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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Wed Jun 2

WICHITA-AREA COMEDY EVENTS, June 2010

Wichita-based Comedy Events, June 2010

· WED, 6/2 – SAT, 6/5

KEVIN BOZEMAN @ 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 ANDY WOODHULL and ALAN GRAFTON)

· SAT, 6/5

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

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

· TUES, 6/8

TUESDAY NIGHT COMEDY REVUE @ Rock Island Live, 101 N. Rock Island

Featuring the SAY WHAT?, CHRIS WINSLOW, ROMIE LEE, JG SHOW, music & more!

9PM – 18+ to enter – $3 cover (Multi-genre)

· WED, 6/9 – SAT 6/12

ADAM HUNTER @ 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 VINCE MARTIN and CAMERON BUCHOLTZ)

· MON, 6/14

HA HA’S FOR THE CAUSE @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

Silent Auction @ 7:00, comedy shortly after – 18+ to enter – Tickets$10.00

(Benefit for the ARC of Sedgwick Co, featuring standup TODD YOHN and local openers)

· TUES, 6/15

FNF: Fun & Funny Tuesday @ the Loony Bin, 21^st & Woodlawn

8PM – 21+ to enter – $10 cover

(Standup – with B-RICH and LIL’ DERRICK – Hosted by LAMONT JAMES)

· TUES, 6/15

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

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

· WED, 6/16 – SAT, 6/19

BUTCH LORD @ 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 WARREN B. HALL and KENNY WEEKS)

· WED, 6/23 – SAT, 6/26

VALARIE STORM @ 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 ROB JENKINS and JAMES GATES)

· SUN, 6/27

ICT COMEDY @ Blu Nightclub, 8715 W. Maple (Maple & Tyler)

10:00PM – 21+ to enter – no cover (Standup)

Featuring JEREMY RUSH, DEONDE CRAWFORD, DUSTIN MORBY, & guests

· TUES, 6/29

JAMES GATES SHOW @ Frida’s, 1580 W. 21^st St.

8:00PM – 18+ to enter – no cover (Alt / Variety)

Featuring co-host DANIEL PEWEWARDY and various friends/guests/surprises!

…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

For any questions and/or info, contact:

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

ICT Comedy: booking@ictcomedy.com

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

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

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

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