'COMEDY SALAD WITH BUDDAH' PAT GODWIN

This week I am back in the comedy saddle with a personal favorite comedian, who I get the pleasure of sharing a stage with Easter weekend (Apr 14-15) at Mason City Limits Comedy Club. It's the one and only, Pat Godwin! Having been born to a theater professor and an actress, Pat Godwin was destined for the entertainment biz, himself. I had fun digging up some comedy facts about this veteran standup comic. Paddy G. as some call him shares my love for music, and is an accomplished musician himself. But don't call him a guitar act. You have heard him countless times on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Show. You may have also caught him on the Howard Stern Show, Philadelphia's Morning Zoo, Sirius Radio, and XM Radio. If that's not enough to jog your memory, Pat was featured on Last Comic Standing (2009)...has been seen in Ohio grocery stores, and Arby's!

Pat's fun facts: Once spilled coffee on Keith Richards?

                           Had his very own acoustic guitar signed by Eric Clapton, which he promptly  

                           gave to his pal, Tom Griswold.
                           Held his high school pole vault record for 20+ years (I'm just bragging now).
                           Has 5 comedy CD's...Circle City, Excess in Moderation, Reindeer Games,
                           Under the Bed, and Captured Live.
                           Played Pinball Wizard with the Who's Pete Townsend (without spilling a drop
                           of coffee on him).
                           Did voices for Inspector Gadget.
                           He has appeared on 6...count em'...6 Bob & Tom CD's.
                           And finally, once followed Buddah Eskew on stage with the greatest of ease.

I asked the author of such hits as "Gangsta Folk" and "First Date" (Pat) to play along with six hand selected questions (I usually defer to my Magic 8-Ball). He in turn asks one burning question back to Buddah at the end of this interview. Here we go...

1. BUDDAH: Going back a few years, what comedy advise would you give to a 25 year old Pat Godwin?
    PAT: Drop your dreams, go back to school, become a lawyer, OR start comedy, NOW, because Mr. 25 year-old, it will be 6 years till you try comedy. (Young Pat Godwin did music for 10 years, first open mic at age of 31).

2. BUDDAH: What was the one thing you have always wanted to do that would put standup comedy of the shelf?
    PAT: I've always wanted to do everything in entertainment like, being a comedian, musician, and author.

3. BUDDAH: It's a round table discussion about comedy, music, and life in general. Who are four other people, dead or alive, you would invite to the table to chat with?
    PAT: (Let's go with dead, because I've met all the live ones) John Lennon, Winston Churchill, Groucho Marx, and Ernest Hemingway.

4. BUDDAH: With your music background in mind, Who were some of your musical related influences as an up and coming musician?
    PAT: Elton John, Steely Dan, John Martyn, The Beatles, Randy Newman, and Elvis Costello.

5. BUDDAH: If you had a time machine, what time period would you travel to, and where would you go?
    PAT: (Right back to my birth and start all over again, sans mistakes).

6. BUDDAH: Rapid fire time:
                        Who is your favorite president? PAT: Kennedy
                        Favorite city to visit? PAT: Anywhere my son is!
                        Favorite book? PAT: Confederacy of Dunces
                        Favorite movie? PAT: Waiting for Guffman
                        Favorite cancelled TV show? PAT: Mine
                        Favorite cartoon character? PAT: Roger Rabbit
                        Favorite zoo animal? PAT: Monkey
                        Favorite musical artist? PAT: The Beatles
                        Favorite meal? PAT: Conch Salad
                        Favorite beverage PAT: Coca Cola

And finally one question for Buddah...
PAT: Buddah...boxers or briefs?
BUDDAH: Buddah slips out of the G-string and into.....drum roll.....briefs. Boxers are too baggy and boxy.

