Chemcially Imbalanced Comedy’s Blog

Hey folks,

We are trying a very simple Facebook application to see if folks like it.

Click below and you can send someone your favorite CIC logo, show image, or Improv Group as a “gift”

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by Angie McMahon

Often times during the day while Sarah and I are working in the office we will either get a door to door sales man to come in and sell us something or a call to the office to sell us something. Over the next few weeks I am going to tell you about some of our favorite sales calls to CIC.

Last week I got a phone call that went something like this:

Me: Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, this is Angie can I help you?

Sales guy: Hi Angie how are you today.

Me: I’m fine, how can I help you.

Sales guy: Good, good, thats good to hear. Angie I”m calling to tell you about a new bathroom air freshener that automatically dispenses. Angie let me ask you, what are you currently doing to keep the bathroom at your buisness freash smelling?

Me: We currently buy 1-2 cans of air freshener that sits on the shelf.

Sales guy: And you dispense it yourself? By hand?

Me: Yes, usually, well yes.

Sales guy: Well for the low price of $125 I can set you up with an automatic dispenser AND enough product to last you 6 months. Imagine walking into the bathroom anytime and having it smell like fresh flowers…ALL THE TIME!

Me: I’m sorry, that is just too much money for us.

Sales guy: Well how much do you spend now on your current air freshener needs?

Me: Tops $5 a month

Sales guy: But you dispense it yourself right?

Me: No I get it, I mean what your selling. We are just a small Theater, one bathroom. We just don’t have it in the budget to spend $125 for air freshener.

Sales guy: But this will last 6 months.

Me: I’m sorry, it just isn’t going to work, thanks for the call. (hang up)

So far our King of the Mountain Contest is under way.

Advancing to the next rounds is….

Michael Pizza vs. Red Red Red

and

The Sause vs. Charles Grodin

This Friday Michael Pizza and Red Red Red will go head to head with only one winner decided by your votes! At stake is a cash prize and a headlining night on Friday Feb 26.

I’ve been here quite a few times and really like this theatre (I live about 3 blocks from it) and the shows. Let me start by saying if you’re looking for a huge theatre with an elaborate stage set up, this isn’t for you. However, since I prefer smaller theatres this was right up my alley. I don’t know what the theatre capacity is, but I would guess it holds around 50 people (give or take). Furthermore, it’s BYOB which makes the comedy that much funnier. There are four rows of seats and even the furthest row back isn’t more than (maybe) 15 feet from the performers. The building seems a bit older, yet has a certain cozy charm about it.

I’ve seen Pimprov twice and I’ve been to the Saturday Night Showcase on several occasions. The tickets are pretty cheap Pimprov is about $15 and The Showcase is $10. However, if you check Goldstar you can get them discounted ( Like $10 or $12 for Pimprov & $7.50 for the comedy showcase). Pimprov was hilarious both times I went. The pimps did a great job interacting with the crowd and the scenes flowed very well. I was laughing the majority of the time during both Pimprov shows. They do a rip on the crowd a bit, but it’s all in good fun and not in the least bit mean spirited. The Improv Showcase (on Saturday & Sunday) is usually pretty good also. As you might expect some groups are better than others. While the 3rd act of the three (The main event I suppose) tends to be the best act (most of the times I’ve gone), the other 2 groups are usually good for a chuckle or two also. I’ve taken people to the comedy showcases before and had mixed reviews ( but Pimprov is a cant miss). For $7.50 to $15 and the ability to drink your own six pack and/or bottle of wine you will hard pressed to find a better value in entertainment. So go check it out.
- Jacques M. 4 stars

CIC is excited to announce Insiders Entertainment has come on as our Technical Directors, serving all of our tech needs for our 2010 calender year. Here is a bit more about them:

insiders entertainment

We are inspired by the power of entertainment and its positive impact on society. Starting from Chicago, Illinois in 2001 Brandon Mojica and Nick Quinn have been collectively providing the vision for Insiders Entertainment Inc., strengthened by a team of designers, artists and technicians. By providing our team a stable environment, they can effectively exercise their talents, and our combined experiences have allowed us to raise expectations. Our melting pot approach integrates every unique member of our team to efficiently develop solutions. With an exponential growth of ideas, anything is possible.

We are evaluating how entertainment is created, experienced and consumed while always reevaluating conventions and looking for ways to improve upon them. Our team of specialized individuals is committed to enhancing your experience. We use our creativity to provide you with entertainment solutions and to amplify the atmosphere, through lighting, sound, and scenic design.

We continue to show videos from the show “It Came Upon a Midnight Queen” Here is the first video of the Acting teacher’s reel. The Best Extra ever

We got you covered. Here is the audio from the show.

