On Friday, June 14, 2013, Rhode Island Comedians, Rockin’ Joe Hebert, John Perrotta, Anthony Brooks, Anthony Elicier, Mike Babalato, Bernie Perrotty,Corey Tenchara  and The Bad Boy of Comedy, Mike Cronin invade The St.John’s Club, 1365 Rodman Street, Fall River, MA. at 8pm for a special Comedy Showcase.

It’s going to be a show PACKED with entertainment and our own DJ Anthony will be hanging around afterward playing music till’ midnight.

Tickets are $15 and available at the door.

See you there.

By Rockin’ Joe Hebert owner RI Laughs.com

On Friday, May 17, 2013, The Joke Store (located above The Park Theatre, 848 Park Ave, Cranston, RI) opened its doors with Mayor Allan Fung cutting the ribbon. Just one week later, (and after not paying at least 5 comedians booked to perform) the venue unceremoniously shut its doors.

I was one of those affected. I’m out $600.

I don’t know much about the owner, John Souza, (AKA: Johnie Armani) His now deleted Facebook account said he resides in North Tiverton, RI. I have heard he is a part time disc jockey, works for a graphic design firm and until myself (and others) left the club this past Friday with zero money in our pockets, he was apparently the owner of The Park Theatre’s Joke Store.

How NOT to get paid as a comedian

I booked my scheduled 3 appearances at The Joke Store several weeks ago. I had heard a few rumors about Johnie Armani, but after speaking with an old friend of mine in the business (who was trying to mentor Armani in how to deal with comedians) I booked 3 dates ($200 per show) at The Joke Store. As is my policy when booking shows with people I don’t know, I told him he would be responsible for cash, that evening. No checks, either. Also, payment would be required for all three dates, whether the shows were canceled, or not. There are only 2 real days of the week to make money in this business and if you lose them, they’re lost forever. He agreed. There was a verbal contract. but no paper. I rarely use paper. If someone is going to screw you, they don’t care what they sign, anyway.

Fung, cuts the ribbon. The 8pm  show has approximately 30 people in the audience. Not a good crowd for a club seating well over 100 on its opening night. There was some sort of comedy contest that took place afterward, with a handful of patrons in attendance. I’m assuming it wasn’t a very prosperous evening.

MY JOKE STORE NIGHTMARE

I showed up for work early (7 pm) on Friday, the 24th. I hadn’t been inside the Park Theatre in years and wanted to check out the place. It’s a beautiful venue. The upstairs portion where the comedy club was located was well done. The bar separated from the stage area was definitely performer-friendly, the furniture and table settings were nice and the place appeared, (at least to me) to generate a professional atmosphere.

Other than the staff and comedians, there were no customers.

I approached the owner, John Souza, we shook hands and I asked him how we were looking for the evening. “Great”, replied Souza. “There is a lot of interest in tonight’s show. The word is getting out.”

I set up my equipment on the stage, tested out the sound system and then I waited in the rear of the club with a couple of fellow comedians. And then we waited some more.

It was then that I began to notice several signs that this night was not going to be all it was claimed to be. The kitchen’s cook was standing around with his hands in his pockets, one of the wait staff, was also just hanging around with nothing to do. She looked bored and disinterested. I asked her if she had any idea how many people we were expecting that evening and she said, “I don’t know. He (Armani) doesn’t do anything to promote this place. I asked him for fliers last week that I could pass out in busy areas. like Thayer Street and I still haven’t received them.”

Not a good sign.

By 7:30pm, there was only 1 paying customer in the room. He was a friend of one of the comedians appearing with me on the bill.

By 8:10pm, I was informed by one of the staff (not the owner)  that the show had been canceled. It didn’t take a comedian or a rocket scientist to figure that out. No people always equals no show.

Now off to find the owner.

I found Souza downstairs in the main lobby, approached him and said I had to speak with him privately. I asked him what happened and he said he wasn’t sure. He told me that “proper promotion was done” and “a lot of people had said they were going to attend the show.”  He couldn’t figure it out.

“I’m sorry this happened to you”, I said, “but I’m going to need my money.”

“I don’t have any money”, he replied. “There are no people here.”

“I’m afraid that’s not my fault”, I responded “We had a deal. You owe me my money and you’re going to have to find it, somewhere.”

Souza, (sweating profusely) simply blurted out, “I just don’t have it. I don’t know what to do.”

Realizing that an argument would be a lost cause and do nothing but raise my already pinging high blood pressure, I told Souza, “Pay me by Monday. If not I file in small claims court on Tuesday.” Then I left.

The real joke was on the comedians who showed up to work

FACEBOOK explodes

By late Friday evening, comedians in the RI and MA area had taken to Facebook to discuss the goings on (and lack of money) at The Joke Store. It became apparent that myself and the other comedians scheduled to appear with me over the weekend weren’t the only ones who didn’t get paid. 2 comedians from opening week also didn’t receive their money. $650 total. There was a story floating around that 1 performer (from opening night) got his money after allegedly threatening Souza with physical harm. I couldn’t  confirm it, though.

There was also some talk about Souza’s donating a portion of each ticket sold on his opening weekend to the victims of the Boston Marathon Terrorist Attack. Again, I couldn’t find any information on whether any money had actually been donated.

I don’t think it matters. On Souza’s Facebook yesterday, he posted that the business was closed until further notice.

Mayor Fung (l) and John Souza (AKA: Johnie Armani) (r) at the Joke Store’s opening.

DISAPPEARING ACT

As of yesterday afternoon, The Joke Store website was taken down. Souza’s Facebook account was deactivated on Sunday. If Rhode Island had a Comedy Fugitives List, Souza would be Public Enemy #1. Like a hurricane, he swept through the state, left damage in his wake and then vanished as fast as he appeared.

