Comedian Talent Show Improv Festival

Idea: A standup comedy festival where the performers do one normal standup performance and also participate in at least one comedic improv/game/activity which showcases another one of their other talents, such as art, singing, magic, etc. Also: the talent shows wouldn't be competitions, and would often pair together comics with complimentary talents, such as singers, musicians, and dancers, who would have a few hours to collaborate to come up with a group performance; questioning whether puppetry would be allowed

Matt TerBurgh (Instagram: @terburghmatt YouTube: @mattterburghcomedy Facebook: @mattterburgh)
Eileen Nolton (Instagram: @evnoltoncomedy Facebook: @enolton)
Chris Young (Web: chrisyoungcomic.com Instagram: @chrisyoungcomic)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

St. Louis Aviation Museum

Idea: To have an aviation museum in St. Louis (called "Aviation Under The Arches") to showcase the aviation history of the city, such as Charles Lindbergh and WWII fighter planes. Also: they could steal Akron's aviation museum; being too fat to ride in airplane simulators; being afraid of heights in some scenarios (such as skydiving) but not being afraid to ride in an airplane; an odd museum and an oddly-named gay strip club in St. Louis

Image generated by ChatGPT

Emily Clark (Facebook: @emily.clark.798 Linktree: @do.you.know.your.emily)
Tom Brown (thetombrown.com Facebook: @thetombrown)
Ricarlo Winston (Facebook: @Ricarlo.thecomedian Laughter on the Lakeshore Comedy Fest (Facebook))
Scott Fischer (Facebook: @scott.fischer.980)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Rolling On The Floor With Laughter (Comedy Dice Game)

Idea: A standup comedy competition where a pair of dice (one containing a comedy style and the other containing a broad topic) is rolled and then two comics compete to improvise/recall the better joke within those constraints. Also: testing out the game; discussing the comedy styles (such as self-deprecation and observational) and topics (such as "dad joke" and anatomy); discussing the "slapstick" style and whether it will lead to a comedian performing a lewd act upon the stool; suggesting a "wild card" topic on the dice where you draw an audience-suggested topic from a bowl

Emily Clark (Facebook: @emily.clark.798 Linktree: @do.you.know.your.emily)
Tom Brown (thetombrown.com Facebook: @thetombrown)
Ricarlo Winston (Facebook: @Ricarlo.thecomedian Laughter on the Lakeshore Comedy Fest (Facebook))
Scott Fischer (Facebook: @scott.fischer.980)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Smug of War (Comedic Bragging Contest)

Idea: A comedy contest where the contestants comedically brag about themselves instead of roasting an opponent. Also: avoiding downsides of roasts, including deeply hurting someone's feelings and having to do research about an opponent before the show; the two rules of "smug of war"; a concept of a "smug of war" where topics to brag about are provided to the contestants before the show (so the jokes are better and it doesn't feel like an improv game); why AI might be useful for writing jokes specifically for this show

Jeff Teed (Instagram: @jeffteed23 Instagram: @say_what_open_mic_at_hearsay)
Jack Cuncannan (Instagram: @jackc_comedy)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Playa Haters’ Ball Comedy Show

Idea: A roast-like award show where each comic is introduced by giving them an insulting award (such as "the comic with the most hit-with-a-brick mouth"), and their set/"acceptance speech" is a roast of the host, the other comics, and possibly also celebrities and/or random people in the audience. Also: it's loosely based on a "Chappelle's Show" sketch called "Playa Haters’ Ball"; it's roast-like humor, but there's no "dais", everyone is the target of the insults, and there's no respectful "I roast you because I love you" backtracking at the end; comics are well-dressed but in an over-the-top pimp-like way (possibly also in a jokey persona like a pirate or a "Silicon Valley pimp") to make it easy for other comics to insult them; the show would also include games, sketches, and other comedic activities

Idea: A roast-like award show for comedians who're given an insulting award (such as "the most hit-with-a-brick mouth"), and their acceptance speech is a roast of the host, other comics, celebs, audience, etc.
It's loosely based on the Chappelle's Show sketch "Playa Haters' Ball" pic.twitter.com/rvCxlWxonG

— Creativity Wasted Podcast (@creativitywaste) December 15, 2024

Donte Lillard (Linktree: @dontelillard Facebook: @DogComicProductions)
JT Motley (YouTube: @JTMotley Facebook: @jamie.kidmoten)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Toady Mustard (Improv Show Format)

Idea: An improv show format which is an absurdist parody of a rigid agenda-based speech of a Toastmaster public speaking course. The name "toady mustard" is based on a funny autocorrect re-spelling of the word "Toastmaster". Also: the rigid agenda would give the improv performers clear roles and make the longform show feel like a series of distinct shortform games and bits (each agenda topic would be a different bit/game); absurdist agenda items could include dance breaks, giving the audience foot rubs, calling out the jerk of the room, etc.

