This past weekend I celebrated my 24th birthday with friends from Los Angeles. I recently got a new mac which I’ve been using for editing video, and also for making crazy pictures in photoshop.

Check out this promo video that I pitched to a famous Hollywood director and DP:

comedytrekpitch from Dan Knabb on Vimeo.

They both liked the footage and wanted to see more. So I will continue to edit while I also work on some soundtrack stuff.

Here are are some photoshop things I’ve been working on:

[View with PicLens]

Some of the pictures are taken in and out the windows of my apartment and others are from the roadtrip from LA to Phoenix and back.

During the trip back my friends and I stopped at a burger king.  We were sitting there eating when my friend pointed out a guy sitting right next to me.  He had a backpack and a sign that said walking across America.

The guy had walked from Boston to the border of California and was less than 200 miles from completion in Santa Monica.

He is walking for equal education rights check out his site http://PFEE.org

Been spending my time doing some freelance work and performing stand-up as often as possible.  The good thing about Hollywood is that I have the opportunity to perform at open mics every day of the week.  Some nights there are multiple places where I can perform, but getting stage time isn’t easy.  The clubs are all about 2 miles from where I’m living so I choose to walk to them.

After doing the Comedy Store on Sunday I have done the 3 main clubs in LA. The Improv, the Laugh Factory, and the Store.  These places are known for launching the careers of many of the comedians I admire.  To get a 3 minute set I either have to wait outside a club for a few hours, or sign my name up on a list and pray.

There is one place called the Sunset Grille that is a couple blocks away that has comedy open mic four nights a week, so I’ve been going often.  I’ve done at least 6 different 5 minute sets of material I know to be solid.  I’ve been incorporating more stand-up about my walk, which has inspired me write more about my experience and to start making comics.  I will post some exerpts soon.

I’m also getting some quality recordings of my songs. I will probably put them on myspace but post a link.

I’ve been in California for about a month now. The drive across the country took us over a week because we took a day off in each city we visited  I saw first hand how desolate the country becomes once you leave Texas, and this made me want to finish my walk more than ever.

California is beautiful, but also disgusts me with the massive amounts of cars.  I prefer to walk rather than drive around.  There are so many things within walking distance from where I live.  Jim Henson Studios is about a half a block away. There are things i will see on tv, and then see while walking around.  Last week I walked around in the Kodak theater where the Oscars were held.

I’m working part time at a music company that licenses music and uploads it to itunes, and am still trying to get on stage.  I wanted my first time in Hollywood to be at a famous comedy club, and the LA Improv has open mic on Tuesday.  Last week I walked the 2.5 miles there before being told the open mic was cancelled.

There is some intererst from producers to turn my walk footage into a web series.  I don’t have many contacts out here but if anyone does please tell them about what I have accomplished and what I plan to do.

In a few days, my friend Andy and I will be driving out to California.  Along the way we’ll stay in Atlanta, Austin, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and ultimately LA.  I am excited to escape the the winter and cold of Pennsylvania winters for the fire and heat in California.  While there I plan to pitch comedy trek, as well as record some of my songs.

I will be living with 2 guys in a band called Hands. Check out their myspace for some of their music: www.myspace.com/handssounds

We’ll take some video, and I’ll try to update somewhere on the road.

Here are some snacks

Several nights on my trip I forked up the $30 - $50 dollars to stay at a cheap motel.  These places were often owned by Indian Americans (not the native kind) and had names that reflected the roads they were situated upon.  These places were often worth the money just for the shower, but some of them I wouldn’t sleep there again even if they paid me.

Google Maps is an excellent tool for someone who doesn’t yet know of it’s powers. I used it while planning my route, and also while I was walking whenever I had access to a computer.  Now I am using it to write reviews for these crappy motels.

Here’s one for the Budget Inn in Cambridge, Ohio:

**

Stayed here while walking across America, the bed had a lot of stains on it, as well as what appeared to be blood stains on the carpet. The shower also didn’t drain.

Had to drink myself to sleep.

And now the OK Motel in Sapulpa, Oklahoma:

*****

Hey! My bed didn’t have sheets!  Also no hot water, towel rack, toilet paper or little bars of soap.  The tv had 4 channels and the cabinet in the bathroom was replaced by a bud light box.

Excellent Stay! 5 Stars!

Here’s video of my first night in New York City at the start of my walk.

After having a few different people plan to drive with me and then back out I’ve decided to take a new plan of action.

In January I’ll fly or drive out to California to pitch comedy trek as a tv show. I had wanted all along to earn my right to be in California by walking there, but it seems impossible to get any production backing without meeting people in person first. I have a place to live temporarily in Hollywood, so I will try my best to find some financial support, and plan to continue walking in spring of next year.

With the economy headed the way it is, it’s low budget projects like this that will be in high demand.

If I am unsuccessful, and cannot walk within the next year, then I will go back to school to finish my degree before considering completing the remaining 1,200. This walk thing is going to happen one way or another, so stay tuned for more American Craziness!

***Bonus Video***
Ohio was my least favorite state to walk across and this is just the beginning of it:

Please come again.

I am currently making plans to leave within the next month. I have a support car and driver lined up for the worst parts of the desert. This will make walking much easier since I won’t have to carry as much, and I’m guaranteed a roof to sleep under.

Despite the convenience of having a car, the trip still won’t be easy, and many nights will be spent in the wilderness of New Mexico and Arizona.

I have previously discussed the dangers of the southwest, which will hopefully make for a thrilling end of my movie.

Some donations would be appreciated. I am amazed by people’s generosity since undertaking this man challenge, and I greatly appreciate any contribution. Free dvds for everyone who contributes to the completion of the walk.

paypal danknabb@danknabb.com

On Tuesday I will fly down to Atlanta to visit my girlfriend for a week. I haven’t seen her for over 3 months, so I’m happy that I’ll get to see her.

I didn’t advance in the Philly’s Phunniest Competition. Unfortunately I had to go first which really screwed me over. I hadn’t done stand-up in over 8 months so I was a bit rusty, but I still had a fun time in front of a large crowd.

I have a show planned for tomorrow, and hopefully more when I come back to Pennsylvania.

Plans to walk in the fall are still in the works. I have a few friends willing to escort me with a car while I travel through desert.

Top 5 Dangers of walking through the desert:

1.) Poisonous Snakes. Most notably the rattle snake, which I encountered only once on my previous expedition.

2.) Scorpions.  Not deadly but still very painful.

3.) Coyotes

4.) Desert bears

5.) Scary Mexicans.

Helium Comedy club presents the Philly’s Phuniest Person contest. I am among the 150 comics competing this year. Winner is decided by audience vote so I need some people to show up. Tickets are $10 but I can get discounts. Here are the details.

Aug 8th - 8:00 P.M

2023 Sansom St

Philadelphia

A happy birthday to America, myself, Tori Amos, and anyone else I missed.

The past 2 months I haven’t accomplished much. I’m currently working full-time and doing some web design work to save up money to walk again in the fall. I haven’t performed stand-up yet this year. I continue to write but anytime I’ve been at a place I could perform I just had no desire to do so. At one place I was called to the stage expectedly. I went into the place with no intent to do stand-up, and instead of performing I just walked out of the place.

I haven’t been thinking much about walking much but I still plan to return to Texas in fall. This time I will be accompanied by film maker friends. I have already started to plan the structure of the film but don’t have the computer power to edit everything.

I’m looking for animators, artists, musicians, comedians, actors, anyone who wants to be apart of the film!

\*R.I.P George Carlin, one of my biggest influences to do comedy.