Competition exists in our daily lives in various formats. We compete for our jobs, we compete in sports (not me but I have heard others enjoy this), and we compete to get a seat on the bus (watch out pregnant women and old ladies!!) We live in a world of Darwinism, survival of the fittest, and so far, if you are reading this, you are doing quite well in the competition in life! (if you disagree with this statement and you are not a starving child in Africa, get some perspective; you are doing just fine in the grand scheme of things).
Many hippies and beatniks like my in-laws will state that it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, just as long as we all have fun. Maybe this is true, but if you ever sit and watch these type of people, they themselves are having a competition on who can be the most “organic”, the most “at peace”, or having the most “fun”. Of course fun is important, and of course it doesn’t matter who actually wins or loses, unless of course you are the winner or loser. Those who are at the top like being at the top, they get rewards for being at the top. Those who are at the very bottom are likely not having that much fun. No one likes to suck so bad at something that everyone else around you feels sorry that you are even participating. The exception is cutie pies like my daughter who sit on the ground and play with flowers while in the position of goalie during soccer. Top or bottom matters, but those in the middle, they may be any portion of happy to have made their personal best, annoyed they aren’t doing as well as they could, or in fact they may be happy just to be playing.
Talent competitions are all the rage right now. Pretty much every art form has the word “Idol” after it, in which participants sell out their talent to get ahead in fame and fortune. Critics of art based competitions say that art is objective therefore there can be no winners and losers. They say there is no basis to compare two artists, as they do such significantly different things. How can one compare Josh Grobin to the Axl Rose, Picasso to my children’s paintings, or a prop comic to Doug Stanhope?
Critics may be correct in some elements, and not everyone is happy with the outcome of competitions. In the end though, competitions bring attention and awareness to the art form, provides a platform for artists to display their talent, and gives everyone the motivation to up their game, even just a little bit. Competition also provides a forum for promoters like JH5 to partner with the best in the business, and bring the public quality, high energy shows!
Last September we at JH5 knew we wanted to do a comedy competition. We were planning many events at the time and put it off for the time until the timing was right. When we became ready to move into action, we approached the only business in the city that we felt could bring this vision to life in a way that promotes quality and means something. Bragging rights of “best comic of some bar” would not cut it for us. We wanted a business that’s names stands on it’s own for quality comedy entertainment. We wanted to work with a business that is well known in the community for their charitable giving, excellent fundraising programs, and who have staff that have 100% passion for comedy. We of course chose Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Cabaret in Ottawa!
Together JH5 and Yuk Yuk’s have created a summer comedy competition. Apologizes for the alliteration, but it will be a sizzling summer for comics in Ottawa! Yuk Yuk’s worked on creating further partners for the competition, with media partner Live 88.5 - Ottawa’s Alternative Rock, and Steam Whistle Brewing providing the prizes for the winners! Four businesses coming together to help celebrate the amazing comedic talent in Ottawa; this is something you don’t want to miss! The official name for the competition is: Steam Whistle presents the Yuk Yuk's Summer Pro-Am Comedy Competition.
The competition will begin Wednesday July 6th, running each Wednesday until August 31, and in order to bring fair and equitable balance, there will be two different levels of competition. One will be professional comics: defined as anyone who has been PAID to perform comedy at Yuk Yuk’s on a weekend. This includes all headliners, middle, MC and spots. You are paid ergo you are professional. For those not yet Yuk Yuk’s approved for weekend performances, this is your time to shine!
The second level is amateur level aka everyone else including those currently working to get ahead in comedy, and those who have never been on stage before. If you think you might be funny, this may be the time to give it a try! There have been many cases in the history of comedy competitions where someone tries comedy for the first time during a competition and wins or comes close! Why not give it a try? Winners will receive bragging rights and a prize.
If you don’t think you are ready or have no interest in performing, then spending the summer supporting local talent in Ottawa in an air conditioned venue is also appealing! Every time you attend a Wednesday evening at Yuk Yuk’s this summer watching the comedy competition and come back to JH5 on facebook or twitter to tell us what you thought of the show, you are entered in a draw for Yuk Yuk tickets, promotional merchandise, event tickets, and more! (a future blog will spell out the specifics!)
Okay, if you are a comic or a comic wannabe, you are now staring at the computer saying “GET TO THE POINT LADY, HOW DO WE ENTER????”. Okay, okay, stop shouting, here you go:
How to enter:
- Go to http://www.jh-5.proboards.com/ and register. The proboards will be where lineups are announced, information is shared, and a place for all things Ottawa comedy.
- The official rules and regulations will be announced on the proboards on June 8th. An email address will be provided, and you will email your interest in competing. The email will not be announced before this time, so no early bird entries! You will be able to state ONE preliminary round that you are not free. Let’s face it, summer is busy, so if you have one week of vacation planned, you may still enter the competition. If you are busy during the last three weeks in August for the semi-finals and finals, then you may want to reconsider. If you plan on winning, then plan on being here in August!
- All interested parties will then have until June 21 to email their intent to enter the competition.
- All registrations are then put into a lottery draw: one for professionals and one for amateur. No preference will be given to any comic.
- The draw will take place LIVE at Yuk Yuk’s, 292 Elgin Street on Wednesday June 22nd at 8:00PM! Lineups will be posted to the proboards on June 23rd.
- Judging will be done by the media partner and other highly regarded Ottawa personalities. JH5 and Yuk Yuk’s will not participate in any judging. To answer your next question: No one from JH5 will be entering this competition, that would hardly be appropriate!
- For more information please contact Jennifer Hayward 613-600-7462 or jenn@jh-5.com
This is really a Yuk Yuk's competition, and we at JH5 will assist through manage the administration of the entries, and keeping comics informed via the proboards all they will need to know, while Yuk Yuk’s will do what it does best, and that is host and produce the quality show each and every week!
I have to say that we at JH5 could not be happier with this partnership. Yuk Yuk’s has continually brought the highest quality comedy to Ottawa for over 25 years, and it is an honour to partner with them. Check back to our blog regularly for tips, promotions and information about this competition. The blog is for the general public, while the probards are for comics only!
This summer the ONLY place to be on Wednesday evenings is Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Cabaret! I know we will see you there!
Josh and Jenn Hayward
JH5
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