Lisa Green (Facebook: @lisa.green.8 Linktree: @depottowncomedy)
Shelly Smith (Facebook: @shelly.smith.9210 Podcast Website: readsandweeds.com)
Matthew Ryan (Facebook: @matthew.ryan.911)
Mike Geeter (Facebook: @michaelgeeter1969 Web: samroseent.com)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Forklift Driving Competition Tour

Idea: To expand the forklift driving championship into a multi-city touring competition/festival, and also expand it to include a variety of forklift and warehouse-related events. Also: forklift events could include obstacle courses (difficult turns, uneven and wet floors, mannequins or robots in the way, etc.), box stacking (speed, height, perfect box alignment), picking up and moving things without knocking over nearby things (kind of like Jenga or a puzzle), team events, racing against auto-pickers (robotic forklifts), etc.; non-forklift events could involve cranes, semi trucks, Amazon warehouse-style manually gathering of items from shelves, etc.; a tour could involve traveling pros competing against each other, amateur events, and possibly allowing amateurs to compete against the pros (like a pro-am); maybe WWE-ify it with foam boxes that are almost guaranteed to tumble down and forklifts that are modified to safely crash

Chris Young (Web: chrisyoungcomic.com Comedy Special Video: Buoyant Mon)
Jae Gonzalez (Instagram: @comedyxjae)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Chakra Goddess

Idea: A comedic performance (either on stage or on TikTok) in an over-the-top costume representing one of the seven chakras which shows both love for and criticism of gurus and the culture of yoga, meditation, and "New Age"/"Eastern" religion/spirituality. Also: Shelly walking through the audience of a comedy club spreading sage and blessing hecklers while dressed as a "root chakra" in a brown root-like skirt with megaphones sticking out of her neck; brainstorming the performance style (Colbert Report-style embodiment of a crazy guru, speaking in deep lingo that the audience won't understand, comedic jumps between deep new-age spiritual concepts and broad topics i.e. "when I'm embodying my highest self I don't eat donuts"), the artistic ideal of focusing exclusively on your artistic vision and not worrying about or even finding out (in the case of social media) what the audience thinks; the risk of failing to live up to that artistic ideal and bombing painfully and becoming the crying girl in a flower costume in the Blind Melon "No Rain" music video

Lisa Green (Facebook: @lisa.green.8 Linktree: @depottowncomedy)
Shelly Smith (Facebook: @shelly.smith.9210 Podcast Website: readsandweeds.com)
Matthew Ryan (Facebook: @matthew.ryan.911)
Mike Geeter (Facebook: @michaelgeeter1969 Web: samroseent.com)
Tom Walma (X: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Insult To Injury

Idea: A TV show where real-life disputes are resolved via boxing matches and comedians commentate and then roast the winner (because roasting the loser would be too cruel). Also: providing a healthier outlet for male rage than gun violence; offering the bully free therapy instead of roasting them (because the US will do anything to avoid universal health care); comparing the idea to the TV show "Bully Beatdown" and discussing whether bullies are a fundamental aspect of this show (and deciding that they are not); having themed episodes, such as teachers vs. grown-up disruptive students, IT workers vs. annoying tech-illiterate office workers, Karens, etc.

