BROAD Comedy: A Tribute to Women Humorists

It has been over three weeks since I hosted Broad Comedy: A Tribute to Women Humorists over at The Studio@620 but I am finally having a moment to share some photos and talk about my experience working with these fabulous women where proceeds of over $600 went to benefit Girls Inc. of Pinellas.  

Reading from my "twin" Kathy Griffin.

I made these literary shoes & hat
just in time for the event!

Performing my literary parody songs.

First, I want to give a huge shout out to Stephanie Hayes and the Tampa Bay Times for featuring me the week leading up to the event with the story "Stand-Up Librarian DIYs her way to comedy happiness" with a photo of me in my bedroom.  It really helped bring an awareness to where I do most of my DIY work but also helped promote the event.  It was a huge success with standing room only at around 150 people with the highest bar sales ever at The Studio@620. Thank you Stephanie!

With Times reporter Stephanie Hayes,
author of Obitchuary.

This incredible event honoring funny women was organized by Gina Vivinetto and Tiffany Razzano of Wordier Than Thou, and thanks to their connections throughout the Tampa Bay area, we had over a dozen women reading excerpts from their favorite female humorists including Kristina Fortner (Amy Poehler), Cathy Wos (Dorothy Parker), Jenny Miller (Ellen DeGeneres), Sarah Fryett (Sarah Vowell), Julie Garisto (Fran Lebowtiz), Heather Jones (Wendy Wasserstein), Lisa Lanser Rose (Paula Poundstone), Meredith Myers (Sarah Bernhard & Kathy Griffin), Emily Nipps (Mindy Kaling), Nadine Smith (Tina Fey), Mitzi Gordon (Mary Karr) and Tenea D. Johnson (Lily Tomlin).  Thank you Gina and Tiffany!

With event organizers Gina V & Tiffany Razzano.

We also had a variety of donations from Tampa Bay authors and organizations to give out as raffle prizes so thanks to Gypsy Stage Repertory Company, Deadly Rival Roller Derby, The Body Electric Yoga Company, Dance Forever, Lucky Star Salon, Stand-Up Librarian Designs, Heather Jones, Natty Moss Bend, Rebekah Pulley, Lynn Waddell, Gina Vivinetto, Deborah Frethem, Von Simeon, Stephanie Hayes, Lisa Lanser Rose and Tenea D. Johnson.

Gina helps with the raffle.

Raffle items.

Von helps choose the winner.

Lisa donates one of her books.

Once again, I want to thank all of the people that came out to participate and support this event honoring women and showing the world once again that women ARE funny and can absolutely pack a room!!!!!

Emily reads Mindy.

Julie reads Fran.

Jenny performs Ellen.

Cathy reads Dorothy.

Kristina of Girls Inc.

Heather reads Wendy.

Mitzi reads Mary.

A special thanks to Desiree Fantal of It's Worth A Shot Photography for all of these photos. For more photos from the event, please visit my Facebook page here. 

"The Power of TOOLS"

"The Power of TOOLS" - Meredith Myers from Meredith Myers on Vimeo.

*For a direct link to "The Power of TOOLS" video, click here.

To honor the incredible women that come out to my Do-It HERSELF workshops at The Home Depot, I created my first non-literary parody music video called "The Power of TOOLS" - mashing up power tools with one of my favorite 80's songs.  I am constantly amazed at the power of WOMEN!!!  We really can do anything with the right instruction and encouragement and I thank each and every one of you for reminding me of that every third Thursday of the month when we come together at the workshop to learn a new home improvement skill.  I also want to thank The Home Depot for allowing a creative and comical person like myself to still find a useful purpose in an environment where most of the time I am not exactly an expert.  Hosting these  Do-It HERSELF workshops has truly become the highlight of my time spent in the orange apron! 

I have included the lyrics of the song in this post because that is what is most important in this video, not my cute tool outfits (even though I loved making them.)  This song is called "The Power of Tools" but more importantly, it is about the "Power of YOU."  Anything is possible ladies, so as they say on those orange buckets...Let's Do This!

“The Power of TOOLS” 

by Meredith Myers

The POWER of TOOLS

Is a curious thing

Make one MAN weep,

Make another WOMAN sing

SAND a DOOR

TILE a FLOOR

More than DRILLING

That's the power of TOOLS

TOUGH like HAMMERS,

ROUGH like SAWS

Stronger and harder

Than HOMER'S dreams

Make a bad project good

Make a wrong one right

Power TOOLS

Might keep you up all night

(Chorus 1)

Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME

Might need a PLUNGER

To clear that DRAIN

It's strong and it's sudden

And it's cool sometimes

You might just save some TIME

That's the power of TOOLS

I love POWER TOOLS

First time you try it,

It might make you mad

Next time you use it

It will make you glad

But you'll be good, LADY

When you've found

POWER TOOLS

Make the world go' round

(Chorus 2)

Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME

Might need a PLUNGER

To clear that DRAIN

It's strong and it's sudden

And it's cool sometimes

You might just save some TIME

Some say WHAT I WEAR is really WEIRD

Yeah, but I don't care

But you'll know what to do

Thanks to my WORKSHOPS here

And with a little help from above

You feel the power of TOOLS

Feel the power of TOOLS

Want to feel it?

Hmmm

(Guitar solo)

(Chorus 3)

Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME

Might need a PLUNGER

To clear that DRAIN

I’m TOUGHER than DIAMONDS

And STRONGER than STEEL

You won't feel nothin'

Till you feel

You feel the POWER?

Just the power of TOOLS

That's the POWER,

That's the power of YOU

YOU feel the power of TOOLS

I feel the power of TOOLS

I SEE the POWER in YOU

Thanks to all of my wonderful workshop ladies
at Home Depot store #6304.