NOTE: I left a comment on the Park Theatre Facebook page (screen shot below) and they removed it and did not respond to me. I don’t know how The Park Theatre feels about this situation, but much like John Souza, it appears they are running away from it, as well.

Posted on The Park Theatre Facebook page on Saturday, May 25th. It was removed an hour or so, later.

 UPDATE 5-27-13

Hundreds of comments from angry comedians concerning The Joke Store have flooded Facebook-and continue to do so. If The Park Theatre plans on reopening their failed comedy club anytime soon, they’ve got a lot of damage to repair. Stand up comedy is a highly competitive business. A lot of us don’t like each other. But, if you screw one of us over, you screw us all. I know of no comedian who would even drive by the place, much less take the stage.

This article has been shared dozens of times, so far. Please continue to do so.

Rockin’ Joe performs at The Carousel Grille in Oakland Beach this Saturday

Join me this Saturday, April 27th, 2013, in Warwick, RI for another awesome show produced by Meatball Comedy Stop. I’ll be at The Carousel Grille at 9pm. Tickets are available for $15 (or couples for $25) and are available now.

You may also get your tix at the door.

See you at the show!

Rockin’ Joe Hebert (the owner of Ocean State Talent and Founder of the RI Comedy Hall of Fame) has been a fixture in Rhode Island Comedy for over 25 years. Rockin’ Joe is available to perform at your next event, fundraiser, club, etc. by calling him at 401-301-5329.

Don’t leave your next show up to the amateurs. Hire a professional comedian from Ocean State Talent..

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fund-raising ideas that work

Rockin’ Joe Hebert-Founder: RI Comedy Hall of Fame

Live stand up comedy shows are a great way to raise money for your organization or non-profit. A 90 minute comedy show can raise more money (and with less effort) than any cake baking, raffle or fundraising idea you may be considering.

Live comedy shows are money makers are a headache-free way to raise the funds you need, while providing value and entertainment for your club or organization. Comedy shows are EASY ticket sellers and will give your members and guests an evening to remember, for a long time to come.

Call Rockin’ Joe at Ocean State Talent, 401-301-5329 and ask him how you can raise money for your club or organization today.

A HOME COMEDY NIGHT IS FUN AND ECONOMICAL

Going out to a comedy club is a great way to spend a weekend night with some friends. The trouble is, it can get expensive very quickly. You and a date, a cover charge, a few drinks and maybe an appetizer can cost you $100 or more in just 90 minutes. Add a babysitter and you’re looking at a pretty expensive night out. The economy has hit everyone hard and that’s why I created Home Comedy Nights. Instead of you going out to the comedy club, we’ll bring the comedy club to you. Anyone can turn their home into a comedy club for the night. Here’s how it works.

Get together with a group of 10-20 (or more) of your friends and have them chip in for the entertainment. For as little as $200 you can put on a great show right in your own house. BYOB and BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) rule makes the night even cheaper.

Comedians will show up at your house at an agreed upon time and perform a hilarious comedy show (minimum of 1 hour) right in your house. Then we pack up and leave. It’s as easy as that!

The Home Comedy Night Party provides the microphone, the sound equipment, the comedians and the jokes. You provide the audience.

Home Comedy nights are a great way to get together with family and friends without blowing your entire paycheck at a nightclub.

Learn more about hosting a  Home Comedy Night Party, by calling Rockin’ Joe at Ocean State Talent 401-301-5329.

HIRE THE FUNNIEST RHODE ISLAND COMEDIANS TODAY!

The holidays will be here before you know it and soon you’ll be planning your office or corporate party. Ocean State Talent of Rhode Island has the finest, funniest, Rhode Island comedians available to take the stage and make your Christmas party a complete success.

Call 401-301-5329 and ask for Joe.

New Year’s Eve Parties

September and October are the perfect months to book comedy entertainment for your personal or corporate New Year’s Eve Party. We have you covered. We’ll supply the comedian and the sound system, you supply the laughs. Excellent rates are available now.

Call 401-301-5329 and ask for Joe.

Tickets for The Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame Roast of John Perrotta are going fast. If you haven’t got yours, you can do so by reserving them at The Comedy Factory by calling 401-461-7896. Tickets are $25.

The RICHOF has finalized the list of speakers for the October 19, 2012 event at The Clarion Hotel (Formerly The Ramada Inn), Seekonk, MA. at 7:30pm. (Doors open at 7:00pm)

Stephanie Peters: Emcees the event

Rockin Joe Hebert-Founder of The RI Comedy Hall of Fame

Cory Guglietti

Mike Murray-The Deaf Comic

Brian Beaudoin of The Comedy Connection 

RI’s Own Coleen Galvin-Yaroshenko,

Eddie Galvin

Tom Stewart

Press Release: For Immediate Release
From: Rockin’ Joe Hebert & John Perrotta
401-461-7896
RE: Induction into The RI Comedy Hall of Fame

RI comedians will get their chance to roast a correctional officer, (as well as a local comedy icon), as he is inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. (richof.org)

John Perrotta , a Cranston native and resident, works by day at the A.C.I’s High Security Unit and by night in clubs and halls all over Southern New England. John has been performing in (as well as producing) stand up comedy shows and giving young comics their first shot on real stages for almost 20 years.“John is an amazing comedian and his passion for the business is unshakeable”, says RI Comedy Hall of Fame Founder, Rockin’ Joe Hebert. “John can walk into a room with little (or no) prepared material and perform for an hour just ripping apart the crowd.. He’s the modern day Don Rickles. This roast is intended , not only to praise him for his outstanding contributions to comedy in RI, but to get justice for all those who have been victims of his comedy act.”