The Funniest Semi-Finalists in Austin: FPIA Round One Recaps (Part 4)
Maggie Maye
Was this your first year competing in FPIA?
This is my third time. My first time competing I was very new to stand up. I’d started one month before the contest. FPIA was my seventh time on stage.
What was your preliminary round like?
It took forever to get to. It was the last of 10 nights, so I kept seeing other people get to go and I wanted to be able to just get on stage already. Since it took so long to get to I waited for it to get closer to my night to actually put my set together. I felt like a student procrastinating until the end of the semester. Semis seems like midterms.
Any predictions for the Finals?
Ramin is going to be on fire. Then someone will put him out and tell him to stop playing with matches. Seriously, though, the finals is going to be really, really good.
What do you imagine holding the title of FPIA is like?
It’s probably pretty freaking sweet. You could probably get free smoothies at certain places (provided you’re also cute enough to warrant that kind of treatment). I don’t know about hazing, but I have heard stories about what the hat and cape may have been through.
Maggie performs in the semifinals on Monday, May 9 at 8 pm
Bob Khosravi
Was this your first year competing in FPIA?
No, but it was my first year to advance.
What was your preliminary round like?
My prelim round is the highlight of my year. FPIA is always fun because you get to perform in front of a packed house, get to see friends and newcomers showcase their talent, and get to talk shop and just revel in the art. But, for me, FPIA had also become this challenge I couldn't overcome. Every other Austin stand-up milestone I have reached, but I just couldn't get past the first round in the contest. I kept signing up to prove something, and that something kept turning out to be that I could handle losing. This year I just went up and told a bunch of jokes that I wanted a lot of people to hear. It was a radical strategy, and I'm still not entirely sure that it worked.
Any predictions for the Finals?
I can predict that it will be an amazing show. You can trust that this is true, because it's the only contest night Cap City charges admission. You never know what you might see during the Prelims and Semi-finals (that's what makes them fun to go to), but you'll be hard pressed to see a better stand-up show anywhere than the final round during FPIA.
What do you imagine holding the title of FPIA is like?
I'm not supposed to reveal this, but when you win the title they fly you to Sweden for a secret ceremony where they bestow upon you a blessing from the "Secret Order of American Humorists." And then there's a beer pong tournament.
Bob performs in the semifinals on Monday, May 9 at 8 pm
Seth Cockfield
Was this your first year competing in FPIA?
Haha. No.
What was your preliminary round like?
My round was dubbed by one of the judges as the "worst round of FPIA he's ever witnessed." It was just a rough night, and I'm lucky to have gotten this far. That said, I'm glad I'm in the semis, and I'm looking forward to redeeming myself.
Any predictions for the Finals?
I predict at least three people will place, and that about eight or nine people will cry.
What do you imagine holding the title of FPIA is like?
The best benefit is the freedom to not worry about jamming your best fifteen minutes into a six minute comedy contest set ever again. The title gives you license to pretty much do whatever you want on stage from there on out.
Seth performs in the semifinals on Monday, May 9 at 8 pm