Well there it is, another Comedy Salad in the books. I'll bet Pat and Johnny Lennon would pen some magical hit after Churchill and the boys hit the road. Just don't ask Pat Godwin how he feels about that American Pie dude, Don McLean (It's a great story. Ask him. I dare you). You can catch Paddy G. April 14-15 at Mason City Limits Comedy Club. If you like New York Pat will be performing in silly mode at Rob's Comedy Playhouse in Williamsville, NY on April 21-23.

Peaceout, comedy fans.

Eyebrow model Pat

Guitar Pat (jokes sold separately)

         
  


                          

"COMEDY SALAD WITH BUDDAH"

Here's a question I posed to comics. Here is round 1...

What do you like about Mason City Limits Comedy Club that keeps you coming back?

Mike Armstrong - Chris Speyrer is an old friend. We started standup together. Plus, now I have old friends that come to see me when I'm here.

Brian McDowell - The main thing I like about it is that Mason City is a town that totally shouldn't have a comedy club. There is something illogically rebellious about the fact that it does.

Buddah Eskew - It's the small town feel that is one of the draws for me. You just don't find comedy clubs in towns this size. You can often hang out after shows and get to know the headliners, and pick their comedic minds. And sometimes club owner, Chris Speyrer will cook up a delicious dish after the show to share with the comics. Small town hospitality comes to mind.

Mike Armstrong headlines this weekend. Brian McDowell is the feature act. Catch this great 1-2 comedy punch in small town America, Mason City, IL. Show time Saturday night is 8:00.

For reservations call the club at (217) 482-5233.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #20 Ken Sevara

'Comedy Salad with Buddah' is really starting to take off. This is a new blog about comedians and their world of standup comedy. Today I interviewed long standing Chicago comic, Ken Sevara who I recently worked with at Mason City Limits comedy club. Ken landed the gig as he called it, using the "comedian exchange program" while MCL club owner/comedian Chris Speyrer headed to work a room Ken runs in Rockford. Ken in turn headlined Chris' club. So there you have it. Networking minds making standup comedy continue to do it's thing, make people laugh. You may have seen Ken on FOX television, Comedy Central and ESPN or heard him on The Bob and Tom Show. He is available for corporate shows and has shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Billl Murray, Jay Leno and George Carlin. I tossed six questions to Ken and asked him to send me one back. Here are the results...



BUDDAH: Who has inspired you standup comedy career more than anyone else?



KEN: Comedian Tom Dreesen taught me the business on and off stage. He was an enormous influence.



BUDDAH: Knowing your act, I have to ask, how much do you miss the loveable Harray Caray?



KEN: I miss Harry because he was an irreplaceable personality in an era of "cookie cutter" broadcasters.



BUDDAH: What else are you passionate about besides standup comedy?



KEN: Family, friends, radio, politics, the stock market, baseball, hockey, music and history.



BUDDAH: Would you rather visit the president at the White House or attend a baseball game and why?



KEN: A baseball game, because it sucks less money out of my wallet.



BUDDAH: If you could time travel where would you go and who would you like to meet?



KEN: I would love to meet Julius Caesar during the height of the Roman Empire.



BUDDAH: I think it's no secret that some of the greatest food in the world is in your hometown of Chicago. So, where is your favorite eating establishment in the Chicago area and what dish do you prefer to order for a meal?



KEN: Due's Pizza on Ontario Street in Chicago. Their deep dish pizza is the best I have ever had!!



This is the point of the interview where Ken was supposed to send me one question back but he forgot. And that's okay. I will serve one up on his behalf.



KEN: Buddah, what is one thing that most people don't know about you?



BUDDAH: When I was a young boy I was a Chicago Cubs fan (mom and dad forced it on me) until about the age of 8. That's when I discovered the St. Louis Cardinals and players like Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Joe Torre, Kenny Reitz, Curt Flood and Ted Simmons. I have been a Cards fan ever since. I also root for the Red Sox.


Due's Pizza, huh? It looks like Buddah has a new pizza adventure the next time I visit the windy city. You can catch Ken Sevara as he has is own radio show, "Fly By Night" on AM 560 every Saturday evening at midnight (on line 560wind.com). And as always, Be on the lookout for Ken in comedy clubs accross the Chicago area and the greater midwest.

