February 13, 2025 • 15 mins
Maria chats with Funny For Fido founder and president Justin Silver about the upcoming fundraiser on February 19th at The Cutting Room in NYC. 2025 is their 20th anniversary!! Comedians from Jerry Seinfeld to Jim Gaffigan have performed to support.
Funny For Fido's (they're a 501c3) yearly fundraiser raises money for animal rescues with 100% of the profits going to veterinary care; food; training; transportation; housing and more.
If you're not in the NYC area, Funny For Fido has great merch too!
Visit funnyforfido.org for tickets, merch and to make a donation.
Funny For Fido's (they're a 501c3) yearly fundraiser raises money for animal rescues with 100% of the profits going to veterinary care; food; training; transportation; housing and more.
If you're not in the NYC area, Funny For Fido has great merch too!
Visit funnyforfido.org for tickets, merch and to make a donation.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me. Well,
he's multifaceted and multi talented. It's comedian, actor, animal rescuer
dog expert Justin Silver, who is also the founder and
president of Funny for Fido. Justin, We've known each other
for a very long time, and it's really wonderful to
finally actually talk to you.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah. I always feel like when someone asks me what
my job is and I answer with anything like that,
I feel like a little kid saying he wants to
be a professional skateboarder slash dinosaur hunter.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's great, cop, right, exactly. Well, but you are multi multifaceted.
You do all these different things, and you know you do.
And the coolest thing I think you do is when
you came up with Funny for Fido. So let's talk
about Funny for Fidoh, so it's been what you created
this twenty years ago? Correct?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It makes me feel old.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, you're not old. You did it when you were ten.
You were a child, probably.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Right, right, I was ten years old, very motivated in
the dinosaur hunter aspect of the career did not work
out exactly. Uh yeah, I was. As I was starting
stand up comedy around that same time, I was also
heavily into dog rescue because I would walk by you
Didn't Square Park in New York City and you would
(01:32):
see those blankets laid out with all these adorable rescue
dogs and people with a tin can out there asking
for donations. Right, And I happen to have like for
new comics, they'll give you like a night that you
could try to fill with your friends, you know, to
the club, make some money in the comic, gets some
stage time. And I thought, you know what, like, why
don't I do something nice and give back a little bit,
(01:53):
because you know, there these were the places where I
got my dogs from. And a lot of times with
these rescues, their hearts are big than their homes, and
funding is not the thing on the top of their list.
And I was like, you know, if I could help out,
let me help out. So we just threw this event
together and I think it was a Wednesday night, raised
probably like I don't know, fifteen hundred bucks, and then
(02:16):
did it again the next year and double that, and
then double that and double that and double that and
then you know, if you look back at the past
few years, every comedian from Jerry Seinfeld to Amy Schumer
to Nate Bargatsi to Nikki Glazer to Colin quit I mean,
every comedian who's a comedian who's done this, and we've
raised you know, tens of thousands of dollars in the night,
(02:38):
and you know, got great sponsors like Tito's and Merch Sales,
and the dogs are there on the stage and it's
this you know, big event. Now.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, now it is awesome and thanks to you. And
it always goes to help out animals somewhere animal rescue,
and this year very appropriate, it's to help out the
animals that were affected by Los Angeles wildfires.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, and where people don't realize it's like the impact
of that is going to hit a little bit later
on from the actual date, because as you know, there
is a constant revolving door of dogs that are going
in and out of shelters, in and out of shelters,
and it goes, you know, there's a trickle down effect
that the city shelters get full, then they try to
get those dogs have to get out to sort of
(03:24):
the independent rescues that do dogs through foster so they're
in a more stable environment because they can often get
very institutionalized in the regular shelter system, right. And so
even though like you know, people are sending blankets and
food to the to the main shelters, they don't really
need that. It's what's going to happen in the months
to come when the normal inflow of rescue dogs starts
(03:48):
backing them up, and like, we know where these dogs
are going to go. There's gonna be ones that you know,
need long term care. They're not placeable. And so it's
those independent rescues exactly like the ones that I initially
designed for Fido to help, they are going to need
to help the most. And because I'm so keyed in
with both New York and Los Angeles from working back
and forth on both coasts, right, you know, I know
(04:09):
some of the ones where it's like, okay, I know
this money is going directly to the dog, because this
is not going to stamps and envelopes that are going
to end up in people's junk mail to solicit funding,
you know, correct.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, or to the CEO who's sitting you know, far
away and doesn't probably even have a dog or cat. Yeah, yeah,
I get it. No, I get it. Okay, So it's.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Happening boots on the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You know, I like that phrase, and I keep hearing
that more and more lately. But yeah, boots on the.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Ground from the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, it's exactly what it is. So this year Funny
for Fido is happening at the Cutting Room in New
York City on February nineteenth at eight o'clock. So let's
talk about your lineup so far, because I know, surprise
people always, you know, people always are in town and
they stop by, which is amazing. So but let's always yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
We always get the big ones. So the lineup this year,
it's all it happened to all very very close friends
of mine and they're all like animal lovers. Comedic comedian
Karen Fihan, Dan Soder, Jordan Jensen, Ian Lara and I
host it. And then we also have a very special
guest who I can tell you. I'll tell you honestly.
