The Gumbo is a great little showcase and open mic created for sole purpose of inviting an eclectic mix of performers to our stage, while creating a supportive performance environment for our current network. The room is filled with a great vibe like no other, encouraging artists to to take the stage whether they are just starting out, or perfecting their current repertoire. It's a great platform and I encourage all artists to come out and jump into our pot of gumbo soup!
That's where I met Comedian and Screenwriter, Jeff Lutz.
Photograph by Sean Friedman
Jeff came in with great energy, a dark voice, and funny material that immediately connected with our audience. He threw himself into our pot of stew and well...I'm happy to say he hasn't missed one yet since its inception! A Gumbo historian, he knows every single performer that's ever taken our stage, which says a lot about the memorable performers looking for a great network to be a part of in order to showcase their work.
Believe me when I tell you that every type of artist/performer comes to this great little showcase such as: fashion designers, singer songwriters, comedians, actors, dancers and more. I like referring to our gumbo as "a fun little tasty appetizer to our main stage Jambalaya events."
I think one of the most difficult tasks in life is to make people laugh on stage. It takes a lot, and Jeff works at it all the time in order to perfect his craft. The biggest thing that makes our Gumbo so likable is that we take great pride in introducing performers to our guests and other artists prior to taking the stage. This really makes a huge difference and helps for people to get to know each other making it a more enjoyable night! It's like having guests in your home and trying to make them feel as welcomed as possible.
It's not easy to get up on stage and bare your soul, and takes a lot of courage especially to do comedy. Trust me, I know all too much about this topic since I am also a performer. I asked Jeff what was different about performing at Gumbo and his answer was that everyone in the room really supports the artists, and wants to see them do well. It's a great atmosphere for artists to throw themselves in and try out new things or just to keep themselves fresh!
Getting to know Jeff has been great and he's exactly the type of person we enjoy working with. His dedication says it all and I am excited to announce he will be joining our Jambalaya team as a segment producer leading our comedy troupe. We are thrilled to have him on board and the great ideas he will be bringing will add a fresh new perspective into our events.
Thanks Jeff, for signing on with our Jamba community and for being a part of our Gumbo network! We hope you will join us at our next gumbo and meet him in person. I'll be there, and I know he won't miss it for the world!
Jeff will also be joining us as a guest blogger for Pepper Guy Picks, adding his take on our gumbos, artists and other comedy material as well. So please feel free to comment and ask questions to our Gumbo (or is it Baba Ghanoush??) Historian!!
Please read more to learn about Jeff and his comedy!
Jeff Lutz
Since making his debut at the University of Florida in 2003, Jeff has been performing at clubs and colleges all over the country, including Caroline’s on Broadway, Gotham Comedy Club, and The Comic Strip Live in New York City and the LA Improv and The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, CA.
He has worked as a writer for National Lampoon and an on-air personality for WUFT-FM in Gainesville. Not to mention, working with some of the hottest names in comedy today such as MADTV’s Bobby Lee, Last Comic Standing winner’s Iliza Shlesinger and Jon Reep, Maria Bamford, and Jim Gaffigan.
Jeff’s unique and playful take on the most trivial and sacred of life’s truths relates to people in a way that not only makes them agree, but laugh as well. And he’s not afraid to turn on himself. “I look like I’m 14, I sound like I’m 35. The only time people take me seriously is at Halloween.”
When asked about his future goals in comedy, Jeff, who is originally from Kutztown, Pa., said: “I really enjoy making people laugh and I find it’s easier to do that in a comedy club than in an office. The water cooler just isn’t what it used to be.”
www.youtube.com/JeffLutzComedy
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