This is part two of Larry's revealing interview with Joel Haas, Comedy Director at XM Satellite Radio (read part one, How to Get Airplay on XM Radio Comedy). Joel shares his tips for getting the best quality comedy recording, and talks more about his new comedy distribution company, Hahaas Comedy. You have personally recorded live comedy shows for names such as Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Slayton, Mike Birbiglia, Louis C.K., Frank Caliendo, Kevin Nealon, Adam Ferrara and Jake Johannsen. What have you learned over the years in recording live shows that you can pass along as advice to others? If you’re a recording engineer, get as much experience as you can. Record every show, big or small, paid or unpaid. I’ve managed to do a lifetime worth of recording and producing in just a few years time. I still learn new things every time I turn on my computer and mix a show! Today I can remix a recording from just a few months ago and get better sound. I’ve been growing this way for the last 4 or 5 years. It’s been a rather amazing journey and I have to thank XM for all the doors they have opened and the opportunities they have afforded me. With that said, I’ve earned everything I have today based on hard work, commitment, vision and focusing on a career instead of a family. My Mom’s not so happy with some of these decisions. She wants grand kids. Any single ladies out there? If any comedian would like advice or some direction with recording or producing, I’m an email or phone call away. I’ll give advice to anyone if it helps better the comedy world! I believe in comedy karma. How far will you travel to record a live show? I can record shows in any venue in the USA. I have plenty of top notch equipment for any size room, venue or theater. I usually use 8 crowd mics when I record in a club but I’ve got a stash of over 25 different mics. I’m based in Washington, DC but I’ve traveled all over the US to record and produce shows. I’ve manage to get an incredible amount of expensive and delicate equipment onto planes all by myself. I ache for days but the recordings last forever. What is the ideal equipment you need to capture a live comedy performance? There are plenty of adequate levels of equipment somebody could use if they are a recording engineer. As far as comedians recording their own shows, there is no perfect solution. If a headliner has at least one body to help them at all their shows, they could put together an ideal recording solution for a few grand that would capture quality sound. I’ve been trying to put together a good sounding hand held recorder and lapel mic combination so I can send equipment to artists and they can very easily record their own shows. Hahaas would produce and distribute them at no charge. Unfortunately lapel mics always get a lot of excess noise from body movement. I have just recently found a reasonable solution but I’m still in testing mode. Again I should stress that mixing and producing that audio can be just as important as the recordings. This is where many engineers are lacking. Besides all the shows I’ve mixed and produced outside of XM, this has been a big part of what I’ve done at XM for over 7 years. Tell us a little about your company, Hahaas? Hahaas is a stand-up comedy production and distribution company. We produce and distribute stand-up comedy recordings digitally and pay artists 66% of all income. These recordings are for sale at iTunes, CD Baby and other digital retail outlets. Since there are no physical CD’s to produce and our recordings live in the digital world, our costs are minimal. This allows Hahaas to pay artists more money than anyone else in the comedy industry...66% of all income from sale #1. We’re talking about $4.20 per sale from any $9.99 download on iTunes and $6.00 from sales on CD Baby. If you are big name artists will selling power, I’m more than happy to pay you even more. I know a lot of artists are afraid to sign away the rights to their material and they should be! There are a lot of shady things going on in this business with the explosion of the internet and the digital world. Always read any contract or agreement you sign. Once you’ve signed away your rights, somebody other than you can sell, market and exploit your likeness and your work for free the rest of their existence. Hahaas is the exact opposite of this! Hahaas won't hold comedians to any long term deals and they don't have to sign away any rights. You do have to sign over rights but comics can walk away at any time, without any penalty, and all rights revert back to the artist. Hahaas will immediately work to remove their material from all sites selling it. I’m willing to state on record that I am an awful businessman because I will rip up any artist contract at anytime. I will always do what any Hahaas artist wants me to do. