TheKnaq.com published 4/12/2018:

One of the benefits of performing comedy is the opportunity to work with charities and fundraisers for worthy causes. Some comedians even take matters into their own hands and create something meaningful. 

22. The average number of veterans and service members who take their lives each day.

This devastating statistic motivated Charlotte comedian and Marine Corps veteran, Crystalle Ramey, to do something about it. A local favorite, she has seen first hand the healing affects of laughter and is using it to help others. Wednesday, April 18^th, Ramey is producing the benefit show Comedy for a Cause, bringing together fellow comedians, who are also veterans, to raise funds, and bring awareness to Stop Soldier Suicide, a veteran-founded-and-led nonprofit headquartered in Raleigh.

Other comedians scheduled to perform:

·      Jamie Ward (U.S. Army) from Atlanta, GA

·      Zo Myers (U.S. Army) from Greensboro, NC

·      Anthony Crawford (U.S. Air Force) from Denver, CO

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Stop Soldier Suicide. Those who can’t attend but want to show their support can purchase tickets that will be donated to a service member or veteran. Donors will receive a specially designated dog tag as a token of appreciation for their support. Tickets are $25 for Golden Circle seats and $20 general admission.

To find out more information on Comedy for a Cause, including how you can purchase tickets to the show on April 18^th, please visit bit.ly/SSSComedyForACause.

Comedy for a Cause

Wednesday April 18th at The Comedy Zone, Charlotte

Show starts at 8:00pm – Doors open at 7:00pm

#ComedyAtTheKnaq

TheKnaq.com published 3/2/2018:

SPOTLIGHT: TYRONE BURSTON

A big part of being your Comedy Czar is pointing out some of the Charlotte comedians making a name for themselves. This week I am shining the spotlight on Tyrone Burston. He has been performing in Charlotte and the surrounding area for several years fighting and clawing his way up the ranks. That’s the only way to get it done. Now Burston is a staple in the Charlotte scene. He has performed with comedy greats like Arsenio Hall, Bruce Bruce, The African King of Comedy Michael Blackson and one of the Original Queens of Comedy Adele Givens, among others. In 2016, he was recognized by The Queen City Music Awards as Comedian Of The Year.

A native of Hartford, CT, Burston took Charlotte by storm from his very first show. His style is cool and unapologetic with charisma for days. His brand of humor is accessible to most audiences. He is one of the few comics who can thrive in any room. Burston’s jokes range from playful and self-deprecating to hard hitting. His humor focuses on himself, his life growing up in hard times, raising his own kids, and moving to the South. His honesty on stage is refreshing and easy to get behind. You won’t regret a night out with Tyrone Burston. You’ll thank him.

He regularly hosts and opens for headliners at The Comedy Zone Charlotte. You can catch him at clubs & venues throughout the Southeast and across the country. To learn Tyrone Burston’s full schedule or for booking, visit his Facebook page HERE. Or go to his GigSalad profile HERE. And you can always ask me!

#ComedyatTheKnaq 

TheKnaq.com published 2/12/2018:

My first post asked you to watch LIVE Comedy shows. It’s equally important to choose the right ones. Some of us are able to watch any comedian and enjoy ourselves. That’s not the case for everyone. Know who you are and what you like and don’t be afraid to do a little research.

I believe funny is funny. Period. It is the loophole for those cringe worthy jokes that stir up controversy. Everything is on the table if the joke is funny and well crafted. Young, open-micers who insist on tackling provocative subjects miss this key element.

“Blue” Comedy is often riddled with obscenities pushing social and political buttons saturated in raunchy imagery. If that’s your speed, check out Doug Stanhope, Gilbert Gottfried, Dave Attell, Wanda Sykes and Sarah Silverman. If not, there are equally funny comics who focus more on Comedy without the language like Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Jerry Seinfeld and Sinbad.

When you go to a show, do everyone a favor and recognize that EVERYTHING you’re hearing is a joke. Start to finish. If you must be offended, don’t complain to management, crusade on social media or heckle the comics. Don’t do it because there are people who ARE enjoying it. Don’t police Comedy. Why ruin it for everyone because you don’t approve?

