Comedy News, Search Engine Marketing, and MMA - Larry Weaver's Blog

Christian Stand-up Comedy - Clean Humor

2012-05-16T16:10:00.000-04:00

There's often debate about what is means to be a Christian stand-up comedian. Does it mean a comedian that performs jokes targeted to Christian audiences (Biblical references, church humor, etc), or does it mean a stand-up comedian who happens to be a Christian?

Many well-known Christian comedians perform for a solid hour without mention of Christianity. Others have an entire act that would only work in front of a church audience. It's really a matter of personal preference. But either way, the product should result in clean humor.

Christian Stand-up Comedian - John Felts

Watch on YouTube: Christian comedy stand-up clean

Christian Stand-up Comedian - David Ferrell

Watch on YouTube: Christian comedians

Christian Stand-up Comedienne - Leslie Norris Townsend

Watch on YouTube: Female Christian comedians

Christian Stand-up Comedian - Fudge

Watch on YouTube: Black Christian comedians

Christian comedians who can do an hour "secular" set make the perfect corporate entertainer. When you hire a Christian comedian, you don't have to worry about foul language or inappropriate material. So if you're looking for clean humor, be sure to check out our exclusive lineup of Christian stand-up comedians

Post-Prom Ideas: After Prom Entertainment

2012-04-16T16:35:00.000-04:00

Larry Weaver Entertainment specializes in entertainment for junior/senior banquets, proms, post-proms, and after-prom parties at public, private, and Christian schools. Some of our most popular post-prom entertainers include:

	Magician Joshua Lozoff Stage mentalist and magician A hit with high-school students, Joshua’s magic combines amazing illusions with mental feats that explore the possibilities of the human mind. A fun, mind-boggling performance that leaves audiences laughing and full of amazement.
	Musical Comedian Matt Jernigan Musical comedy with celebrity impressions An amazing comedy impressionist, Matt hilariously spoofs popular rock, R&B, hip hop, country and pop stars. With just his guitar and incredible talent, he brings everyone from Elvis Presley to Snoop Dogg to the stage.
	Stand-up Comedian John Felts Clean, fresh stand-up comedy Just a few years removed from high school himself, John delivers real and funny one-of-a-kind perspectives on dating, American culture and struggling to do the right thing.

We even provide entertainment for homeschool proms (yes, that's a real thing):
"Paul Miller did a wonderful job entertaining the guests at our homeschool prom last Friday. It was a great ice breaker for the kids as they arrived, waited for photos, ate dinner with people they didn't necessarily know, etc. Also, when rain delayed the start of the dance for about an hour and the kids were getting restless, Paul saved the day by jumping in with a juggling/comedy routine that had everyone laughing. The Prom Committee was very pleased with the decision to include him as part of the night's entertainment." - Carolina Capital Homeschool Prom

Our entertainers work 100% CLEAN, so there is no worry about this fitting in with your other post-prom activities, games, and ideas. Find more magicians, comedians and Christian entertainers for your after-prom event!

Singing Comedians - Types of Singing Comedians

2012-03-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Types of Singing Comedians

Impressionists are a type of singing comedian who do celebrity impersonations. A true impressionist tries to vocally mimic the singer they are parodying. Jimmy Fallon does an excellent Neil Young and Bob Dylan, among others. Check out celebrity impressionist Matt Jernigan:

Song Parodists twist real song lyrics into humorous variations. You can be a parodist without being an impressionist. Popular song parodists include Tim Hawkins. You can also parody a whole genre of music, such as Jack Black does with Tenacious D. The most notable example of a song parodist is "Weird Al" Yankovic:

Funny Singer/Songwriters compose original melodies and lyrics. There are many famous examples such as Ray Stevens or Flight of the Conchords, but I'll use myself as an example because... well, it's my blog. Check out funny singer/songwriter Larry Weaver:

Song and Dance comedians may be a dying breed of performer. Legends like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. as "The Rat Pack" seamlessly blended traditional (serious) songs with comedy and dance. Check out this clip from way back in the Sixties:

There is another type of comedian who uses music as a backdrop to tell one-liners or stories. Contemporary examples include Demetri Martin and Zach Galifianakis, who both use the guitar and piano respectively as background music as they tell their jokes. I'm not sure what to call this group. Anyone have suggestions?

What other types of singing comedians can you think of?

Wikipedia has a good, but not exhaustive, list of musical comedians.

And I have a good listing of singing comedians for hire.

Duke Sucks - Funny Sports Speakers Available for Hire

2012-02-08T16:09:00.000-05:00

Duke Sucks - The Book

Duke Sucks - the new book by comedians and sports authors Reed Tucker and Andy Bagwell - is not about the celebrated UNC/Duke rivalry. It is instead a thoroughly humorous investigation into why Duke basketball is the single most hated team in America.

The authors are graduates and former classmates from the University of North Carolina. They also happen to be former stand-up comedians. This one-two punch makes sure not only that no stone is left un-turned in their investigation, but no joke is left untold.

Reed Tucker is a staff features writer at the New York Post. He has performed at the top comedy clubs in New York and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Andy Bagwell is a former member of Selected Hilarity, one of the top college comedy acts in the nation. He lives in Cary, North Carolina.

The two host the “Tar Heel Bred, Tar Heel Dead” podcast, an obsessive, occasionally humorous look at UNC basketball.

Each of these funny sports speakers are available to speak at your college campus, chamber of commerce banquet, alumni gathering, or after dinner corporate event. A typical keynote presentation might consist of reading from the book followed by a Q&A.

To hire Reed Tucker or Andy Bagwell to speak at your event, please contact Larry Weaver Entertainment.

For media inquiries, please contact the PR department at St. Martin's Press.

Driving Directions and Traffic Updates Using Google Maps

2011-09-23T22:46:00.000-04:00

For comedians, it's super-important to make it to a gig on time. When you're driving in a new city, you never know what you'll run into. Fortunately technology has made our lives just a little bit easier.