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve that will benefit artists in new ways. And you work with existing recordings, right - not just new or upcoming recordings? Yes, comedians provide Hahaas with original recordings, old or new, in any format: CD, DAT, Minidisc, Pro Tools session, WAV files, DVD, Reel To Reel, etc. Hahaas handles all aspects of production and distribution: mixing, mastering, editing & producing, UPC & ISRC codes and digital distribution...all for free! Hahaas will produce and distribute any number of shows or sets from any comedian if the master recordings sound good and are funny. We can have them in the digital pipeline and earning money in about 14 days on CD Baby. iTunes and other digital sites will take 4-8 weeks. Hahaas has all the benefits of a record label but without all the overhead expenses. We’re going to put that money in the artist’s pocket. By the way, when Hahaas releases CD’s that an artist has released in the past, we always sweeten the sound and make any necessary editing. Send us that one track show and we’ll produce a fully tracked, edited and remixed show. We can make just about any recording sound better and the crowds sound bigger. Is there any downside to the comedian? Several…if you’re allergic to money, a bigger fan base and no risk contracts. Record label people may not like Hahaas or Hahaas artists because our business model is very different than theirs. I can’t say it enough; Hahaas is all about the comedians. I’m nothing without their support and trust and hopefully I can lead us all to the Promised Land… (AKA the Grammy’s and the bank!) How can comedians learn more? Visit www.hahaas.com to see what we’re all about. Email me directly at joel@hahaas.com with any questions or for more detailed information and an artist agreement. If you made it this far, thank for spending the time to read my babble. As you can tell, I’m quite passionate about this comedy shit. Now visit Hahaas, buy a download and actually support a comic. Thank for your time, Joel. Thank you Larry Weaver for reaching out and helping me spread the word of Hahaas. Labels: comedy
Comedian Larry Weaver brings exclusive interviews with influential comedians, writers, and insiders from the world of comedy. This is part one of Larry's revealing interview with Joel Haas, Comedy Director at XM Satellite Radio. XM satellite radio currently offers five channels dedicated solely to comedy: 150 XM Comedy; 151 Laugh USA; 152 Extreme XM; 153 Laugh Attack; and 154 National Lampoon Comedy Radio.  Joel, how many CDs do you receive per week from comedians looking for airplay on XM Radio?
In a busy week, one or two dozen CD’s may cross my desk. Do you listen to them all? I’ve taken a listen to every CD that I’ve received. A lot of the time I wish I didn’t! If the quality is poor, it goes straight into my Crappy Sounding CD box. There are a lot of funny CD’s and good comics in this box I wish I could play but can’t even consider because of sound issues. If the audio is staged or filled with fake laughs it usually ends up in my Shitty Comedy Box. These are so awful and phony that they would play like America’s Funniest Home Videos. If I put this shit on the air, it would be like a baseball to the nuts of real comedians. I’m a firm believer that you have to prove yourself before you deserve national exposure, but there are exceptions. Bottom line, funny CD’s that sound good have a fantastic chance of getting into rotation. What percentage of comedian CDs do you reject solely due to poor production quality? I’d have to say at least 25 percent of all CD’s that cross my desk I straight out reject based on poor sound quality. Shitty recordings sound even shittier in the digital world of XM! Sometimes I honestly can’t understand what comedians are thinking when they send awful records to be considered for airplay. XM Comedy has several million listeners a week. Comics should only put their best foot forward. This is part of the reason I started recording and producing live standup comedy. It’s absolutely the reason I started my comedy production and distribution company, Hahaas Comedy. It shouldn’t be as hard as it is to get a good sounding, well produced recording of a live comedy show! Most audio engineers are trained to record music. As a result, they tend to focus on the sound coming directly out of the microphone, and turn the crowd down during the performance. This can be disastrous for a comedy show. What do you recommend a comedian tells an audio engineer about recording a live comedy show? If you can, find somebody with a track record with comedy recording and/or producing. Listen to their work. Make sure they record in stereo! You’d be amazed at how many CD’s are recorded in mono. A band hasn’t recorded in mono since black and white