Performers & Creators Lab

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Angie Krass was rejected by the musical theatre world but figured out how to make a space for herself in comedy and storytelling while relentlessly loving animals and people along the way! 

In this delightful conversation we talk about:

• How comedy changes you as a person
• Differences between storytelling and comedy
• The time she bombed in front of a crowd of lesbians

And so much more!!

See Angie live this Thursday, August 15th, 2024 at The Story Edge in Oakland - Click here for tickets and information>>

About Today's Guest, Angie Krass
The Mississippi Madam of Mayhem, Angie Krass has never been one to play by the rules or live life by the norms. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle for her one woman show Sex, Biscuits, Jesus and Me as "Superior Southern Fried Comedy."  She has performed for Boston'sWomen in Comedy Festival, the Oakland Comedy Festival and the 2022 Seattle International Comedy Competition.Representing Oakland California, this Mississippi native serves up superior Southern fried comedy with a rainbow twist. Follow her on Instagram @angiekrass

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more about Holly's work as a coach please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com To learn more about her life as a joke teller please visit hollyshawcomedy.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Today's podcast interview is with the one and only, Diane Amos! Comedian, actor and storyteller she weaves through the turning points of her long career as a performer with her infectious joy and sparkling attitude.  Don't miss this opportunity to catch a little bit of her wonder and love of the game of show business.

In the Bay Area?  You can see Diane live at The Story Edge, this coming Thursday, June 20th at Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant in Oakland 7pm - Get tickets now>>

About Today's Guest
Diane Amos is an actor (Patch Adams), stand-up comedian and storyteller who came up in the improv world along such greats as Robin Williams and is now well-known as the “Pine-Sol Lady” in commercials and as a spokesperson. You can follow her on instagram @dianeamosofficial

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more about Holly's work as a coach please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com To learn more about her life as a joke teller please visit hollyshawcomedy.com

Whether the audience is hating you or you're just having an off night, Holly distills it all down to one central factor that will determine whether you stay in the game or spiral out of it.

This episode includes:

• Ways you are unknowingly sabotaging yourself
• The secret to weathering a dicey performance
• How you can implement this strategy
• The importance of your post-show strategy

BONUS! Gardening tips for growing things. . . 

And don't forget, if you love this podcast, then you will love my books The Creative Formula (Amazon Bestseller 2016) and Making Art In the Middle of Madness (Amazon #1 New Release 2020) both available on Amazon and Goodreads.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Throughout your life you obtain different keys: your house key, the keys to the family car.  But these keys aren't just physical but also mental, emotional, metaphysical. Listen as Holly explores what it really means to experience safety, privacy, freedom and belonging.

In this episode we cover:

• Mimetic Desire: what is it and how could it be ruining your life
• Four Basic Needs we all share
• An honest look at how you are meeting these needs in your life today

The book Holly mentions in this episode, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire In Everyday Life by Luke Burgis can be found here>>

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Sometimes whether we like it or not we are at the mercy of a "picker" or someone who gets to decide if we get to go on stage or not: casting directors, producers, bookers, or maybe it's just the guy who got tasked with hiring entertainment for his company's annual Christmas party! Either way you'll encounter plenty of so called gatekeepers no matter what artistic path you take.

In this episode we talk to Steve Ausburne, a comedian and one of the bookers for the SF Punchline Sunday Showcase. We cover:

• How Steve's comedic style has changed over time
• How he recovers from a "bad night"
• His thought process behind booking the Sunday Showcase

BONUS: I ask him the question we've all been wondering.  . .  this and more!

The "great book on comedy" that Holly can't remember the name of is Finding Your Comic Genius by Adam Bloom

About Today's Guest, Steve Ausburne
Steve Ausburne’s comedy career started with MC/Host work for friends with bands. His first attempt at actual stand up ended with a lifetime ban from a church in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. 

Buoyed by that successful start, Steve has since embraced the stage as a place to present a spoken word memoir of all the embarrassing life moments that lurk in a place that only stand up or therapy sessions can reveal.

Also, he is allergic to cats.

​Steve peddles his comedic wares throughout Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area.  He produces comedy shows throughout California's Wine Country and in addition to comedy performances, he is available for auctioneering, event hosting, work parties, voice acting, and private dancing.

Some of his accomplishments include: regular at Punch Line, Cobb's Comedy Club, and Rooster T Feathers; opened for Nimesh Patel, Michael Kosta, Rory Scovel and more!

To learn more or contact him for bookings please visit steveausburne.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more about Holly's work as a coach please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com To learn more about her life as a joke teller please visit hollyshawcomedy.com

Holly shares about what's really holding you back from being bold, asking for what you want, and letting go of what other people think of you. Followed by a quick exercise to help fortify your self-confidence and recognize just how damn resilient you really are.

In this episode:

• Holly shares about her new writing project and what it made her realize about stand up comedy and how she's able to do it.
• Emotional fluency, queen years, and the truth about what it really takes to be bold in life and in art
• Relaxing guided meditation exercise to help separate you from your past and fortify your future!

Looking for unique gifts for the holidays?  Look no further!  Holly's got two books already published and easily available for purchase online:  Order The Creative Formula and  Making Art In the Middle of Madness today and get them in time for the holidays!

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

This week we discuss the spiritual journey that is likely happening to you while you don't even think about it! Join Holly in a brief respite from worrying about how you're shaping your artistic career, to take this time to explore how your craft has shaped YOU!

In this episode we cover:

• How to explore the journey your spirit is having while you focus on your art
• Holly goes through her own spiritual lessons she's learned from careers in acting in film, theatre and TV, the world of flamenco dance, creating 365 dances in a year and now as a stand up comedian
• Questions you can ask yourself to begin uncovering your own spiritual journey and lessons you're learning
• Why it's crucial and important to take the time to acknowledge this journey

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Are you having trouble just getting yourself unstuck and doing the thing?  Yup, been there! What we know is that you learn so much more in action then just sitting around dreaming about doing the thing, so in this episode Holly shares sneaky insights and hacks for getting yourself to JUST DO THE THING!

In this episode:

• Your Biggest Blocks that are keeping you from doing the thing
• The First Step in going for what you want
• The Difference Between Desire and "Shoulds"
• A Language Hack You Can Use to get yourself down to business

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

In this third episode in a series about intuition we finally start talking about dead people.  Can you talk to them? How to safely go about it.  Listen to this podcast to make the most of this season where the veil is thin!

Covered in this episode:

• Holly shares her own experience with growing up in a psychic and ghost-talking family and the time when she first realized what she was actually capable of.
• Channeling for creativity: do the dead want to create with us?
• 5 Ways you can start talking to dead people
• The most important thing you need to know in order do this safely

You Might Also Like:

Episode 39 Inspiration from the Beyond with award winning Hollywood screenwriter, Cynthia Whitcomb


About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com