(05:16):
He's doing Madison Square Garden a few nights after. So
they were like, hey, there's a little thing in my
contract where you can't promote me, but you know, I'm
happy to be there. So I was like, all right,
you know you thickets would sell a lot quicker if
your name was on the top. But telling about it,
we'll do.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
It anyway, right, And you know what, whoever's listening right now,
they can actually just google that and they can figure
it out and be like, oh you figure it out blank, So.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, you can figure it out. You can figure out.
I don't know if I'm going to get in trouble
for this specific I was not supposed to do. But
I'm cheating.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, you're cheating. And also I kind of asked you
and it wasn't your fault. You just you didn't want
to You didn't want to be silent, So it's my fault,
exactly exactly. That's the way to do it, So okay.
So but also all right, so for those who are
listening right now who aren't in New York or Los Angeles,
(06:05):
you have a website. You're a five oh one C
three Funnyforfido dot org so they can make a donation.
But you also have pretty cool merch that they combined.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Merch is cool.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I did so we you know, I always try to
come up with like fun creative ways to do the merch.
So it's like lighthearted funny, but it hits the point across.
So the T shirts and the bags that we designed,
and we always add new things, but the T shirts
and bags we designed this year, just like the really
awesome funny for Fidal logo. I was in off Fine
Arts Major to begin with, so like, you know, uh
so it's like the new it's the new logo with
(06:38):
the big patch eye pitple with the microphone in his mouth,
and then on the back it says, come sit, stay, adopt.
And then we have the tote bags and all the
profits one of the profits from those go directly to
the animals, so instead of people just making a donation,
it's like, you, you know, get a little something to
you know, keep the spirit of what you've done with you,
you know, you can kind of be there with us
(06:59):
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah exactly. And then the fact that it says adopt
and you're wearing a T shirt and you're walking somewhere
and people see it and you're getting the message out
as well, so it's win win.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, you know, it's great.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
It's really good funny for a five.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Everyone loves the tote bags.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Tobags are good. Totes are good, especially you know a
lot of places now you can't get a plastic bag,
so you have a tote bag.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
This is a very special toe bag. People love these
tote bags. I never thought they would love tote bags
so much more than t shirt to be the bigger hit. Yeah, yeah,
I love the tote bags.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I don't know. I think the convenience of you'll use
this thing very often, throw your computer in there, a
water bottle, whatever you're doing. Like, you know, T shirt,
You're like, I'm committed to this outfit today.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
With the tote bag, you are not exactly and it
matches your outfit sometimes too, which without even thinking about it.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah right. So if you're non committal to a dog
yet and your first step is to be like, hey,
I'm still non committal to an outfit and a T shirt,
let me start by committing to a tote bag exact
sort of ease your way in here.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That is a very it's a baby step. It's a
baby step, easing your way in very very smart. It's
a very good idea. No, that's good. So how far
in advanced do you have to start planning for this.
I mean because I think a lot of times when
when people go to an event, a charity event, and
they go like, oh, this is amazing, and they don't
realize that it takes a very long time. Like all
(08:23):
of these points did not come together in a week.
