Hi, thanks for dropping by, my name is David C. Jones. I travel all around the world as a corporate comedian. My home is in Vancouver B.C. Canada. I also appear on radio & TV and work as a professional stage actor and director and write and produce unique corporate training videos. People have said fun things about me like “David C. Jones is one of the funniest minds in Vancouver” (The Vancouver Sun) and “He knows how to use focus and rhythm, he is very, very good.” (The Georgia Straight) and “David always tries to smell pleasing” (Delighted Patron).
I like to be funny and produce funny things.


Actor
I create lots of comedy characters and impersonations. My favorites are the ones I make up myself based on ideas that clients have. I like to collaborate. As my kindergarten report card said “David plays well with others.”
I have projects on radio and TV and lots of stage work but not as much anymore. I find doing theatre keeps my artistically sharp and it forces me to try new things and that makes me a better corporate entertainer.
Some of the plays I have done include playing Otto in Noel Coward’s DESIGN FOR LIVING, Moon in THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND and Scrooge in A TWISTED CHRISTAMS CAROL (a show that I also created). I had to have a different British accent in each. I am best known in Vancouver for acting in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) a show that I have done five times with three different directors. I also dabbled in legitimate Shakespeare by appearing as Bottom in A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM.

I love to improvise, click here to hear me sing an improvised song about having a cantaloupe where my liver should be. The other actor is the fabulous Jeff Gladstone.

Director
I have directed over 300 shows. I think 311. I have staged productions for companies like West Fraser Timber, Mircosoft, Comdex in Las Vegas, The Young Presidents Organization and the Canadian Armed Forces. Here is a list of all the companies I have created shows for. There might be one or two missing.
I have also directed shows for exhibition halls such as Science World and The UBC Museum of Anthropology.
I also stage a lot of fundraisers for charity groups and non-profits; these include The Out On Screen Festival, BC Persons With AIDS Society, Theatre Terrific and The ALS Society of B.C. I do most of these shows with the Sketch In Time Society a non-profit charity I started a couple of years ago.
I direct lots of musicals and plays, the occasional children’s show to help keep me artistically sharp and to re-stimulate my creative juices. I have directed shows for The Arts Club Theatre, Ophidian Entertainment, United Players of Vancouver, and The Burr Theatre to name a few. I also directed several shows that toured to exotic places when I was artistic director for Rock-Paper-Scissors a company I founded and ran for 12 years.
I am also a directing mentor with Theatre BC.
If I produce a movie, I also direct. That’s a whole other kettle of fish.
I have been nominated for different awards for my direction. I also won some awards.

Here are some things the media have said…


Producer
I am a great producer! I won the Business In Vancouver top 40 under 40 award in 2004, I was number 27.
Producing is hard work and I have gotten very, very good at it over the years.
When I produce a show for a corporate client I have to deal with internal office politics and committees who all want a say. I love trying to please all of them. Here is a list of all the companies I have produced shows for.
Also producing movies is a fun challenge because aside from the script and the actors you also have to handle all the equipment and fussy things like sound and lights. Also there are more people involved.
I produced 16 stage productions during my tenure at Rock-Paper-Scissors that was everything from fundraising, marketing, administrating, writing, directing, and starring. I had to be very clever about how to produce on a wing and a prayer. I am very proud that many of my shows went on to have re-mounts and some toured exotic locales like Israel, Bosnia, and England. And many won awards.
I like to make graphs and charts and hate wasting anybodies time and refuse to waste money. I like to work with people who are smarter than me.

