I live in NYC, make sketch comedy videos, improvise with the Motley Misfits, and am working 100 jobs in 2012.
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Hi! I'm Dave Herman
Being blunt has gotten me in trouble some times, but for the most part it’s good for me. I have better friends that way.
So I should’ve been blunt to the cashier at Panera Bread today because she clearly hated her job. Know how I can tell she hated it? Two things:
1. The first lines of our conversation
Me: Hi, what’s happening?
Jessica: Good.
2. The last two lines of our conversation
(Jessica wears an apron with her name on it.)
Jessica: Your order will be ready on the left. What’s your name?
Me: Dave. And you’re Jessica!
Jessica: Yes, that’s what it says.
I wanted to say, “I can tell you hate your job. Want me to get you another one you like? Because I can.”
See? It’s to the world’s benefit that I say what’s on my mind.
Next time, Gadget. Next time.
Kenneth Parcell wasn’t the only paid costumed gig I did. This one I did more recently:
Job #33 - Costumed Character
Ever get accosted by newspaper boys from the early 20th century? I have. Guys dressed in striped shirts and vests and fedoras, handing out newspapers with a promotion for Boardwalk Empire. This happened last fall in front of the HBO offices on 42nd and 6th. They also promoted by running a branded subway car through midtown Manhattan. Smart advertising.
Lay off, I use Google News!Lately I got the chance to do the same thing with VEEP. Only this time we got to dress up as Secret Service agents. And we got our own motorcade. Yeah, black motorcycles and SUVs led the way for our tour bus branded with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ face. You can see a little of the inside of our bus in my video.
Some of us held iPads to show the VEEP trailer to passers-by. Other “agents” handed out branded coozies, stress balls, and pens. After the HBO offices, we went to NYU and Times Square.
If you look closely you can see me on the Aeropostale screen.
Unlike with fliering jobs, no one walking by thought we were trying to take advantage of them We were simply playing characters and having fun with it. As an additional perk, I got to keep the tie, blazer, sunglasses, and shoes. Need a Secret Service agent at your kids’ birthday party?
This isn’t the first time I promoted a brand as a costumed character. Last September, I dressed up as Kenneth Parcell, Jack McBrayer’s NBC Page character from 30 Rock. Read about the job and see how I got to meet him afterwards!
Growing up, I loved dressing up for Halloween. After getting acquainted with SNL at thirteen, my costumes were Franz from Hans & Franz, Garth from Wayne’s World, and my personal favorite, Elwood of the Blues Brothers. Last year I was Chris Trager from Parks and Rec, and this year I’ll probably be Mitt Zombie from (a passing reference in a March episode of) 30 Rock. Needless to say, Lorne Michaels-produced comedies have shaped my life.
So when I got the opportunity to play Kenneth Parcell from 30 Rock and get paid for it, I eagerly agreed. He’s the page from 30 Rock played by Jack McBrayer. At the time, I was an actual NBC page, so this was perfect. Thirty of us guys promoted the show by dressing in navy blue blazers, blonde wigs, and peacock ties, and going to a few public places in NYC to hand out branded boxes of gum. Part of the fun was being on TV at The Today Show.
Here’s the cool part. I did that on a Monday. The following Saturday, I was standing in Studio 8H as Alec Baldwin hosted the season premiere of SNL. During the commercial break before Radiohead performed at dress rehearsal, Jack McBrayer quietly snuck up to my side, looked over at me dressed in my slate Brooks Brothers uniform, and said, “Hello, sir!”
“Jack!” I answered, surprised. “It’s good to see you here!”
He laughed at his own sneakiness in surprising me.
“Jack, I have to tell you something,” I went on. “I dressed up as you earlier this week. Your character, Kenneth. A bunch of us were promoting 30 Rock and were on the Today Show.”
“Really? God bless you, I can’t believe they made you do that. Do you have pictures?”
I thought for a moment. “Yes, I do!” and then took out my iPhone to show me as a psuedo-Kenneth standing in Rockefeller Plaza, puffy blonde wig and all.
This happened in September 2011. After that encounter, I was only disappointed that I didn’t get a picture with the real Jack McBrayer. With only a month to go in my one-year term as an NBC Page, I hoped to be able to meet Jack again.
A week before I finished the program, I went by myself to a Baby Wants Candy musical improv show. This show at the SoHo Playhouse is beyond amazing. Peter Gwinn (Colbert writer), Ashley Ward (PIT), Michael Kayne (UCB), and Amber Petty (UCB) made up an improvised musical on the spot from the suggestion “Rock and Roll Muppet Halloween.”
After the show, the performers grabbed drinks at the bar in the basement. I congratulated them, but also noticed that Jack McBrayer was hanging with them too. (He used to perform with them.) When he got a drink at the bar, I approached him.
“Hey Jack, good to see you here.” I reminded him of the last time we met.
“Oh, now I remember!” he responded. “I always get a little tipsy around Alec,” he said, laughing. “At first I was a little afraid to be around pages because of my character on the show” he confessed.
“I’m almost out of the page program. Would you mind getting a picture with me?” It would mean a lot.”
And then this happened:
What a cool way to finish out my year at NBC! After the page program, I started devoting myself to writing and performing at UCB and the PIT, the respective comedy theater homes to Jack McBrayer and Kristen Schaal, who play both the pages on 30 Rock. So nope, I’m no longer working at that glorious beacon of TV history. For now I’m working on making some history of my own.
Read about my latest costumed character experience. Along with other guys, I dressed up as Secret Service agents to promote Veep!
Ohhh, now that I see it, I understand why this TIME Magazine cover was so controversial.
are you mom enough?
Community fans wanted the show back. Then NBC sacked Dan Harmon. Here’s his take.
Kids:
A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community, with two seasoned fellows that I’m sure are quite nice - actually, I have it on good authority they’re quite nice, because…
The Avengers was the biggest box-office opener ever, and got the best second weekend returns too. This is a good time to remind myself that my powers are greater than the Avengers and all superheroes combined.
Disclaimer: I only know a little about comic books, so read this for fun, not to relate to me nerd-wise.
1. I can shoot swords out of my mouth. If you want to give your enemies a feeling of dread, let your leader appear with eyes of fire and clothes soaked in their blood. Give him the power to shoot swords, and he’ll wreak more havoc than a full vitality Link with a Master Sword. Oh, he gave me the power to shoot swords too.
Take THAT, dragon!
Bear with me!
Job #30 - Maid
A guy in Brooklyn owns a cool loft apartment, and wanted me to do basic cleaning work for his next guests. His living room has a bear rug. An actual bear!
He found me through TaskRabbit. He uses Airbnb, a site that lets you find amazing B&B’s to stay at when you’re traveling. So you’ll save money, and get more of a sense of the local culture.
The first Spider-Man movie premiered exactly ten years ago. I remember getting off work at Suncoast Video and rushing to the theater across the street. Think The Amazing Spider-Man will be better than its 2002 counterpart?