So when do you start on on like the like
for for next week, rather when did you start this
the planning of it late?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Okay, like too late on this, I always think. So
it depends whenever we shift venues or there's new elements
that we're adding in, like new graphics, new logo packages,
new websites, stuff to do just things that like to
to amp it up a little bit and to advance it,
to put like, you know, the version two on it,
(08:56):
all those little administrative things that we do. And it's
like and we get that all done for free. People
volunteer their time. The other great things is this is
not the you know, the expenses we have our solo,
but there's always a lot of time to do all
that little technical stuff. Whether it's like okay, well now
these venmo codes need to get printed on this thing,
and it's all there's those little tedious stuff that we
(09:18):
have to do and then seeking up stuff with the
with the the venue, so there's like you know, graphics
packages going on and things on the screens. So a
lot of times that stuff takes a lot more time
than you would like, like a month out to get
it all together. And then there's the booking process, which
that usually takes us. That usually happens quickly. The problem
(09:38):
is you have to time that exactly right because comedians
are on tour with theay of the week they are,
so we can kind of sink this up. Is so
there's all the normal production stuff. I like to kind
of know what we're doing three months in advance, start
promoting a month out this time because so the fires happened,
(09:58):
we were like, hey, we have to do something for this.
What's the date that we can have that's close enough
but not too far out. Sure, we're kind of just
we're kind of just on the cusp of where we
feel comfortable. But I never really feel comfortable. I'm always like,
you know, right up until the time, we're like action,
you know. But that's normal, are always coming together.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I think that's normal production. Yah, it's production, and that's
comedian normal, right. I mean that night when you're up there,
am seeing and you're gonna go, Okay, everything's good, right?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Maybe not, but yeah, that part, Yeah, it always runs
smooth as can be. That part, the part, the part
where all the normal jitters of like a live production
is like, that's all normal. I just like to have
all the pieces in place who are like, okay, we're
locked in, the comedians are ready to go. Sure, let's
create these flyers and it's out there so sure.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
And do you do all this yourself? Do you have
somebody helping you? Some people helping you?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I do as a fantastic team. Yeah, Kristin Hartley, who
is a seasoned TV producer, and Christine Evans who is
a comedy producer, and both of them are dear friends
of mine and rescue as well, so you know this
is like this is a passion for the both of them.
And then I have like a bunch of other people
who a lot of times it's dog it's uh dog
(11:10):
training clients that I have who are just so competent
in whatever jobs they do that they're like, oh, I
do data analysis, I'll do all your website stuff. Sure.
Our our legal team is you know, lawyers whose dogs
I've trained, so we get a lot of stuff for free.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
That's great. That's great. No, that's perfect because your overhead is,
like you said, it's very low, and that means more
moneys that goes to the charities. That's awesome. That's how
you know what, I think every event should be like that.
You're a good example of it, for sure. For sure.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
So yeah, we'd like to keep it small in grassroots,
like I really like that, you know, not that I
wouldn't want it to get bigger, but you know, the
Madison Square Garden was like, hey, can we do this here?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I wouldn't be like, man, you know, yeah, maybe not,
but right, I'll remember that. I'd be like, sure, yeah,
let me let me check my calendar. Yeah, so okay.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
And but it's it's Murray. I guess it's my favorite
thing that it's my favorite thing in my life. You know,
Like I've had TV shows I've done whether yeah you
have the Regular not the not the dog training show.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I had Dogs in the City, right, is that the
that's the show you're talking about, Yeah, Dogs in the City.
I remember that show. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Yeah, And then I think we might have met through that.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I think we did. We did we might have. Yeah, yeah,
that was a great show.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Whether it's yeah, thank you, I appreciate I love it well,
I loved my I love but I had. I also
had a sister show in Hong Kong, and then like
the books ever, those things are been great things, sure,
but this thing is just so it's pure exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Pure. It's unaffected by like you know, it's unaffected by
Hollywood in a way affected. It's not trying to do anything.
It's not trying to do it's pure exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
It's your passion. But yeah, it's not Hollywood. It's not glossy.
