And if you instill a two-drink minimum on me, I will meet it within 10 minutes of show sign. Please don’t bring my check halfway through the headliner, I likely will want to order at least one more. You definitely needn’t worry about chastising me into drinking beer at your establishment — I WILL DO IT AT MY OWN BEHEST.

Pretty condescending way of dealing with the lady. Nothing written here or elsewhere is irrational. It seems that Kristen took the time to respond to what was contained in your interview and stood up for herself and the comics she works with. The only way that is irrational is you just don’t like it when someone has the temerity to respond to you.

I’ve never met you and I haven’t seen you perform since I was last given free tickets to Comix Cafe in 1999 or whenever it was. I don’t have anything negative to say about your comedy or your club, but I read your interview and you came across as a bit of a dick.

It sounded like a guy trying to assert himself as the alpha dog of the scene by putting down the work of others. Where I come from, that’s like school on Saturdays, no class.

I have been to Open Mics at Nietzsche’s and I enjoy the comedy of Lingenfelter, Walton, Bergman, and other comics who regularly appear there and have also enjoyed the national acts that Kristen brings in, including Stanhope, Benson, Bamford, Barry, and others.

I love standup comedy and when I moved home to Buffalo from Chicago, I was sad that your room was really the only thing going as its not really my kind of comedy. Then Kristen started up the city room and it was a lot of fun. She seems to be building something cool with a little more underground flavor and I appreciate that. If people enjoy the safe kind of comedy you do, great. There is lots of room for it in the marketplace and I hope you continue to succeed.

But, you insulted her and the comics at Nietzsche’s by painting them with a broad brush and that’s not cool. And to top it off, you can’t just admit that you were rude and instead offer that Kristen is “irrational”, which doesn’t speak very well of you.

Sincerely,
A Nietzsche’s Level Fan

NEVER did I say you were out of business. i said you were out of the city limits, which you are. I was misquoted if that was credited to me. (again urban vs suburban) My problem arises from your choice to not use the term “open mic” The mentioned acts (Friedlander, etc) were not apart of the open mic night. They were however Doin’ Time comedy productions, and did in fact take place at Nietzsche’s. Your repeated use of “Nietzsche’s” did not specify open mic, it just said “Nietzsche’s” . Surely you can understand that by not saying “open mics” and by specifying Nietzsche’s repeatedly that I can only take offense, since there are several open mics, and that could of been the wording used. I can say that plenty of your headliners have graced my stage, on open mic night.

I’m not sure how this is a “personal attack” I am responding to what was written, and I feel like this was a pretty fair response.
No one is saying you have to use local talent, that is your choice. I’m saying, stop shitting on them. Lacking in “confidence and an inability to make eye contact” ? There is no reason for you to even address local talent if you have no place for them in your club.

I am running a business, as are you. They are different but the same. Your opening statement “We’re the highest level of comedy you can get in Buffalo,” could also be seen as offensive Mainly because

1. your club is in Williamsville
2. it disregards the work of improv companies like Eclectic Company and Comedysportz, not to mention my bigger name showcases.
3. there is no local “award” for best comedy, just best comedian. And even THAT was 3 years ago for you.

“By no means would you have them headline” Who are you talking about? Open mic’ers or local talent that just goes to the open mic to hone their craft? There is a difference. Tim Joyce comes to the open mic, he has headlined your club. Nathan Macintosh has done my room, he has headlined your club. Bergman, Wayne and a few others have as well. These blanket statements are just not true, and they are misleading.

My point is you feel the need to lump all Buffalo Comics into an “open mic” genre, and those SAME comics have toured and worked at other clubs. Your inability to differentiate that it is YOUR CHOICE (which I respect) to not use local talent VS They are not qualified for your room is a point of contention.

Whether or not you “hate or respect” me is irrelevant.

This is not about you or me. I work plenty and do just fine. This is me, feeling confident enough to stand up and say “hey, that was in poor form”
I’m going to ask you to go back to your beginning days as a comedian. Let’s say you are five years in and you’ve reached your first hour set. Then lets say the only person running a club that gets asked about comedy in your town says all local comedy sucks.
With power comes responsibility, and disregarding the work of your local comics without EVER HAVING SET FOOT in Nietzsche’s is irresponsible. I will be the first one to say some open mic comedy is awful. However, broad statements generalizing everyone does no one any good.

You could of easily said “there are some locals who have worked up the ranks and been on my stage, but that doesn’t happen often as the local scene is young” or you could of focused on the other local talent you use regularly (Pordum, Odonnell, etc)

I’m not sure what you want to “end” . I understand that you may be misinformed about what goes on in the city and how much growth there has been. This is my two cents on my website (which I have posted your shows on in support of the buffalo comedy scene)
I don’t believe I’ve misrepresented you or your club. I have responded to your blanket statements, and I have laid out how that could be hurtful to a very awesome thing that is happening in town.

I certainly have gotten feedback from your comments with regards to the Buffalo.com story. I will not get involved in this level of personal attack. I do however feel you need to know that I was asked why I don’t use the acts from Neitchez “Doin Time” to headline my club. My comments were about Tuesday night open mic night only. I did not know that the Maria Bamford’s and Rich Voss level of acts were the type that is appearing at your Tuesday open mic night. For that I apologize. I guess neither of us really understands what each other does. I did however praise your efforts to the reporter several times. True I do not have a place for new talent. Mainly our acts come to us from The Funny Business Agency who provides us headliners that have multiple tv credits. I have never ever BANNED a local comic from my club. In fact , if someone has proved themselves at a one nighter and a comic I respect says they can do 5 min of non offense stuff, I will do what I can to get them on one of our 10pm shows for a quick 5 min set. But by no means would I have them headline. True these spots are a rarity but it is far from “banning ” anyone.
Again, I am sorry the story took the angle it did. I really did think that the Juda Freedlander acts were not apart of the ” Doin Time” shows that the reporter specifically asked me about. My error.

ps – I am not having people ” fight my fight” for me. I just dont feel this type of thing is at all beneficial to you,me or any local comic. If you ever want to discuss this in a rational way, please dont hesitate to contact me at 881 4555. I would love to end this as the last I remember, a friend that works at the Buffalo News said you called them to say that I was out of business and you were the only game in town. I think it best for all of these misunderstandings to end. I am not sure you know how many people I send to your classes. If I hated you or did not respect what you are doing, I would never send folks your way. So lets both get our facts straight and end this.