From the Comic Strip Live Audition Lottery Line

Sam Grittner | Photo: Fred Scott

On April Fool's Day, the Comic Strip Live held its famous Audition Lottery, in which aspiring comics draw numbers out of a fishbowl for a chance to do 5 minutes for the owners, bookers and management of the legendary and celebrated comedy venue. One intrepid, aspiring comedian named Sam Grittner joined the line around 4PM, along with the up-and-comers, newbies and veterans. About a half-hour in, he started the rumor that Gilbert Gottfried was lurking the premises and was "defz going to pants someone." Two hours later, the doors to Comic Strip Live opened. Grittner tells The Apiary about the experience.

Congratulations on getting a number. When is your audition?
Oct. 27th !

Ah, okay. Well, at least you have some time to prepare your set.
My good friend Joe Cocozzello is going next Tuesday. At first I was jealous but then I realized that by the time October comes, my 5 minutes will be bulletproof. Plus, there is the fact that 95% of my material is Halloween or Jack-o-Lantern related, so that worked out pretty much perfectly for me.

Did you feel like you were standing in line to audition for Last Comic Standing, or did it feel like you were standing in line to put your hand in a fishbowl and draw a number?
I stood in line (overnight in Minnesota in -10 degree weather!) for Last Comic Standing and it was similar in a lot of ways: There was a lot of camaraderie and friendliness: everyone was introducing themselves and saying what's up to each other. The only things that were different were that the freak shows didn't come out (and by freak shows I mean people in costumes, people with catchphrases, and people who'd never been on stage before but somehow 'knew' they were God's gift to the comedy world). I didn't have to talk to ANT, and it wasn't -10 below, so I knew the exact location of my testicles at all times (always a good thing).

Did anyone crack jokes about how you were basically all waiting in line in hopes of getting a number that would put you on a very long list of people who get to audition for all of 5 minutes?
A couple of people did, but most everyone else was just stoked to have the opportunity. The only concern was that you might not get a slot but EVERYONE did!

Why a rumor about Gilbert Gottfried?
Why Gilbert Gottfried?? Why not Gilbert Gottfried.

And the other comics in line? What were they like?
I recognized a ton of people there and no one was trying to impress anybody. At Last Comic Standing it seemed like everybody was doing their material but trying to pass it off as if they weren't. Not here. It was just a big mingling of the next crop of up-and-coming comic talent. I met two guys who had just moved to New York from Missouri two weeks ago and they were totally friendly and knew a lot of people I'd worked with in Minnesota ("You know Isaac Witty and Jeremy Essig? No way dude!!!" -- my exact quote). We exchanged info and I'm letting them in on what I consider the good rooms and mics to go to. Later some people I had just met did the same thing for me. Sweet, sweet comedy karma.

Nice. We're all about that shit over here, you know.
The other thing that got mentioned was that this was a REAL opportunity. Last Comic Standing was looking for a certain type of person. From what I could tell, Comic Strip just wants someone that's fucking funny, simple as that.

THE PLUG
• Catch Sam Grittner at School Night on APRIL 15 @ 11pm at the UCBT-New York
• Sam Grittner's Web page