2008 Woodie Awards
Comics perform for small audience, face heckler
Michael Bury, Reporter
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Campus Life
Student Diversity Council hosted a comedy event featuring Chicago comics Vanessa Fraction and Kevin "Damn Fool" Simpson Wednesday on the campus of Youngstown State University.
The event, hosted by local rapper and YSU grad student Keith "2 Fly" Logan, was originally scheduled for last week but postponed due to weather. Logan said the council hosted the comics to get students more involved on campus.
"Students always say that there is nothing to do on campus. We did this to prove them wrong," Logan said, adding that they also had the goal of raising student morale.
The event only drew about 20 audience members, but the host and performers didn't let the small turnout dampen their spirits.
"When you're a performer you do it for the fans," said Logan. "As long as they got what they wanted then it's mission accomplished."
Simpson thought it was a good crowd, even though it was smaller than he had expected.
"I had a good time. The crowd was attentive," said Simpson.
Both comedians said the small crowd gave the event a more intimate feel and tested them as artists.
"I appreciate any time there's a crowd in the building. I enjoy the small crowds. It's a challenge," said opening act Vanessa Fraction.
Not everyone enjoyed the show, though. At one point about thirty minutes into Damn Fool's set a heckler started shouting.
"Boo! You suck! No one came to see you," said the heckler at one point.
"You came to see me," replied Simpson.
The exchanged got heated, with both the heckler and Simpson shouting at each other. Eventually William Blake, Director of Student Diversity Programs, removed the heckler to calm the situation down.
The rest of the crowd enjoyed the event, however. YSU student George Washington had a good time at the show.
"It was good for me. It was just what I needed for the day. It put a smile on my face," Washington said.
Overall, Logan thought the event was a success.
"It was a nice and intimate crowd. It didn't look good in the beginning, but everything seemed to work out. The audience seemed to love it," said Logan.
Both Simpson and Fraction will be appearing on the new season HBO's Def Comedy Jam.
The event, hosted by local rapper and YSU grad student Keith "2 Fly" Logan, was originally scheduled for last week but postponed due to weather. Logan said the council hosted the comics to get students more involved on campus.
"Students always say that there is nothing to do on campus. We did this to prove them wrong," Logan said, adding that they also had the goal of raising student morale.
The event only drew about 20 audience members, but the host and performers didn't let the small turnout dampen their spirits.
"When you're a performer you do it for the fans," said Logan. "As long as they got what they wanted then it's mission accomplished."
Simpson thought it was a good crowd, even though it was smaller than he had expected.
"I had a good time. The crowd was attentive," said Simpson.
Both comedians said the small crowd gave the event a more intimate feel and tested them as artists.
"I appreciate any time there's a crowd in the building. I enjoy the small crowds. It's a challenge," said opening act Vanessa Fraction.
Not everyone enjoyed the show, though. At one point about thirty minutes into Damn Fool's set a heckler started shouting.
"Boo! You suck! No one came to see you," said the heckler at one point.
"You came to see me," replied Simpson.
The exchanged got heated, with both the heckler and Simpson shouting at each other. Eventually William Blake, Director of Student Diversity Programs, removed the heckler to calm the situation down.
The rest of the crowd enjoyed the event, however. YSU student George Washington had a good time at the show.
"It was good for me. It was just what I needed for the day. It put a smile on my face," Washington said.
Overall, Logan thought the event was a success.
"It was a nice and intimate crowd. It didn't look good in the beginning, but everything seemed to work out. The audience seemed to love it," said Logan.
Both Simpson and Fraction will be appearing on the new season HBO's Def Comedy Jam.
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