Comedy Is Serious Business – Weekend Seminar with Don Barnhart & Michael Wheels Parise
Event on 2013-05-25 11:00:00
Do you want to take your career to the next level? Are you tired of hitting your head against the wall? Are you doing the same thing over and over and not getting the results you want? Join Michael Wheels Parise and Don Barnhart in this weekend intensive workshop as they go over every detail of the comedy business with a review of your current act/promo kit. Just some of the things we'll be going over. Bookers, agents and managers Persistence vs. Pestilence Show Business not show up and party Marketing and branding yourself and much more.. Things to bring: Bring a pen, paper or voice recorder to take notes. A dvd of up to 5 minutes to be reviewed. (optional) Something to drink as we're gonna be here awhile Things not to bring: Ego – We'll be going over the nuts and bolts of what works and what doesn't. We'll be going over your act with a fine tooth comb to see what works and what doesn't. We'll also be dealing with why clubs book some acts and not others so be prepared to handle the truth! Weekend workshop 0 Returning students of Parise or Barnhart get a discount. Payment options: You can reserve your spot now with credit card or paypal at: http://donbarnhart.com/Links.htm Drop off check or money order at Parise Group. 2790 East Flamingo rd. Las Vegas, NV. 89121. Heavenor, Assistant to Michael Wheels Parise, is available Monday thru Thursday 10-5. You will get a receipt upon payment. DON BARNHART – BIO Award winning comedian Don Barnhart is one of the top comedy coaches and consultants working today. He is a published author, actor, filmmaker, certified hypnotist and life coach. You may not know Barnhart by name but you'll recognize his face as you've seen him on TV and film as well as headlining the top comedy clubs in Las Vegas for years. He is also a favorite at the top comedy clubs across the country and cruise ships around the world. The Las Vegas Review/Journal called Barnhart "Best Bet" in 2012 and that same year, he won the grand prize in the Levity, Talenthouse and Improv Comedy Club's search for the next great comedian. Barnhart also stars in the new film, Finding The Funny featuring Brad Garrett, Louie Anderson and Marty Allen. In 2010, Don Barnhart received the International Performing Artist's "Bob Hope Award" for his continued service performing and producing comedy shows for the troops stationed overseas. Barnhart has been performing and producing comedy shows for the troops around the world since his first USO tour back in 1992. He's been everywhere from Bosnia to Afghanistan. Barnhart continues to book comedy shows for the troops and will be back in Afghanistan in 2013. In a recent interview Don stated, "I'm blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love and I consider both an honor and a privilege to entertain our men and women serving in the military. I'm kinda like the water boy on the Super Bowl team". Don Barnhart is currently in production directing the new film, "Reefer Rendum: A comedic yet serious look at the legalization of marijuana in America." Barnhart also stars in the 2012 documentary, "Finding The Funny" answering the question, "Can you teach someone to be funny?" Barnhart created, produced and starred in "The Freedom of Speech Comedy Series", he recently wrote, directed and starred in the indie thriller, "China Dolls" and his first novel, "Freeloader" is being developed into a feature film which Don will direct and star in. Barnhart also produced, directed and starred in "The Ice House 50th Anniversary TV Show." Don got his start in comedy as house emcee, manager and talent coordinator at The Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA. It was during the comedy boom of the 80's that Barnhart opened for, learned from, worked with and forged friendships with today's comedy legends: Seinfeld, Leno, Jim Carey, Louis Black, Drew Carey, George Wallace, Louie Anderson, David Spade, Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and more. Leno's advice to Barnhart, "You wanna be great? Go on the road". And Don did. He left the security and lucrative job to pursue comedy full time and since 1987, Don averages 250 days year on the road. Barnhart's comedy career really gained national attention in 2007 when he won the American Idol Underground's Best Comedian Award and was named their, "Artist to watch" and Entertainment Business Journal named him one of the, "Top 100 comedians to see" three years in a row. Don just shot his new comedy special, "I'm Not Just Eye Candy" now available on DVD and he's been seen, heard and featured on numerous TV, Radio and Film projects: ABC, CBS, MTV, FOX, NBC, ABC Morning Show, Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Northwest, Star Search, Evening At The Improv, Comedy Central, Ocean's 13, Lunar Madness, In The Army Now, Apollo 13, The Ice House 50th Anniversary DVD, The Bob & Tom Show, XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and more. Audiences say, "Barnhart has the wit and insight of George Carlin with the energy, delivery and characters of Robin Williams". The NY Times wrote, "Hilarious". The LA Times called Don, "One of the best" and Howard Stern said, "That guy is funny". Don was selected to showcase and present his show at The Montreal Comedy Festival in 2008 and that same year Don released China Dolls, his first feature film that he wrote, directed and starred in. The indie action thriller helped Barnhart to increase his ever growing fan base and the film got great audience reviews. Don used the power of social networking and huge web presence on Facebook and Twitter to self-distribute the project and to build its core audience. Barnhart just completed writing the new comedy film, Freeloader. "It's the story of a returning Vet who ends up homeless in Las Vegas and uses comedy to find his way back. I always try to use comedy as a way to shine light on current social issues and this is a sort of a modern day Robin Hood Story", added Don. The film is already in pre-production and will begin filming later this year with Barnhart directing and starring in the comedy. Don is also a published author as well as a contributing writer on the book: I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comedians. Barnhart is a Second City Conservatory Graduate as well as Certified Hypnotist who in his free time does a separate Improv as well as Comedy Hypnosis Show. Don and his producing partner and wife Linda Vu continue to produce comedy shows for the troops around the world