It's not like a production that's you know, you think
like oh a big I don't know, like a Hollywood production. No,
it's grassroots. But it works. And you have all these
like huge names that come on stage to help you,
which is phenomenal. You know. It's it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And the cutting room is great to us like that.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
That venue it's a great venue. Yes, yes it is.
We're very lucky to have the cutting room still. We really,
you know, I always tell Steve the owner, that we're
very lucky to still have the cutting room because it's
a gem in New York City. Yes, very good.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, and they're and they're so generous to us, They're
so general. Like I was like, you know, you know,
I'm not even I'm not going to tell you the number.
But when I was like, what do I owe you
here at the end of the night, I was like
really and he was like yep, and I was like,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Steve's amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yes, yeah, we've had That's one of the things. It's
like venues. It's like a lot of times when you
go to when you go to live events, you're like,
you have no idea how much that room is costing
for the night, and that is not the case here, No.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Not at all. And also Steve loves dogs. He's a
big dog person. Yes, so it's true, great, It's perfect.
I can't wait. I'm very excited. So funny for Fido.
It is at the cutting Room in New York City
on the nineteenth at eight o'clock. Justin will be there.
Of course. Will there be dogs around, I believe. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
We always have. Yeah, we always have. Yeah. Yeah, And
I think I'm gonna let the comics and myself will
bring most of I think we all have rescue dogs,
so we'll let them bring their dogs to the I
ask people not to bring their dogs because a lot
of times you can get a little distracting. Yeah, relate
that we have staff to make sure that the dogs
that we have there are attended to. Of course, so
(14:31):
I asked people not to bring their dogs there. Yes,
but you know they're there in spirit and otherwise, Yeah,
there'll be plenty of there'll be puppies for them to
play with.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yes, absolutely, I was just going to say that. So
for people who do have their own dogs, you really
should leave them at home. This is your night out
and you can play with the rescues exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, dogs don't want to sit there and watch a comedy,
No they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They don't want to do that. You want to, but
they don't. I get that. So funnyffido dot org. And
you can get your tickets, but do it fast because
it does sell out all the time, and you can
also get merch, make a donation and it's all good
funnyfrofido dot org. So justin thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yes, oh yes, I was just going to say, And
you can go on our social media if you want
to just get a glimpse of like what it looks
like you can on our social media and check out
the picks and things like that.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So okay, great, all right, well we'll see you next week.
Can't wait. And it's going to sell out. I know
it will.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It always does, it does.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Exactly, so justin Silver, thank you so much for all
you do. We need more people in the world like you,
so thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
I appreciate that. Thank you.
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me. Well,
he's multifaceted and multi talented. It's comedian, actor, animal rescuer
dog expert Justin Silver, who is also the founder and
president of Funny for Fido. Justin, We've known each other
for a very long time, and it's really wonderful to
finally actually talk to you.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah. I always feel like when someone asks me what
my job is and I answer with anything like that,
I feel like a little kid saying he wants to
be a professional skateboarder slash dinosaur hunter.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's great, cop, right, exactly. Well, but you are multi multifaceted.
You do all these different things, and you know you do.
And the coolest thing I think you do is when
you came up with Funny for Fido. So let's talk
about Funny for Fidoh, so it's been what you created
this twenty years ago? Correct?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It makes me feel old.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, you're not old. You did it when you were ten.
You were a child, probably.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Right, right, I was ten years old, very motivated in
the dinosaur hunter aspect of the career did not work
out exactly. Uh yeah, I was. As I was starting
stand up comedy around that same time, I was also
heavily into dog rescue because I would walk by you
Didn't Square Park in New York City and you would
(01:32):
see those blankets laid out with all these adorable rescue
dogs and people with a tin can out there asking
for donations. Right, And I happen to have like for
new comics, they'll give you like a night that you
could try to fill with your friends, you know, to
the club, make some money in the comic, gets some
stage time. And I thought, you know what, like, why
don't I do something nice and give back a little bit,
(01:53):
because you know, there these were the places where I
got my dogs from. And a lot of times with
these rescues, their hearts are big than their homes, and
funding is not the thing on the top of their list.
