AJ Foster: Honing His Craft

Some people feel 'right at home' on stage, performing. It does not matter what type; singing, dancing, drama or comedy. There are people who are soo good its hard to imagine they have to do anything else to make a living.

Utica has a Comedian like that. The type of performer you can't imagine doing anything else. A young man from The Bronx New York that first called Utica home (2006) as a student at SUNY IT.

"When I first moved here it wasn't like I came to do comedy" he revealed during a telephone conversation. "I actually got into some campus events such as contests and competitions" he added.

He was chosen for MTV's Yo Mamma and ended up in The Semi-Finals. "We taped over the summer so I didn't get to see myself until November". It was AJ's first ever performance unless you count the sixth grade play.

"My classmates (at SUNY) were like you should just jump right in" when giving comedy career advice. But AJ stayed the course. "I always wanted to do this" he explained. "But getting my degree was my number one priority" he soberly admitted.

AJ did just that, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems from SUNY IT and immediately went to work; both on his comedy and his chosen trade.

AJ takes failure personal, to heart, one can be sure his professional accomplishments rival his artistic success. One of the things that seperate AJ from his contemporaries is his preparation. He is meticulous about his act and has racked up multiple competition victories in a short amount of time.

"Its weird, I mean, when AJ's on stage its like your laughing before he even says anything" offered Phil Farda, local producer from up and coming Comedy Central New York.

"I watch the greats in this business" AJ said sounding more like a student than seasoned pro."I'm always working on my craft, I always try to see what is 'behind' the laugh, why people react the way they do" he added. "But I credit my parents for my work ethic, they are both hardworking people and thats what I know"

There is a balance between proper preparation, a meticulous act and the ability enjoy the process. "There was time I was rather hard on myself, it took away from the experience" he admitted "But I gave myself a break"

Most recently AJ opened for legendary David Alan Grier from "In Living Color" at Foxwoods Casino where he also came in Second For The Last Comic Standing Competition.

"That was great he paid attention to my act. He said : 'when Im in the old folks home and yer on teevee, I'll tell everybody I knew that kid' that was pretty cool".

Many people feel the same way. AJ's rapid ascent is exciting to watch and everyone involved in the Comedy Business in The Northeast knows his name. He is one of the busiest people I know...Period

If you have not had the chance to see him yet-get with it- he will be at Hotel Utica on Dec 16th and at The Syracuse Funny Bone with Jesse Mae Peluso from MTV's girl code on Thanksgiving Weekend. In The Meantime Check out AJ Foster on his website ajfostercomedy.com for any updates.

Popeye's : I sold Out For Free Chicken.

Popeye’s  Explodes Onto Oneida Square

In most cities it is not a big deal when a new fast food restaurant opens. In the history of Fast Food, thousands of new restaurants have opened; hundreds every year. Bunting, parades and ribbon cutting ceremonies are usually not part of the deal. It’s a Grand Opening, informal gatherings of new customers is expected but what happened on October 9^th was a surprise.

 So why were hundreds, some say, thousands of Uticans lined up for fifty minutes per wait to get a taste of The newly opened Popeye’s Louisiana Style Fried Chicken. October 9^th 2014 will go down in history for the sheer number of people that showed up to get a taste of the popular fast food chain. A steady crowd in the hundreds jammed into the northwest side of Oneida Sq. From the size and duration of the crowd rush one would think:

A. The Chicken is free

B. They are giving away Chicken

C. You Don’t have to pay

D. All of The above

I grew up with Popeye’s Church’s and KFC. A Grand Opening is just that,  A Grand Opening, its only a big deal to the owner who wants to make bucket-loads of cash. The Ownership of this Restaurant, The Parikh Network have over ninety stores. They come to town equipped with a proven formula and definitely did their due diligence in regards to market research for the Utica area. It showed. Someone probably  got a promotion and our (income gap) economy chugs along. 

