What's So Funny?
Russell Gayer, author speaker
I’ll Save You a Seat
A lot of people are terrified of speaking in front of a crowd. Not me. A tingle runs up my spine when I look out over a large, captivated audience and see people looking at their watches, yawning, and sending text messages to themselves just to pass the time.
It’s exhilarating to watch them inch ever closer to the edge of their seat while leaning back to count the number of tiles on the ceiling. But my favorite part is the thunderous sound of shoe soles echoing off ceramic flooring as they stampede toward the exits after my closing remarks. Not bragging, but sometimes the mere mention of my name sends them running.
If you’re new to Friday Flash Fiction, the public speaker who can teach you to write 100 word stories worth listening to is Dalette Carnegie Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like a Free 90 day trial, visit her site and follow the step-by-step instructions. To view the writers in FFF Hollywood Squares Authors Block click here.
Hey, I just got a great idea. Wanna hear it?
Not really. Most of your ideas are pretty lame, but humor me.
That’s it.
That’s what?
You know how they have conferences for different writing genres, like Western Writers of America, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Romance Writers?
Yeah, go on.
Why not hold one for humor writers? I’ve got some great speakers in mind.
You mean like Dave Barry and Fran Lebowitz?
Not exactly. I can only afford those two guys from Friday Flash Fiction, Russell Gayer and Perry Block.
Really? How much are you paying attendees to come?
52 Comments on “I’ll Save You a Seat”
I'd love to hear from you
Purchase ‘One Idiot Short of a Village’
Purchase ‘The Perils of Heavy Thinking’
What's So Funny? 
Funny that those two guys are appearing at the humor writers’ conference because usually they appear at the all-women writer’s conference where they talk at length about what it’s like to be “a piece of meat.” Mr. Block is especially eloquent on the subject. But I guess they might appear at the humor writers’ conference as well. Let’s see: they pay the women’s conference $2,000 apiece to be permitted to appear there and they have to sit in a dunk tank for five hours afterwards. For the humor conference, they’ll probably have to pay $2500 a piece, but hopefully no dunk tank.
LikeLike
You’re right about the “piece of meat,” Perry. The first time I toured a poultry plant, those toothless women working on the line were staring at me and visually undressing me with their eyes. It’s horrible being treated as a sex objects, but I suppose we shouldn’t complain. Next they’ll be hiring us to model for the covers of the paperback romance novels they sell at Dollar General.
LikeLike
Can i attend please?
LikeLike
I don’t know if we can afford you. What’s your fee?
LikeLiked by 1 person
well about 3000 dollars for two hours will do.
🙂
LikeLike
I’ll have Perry write you a check from his personal account.
LikeLike
This course is not available in stores. We tried stores but they turned it down. But, I’m sure OWL was terrific.
I heard our fan club arrived … they came in on a bicycle!
LikeLike
You would have enjoyed OWL. There was a great presentation on script writing. Missouri Film something-or-other is holding a contest and three winners will be selected to attend an all expense paid trip to somewhere to hang out for three days with some professionals who are almost famous. Also, they might turn your script into a movie.
You should try it.
LikeLike
Ohhh don’t tease me. Really? That sounds really cool.
LikeLike
I’ll be emailing you the info on that contest later this afternoon. Personally, script writing looks extremely tedious and difficult to me.
LikeLike
Dear Fran,
You left me last week. I was reduced to a nameless schlepp wandering the internet not knowing who I was. I’ll admit to enjoying public speaking. Jan has often said that I’m a Kosher ham. I’m not sure, but I might’ve had more fun at OWL last weekend. Sigh. Although it was great to see my kids which made it worth the disappointment. (That’s anuther story.) As for Russell Gayer as a speaker at your humor conference…good way to clear the deck. 😉
Shalom,
Dalette
PS Guilt trip tickets free of charge.
LikeLike
Dear Dalette,
Perry and I are hoping the sponsor can come up with enough money to hire at least 3 or 4 attendees. We’re pretty experienced at lecturing empty chairs, but it’s nice to hear someone break into a snore once in a while when you’re delivering a key point during the speech.
The attendance was rather light at OWL. The word had gotten around that you weren’t going to be there, so many of the members chose to attend OWFI in OK City, or stay home, rather than travel to Branson. (or perhaps they heard I was coming? You didn’t tell anyone, did you?)
Still saving you a seat,
Fran
LikeLike
Hi guys. I am in your fan club!