Listen to a funny though raunchy clip of an unhappy producer … he’s nothing like me…

Writing
I have written so many corporate shows and films it would make you head spin. I have written Aboriginal welcomes, and historical lectures. I have written rhyming puzzles and games shows. I have created product presentation and radio commercials (listen to some here) and I love writing training videos. Most of my stuff has a humorous take.
I also have created sketch comedy for revues and children’s street theatre. I have written a couple of plays as well including Bad Times Behind a coming of age story which is being adapted to film.
This was my first stand-up joke I wrote for myself.
“I wear glasses, how many people wear glasses. Okay, cool, now has this ever happened to you, you’re hanging with someone and they ask to borrow your glasses and then when they put them on they are like “WHOA! DUDE, your eyes must be REALLY bad. I can’t see anything!” Isn’t that rude? I mean they are not an accessory, they are how I see. It’s not like you’d ask a guy with a prosthetic leg if you could borrow it and bitch about how it makes you limp. It’s not like I could say, ‘Hey, let me try out your brain for a second – WHOA! DUDE, you are totally stupid. I had no idea how bad your brain was, I’m surprised you can open a jar.”
Anyway, if you want a great writer, call Shakespeare, but if you want a funny writer click here. Although, get a few drinks in him and Willy can get pretty funny.

Click this for a funny website with mangled English translations…



Teacher
I have taught workshops for people across the province and across the country. Whether is a one time quick energizer for a corporate team or longer more in-depth series with a specific outcome in mind, my variety of experiences means I can design any course for most occasions.
I trained at the professional theater training school at Langara College called Studio 58. I also studied at The Vancouver TheatreSports League, where I performed for several years, I also taught there. I teach various workshops for Theatre BC and also for special interest groups. One student said my style was “an inspiring combination of challenge, gentleness and hilarity” isn’t that cool?
COACHING – I also coach a lot of people. My improv based exercises are very good to help actors to loosen and re-stimulate the brain. I also help people prepare for auditions.
I was also a board member for the North American Simulation and Gaming Association because I have designed and created workshops for team building, adapting to change and conflict resolution.
I work really well with kids and was even approached by Arts Umbrella and McGill University to create and special course for pre-teen youth at risk. These kids were great and very demanding. I had to adapt to language and cultural issues.
I also work a lot with adults including professional actors and just regular normal people.

Here is a link to a bunch of teachers singing rap ….

Comedian
In 2004 I won the Georgia Straights Best in Vancouver People’s Choice award as Best Comedian. It was kinda weird because I don’t do stand up so much (although if you want to read my first standup joke I wrote click here). I was pretty funny according to the Canadian Comedy Awards and lots of critics say I am funny.
I have a one man improvised show that I do for corporate clients and one time I was even flown out to Saskatchewan to do it as part of a wedding.
I get asked to host and emcee a lot of functions and even though I think I am just talking and moving the show along, people always come up to me and say “Man, you were funny.”
The Westender Newspaper once said “Making people laugh is second nature to David C. Jones”
I have also created a number of comic personas I can adapt my one man show to. They include:
Chef Dinkus – the awkward condiment chef
Skippy – the caffeinated fun time counselor
Madison Madison – the stuffy British thespian who loves Gilbert & Sullivan.
Once when I was hired by the NHL All-star Fantasy I was told to create a new persona every day of the three day event. Read their response here.
I also get a lot of calls from the good people at Whistler Tourism who ask me to create characters for events they are having. I sure have had to learn a lot of accents.
The weirdest impersonation I was asked to create was either Andy Warhol or Joe Clark.

The Vancouver Sun once picked me as one of the 20 best improvisers in Canada.

Here is my favorite funny person …..


Emcee
I have been told that I have an engaging and fun-filled personality on stage. This might explain why I am asked to host so many events. Really you can’t swing a cat without hitting me standing at a mike hosting some kind of event.
Because of background in improvisation I have the ability to adapt to any changing situation and my creative mind allows me to invent games or improvise story telling on the spot. I like to have fun and get bored easily.
I have also worked a lot with terminally ill and differently-able’d and that allows me to be sensitive and respectful.
My vast range of experience and various outfits allow me to host shows for almost any occasion.

Here is a PDF of me hosting things.

