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Each year, all of the ComedySportzes around the world get together for a 'tournament'. The purpose of the tournament isn't to crush the other teams, but hang out, learn new games, and make new memories. This year's tournament was in Philadelphia. The crew from Chicago included Tara DeFrancisco, Dave Gaudet, Tamara Nolte, Rich Prouty, Rance Rizzutto, and me. This was my third (in a row!) tournament, and it will definitely be an annual endeavor. I have been going to improv festivals for 8 (I think) years, and this one is one of the bests. 

Anyway, TD, Prouty, and Rance did the roadtrip thing, while TNo & I took United Airlines. Gaudet was already there for some filming thing. We all arrive on Wednesday, and TNo & I catch the last 10 minutes of the new games workshop. Sad to see that we missed most of it though.  The NGW is one of my best daytime activities at tournament. Without it, we wouldn't be playing "Try That On For Size" every other show. 

Wednesday night, we did a Beatbox show. All of the CSz folk that were there at the time did the show, plus we drafted Doug Neithercott (from CSz Twin Cities) to play with us. It was a really fun show, and there were time which I was crying because it was so funny. Tara & Rance were great.  After shows, there is always an evening activity (which leads to an early morning activity). Wednesday night was Karaoke, followed by Murder (hosted by America's Rich Prouty). Going to sleep before 3 is uncommon.

Thursday morning started with a morning meeting (which is usually attended by 50% of the people) then 2 sets of workshops. I taught on Friday, so Prouty & I decided to wander to the Liberty Bell and see if epoxy could fix it. After a quick stop at Staples for directions and fun, we made it!

(picture by Rich Prouty)

We didn't have a show on Thursday night, but Rance had the privilege of reffing the opening match of Manchester UK vs Philadelphia and Milwaukee vs Portland. Rance is a good ref. Shows were great that night and we had a blast at the opening ceremony. We all marched in and paraded on stage. FUN! Can you see me?

(photo by someone on facebook)

Friday was an early morning, as I had to beatbox for 2 hours in a MadSkillz workshop. It was real fun, but it was tiring. Hopefully, people had an awesome time!

Hints from MadSkillz:

• Use short, strong vowel words instead of multi-syllable words that end in a hard consonant. Bay is a lot easier to rhyme than catastrophic.
• Don't be afraid to pause during your freestyle. There are 2 types of pauses. A silent pause is just what it sounds like. You are not rapping on a beat. A vocal pause is when you say something that doesn't have anything to do with the rap. I'm referring to the "Aw yeahs!" and "Check it out!". You will get eliminated if you use one on occasion, so be careful.
• Save the money word for second in the couplet. In the typical AABBCC rhyme scheme, setup the word you want to use in the first A, and use it in the second A. For example, if the subject you are freestyling is food, think of references that are easy to rhyme. Brainstorming: pizza, fries, asparagus (gulp!), meat, steak, etc. I will choose fries, and then set it up as follows. "Look out y'all for this big surprise. I just ate a burger and fries" (now I'm really hungry)
• Use your character/environment. If you are in a scene as a dentist, be a dentist in your rap. Rap about what dentists do/know. Keep that same accent. Where are you? Oh...an antique mall? There are so many things that would be in an antique mall. Rap about a few objects, like that old AM radio, Elvis Presley plate, and Cross Colors shirt.
• Rap on what you know. The best raps (and songs, and scenes, and yes!) have detailed references. Which is better? "I'm going to the beach" or "I'm flying to the Galapagos Islands to swim with the tortoises".
• Tweak words to fit if you need to (aka the dirty south style of rap). The words bay (I don't know why I keep using that word. I probably need to go SCUBA diving) and me don't rhyme. Tweak one and watch the magic. "Sittin down and drinking by the bay. No one around but you and may". Yes, you will get *clap clap* outta here, but it's fun.
• If you can't rhyme something, fake it with energy. There will be a very small chance 0.001% that you won't come up with something amazing. In the event that does happen, know that you aren't rhyming, show us that you don't care your rap didn't rhyme, and heighten the crap out of it with energy. You are still amazing.
• Use the last few words of the previous rhyme to start your rhyme. This is a great rap line trick. It starts you off and gives you time to fill in the rest. For example, if you were given the line "Ted is a teacher in a middle school", you can grab "in a middle school" and use it for "In a middle school, where he ain't no fool". If this happens a lot, you may get *clap clap* outta here.
• Practice. Do this a lot. It will make you less scared of words. 

Friday night, Chicago vs Philly match! I was lucky enough to be captain, along with TD, Prouty, and Nolte. We started out with Beastie Rap.

(another photo from facebook, so i don't know who took it)

Other games include a fun Changing Styles and Dr Know It All with the cutest of audience volunteers ever!

(copyright Bron Edge I think)

The match was close, but Philly took the victory. That was okay on 2 parts. First, they played well. Second, it was their city. Of course, us Chicago folk couldn't leave gracefully, so we had to remind them about the Stanley Cup. Oops? I brought 4 t-shirts with me.

(i am pretty sure Bron Edge took this picture too)

The last show on Friday night was the All-Star match. Dave Gaudet was voted in as an All-Star. Cool! Sorry, no pics on him, but he is old and you probably don't want to see them.  More bars and games after the shows. Saturday, there was no meeting, so we got to wander around some more. I think I went to Chick-Fil-A a few times, and Prouty got a new phone. 

By about 9 PM, all of the teams were wondering and gossiping on who would be in the Championship match. They don't announce the finalists until 30 minutes before the match. Everyone was told to bring their gear, just in case. You know what? WE GOT IT! I couldn't believe it. Chicago was vote in to play Philadelphia in the championship. Dave graciously backed out of the lineup, so the players were Prouty, Rance, and me, with TD as captain. It was room 1011. I guess the people that stay together, play together. So excited (and nervous). We had to bring our A game, because we knew Philly would in their hometown.

We started out with Rap Line, which I got to the last position and lost. Philly brought it. Lots of Chicago vs Philly sports jokes straight out of the gate. I wasn't sure how the audience felt about us. We were in trouble! The 2 team choice games we played were New Choice and Forward/Reverse. Rance, TD, and Prouty did great stuff. Very patiently. I didn't really have much to add to either game, but it was fun doing bits on the side as a Jamba Juice worker and a guy making copies (respectively).  Five things was really hard, but really fun. I say fun a lot, but that is what tournament is. 

(who am i kidding, all of these pictures are probably from Bron)

The second half started with a combined Day In The Life musical. Kelly Vrooman from Philly played the volunteer girl Vinnie and I played her boyfriend Pramod. Pramod was a techie engineer, so the nerd bits started flowing. 

(seriously Bron, you take good pictures)

A few games later, and it was the end. We lost by 4 points, but comedy was the real winner. They hoisted the trophy, made of 100% pure awesome, and we highfived out. See, we are all friends, even though Rance looks like he smelled something wicked.

(another FB picture, only because Bron wasn't in the room)

By the end, that Philly audience warmed up to us, and we all had a blast.  We did a fun show with Philadelphia, for our friends and for the fanz. What could make the night better? How about a closing night party!

(Copyright some person at the bar)

Great tournament.

Great week

Great life!

Yes and!