The American Red Cross and a group of comedians are joining forces tonight at the Grange Hall to host a relief effort for Hurricane Katrina victims.
National headliners Debbie Wooten and Rick “The Oakland Outlaw” Birchmore will perform, along with “talented local and traveling comedians from throughout the West,” according to an e-mail sent by Scot Shields, a comedian from Seattle who is organizing the event.
“A few of us comics just realized that this was something that we can do (to help),” Shields said. “I was mostly surprised at the response I was getting from a lot of the comedians I contacted. They wanted to give it a try and get a lot of people coming to see it who wish they could help when they’re so far away. We’re all coming from Seattle, Washington, (and) so far people have been real cool about it.”
With exception of renting the building, the show will donate its proceeds to hurricane relief efforts.
“There’s no money in it. We didn’t have any corporate sponsorship for buying advertising time,” Shields said. “So it’s really calling up the (local) radio stations and asking if they would donate public service announcements.”
Local efforts by both college clubs and groups in San Luis Obispo County have been a positive touch in helping out with the show, Shields said.
“(There are) fraternities and sororities and other clubs helping put fliers up,” he said. “I’m optimistic. I think there might be a really good turnout.”
The show is at 8 p.m. today at the Grange Hall, located at 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. Admission is $10, with $7 going to the American Red Cross.