Thanks to Vocalo.org and host Tom for having us on.

Desparately Seeking

Our good friends at Vocalo.org have asked us to come in this morning at 9am to talk about our new show Desperately Seeking.

Tune in at 9am

http://www.vocalo.org/on-air

Submission
Have you ever been left out of a comedy festival? Have you tried several attempts to get your work seen and keep hitting a brick wall? Do you feel like you are being over looked because you are not connected or are unknown? Well here is your chance to let the world in on your work.

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy has been lucky enough to attend festivals in NYC, Toronto, Montreal, and Chicago. But we have also had our fair share of being snubbed. So this June Chemically Imbalanced Comedy wants to bring you SnubFest ‘10. All comedy encouraged to apply! We are looking at Solo Acts, Stand Ups, Improv, Sketch, Musical Comedy. The only catch is the project had to have been rejected from another festival sometime between June 26, 2009 and March 1, 2010.

To be considered for SnubFest ‘10, Please first read our FAQ (at the bottom of the page) THEN please email the following information:

1. Name of Troupe/Act (please indicate if it is improv, sketch, stand up, solo AND what City and State you are from)

2. Name of your Cast Members and Crew

3. Length of time for your Act

4. Contact Name/Phone/Email/City,State

5. The Name of the Festival your act was snubbed from, and the reason why you believe shouldn’t have been snubbed

6. A one paragraph description of the act

7. Any pull quotes or press you may received for this act

8. Any conflict dates you have between June 3-6, 2010 Thurs-Sun at 8pm and Fri & Sat 10pm

9. Any technical requirements (i.e. projection, live Mic, ect)

10. Please Indicate On Your Application If You Would Like To Be Considered For “The Last Snob Standing” Contest. If so you must mail DVD of your performance, or include a link to your myspace or youtube clip.(internet link strongly encouraged)

Because of the rising costs of running a festival Snubfest regretfully announces we must ask for a submission fee of $5.00, (EARLY APPLICATION FEE). The late application fee is $25.00 You can make checks payable to Chemically Imbalanced Productions or you can pay us via brownpapertickets.com. If you pay us via brownpapertickets.com a $.99 service charge will be added to your submission fee. Thanks for understanding.

EARLY APPLICATION FEE DUE BY March 8,2010
Pay Via www.snubfest.com

LATE APPLICATION FEE DUE BY March 22, 2010
Pay via www.snubfest.com

ALL ACTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY April 5, 2010

Also there will be a competition called “The Last Snob Standing” where the winner(s) will get a guaranteed performance slot in Major Comedy Festivals and Stand Up stages through out Chicago and beyond. If you would like to be considered for the Last Snob Standing Contest we will need a submission DVD, or Online clip (myspace, youtube)

Because of limited space not all applicants will be accepted into the Last Snob Standing Contest. I know, Snub’d from Snubfest hurts. But we will do our best to try to get everyone seen.

Please feel free to send any questions or comments or electronic submissions you may have to snubfest@cicomedy.com

To be considered for SnubFest ‘10 please mail your submissions to

Chemically Imbalanced Theater
Attn: Snubfest Submission
1420 W Irving Park Road
Chicago IL, 60613

or send electronic submission to snubfest@cicomedy.com

Snubfest 2010 Frequently Asked Questions

My group won last year’s Last Snob Standing competition. Can I still apply?
We would love to have you back - but only for the showcase. Last year’s winners of the Last Snob Standing competitions will not be considered for the competition this year.

Is there a showcase for stand-ups?
Stand-ups can only compete in the Last Snob Standing competition. There is no showcase for stand-ups.

My group doesn’t want to compete in the Last Snob Standing. Can we still apply?
Of course! However, we give top priority to those groups competing as well as to our out-of-town applicants. So, if you’re from Chicago and you don’t want to be in the Last Snob Standing competition, you will most likely not be considered for one of the showcases.

I haven’t been able to get my act recorded. Can I still apply?
Sorry, but we only consider applications that include a dvd of or internet link to one of your (or your group‘s) performances. FYI: internet links are preferred.

The last time I applied to SnubFest, the application fee was the price of a postage stamp! Why’d the price go up??!?!?!???
We’ve got our own theater space now, and it’s frickin’ expensive to run your own space! So, yes, we’ve had to increase the cost of the application fee. But come on. It’s only $5 if you get your submission in by March 8. ONLY $5!! How much did it cost you to submit to the festival that snubbed you? Huh? Huh?

Why do you charge a late application fee? What’s that all about?
If you get your submission to us later than March 8th, the charge is $25. Why? Because we hate late submissions.

For those of you who missed the show “It Came Upon a Midnight Queen” here is the video of the pageant; The Birth, Life, and Death of Jesus set to the music of Queen.