Natural Language Search Using Google Maps
Let's say you're flying into O'Hare airport, renting a car and driving to Kentland, IN. Follow these simple instructions for quick and easy directions:

Open your browser directly to maps.google.com
In the Google Maps search box, just type: o'hare airport to kentland, in
That's it! You'll get these driving directions

Comparing Suggested Routes

Let's take a closer look at the directions page provided by Google:

Google Map showing Alternate Routes

You'll notice in this example that Google automatically suggests a route, and provides two other suggested routes, as well (pictured in red circle above). Click the other suggested routes to see them on the map. They'll take about the same time according to Google, so how do you choose?

Identifying Traffic and Construction Delays

Did you know Google Maps displays both real-time and predicted traffic? If not, this tip alone could potentially save you hours of sitting in traffic.

Click "Traffic" in the upper right-hand corner of the map. Immediately, Google will show real-time (as in happening right now) traffic delays and construction. Awesome!

Google Map showing Predicted Traffic delays on Mondays at 8:00 AM

From the map we can see that we should expect heavy delays on the suggested routes using I-94.

But what if our trip isn't until next week? No problem, click the "change" button in the lower left-hand corner of the map beside "Live traffic". We can then see predicted traffic on say a Monday morning at 8:00 AM.

Is your mind sufficiently blown?

Real-Time Updates Using Your Mobile Phone

It gets better. Download the free Google Maps App for your mobile phone. The next time your sitting in stand-still traffic on I-95, pull up the map and load the "Traffic" layer to get real-time traffic updates. You'll quickly be able to see if the jam ends just a half-mile ahead or if you need to seek alternate routes.

Share Your Driving Tips

My number one tip is this: never miss a show because of traffic. Allow yourself plenty of time to get lost, change a flat tire, and sit in traffic. No one wants to hear why you were late - especially your agent.

Please share your driving and travel tips in the comments section below!

Magician for Hire in Salt Lake City, UT

2011-08-25T16:23:00.001-04:00

Nationally-renown mentalist and magician Joshua Lozoff is available for holiday parties in or around Salt Lake City, UT on the following dates:

Thursday, December 8, 2011 - available
Friday, December 9, 2011 - available
Saturday, December 10, 2011 - booked for holiday party in Provo, UT
Sunday, December 11, 2011 - available

Joshua's magic combines amazing illusions with mental feats that explore the possibilities of the human mind. In one moment, he magically solves a Rubik's Cube just by tossing it in the air, and in the next he predicts a volunteer's thoughts and choices even before she knows them herself! A fun, mind-boggling performance that leaves audiences laughing and full of amazement.

Perfect after-dinner entertainment for holiday parties, Christmas banquets, or employee appreciation events in Salt Lake City UT, Albuquerque, NM, Boise, ID, Bozeman, MT, Casper, WY, Colorado Springs, CO, Denver, CO, Eugene, OR, Fargo, ND, Great Falls, MT, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Pocatello, ID, Portland, OR, Rapid City, SD, Reno, NV, San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Tucson, AZ, or other Western states.

Read more about Magician Joshua Lozoff
Request an estimate for your event

Comedian Posters

2011-07-21T08:58:00.002-04:00

One of the things we strive for at Larry Weaver Entertainment is to have the best, most useful entertainment agency web presence possible. We want to give you everything you need to make an informed booking decision.

Longer Video Clips
We've recently greatly increased the amount of video clips for each performer, including up to 30 minutes of previews for some. Take a look at our clean comedian videos.

Better Promotional Materials
Our work doesn't end once you've signed the contract. We know you need to promote the performance and get people out to the show. That's why we're working with each individual performer to develop stunning promotional posters to advertise your event. Check out just a few or our original creations below.

We're just getting started designing these comedian posters, so keep checking back. We want to be the best entertainment agency website anywhere. Anything less simply won't do.

How Much Do Comedians Charge?

2011-04-26T08:58:00.001-04:00

"We all want a full house and happy guests. Larry's got the secrets and steps to making sure your next talent decision is the best." - Bob Klaus, General Manager Durham Performing Arts Center

Hi, I'm Larry Weaver, comedian and founder of Larry Weaver Entertainment agency. If you're thinking about having a comedy act for an upcoming event, you need to read my book "How to Hire Comedians".

Planning a successful comedy performance involves choosing the right entertainer, negotiating the contract, and properly setting up the room for the comedian to work.

My book answers all of your most pressing questions like:
• How much do comedians charge?
• How long should the show last? and
• What type of sound system will I need?

Never before has a guide taken you step-by-step through the entire process of hiring a comedian and producing a live comedy show.

And along the way we'll give you exclusive insider tips from Nationally-touring comedy acts.

Whether you’re an experienced meeting planner or a first-timer, you’ll find the checklists and practical advice invaluable.

So if you’re thinking about hiring a comedy act, pick up "How to Hire Comedians" today!

Download the free eBook version
Or purchase a printed copy at www.Lulu.com

Teacher Appreciation Awards

2011-03-24T08:35:00.004-04:00

For Teacher Appreciation Day 2011, give your entire staff some much-needed laughter with a performance by comedian Larry Weaver. Full of customized jokes, everyone will love participating in this highly-interactive and hilarious presentation!

Larry Weaver's Teacher Appreciation Awards Show begins with an opening stand-up comedy routine. Then the Awards show portion begins. As the winners come up to claim the Awards, Larry will prompt them for a little back story and “acceptance speech”.

Watch the hilarity unfold as Larry hands out funny awards that will have your whole audience laughing. Recognize that member who takes the last cup of coffee, is always losing paperwork, or can never be found.