Regular Suspender Ken

Animated Ken

Comedy Salad with Buddah #19 Chris Speyrer

Buddah is hitting the road for an out of state gig this weekend so here is a mid-week Comedy Salad interview. The first thing I have to say is many of the previous 18 interviews would not be possible if it were not for meeting them through this week's guest. It's the one and only, Chris Speyrer! Chris is the owner/operator of one of the best kept secrets in the Illinois comedy scene, Mason City Limits comedy club. This club is where I have earned most of my standup comedy chops. I am not really interviewing just a club owner. Chris has been a standup comedian for 20 plus years and he knows just about everybody in the biz. Here is a recent quote from comedian Todd Yohn to me, "Chris Speyrer is one of most under rated comics in the business". I (Buddah) can say that he helps local comics out when and where he can, whether it's guest spots and/or feature sets at his club or even just giving an up and coming comic a line for a joke. Chris knows just how much time local comics are worthy of when he calls them in from the bullpen, which is why the local talent has had some good success on his stage. Headlining comics such as Drew Hastings, Emo Phillips, Bob Zany, Alex Reymundo, Nikki Glaser, Nick Griffin, Costaki Economopolous, Mike Armstrong, Donnie Baker and many others have worked his club multiple times since it's opening in 2006. The club has even had spirits from the past drop in for a show as evidenced on film by this comedian's better half. I rustled up six questions for Chris, a native of Dayton, Ohio and had him toss (like a salad, get it?) one back to me and here is what we have waiting for you...



BUDDAH: Being a club owner, I know you get a lot of requests for stage time. What are you looking for in a comic when booking feature acts?



CHRIS: For out of town comics, it's usually a headliner bringing somebody with them. It's important that the feature act is an appropriate set up for the headliner and of couse they travel together, which helps them budget wise. Locally, I like to throw the comics a bone who I know are working hard to get better. I'll use two locals to split the feature time when it helps to get the comics that deserve it, more stage time.



BUDDAH: What did George Carlin say to you when you met him that one night many years ago in Lexington, KY?



CHRIS: He asked us questions, where we were from, how our show went. Didn't speak long, but was nice enough to meet me and the other comic I was with (Ray Thomas), who I was performing with next door at Comedy on Broadway, before he excused himself to get ready for his 2nd show.



BUDDAH: Your club is hosting an all weekend event Friday-Sunday called "Mason City Limits Comedy Palooza". This three day event will consist of five comedians performing each day. So, who are the 15 comics who have been selected to perform at this epic event?



CHRIS: (I would prefer to limit this to five all time favorite comics so I don't have to exclude/offend any of my current comics.) All time favorite show:

Steven Wright

Steve Martin

Sam Kinison

George Carlin

Richard Pryor



BUDDAH: If you were not a standup comedian and didn't operate a comedy club what would be your dream career?



CHRIS: I would like to do color commentary for the Cincinnati Reds broadcast next to Marty Brennaman or an NFL draft analysis ala Mel Kiper with a bit less hair.



BUDDAH: You just traded your comedy club (damn you!) for a radio station. What are the first three song you will play on the airwaves?



CHRIS: ABE FM out of Springfield had a 'guest DJ' thing for a while and you got to play five songs. I was fortunate enough to do it twice, don't remember all the songs but these were some of the songs I played:



Open My Eyes - The Nazz

Tempted - Squeeze

Boom, Boom, Boom - (cover version) by Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Two of Us - The Beatles

Cold Hard Bitch - Jet

Up To Me - Jethro Tull

Don't Change - INXS

Hey Bulldog - The Beatles



BUDDAH: Baseball time! being from Ohio it is no big secret that you are a Cincinnati Reds fan. So what is your all time Reds team (C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, 3 OF's, DH and one starting pitcher to take the mound)?



