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PANTAGRAPHCOM
JimShoes Entertainment bringing comic Funny First series to Twin Cities
By Dan Craft | dcraftpantagraphcom pantagraphcom | Posted Thursday August 5 2010 1200 am
Damon Williams
BLOOMINGTON -- Whos on first -- but never second or third Chicago-based comedian Damon Williams thats who
The former Subway sandwich shop owner is now spending the first weekend of every month hop-scotching around the Midwest as ringmaster for a series of comedy showcases featuring his own hand-picked talent
It began with Funny First Saturdays at Chicagos Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue It was then followed by Funny First Sundays in Milwaukee
Now the man of many firsts is extending his reach to the Twin Cities with yes Funny First Fridays (not to be confused by the way with downtown Bloomingtons monthly First Friday promotion)
The series which began with a soft premiere back in June is getting its first well-publicized showing at 9 pm Friday in its official headquarters Illinois Wesleyan Universitys Memorial Student Center Main Lounge (doors open at 8 pm with audiences invited to arrive early and socialize network etc)
A la the Blue Moon Coffeehouse which also uses the space the lounge will be arranged in an informal club-type setting with table seating offered in two tiers unreserved seating at $15 and reserved VIP seating in front for $25
Williams will emcee and perform at each show The guests each month will be comprised of talent of his own choice much it from the Chicago comedy circles he inhabits
Afterward the friendly-type atmosphere will be maintained predicts one of its organizers as Williams and the guest comics mingle with the crowd for photos and autographs
The series is being masterminded by Twin City business partners Kandi Curry of Fine Tuned Promotions and James Hastings of JimShoes Entertainment
It all began when the pair became interested in the concept of bringing a new mainstream comedy series to Bloomington-Normal
They attended one of Williams Chicago shows and discussed their ideas with him
He ran a proposal by us recalls Hastings He said Ill assist you guys In short order Williams offered to expand his Funny First concept southward taking advantage of his free first Fridays
The goals include the chance for Williams to broaden his own fan base giving new and upcoming comedians from the Comedy CentralBET orbit a showcase and per Hastings and Curry giving the regular working class folks something to do after a hard weeks work
The pair is also hoping to mine the student audience when IWU and Illinois State University reconvene by the time of the next show
The series was given an under-the-radar pilot run June 4 We had a nice turnout even though there wasnt enough time to put the word here and in other communities says Hastings (July was skipped because of the holiday weekend)
Its going to have to grow but wed like to keep it here in the community says Curry
Williams who was performing on an ocean-bound cruise ship this week and unavailable for comment gave up cold cuts for hot yucks back in the early 90s He got out of the Subway sandwich shop business and began doing stand-up at Chicagos All Jokes Aside comedy club
From there he broadened his audience starting in 1994 via annual performances on BETs Comicview and a one-hour special for the channel
He also appeared regularly on BET Live and Comedy Centrals Premium Blend as well as HBOs P Diddys Bad Boys of Comedy and Showtime at the Apollo which he hosted several times
Hes very outgoing which Ive found to be true with a lot of comedians says Curry And hes really enjoying the fact that this is a good-looking thing for the area
A la the Blue Moon Coffeehouse which also uses the space the lounge will be arranged in an informal club-type setting with table seating offered in two tiers unreserved seating at $15 and reserved VIP seating in front for $25
Williams will emcee and perform at each show The guests each month will be comprised of talent of his own choice much it from the Chicago comedy circles he inhabits
Afterward the friendly-type atmosphere will be maintained predicts one of its organizers as Williams and the guest comics mingle with the crowd for photos and autographs
The series is being masterminded by Twin City business partners Kandi Curry of Fine Tuned Promotions and James Hastings of JimShoes Entertainment
It all began when the pair became interested in the concept of bringing a new mainstream comedy series to Bloomington-Normal
They attended one of Williams Chicago shows and discussed their ideas with him
He ran a proposal by us recalls Hastings He said Ill assist you guys In short order Williams offered to expand his Funny First concept southward taking advantage of his free first Fridays
The goals include the chance for Williams to broaden his own fan base giving new and upcoming comedians from the Comedy CentralBET orbit a showcase and per Hastings and Curry giving the regular working class folks something to do after a hard weeks work
The pair is also hoping to mine the student audience when IWU and Illinois State University reconvene by the time of the next show
The series was given an under-the-radar pilot run June 4 We had a nice turnout even though there wasnt enough time to put the word here and in other communities says Hastings (July was skipped because of the holiday weekend)
Its going to have to grow but wed like to keep it here in the community says Curry
Williams who was performing on an ocean-bound cruise ship this week and unavailable for comment gave up cold cuts for hot yucks back in the early 90s He got out of the Subway sandwich shop business and began doing stand-up at Chicagos All Jokes Aside comedy club
From there he broadened his audience starting in 1994 via annual performances on BETs Comicview and a one-hour special for the channel
He also appeared regularly on BET Live and Comedy Centrals Premium Blend as well as HBOs P Diddys Bad Boys of Comedy and Showtime at the Apollo which he hosted several times
Hes very outgoing which Ive found to be true with a lot of comedians says Curry And hes really enjoying the fact that this is a good-looking thing for the area
