Notes From the Whirlpool

Hey there! Sit down, have a drink. We should get acquainted…
Me? I’m JAMES GATES. What’s that? Well, that’s a tricky question…You might call me a Wichita…what? Character? Fixture? Gargoyle? I don’t know for sure… I’ve lived in the Wichita area almost 79% of my life. Most of the time I haunt Delano and the Old Town district like they were my own personal Whitechapel—you may only catch glimpses of me, floating in the background at a bar, a show or an art opening, but there are traces of me everywhere. (Wow, that didn’t sound creepy at all, did it?) I’ve been around long enough to have met some people… And let’s face it, I’m recognizable. I’m six and a half feet tall, rail-thin with blond hair, goatee and yellow-tinted glasses—I look like the three-way love child of Andy Dick, Shaggy, and Lurch from The Addams Family.
If there’s one thing I’ve been known for over the years, it’s random, bizarre, goofy shit. Tales are still told of the time I staged a re-enactment of the Oswald assassination in front of the Bohemian Bean Co., or when I held an impromptu white-slavery raffle to pay my rent… After awhile, it just seemed a natural to go semi-pro, which I did in 2006 with the sketch comedy group PANIC BUTTONS. I’ve been performing on stages and microphones throughout the Wichita area ever since, pursuing the goal of building a live, local comedy scene. In March 2007 I started doing THE JAMES GATES SHOW, a live comedy experience based around A) the late-night talk show format, and B) a whole bunch of me. And the rest is, well, the stuff of much confusion…
Anyway, this is my log. I get to write about anything I want, anytime. I like that. Hope you do too.

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Fri Oct 1

WICHITA-AREA COMEDY EVENTS, October 2010

Wichita-based Comedy Events, October 2010

· WED, 9/30– SAT, 10/2

DAN O’SULLIVAN @ the Loony Bin, 6140 E. 21^st St. (21^st & Woodlawn)

8PM (2^nd show @ 10:30, Fri-Sat) – 18+ to enter – call (316) 618-HAHA for ticket prices

(Standup – featuring TEAGUE HAYES and GABE PERRY)

· SAT, 10/2

SAY WHAT?! @ Mead’s Corner, 430 E. Douglas (Douglas & Emporia)

9PM – All ages – no cover (Improv comedy)

· WED, 10/6 - 10/9

DANIEL DUGAR @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

8PM (2^nd show @ 10:30, Fri-Sat) – 18+ to enter – call (316) 618-HAHA for ticket prices

(Standup – featuring DANNY KEETON and DAN FRITSCHIE)

· WED, 10/13 – SAT, 10/16

THEO VON @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

8PM (2^nd show @ 10:30, Fri-Sat) – 18+ to enter – call (316) 618-HAHA for ticket prices

(Standup – featuring JASON BROWN and CHRIS WINSLOW)

· SAT, 10/16

SAY WHAT?! @ the Donut Whole, 1720 Douglas (1 blk E of Douglas & Hydraulic)

8PM – All ages – no cover (Improv comedy)

Halloween-themed show, with special guest JAMES GATES

· TUES, 10/19

99 CENT OPEN MIC @ Blue Lounge, 608 E. Douglas

9PM – 21+ to enter – $.99 cover (18+ / no cover for performers) (Open Mic)

· WED, 10/20 – SUN, 10/24

THE SANDMAN @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

8PM (2^nd show @ 10:30, Fri-Sat) – 18+ to enter – call (316) 618-HAHA for ticket prices

(Comedy hypnotist – SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT – no feature or emcee)

· WED, 10/27 – SAT, 10/30

DREW THOMAS @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

8PM (2^nd show @ 10:30, Fri-Sat) – 18+ to enter – call (316) 618-HAHA for ticket prices

(Standup – featuring STEVE GILLESPIE and ACE REEVES)

…and don’t forget to visit the comedy-friendly local OPEN MICs:

· OPEN MIC with BRANT, every Monday @ 10PM – Blue Lounge, 608 E. Douglas

· COMEDY SLAM, every Wednesday @ 8PM – Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn (NO OPEN MIC ON 10/20)

For any questions and/or info, contact:

James Gates: (316) 992 -7922 – jgates01@gmail.com

ScallyWags: (316) 282-3762 – www.scallywagsonline.com

Say What?: (316) 293-6525 – saywhatimprov@yahoo.com

Loony Bin: (316) 618-HAHA – www.loonybincomedy.com

(NEW! Loony Bin Text System – text “41513” for ticket discounts & other LB special promos!)

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