CHRIS: The Big Red Machine pretty much covers it, Tony Perez 1B; Joe Morgan 2B; perhaps Larkin over Concepcion at SS, Frank Robinson at 3B. Outfield of Griffey Sr. RF, Eric Davis CF, Pete Rose LF. I'll have Joey Votto DH. Johnny Bench catching and Jose Rijo as my starting pitcher. But if it was up to me there would be no DH since I am a National League guy. Consideration also given to Johnny Vandameer, Tom Seaver, Paul O'Neil, Vada Pinson, George Foster and Ted Kluszewski.



And of course as always, one question to Buddah...While you were growing up, when in life did you realize you were funny?



BUDDAH: The first person to ever call me a comedian when I wasn't one was my Mom (R.I.P.) at age 11 or 12. She said, "you always make me laugh" (except when I was skipping school). I guess I always tried to make my friends laugh when I was growing up, but was mostly an inverted (and perverted) child.



Well, I thought for sure Chris Sabo was going to be penciled in at 3B on the all Speyrer team. Chris Speyrer and Mason City Limits are back in full swing after a much deserved summer break this weekend with the return of Donnie Baker. Call the club at (217) 482-5233 to make reservations for this and future shows. The website is mclimits.com. Josh Alton headlines the following week w/Buddah as his feature act! And of course, Chris will on stage too. Look for the return of the highly popular Nick Griffin and Emo Phillips among other great talents in the coming weeks ahead. You can also check out the new renovations at the club complete with a new bar area at the front entrance of the club. Tell the straight guy door man with the queer eye that Buddah sent you.

Chris Speyrer

Where all the funny happens.

Cartoon Chris!

Comedy Salad with Buddah #18 Jimmy Pardo

Once upon a winter night four scores and a few years ago, Buddah and fellow comedian Rich Mansfield ventured off to Peora, IL to participate in the weekly proam because standup comedy is all about stage time, right? Not on this night. It was all about Jimmy Pardo when he is within a 100 mile radius of two of his bigger fans. That's right, Jimmy Pardo is my guest on this week's Comedy Salad. Rich and I did go to the Jukebox Comedy Club on that particular Thursday night to catch one of our comedy hero's do his thing, and I can say this comic was in awe of what he saw, which was 20 minutes of crowd work up front before he rattled off a written joke. We were impressed to say the least. Jimmy Pardo is a comedian every up and coming comic should watch if given the chance to see him live. You will say to yourself, this is the way I should be doing standup, even though you may never reach his level. These days Jimmy spends a lot of his time as the warm up comic on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and recently spent time right along side of Conan as the co-host. He has appeared on "The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno", The Late, Late Show w/Craig Ferguson" and a one time appearance on the sitcom "That 70's Show". Jimmy can also be heard regularly on "The Bob and Tom Show". He also has a new comedy CD due out any day. Jimmy is married to fellow comedian Danielle Koenig, daughter of Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame, known for his role as Pavel Chekov. I will go out on a limb and even say that Jimmy Pardo probably has one of the largest collections of cardigan sweaters known to mankind. As usual, I hammered out six questions to my guest and asked Jimmy to fire one back to me, and I was astonished by his question so much I wanted to call him and ask him if had read my diary. Here we go...



BUDDAH: Do you remember the first joke you ever wrote and what was it?



JIMMY: Yes...I had this happen to me today...I ran out of toilet paper, you know how awful that is when you are sitting there and realize you are out of it...so now you gotta walk around looking for it with your pants around your ankles. Man, I gotta tell ya by the time I got to (insert local drug store) my legs were really cramped. (Not a bad joke for a beginner, but as I look back now, I cringe).



BUDDAH: What shows have you written for past and present?



JIMMY: The only show I ever "wrote" for was for a game show called "Hype". Other than that, it's all been in the moment hosting or remote type things.



BUDDAH: How has working as the the warm up comic for Conan O'Brien changed your standup career?



