Open mic nights welcome talent with opened arms. Non-Profit talent based Organization, C.O.A.L.I.T.I.O.N., or the Community Of Alliances Living In Total Independence Of Negativity, on Stony Brook campus holds an open mics at the UCafé. President of the Comedian’s Guild, Marlon McLeod made his debut on campus at the open mic at the UCafé in the fall of 2010.
McLeod couldn’t see himself doing anything else other than entertaining people and he made the decision to bring his talent to Stony Brook University by founding the Comedian’s Guild with eboard members with Alex Mignone, the vice president, Abraham Williams as the treasurer and Harleen Singh as secretary.
As a comedian, McLeod has sternness to his character, a clean-cut young man with ambition and faith. When he spoke about his organization, he expressed his motives for the Comedian’s Guild, “It is an organization that is dedicated to providing laughter for the campus community,” Marlon said. “You don’t have to be a comedian to join, you can do stand-up, enjoy the comedy or create skits.”
When McLeod came to Stony Brook, there weren’t any clubs on campus dedicated solely to comedians and McLeod wasn’t able to find enough places to perform comedy. Without an outlet to share his talent, McLeod and the other e-board members sat down on an inspiring April night at Roth café and the crew rounded up around a table to eat dinner. It was there that they came up with the idea to create a comedy club. McLeod and the members of the organization grew very close, he met Singh and Williams in class, and they’re all pre-med majors. McLeod was introduced to Alex through his suitemate.
At the C.O.A.L.I.T.I.O.N. banquet this past Sept., McLeod had the crowd roaring with laughter as he put on a show for the Stony Brook family. There was amusement in the crowd as he took it away that night.
“I’m tired of Pitbull all over the radio. My least favorite Pitbull song is the one with Ne-Yo, “Give Me Everything,” where he rhymes Kodak with Kodak. The main reason I hate that song is because you cannot grab somebody sexy and tell them hey, give me everything tonight,” McLeod said that night. “This ain’t the Stone Age. This ain’t the Bronx! If Pitbull makes another song I’m calling Michael Vick!”
He considered himself a comedian since the third grade and always wanted to do stand-up comedy at events. Louis C.K, Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle are among the few comedians that inspire McLeod. He encourages everyone to engage in activities with the Comedian’s Guild, comedian or not and hopes to find young comedians to pass the organization on to after the graduates.
McLeod wants the Comedians Guild to get recognized on higher levels. He has plans to host grand charity events and has hopes of scheduling a famous comedian to perform at Stony Brook. “I just want to make Stony Brook a happier place.” Working with other clubs and hosting more events are at the top of McLeod’s list.
McLeod is not only a part of the Comedian’s Guild organization but he also supports the Operation Smile organization that is dedicated to donating money to children with cleft palate syndrome.
The Comedian’s Guild’s meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m., in the SB Union in room 237. “Everyone is welcomed, come to meetings,” McLeod said.
