KGB will make you laugh

Well the sales have started on the 3rd annual KGB(Kootenay Gut Buster) Show.
This year will be bigger than ever with a tour bus, many rider groups plus the usual gaggle of locals that love to support some of the best in stand up comedy.
It all takes place at Toad Rock Campground in the pristine Kootenay mountains.
If you ride a motorcycle the roads in that area are rated as some of the best in Canada.
Please check out the website for more info.
www.kgbcomedy.com
Just click the title of this blog to get to the site.

I'll see all the cool people there!!

Its a solo effort folks

Hello folks
I have not really kept this blog very active and I apologize. So much is on the go that I can't seem to keep up. Having this damn sling on for a month does not help. Please note: (The pic was taken a week before the collar bone incident)
I am not trying to do the "I am thinking of shutting it down" sad plea for attention I have seen some folks do as i don't want a bunch of pathetic sympathy emails pleading: "Please don't shut it down. Its my morning read!!" Blah blah blah."

If you read it you read it. If you don't ...well, it means you filled your life with something else that day. I can live with that.
I could ask for people to submit things for the blog but, to me, that is a cop out and goes against what a blog is for- Personal opinion and to tell about my life. It would seem so lame if I was to start getting others to write for me. Wouldn't you agree?

Back to my thoughts. I am healing well, although not fast enough to get back out riding...yet. I have appreciated all the emails and Facebook messages and thank you all. Too many to list but you know who you are.

If you are in Calgary please check out the hottest and best new comedy room- Comedy Detour at Kits on Wednesday nights. All the comics who have performed have remarked on the great energy this room has. All shows have been awesome with a HUGE response even on the nights when bodies were fewer in number!
A few of the old vets commented it has the energy and feel of the old Jester's Comedy Club. Jesters shut its doors in 1996 after some bad management but it was always a fun place to play. I think its old soul has been resting at Kits just waiting for the Comedy Detour to give it a new place to live. I know, it sounds a bit hoaky but when you are having a few beers with a bunch of comics after a show, it just seemed to make sense.
www.comedydetour.com for more info:

I am working on getting the site more up to date. If you are on Facebook there is plenty of info on the group page.
Keep on supporting live stand-up comedy and do me a favor. If you see an act you enjoy, learn their name and tell others. Stand-up is about the performer!!
Cheers

Flapping on one wing

I have been getting a lot of emails asking for updates and a new blog. Thanks for the messages. Sorry for the lack of postings here. I have made a video to ease the burden of typing. Recovery seems to be going well so far.


If you are interested in helping raise money for a charity I am accepting pledges for the "Ride for dad" motorcycle event to raise money/awareness for prostate cancer June 7.

I hope to be healed enough to ride. Worse case is I ride in a side car or just go by car. If you wish to help out please email me and I will set up your pledge. I am taking some on paypal as well.
cheers
Daryl "the one armed bandit" Makk

Canadian Unity Tour is on!!

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Hey folks
Sorry for the long delay in posting.
I have been very busy on the Canadian Unity Tour.
Keep up on our blogs and adventures from our Facebook Page. Just search for Canadian Unity
The URL link option does not seem to be working on blogger but we have them posted on our facebook page.Just go to the Links on the right and click the one marked "Facebook"


There is a great review of the show from Merritt BC



See you soon!

Loving 2008!!

Well it has been a great year so far and indications are it will get even better.
After a great Christmas/New Year's trip to the wonderful city of Kelowna it was time to head back to Calgary and relax some more.
My sons and I managed to enjoy a few back yard bonfires and take in the Calgary Motorcycle show. I have to say if I win the Lotto I definitely have no trouble with my wish list!

I had my birthday last week and it seemed to last a full week!! A dinner bash Saturday, at my buddy Clark Robertson's place, became a bit of a birthday party once the clock hit midnight. Sunday, my actual birthday (Jan 13 for those keeping track), was spent with friends and then it was off to the mountains to a great chalet. Scott Dumas or Doomer as we love to call him, had a great chalet rented for the week so it was R & R Canadian Rocky style for a couple of nights. There is something so peaceful, spiritual and rejuvenating about the mountains. I can't see myself ever living too far from them. Monday I came in for Comedy Monday Night and the gang had some late birthday surprises for me including a few tribute jokes, a rap song (done by Stephanie Foley) cards, cakes and as many free drinks as possible. Thanks to all the Calgary comics, you guys are the best bunch to hang with in Canada. A big thanks to all the emails, phone calls, Facebook and Myspace notes I have received over the past week! I am always happy to hear from fans and friends. You have all made me feel so loved.