JIMMY: It has made me travel FAR less than I had been doing. I perform every day in font of a terrific audience. That seems to fill the stand-up performing void.



BUDDAH: What advice do you like to give to up and coming comedians?



JIMMY: Stay true to who you are. Don't try to follow trends. It may take longer to succeed (and one may never succeed)...but at least you are succeeding or failing on your own terms.



BUDDAH: If you could bring back one comedian that has passed to do one final show, who would it be?



JIMMY: I would love to see Johnny Carson host the Tonight Show one more time.



BUDDAH: You just inherited your very own radio station. What are the first three song you will play on the airwaves?



JIMMY: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin

             Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings

             Beginnings - Chicago        


And now we turn over the interview to Mr. Pardo to ask Buddah one burning question.....I'm trying to figure out if it was a regional thing...so...where did you grow up and did you collect beer cans for a hobby as a kid?



BUDDAH: I grew up in a small town called Riverton in good ol' politically corrupt Illinois, just 5 miles away from the state capitol, Springfield. I collected baseball cards and beer cans, like a kid with a hard core beer drinking family (about 220 cans the last time I counted). The most unique item I have is a sealed 7 UP tin can (not that aluminum shit) with about 2-3 drops of soda still in it that I have owned since 1974. Ironically, my beer can collection sits on a closet shelf about six feet from where I typed this.



WOW! How the hell did Jimmy know I collected beer cans? One would think Jimmy is too busy in television to do many road gigs but here is what dug up for you, so be on the lookout for him soon: Skyline Comedy club in Appleton, WI Sep. 20th, The Strand Theater in Shlebyville, IN Sep. 21st, Wise Guys comedy club in Salt Lake City Oct. 11th & 12th, Zanies comedy clubs Nov. 1st in Chicago and Rosemont, IL Nov. 2nd, both near his hometown. Jimmy also has a widely popular podcast called "Never Not Funny" and if this is not enough he has a weekly web series interviewing celebrities on "The Pardo Patrol". You can also visit his website at JimmyPardo.com. SIDE NOTE: He is no relation to TV announcer Don Pardo, so don't ask!

The signature Pardo sweater look.

Laid back Jimmy.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #17 Scott Long

Scott working out an eye brow cramp.

Long live Scott Long!

The Indianapolis area is a great mecca for standup comedy, so why not check out a man who loves his job. That guy is none other than Scott Long. He originally hails from the corn fields of Iowa. I have never worked with Scott but came close once upon a time until the venue pulled standup comedy off the stage two weeks before I was to emcee Scott's show. Damn the luck. But I did manage to catch his act live at Mason City Limits a few years ago and was truly impressed. Scott Long has been heard on the "Bob and Tom Show" and ESPN radio. He spent several years as a writer for Frank Caliendo's FOX NFL Sunday pre game sketches. You didn't think Frank made all of those funnies by himself, did you? Scott even asked this comedian if he could borrow a line I wrote about Brett Favre when he was retiring...unretiring (I still to this day don't know if my joke was aired on FOX). And of course, Scott has been a veteran road comic for years. As usual, I fired six questions at Scott and anxiously awaited for him to shoot one back to me. So here is how it all went down...



BUDDAH: How long have you been a standup comic and take a wild guess as to how many shows you have performed as a headliner?



SCOTT: I started doing standup in 1992, right when the biz started going down the tube from TV over-saturation, been headlining since 1999. I guess that means I've headlined close to 2,000 shows. I've seen a lot of faces and I've rocked most of them. (I'm not quite as cocky as Bon Jovi)



BUDDAH: I know you have taught comedy classes in the past. Do you still do this and what teaching methods, writing exercises etc... would an up and coming comic learn when attending a Scott Long workshop?



SCOTT: I've taught comedy classes. Here's what I promise and I've delivered. I will make you a couple of years better on stage in regards to performing. When you start, most comics make the same mistakes time after time, stuff like bad body language, using the mic stand as a crutch, etc. These things make you look like an amateur. Your stage craft can make you look like you know what your doing, even if you don't. Writing exercises are trademarked and only learned from my class. I can't make you a professional touring comedian, but I can make you a lot better at communicating with people and getting to the point. This will help you with all facets of life.