TV. How can any comedian settle for this? There was a Grammy nominated comedy CD in the last 3 or 4 years that was in mono. I’d never mention names of artists but all I can say is I’ve heard several stories of upset headliners who are on major labels. If I was paying somebody to record my shows and cost wasn’t the issue, I’d want somebody with a Pro Tools setup that records onto a laptop. This would allow for as many crowd microphones as possible and the most flexibility with mixing, mastering and editing. What is the most common mistake comedians make when recording a live show? As important as the recording is, the mixing and mastering of the show can be equally important. Mistakes in any step of this process can degrade the quality of the sound and the flow of the performance. To do the recording right you do need to use multiple crowd microphones to record in stereo. The more mics you use, the bigger the crowd can sound but the more room for errors. I currently use 8 high quality microphones to capture the crowds. I started with 2 mics and I’ve used as many as 12. Talk about overkill! I could go on for hours on this subject but to keep it short, I’ll just mention that I can pop in a major label recording and point out the edits. I’ve trained myself to have “X-ray” hearing but artists should expect perfection from whoever records and produces their CD, especially the majors. That is what I believe in and that is what Hahaas tries to deliver….to all comics big or small. For comedians out there with quality recordings, how can they get you a CD? If comics would like to submit CD’s for XM airplay, send them to:
Joel Haas – Comedy Director XM Satellite Radio
1500 Eckington Place NE
Washington, DC 20017 In part two of our revealing interview with Joel Haas, Joel shares his tips for getting the best quality comedy recording, and talks more about his new comedy distribution company, Hahaas Comedy. Labels: comedy
I just returned from another exciting trip to the Los Angeles area. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to dine at a variety of places along the Southern California coast, and I’m posting some of my experiences here for your enjoyment. Please share your favorite places to eat in the comments section below. Ventura Beach, CA Dining Cafe Pacifico - Mexican / Baja Coastal
Marriott Ventura Beach, 2055 East Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, CA 93001, 805-643-6000
I’m starting off the beaten path here, but my recent trip took me to Ventura Beach, CA. The Marriott is definitely the place to stay in town. While not beachfront, the ocean is just right around the corner - a short walk or bike ride away. Cafe Pacifico was the surprise dining experience of this recent trip. I had to kick off my CA visit with fish tacos, tortilla soup and a house salad. They were all excellent. The breakfast buffet was also a pleasant surprise. Even if you’re not staying at the Marriott, a visit to Cafe Pacifico is definitely worth your while. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oxrvb-ventura-beach-marriott Thousand Oaks, CA Dining Marmalade Cafe & Catering Co.
140 Promenade Way # I, Westlake Village, CA 91362, 805-370-1331
I had the pleasure of meeting talented radio promoter Alan Rommelfanger for lunch, and he picked this nice spot right off Hwy 101. Strangely, I realized I had been to the Promenade at Westlake before to pick up lunch at Bristol Farms. The service at Marmalade was very slow and the food was forgettable, but the company made up for the lackluster dining experience. http://www.marmaladecafe.com/ After my trip to Thousand Oaks, I took the Malibu Canyon from 101 to the Pacific Coast Highway. What a breathtaking strip of highway. That was at least my third trip on that stretch, and it was just as awe-inspiring as the first. If you’re in LA, it’s worth driving up to Thousand Oaks just to take that drive. Santa Monica, CA Dining Papillon at Loews Santa Monica - Fireside Lounge
1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-6700
The Santa Monica Loews hotel in is unquestionably one of my favorite places to be in the entire World. With oceanfront views overlooking the Santa Monica pier, and World-class dining and shopping options just footsteps away, the Loews just can’t be beat. I always grab a bite at the Papillon hotel lounge or outdoors poolside. And it’s not for the food. It’s for the location, the star sightings, and the feeling that you’re in the middle of something exciting. By the way, the also serve this up at Shutters, Casa Del Mar, and The Viceroy – be sure to visit them all. http://www.santamonicaloewshotel.com/ The Hump - Sushi
3221 Donald Douglas Loop Rd., Santa Monica, CA, 310-313-0977
