Tola Talks – First Three Weeks

Hot, current and definitely on the edge, Tola Talks is broadcasting live on the radio this Tuesday from 4-6pm (ET) on Hamilton-Radio.com (Channel 2). So tune-in and treat yourself to my “21st Century Talk for a No-Bullshit World”, not to mention some really cool and inspiring conversation with an assortment of celebrity guests…here’s our guest list for the first 3 weeks:

January 5th – Actress Troy Titus-Adams and Chef Lizette, Founder/Host of The Chef Network

January 12th – Comedians Lynne Roberts & Lauren Huffman and Fitness Guru Mandee Miller

January 19th – Recording Artist/Producer Moses Stone and Dancer/Yoga Teacher Jen Wycykal

Plus, I’ll be taking listener calls throughout the show, so feel free to give us a shout! Peace – R

Tola Talks Logo

Teaching Life Lessons is What it’s All About

Kudos to everyone who packed the house in support of our 12 Ladies of Christmas Holiday Show at Chicago’s Two Hearted Queen, and thank you to the very funny and very talented performers who donated their time and energy to make it an awesome event!

As your host/producer who always appreciates the opportunity to impact the lives of youngsters – as well as anyone else who’s open to it – the best part of the night took place right before our raffle drawing, while teaching young Nathan the proper way to shake hands.

Like the ancient proverb says: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. So take heed and rid yourself of that dead fish handshake!

And don’t forget your daily workout. Peace – R

Flappers Show this Sunday & Hosting Open Mic at Tribal

flappersmainroomOne more day for free tickets to my show this Sunday, the All Men’s Dress to Impress at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank – starting at 9p in the Main Room. Click this link for free tickets: http://flc.cc/1VLYka8 (expires Thursday).

Once that expires, click this link for $5 tickets (expires 24hrs prior to show): http://flc.cc/1IHEKbn

Come eat, drink, laugh and join the fun as I get ready for the Burbank Comedy Festival.

tribalcafeopenmicI’ll also be hosting the Open Mic at Tribal Cafe in Echo Park every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month – starting this Monday, August 10th as well as August 24th. Calling all Stand-up comedians, Musicians, Singers & Rappers for a great time to strut your stuff. Sign-up at 7p – first come, first serve – so come early, bring your best 5 minutes and I’ll see you there.

Any questions, email me at: [email protected]

Peace – R

Next Comic Standing at the HaHa Cafe Comedy Club

NextComicHAHAHey everyone, keep the momentum going and never lose sight of your goals…it works.

Also catch me in the Next Comic Standing competition at the HaHa Cafe Comedy Club in North Hollywood on Monday, August 3rd @ 8:30p. It’s a comedy contest amongst up and coming comics where you get to vote for your Top 3 that will go through to the finals.

Looking forward to introducing one of my favorite trophies from Tola Talks to the show, the Get Your Shit Together Award.

Hope to see you there – R

Next Performance at Flappers Comedy Club – July 7th

Rich Tola performing at the Tribal Cafe
Rich Tola performing at the Tribal Cafe (LA)

Hey everyone, hope you’re having a great weekend and looking forward to the 4th of July!

Had a blast at the Father’s Day show and getting ready for next week’s show at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank on Tuesday, July 7th from 10-11:30p in the Main Room. Come celebrate your Independence Day in true New York style, i.e., make it last 3 days.

As the great comedian, Louie Anderson said, “It takes about 100 performances (Stand-up) to even know if you’re good”. About a dozen and counting Louie!

Peace – R

Practice Makes Perfect…Otherwise Hit the Gym

Another show under my belt and another reason to go back to the drawing board. Because practice makes perfect, or at the very least, gives you the opportunity to evolve whatever you’re doing. If that’s not working, then hit the gym and get your workout in…that always helps!

Rich Tola at Flappers Comedy Club
Rich Tola at Flappers Comedy Club – May ’15

This past weekend  I performed again at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, CA and tried all new material that was funnier than my previous show – that’s a good thing! Because with stand-up comedy it’s all about delivering your jokes with as few words as possible and with as much attitude as possible, then refining them soon thereafter to get them to work. And for those jokes that are already working, i.e., everyone’s laughing hysterically, then don’t change a thing. So they say…whoever “they” is.

Either way the key is to keep improving your stand-up comedy act to one that flows seamlessly and effortlessly while you’re simply having a conversation with the audience. Something I’m progressing with, a task much easier said then done.

Hope to see you at my next Flappers show on Father’s Day, June 21st in the Main Room.  – R

Pitch Perfect 2 Rocks + Next Stand-up at Flappers

What’s funny, sexy and exhilarating, that makes you wanna get up and dance?

Pitch Perfect 2.pitchperfect-2

And if you’re not into musicals or sequels, it really doesn’t matter – go see this film. With an amazing cast led by Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Katy Sagal, Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins (who are great together), you’ll be laughing and be-bopping for at least 2 hours.

You already know I’m a big Anna Kendrick fan, but I wasn’t planning on seeing this film in the theaters until my soon-to-be 16 year-old niece said she loved it. And since I’m always intrigued when movie-goers of any age tell me they love a film…I went and loved it too. With so many great actors and so many great one-liners (no kidding, they’re great), this cool hipster musical touches the soul and makes you really wanna get up in the aisles and dance!

Kudos to Elizabeth Banks on her directorial debut. Excellent job Elizabeth, plus you’re charming, sexy, witty, ditzy and wonderful as the no-holds barred announcer, Gail. I liked Pitch Perfect 2 so much that if I were reviewing it on Tola Talks, I’d give it 2 thumbs (out of 3).

flappersstageLike I said, go see this film and bring your teenagers, it’s PG-13. And for some really good live comedy this week-end, come check-out my Stand-up show this Saturday, May 23rd from 7:30-9p in the YooHoo Room at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank. CA. It’s gonna be a blast!

P.S. Don’t leave the movie theater until the credits have rolled or you’ll miss Christina Aguilera and the gang from The Voice.