The Comedy Zone Charlotte: Bert Kreischer – I’m hosting! (Feb. 15-17) Pauly Shore (Feb. 21) Gary Owen (Feb. 22-24) Almost Famous (Feb. 28)

North Carolina Comedy Festival (Feb 19-24) in Greensboro, NC: Featuring comedians from Charlotte and across the country. Headlining the festival are Todd Glass, Eddie Pepitone, Sasheer Zamata from SNL and Tom Simmons.

#ComedyatTheKnaq 

TheKnaq.com/comedy

TheKnaq.com published 2/1/2018:

Welcome to my little nook of The Knaq. Here, I’ll discuss interesting information about Comedy and the Charlotte scene, hopefully with a few laughs sprinkled in.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like Comedy. Everyone likes to laugh, even the eternally miserable. And EVERYONE has an opinion about it. Comedy is a lightening rod for debate because it’s so often divisive, incendiary, and raunchy. It’s funny but Comedy and its effects are complex. That’s why it’s so great!

I can defend Comedy all day but I’d like to make one point. Comedy should be consumed LIVE. I love that Netflix and HBO are pumping out specials each week. We consume more Comedy today than ever before. But it’s happening on phones and TV’s instead of in clubs. People forget these comics have been touring for years and even decades developing their acts in venues across the country. Meanwhile, there’s talk of comedy clubs closing everywhere.

Go see LIVE COMEDY! Visit a comedy club or a bar show. It’s a fun and relatively inexpensive night out. Live performances are unpredictable. You might get a chance to see a veteran comic you’ve always wanted to see. Maybe you’ll be surprised by an unknown comic and become a fan. You might even find a local comic you enjoy and watch them develop over time. The Comedy Zone Charlotte located in the AvidXchange Music Factory is a great comedy club here in your city! You’ll find Celebrity Comedians almost every weekend with touring Feature acts and often local Emcees. Full disclosure, I’m fortunate enough to perform there regularly. Come see a show!

The most confident men IN THE WORLD are the guys who work behind the counter at pizza parlors. Real pizza joints. They make AMAZING pizza but truly couldn’t give a shit if you bought any. You have to read their Yelp reviews in reverse. Vinny’s got one star for horrible customer service! Oh! Honey, put on your thick skin and let’s get a slice. The bigger the assholes they are, the better the pizza. And it works both ways. Ever talk to a guy working at Dominoes? Delightful. So very nice. Shit pizza. Real pizza joints always have guys yelling at each other back there, especially the one fat guy who looks like he’s made out of the dough. Ball busters. Great pizza.

I quit drinking in January. Yeah, just for the month. I’m not an idiot. People have been so impressed. That’s when I realized it’s like having a really dumb super power. 

I’m trying to jump start my “getting into shape” era. Not really. I’m trying to get out of my current shape. I’m turning over a new leaf with dumb expressions like that one. Truth is, I really wanted to lie to myself that I’m in control.

Three weeks in I noticed some big changes. I would wake up in the morning with full knowledge of where I was. I was no longer a detective trying to figure out where my car was by reverse engineering an Uber ride, just hoping I didn’t drive to an apartment I lived in three years ago. Now in the morning when I wake up, both eyes open at the same speed. I’m surrounded by pillows and blankets and no food.

Yeah, it’s very boring out here.

I believe Fruity Pebbles are a gateway drug. That first bowl will change your life. You will chase that high forever. Captain Crunch is the pusher. Heroine is derived from the poppy plant and Fruity Pebbles dirty milk. That’s a fact. I think Tarantino is doing a movie about it. Growing up, I would hide it when my friends stayed overnight like an alcoholic hiding Vodka in the garage. Heroine has Crack. Fruity Pebbles has Cocoa Pebbles. I’m an addict. Mornings are the worst. 

With gun control I’m on the fence with my hands up.  A concealed carry permit allows you to carry a gun with you all the time.  No problem but in a strange twist the switchblade is illegal.  The switchblade.  That’s not even the most intimidating knife.  It’s not even a knife by Crocodile Dundee’s standards.  How scary is a knife with a button on it?  It’s been hard to take it seriously since the video for Beat It.