"Larry brought the house down. I asked for clean and funny and he gave me both. He was AWESOME!"
- Annette Sessoms, Johnson Primary School

About the Host

Comedian Larry Weaver

Larry Weaver is a professional comedian and creator of Funny Awards. For over 20 years, Larry has delighted audiences across America with a mix of down-home tales and clean, original comedy. He has performed over 1,000 shows at comedy clubs, colleges and corporate events in 36 states, and has shared the stage with entertainment legends Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Faith Hill, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and many others. Read more about Larry Weaver

About the Teacher Awards

Funny Teacher Awards

Our exclusive line of funny teacher awards range from teacher superlatives to classroom awards. They reference common classroom objects, literary figures, noted scientists, fairy tales, popular culture icons, and much more. While some fall under the category of "poking light fun", the vast majority are creative ways to say "job well done". They are G-rated and appropriate for all types of schools around the World. Read more about Funny Teacher Awards

Call (919) 816-2884 or Email us for an Estimate

Female Comedians Wanted to Hire

2011-02-18T07:30:00.003-05:00

We're Hiring Female Comedians

Larry Weaver Entertainment is seeking an experienced, G-rated comedienne for bookings across the United States. Must be willing to travel.

Requirements:

100% clean material suitable for a church audience,
100% clean material suitable for a corporate audience,
Performance lasting 45-60 minutes,
Willing to travel to shows across the United States,
Willing to work 50-100 dates per year,
Must have quality video of your live act,
Open to all price ranges, but particularly looking for $1,000 - 1,500 per show range.

If you or someone you know meets all of these requirements, please complete our submission form here:

http://www.larryweaver.com/request/submissions.asp

Tags: female comedians, comediennes, female Christian comedians, women's speakers

Real Southern Comedy Tour

2011-01-24T08:55:00.000-05:00

What does a hog farmer turned comedian, a 6'2" female truck driver, and the World's foremost expert on haunted mobile homes have in common? They'll all be presenting their side-splitting redneck comedy as part of the Southern Comedy Tour, presented by Independence Theater in Baton Rogue.

Southern Comedian Jerry Carroll
Farm-fresh blue-collar style comedy
Farmer-turned-comedian Jerry Carroll harvests a bumper crop of hilarity in his fast-paced, high-energy show. Jerry found humor growing up on his family’s farm. From the time he could walk, Jerry farmed tobacco, corn, small grain, soybeans, cattle, and hogs. A sought-after agricultural speaker and blue collar comedian, Jerry’s relatable topics about everyday life crack up the most hard-to-please crowds.

Southern Comedian Larry Weaver

Clean southern comedy

Larry specializes in clean stand-up comedy with a Southern twist. After majoring in accounting at the University of North Carolina, Larry left his CPA dreams behind to pursue his dream of making people laugh. Favorite topics include growing up in the South, redneck relatives and haunted mobile homes. As heard on John Boy and Billy and Blue Collar Radio.

Joining Jerry and Larry on the bill is 6'2" truck driver turned comedian Julie Scoggins. The three first teamed together as part of the Hard Hat Construction Comedy Tour. They've appeared in various combinations at Southern Comedy concerts held at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater (College Station, TX), O'Dell Williamson Auditorium (Shallotte, NC), Raleigh Little Theater (Raleigh, NC), Diana Wortham Theater (Asheville, NC), Holly Springs Cultural Center (Holly Springs, NC) as well as other Association of Performing Arts Presenters members.

Whether you call them country comedians, blue collar comedians, redneck comedians, or Southern comedians, you'll be sure to call their comedy funny! Find more Southern Comedians.

E-junkie Reviews Larry Weaver, Creator of Funny Awards

2010-12-03T10:21:00.000-05:00

I've long been a supporter of e-commerce platform / shopping cart software e-junkie.com (read my e-junkie review). I use their services not only for selling Funny Awards online, but also to accept deposit payments for Larry Weaver Entertainment agency clients. The following interview is part of their recent in-depth profile, Featured Seller: Larry Weaver, Funny Employee Awards...

Larry Weaver is a professional comedian and creator of the Funny Office Awards Show: the company party where your employees are the stars. With nearly 20 years as both a corporate comedian and office worker, Larry brings a unique and refreshing perspective to workplace humor.

And of course we wanted to learn all about multi-talented Larry, and he has been very kind to spare sometime for an interview with us. Read further to learn from the comedian himself:

To start with, please tell us something about yourself.
I’m a supplier of speakers and clean comedy acts for the meetings and events industry. I’m also a stand-up comedian, writer and Internet marketing enthusiast. My company Larry Weaver Entertainment, LLC is based out of Durham, NC, USA.

You sell “Funny Employee Awards” through e-junkie. Tell us a little about that product.
“Funny Employee Awards” is a quick and low cost way to inject some much-needed fun into company meetings. Available in PDF format, it contains 101 funny printable certificates along with tips on organizing a humorous, entertaining, and rewarding recognition ceremony. We also offer stand-up comedians to host the awards ceremony live at your event. My entertainment agency caters to the corporate events market, so the live entertainment and awards fit together nicely.

How did you come up with the idea?
I worked as graphic designer for a pharmaceutical consulting company. The owner once asked me to Photoshop the head of a female coworker onto the body of a bikini model for a “funny award” he was creating for the annual office party. Keep in mind this was long before “The Dundies” episode on NBC’s The Office. I explained to him that this seemed inappropriate, and that I wanted no part of it. Undeterred, he used the glue-and-scissors method to do it himself. When he unveiled his homemade award at the party, everyone was highly uncomfortable. I learned that humor can really backfire in a corporate setting if not done correctly, and used the inspiration to create my own line of funny awards for bosses like him.

You enlisted some pretty notable writers to help create the awards?
Anyone who's tried to create their own funny awards knows that coming up with ideas is the toughest part. I was fortunate to make some incredibly talented life-long friends while attending the University of North Carolina. One of my long-time collaborators Reed Tucker is now a features editor at the New York Post. His help was invaluable. I also recruited his brother Bryan Tucker, an Emmy-nominated writer from Saturday Night Live, along with some other A-list comedians. So yeah, I had a real all-star cast of writers.