Tomorrow I fly up to Grande Prairie to do a theater show with none other than Corner Gas guy Brent Butt. I am looking forward to doing this sold out show. I love it when I get to do soft seat theatres. More of those to come.

Sunday is the first Calgary showing of the movie Sureshot Dombrowski I was involved in last year. It is a fun, campy little comedy done mocu-mentary style. Contact me for tickets and info.

The Canadian Unity Tour is getting ready for an extended month long tour of the west. Starting in Victoria BC on Feb 1 we will be uniting the country through the official language of laughter. The tour was sad to say goodbye to Levi MacDougall, who had to pull himself out of the tour due to conflicting TV tapings. We are happy to welcome Andrew Iwanyk and his quirky, funny style to the tour. Be sure to add our group on facebook.

Last post of 2007

Hello to all. I hope everyone had a great Christmas season (or whichever holiday you celebrate) and spent time with loved ones.
I have been having a blast here in Kelowna BC. The weather here is so perfect for this time of year you'd almost think it was a fake Hollywood set! Christmas eve we had nice big snowflakes coming down, no breeze and the temp just cold enough for snow. Nice indeed.

Santa brought me a new underwater camera that I am just loving. Check this pic from the hotel's OUTDOOR pool while it was minus 5C outside!! The water was perfect. My kids and I made some underwater videos and pics for our photo albums.

Tonight is my final show of 2007 at the wonderful Coast Capri Hotel. Thanks to the staff for making our stay so enjoyable and to Stan for booking it for me.

A lot has happened over the past year in the comedy world. It is a constant state of change and more so these past 356 days. (365.25 for those anal about accuracy) So many new opportunities have cropped up as well as the final touches of some things I have been working on for awhile. Yeah there were tiny brained nay sayers but those folks mean so little in the comedy world that I laugh at them.
I have my resolutions ready for the midnight countdown and am very ready for 2008. I hope all of my fans and supporters have a wonderful and prosperous 2008! The rest of you, I hope you get all the karma you have earned.

Cheers
Daryl Makk

Tis the season to party...sometimes.

As a traveling comic I rarely get to take in the weekend night life of my own city. This Friday I was fortunate to finish my gig early and attend a great CD release party of an awesome band The Mocking Shadows.


here is the link
http://www.mockingshadows.com/
for some reason the hyper link function is not working on blogger today so you will have to cut/paste it.

I first met them when on the road in Regina. The staff from my gig took me down to see "this amazing band". Yeah yeah I thought. I just want to unwind. Well I was glad I did go to see them as they blew me away. A 7 piece band in today's techno crap world? I was sold. It has been several years in coming but they now have a new CD.
Their new album "The sound" is awesome and I recommend it to anyone sick of some of the bland pop-crap out there today.
After the concert I hung with the guys for a bit, made some cool new friends and called it a night. Too much travel and long hours working on set had taken its toll. I need a week of sleeping in!!

I have 15 mins so here you go.

Wow, so much has happened lately where do I begin?
I know several friends (and non friends) who do a daily blog. I often wonder where they find the time. I can understand some non-artists having spare time but with all the projects I am working on, gigs, acting work, writing my book etc; I find little time by days end. I often wonder if daily bloggers just don't have enough constructive stuff to do or just are not as much in demand as I am? Who knows. As such, my blog is more of a weekly (or less) so to all my loyal readers looking for more, I apologize- Daddy Makk has a lot on his plate.

On top of the usual corporate Christmas gigs (or is that "Non-denominational holiday observance of your choosing" gigs) at this time of year, I have been involved in working on a film set as well as setting up some work in Canada and further abroad. Stay tuned.
2 more weeks and I am off to visit family in BC for the holidays. A good friend of mine, Stan also set up some nice work for me while I am there.
It has been awhile since I have done the Coast Capri in Kelowna and am back there, by request, for the last week of December plus New Years Eve. It will be great for friends and family to come see a show there again and I look forward to doing a room that has not been on my schedule for over 2 years. It is also nice to see a competent agent taking care of that venue as he understands the challenges comics face on the road, having done it himself for many years. Yes, the industry is going through an evolution and things are looking up in Canada. Less of scammers taking advantage of over eager comics looking for stage time and more of a respect with decent pay and conditions for all.... well in some arenas anyway. There are still those who think that self employed artists should be treated like employees and taken advantage of but that style of business will go the way of the dinosaurs eventually.
Look out Okanagan valley...Daddy Makk is back with a whole whack of new material for you.

