Thea Vidale and David Alan Grier Among Comics Stiffed by Owner; Battle Ensues Between Owner and Bonkerz Booker
The Aspen Comedy Club has abruptly shut down just three weeks after inking a deal with Bonkerz, which left comedians Thea Vidale and Dean Napolitano out of work without receiving any reimbursement for travel expenses.
Owner Dave Edgar signed a 26-week contract with Bonkerz, a Florida-based booking agency to secure top comedians to draw more business. Joe Sanfelippo, owner of Bonkerz, plans to sue Edgar for the remaining 23 weeks that he owes on the contract.
Edgar was forced to close the club in late December after trying to run it as a headliner venue, attacting top comedians such as David Alan Grier. But Edgar’s unpaid bills and failure to fill seats resulted in some comics being stiffed including Grier.
Edgar says he reneged on the Bonkerz deal because Sanfelippo was booking “blue” washed-up comics and that he didn’t agree with the booker’s marketing plan to offer free tickets and rely on liquor sales.
Sanfelippo argues that Edgar refused the advice for which he was paying and was “completely unprepared.” The booker says he has received criticism from agents for his dealings with Edgar.
Source: Aspen Times
