“Where are all the white women, asked Marlon Ivory of Akron, on Tuesday. I need to get me one of those…I need to get my bills paid. Confused? If you attended the finals of Ohio’s Best Amateur Comedian Contest at the Funny Stop Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls, you wouldn’t be.”
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Where are all the white women, asked Marlon Ivory of Akron, on Tuesday. I need to get me one of those…I need to get my bills paid.

Confused? If you attended the finals of Ohio’s Best Amateur Comedian Contest at the Funny Stop Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls, you wouldn’t be.

This joke, along with hundreds of others, appeared in the final round of competition. The competition was hosted by Stan Piatt of WNIR 100-FM and featured comedian Bill Russ.

Among the 13 final competitors was University of Akron student Jake Creamer.

Creamer, a student in the College of Education, has been participating in standup comedy for one year and a half.

I’ve always been a fan of standup since fourth grade, but it took almost two years to get the courage to get on stage, he said. I wasn’t even scheduled to go up the first time. All of a sudden, one guy told me I was on, and I put a piece together in 20 minutes.

Most of his material is put together in this fashion.

Most of my material comes from life experiences, or even some crazy thought I had, he said. I usually carry a notebook and write down my thoughts.

Creamer’s education has been integrated into his jokes.

The four best things about being a teacher? June, July, August, and high school chicks. How long do you think it’s going to take me to get fired? First period, he joked, referencing his future high school teaching career.

I think my experience in comedy will help my teaching career, he added. I’m not afraid to be in front of people, and it will help with communication issues. I wasn’t really a fan of speaking in front of a bunch of people before I tried comedy.

While less local comedians would help Creamer if he competed in another top comedian contest, he encouraged others to participate in comedy if they are interested.

Everyone who wants to do it can get involved, he said. Just get five minutes of material, go to a local show, and get to know the host.

Creamer also appealed for local support of comedy.

Keep coming out to support live comedy, he said. It’s a lot better than sitting at home and watching television. If anyone thinks they’re funny, they should get out and do it.

Creamer plans on continuing his amateur comedic career even after graduation.

It’s going to be something I’ll be doing for a long time, he said. I can’t see myself ever stopping.

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