Look fast or you'll miss it!!

I live near the Bow river in Calgary which gives me some wonderful places to enjoy as well as some wildlife, even close to downtown.
I was driving near the river the other day when something white caught my eye. It flew out of the bushes as I approached and at first I thought it may be a plastic bag or paper cup caught on the wind that some human piece of trash had thrown out. Then I noticed this "bag" had a face and legs. A weasel!
I've known that we have them in the wild in Alberta, I just didn't expect to see one a stone's throw from the city's core.
It darted across and went off to do the weasely stuff that weasels do. Sneaky and fast but a small player in the field of predators it made me laugh and think of another weasel I know. A small time player as well, darting through the shadows and undergrowth of a small, limited territory....hunting small game. Yes, it was a sign that all was good in my world.

What's in a name?

I have finally recovered from the PEI Comedy Fest. All the comics were great and we had a blast!! I can't wait until next year.

A recent trip in Saskatechewan took me past this sign. I had to stop and take a pic.
All the years this town has had this odd, funny name no one thought to change it? They are right up there with Dildo Newfoundland, Climax SK and many other odd and sexual sounding towns. As long as the folks that live there are nice and easy to get along with who cares what you call a place?
Its kind of like comedy. While some douche bags worry about names of agencies, the smart ones just keep on working and doing a good job for ALL the agencies that get them work. The industry and success is really that simple. Send me work, I do a good job and look forward to the next time. No exclusivity, no owning my ass, just all of us making money and happy happy comics.

Those that can't figure that out are really another word for this sign.

So much fun my head is going to pop!!

I arrived last night in PEI for the first ever Island Comedy Festival. The festival organizers have been incredible with their hospitality. Marie-France and her husband Craig are nothing short of amazing folks.
Today is the day the majority of the comics arrive and I can't wait to see them.
The line up this year is awesome. In no particular order-Steve Patterson, Simon Rakoff, Irwin Barker, Wafik Nasrella, Paul Myerhaug, birthday girl Erica Sigurdson, the rest of the Canadian Untity tour (Jason Blanchard, Andrew Evans, Johnny Legend and Levi MacDougall) and more. Check out the line up on their site. There is not one weak or gross spot on the bill!! It will be an amazing festival. If you have any friends on the island or the east coast, please tell them to check it out. Just click the blog title for the link.

Many of these comics I get to see once a year (if I'm lucky to cross paths with them) and we will all be on the island whooping it up while making the potato folks laugh their red dirt asses off. I am also looking forward to meeting and seeing a few newbies (to me) in the comedy biz. Always nice to see the up and comers as well as the vets I rarely get to watch.
So join the fun and show off your "Ricky" folks.
I'll update when I recover or if I get a burst of energy in the mornings.
I have to fly back on a red-eye early Friday morning (Thankfully my flight is on WestJet, my preferred airline) to do another great show, the Kidney Komedy Night. A sold out event!
www.kidneykomedynight.com


It is a wild and fun week for sure!
Later comedy fans

BOO! I'm back.

I know I have been lax on keeping this blog up to date with new posts. Enough with the emails already....here is a new one. I am sure I have driven my loyal readers, lurkers and industry spies batty wanting to know what is happening in the world of Makk.
I blame 2 things for my lack of writing.
1- Facebook. yes I am addicted and have added a lot of new friends that constantly email me, share pics, poke me, etc. It has become a huge task to keep up.
2- Connie, my bike. The weather has been fairly mild so I have been out riding as much as I can before winter makes a permanent place in our area.
If you are on Facebook add me. I also have a few groups you may want to join. Makk's Meanderings (for faster updates on whats going on) Calgary Riders (for all you biker types) and Canadian Unity Tour. It is about to do some travelling soon.

Lots of projects on the go and I will let you know as they become complete.
Lately I have been helping Julia Stretch run James Moore's Comedy Monday Night. Good ol' James has taken a vacation to the mediteranean area and well deserved I might add. Tonight is Halloween themed so to all the jokers please dress up.
Later kids
Daddy Makk

Comedians Log Day 4,5

I am combining 2 days on this blog entry as the cruise is now over, it was just a short one. I could have continued on but had some commitments back home. I've been a day behind on each blog post due to limited online time. You have no idea how expensive (and slow at times) internet can be at sea. At least we had it so I shouldn't complain although the price could come down a bit. I spent more on internet in 4 days than it cost for a 2 months back home!
I had the last 2 days off to play tourist. Soaking in the hot tub, eating, soaking, walking the decks, eating, shopping in the gift shops, watching art auctions, eating plus a chance to see the other shows on board....followed by late night room service so I could eat again! The food on board is some of the best I have ever had so I took full advantage of it.

