July 19: See Me (and Funny Friends) at QED!

It gives me great pride and pleasure to announce the next thing on the horizon, something that…just kinda made sense. I have a new monthly show at the Queens-based comedy club QED, 27-16 23rd Avenue, Astoria (which just so happens to be the childhood neighborhood of Mr. Tony Bennett.)

I love everything about this club and the neighborhood — felt immediately at home there. The club’s founder/ owner/ visionary/ chief bottle washer Kambri Crews describes it as “an after school club for grown-ups”. It’s the first legit comedy club I’ve been in that seems to allow the producing comedians quite a bit of creative freedom, reminiscent of the old LES alternative comedy scene (Surf Reality, Collective Unconscious) where I first would have encountered Crews and her hubby, comedian Christian Finnegan. (She also wrote the amazing book Burn Down the Ground which I reviewed many years ago — can’t find my review now though!)

Anyway Trav S.D.’s Variety Store will be the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm, starting July 19. Tickets will be $10. The name is a play on “The Comedy Store” ( with the acknowledgment that I have not forsaken my variety show inclinations). Myself and co-producer Tom Bibla are going to be booking outre nut comics and comedians from very diverse backgrounds, and as we get rolling we’ll also be mixing funny ventriloquists, magicians, singer-musicians and such-like into the batter. There will also be contests and door prizes (things like books, CDs, DVDs, tee shirts and other branded merch). You know how when you usually come home from a comedy show and you feel deprived of both laughter and all the money in your wallet? This is a show whose mission will be that you never feel that way.

I’m so looking forward to my first variety show in five years! Oh and that name, Variety Store, is also designed to tie in with my upcoming book about TV variety shows. I’m hoping to create an online video component that folks can watch from their homes…eventually.

On the bill with me for the first show on July 19 will be the fabulous talents of…

National pundit and TV commentatorRobert A. George:

Steve Krantz (“Epstein” of Epstein and Hassan)

Orthodox Jewish Trans ComicDana Friedman

Gilda Konrad,veteran of myAmerican Vaudeville TheatreI haven’t presented in 20 years!!!

And the exquisite storytelling of Jennifer Glick!

And more, more, more!

Oh, and I’m the host. There’s nothing that can be done about that, I’m afraid.

Reserve your tix, get more info here at QED’s official website.

COME HAVE FUN WITH US.