You’ve since expanded the line of awards?
I began selling Funny Employee Awards at www.FunnyEmployeeAwards.com. That domain has served me well, but it’s a bit long and inherently limited by its description. This year, I purchased the domain www.FunAwards.com and released Funny Awards for Teachers. In 2011, you can expect to see funny awards for sports, school and many other occasions.

According to you, what would be the apt explanation to describe E-Commerce and its advantages?
We have a pretty high sales volume and a client base from around the Globe. It would be impossible to fulfill orders manually. Using e-junkie’s digital delivery service, customers are able to purchase the product and access it immediately. It’s great for the customer. It’s great for our business.

As an internet marketing expert, tell us how it can be a boon for a business to touch new heights?
The Internet allows you to reach prospective customers at the very moment that they’re searching for your product or service. It’s the ultimate in instant gratification. It also allows the smallest of businesses to compete on a global stage. But it’s hard work. A lot of people don’t want to hear that part.

Today, Larry Weaver Entertainment is one of the most likable and trusted sources of entertainment, how do you feel about it?
First of all, thank you. I’ve been in the entertainment business for over 20 years and comedy is my passion. It’s what I love to do, so it never seems like work. I put my name, my face, and my reputation on the line for each and every transaction. Trust is a big issue on the Internet and people appreciate that there’s a real person there to help them when they need it.

Apart from being a great comedian, you have been a professional wrestling manager, an author, and an Internet marketing consultant, we are curious to learn about your experience in each of your profession.
I’ve opened concerts for Weird Al Yankovic and Faith Hill, worked as a pro wrestling manager alongside WWE Superstars Matt and Jeff Hardy, recorded several albums of funny songs (search iTunes for Larry Weaver), taught Internet Marketing classes across the U.S., and authored several books including my latest, “How to Hire Comedians.” Those experiences are all tied back to performing, so they do sort of fit together. I just do things that interest me.

As you are a multi-talented guy, many of your fans (or non-fans also) would draw inspiration from you, few lines for them?
Follow your passions. Good jobs are hard to come by these days, so you may as well take a stab at doing what you love. It just might pay off!

Thank you for a wonderful interview Larry, and we hope you reach new heights by spreading laughter everywhere.

To see samples of funny office awards or to order the certificates, visit http://www.funawards.com. You can also visit his Funny Awards blog where you can find free funny award ideas and stories from successful office parties around the world.

How to Make $20 Million a Year as a Comedian

2010-10-12T08:05:00.014-04:00

Want to pull in $20 million per year as a comedian? Get a puppet.

At least that's the message sent by a recent Forbes article on America's 10 Top-Earning Comedians. Two of the Top 3 grossing acts are ventriloquists. Here's the full list:

Jeff Dunham, $22.5 million
Dane Cook, $21 million
Terry Fator, $20 million
Chelsea Handler, $19 million
George Lopez, $18 million
Larry the Cable Guy, $16.5 million
Russell Peters, $15 million
Jeff Foxworthy, $11 million
Howie Mandel, $11 million
Bill Engvall, $10.5 million

According to the article, "the comics had to count stand-up as their primary income, a qualification that left funnymen like Jerry Seinfeld, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno off this year's list." Curiously missing from the list is prop comic Carrot Top, who is undoubtedly raking in big bucks for his ongoing gig at the Luxor in Vegas.

I'm not sure we can read too much into the list, but let's try. Here's a breakdown by style:

33% Blue Collar Comedians (Cable Guy, Foxworthy and Engvall)
20% Ventriloquists (Dunham and Fator)
20% Minority Comedians (Lopez and Peters)
10% Female Comedians (Handler)
20% Other. High Energy? High Style? (Cook and Mandel)

Clearly it helps to have a gimmick. And before you flame me in the comments section, let me put that a more palatable way -- clearly it helps to have an easily definable style.

Being funny is one thing. Being marketable to the masses is another.

To successfully crack the Top 10 for next year you very well may need a good hook. So while you're working on your killer monologue, don't forget to work on your packaging.

You need a good angle. Or maybe just a puppet.

Further Reading:

Funny Office Awards

2010-09-02T12:00:00.002-04:00

Funny Office Awards

We have been your #1 source for funny office awards long before Michael Scott handed out The Dundies on NBC's hit show, The Office.

Of course, the list of awards Michael Scott handed out varied from boring (Pam won the "Whitest Sneakers Award") to the inappropriate (Kevin took home the "Don't Go in There After Me award").

But it is possible to have fun awards in a office setting without getting in trouble with human resources. Here are a few great links to get you started:

Funny office awards - the funny office awards phenomenon started right here on LarryWeaver.com. I'm still touring the country hosting funny awards shows at offices across America.
Funny office awards - 101 Funny Employee Awards is still the best source for highly funny and appropriate office coworker awards.
Funny office awards - click "office awards" at the bottom of the page to find a free printable certificate.

Have your own ideas for funny office awards? Please post them in the comments section!

Targeting the SMERF Market Segment

2010-08-12T08:43:00.001-04:00

Clean Comedy Acts for Special Events. That's what you can expect to find at LarryWeaver.com. The site has undergone a lot of changes over the past 15 years. Our most recent redesign reflects our renewed focus on providing comedy acts for Association, SMERF & government meetings.*

Old Design

New Design

*No, not Papa SMERF. I'm talking about the Social, Military, Educational, Religious, and Fraternal market segment.

In the past we have featured musical acts and novelty attractions as part of our core offerings. And while the economy has forced other agencies to expand their offerings to survive ("Hire a Comedian! Book a DJ! Groom your Dog!), we've decided to go the opposite direction. We are now more niche than ever.

Crazy? Maybe. But my reasoning is simple: booking comedy is my passion. If I have to offer other products and services that I'm not enthusiastic about just to make ends meet, I may as well go get a "real" job. It might finally make Mom happy, but who would provide clean comedians for the SMERFs?