BUDDAH: When you were working with Frank Caliendo on FOX NFL Sunday how was that grind different and did it have any new affect on your standup comedy during that time?



SCOTT: Writing for Frank Caliendo's FOX NFL Sunday sketches (and the past season with Rob Riggle) is using a whole different muscle than standup. It's more like writing stuff on social media, lots more topical and not really relevant for my standup. It was really frustrating at times during the first few years as I would submit so many jokes that I thought should have been used, but as time goes by you start learn that is just the way TV works. I'm proud of a lot of the sketches that I've added to, but ultimately it always came down to Frank Caliendo is an amazing talent and I've been really lucky to work with him.



BUDDAH: Who are a few of your favorite comics you have worked with over the years?



SCOTT: I haven't worked with a lot of great headliners because I started headlining pretty quickly. On some fronts this was probably a mistake because I didn't build friendships with bigger names and that hurt me in regards to larger opportunities. It's something to consider for comics who are pushing really hard to headline. I will say that Dan Cummins and Tommy Johnagin were comics that featured for me in the past that I think are great headliners now. I think David Crowe and Nick Griffin are the 2 best comics in America that are under the radar to too may people.



BUDDAH: How do you and your wife raise a family while caring for a special needs child, all while juggling your comedy career?



SCOTT: I'd love to answer you question about raising kids, especially a child with special needs, with the depth it deserves. Unfortunately, because of this exact reason, I don't have the time to do it. I would suggest just go to my scottcomedy.com blog and take a look at a couple pieces in the past I've done. Or come out to my 1 man show that I've written discussing life as a Good Dad, not a Great Dad. My site for this is itsanautismthing.com and features my beautiful girl Maddie, who loves to say Happy Monday.



BUDDAH: You are the frontman for a rock & roll band. What is your stage name and what is the name of your band?



SCOTT: Stage name: Stig Riffs. Band name: No Cover. This works on many levels. First, on the marquee people would walk in thinking there is no cover. Second, when people would come up to ask for a cover tune, it could be mentioned that the band is called No Cover for a reason. Only negative, it does sound like a bad 80's band that might have opened for the Outfield.



Okay, Scott's turn...Buddah, if you could do things over, what would you have done differently in your efforts to be a professional standup?



BUDDAH: There are a few answers here, but mainly I would try not to force myself to do a certain set list (which often ended up in me using that dreaded set list on stage...bad idea) on a given night and just let the jokes flow that were in my head at the time. This is a mistake I made for far too long that I care to mention, but once I got away from it the better I have performed. I also wish I had implemented more facial expressions sooner, which I have just recently started doing. They can often help sell a joke to your audience. Oh, and I have also learned that clean underwear helps people like you better. Rock on, Stig Riffs!



I loved the Bon Jovi reference. Catch Scott and his one man show at comedy clubs across the country. How dedicated is he at making people laugh? Scott has been touring North Dakota this week and is currently gearing up for a show in Bismark at Dakota Stage Ltd. as I type this. He also has a blog called Fly Over Comedy. Scott has two comedy CD's and two comedy DVD's. If that isn't enough he has also written a book of comedic essays for you literate types, titled "Dysfunctional Thoughts of a 21 Century Man".

Comedy Salad with Buddah #16 Sonya White

Funny, pretty, personable...the complete package.

I'm gonna need to see some ID, please, young lady.

