Student comedians are limited as to where they can perform, said Mike Usher, University Board comedy coordinator.

UB is giving students a chance to be stand-up comedians this semester. “Last Comic Standing” will be the fourth installment in UB’s comedy series in which students will display their talent to the university community.

“It’s a very effective programming idea just because we’re delving into student talent,” said Amy Baumgart, graduate adviser for the student life office and comedy committee. “If I were to be a part of the ‘Last Comic Standing’ competition I would try and get all my friends to come to vote for me and to support me and I think that’s really going to help with student spirit.”

Baumgart said students who write their own stand-up are welcome to try out in front of a panel of judges. The panel will then select five contestants to perform at the Last Comic Standing night on March 28.

After each comedian performs a 10-to-15 minute routine, students will pick whom they want as the last comic standing.

Usher, sophomore business major, created the idea for Last Comic Standing because there is no venue for student comedians.

Comedy is in his friend’s blood, because the friend’s relative is a stand-up comedian, Usher said.

Yet there was nowhere for his friend to perform his comedy material on campus, Usher said.

Usher thought an event like the “Last Comic Standing” would be a perfect venue, not only for his friend, but also for everyone around campus with the interest.

Usher said at a previous comedy show he overheard someone say he wanted to open for one of the comedians.

The winner of the competition will be able to do just that – open for the last comedy performance of the semester.

Usher said another bonus for having an event like this is it does not cost UB anything, because students are performing for free. This allows UB to spend more money on the prize packages, as well as bring more comedians to campus.

Ceci Brinker, director of student life, said there were several UB committees that went back for additional allocations, but comedy was not one of them.

“(The comedy committee’s) budget was pretty decent for what they wanted to do,” Brinker said. “(Usher) came up with some other cost-effective ways to maintain what he had this semester.”

Brinker said while the comedy committee thought about doing an additional allocation request, they decided they could do without this semester.

“Last Comic Standing” was one of those cost-effective methods of saving money, and Usher said comedy was content with their budget for this semester.

A single comedian costs approximately $900 to $1,500.

Baumgart said it varies depending on what the committee wants or who they can get.

“I mean, everybody’s going to know Dane Cook, but also Dane Cook costs. I think it’s more than $200,000, so that just puts things in perspective,” Baumgart said.

Even without being able to contract the bigger-named acts, Brinker said UB usually tries to book people with some name recognition and who have been on Comedy Central or VH1.

Every year UB goes to the National Association of Campus Activities, which is a large showcase of artists. After the convention, Baumgart said they pick who to bring.

Usher would like to bring a bigger-named comedian to campus. This, however, requires a larger budget than the comedy committee has.

Usher said if he had more money he would bring a lot more comedians to campus, but he said he does the best he can with the money he is given.

This semester he said more money was not needed. However, if next semester he wants to bring a bigger comedian, he said he would consider asking for additional funds.

“Comedians who come do a good job,” Usher said, but added that they are just up-and-coming.

He said one of the comedians last semester, Dan Cummings, is now in January going to have his own half-hour show.

UB currently has three comedians contracted to come to Eastern. John Mulaney, the first of the three to come, has been on “Best Week Ever” and the show “null” on VH1. Mulaney will perform at Eastern tonight at 9 p.m. in 7th Street Underground.

Kevin Bozeman has appeared on HBO and Comedy Central.

Jordan Carlos is a recurring character on “The Colbert Report.”

The last comedic act is still “up in the air,” Usher said, but he’s hoping to make it a big bash.

He is looking at several possibilities, one of which would have three comedians come on one night.

This last show, however, has not been contracted yet and is still in the works.

The comedy shows average between 75 and 200 people, said Brinker.

“Comedy goes over very well with our student body,” she said.

Baumgart said the comedic acts have been so popular, UB has actually had concern about going over fire code in 7th Street Underground.

“It’s funny – we’ve actually gotten quite a following of students that come back to the comedy shows,” Baumgart said. “You’ll see some of them get to the show 30 minutes or 20 minutes beforehand just because they know it’s going to be a standing-room-only kind of night.”

Fact box:

Spring 2008 Upcoming comedians:

Jan. 25 John Mulaney

Feb. 8 Kevin Bozeman

Feb. 29 Jordan Carlos

March 28 Last Comic Standing

April 25 Last comedian of the semester (to be announced)

*Last comic standing winner will open

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7945 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.