And don't worry -- if you need to hire a DJ or get your dogs nails clipped, I'll be happy to recommend you to some fine folks down the street.

Find Comedians for Hire

Fireworks Jokes - Redneck July 4th

2010-07-02T10:26:00.003-04:00

July 4th safety tip for Southerners: Don't drink and set off fireworks!

Rednecks love fireworks and beer -- a deadly combination. Every July 4th around the South rednecks blow themselves up left and right. See, the terrorists have got it all wrong. They should stop trying to build an underwear bomb and just open a roadside fireworks stand outside of K-Mart. Just hand out Old Milwaukees and M-80s and we will blow ourselves up for you. That's not jihad - that's Yee-had!

Watch more funny videos: Larry Weaver on YouTube

Keywords: fireworks jokes, firecracker jokes, redneck fireworks, fireworks safety, redneck july 4, southern july 4

Introducing Inspiring Comedy, Inc.

2010-06-08T11:00:00.005-04:00

To better serve those in search of Christian comedians, I've launched a new company dedicated exclusively to providing clean, funny comedy for Outreach events, Upward Award banquets, and church programs. Introducing Inspiring Comedy, Inc. -- representing the top comedy acts for Christian events across the United States and Canada.

Inspiring Comedy, Inc. is wholly owned by my long-time business partner, David Ferrell. David is active in his local church and devotes much of his personal time to fundraisers for schools, hospitals, and non-profit organizations. He encourages churches to use comedy as an outreach to bring people in who would otherwise not consider attending a church function.

We're proud to announce our involvement with the Life and Faith Tour, a Christian concert tour featuring some of the biggest names in Christian Entertainment. Join our exclusive acts David Ferrell, Ron Johnson, Matt Jernigan, and Just Paul as they perform alongside headliners Amy Grant, Mercy Me, Diamond Rio, and many more:

June 19 at Richmond Motor Speedway
July 10 at Rockingham Speedway
July 24 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

With the backing of industry powerhouse Larry Weaver Entertainment, Inspiring Comedy becomes one of the largest Christian entertainment booking agencies right out of the gate. Visit the site today to find Christian comedians, Christian magicians, Christian Ventriloquists, Christian Jugglers, and Christian speakers.

Fun Awards for Teachers

2010-04-14T09:05:00.005-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that Funny Teacher Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining and Rewarding Teacher Recognition Ceremony is now on sale!

Just in time for Teacher Appreciation Day 2010, this PDF book includes tips and advice for organizing a fun teacher recognition ceremony. You'll get humorous award certificates that are appropriate for everyone around the school.

The PDF includes 76 printable award certificates packaged in a downloadable PDF file that works on a PC or Mac. You can type directly onto the certificates using the latest version of free Adobe Reader software. Print as many as you like on the paper of your choice. Designs are set to work on standard 8.5” x 11” paper. It’s simple and easy to do.

Bonus Templates!
As a bonus, you'll get 7 certificate awards templates for creating your own custom funny awards. Download a free sample preview (PDF).

My first awards collection, Funny Employee Awards has sold thousands of copies around the World. For the most part, these awards tend to be a little more polite in nature.

If you have any questions about the book, post them in the comments section below or drop me an email.

Download Fun Awards Certificates for Teachers!
Purchase Funny Teacher Awards 100% securely at any of these great sites:

Funny Teacher Awards at funawards.com (official product site)
Funny Teacher Awards at lulu.com

Internet Marketing Training Class in Raleigh NC

2010-01-25T08:30:00.006-05:00

Advanced Internet Marketing... For Beginners

Step-by-Step Instructions that Anyone Can Use to Get Ahead of the Competition

I'll be teaching a very interesting Internet marketing class in Raleigh, NC. The class will cover advanced internet marketing techniques, aimed at people with no technical skill and no budget. In other words, this class will only focus on Advanced techniques for marketing your business online that anyone can do... and at no cost.

Don’t know how to update your website? No problem.
Don’t know graphic design? No problem.
Don’t have a budget? No problem.

All you need is a desire to leapfrog your competition and I’ll show you the rest.

LOCATION: Research Triangle Park, NC
FACILITY: Hamner Conference Center at the NC Biotechnology Center
DATE: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
TIME: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Learn how to use local business sites like Google Local to bring in more leads. Discover sure-fire ways to get glowing online reviews from your customers. Leverage social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to drive new leads. Repurpose your industry knowledge into blog posts and email newsletters. Find out why uploading photos and videos from your events can help you “own” the search engine results from your niche.
If you attended last year’s class on Internet Marketing, be prepared to dig a little deeper into these important topics. We’ll take a closer look at emerging opportunities in Social Media and Local Search. And we won’t cover techniques that you can’t do yourself.

Download Slides from 2009 Class

This will be a discussion style presentation with Q&A throughout. The examples in the class will be tailored towards the Special Events industry (caterers, decorators, rental companies, etc.), but the material will be applicable to any business of any size.

You will leave this presentation ready to go back to the office and implement what you have learned right away!

About the Speaker
Larry Weaver is a pioneer in the field of Internet Marketing. He has over 15 years experience designing web sites that are both appealing to users and appear at the top of search engine results. His entertainment agency, Larry Weaver Entertainment (www.LarryWeaver.com ), claims some of the most coveted top rankings in Google for the special events industry. Larry has used a combination of search engine targeting, online advertising, and email newsletters to grow quickly grow his client base, both locally and across the United States.

A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina, Larry teaches classes across the country on how to build, improve and promote a web presence. Publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine have quoted his expert insights into web design and Internet marketing. An experienced public speaker, Larry imbues his training with humor and warmth. He’ll answer your most pressing questions and provide you with specific action items you can take to capture more business from the Internet.

Contact Larry to speak at your next event!