My new onboard buddy, Thom Peterson did his magic-comedy show on Day 3.
www.amazingguy.com
It was very well done and polished and included video and close up camera shots (displayed on the big screen) for some of the tricks. He had the pleasure of 2 full house crowds thanks to calm seas. My late show had been a bit sparse as the ship was ptiching a fair amount and some folks stayed holed up in their cabins. He had mentioned he was worried about the seas getting rough. He had watched my show with me trying to keep my balance at times. He had one bit that could possible result in his magic props being tossed about the stage but was blessed with glass smooth sailing unlike my slightly pitching, drunk feeling stage. It turns out we have a mutual friend, David Acer. Acer is a great comic and magician that lives in Montreal (which is near Canada I understand LOL)

I met another performer, Gary Wicks who is a ventriloquist. Unfortunately I did not get to see Gary's show as it was on the night of my departure. Both were very nice fellows to hang out with. It made meal time stretch into hours as we traded road stories. Comics NEVER run out of those and the laughter was continuous with the odd passenger joining in when they over heard us. The one thing about a ship is you are always on PR mode.

Gary was the lucky one with weather as the sun was out in San Diego and the temperature warm and summer-like as Thom and sadly I left the ship. It was hard to depart the vessel and felt like I was leaving my home. I can't wait to do my next cruise. I am hoping to sail back to Australia and my US agent is working on it.
I am home now and trying to re-fill my sleep hump and prep for my next tour which is in a week.
If you are in Calgary drop by the Comedy Cave where I will be emcee all this week. The Comedy Cave is Calgary's number one independant comedy club . It is conveniently located on MacLeod Trail south.
Later kids

Comedians Log Day 3

Day 3
The shows must have been good as I had a chance to dine with the Captain!! Or maybe he dined with me because I have such a cool cabin number S-007. That’s right, 007…licensed to kill…on stage!
It was almost cliché, dining with the captain, but it was a great honor to sit with him. Not too many passengers get that opportunity and I enjoyed chatting with him.
Captain Pieter Visser is an experienced sailor. 32 years with the navy before switching to cruise ships for 18 years. Lets just say I feel very confident of his ability to get us there safely.
Today the seas are calm, the sun came out and so did the dolphins. I missed them by 15 minutes but some of my shipmates, that were a bit earlier to rise, saw the pod of about 12. I hope to see more some again.
This will be my last night on board. I will miss the ship and look forward to my next voyage in 2008. I am going to check out the comedy magic show of Thom Peterson www.amazingguy.com. It turns out we have a mutual friend, David Acer. It is a small world.
Cheers
Daddy Makk

Comedians Log Day 2

Day 2
We had our first port stop, a picturesque little town called Astoria Oregon. It was cool and cloudy but it was still a fun stop.
Back on board the seas picked up again, so much so the pool had to be closed due to high surf!! It was as though the pool had a wave machine. I may try it later to see how much fun surf in a pool is.
I did 2 shows in the big theatre on board. A much older crowd…surprise! Old folks on a cruise? No kidding. The shows went well despite the fact that the ship was still rolling in the rough sea. It was the first time I have done a show on a moving stage. It was as though it was drunk and I was sober trying to match its movement. A definite first for me. I managed to stay upright and did 50 minutes on each show to very receptive crowds of mostly Canadians and Americans with the odd Aussie tossed in for variety. In short I had a great time.
Afterward I went for a few drinks with the crew in the crew bar on the lower deck. Sea level. It was like a small after hours club and the people were very nice and from all over the world.
The rolling of the ship was less pronounced but you could see the waves close up through the porthole. They are a lot bigger from the viewpoint. What looked like medium waves from my deck 9 room were actually 10-20 foot swells. I know the ocean is capable of bigger but still it looked wild. Every once in awhile we would hit a big wave and the ship would shudder much like a car hitting a big bump. We shut the place down and I went for a short walk outside before retiring to my rocking cabin up top. I enjoy the rolling motion as it actually rocks you to sleep. I don’t understand how anyone can get sick from it… or maybe I am I am just conditioned to travel.

