Time For Traci Skene At Shecky Magazine To Put Up Or Shut Up
Article Update: See the end of this post.
You know, I have put up with a ton of crap from Traci Skene at Shecky Magazine for awhile now.
She has lamely attempted to ridicule me, ridicule my software and accuse me of being sexist, in spite of her blatantly racist remarks on her blog about people across the globe using my Comedy Evaluator Pro software for performance improvement.
But make no mistake—I am not sexist. I firmly believe that absolute stupidity is not gender specific.
So let’s cut to the chase, Ms. Skene. I want to give you the opportunity to show the world just how smart you really are about stand-up comedy and prove me to be the fool that you think I am–and have been so bold as to share with your readers.
Fair enough?
Here’s what I propose…
As opposed to you hiding behind your snide comments about me and my Comedy Evaluator Pro software on your blog, away from where any real action can happen…
Let’s get on a conference call where I can invite my peeps and you can invite yours to see who really knows their stuff about stand-up comedy.
Not only that, I’ll make it really easy for you…
I will let you be the aggressor. You can initiate all the questions first.
Give me an intro with all your great accomplishments and I will introduce you respectfully and with dignity.
But let me warn you in advance…
I’m not Judy Carter, Greg Dean or Sandy Shore. The first time that stupidity utters from your pie hole about stand-up comedy, I will eat you alive without hesitation. I will ask questions you could not possibly answer about the art form that I know down to the syllable and you WILL be exposed as a total fool.
Do you want to drag Brian McKim in on the action? I actually owe him an apology for my previous blog post because he’s funny. But if he supports your BS, well hey, bring some back up.
I will be more than happy to take you BOTH on. Equal opportunity and all… 
Let me give you some reference material you may want to look at about me before you decide to jump into the lion’s den:
I was a Navy Senior Chief who was stationed in a war zone and shot at. I’m also a career educator who has ALWAYS been at the top of the education and training game.
Oh, did I mention I have a bit of an education too?
Here’s my “non-comedy” resume:
Here’s my comedy resume (all entries are accurate):
If you are looking for a noteworthy Southern California reference concerning my own comedy skills, best contact Gary Folgner, owner of the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and the Galaxy Concert Theater in Santa Ana, both large venues of which I have headlined numerous times:
Oh, and you may want to contact Jordan Brady at Uber Content—the production company owner who produced the documentary that I am featured in specifically regarding Comedy Evaluator Pro:
Now, if you have any spine at all and can back up the less-than-intelligent comments that you have offered the world on the “renowned” Shecky Magazine about me and my software…
You will take me up on my challenge, contact me and we can schedule a phone conference event where you get to show your REAL knowledge about stand-up comedy. It’s your chance to shine!
What I am more inclined to predict is that you will disregard this challenge and write more bêtise vile about me and my software on your blog.
That’s called a LOSER where I come from.
No biggy. But know this…
As of right now, until you can stand up to me in a public forum–on the phone or live in person, you are little more than something the toilet overflowed.
The ball is now in your court. Put up or shut up. The bullshit flag has now been officially raised.
I await your response and acceptance to my conference call challenge, on the date and time of your choosing.
UPDATE: As I predicted, the folks at Skanky Magazine didn’t have the BALLS to accept my phone conference challenge and opted instead to copy this blog post and call me a douche bag on their blog — how original. Sorry Skanky, but I only deal with grown-ups when it comes to stand-up comedy.
Cheers,
Steve Roye
The Professor of Funny for Money
For more information about Steve Roye, author of this blog and the Killer Stand-up Online Course, click here.
Tags: Performance Improvement, Shecky Magazine, stand up comedy, Traci Skene
It is what it is ma man. Bottom line is that I, as well as many others, see the value in the PAR Score. That’s all that matters. I see no need to go on with this challenge. If people can’t understand how this tool can be used to make their act better, then they’re missing out. But, to be perfectly honest, I had no idea about Skene’s or Shecky Magazine’s criticisms until you brought it up.