Meet the Fighters of the UFC

2009-11-24T08:00:00.003-05:00

I've been a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA) since the 1993 debuts of Pancrase in Japan and later the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the U.S. I was heavily involved in pro wrestling promotion at the time, and our former heavyweight champion Ken Shamrock became the first pro wrestler to compete in MMA. I've been hooked ever since.
Unbelievably, it's taken me all of these years to actually attend my first live event - UFC 106 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. I can't believe I waited so long.
UFC 106 happened to coincide with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) 44. Both events were held just days apart in the same city, so the parent company (Zuffa) decided to bill the event as "Fight Week". For a huge fight fan like me, it was a great opportunity to rub elbows with names I've grown to love over the years. There were tons of scheduled meet-and-greets and autograph signings. But you didn't even need to attend those events. The fighters were EVERYWHERE.

I've never witnessed any major sport where the top athletes are so accessible to the public. Over the course of the weekend, I:

Ran into Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (one of the all-time legends) and Junior Dos Santos at Starbucks.
Spoke at length with former WEC champ Mike Brown about his fight just 24 hours earlier with Jose Aldo.
Trained cardio next to Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Kendall Grove.
Lifted weights with trainer Mark Dellagrotte and "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler.
Shared the whirlpool with light heavyweight prospect Luiz Cane.
Cut weight in the sauna with Brock Larson, Amir Sadollah, and Josh Koscheck.
Bumped into Kevin "The Monster" Randleman, Jason McDonald, Frank Trigg, and Stephan Bonnar at the arena.
Talked Koscheck/Johnson fight strategy with Javier Gonzalez from Cung Le's "Universal Strength Headquarters"
Conversed with Martin Kampmann, Aaron Riley, Leonard Garcia, Xtreme Couture trainer Shawn Tompkins, the founder of Hitman Fight Gear, as well as SkySkrape and Punkass from Tapout.

I didn't have to stand in line to meet any of these guys. They were just around - at the yogurt shop, in the hotel lobby, on the escalators - and were extremely approachable. I ran into a few of the guys like Martin Kampmann and Mike Brown several times over the weekend and we chatted again just like we were old friends. Maybe it didn't hurt that I had Mariana with me much of the time, but still...
MMA athletes are a unique bunch. They start out fighting on small shows for very little money. Even an undercard fighter on a UFC PPV might only make a couple thousand bucks. These fighters rely on sponsors to help pay for their training. As a result, they tend to behave a little more like politicians than entertainers or athletes. They see their fans as the people who fund their dreams. Many times their sponsors actually are just fans who want to help out. But unlike politicians, you never get the impression that these guys are just feigning politeness. They really are genuinely nice.
I can't imagine going to an NFL game and hanging out with the team. I've stayed at the Loews with NBA players and they were largely unapproachable. Even in pro wrestling the athletes go out of their way to avoid the fans.
But there I was just hours before a UFC PPV sharing laughs with some of the biggest names in the sport. I don't mind saying it was awesome.

And, oh yeah... the fights were cool, too.

Free Funny Employee Awards

2009-11-12T17:07:00.003-05:00

I've just released the newly updated and improved Third Edition of Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony! This is the best edition yet with 101 funny printable certificates plus 6 awards templates for creating your own funny awards. My goal with this new version was to make the awards more accessible and with wider appeal.
To celebrate the new launch, I'm offering some free funny employee awards certificates. These free certificates do have a watermark in the lower corner that does not appear in the paid version. But hey, they're free! Download them now and inject a little fun into your next office meeting.

	Selective Hearing Impairment Award For Only Hearing What You Want to Hear. Download this free free funny employee award
	Baryshnikov Award For Most Skill in Dancing Around the Issues. Download this free funny employee award
	Running with the Bulls Award For Biggest Risk Taker. Download this free funny employee award
	Raisin Pay Award For Most Deserving of a "Raisin" Pay. Download this free free funny employee award
	Kool and the Gang Award For Excellence in Group Work. Download this free funny employee award
	Bermuda Triangle Award For the Desk Where Things Go in But Never Come Out. Download this free free funny employee award

These awards are perfect for office parties, staff recognition, year-end celebrations, company meetings, work appreciation, and any employee or type of business. Need more free funny employee awards? Order 101 Funny Employee Awards online today!

SEO Training Philadelphia

2009-10-01T12:05:00.005-04:00

I taught my first full-day Internet Training class way back in 2005. Since then I've gone on to lead SEO training at companies and conferences around the country. When people contact me to speak, the conversation usually goes like this:
Caller: We're looking for someone to speak on Internet marketing. What are your credentials?
Me: How did you find me?
Caller: You were the first result when we did a search in Google.
Me: So what other credentials do you need?
Here's the deal: I'm a self-taught marketer who has used the Internet to market my brand since 1994. Yes, I've been doing this since 1994. I know what works, and I can help your company figure out how best to spend your limited resources.
I raised a few eyebrows last month at SEO Training Boston when I spent less than two minutes of my 45-minute presentation talking about Twitter. A few folks nearly rioted when my presentation failed to produce a slide about LinkedIn. But keep in mind that Social Media is just part of an Internet Marketing strategy. And for most small business owners, it should not be the main focus of their attention.
I had the displeasure recently of sitting through a presentation from a "Social Media expert". If I have to listen to one more recent grad drone on and on about how Dell Outlet uses Twitter, I'm going to shoot myself. Many of these "experts" have never even ran their own website, let alone their own company. If you want to hear some hotshot read case studies that they found on the web, please don't come to my presentation.
Here's the question that I want to answer for you:
"Where should I be spending my time and money?"
And I'll go ahead and tell you that my answer will not be Twitter.