Comedian's Log Day 1

After some confusion, plus having to go back to customs twice for some paperwork red tape bureaucracy, I am on board. I met several others that were having the same problem. Apparently the US Customs guys were being extra picky. No worries, they’re just doing their job. A quick meeting with the events manager and I am off to eat. Food! That is what cruise ships are all about. I toured the ship and tried to orient myself feeling like a mouse in a maze looking for cheese. These things are not little boats. It is a very elegant ship.
Its late, I sit here in my stateroom rolling back and forth. The seas are not overly rough but my stateroom is on the second highest deck so the swaying is multiplied. It seems relaxing as the MS Volendam makes her way south. The only thing unnerving is the movie I rented from the ship’s library- Poseidon.
That’s right, my first cruise and I’m watching a ship disaster film!! Why? Because I can. The effects are cool. Not so much on the movie but looking out a 9 story window at frothing water breaking as the ship plows through the waves…cool!
I am off to sleep. More pics to follow.

I am a boat person!!

Well after a couple of days off after my tour north of 60 it is time to head somewhere warm.
I am off to do a cruise ship for a week!! Flying back from San Diego. I'd write more but my laptop battery is just about dead and my charger is back home. D'OH!!
Hope to pick one up somewhere soon.
I'll write more when I can folks.

Daddy Makk out

Turn north and go til the pavement ends..then hang a left

Well I had a first this week, in a bit of a rock star moment, whilst ranting about how musicians seem to get more glory, I let it slip that I had never signed a boob ala rock star style. Within seconds 2 young ladies ran up to end my boob signing drought! By the end of the night I had 8 of them sporting my autograph. Not bad!! Thank you ladies (and your boobs) of Rainbow Lake AB
I guess I should mention to the audience more of what I'd like to happen. "Hey I've never had anyone give me a winning lottery ticket before". I'll let you know how that goes tonight.

So,why am I way up here in the north (headed to Northwest Territories) some may ask? Simple. Stages that pay, a chance to make people laugh and a chance to write about more experiences. I'd hate to be on of those comics that hangs onto the same old tired events in their act. I love to travel and see new places. It also helps me hone my act and make it more adaptable to more venues and crowds. I am also allowed to let loose a bit on these shows. A week up in the north is like a paid vacation from some of the corporate shows I have coming up. Best to relax and unload before the squeaky clean sets.

I hope we get a nice warm fall as I am eager to get a few more days of riding in on my new motorcycle. The weather has been holding up here but I think we may see snow before the tour ends. Fingers crossed. No worries, I am heading somewhere warm soon. Stay tuned.

My face space

One of the things about the internet I love is there are always new sites, information and new cool marketing/networking sites popping up. One of the things I hate about the internet is that there are always new sites, information and new cool marketing/networking sites popping up.
How does one keep up?
After over 2 years of working on contacts on Myspace a new site was offered to me. People kept wanting me to join this new place to network with pals. Some of them were already from Myspace so why the switch? Why re-invent the wheel?
Enter Facebook. It is like Myspace but it is not like Myspace. So with reluctance I signed up for an account, typed up a profile and added some pics. Since it was laid out differently then Myspace I was not sure what to do with it for some time. I did notice that I started getting more hits, emails and notices on Facebook then I ever did on Myspace and from people I actually know!! Is Myspace dead? Not quite. It has a lot of the cheesy bullshit stuff to get rid of plus it is plagued by fake spam accounts....but Tom assures me they are looking into it. I still use it.

Facebook on the other hand seems, for the most part, to be full of genuine folks. It is getting a bit ridiculous with some of the new applications one can add...many just a rehash of some other gimmick. (Note: Anyone using the vampire, zombie or werewolf application really, really, really needs to get a life. Who the fuck cares about how many fake cyber bites you collect from others with too much time in their day). Sure Facebook it is starting to get its share of weirdos but for the most part...it works for getting the word out about shows, events or just updates. If you have me added on Myspace, don't worry, I still keep things posted on there but, I am on Facebook too so I guess you should add me before some new site comes along and me (along with my contacts) start telling people to come to the new (insert catchy name here) networking site that is sure to try and topple these first two sites. So...add me!!

Daryl Makk

Tape it!

I really despise those privately owned ATMs. Its bad enough when our bank charges fees to access YOUR money but to have another 2 bucks or so raped from you just because you need cash in a crunch is a bit much. I understand the cost for the convenience of having one in places like a bar. What pisses me off is when they have the ATM but no Interac (direct debit for those of you outside Canada). Hmmmm. You just know the bar owner also owns the machine and is milking every cent he can from his clientelle.
Here's a little fun you can do with some tape. It will not harm the machine, so you can't be charged with destruction of property, but you vent your anger a bit and have fun.
I did this machine the other night. The staff loved it and took my pic!
If you get to do one please send me the pic!
Cheers

Daryl Makk