Where do you find a big city girl with a dash or two of southern sass? Chicago, the last time I checked. Originally from the south, Sonya White has graced comedy stages for years and she is extra special to me as she was the first headliner I ever worked with when I was offered a surprise guest set at Mason City Limits Comedy Club on a cold winter night back in 2008. Even though I slightly bombed you never would have known that when I met her immediately off stage. She was professional and gracious to me to say the least. Since that night I have hosted a pair of shows she has headlined and last year I was her feature act at that very same club, upon her request, which made me feel a bit fuzzy on the inside. Enough about Buddah. Sonya White has a star spangled comedy career which includes appearances on "Last Comic Standing" (season 4), CMT's "Southern Fried Chicks", "Star Search", Oxygen network's "Girls Behaving Badly", WGN TV, HBO and Comedy Central. And I am sure you have heard her voice over the airwaves on "The Bob And Tom Show". She has worked with comedic talents Lewis Black and Kathy Griffin among many others and over the years has several comedy festival appearances under her belt. Her unique comedy stylings have led her to sharing stages with musical acts such as Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Naomi Judd, The Robert Cray Band, Gloria Gaynor and The Drifters. I caught up with Sonya and asked her six questions and then she threw a real thinker back at me. Read on to see what we had to say...



BUDDAH: What is the proudest moment of your standup comedy career, to date?



SONYA: My proudest moment? HMMMMM...when I realized I could make a living doing comedy- eat, drink, travel, buy a home, a car and meet nice people all under one umbrella...my job to make people laugh.



BUDDAH: What made Sonya White want to be a standup comic?



SONYA: What made me wanna do standup came by accident. I was an improv artist first, and once we were running late due to technical difficulty. I was asked to "entertain" the crowd with some jokes or impersonations until show time. I did and got a good response. I grew from the experience and thought wow, now I don't have to split my paycheck five ways! It was then I became a standup artist. (Growth came from doing a second show that same night years later. The troupe said "hey, go out and entertain the crowd again. That went well with you opening." I did and when I stepped out on stage IT WAS THE SAME AUDIENCE ALL OVER AGAIN- gulp!)



BUDDAH: When you go out on the road what is the one thing you always take with you and what is the one thing you leave behind that you wish you could take with you?



SONYA: When I go out on the road I always take my dog "Lovey" if I can- and if I can't I wish she was with me. She is my companion.



BUDDAH: We are making a movie about your life. So what would the title of this flick be and who would star as you?



SONYA: If we were making a movie about my life the title would be "Dancing Alone" and it would be a Dramedy. Someone who can make ya laugh and cry will play me...audition PINK.



BUDDAH: Where is your dream vacation spot and why?



SONYA: My dream vacation is staying home and being with friends or family cause all I do is travel.



Okay, maybe an all expense paid trip to Hawaii for a week of sun and surf and exotic food. A massage once a day and relax and let come what may...no sharks please.



BUDDAH: Where would you like a gift card from? (no I am not buying you one!...haha).



SONYA: I would like a gift card from any spa in the country as I love to relax with body pampering. I really enjoy infused water with lime or cucumber and love calming effects of pan flute music.



Sonya's turn...Question for you Buddah? Do you plan on moving to a bigger city to pursue comedy? Where do want to be in the next five years? For me it has been a "riding waves" ebb and flow where the tides kinda bend like a palm tree success story in comedy. Willing to try different venues mold to the type of crowd in these places. I never thought I would do cruise ships but have added them to my repertoire.



BUDDAH: I dig the big cities like Denver, St. Louis and Chicago but my current day job keeps me entrenched in central Illinois where our former governors learn how to do inmates laundry and make license plates (I believe Gov. Rod Blagojevich made my current vanity plate). If I am able to retire from my boring day life (IN THE NEXT 3-5 YRS) I plan to hit the road further away from home much more often, but unlike you I am leaving our dogs Dick and Dick Jr. (that's really what I call them) behind.



Sonya has had a busy summer working her craft on Royal Carribean Cruise ships during July-August. Lets hope her canine friend Lovey isn't sea sick. What's on deck for Sonya? Vegas, baby! And after that during October thru December 1st she will begin a theatre tour with Southern Fried Chicks. Go see her spot on impersonations of female country stars and other celebrities. Her show is a fun ride for all. Now cue the pan flute music.