Comments on: Ferrari’s Fringe Show Will Be An Improv Set. Why? Because We Are Very Good Improvisers.

By: mike fotis

mike fotis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:10:53 +0000

I hope you’re right.

By: Bree

Bree — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:34 +0000

I agree with James – you have name recognition.

By: James Rone

James Rone — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:14:35 +0000

1. Yes. This is true. In a slightly unrelated note, the IAGG crowd makes me feel sophisticated, worldly, and old. 2. Of course! An hour! That’s mammoth.

By: mike fotis

mike fotis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:57:07 +0000

James-We will definitely be fighting the $1 phenomena, there’s no way around it. And to be truthful, our new format is pretty free form. It can be whatever we want it to be, which might not be all that exciting. I guess my counter argument would be two fold. 1. 90% of Go Go crowds only go to Go Go, so worrying about whether or not they’ll head to the Fringe is sort of pointless. 2. The Fringe is the only place where audiences are going to get to see us do an hour long long form. To me, that extra time means endless opportunities to discover something that wouldn’t be possible at Go Go. Whether or not audiences agree? Who knows?

By: James Rone

James Rone — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:53:21 +0000

A) You guys are going to pack houses, because that’s kind of what you do. You’re a brand around here and you’ve earned it.

B) If people ARE striking you guys off the “to see” list, do you think it’s because they’re thinking, “I’ll just wait until Mike and Joe or Mike and/or Joe are up at IAGG next and catch them for a buck”?

That would be a shame, but is there a new Fringe-only format you guys will be playing with?

By: Thami

Thami — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:49:29 +0000

I was going to tell you to use a Gentle Leader as well, and everyone else stole my thunder. Damn.

By: Mike Fotis

Mike Fotis — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:23:38 +0000

If it was an improvised version, the house would have been 70% full. If it wasn’t an improvised version then they shouldn’t have applied to an improv festival in the first place.

I’m just saying the stigma around Fringe and improv is a strange one as most people whom I’ve told about our show have said, “oh…” when they heard the word improv. It’s hard seeing people mentally check your show off of their “to see list” right in front of your eyes.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:41:06 +0000

If someone was doing a top-notch production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the TCIF, how many improv fans would show up?

(that being said, I fully expect your Fringe show to rock socks)

By: Mike Fotis

Mike Fotis — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:38:25 +0000

Tom-I will talk to Joe. I doubt he will go for it, since as a child he was raised to believe that vaginas were…I don’t know.

Valerie-Thanks! I have to say that as far as fests go, this line up was the most consistently funny one that I’ve seen. Also, nice to meet you in person.

Jake-I am totally down with the gentle leader. Going to buy one tomorrow.

Hannah-Thanks for the kindness! That means a lot coming from you. Seriously.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:31:19 +0000

I am psyched for an improv fringe show from you guys. Although your scripted stuff has, in the past, completely rocked the foundations of my understanding of comedy.

I am an advocate of the gentle leader. Just used it this morning with the crazy dog that belongs to my nannying family. It’s pretty sweet. Much like your puppy.