LikeLike
Thanks, but I believe you ARE the fan club.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like I said, they came here on a bicycle.
LikeLike
Hilarious, Russell. Are you and Perry giving a joint speech? That would be like watching a comedy team at work. To keep people from stampeding out the door after the speech you could serve post-speech sandwiches, cake, and drinks. Or you could serve a strong drink before the speech to put them in a good mood. Watch out for the mean drunks, though. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Perry and I got a nice invite to speak at an insomniac’s convention. Some of the attendees haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years. They’re going to pay us so much a head for every person who dozes off while we speak. This could be the start of a whole new career.
LikeLike
I think it will be sold out… you know that Insomniacs United are desperate for this type of events… If you can add sheep to your show it will sell out within minutes.
LikeLike
I’d love to, but the sheep get nervous when Perry is around.
LikeLike
Some weeks, I show up just to watch you and Perry spar; you guys are a riot! Another funny piece, that is both witty and fun to read, Russell.
LikeLike
Why, thank you Dawn. I think we play off each other pretty well. I play the old, fat Gentile and he’s the in-age-denial Jew who couldn’t find a date if he was the only man on an island of ten thousand women.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And clearly, such good friends! 😉
LikeLike
As always, you bring a smile to my face. Well done. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
LikeLike
Thanks for not nodding off during the comments, Sheila. It’s always nice to see your smiling face.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here!
LikeLike
ha ha. I’ll give you a 75% discount on the “attendance fee ” Russell…if you promise not to write about any bodily functions for the next three weeks and still entertain us as you always do 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t know . . . three weeks is a long time. Does this count as week one?
LikeLike
I’ll attend. You did say there was a free lunch, didn’t you? No? Oh…
LikeLike
You drive a steep bargain, Sandra. Are you sure you want to eat Perry’s cooking?
LikeLike
Sounds like a winning lineup!
I was actually about to comment on your introductory paragraph – at first I thought it was your story, ‘cos it was brilliant 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Ali. My introduction usually has nothing to do with the photo, but this week I used it to set up the story. Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d buy that ticket. Get on it!
LikeLike
You might want to bring a pillow or two. We tend to ramble.
LikeLike
I’ll give you a 99% discount, but you’ll have to pay for room and transportation. 😀
LikeLike
I knew there was a hitch. Do you mind sharing a room with Perry?
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the president’s suite? No problem. I’ll probably die laughing though.
LikeLike
He prefers to sleep in the broom closet just off the kitchen. He’s says it roomy, though.
LikeLike
I’m not sure. In the long run Dave Barry and Fran Lebowitz might be a lot cheaper, depending on the size of the conference maybe by a sizable amount. I shouldn’t say anything since i know that if I were on the bill it would quadrupedal the price, and that’s paying me off to be sick that day, if I were actually make it…
LikeLike
Good point, Trent. We could probably hire a whole line-up of humor writers compared to what it would cost to pay 50 attendees to come. I like the idea of being paid NOT to show up. I can see the advertising brochure now; We guarantee Perry & Russell will NOT be anywhere within 200 miles of this conference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What great fun! Throw in some cookies and I’ll sit in the front row. Love your intro, too. It’s funny people get so nervous talking in front of other people and the truth is half the time people aren’t really listening anyway. 🙂
LikeLike
No spit wads, please. Feel free to wear your ear buds and listen to music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it must be fun to get paid for attending. even in pesos will do. count me in. 🙂
LikeLike
It’s probably the most grueling two hours you’d ever spend. Some people have compared it to a root canal without being numbed first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll attend for a night free stay at the resort. I’ve sat through time share sales before I am pretty sure I can do this.
LikeLike
So, you probably have so ear plugs in your purse, right?
LikeLike
Oh yeah…;)
LikeLike
Hi I hope this reactions would help you and your fans having more interactions, more fun ^^
Check this out at only 5s to customize the plugin !!
http://codecanyon.net/item/mona-emoji-custom-funny-emojiemoticon-on-your-postpage-wordpress-plugin/16222462?s_rank=2
LikeLike
I’ve seen people write entire sentences using nothing but emojis. I’m not one of them. This too shall pass.
LikeLike
This looked more like a ghost writers’ conference… 😉
LikeLike
We’d like to book you as a speaker as well. I’m sure the attendees would welcome the reprieve of not having to look at me and Perry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay. I guess I could come for a guest appearance. Just remember that my eyes are up here…not, well, you know. 😉
LikeLike
Very true, I must say
LikeLike