Funny folks compete for ‘Fool’-ish title

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 3:34 a.m.

Information

What: "Number One Fool Contest."

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: Tropicana's Comedy Stop.

Tickets: $17.50.

Information: 739-2714.

Dying is easy, comedy is hard -- just ask a group of amateur stand-up comedians who tonight will take a shot at winning $1,000 and a chance to perform onstage at the Tropicana's Comedy Stop.

During the finals for the ninth annual "Number One Fool Contest" at the comedy club, eight would-be comics will do five-minute routines that they hope will tickle the funny bones of a team of judges (who are, for the most part, members of local media, theater and hotel-casino industries).

The event is held every April Fool's Day. Preliminary competitions have been held at the Comedy Stop every Wednesday night since Feb. 7.

"This is very good experience for the professional stand-up wannabes," Florence Troutman, spokeswoman for the Comedy Stop, said.

"This is a way to find out what it feels like to be out there naked," she said, "to feel the audience response and to see if the timing is there, to see if they have a gift for comedy -- and it is a gift. Somebody may have fabulous material, but not be able to deliver it."

Troutman said the Comedy Stop began the contest because it's difficult to hold open-mike nights -- when amateurs are allowed to go through a comedy routine -- at comedy clubs on the Strip.

"(Most) clubs on the Strip don't want to take a chance with anyone getting up there and doing offensive, unfunny comedy," she said.

Troutman said that Comedy Shop owner Bob Kephart "came up with this contest that allows amateurs who sit in a club and say they can be as funny as the person onstage the chance to find out if they can or not. They can prove they're funny -- or disprove it."

Dozens of would-be contestants submitted a five-minute routine on tape to a screening committee at the club. The committee selected those who have been competing on Wednesdays.

Troutman said that the five-minute routines are "clean comedy. We're not going to let them embarrass themselves, or us."

She also stressed the status of the entrants. "We do a background check to make sure they are, indeed, amateurs."

Troutman said the judges consider many things when evaluating the contestants, not just their material.

"They realize not every contestant is a fabulous comedian, one who is polished," she said. "The judges look at them as amateurs, people who are very raw and inexperienced.

"What's fun is that the finalists bring everybody they know to help sway the judges -- mothers, girlfriends, husbands are in the audience," she said.

Although some contestants aspire to become professionals, many just enter for fun.

Two of tonight's finalists are Nathan Ball, 25, a graduate of Bonanza High School; and Cary Deccio, 30, a native of Iowa who moved to Las Vegas three years ago.

Ball, who entered the contest for the first time this year, said he would like to be a professional comedian.

"I want to make a career out of it," he said. "I've wanted to do it since I was 12."

Ball said his five years of working with the public as a sales manager for Cashman Photo has taught him how to make people laugh, and what humor works best with different people.

Since November he has been going to open-mike nights at clubs around town, such as the New York City Bar and Grill at New York-New York.

"I write my own material," he said. "Basically, it's about being married and having twins, stuff about the girls and my wife."

Deccio entered the contest last year, but he did not make the final cut. He does stand-up for fun at parties and also at open-mike nights at other venues.

"I've been doing it for 10 years, at talent shows and amateur nights at different places. I did my high school reunion a couple of years ago," he said.

Deccio was living in Hawaii when he got in touch with his comic side during an open-mike night at a comedy club there.

"I found out I like it," he said. "I'm probably similar (in style) to Seinfield a little bit, and a little bit like Bill Cosby. But I have my own style."

Deccio, who works as a corporate trainer, doesn't have delusions about a career in comedy.

"It's a hobby," he said. "I really enjoy it, but those guys that do it professionally give up a lot. They work and work for years to get where they are.

"I think I'm good, but I don't know if I'm that good. I have a family, and life on the road is not easy. If I ever had the opportunity and I knew the money was coming in, I would do it. But I'm satisfied with being an amateur."