Any of the many reasons people waited fifty minutes is a testament to one of the ‘social nuances’ that resonates in Utica; the notion that there is an ‘outside world’ with things we really crave. Utica craves Chicken. Let me be clear; “Chicken from Popeye’s”. Can I say it clearer?  Uticans Crave Chicken From Popeye’s. Incredible.

 The location at 326 Genesee St. used to be the Utica home of KFC (RIP) and then it was briefly ‘turned out’ into a Crown Chicken where the bathroom never worked. So, basically,  we know all about chicken joints.

But Oct 9th was special ;when I first arrived I saw local business owner Roger Palek Jr. standing in front of his business directly across the street watching the crowd. “how was the food”, I asked. His one word reply said it all: “BANGIN”

With that I made my way across the crowded street to touch base with the ‘Grand Opening’ crew led by Dwayne Hayes. Dwayne along with colleagues David Damato and Sterling Schraugen are boots on the ground reps for The Parikh Network responsible for new locations. Snaking through traffic to get to them, I had to note the number of cars, coming from both directions, packed into the middle of Genessee St. waiting to make a left and right turn into the drive-thru. It wouldn’t have hurt to have some cops directing traffic, there were enough people for it to get out of hand, just in case they ran out of chicken.

“No Chance of That” Dwayne assured me. The festive atmosphere was punctuated by a fast moving, efficient crew of teenage Uticans. Some on their first jobs. It was nice to see familiar faces in line ordering up Cajun style rice and spicy chicken.  People leaving with (sometimes three) gigantic bags of food. I was actually trying to do quick math with regard to the volume of chicken soda ect.; I surmise they fed a third of Utica. I won’t bore you with my unscientific methods, trust me on this.

After a quick chat I was treated to a sample from the menu. It tasted as good as it always did, in Chicago, before I moved to Utica I ate Popeye’s all the time. I had no idea that I missed it until I had some of the Cajun Rice….One Word…. ’BANGIN’

So don’t fret they won’t run out and they are open daily from ten thirty to eleven . 

Reply

Forward

nomy chugs along.

Any of the many reasons people waited fifty minutes is a testament to one of the ‘social nuances’ that resonates in Utica; the notion that there is an ‘outside world’ with things we really crave. Utica craves Chicken. Let me be clear; “Chicken from Popeye’s”. Can I say it clearer?  Uticans Crave Chicken From Popeye’s. Incredible.

 The location at 326 Genesee St. used to be the Utica home of KFC (RIP) and then it was briefly ‘turned out’ into a Crown Chicken where the bathroom never worked. So, basically,  we know all about chicken joints.

But Oct 9th was special ;when I first arrived I saw local business owner Roger Palek Jr. standing in front of his business directly across the street watching the crowd. “how was the food”, I asked. His one word reply said it all: “BANGIN”

With that I made my way across the crowded street to touch base with the ‘Grand Opening’ crew led by Dwayne Hayes. Dwayne along with colleagues David Damato and Sterling Schraugen are boots on the ground reps for The Parikh Network responsible for new locations. Snaking through traffic to get to them, I had to note the number of cars, coming from both directions, packed into the middle of Genessee St. waiting to make a left and right turn into the drive-thru. It wouldn’t have hurt to have some cops directing traffic, there were enough people for it to get out of hand, just in case they ran out of chicken.

“No Chance of That” Dwayne assured me. The festive atmosphere was punctuated by a fast moving, efficient crew of teenage Uticans. Some on their first jobs. It was nice to see familiar faces in line ordering up Cajun style rice and spicy chicken.  People leaving with (sometimes three) gigantic bags of food. I was actually trying to do quick math with regard to the volume of chicken soda ect.; I surmise they fed a third of Utica. I won’t bore you with my unscientific methods, trust me on this.

After a quick chat I was treated to a sample from the menu. It tasted as good as it always did, in Chicago, before I moved to Utica I ate Popeye’s all the time. I had no idea that I missed it until I had some of the Cajun Rice….One Word…. ’BANGIN’

So don’t fret they won’t run out and they are open daily from ten thirty to eleven . 

Reply

Forward