And I was like, you know, if I could help out,
let me help out. So we just threw this event
together and I think it was a Wednesday night, raised
probably like I don't know, fifteen hundred bucks, and then
(02:16):
did it again the next year and double that, and
then double that and double that and double that and
then you know, if you look back at the past
few years, every comedian from Jerry Seinfeld to Amy Schumer
to Nate Bargatsi to Nikki Glazer to Colin quit I mean,
every comedian who's a comedian who's done this, and we've
raised you know, tens of thousands of dollars in the night,
(02:38):
and you know, got great sponsors like Tito's and Merch Sales,
and the dogs are there on the stage and it's
this you know, big event. Now.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, now it is awesome and thanks to you. And
it always goes to help out animals somewhere animal rescue,
and this year very appropriate, it's to help out the
animals that were affected by Los Angeles wildfires.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, and where people don't realize it's like the impact
of that is going to hit a little bit later
on from the actual date, because as you know, there
is a constant revolving door of dogs that are going
in and out of shelters, in and out of shelters,
and it goes, you know, there's a trickle down effect
that the city shelters get full, then they try to
get those dogs have to get out to sort of
(03:24):
the independent rescues that do dogs through foster so they're
in a more stable environment because they can often get
very institutionalized in the regular shelter system, right. And so
even though like you know, people are sending blankets and
food to the to the main shelters, they don't really
need that. It's what's going to happen in the months
to come when the normal inflow of rescue dogs starts
(03:48):
backing them up, and like, we know where these dogs
are going to go. There's gonna be ones that you know,
need long term care. They're not placeable. And so it's
those independent rescues exactly like the ones that I initially
designed for Fido to help, they are going to need
to help the most. And because I'm so keyed in
with both New York and Los Angeles from working back
and forth on both coasts, right, you know, I know
(04:09):
some of the ones where it's like, okay, I know
this money is going directly to the dog, because this
is not going to stamps and envelopes that are going
to end up in people's junk mail to solicit funding,
you know, correct.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, or to the CEO who's sitting you know, far
away and doesn't probably even have a dog or cat. Yeah, yeah,
I get it. No, I get it. Okay, So it's.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Happening boots on the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You know, I like that phrase, and I keep hearing
that more and more lately. But yeah, boots on the.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Ground from the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, it's exactly what it is. So this year Funny
for Fido is happening at the Cutting Room in New
York City on February nineteenth at eight o'clock. So let's
talk about your lineup so far, because I know, surprise
people always, you know, people always are in town and
they stop by, which is amazing. So but let's always yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
We always get the big ones. So the lineup this year,
it's all it happened to all very very close friends
of mine and they're all like animal lovers. Comedic comedian
Karen Fihan, Dan Soder, Jordan Jensen, Ian Lara and I
host it. And then we also have a very special
guest who I can tell you. I'll tell you honestly.
(05:16):
He's doing Madison Square Garden a few nights after. So
they were like, hey, there's a little thing in my
contract where you can't promote me, but you know, I'm
happy to be there. So I was like, all right,
you know you thickets would sell a lot quicker if
your name was on the top. But telling about it,
we'll do.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
It anyway, right, And you know what, whoever's listening right now,
they can actually just google that and they can figure
it out and be like, oh you figure it out blank, So.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, you can figure it out. You can figure out.
I don't know if I'm going to get in trouble
for this specific I was not supposed to do. But
I'm cheating.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, you're cheating. And also I kind of asked you
and it wasn't your fault. You just you didn't want
to You didn't want to be silent, So it's my fault,
exactly exactly. That's the way to do it, So okay.
So but also all right, so for those who are
listening right now who aren't in New York or Los Angeles,
(06:05):
you have a website. You're a five oh one C
three Funnyforfido dot org so they can make a donation.
But you also have pretty cool merch that they combined.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Merch is cool.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I did so we you know, I always try to
come up with like fun creative ways to do the merch.
So it's like lighthearted funny, but it hits the point across.
So the T shirts and the bags that we designed,
and we always add new things, but the T shirts
and bags we designed this year, just like the really
awesome funny for Fidal logo. I was in off Fine
Arts Major to begin with, so like, you know, uh
so it's like the new it's the new logo with
(06:38):
the big patch eye pitple with the microphone in his mouth,
and then on the back it says, come sit, stay, adopt.