*****

Want to learn how to get more leads for your business online? Discover how to leverage usability, email marketing, search engine optimization, local search, social media, and Pay-Per-Click at my next open-to-the-public Internet marketing class in Pine Hill, NJ near Philadelphia, PA on Thursday, October 15, 2009. I’ll be offering an Overview of Internet Marketing training session for the International Society of Special Events, New Jersey South Chapter.
Location: Pine Hill, NJ
Facility: Pine Hill Golf Club, 500 West Branch Ave., Pine Hill, NJ 08021
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Cost: $45.00 members; $55.00 non-members
The target audience is small business owners who know a little about Internet marketing and/or outsource all web site tasks to an outside vendor. My goal is to get everyone up to speed quickly, and empower even the most novice of online marketers with a solid understanding of these crucial topics. Advanced students are welcome. This will be a discussion style presentation with Q&A throughout.
The examples in the class will be tailored towards the Special Events industry (caterers, decorators, rental companies, etc.), but the material will be applicable to any business of any size. If don't know the meaning of Page Titles, CPC, or Twitter, you simply cannot afford to miss this engaging presentation. As soon as the class concludes, I will post the slides online here:
Download Slides from Class in PDF Format
Contact Larry to speak at your next event!

SEO Training Boston - Internet Marketing Class in Boston, MA

2009-09-01T12:32:00.001-04:00

Want to learn how to use social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube to help market your business online? Discover how to get the most out of these popular social media websites and how to optimize your site for search engine at my next open-to-the-public Internet marketing class in Boston, MA on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. I’ll be offering an overview Fundamentals of Internet Marketing training session for the International Society of Special Events, New England Chapter.
Location: Boston, MA
Facility: Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Cost: $35.00 members; $60.00 non-members

This will be an abbreviated version my full-day seo training course. The target audience will be small business owners who know a little about Internet marketing and/or outsource all web site tasks to an outside vendor. My goal is to get everyone up to speed quickly, and empower even the most novice of online marketers with a solid understanding of these crucial topics. Advanced students are welcome. This will be a discussion style presentation with Q&A throughout. Here is a preliminary outline:

SEO, PPC, SEM – What does it all mean??? Understand key terms, identify top search engines and learn how search engines return results.
What does my web site do for my business? Define your site’s goals and know how to measure the results.
Does Google love or hate my site? Recognize common pitfalls and avoid search engine penalties.
Why doesn’t my site show up higher in the search results? Identify the right keywords, improve title tags and create content that search engines like.
Are links from other sites important? Learn why link popularity is important and how to obtain quality links.
What’s all this I hear about “local search”? Check your local listings and claim your business online.
Should my business be on sites like Twitter or FaceBook? What about blogging? Understand web 2.0 and social networking.
Should I invest in PPC? Compare PPC options and know how and why to avoid clicks.
I’m overwhelmed. What should I do now? Learn what you should do right away and where to turn for more help.

The examples in the class will be tailored towards the Special Events market (caterers, decorators, rental companies, etc.), but the material will be applicable to any business of any size. If don't know the meaning of titles, cpc, or Twitter, you simply cannot afford to miss this engaging presentation. As soon as the class concludes, I will post the slides online here:
Download Slides from Class in PDF Format
About the Speaker
Larry Weaver is a pioneer in the field of Internet Marketing. He has over 10 years experience designing web sites that are both appealing to users and appear at the top of search engine results.
A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina, Larry teaches classes across the country on how to build, improve and promote a web presence. Publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine have quoted his expert insights into web design and Internet marketing.
His entertainment agency, Larry Weaver Entertainment, has numerous top rankings in Google. He has used a combination of search engine targeting, online advertising, and email newsletters to grow quickly grow his client base, both locally and across the United States.
An experienced public speaker, Larry imbues his training with humor and warmth. He’ll answer your most pressing questions and provide you with specific action items you can take to capture more business from the Internet.
Contact Larry to speak at your next event!

How to Submit Your Act to an Entertainment Agency

2009-08-05T09:30:00.003-04:00

I get calls and emails from entertainers every day looking for work. Almost all of them make a horrible impression. It's cliché, but so true that you only get one chance to make a great first impression. So before you cut your own legs out from under you, make sure you've followed these simple guidelines. This is part of an ongoing series of posts entitled, How to be a Comedian.

Make sure you have an act

Take the time to build up your act before contacting a booking agent. If you're a band, you can get pretty good rehearsing in the garage. But you still need to get up on stage to practice your craft in front of a live audience. And comedians? Don't even think about contacting an agent if you're just starting out.

But don't some clubs have emcees and opening acts, and don't some agencies book those slots?

Yes, excellent point! So make sure the agency you're contacting handles acts just starting out. But don't call and ask them. Do your homework ahead of time (see "Research the agency" below).

It's tough getting started in stand-up comedy. But an agent is not the place to turn for advice and nurturing.

Get your materials together

Let's suppose you have a killer act and you've been slaying audiences in your hometown. Time to contact an agent, right? Not so fast. Make sure you have some equally killer promotional materials.

Here's a little secret for you... I don't book comedians. I book video clips.

And to a lesser extent I book photos, testimonials and reviews. See what I'm saying? It doesn't matter how great your act is live. You have to capture it on videotape - professionally. The video must feature a live performance that exactly reflects what the end client will be buying. Don't bother contacting an agent until you have a professional-quality video of your act. And if you're not sure if your videotape is professional-quality, then it probably isn't.

Some agents like DVDs. I prefer that you post your video online in Flash video format. YouTube is an excellent place to start.

You're also going to need professional photos. You know, photos taken by professional photographers. Not ones taken by your girlfriend with a digital camera.

And write a 250-400 word spirited bio. Highlight your experience and accomplishments, without it sounding like a history lesson. Describe your show, what makes you unique, and why a presenter should hire you.
If you really want to look professional, make sure you have a website. It doesn't have to be elaborate. In fact, I prefer simple website designs for comedians.

Research the agency

Would you call a company looking for a job if you knew nothing about the company? Of course you wouldn't. So why call an entertainment agency without knowing anything about the agency?

What is the agency's specialty (blues bands, clean comedians, acrobats, etc.)? What geographic region do they cover? What markets do they focus on (colleges, corporate, Christian, festivals, fairs, etc.).