When my friends told me that the best sushi in LA was at the Santa Monica airport, well… it seemed a bit fishy (c’mon, how could I resist?). But the chefs at The Hump fly their ingredients in daily from Tokyo fish markets in oxygen-filled containers. That’s pretty fresh. It easily has to be the best airport restaurant in the World, and many (including Frommer’s) argue that it’s the best sushi in LA.http://www.thehump.biz/ Typhoon - Asian
3221 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-390-6565
While at The Hump, be sure to go downstairs to visit owner Brian Vidor's other restaurant, Typhoon. The exhibition kitchen executes an endless menu of dishes from every corner of Asia: Japanese gyoza, Indian samosas, Chinese dim sum, Thai coconut-chicken curry, Filipino fried squid, Indonesian stir-fried noodles, and much more. Although I was too full from Sushi upstairs, I still managed to try out the delicious Kimchi. I could have eaten three bowls, and Dim Sum (one of my favorite jokes from Geechy Guy). http://www.typhoon.biz/ Cha Cha Chicken - Eclectic Caribbean
1906 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-581-1684
I’m going to lay it out for you – I love Cha Cha Chicken. During my last trip I ate there 3 times in 2 days. For this trip, going to Cha Cha Chicken was one of the things I looked forward to the most. I’m not even sure why I love it so much. It’s just a beach shack serves on the corner of Pico and Ocean Blvd. I usually get the food to go and take it back to the Loews. It’s a great affordable option that’s unique, delicious, and easy on the wallet. http://www.chachachicken.com/ Burbank, CA Dining Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina
3113 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91505, 818- 841-4433
My old friend and Los Angeles magician Mic Cover picked this out for a meeting spot, so I could be close to my meeting at Warner Brothers. It seemed like any other Mexican restaurant, except it had a buffet – something you don’t see too often here in North Carolina. While there were plenty of options on the buffet that you would regret later, it turned out to be the perfect lunch spot for someone willing to make smart decisions. I opted for salad and rice topped with grilled chicken and fresh salsa, along with fresh-cut fruit for desert. I would visit again without hesitation. http://www.acapulcorestaurants.com/ Warner Brothers Outdoor Café
After years of searching, I finally reconnected with my old friend Ronnie Warner. He was the first comedy club bookers to use Selected Hilarity as a headliner. He also raved about a then 15-year-old unknown comic named Dave Chappell, and held Def Comedy-style shows in Durham, NC long before Def Comedy existed. In short, Ronnie had an eye for talent and was ahead of his time. His hard work has paid off with a business partnership with Mekhi Pfieffer and a prime office on the Warner Brothers lot. We spent hours talking, laughing, and catching up. Ronnie borrowed a golf cart and we rode around the lot for a while before eating at an outdoor café. While the food was nothing special, the experience was unforgettable. Lomita, CA Dining Harry's Oklahoma Style Smokehouse BBQ
25501 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717, 310-326-9842
Can you believe I left Burbank at 4:30 PM on a Friday to drive all the way to San Pedro during peak rush hour? And can you believe it took less than an hour? I headed off to Rancho Palos Verdes to visit my old friend and former WWE Champion, Rob Van Dam. For dinner we picked up a pound each of pulled chicken and pulled pork from Harry’s. The owner has adorned the walls with photos of himself from the 70’s with lots of really old-school country music stars. My favorite picture, though, was a picture of the owner with Andy Kaufman – complete with the neck brace from the Jerry Lawler piledriver. Priceless. If you find yourself in California craving some home-style BBQ, Harry’s is the place to go. http://www.harrysokstylebbq.com/ Venice Beach, CA Dining Figtree's Café – Oceanfront / American
429 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, 310-392-4937
There’s no place in the World quite like the Venice Beach Ocean Front boardwalk. Ask me about my trip there with RVD and SVD offline and I’ll tell you some stories. There are plenty of oceanfront eating options in Venice, and this seemed like as good as any. We opted to eat outdoors and despite the 70 degree temperature, the wind made downright freezing. The slow service didn’t help matters, and some of our appetizers actually came out after the entrees. I had the seemingly innocuous Grilled Mahi tuna sandwich, but I was soon filled with regret. Maybe it was the hummus – but something in their “fresh ingredients” didn’t sit well. I’ll leave it at that. http://www.figtreescafe.com/ Now enough about me. Where do you like to eat in LA? Labels: travel
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