Pam Palmieri (Facebook Personal: @pam.palmieri Instagram: @pampalmiericomedy Comedy Shows (Facebook): @Comedy/Productions Pam Palmieri)
Alex Wilson (Facebook: @mralexwilson YouTube: @thedropoutprofessor Web: the-dropout-professor.medium.com)
Bryan Deuchler (Facebook: BryanDeuchler Podcast (Web): cartoontonic.buzzsprout.com)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Corgis and Comedy

Idea: A standup comedy show in a "corgi cafe" where comedians have to compete with corgis for the audience's attention. The corgi may be on stage and there may be a vote or a penalty (such as reduced stage time) for losing against the corgi. Also: corgi vs. doge; the corgi and the comic must abide by the same rules (ex: if the dog barks, the comic can bark); unusual and nightmare comedy shows, such as a show where they shock the comic, a show in an insane asylum, and a show where a baby threw a diaper at the comic

Jen Frissina (Facebook: @jen.frissina)
Steve Smargon (Facebook; @steve.smargon Intagram: @bipolarmarine)
Bruce Umpstead (Facebook: @umpstead Instagram: @bruceumpstead)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

"Reprogrammable" Rollercoaster

Idea: A very long rollercoaster divided into 5 track segments, where each segment is it's own ride (with, for example, a jungle theme or a space theme), and the lines for the 5 rides criss-cross and get occasionally switched up, so you don't know which track segment of the rollercoaster you're gonna ride, and therefore you don't know how many hills or loops you'll experience. Also, the audio/visual/effects around the rollercoaster could be reprogrammed to instantly update/change the theme of the ride. The goal is to make a simple rollercoaster always feel fresh and new and unpredictable. Also: customizing the rollercoaster visuals for a wedding proposal; occasionally having an extra-long ride that uses more than one track segment; passing out on rollercoasters (and other places)

Niko Lukoff (Linktree: @LaughYourLukoff)
Justin Hicks (Facebook: justin.hicks.92798)
Skippy Rose (Instagram: skippyrosecomedy YouTube: @SkippyRoseComedy)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Funeral 'Cause of Death' Guessing Games

Idea: To withhold announcing the cause of someone's death until their funeral so people can try to guess the cause of death and win prize(s) (maybe even the inheritance). Also: 'cause of death' reveal presentations; the family could take a percentage of the bets to help pay for the funeral; a back-and-forth discussion on whether this would lead to less or more murder; being peer-pressured into having an interesting death; Tom's guess of Justin's cause of death almost already happened in a close call

Justin Siekierka (Instagram: @random_banana_entertainment_)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Tabletop Game AI Assistant

Idea: An app which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist (not replace) the dungeon master and possibly other players in "Dungeons & Dragons" (D&D) and other similar tabletop games. Also: helping the dungeon master by generating maps, NPCs, rooms, quests, etc. before the game and/or on-the-fly during the game, using configured settings, randomization, and the current state of the game (which the AI would know by listening to the game); explaining D&D to newbies (both in this podcast and in the proposed app); using AI to generate a visual display of the current state of the game for all of the players, including the floor plan of the current room, info of the NPCs you're interacting with, etc.; drinking while playing D&D and other tabletop games

Lisa Green (Instagram: @lisagreencomedy Facebook: @depottowncomedy)
Todd Garvey (Facebook: @todd.garvey.716)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Funeral Brigade

Idea: A service to hire entertainers (celebs, magicians, etc.) for your funeral or a funeral of a loved one, so the funeral is less sad and has more of the feel of a social gathering that celebrates the life of the deceased. Also: secretly hiring celebrity actors to pretend that they were your friend; inappropriate laughter at a funeral; funeral pranks, such as hiring the "Weekend at Bernie's" actors or having the Publisher's Clearing House barge into the funeral and then say that they can't give away the money because the person is deceased

Chris Young (Web: crhisyoungcomic Comedy Special Video: Buoyant Mon on Dry Bar Comedy)
David Lesneiski (Instagram: @themexican734 Facebook: @ComedyByDavid)
Jon King (Facebook: @Kinetikai Instagram: @kinetikai)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Dog-Themed Standup Comedy Show

Idea: A standup comedy show where comics and the audience can bring their dogs, and the topic of most or all of the standup comedy is centered around dogs. Also: the Comedy Castle bringing service dogs to comedy shows to train them to behave in a chaotic environment; adopting dogs to drunk audience members who'd wake up the next morning with a hangover and a surprise of a new pet dog; a service dog barking at a comedian during a comedy contest and causing him to win; other experimental comedy shows where the comics eat hot peppers, get shocked, get eggs thrown at them, or get their head periodically submerged underwater

Kim Cook (kimcookcomedy.com)
Dan Brittain (Facebook: @danbrittaincomedy YouTube: @danbrittaincomedy2301)
Jasun Pierpoint (Facebook: @Beerplug Comedy at the Creek)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Performance Venue Info and Signup App