Here's another insider secret: you can typically find this information on the agency's website. Before you pick up the phone or dash off an email, be sure to thoroughly review the agency's website. If you ask a question that is clearly answered on the website, you're getting off to a very bad start.

Ask about their submission policy

You're almost ready to contact the agency, but there's one last step... find out if the agency has an existing submission policy. Again, you can usually find this information on their website. If they have a clear guideline established for submitting acts, follow it to the letter. If they don't, make that your first question when you call or email.

Sample email / voicemail for an agency without a clear submissions policy:

Hi Agent, I've been following your company for years. I recently worked with [name drop agency act] Fantastic Frank at the Comedy Conundrum. He raved about your agency and recommended that I contact you. I've been performing for five years and have 45-60 minutes of solid, clean comedy suitable for general audiences. Frank knows you like to offer new acts to your cruise ship clients, and thinks I'd be a great asset to your agency. When you get a chance, please let me know your submission policy. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Awesome Tom
(919) 555-1212
http://www.websitelink.com
p.s. I love your recent website redesign. The new video player is really impressive!

BONUS ADVICE: Tips for Submitting to Larry Weaver Entertainment

Our specialty is squeaky clean comedy.
We don't list acts on the site who can't easily headline a 45-60 minute show on their own.
Don't mail unsolicited materials. They will not make it out of the post office.
Follow the submission guidelines listed on this site. I'm not going to tell you where they are, but they are very easy to find.
Super-important insider tip: If you really want to work with us, get a personal referral from an act already listed on the site. This is your number one piece of advice. If you want to get attention, have an agency's existing act put their own reputation on the line for you.

Got advice or funny stories about contacting an entertainment agency? Please share it in the comments section.

Getting Started in Stand-Up Comedy

2009-07-14T09:05:00.003-04:00

"How do I get started in stand-up comedy?" It's a question I get asked a lot, so I thought I'd share from my experience. This is part of an ongoing series of posts entitled, How to be a Comedian.

Your first big goal as a comedian should be to become a strong comedy club emcee. They are the act that goes up first before the feature act (typically 30 minutes) and headliner (45-60 minutes). Even if you don't aspire to perform in comedy clubs, they are definitely the place to hone your chops. To become a good emcee, you'll need to put together a tight 15-minute set of material that will work for most any audience. Here's how...

First of all, get on stage as often as you can, anywhere you can. That's really the secret when staring out - perform as much as possible. There were not a lot of clubs in Chapel Hill where I started, so I played at coffeehouses, bakeries, dorm rec rooms... anywhere that had a microphone. Look around town for "open mic" shows. These may be mostly musicians, poetry, or other types of acts. But if they'll let you do comedy, get up there. Starting out, you'll need the experience of standing up in front of a crowd reciting your routine. In fact, it may not be a bad idea to start out at non-traditional venues before hitting the comedy clubs. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so getting some stage experience before hitting a major comedy club stage could prove to be beneficial.

Stick with it. The first few times you do comedy, you'll probably have the high of being on stage and (hopefully) making people laugh. But after a while, you may feel like you're getting worse. That's just part of the natural growth. Keep at it.

Videotape your sets and watch yourself. I have always hated watching myself on video, but it does help. You can also audio tape your sets and listen to them if you prefer. The point is to really review what got laughs and what didn't. You won't be able to remember correctly if you don't tape your sets.

Carry a notebook to write down your ideas. This is a pretty classic piece of advice that you'll get from any comic. Basically, you never know when inspiration will strike. Make sure you have a paper and pen ready at all times.

Join groups of likeminded comedians. Hanging around with other comedians is always a good idea. But try to always be in a group where you're the worst act. This will inspire you to become better. I've seen too many cases of comedians just starting out and forming groups of other "open mic" comedians. A year or two later, everyone is still at the same level, still telling the same jokes at the same open mics. Some people are happy spending their whole life as an emcee. That's fine for them, but it won't help you grow.

Read books and go to school. This isn't for everyone, but there are some excellent books about stand-up comedy. Many comedy clubs also teach ongoing classes on writing and performing. Contact the club nearest you and inquire about classes.

Finally, get on stage as often as you can, anywhere you can. It bears repeating. Now get out there and make some people laugh!

Got advice on becoming a stand-up comedian? Please share it in the comments section.

Comedy News, Search Engine Marketing, and MMA - Larry Weaver's Blog

Christian Stand-up Comedy - Clean Humor

Christian Stand-up Comedian - John Felts

Christian Stand-up Comedian - David Ferrell

Christian Stand-up Comedienne - Leslie Norris Townsend

Christian Stand-up Comedian - Fudge

Post-Prom Ideas: After Prom Entertainment

Singing Comedians - Types of Singing Comedians

Duke Sucks - Funny Sports Speakers Available for Hire

Driving Directions and Traffic Updates Using Google Maps

Magician for Hire in Salt Lake City, UT

Comedian Posters

How Much Do Comedians Charge?

Teacher Appreciation Awards

Female Comedians Wanted to Hire

Real Southern Comedy Tour

E-junkie Reviews Larry Weaver, Creator of Funny Awards

How to Make $20 Million a Year as a Comedian

Funny Office Awards

Targeting the SMERF Market Segment

Fireworks Jokes - Redneck July 4th

Introducing Inspiring Comedy, Inc.

Fun Awards for Teachers

Internet Marketing Training Class in Raleigh NC

Advanced Internet Marketing... For Beginners

Meet the Fighters of the UFC

Free Funny Employee Awards

Selective Hearing Impairment Award

Baryshnikov Award

Running with the Bulls Award

Raisin Pay Award

Kool and the Gang Award

Bermuda Triangle Award

SEO Training Philadelphia

SEO Training Boston - Internet Marketing Class in Boston, MA

How to Submit Your Act to an Entertainment Agency

Make sure you have an act

Get your materials together

Research the agency

Ask about their submission policy

BONUS ADVICE: Tips for Submitting to Larry Weaver Entertainment

Getting Started in Stand-Up Comedy