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Updated: Nov 01, 2007 - 19:43:25 PDT

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CITY FOCUS:
Comedy booker moves on

Citing difference of vision with new
ownership, Martini Blues’ Bill Word plans to open up his own
club in town.

By Michael Alexander
Reader
Feedback - Currently 15
comment(s) Comments

When veteran comic Bill Word started booking
comedy shows at Huntington Beach club Martini Blues in 2001,
his largest bookings had been for coffee shops. Barely a year
later, he was spearheading the now-renowned Orange County’s
Funniest Person contest and packing his weeks with stand-up
events of all kinds.

Almost six years later, his tenure
at the club came to a close with the fifth annual Funniest
Person contest finals, crowning Christopher Heard with the
title over about 80 other contestants.

Citing a
difference of vision with new ownership, Word is moving on and
planning to open his own club. Hopefully, he says, he can open
it in Huntington Beach, where he nurtured a community of
up-and-coming comics.

“The performances there were
really at the top end, especially our last show,” he said.
“There was really high quality. That was my choice — I wanted
to go out on a high note. It was the perfect way to
go.”

Word said a lot of his success depended on real
estate. He started out booking Thursday shows to fill a dead
night at the blues club, but with that night’s success came
the closure of a club next door. As original owner Bobby Cee
bought up nearby space and added it to the club, there were
plenty of time slots to fill with whatever Word could think
of.

Word found he had more room and more times to
experiment with, so he tried ideas that were just a pipe dream
before. One of them, the constantly- running Laffdown contest,
was joined by the annual OC’s Funniest and then the equally
ambitious California’s Funniest Female.

“I’m a firm
believer that the sky is the limit,” he said.

Unlike
most comedy clubs in Orange County, which are large enough
venues that they tend to bring in national headliners, Martini
Blues had the size and variety of events to allow “open-mic”
amateurs to earn their way to veteran status, he
said.

“Looking at a beginning comic, they’d start with
the open mic on Tuesdays,” he said. “Once a year they go into
OC’s Funniest, and between contests they could start working
the regular Saturday shows with a paid headliner and advanced
beginners doing the opening acts. There was a line where they
could move up in the food chain.”

Along with the
classes Word would offer his performers, the result turned out
to be “a business plan as a development club,” he
said.

But that’s only an offshoot of his favorite part
of the experience.

“What I really wanted and really
felt I did was build a community,” Word said. “We had a
support system. In this business, it’s usually dog eat dog. My
whole thing is, there’s plenty of opportunity to make people
laugh.”

That’s why he thinks Orange County is ideal for
that kind of community.

“In L.A. you get that kind of
jaded entertainment crowd,” he said. “Everyone’s burnt out.
They say, ‘I used to see Richard Pryor in the ’70s. What makes
you so worth seeing?’ It’s more genuine here.”

Reader Feedback

There are No comments posted.
comments on this story:

Roberta M. wrote on
Nov 8, 2007 6:21 PM:

" Bill had a great vision that
continues on. I attended open mic nights with friends over the
past couple years and saw whata supportive commuity it was.
Which gave me the courage to get back up on stage and
participate. I'm sure Bill's new venture will be equally great
and it's Martini Blues' loss, but Bill's gain. Look forward to
getting on stage at his next venue. "

Leona wrote on Nov 8, 2007 5:18 AM:

" Word up!! Some of the best
times were had at Bill's shows. Some awesome talent and
wonderful people. I'll never forget the comedian with two
first names, Ed Frank. "

Ralph Vincent wrote on
Nov 7, 2007 1:41 PM:

" Bill Word. 2 words: Class
Act. "

Barry Dateninch wrote on
Nov 6, 2007 3:37 PM:

" Bill Word's productions were
always fun and well ran. Bill is a great man! "

Cathe B wrote on Nov 5, 2007 2:57 PM:

