Frank & Friends Show 0082

Frank Murphy is joined by comedian and author Alex Stokes. Alex is known as “The Beer Comedian.” His “Waking Up in a Brewery” podcast can be found at https://www.facebook.com/wakingupinabrewery or through his website, https://www.beercomedian.com/ 

Frank got a little sunburned and a little bit of a sugar rush while recording a video at the Tennessee Valley Fair. The video will be on YouTube later this week. It includes “Nana’s Gooey Butter Funnel Cake” and an appearance by Fairest of the Fair Katelyn Fedrick. 

Alex credits Frank with getting him booked for a clean comedy gig at First Night Knoxville. Alex didn’t have clean material at the time and had to write a new act. 

Frank read that comedians can make a living by doing a clean act at the “three Cs” - corporate, college, and cruise gigs. Some comedians would rather work blue so they can shock the audience into submission. 

Alex Stokes went into comedy full-time around the same time that his wife Jenny went to school to become a veterinarian for zoo animals. Her favorite animals are tigers. Frank went to a photo shoot with two live tigers and radio hosts Mark & Brian. 

Frank performed in an improv show with Einstein Simplified at Creepy Con. He went backstage 30 minutes before showtime and felt out of place as the only person not wearing a costume. In the show, Frank had to play an expert on the movie Beetlejuice, which he has only seen once. 

Alex found it challenging to improvise when he was pulled onstage for a bit with Einstein Simplified. He is used to preparing his jokes in advance. Alex says some stand-up comics hate improv. Frank knew a Vegas comedian who hated improv and prop comics. 

Frank says improvisers prepare for their shows by learning the rules of improv. They avoid denials and questions, for example. They have to listen, accept, and support their scene partner. 

Alex tells about the value of having an opening act to warm up and help gauge the crowd. Dive bar gigs are hard when the crowd isn’t expecting comedy. One time another comedian got in a fistfight with an audience member right as Alex was about to go on. As Alex started, someone shouted out a reaction to the breaking news on the TV over Alex’s head. 

Frank asks Alex if he is sad to hear someone famous died. Frank says he isn’t said to hear they died, he is sad that they actually died. 

This episode is sponsored by The Middleburg Barn at Fox Chase Farm. The Middleburg Barn is a perfect venue with rustic luxury for your wedding or special event. Located 40 miles outside D.C and 25 minutes from Dulles Airport. Visit https://www.themiddleburgbarn.com/ or call (540) 687-5255. 

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Come to the Secret City Improv Festival on September 30 and October 1, 2022 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Use the discount code FRANK at checkout for 25% off when purchasing tickets at https://secretcityimprovfest.com/tickets 

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