Consultant
Need Fun? Got David?
As I have said elsewhere, I get easily bored. I take lots of workshops and do lots of things because I relish learning. I also will try anything once (except hard drugs). But lately one thing I started doing a lot is having coffee with people at their request and then before I knew it I was officially a consultant.
If you are planning an event or function or a show and you want to make it fun, tap into David’s brain. My personal mantra is “Be unique! Hereunto unseen wonder…”.
I have helped people brainstorm ideas for events, plan games and activities and worked with them creating workshops and cabarets.
I have also helped people mount theatrical productions and conferences.
I am a frequent speaker at the Alliance of Arts & Culture Search Program and have presented at several training institutions including Studio 58 where I studied.
I also an a repeat adjudicator for Theatre BC, and have recently been ask to join a planning committee for The Variety Club.
According to Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats I am a strong Green Hat personality. Want proof? Invite me for coffee and say you have a problem.

Charitable Work
I do most of my charitable work through my new non-profit society called The Sketch In Time Society…humour helps.
I emcee and perform at hundreds of charity functions over the years. I also teach workshops for service organizations when I can.
My most significant achievement is voluntarily producing the annual Comedy Cabaret for The ALS Society of BC. So far I have helped raise over $30,000 for the organization that helped me and my mom as she suffer through the last stages of that deadly disease.
I also have done a lot of board work over the years and currently serve as Vice-President on the board for Theatre Terrific a company that works with physically and mentally handicapped performers. I am also proud to serve as an elected member of the West Coast Advisory of Canadian Actors Equity Association where I serve on a couple committees.

Here is a list of some charities and service organizations I have been honored to regularly work for.

A Loving Spoonful
Arts Umbrella
BC Persons With AIDS Society
Britannia Community Centre
The Friends For Life Society
The Out On Screen Film Festival
Pacific Theatre
Pink Ink Theatre
Pink Viken Comedy Arts Society
Presentation House
Public Dreams Society
Studio 58
Theatre Terrific
United Players of Vancouver
Variety Club
YMCA International
And many, many more



Awards and Reviews
Thank you, thank you very much.
I have been very fortunate to be able to put a few trophies and certificates on my bookshelf. I have lost more than I have won but some were pretty cool.

Winner! The 2004 Georgia Straights Best Comedian of Vancouver People’s Choice Award.

Winner! The 2004 Business In Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Achievers 2004.

Winner! The 2002 Vancouver Sun’s People Choice Award Best Street Show – A Twisted Cyrano De Bergerac (I directed that with my other company Twisted Tales).

Winner! 2000 Jessie Richardson Award Best Set Design – A Twisted Christmas Carol (I co-designed it).

Winner! 1999 Best Team at the !nstant Improv Festival

Jessie Richardson Award 2001 for Best Ensemble - Blankety Blank – The Unknown Musical (a show that I created and directed as well).

2002 Canadian Comedy Award – Pretty Funny Male Improviser

2003 Canadian Comedy Award – Best Show – A Twisted Cyrano De Bergerac
3rd Place 2004 The Georgia Straights Best Stage Performer of Vancouver People’s Choice Award.

I was also nominated for a bunch of Community Theatre Awards a hundred years ago and was named by The Vancouver Sun as one of the top twenty improvisers in Canada. (In all of Canada! I assume that the writer doesn’t travel much).

If you aren’t sick of me yet – here are some quotes from media and from past clients.


DCJ Productions
Back in 2000 I began working with film. I do this under the moniker of DCJ Productions. I started by making little comedy shorts for corporate clients.

West Fraser Timber - a funny mixed up interview retirement movie for two longtime employees.

Mission Hills Wine - a Austin Powers parody starring Mission Hill President Anthony von Mandl

Ames Brothers Distributing - a Die Hard parody starring their president John Ames.

The Canaroon Company a comedic look back at a Golf Retreat.

The in 2005 I got a huge opportunity. I was asked to make a funny training video for UFCW Local 247 and Western Grocers Limited. This was a $30,000 production featuring a crew of 11, 4 cameras and 15 actors. It had green screen, animation and other visual effects. It took 6 months from research and writing to producing and directing and then into post- production.

It rocks! I took all my popular education experience and corporate training experience and combined them into and break neck, eye catching “uniquely effective training film”.

DCJ Productions has also started shooting a television pilot of Vicious Games an improv format I created.