This weekend, I’m headed back to Minneapolis for my “home convention” CONvergence. I’ll be doing a bunch of comedy panels, an episode of my podcast Obsessed, and a new stand-up show called FUTURE HOLE. You can find my whole schedule here or below.
When I think of CONvergence, I sometimes think of this photo which I call “WORST DALEK INVASION EVER.”
This photo wasn’t even taken at CONvergence, but it sums up a lot of what I love about the convention. It’s got Daleks, absurdity, a sense of excitement, perhaps alcohol was involved, and most importantly it’s a great big party with a sense of humor about it.
I’ve been involved with CONvergence for a long time. Recently, when I moved to Los Angeles, I found this old photo from an early performance on mainstage. It’s from a sketch called POWER OF THE FUNNY in which Jedi Knights had rubber chickens for lightsabers. See above, re: absurdity.
The sketch was a parody of Star Wars which recast Jedi as vaudevillians and Sith as crass stand-up comedians. “Master Yoda,” Luke asked. “Are dick and butt jokes more powerful?”
“No,” responded Yoda. “Quicker, easier, more seductive.”
Years later, I don’t have the same chip on my shoulder about stand-up. I’ve happily turned to the dark side and take pride in trying to create (hopefully) intelligent, fun, pro-social dick and butt jokes.
Last year, I did a stand-up show about superheroes which included the made-up character Professor Ass Lightning. The next day someone dressed up as the character and another awesome person named Stephanie Brown gave me this drawing of the character.
Ass jokes for the win!
This year I’ll be doing a brand new stand-up comedy show called FUTURE HOLE. It’s a show about where we are and where we’re going. Topics include but are not limited to Netflix, jet packs, Benedict Cumberbatch, autocorrect, gender equality, and butts. It’s Friday at 7 pm on Mainstage. I’ll be recording the show for possible release as an album. I HOPE I GET MORE DRAWINGS!
I’m also recording a live episode of my comedy podcast OBSESSED. The topic is a super-important but often overlooked geek obsession–CATS. The animal, not the musical. My cat obsessed guests are Tim Wick and Rebecca Watson.
If you’re a fan of my book Comedy of Doom and my Patreon comedy blog posts on this very site, I’ll be doing a a reading and playing a quick round of my made-up nerd-friendly sport, Competitive Hugging.
I’ll be doing a signing on Sunday afternoon. I’ll have copies of my book Comedy of Doom and my comedy albums, Verbing the Noun and Flaw Fest. PLUS a very few flasks with my squirrel coat of arms.
While I’m in Minneapolis, I’ll also be doing Rebecca Watson’s Quiz-O-Tron at my ancestral comedy home of Bryant-Lake Bowl on Wednesday, July 2nd! Info and tickets are available here!
The rest of my time at the convention will be spent doing more comedy panels, sleeping, drinking, or all three of those things at the same time.
Full schedule here and below as well.
Thanks! My comedy Dalek plunger and rubber chicken lightsaber look forward to seeing you at CONvergence!
FULL CONVERGENCE SCHEDULE:
Thursday, July 3rd
8:30 pm – Smackdown: A heated, comedy debate about which magic-using character would win in a fight
Friday, July 4th
2 pm – Power Point Karaoke: Joseph is one of the presenters for this Power Point Presentation Smackdown!
3:30 pm – One on One with Amy Berg: Joseph interviews his pal, CONvergence Guest of Honor, Amy Berg
7 pm – FUTURE HOLE! Joseph’s stand-up comedy show about Netflix, jet packs, swearing, and more!
11:30 pm – Killer B’s Improv Movie Show: Funny Make-Em Ups to horrible B movies!
Saturday, July 5th
3:30 pm – Reading! Joseph reads from his book, his blog, and plays a round of Competitive Hugging!
5 pm – Worst of Harry Potter! Lets bitch about the films AND the books!
8:30 pm – Obsessed: A podcast about CATS with Joseph, Tim Wick, and Rebecca Watson!
10 pm – Drinking With Geeks: Exactly what the title says, but even funnier.
11:30 pm – Hypothetical Who: Joseph is a contestant in Paul Cornell’s brutal Doctor Who trivia show!
Sunday, July 6th
12:30 pm – Signing: Joseph signs and sells his book, comedy albums, and a FLASK!
Cheers,
Joseph
