MattKemple.com

Category: interview

  • Comedy in the Shepherd

    It’s a wonderful thing when your talents are recognized.  It’s especially fun when the media picks up on it!  There is a great write up in this weeks Shepherd Express by Tea Krulos about the underground comedy scene. I was interviewed as an expert on the subject along with Milwaukee Comedy.

    Here is a little from the article:

    The space is also home to Milwaukee Comedy, the production company run by Matt Kemple. A comedian and producer, Kemple is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Milwaukee Comedy Festival this year, Aug. 6-9. He says the growing independent comedy shows are the sign of a strengthening scene.

    “One of the best things we have is the community itself. It’s supportive; there are a lot of people that want the scene to survive and want to work with other comedians,” Kemple explains. “A number of years ago, people would drive to Chicago to see comedy. They wouldn’t even pretend to think it was happening in town. That’s not the case anymore.

     

    We did this interview a while ago, so it was a nice surprise when it came out this week. It’s worth the read. You can take a look at the entire article here.

  • Milwaukee Record Podcast

    Milwaukee RecordIt was really wonderful to hang out with Tyler Maas of the Milwaukee Record on the On The Record podcast! The hilarious Allison Dunn also joined us for a lively conversation on the Milwaukee comedy scene.

    We talked about how much the comedy scene has grown, and the support of other comics, along with jokes and and general fun.

    Here is a snippet from  the Milwaukee Record here:

    In the second installment of On The Record, host Tyler Maas went down to the basement of the Grand Avenue Mall and spoke with longtime champion of Milwaukee comedy, Milwaukee Comedy Festival co-founder, and occasional WUWM radio personality Matt Kemple at his Underground Collaborative performance venue, along with uproariously funny local comedian/Levity Radio co-host Allison Dunne. The conversation ranges from how much the scene has improved of late, the city’s reluctance to accept homegrown comedy, and what should be done to shorten the gap between local and touring comedians.

    Give the full interview a listen here:

  • Talking Comedy with LJN

    I had a great time talking with Tim Muma and the Local Job Network about the comedy industry recently. It’s exciting to talk about what I love and this podcast was really unique for me. I didn’t have to focus on an upcoming show I am trying to promote, I was able to discuss how I have contributed to the comedy industry as a whole and where I think it is going. It was a lot of fun!

    Check out the entire interview right here.pic_logo

    Here is the description from the website:

    We’re taking a look at the comedy industry and examining the details of this unique community, and for those interested, what it takes to succeed. Matt Kemple, live events producer for Milwaukee Comedy and the founder of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, joins Tim Muma to give us an inside look at the various avenues one can take within comedy. He also describes the scene as a whole and the many great options for fans of the comedic arts.

    Moving Up the Ladder gives employees and employers fresh perspectives on the concept of career advancement. There are countless ways to progress in one’s career, but it’s important to know the why and how of it all. Let us give you the ideas, tools and expert analysis to reach the pinnacle of success.

  • Interviewing W. Kamau Bell

    I am excited about a new opportunity that came up with WUWM Radio! This has been in the works for a little while, so I needed to wait until it was official. They have invited me to co-produce a new comedy interview segment as part of the WUWM@Nite series. W.KamauBell

    Thanks goes out to the amazing WUWM producers Rachel Owens and Bruce Winter for the opportunity. I have been very fortunate over the years to have appeared on television and have been interviewed on the radio numerous times, but this project marks the first time I am doing the interviewing.

    My first segment is with national comedian W. Kamau Bell, who’s going to be performing in Milwaukee. I got the chance to chat with him about his TBS show, touring as a comedian and working with Chris Rock.

    As part of our new comedy segment, Milwaukee Comedy’s Matt Kemple spoke with Bell about working with Chris Rock, his new tour, breaking from his show, Totally Biased, and why he chose Denzel Washington as the focus for his new podcast, Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period.

    Check out the full interview here: http://wuwm.com/post/comedian-w-kamau-bell-back-road

    And be on the lookout for future interviews with local and national talent on WUWM

  • The Low Budget Show!

    Here is the full podcast episode I had fun recording with Damon Millard!

