Last night I went to the sold out Badmash Comedy Night in West Hollywood. The Badmash guys (Sanjay Shah, Sandeep Sood, Nimesh Patel, and Aron Bothman) are going to be putting on a recurring comedy night in LA (next one is on February 9th), which brings together both South Asian and non-South Asian comics. This is a smart mix. Audiences get tired of a whole night full of desi comedy, with only desi “insider” jokes. The comics end up competing with each other over who will use the same hackneyed “aunty joke” first. Some of the best new South Asian comics that perform here in LA are already moving away from such played-out routines. Their jokes are well balanced and appeal to a general audience, which is key for long term success. Badmash is trying to foster this new talent.

Continue reading this post to learn the sad real life story behind this picture

Sanjay was recently quoted in a Newsweek article about young comics using the internet to launch their careers:

[The internet] has also allowed Sanjay Shah, 28, and his friends to find an audience unserved by traditional TV. For the last few years, their weekly South Asian-themed animations—like an Indian spoof of “The Simpsons” ‘s opening theme—have drawn millions of visitors to his site, Badmash.org. “I look at the Internet right now as the incubator, the RD department for traditional channels,” Shah says.

I actually attended the comedy night as “Press.” One problem. The batteries in my camera died just as the show began. THIS folks is why I am a mere blogger and not a journalist. I’d make a sorry excuse of a journalist. It was quite unfortunate, because none other than Sheetal Sheth was in the audience. The night was co-sponsored by Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, which was plugged throughout the night. Also performing was a surprise guest. Mr. Cleveland himself, Drew Carey, was in the house. His jokes are a lot dirtier in person than you would think from watching him on television. Comedian Jo Koy was on fire. Good stuff.

As much as I complain about life in LA, THIS is why I do like living here. Everyone desi you meet in LA has a thing that they do on the side. They have their main job, career, or way to pay the bills, and then they have their “side thing.” The truly brave ones make their “side thing” their main thing. I’ve always felt that life would suck unless you have “a side thing,” going at all times. You should, at all moments of your life, be pursuing something that you will probably fail at. Speaking of which…

So as I am leaving the show I run into my friend (let’s call him Arun to keep his real identity safe).

Arun: “Hey Abhi. I’ve been reading Sepia Mutiny. You’ve been blogging about my friend Sheetal. Here, why don’t you meet her.”

Abhi: “Uhhh…” [cornered like a mouse about to be killed softly]

Sheetal: [with sweet, sexy, coy look] “What? You’ve been blogging about me? Good things I hope?? [flutter eyelash]

Abhi: [turning so red that my brown skin appeared sepia] “Oh yeah, I promise. I swear. I’m really a nice guy. I’m so embarrassed right now.”

I don’t remember the rest of the conversation because all the blood had leaked out of my brain and into my cheeks. Abhi’s Rule of Blogging number one: NEVER blog about a girl’s breasts. NEVER! There is just nowhere to go from there people. You don’t have a leg to stand on. Nothing you can say will impress her at that point. You are like a little bunny and she is like a big bear. Rrrrrrrrr. That brings me to Abhi’s Rule of Blogging number two: If you do blog about a beautiful girl, then say only nice things. That’s right all you non-believers. Karma is real. I thought she was foooooine just the way she was and said so in my previous post. It turns out she is a sweetheart also.

At the after party I ran into Arun again. He said I should ask Sheetal if I could take a picture with her. I didn’t know if she wanted some random guy blogger to take a picture with her, but I did want to ask. Not for me but…for…the readers. See how hard I work for you all? Only one problem. Remember?? My camera battery had died! Damn the cruel hand of fate that mocks me so. All I had was my camera phone. Even then I was foiled. I don’t have the Sprint Picture Phone service, so there was no way for me to get the picture off of my phone. Sprint PCS better read this shit and call me. I could be their new spokesperson. THIS is why you need their service. The ghetto-ass result of my night is the picture above. It is a picture of me with Sheetal. Yeah, I know. It is so fuzzy that it could be any girl and I could be making this whole thing up. I swear it played out just like I’ve said.

See folks, this is karma. I could have gotten slapped if I were a hater, but instead I got a conversation and a picture with a beautiful girl.

Blog Life till I die.