What's Up?
This is where Trent posts an occasional diary. Scroll to read entries from most recent to earliest. Or click on one of the following links to go directly to that posting.
June 20, 2010 - Decide, Dream, Do
April 30, 2010 - Back from Jamaica, crazy schedule ahead
March 30, 2010 - Great Canadian Laugh-Off, before and after
November 13, 2009 - Meeting Bill Cosby
October 26, 2009 - Busy, but down time in Dominican Republic
June 20, 2010 - Decide, Dream, Do
Hello,
I write this from my home that I have spent very little time in lately.
In the last few weeks I have been to Sparwood BC, Kananaskis AB, Saskatoon Sk, Montreal PQ, Vancouver BC, St.John's NL. That's six different provinces in the last month!! It has been a lot of travel but I've had some great fun as well.
The Vancouver show was a fundraiser for The Ride for the Cure organized by my good friend Damien Lee. Another good friend of mine (and amazing comic) Simon King jumped on the show as well and amazed the place. It was great to see Vancouver again and I was reminded of how beautiful that place is. Incredible city. Thanks Damien for great weekend and you will be forever know as "The Assasin" ... lol.
I was home to unpack and repack for one day and then flew accross the country to St.John's for the New Screech Comedy Festival. Louis CK was there this year but I flew in too late in the week to see him unfortunately. I was told that his show was as amazing as expected. I also conducted the comedy workshops for new comics and hosted the open mic. I'm always inspired by folks who take the comedic plunge for the first time and push through the fear. They all did very well and I was proud of all the folks in the group.
The crowds again came out and supported this top class festival. This years lineup included Tracey Smith, Jonny Harris, Derek Edwards, Mike Bullard, Shaun Majumder, Bernie Stapleton,Lorne Elliot, Paul Edwards,Bill Macintosh and John Sheehan. It seems at every festival people raise there game and feed off each other and this fest was no different. It was a treat to watch these comics each night and see the different styles. I really enjoyed watching Derek Edwards each night as he would play with words and rock the house every night. That guy is an amazing comic and cool dude as well. I was fortunate to talk comedy with him for a while which was invaluable to a performer of my experience.
The gala show was a big blow-out with about 1200 people at Mile One Stadium. Everyone had great sets and I think the crowd went away happy. At the end of the show all the performers received a standing ovation (which I took a photo of). I was reminded of something as I left the stage that night. Seven years ago when I left St.John's to move west I promised myself something. I remember walking by Mile One Stadium and thinking "I will play that place some day." It was never said to be cocky or arrogant but more of an affirmation and something to make the dream tangible.
Funny how life triggers memories that we've tucked away.
Decide, Dream, Do
Be good!
Trent
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Good day,
Hope you are well while reading this.
It's back to a crazy schedule for me over the next couple of months.
I had an amazing time in Jamaica on vacation and attending the wedding of some great friends. I felt total relaxation and it was a great place to decompress. Waves, sun shine, great food, and great people!! Everyone should do something similar to this i think. Take some time,slow things down and just enjoy everything. I came back pretty refreshed and ready for life!
I arrived back in Toronto airport and checked my cell phone for the first time in seven days. Maybe I should shut it off more often because i was told by my agent that I had been invited to the Just for Laughs Festival this summer!! It was a numbing kind of feeling to be honest. I read the message three times just to be sure. For a comedian in this business, this is one of the goals you set for yourself. You want to play on the best stages and perform at all the big festivals. Well, it get's no bigger then Just For Laughs. I realize that so many great comics never get a chance to go to that festival. To be invited after 6 years in the biz makes me feel fortunate to say the least.
So it looks like it will be a busy couple of months with a bunch of shows and two great comedy festivals on the horizon. Look for some new photos coming soon from the winter shows. You may be in some of these pics so be ready!!
Hopefully I will see you at shows this summer?
Take care.
Trent
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March 30, 2010 - Great Canadian Laugh-Off, before and after
Hey All
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the support on the Newfoundland Tour, the Comedy From the Rock Tour, and the Great Canadian Laugh off shows.
It's been a crazy 30 plus days starting with shows in Halifax a month ago. Had a great time there at jokers and thanks to Anthony,Tom and all the staff for a great week. Got to hang with my cuz Lisa and catch up (I should hire her as my east coast promotions manager!!!). It was cool to see so many Newfoundlanders at the show and see alot of new faces who came to check the shows out.
From there I went to Newfoundland and had a great time for a week and three really fun shows in Corner Brook, Carbonear, and St. John's. Corner Brook and St. John's were some of the best crowds I ever performed for...amazing!! Great to get home to see my aunt Marian, and Uncle Frank and Aunt Juanita. Saw tons of old friends in St. John's and got home way too late!!!
From there, flew back west to Calgary and started the Comedy From the Rock Tour. We had really light crowds in Calgary and Airdrie but they were fun. Edmonton and Fort Mac were awesome and showed the potential of what this tour could be. It was good to work with Pete and John again and we had alot of laughs on and off stage....O.A.F.!!!!
Then i had a crazy day in Edmonton performing on St. Paddy's day....wild experience for sure. Drunk college students on Paddy's day..fill in the rest.
Came to Toronto then and started the Great Canadian Laugh Off journey. I won my quarter final but lost in the semi to two funny guys. It happens. This whole thing started in Calgary a few months ago and finally ended. Contests are tough because there is an anxiety present because the dynamics of these shows are way different then other shows...judges, strict time constraints, the audience know it's a contest, other comics bring all their buddies, etc. It gets crazy with the thought process you go through with regards to your set. However, it was a great experience and got to see some really cool styles and some old friends as well. The Yuk Yuks staff couldn't have been nicer and accomodating to me...thanks.
I'm pretty tired now and looking forward to a lighter schedule coming up.