Idea: An app to be used by amateur performers (primarily open mic comedians, but also maybe musicians, improv actors, etc.) to sign up to perform and to share info about the venue, including whether performers get a free drink (or have to buy drink(s)), whether it's safe for women, whether the bathrooms are clean, whether performers openly use drugs (and which drugs), etc. Also: how weird it is that everyone still uses Facebook to sign up for open mics; a feature to help you connect with other performers to hang out and/or to feel safe; brainstorming a title, such as Greenroom, Green Book, Mic Rate, etc.; merch for the app, such as a cup which performers could bring to the venue to get discounted drinks and so they don't have to drink out of a gross poorly-washed glass at a dive bar; passing a McDonalds burger backstage from person to person, each person taking a bite

Shilpa Rege (Facebook: @shilparege Instagram: @shilparege)
Scott Sviland (Instagram: @allergy_probs Facebook: @scott.sviland)
Devarron Thomas (Facebook: @devarron Instagram: @skinnyfatdude1)
Chase Richard (Linktree: @imchaserichard YouTube: @dogcomicproductions)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Chest Freezer Camping

Idea: To camp in a large insulated and temperature-controlled box which is similar to a chest freezer, because it'd be much cheaper than an RV, and because the only time you really need to be enclosed and comfortable while camping is when trying to sleep. Also: an extra-wide 2-person version; a duel-use chest freezer with a normal chest freezer lid and a special camping lid that allows you to breathe and/or pops up like a tent; a lifting accessory to help you get it into and out of the back of a pickup truck; protection from wolves, bobcats, and possibly even bears; the possibility of being mocked by or creeping out other campers

Dustin Cole (Facebook: @dustincolecomedy Instagram: @dustncole)
Casey Curran (YouTube: @Squavipwn Facebook: @casey.curran.54)
Darius Walker (Facebook: @darius.t.walker.1 Instagram: @the_dariuswalker)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

The Privilege Sacrifices

Idea: A festival where people air grievances about annoying household products and then burn them in a fire. Examples of annoying products include dishes that aren't dishwasher or microwave safe, underwear that doesn't have a fly, fridges with annoying beeps, and men's dress shoes that make clomping noises that sound like high heels. Also: the humiliation of nobody else sympathizing with your annoyance; the risk of being overrun by angry uninvited "Karens"; the one thing not allowed to be sacrificed

Ree Ledbetter (Facebook: @ReeLedbetter)
Chris Barrett (Instagram: @pokeyokey1 Video Podcast: PokeyTalkTime.com)
Cameron Stahl (Instagram: @cscomedian Twitter: @CScomedian)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

ThanksKaren Day

Idea: A holiday where "Karens" who got caught committing an act of rudeness (i.e. being a "Karen") are punished by having to give a gift to a randomized victim of a different "Karen" during that same year. The gift recipients are randomized because the "Karens" might find it difficult to give a non-passive-aggressive gift to their own victim. Also: alternative "Karen" punishments; the "Karen" might make you pay to ship the gift or pepper spray you if you pick it up in person; can young people be Karens ("baby Karens"?) or men can be Karens ("Kevins"?); accidentally providing an incentive to incite "Karens"

Vivian Burgett (Instagram: @vivianburgettcomedy)
Juan Carlos Calvachi (Instagram: @jcalvachi)
John Johnson (Facebook: @johnnyrightnow)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)

Standup Comedy Discussion

A discussion about doing standup comedy and running a comedy room. Also: the pain of rejection when trying to get a venue to host your comedy show and to get people to come to your show; asking the audience of an in-person comedy show or a MeetMe livestream to donate to your CashApp as a joke, as racial reparations, or because they're lonely introverted men; advice for a nervous new comic who's only performed once in a standup comedy class; ideas for breaking up the monotony of standup comedy shows, such as singing dirty parody songs at a comedy show in a movie theater before showing the movie

Mic Gimby (Facebook: @devonaugust.gimby.1)
Amy Jo “Blondie Jo” Ezel (Instagram: @blondiejoezel)
Benjamin Cheek (Relentless Comedy; Facebook: @benjamin.cheek.14)
Tom Walma (Twitter: @thomaswalma Twitch: @gameymcfitness)