The month started out with a showcase for the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. This showcase was held in conjunction with the group's national delegate convention held at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The APCA is a large provider of entertainment for the college and military markets. I was asked to return for a second night of showcasing and made several contacts that are being converted to contracts even as I type this.

Next, I had the opportunity to perform for RCG Information Technology Group in a non-traditional comedy venue in January. RCG holds an annual "Kick Off" meeting and spices up the long days of meetings with themed employee competitions. This year's contest was modeled after the game show Jeopardy, and I was hired to function as, you guessed it, Alex Trebek's younger and more attractive sibling. We had a great facility at Marriott's Westfield Conference Center and the shows were a hit. We played 16 games over two days...building to the finals where $1,000 prizes were awarded to each member of the winning team. This show was booked by P.W. Feats, a top-flight event planning firm in Baltimore (they produced the recent Maryland Gubernatorial Inauguration).

On the horizon... Contracts have been signed for:

• The Maryland Asphalt Association, Baltimore, MD
• The American Waterworks Association, Kennewick, WA

I just signed on to do Greg Hall's Baltimore Comedy Fest for Autism Awareness. I tried to tell Greg that I didn't have autism, I am just painfully aloof. "Don't ask, don't tell," was all he said, so I guess I am good to go. Their rather jolting logo picture notwithstanding, I am looking forward to it. (Is that a crab claw in her mouth?!?! You know, I grew up in West Virginia and I know that's not the best way to eat a crab.)

There are several different shows that make up the Fest. My show will go off Saturday night, March 31 at 10:30. We will be performing at Renegade Studios in Hunt Valley, MD. It's a great space to watch a show. I will be joined by:

• Jared Stern
• Erin Jackson
• Mike Storck

Ticket info will be up on the BCF site soon. See you there.

I'm working on a project that some of you might find interesting. It seems that so many comedians get a year or two of stage time under their belt and they are off to New York or LA to hit the big time. I happen not to be a resident of either fine city and refused to believe that my absence from either comedy scene would hasten my professional comedic demise. Turns out, I was right.

I am writing an ebook entitled How To Be A Successful Comedian WITHOUT Moving to New York or LA (nice title...I get paid by the letter). The book covers everything an aspiring comedian needs to know at several stages of his career. While I certainly don't eschew either city in the title, my premise is to prove that you can get the best that those scenes have to offer without having to live there (You can perform in a laundromat anywhere...Sandra Bullock might not see you, but that's another story).

Writing and editing continue. I'll keep you apprised.

• So, what is going through a comedian's mind when he gets heckled?
• How do you get started doing standup?
• What's Larry The Cable Guy really like?

Email a question that has something to do with the craft (not art) of standup comedy. Include your (somebody's) first name and the city you call home. Best question gets answered in the newsletter and the person who asked it gets a free LOST Sticker.

I could have chosen to start it off this month by asking myself a question...pretending it was from Millie H. in New Rochelle or Rhoda M. in Minneapolis. A question like:

• "Oh Kelly, you are so talented and so funny! Why can't more comedians be incredible, witty and, frankly, hot like you?"

Looks like a set up...but it's not. This is an absolutely authentic picture of a (non-deliberate) aviation mishap in Colorado Springs last year. More info another photo from a different angle can be found here:

And I thought those DC driving schools were a risky proposition...

See you next time!