And then we have the tote bags and all the
profits one of the profits from those go directly to
the animals, so instead of people just making a donation,
it's like, you, you know, get a little something to
you know, keep the spirit of what you've done with you,
you know, you can kind of be there with us
(06:59):
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah exactly. And then the fact that it says adopt
and you're wearing a T shirt and you're walking somewhere
and people see it and you're getting the message out
as well, so it's win win.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, you know, it's great.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
It's really good funny for a five.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Everyone loves the tote bags.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Tobags are good. Totes are good, especially you know a
lot of places now you can't get a plastic bag,
so you have a tote bag.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
This is a very special toe bag. People love these
tote bags. I never thought they would love tote bags
so much more than t shirt to be the bigger hit. Yeah, yeah,
I love the tote bags.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I don't know. I think the convenience of you'll use
this thing very often, throw your computer in there, a
water bottle, whatever you're doing. Like, you know, T shirt,
You're like, I'm committed to this outfit today.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
With the tote bag, you are not exactly and it
matches your outfit sometimes too, which without even thinking about it.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah right. So if you're non committal to a dog
yet and your first step is to be like, hey,
I'm still non committal to an outfit and a T shirt,
let me start by committing to a tote bag exact
sort of ease your way in here.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That is a very it's a baby step. It's a
baby step, easing your way in very very smart. It's
a very good idea. No, that's good. So how far
in advanced do you have to start planning for this.
I mean because I think a lot of times when
when people go to an event, a charity event, and
they go like, oh, this is amazing, and they don't
realize that it takes a very long time. Like all
(08:23):
of these points did not come together in a week.
So when do you start on on like the like
for for next week, rather when did you start this
the planning of it late?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Okay, like too late on this, I always think. So
it depends whenever we shift venues or there's new elements
that we're adding in, like new graphics, new logo packages,
new websites, stuff to do just things that like to
to amp it up a little bit and to advance it,
to put like, you know, the version two on it,
(08:56):
all those little administrative things that we do. And it's
like and we get that all done for free. People
volunteer their time. The other great things is this is
not the you know, the expenses we have our solo,
but there's always a lot of time to do all
that little technical stuff. Whether it's like okay, well now
these venmo codes need to get printed on this thing,
and it's all there's those little tedious stuff that we
(09:18):
have to do and then seeking up stuff with the
with the the venue, so there's like you know, graphics
packages going on and things on the screens. So a
lot of times that stuff takes a lot more time
than you would like, like a month out to get
it all together. And then there's the booking process, which
that usually takes us. That usually happens quickly. The problem
(09:38):
is you have to time that exactly right because comedians
are on tour with theay of the week they are,
so we can kind of sink this up. Is so
there's all the normal production stuff. I like to kind
of know what we're doing three months in advance, start
promoting a month out this time because so the fires happened,
(09:58):
we were like, hey, we have to do something for this.
What's the date that we can have that's close enough
but not too far out. Sure, we're kind of just
we're kind of just on the cusp of where we
feel comfortable. But I never really feel comfortable. I'm always like,
you know, right up until the time, we're like action,
you know. But that's normal, are always coming together.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I think that's normal production. Yah, it's production, and that's
comedian normal, right. I mean that night when you're up there,
am seeing and you're gonna go, Okay, everything's good, right?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Maybe not, but yeah, that part, Yeah, it always runs
smooth as can be. That part, the part, the part
where all the normal jitters of like a live production
is like, that's all normal. I just like to have
all the pieces in place who are like, okay, we're
locked in, the comedians are ready to go. Sure, let's
create these flyers and it's out there so sure.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
And do you do all this yourself? Do you have
somebody helping you? Some people helping you?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:48):
I do as a fantastic team. Yeah, Kristin Hartley, who
is a seasoned TV producer, and Christine Evans who is
a comedy producer, and both of them are dear friends
of mine and rescue as well, so you know this
is like this is a passion for the both of them.
And then I have like a bunch of other people
who a lot of times it's dog it's uh dog
(11:10):
training clients that I have who are just so competent
in whatever jobs they do that they're like, oh, I
do data analysis, I'll do all your website stuff. Sure.
