Life As A Comic Videoblog Rob Paravonian

Music & Comedy, a subject Rob knows well, explores what it's like to play music in the ranks of standup comedy. Rob talks with NYC-based musical comedian Joshua Grosvent about the trials and tribulations facing music/comedy hybrids, and you can see some of those trials and tribulations first hand as Josh explains how his big Summer Jam show almost didn't happen because the venue decided to close for the night! Also featured in this episode are The Rob and Mark Show who didn't let a closed venue stop them from rockin' out on the street, along with the other performers from the night Baron Vaughn, Shayna Ferm, Schaffer the Darklord and The Hazzards.

Pirates! Sunken Ships!! Party Boat -- Episode 10 is Life as a Comic's summer blockbuster! Follow Rob as he performs in a show on the Frying Pan, a 75-year-old Lightship that sunk, was salvaged, and is now docked on NYC's west side and used for parties. Journey down into the belly of the beast as the show takes place in the lowest deck of the ship and see what it's like to perform at an 'event' when the crowd is there to drink and mingle and not necessarily catch a show. After the show you can hang out with celebrities, like TVs Mike Siegel from the Superstation! Many thanks to co-producer Jon Friedman for having me on the bill and to everyone who was kind enough to watch the show in the hot and humid hold of an old salvaged lightship.

Reels -- Episode 8 shows all of the video packages comics have to put together in order to get work and further their careers. From taping sets to editing 90-second vignettes for showcase submissions to putting the press kits together, Rob takes you through the process that leaves comics with more tape on themselves than Nixon. Note from Rob: This episode is a little different in that it doesn't center on a particular show and it's completely behind-the-scenes support for the life of a comic. But the truth is I spend dozens of hours each month editing, writing, packaging and mailing video and written submissions that I thought it would make a good episode. Hope you like it!

"It's Not Just Me" takes you to Hoboken, NJ (sorry) for a show Rob does with fellow comedian and big man on the college market Eric O'Shea. Rob and Eric have worked together before so they meet up early to ride the PATH train under the Hudson to the Stevens Institute of Technology in the downtown 'Boke. This episode also explores the ins and outs of what it's like to perform opposite free cookies and a snack bar. Between the sugar rushes, cafeteria-style seating and the full moon, Rob and Eric joke their way through two states, green rooms, and drunks on the subway. Enjoy!

Going Back to Indiana follows Rob to southern Indiana where he performs at Vincennes University hosting their student variety show. See what it's like to do a show at 6:30 in the evening for the local senior citizens, to sample the local cuisine, and to live, laugh, and love in the heartland. Many thanks to the students and faculty at Vincennes University, as well as the good people of Vincennes who came out to the shows. And to John Cougar Mellancamp, who attended Vincennes University back in the day and went on to idealize the Hoosier State in song.

Episode 4 -- Weekend at Zanies Click here to watch. When you're living life as a comic, you're definitely going to spend a lot of time in comedy clubs, and Zanies in Chicago is one of the oldest stand-up clubs in the country. See what it's like to play this quintessential venue, from the three-show Saturday nights, to the green room antics, to dealing with the various audiences. Mad props to the other comics on the bill, Brooke van Poppelen and Rob Brackenridge, as well as to Bert, Martin, and everyone at Zanies Chicago.