and their company, Don Barnhart Entertainment is the number one consultant and independent producer for comedy clubs as well as comedy concerts around the globe. When Don does get spare time, he teaches comedy and improv from his home studio in Las Vegas sharing his vast knowledge of the comedy business helping craft the next generation of young comedians. MICHAEL WHEELS PARISE – BIO Michael Parise has been in the entertainment industry for 25 years. Michael has worked beside a very prestigious list of entertainers and executives his entire career. Said to be one of the best comedians of our time, nominated for a Comedy Award in 1997, worked with Andrew Dice Clay, Rodney Dangerfield, Jada Pinkett Smith, Keenan Ivory Wayans, just to name a few. International Headliner, Las Vegas Headliner and corporate motivational speaker. Considered a Celebrity Chef and one of the best Closers of our time. Does it all make sense? The Entertainer: Affectionately known in the entertainment industry as Michael Wheels Parise, Comedian/Actor. Wheels was in the original, Andrew Dice Clay crew back in the 90s called the Brooklyn Bad Boys. As opening act,tour manager and best friend of the Diceman, Wheels was a part of history in American pop culture back in the day, when comedy was a crafted art. Started in the trenches of New York with Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, John Stewart, etc. . . Wheels later moved on to Los Angeles and became a hit at the World Famous Comedy Store in West Hollywood, but with comedy comes struggle and in Hollywood, nothing comes easy. The Closer: Michael is no stranger when it comes to sales, as a struggling comedian in LA. Wheels made a living in Telesales, working every boiler room in Los Angeles selling everything from stocks, refi's, alarm systems, postal manuals, sports memorabilia to things that did not exist. . .but he learned from the best closers out there and that would prove to turn a negative into a positive later in life. Learning lessons, technique, swagger and the applying the bodies of knowledge in a positive way, incorporating that in the metaphysical world of positive energy and projective thought patterns, makes this a very powerful tool in life that he passes on through out the country. whether speaking at corporate seminars, teaching the "closing" room floor the ethical way of closing or motivating fortune 500 companies and applying the the bodies of knowledge in life and work. . .you are on the path to success, you will not and can not fail. Celebrity Chef: Before it all, Michael had a passion for cooking. Growing up into an Italian family, you had no choice when it came to eating, you just did, but you also had the benefit of eating the most delicious food in the world, to say the least. Michael"s brother Victor is a Chef and in the Parise Family of Long Island NY you were either in politics or food and beverage. Michael and his family ended up moving to Florida when he was 10 years old. Victor worked as a chef at some pretty high end restaurants in FL. Michael wanting to follow in his footsteps ended up finding his love of food early on and started taking it serious. Working as a dishwasher then a pizza cook at the ripe age of 14, Michael loved the restaurant business. he knew this would be something he would pursue. Learning with his eyes as he would watch his brother create food art. getting his degree in Culinary arts and working in restaurants later in NY, LA. and Colorado, would just be the beginning to his crazy career in food. Cut to 2004, While making a transition in life he decided in a hotel room in Miami while headlining the Miami Improv that he wanted a more stable life. He had just met his future wife and he was tired of working the road, he wanted to spend more time in LA and get ready to raise a family at 38 years old. . . so he came up with an idea that would be life changing. He bought the name "Cannoli Kings".com and thought about selling the sumptuous dessert Cannoli, thru mail order. He developed 20 signature decadent creams. When he got back to LA he started to post on Craigslist, peddling Cannoli Platters to office complexes and celebrities. Well it started to take off and he was doing that plus catering food for companies and delivering, all out of his 1 bedroom apt in West Hollywood. (To make a long story short) applying his sales technique with his culinary talent and celebrity connections, Cannoli Kings would become the number one catering company in Los Angeles in 2005 to 2008 with his new state of the art kitchen and crew and 385 flavors of Cannoli cream that got him national attention., Chef Parise would make his mark in the world of food and a client list of Michael Jackson, Hale Berry, Teri Hatcher, Robin Williams and a slew of other A list celebrities! Leaving Los Angeles and the daily grind, Michael and his family found there way to Asheville North Carolina and ended up opening "Parise's New American Bistro" in Chimney Rock, NC. At the famous Esmeralda Inn., becoming the #1 fine food dining in Western NC. Show biz came calling for him back and he sold the Bistro and moved back west to Las Vegas, NV. where he currently runs "Parise Catering and Events", his signature company. Today: Michael lives with his wife Sherilene and there daughter Catherine in Las Vegas, Headlining the clubs in Vegas as he runs Parise Group. Still catering parties in LA and Las Vegas and now teaching younger comedians the "Art of the biz" in a workshop called "The Next Level" as well as doing 1 on 1 personal coaching. Michael loves the business and is currently working on a reality show project called "Hardcore Close" a look into the world of the "Boiler Rooms" of America. Michael even went behind the scenes in Las Vegas at a top boiler room just to brush up.Michael is also launching 2 new business in Las Vegas, Sin City Doggie Styles(designer doggie clothing and jewlery) and "Its WHOLE good", a green community website focused on a WHOLE lifestyle. When not working on all of theses projects, Michael enjoys relaxing with his family, drinking wine with his wife, as they watch their 7 year old grow up into an amazing young lady. Nothing is more powerful than the love of ones family. . . One thing has always been on the mind of Parise,and that was making it. As long as you believe in yourself, believe in what you do, the rest comes easy. Love the one you're with! We don't promise to get you work but we'll show you what you need to do to get the work you desire.

at Parise Group Productions
2790 East Flamingo Rd. Ste F
Las Vegas, United States