    As he describes it, “The Low-Budget Show is a webshow by stand-up comedian Damon Millard. It’s a program where an idiot pretends his bedroom is a TV studio.” Check it out below, I come in at 15:28 in the podcast.

  • Low Budget Promo

    I had a blast talking with Damon Millard on his podcast “The Low Budget Show”. I’ll have the full episode up soon, but here is a really funny promo Damon put together. Enjoy!

  • Where I Drink

    Where I drinkAn editor from the Shepherd Express recently called me and mentioned they would like to interview local celebreties about where they enjoy a good adult beverage. I unassumingly asked who they had in mind, that I would be happy to put him in contact with someone. He laughed as he told me I was the local celebrity. Who knew I had slowly risen through the ranks to reach “local celebrity” status? The Shepherd, that’s who.

    The piece came out today, and they even drew a picture of me to accompany it!
    I went with John Hawks Pub as a fun and unique place to grab a drink. Especially in the summer when you can sit outside along the river.

    Here is the blurb they printed:

    Kemple is a gentle powerhouse whose impact on comedy and play development in Milwaukee is increasingly remarkable. He loves the outdoor seating along the river at Hawks where he drinks IPAs, especially the Lakefront Brewery’s version. The Pub is a close neighbor to Pink Banana’s busy Underground Collaborative performance space in the Plankinton Building Downtown. “It’s so relaxing by the river and the view is fantastic,” he explained. “I forget that the city has such beautiful spots!”

    And you can see the full article on the Shepherd Express website.

  • Matt and Dobie Maxwell on Fox6

    I had a great time on Fox6 Milwaukee talking about the Milwaukee Comedy Festival with the very funny Dobie Maxwell!

    You can see the clip below:

    UPDATED 8/3
    I choose Dobie to join me on Fox6 because he’s talented, works hard, and does what he says he will. I often just think about what might be the best fit, as opposed to who might appreciate the job more. DOB was excellent on the show, and he took the time to write a very nice post on his Dented Can Diary blog. Here are a few excerpts, but I encourage you to take a look at the entire post here.

    I had to be in Milwaukee by 9am to be on a TV show called ‘Real Milwaukee’ to help promote The Milwaukee Comedy Festival which runs this coming weekend. It’s a well run event that was started by a guy named Matt Kemple eight years ago, and has continued to grow with each year.

    …. Matt asked me to be a part of it years ago, and I’ve been there whenever my schedule allows. He’s an outstanding promoter and a sincere person, so anything I can do to support his and his team’s efforts is my pleasure.

    He could have chosen anyone to be a representative sampling, but of all the acts he singled me out and that’s a huge honor. …. There was no way I would turn down such a flattering gesture.

    …I’ve had a few experiences where shows I’ve been on have not had nice hosts, and that can be a chore instead of the fun treat it should be. This was worth my trip. Just as I felt chemistry on The Morning Blend with Molly and Tiffany, I felt the same with Katrina and Cassandra. They get it.

    Matt Kemple gets it as well, and that’s why I’ll go out of my way to help him with anything he should need me to do. He and his team have put together a fabulous event that keeps on growing, and hopefully they will keep having me back. I love to be a part of things like this whenever I am able, as they’re always a win/win proposition. It’s also great to be able to do it in my home town.

  • Matt Talks with Mark Metcalf!

    I sat down with actor Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seinfeld… yes, the Maestro himself!), but the best part was he was interviewing ME about the start of The Underground Collaborative, the Milwaukee Comedy Festival and other things.

    Despite that busy schedule, Matt took a bit of time out of his day to pop upstairs for a visit at the Third Coast Daily offices, where he sat down with Mark. While he was here, he talked to us about the growth of Milwaukee’s comedy scene, the different styles of comedy on the rise in the city and what’s coming up during this hectic weekend at the Collaborative.

    Check out the interview here.

  • Reconstructing Grimm: Peter Pan Photoshoot

    I had the opportunity to work on a photo shoot with Liz Shipe.  She started a project attempting to put a spin on classic fairy tales and children’s stories.  The results are pretty incredible to say the least.  Here is a short video documentary on the photo project.

    Reconstructing Grimm: Peter Pan