorry if they all died later!

grames_bond

Gross Halfwit wrote: »

Go to the Bulmers Quarter Finals in Doyles tonight & support the lads!

It's on at 8.30pm! Do it cos you'll be sorry if they all died later!

died in what way? if they all did bad gigs (something i know wont happen) id be glad that i wasnt there!

SlimJ

Me, Enda, Edwin, and Shane went through last night...

So the semifinalists are

Steve Elliott, Gerry McBride, Kevin McGahern Mark Hanratty
Vinny McHale, Totally Wired, Trevor Browne and Chris Kent
Shane Browne, Enda Muldoon, Edwin Sammon, Jim Elliott

Who's on which night? Also, who looks more like brothers, the Elliotts or the Brownes?

Gross Halfwit

grames_bond wrote: »

died in what way? if they all did bad gigs (something i know wont happen) id be glad that i wasnt there!

Either way, you'd be missing out!

Me & Jim could be brothers in the same way Arnie & Danny DeVito were ... or Tom Cruise & Dustin Hoffman.

The Semis are shaping up (hehe) as such so far ...

Friday 11th
KEVIN MCGAHERN
TOTALLY WIRED
VINNY MC HALE
STEVE ELLIOTT

Sunday 13th
GERRY MCBRIDE
MARK HANRATTY
CHRIS KENT
TREVOR BROWNE
JIM ELLIOTT

I don't know about Enda, Edwin & Shane's days though!

SlimJ

I know Edwin's on Friday...

Heisenberg.

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Catenaccio!

Enda Muldoon was way ahead of the rest last night, good performance I must say.

Gross Halfwit

Catenaccio! wrote: »

Enda Muldoon was way ahead of the rest last night, good performance I must say.

He was on fire!

The FOUR that went through last night were Enda Muldoon, Kevin McGahern, Trevor Browne & me, Stephen Elliott.

Thanks to all who came out & I hope to see the same turn out on Sunday for

GERRY MCBRIDE
MARK HANRATTY
CHRIS KENT
SHANE BROWNE
JIM ELLIOTT
TOTALLY WIRED