Milwaukee Comedy Festival

Festival Preparation

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Milwaukee COmedy Festival 10 Years

It’s an all new year, which is exciting because now is when I begin the preparations for the Milwaukee Comedy Festival!  2015 marks ten years of the biggest multi-day comedy event in the state of Wisconsin. It takes from now until August to put all the pieces together and make sure it’s the best comedy festival it can be.

I can’t say too much on what this year will bring, as many of the big things are being figured out right now; but I can say I have hope of making the 10th year of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival the most memorable one yet.

Soon we will begin accepting submissions from the talented and funny comedians across the country and beyond.  Then we go through perhaps the most difficult process of choosing the best of the best talent we can find and putting the shows together. Throw in some sponsors, volunteers and about 500 hours staring at a computer screen and you got yourself a comedy event!

Milwaukee COmedy Festival 10 Years

Talking Comedy with LJN

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I had a great time talking with Tim Muma and the Local Job Network about the comedy industry recently. It’s exciting to talk about what I love and this podcast was really unique for me. I didn’t have to focus on an upcoming show I am trying to promote, I was able to discuss how I have contributed to the comedy industry as a whole and where I think it is going. It was a lot of fun!

Check out the entire interview right here.pic_logo

Here is the description from the website:

We’re taking a look at the comedy industry and examining the details of this unique community, and for those interested, what it takes to succeed. Matt Kemple, live events producer for Milwaukee Comedy and the founder of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, joins Tim Muma to give us an inside look at the various avenues one can take within comedy. He also describes the scene as a whole and the many great options for fans of the comedic arts.

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Matt and Dobie Maxwell on Fox6

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I had a great time on Fox6 Milwaukee talking about the Milwaukee Comedy Festival with the very funny Dobie Maxwell!

You can see the clip below:

UPDATED 8/3
I choose Dobie to join me on Fox6 because he’s talented, works hard, and does what he says he will. I often just think about what might be the best fit, as opposed to who might appreciate the job more. DOB was excellent on the show, and he took the time to write a very nice post on his Dented Can Diary blog. Here are a few excerpts, but I encourage you to take a look at the entire post here.

I had to be in Milwaukee by 9am to be on a TV show called ‘Real Milwaukee’ to help promote The Milwaukee Comedy Festival which runs this coming weekend. It’s a well run event that was started by a guy named Matt Kemple eight years ago, and has continued to grow with each year.

…. Matt asked me to be a part of it years ago, and I’ve been there whenever my schedule allows. He’s an outstanding promoter and a sincere person, so anything I can do to support his and his team’s efforts is my pleasure.

He could have chosen anyone to be a representative sampling, but of all the acts he singled me out and that’s a huge honor. …. There was no way I would turn down such a flattering gesture.

…I’ve had a few experiences where shows I’ve been on have not had nice hosts, and that can be a chore instead of the fun treat it should be. This was worth my trip. Just as I felt chemistry on The Morning Blend with Molly and Tiffany, I felt the same with Katrina and Cassandra. They get it.

Matt Kemple gets it as well, and that’s why I’ll go out of my way to help him with anything he should need me to do. He and his team have put together a fabulous event that keeps on growing, and hopefully they will keep having me back. I love to be a part of things like this whenever I am able, as they’re always a win/win proposition. It’s also great to be able to do it in my home town.

Milwaukee Comedy Festival: Year 6!

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All the hard work begins to pay off as the sixth installment of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival quickly approaches. It’s exciting to see it all start to come together.  If you didn’t know, it’s a lot of work to put together a comedy festival. Coordinating comedy groups from all over, organizing staff and volunteers, making flyers, selling tickets… I could go on and on.

Milwaukee Comedy Festival, August 4-7, 2011

The comedy festival is growing, and sometimes the hardest part is keeping it manageable so things don’t get out of hand. It’s the little things that can bring it all to a screeching halt. Think about it. You can throw the greatest party in history: send out the coolest invites, bring in a hip music act and invite the who’s-who in town. But if you run out of ice or toilet paper, the night is going to end on a sour note.

 

Luckily this year some people have really stepped up to lend a hand. I have to give a shout out to Co-Producer Patrick Schmitz. He has always been a great asset to the festival, but this year especially. Anne Cauley was brought on to the team to help with development, and she organized a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $2500. All the money raised goes to help support the growing comedy scene in Milwaukee. And of course Joel Dresang has been a huge help with Milwaukee Comedy. Thanks!