" It's exciting the see Bill
venturing to something bigger! He's certainly earned to right
to run and own a club-- and more so, deserved the kudos to
book anyone he wants. I'm sure we'll be sharing several name
comics from time to time from our club in Vegas to his in OC!
"

Elaine van Beek wrote on
Nov 5, 2007 12:50 PM:

" As a part time comic, Bill
Word treats you all as special and professional! I can't thank
Bill enough for being so good to me and all comics. My people
love coming to his show! Martini Blues will be sorry but you
will continue to build GREATNESS!! "

Tom Collins wrote on
Nov 5, 2007 8:22 AM:

" It's been over 15 years since
Bill and I lobbied, begged, and pleaded for 5 minutes of open
mic time at local venues. He saw the dark side of the comedy
business and sought to inject it with some honesty and
integry, and he succeeded! The comedy world is a better,
friendlier place as a result of his efforts. Thank You Bill,
good luck with your future ventures. "

Charlene Ward wrote on
Nov 4, 2007 10:42 PM:

" Bill, thank you for all the
stage time and support over the years! Martini Blues was a
great place to perform but I look forward to seeing you in a
place that is truly your own. You are truly a class act in
your support and encouragement to new talent and female comics
in particular. See you at the Laff Down this Thursday!
"

Norma Jean wrote on
Nov 4, 2007 9:54 AM:

" Bill Word is an extremely
kind and giving man. It was HE who gave me my first appearance
on a stage and I'll never forget it. Martini Blues was that
place, and now, I have no chance to go back and perform there,
which makes me very sad. I am proud to say that Bill has
taught me a lot and I feel honored to be part of his
"community" that he has spend years building. I love ya Bill
Word!! Norma Jean "

Norma Jean wrote on
Nov 4, 2007 9:52 AM:

" Bill Word is an extremely
kind and giving man. It was HE who gave me my first appearance
on a stage and I'll never forget it. Martini Blues was that
place, and now, I have no chance to go back and perform there,
which makes me very sad. At the same time, there are changes
which none of us can control so we move on. I am proud to say
that Bill has taught me a lot and I feel honored to be part of
his "community" that he has spend years building. I love ya
Bill Word!! Norma Jean "

Dave Schwensen author of "How
To Be A Working Comic" wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:06 PM:

" An experienced comedian makes
stand-up look easy. What audiences may not understand are the
years of hard work that go into developing the material and on
stage delivery. Bill Word earned a solid reputation in the
business for giving new comedians a place to experience the
highs and lows on their long road to making it "look easy."
Martini Blues was just a stop on his journey. It won't be
missed for long because his next step - a new club - will be
the comedy stop everyone in Orange County will be looking for.
"

Deborah R. wrote on
Nov 2, 2007 7:15 PM:

" Best wishes to you Bill on
your new venture! Your ability to creatively envision and
successfully manifest is truly reflected in your many years
with comedy. Deborah R. (eh) "

John Grace wrote on
Nov 2, 2007 12:22 PM:

" I loved Word's shows at
Martini Blues. He started shortly after Bobby Cee opened the
club as I recall. Its was great to finally have a solid Blues
Club in the neighborhood and having comedy there was a real
bonus. We'll all miss Bobby and his friendly cheerful manner
as well as he and his wife's support of amateur talent with
their karioke nights and Word's open mic comedy shows. The
support for live performers is essential to their existance
and the incubation of amateur performers is such a common
sense part of that. We'll miss all of you. "

Jesus T. wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:04 AM:

" God bless Bill for the
opportunity bill has given me and other up and coming
comedians.One could only hope to have such a successful career
like Bill did. (very well Written Article!) "

Trish wrote on Nov 2, 2007 1:48 AM:

" Bill Word, you are fabulous!
I'm so very thankful for all the opportunities that you gave
me at Martini Blues and I'm looking forward to your new club.
Thank you for helping comics and thank you for being such a
professional to work with. cheers, trish "

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