Just wanted to pass on my prayers to the Butler family back in my home town of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Sadly, Goff Butler passed away recently and will be greatly missed. He was a larger then life character and always was full of energy and humour. His voice and personality always energized the room when I was kid and constantly had us laughing. I'm sorry he's gone and wish the Butler family the best and hope you hold on to the memories he created.
Cheers,
Trent
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November 13, 2009 - Meeting Bill Cosby
Hello Everyone
How are you?
The highlight of my comedy career happened this past week. I was able to spend some time with entertainment legend Bill Cosby.
Foothills Academy School brought in Mr. Cosby for a special performance at the Jubille auditorium in Calgary. I was asked along with my business partner Chris Gordon to be involved with the event in terms of selecting and coaching kids who would open the show for Cosby. We knew we would get to meet him but unsure as to how long. Many performers consider their pre-show time very sacred and usually like to not be bothered before show time. However, he agreed to surprise the performing kids and their parents before the show with a little pep talk about performing.
When he walked into the green room … everyone became a kid! Instantly! I was 12 years old again thinking this is Bill Cosby, Cliff Huxtable himself! I should add that during my school days I watched this show religiously and one of the comments in my high school year book was ”we predict Trent will end up on the Cosby show.” So, to be in the same room with this man was just surreal. As comedians we are fortunate enough to see the legends perform but to be in the same room and interact is a rare find. He was great with the kids and parents and hung out for 15 minutes or so. He told each of the kids to remember to be themselves out there … and to believe in what they are doing. Then … it was over- he had come in, owned the room and then headed back to his dressing room. We thought, well that was amazing … but that experience was to be topped.
The producer of the event asked us if we would specifically like to meet Mr Cosby ... I couldn’t believe it! We waited outside his dressing room and then we heard the producer say..”Mr Cosby, two of the kid's comedy coaches would love to meet you if that’s ok?” He responds “ Sure, send them in”. And then we walk into the room and there he is….Bill Cosby sitting on the couch, big smile and extending his hand to greet us. I was blown away. I thought it would be a hand shake and little else. However, he shook our hands and said “ sit down”…..Bill Cosby just told me to sit down....on the same couch as him….to chat……sure…I could do that I guess. He was in great spirits and joking with us from start to finish. I told him I was from Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He said “Where?” I said Corner Brook Newfoundland and again he said “Where?” and then he smiled and I knew he was joking with me. He told us of an experience he had in Argentia Newfoundland. He said he borrowed tracksuit from the base and ran in a track and field event there but people though he was from Argentina! He then told us of an awful hotel he stayed in Toronto once and how elderly the front desk person was. We were laughing the entire time and he was acting stuff out and doing voices….amazing! I felt like Theo!
Then he signed some posters for us and it was time for us to go.
I sat in the second row during the show and watched the master deliver his stuff. I really enjoyed it and his style was so smooth with just story after story…just like our backstage time with him.
I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences since I started comedy 5 and half years ago. Many of the experiences have changed the way I think about the business and the art of standup. Meeting Bill Cosby reminded me that this thing is a marathon….you have to really love what you do…I mean really love it and be true to it. The class, patience, and charm that he displayed that evening without any presence of ego blew my mind. For all of the accolades he has received over the years and the phenomenal career he has built …….he just seemed to be a comic who really loves what he does. Our time with him was just three comics in a room telling stories…well..two comics and one legend.
Cheers,
Trent
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October 26, 2009 - Busy, but down time in Dominican Republic
Hey Folks
How are things?
It was a busy couple of months for me.
This fall has been busy. Did a mini tour of Ontario with shows at Absolute
Comedy Clubs in Ottawa and Toronto. Crowds were great especially in
Ottawa...they go nuts there for comedy!! All the shows were sold out and
they were turning people away.
Met some really great comics on the trip and had a great time. Got to see
my frined John Ki from Toronto who is very funny and someone you should
all check out. Also, I worked with Andrew Evans who I have become a fan
of....he has some dark stuff but also has some great clever bits as well.
Toronto was great as well....comics from outside Toronto are often told
that Toronto crowds are tougher. The same is often said of Vancouver. I
really think funny is funny and people across the country are not as
different as you might think.
When I returned to Calgary after the Ontario trip, I had three days and
then went to a wedding in the Dominican Republic. AWESOME time and total
complete relaxation. Beautiful scenery and people. That trip taught me
that when you take money out of the picture our lives become so much more
relaxing. For the the full week I did not think about prices of anything
just had what i wanted as a result of the trip being all inclusive. Makes
you think that we often have our mood altered by financial constraints and
worries. The trip was a great way to recharge for the maddness of a busy
couple of months.
I headlined the Edmonton Laugh Shops new club downtown in October and that
was alot of fun. The new place is cozy and great for performing. Crowds
were fun and I enjoyed it alot. I had an odd situation where in the middle
of the show some lady said excuse me and explained what bit of mine she'd
like to hear!!! Very funny...odd...but funny. I was going to do it anyway
but it made for some interesting moments.
Had a crazy weekend in BC with a corporate show in Fernie which was a
laugh(check out Big Bang Bagels by the way..I hear they're awesome!!),
then it was off to Kelowna to open for Gerry Dee. The show there was great
and a super energetic crowd. Gerry has been really kind to me and it was
great to see him and hear his new stuff.Wish I would have had more down
time in Kelowna because it's one of my favourite places in the
country...the drive on the way back too was so scenic. I remember at one
point listening to John Mayer's version of Tom Petty's Free Fallin and
looking at this incredible snowcapped mountain range....perk of the job I
suppose.
Anyway..its back on the road and a heavy coorprate season ahead. Hope you
are all well and enjoying what you are doing for a living because this is
it!!
Cheers
Trent
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