Our our legal team is you know, lawyers whose dogs
I've trained, so we get a lot of stuff for free.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
That's great. That's great. No, that's perfect because your overhead is,
like you said, it's very low, and that means more
moneys that goes to the charities. That's awesome. That's how
you know what, I think every event should be like that.
You're a good example of it, for sure. For sure.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
So yeah, we'd like to keep it small in grassroots,
like I really like that, you know, not that I
wouldn't want it to get bigger, but you know, the
Madison Square Garden was like, hey, can we do this here?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I wouldn't be like, man, you know, yeah, maybe not,
but right, I'll remember that. I'd be like, sure, yeah,
let me let me check my calendar. Yeah, so okay.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
And but it's it's Murray. I guess it's my favorite
thing that it's my favorite thing in my life. You know,
Like I've had TV shows I've done whether yeah you
have the Regular not the not the dog training show.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I had Dogs in the City, right, is that the
that's the show you're talking about, Yeah, Dogs in the City.
I remember that show. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Yeah, And then I think we might have met through that.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I think we did. We did we might have. Yeah, yeah,
that was a great show.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Whether it's yeah, thank you, I appreciate I love it well,
I loved my I love but I had. I also
had a sister show in Hong Kong, and then like
the books ever, those things are been great things, sure,
but this thing is just so it's pure exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Pure. It's unaffected by like you know, it's unaffected by
Hollywood in a way affected. It's not trying to do anything.
It's not trying to do it's pure exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
It's your passion. But yeah, it's not Hollywood. It's not glossy.
It's not like a production that's you know, you think
like oh a big I don't know, like a Hollywood production. No,
it's grassroots. But it works. And you have all these
like huge names that come on stage to help you,
which is phenomenal. You know. It's it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And the cutting room is great to us like that.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
That venue it's a great venue. Yes, yes it is.
We're very lucky to have the cutting room still. We really,
you know, I always tell Steve the owner, that we're
very lucky to still have the cutting room because it's
a gem in New York City. Yes, very good.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, and they're and they're so generous to us, They're
so general. Like I was like, you know, you know,
I'm not even I'm not going to tell you the number.
But when I was like, what do I owe you
here at the end of the night, I was like
really and he was like yep, and I was like,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Steve's amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yes, yeah, we've had That's one of the things. It's
like venues. It's like a lot of times when you
go to when you go to live events, you're like,
you have no idea how much that room is costing
for the night, and that is not the case here, No.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Not at all. And also Steve loves dogs. He's a
big dog person. Yes, so it's true, great, It's perfect.
I can't wait. I'm very excited. So funny for Fido.
It is at the cutting Room in New York City
on the nineteenth at eight o'clock. Justin will be there.
Of course. Will there be dogs around, I believe. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
We always have. Yeah, we always have. Yeah. Yeah, And
I think I'm gonna let the comics and myself will
bring most of I think we all have rescue dogs,
so we'll let them bring their dogs to the I
ask people not to bring their dogs because a lot
of times you can get a little distracting. Yeah, relate
that we have staff to make sure that the dogs
that we have there are attended to. Of course, so
(14:31):
I asked people not to bring their dogs there. Yes,
but you know they're there in spirit and otherwise, Yeah,
there'll be plenty of there'll be puppies for them to
play with.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yes, absolutely, I was just going to say that. So
for people who do have their own dogs, you really
should leave them at home. This is your night out
and you can play with the rescues exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, dogs don't want to sit there and watch a comedy,
No they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They don't want to do that. You want to, but
they don't. I get that. So funnyffido dot org. And
you can get your tickets, but do it fast because
it does sell out all the time, and you can
also get merch, make a donation and it's all good
funnyfrofido dot org. So justin thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yes, oh yes, I was just going to say, And
you can go on our social media if you want
to just get a glimpse of like what it looks
like you can on our social media and check out
the picks and things like that.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So okay, great, all right, well we'll see you next week.
Can't wait. And it's going to sell out. I know
it will.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It always does, it does.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Exactly, so justin Silver, thank you so much for all
you do. We need more people in the world like you,
so thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
I appreciate that. Thank you.
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