Joe Braza
Actually Steve their response is the most telling. It’s three words: “What a douchebag.” My point being, they picked the fight. And then, they picked it again because you had the nerve to defend yourself. Furthermore, their response implies when we criticize someone our point is legitimate, but when they respond and defend themselves we’ll just berate them because evidence doesn’t matter when the accuser is us.
It’s actually very childish and arrogant.
It may sound like I’m kissing ass, but I for the record I haven’t taken either side on Steve’s products, because I haven’t used them yet. And I’d be a hypocrite if I spoke out either way before I did. It’s like reviewing a movie you haven’t watched.
I also think, at least this is my theory, some of the people who are so opposed to concepts like PAR score have probably never played corporate settings.
My guess is that their target market is mostly comedy clubs. That’s where you get the arrogant nobody will ever censor me attitude because I’m an artist. Yeah, free speech. Screw the audience. That’s also where you probably won’t ever hear a question like, “If we hire you, how can you quantify that you’re an improvement of the last person that was here?” I can see any company hiring anyone for a corporate event asking that question every time.
I’ll be the first to admit, PAR score doesn’t seem to take all aspects of comedy into consideration. I’ll also admit there are people the audience laughs madly at that I don’t like. But keep that’s the exception not the rule. If I disagreed with more than even 50 percent of an audiences opinion, how often do you think I’d have a good show?
I know comics who think that comedy is that subjective.
Most people call them performance artists, not comic.
That’s why the occasionally subjective nature of comedy doesn’t delegitimize the concept of PAR score. PAR score just one tool out of many, like audio, video and simply listening to your set as you deliver it while being honest with yourself, that happens to measure something really important, unless tone deaf comics are your thing.
And if you want to criticize someone have the backbone to do it with examples and evidence instead of generalizations and cut downs.
Most of the time when all you can do is insult someone’s ideas, it’s because you really have very little to say.
But then a three word reaction that includes the word douchebag, well you do the math.
.-= Shayne Michael´s last blog ..Zombie Psychology =-.
Thanks for your comments Shayne.
I don’t think there will ever be a way to measure or evaluate objectively the “subjective” aspects of comedy — the “art” part, if you will.
It is the “subjective”” aspect of comedy that is the artistic element that provides its uniqueness and always will. Different types of comedy content will aways be accepted and appreciated by different audiences.
My software does not directly do anything concerning the content or comedy material, style or delivery a comedian uses.
But what it DOES do directly is measure the effectiveness of a comedian’s material for any particular audience, based on the most basic and observable things with regard to the content:
1. There are still 60 seconds in a minute (unless that change hit the news and I missed it).
2. A comedian (not a “performing artist”) needs to get laughs every minute they are on stage.
3. Time on stage is measurable.
4. The duration (and frequency) of laughter, cheering and applause is measurable (one can use their fingers and do the ONE Mississippi, TWO Mississippi thing for that).
5. The more frequent and longer laughs a comedian generates, the funnier they are.
6. The less frequent or absence of laughs a comedian generates, the less funny they are.
If a comedy show contains dramatic parts (ie: like many one man shows), my software would only have value on the parts that are supposed to be funny.
But speaking strictly from a stand-up comedy perspective…
You can’t go minutes without getting laughs and be considered a great comedian. A great actor maybe, but not a great comedian.
I believe that Comedy Evaluator Pro gives any comedian a serious edge over the masses who do not engage in performance improvement activities by giving them a minute by minute breakdown of the ACTUAL results that their artistic work produced in the way of laughter, cheering or applause for a given audience.
It also provides a way to objectively evaluate a comedian’s true “mojo” or ability to generate laughs, whether one cares for or appreciates their material or not on an individual basis.
But I am open to other views and will be more than happy to change my own views provided there are valid data, resources, references, etc. to back up something I’m not seeing or considering.
That’s what Shecky Magazine now has the opportunity to do.
The Prof
Yeah boy! She gon’ get served!
That’s hilarious! No doubt she will hide!
From what I know, Steve, is that you can back up what you say, and you CARE about the Stand-up comedy professional and profession more than most!
Kudos!