How to see my show for free, and answers to other questions.
Dear All,
My spirits have been lifted by the wonderful response to my last email in which I announced that I’ll be performing a show in New York and Edinburgh called (Cut the Bullshit) Len Bakerloo Speaks Truth to Power. (July 12, 13, 19 New York info here, Edinburgh August Info here.)
Thank you all very much for your interest and support. In case you missed it, I repeat the press release below my signature.
Here are some of the many questions I received:
1) What will I get out of it if I attend?
You will learn the difference between lies and bullshit and how the worst bullshit is the bullshit you believe because it can hurt you and the people you care about. I’ll show you how to avoid falling for bullshit and you’ll get a copy of my Cut the Bullshit Game to take home and practice with friends. You’ll also have a good laugh or two.
2) I am broke because I believed some bullshit a few years ago (specifically: “Real estate can only go up,” “You need to borrow $77,000 for this degree or you’ll be unemployable.” and “We can’t pay you much but these stock options will make you rich.”). Is there any way I can attend for free?
Sure. There are a few ways I can think of:
- In Edinburgh I’m performing as part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival where all shows are free to attend. Although we pass a hat afterward you are under no obligation to contribute anything. Get to Edinburgh and the show is free.
- In New York City the 59E59th Street theater only allows six comp tickets be issued to credentialed theater reviewers. However, I get 100% of the ticket proceeds and that means that if you pay $15 for the ticket and I reimburse you afterward then it is the same as a free ticket. So, if you want to attend for free as my friend then just tell me in advance.You’ll still have to buy a ticket or they won’t let you in but I’ll refund the money after the show. (If you don’t tell me in advance I won’t be able to refund the money to you, so write first to me at: Brooke@BrookeAllen.com.)
- I guarantee my work, which means that anyone who attends the show and determines that it was not worth the money will receive a full refund.
3) I love what you are doing. Is there any way I can help you promote your show?
Absolutely, and I appreciate the offer. Of course you can tell all your friends and tell them to tell their friends ad infinitum. In addition, on the days of the performance I will be handing out flyers promoting the show in New York City at the TKTS booth at 47th and Broadway. If you want to join me then I’ll buy you lunch at 1:30 and then we’ll start about an hour later. If you have the time and you’ve never done anything like it before, I can tell you it is actually a lot of fun.
4) Why are you doing this? If you’re retired why don’t you hang out on a beach and take it easy?
If you know me you know my limit for doing nothing is about three days. The specific reasons for doing this show at the Edinburgh Fringe are complicated but interesting. See my story: A Better Way to Experience the Edinburgh Fringe (and life).
In the interest of full disclosure, my reason for doing this show is not to make money (although I am happy to be paid for my time and effort because – as my grandmother used to say – everyone will pay you a compliment but when they write a check you know they are sincere).
My principle ambition is to develop and promote techniques that people can use to fight bullshit.
What’s more, finding and fighting bullshit is fun. As Jon Stewart said in his “Bullshit is Everywhere” farewell speech, “Bullshitters have gotten pretty lazy and their work is easily detected. Looking for it is kind of a pleasant way to pass the time.” Everyone needs a hobby and this has become one of mine.
So, I hope you’ll pass some time with me either right after work at 6:30 on July 12th or the 19th, or later at 8:30 on July 13. Book tickets here.
Regards,
Brooke Allen a.k.a Len Bakerloo
PRESS RELEASE
Subject: A Retired Wall Street hedge fund manager speaks truth to power at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Len Bakerloo/Free Festival presents
(Cut the Bullshit) Len Bakerloo Speaks Truth to Power
In a new show at the Edinburgh Fringe a retired hedge-fund manager will be presenting a light-hearted take on a very serious topic: Bullshit.
Len will begin with a pseudo-academic lecture as a stand-up comic might deliver it. This will be followed with an audience participation exercise where you will learn how to identify bullshitters and hold them accountable for their bullshit. Every member of the audience will go home with a copy of Len Bakerloo’s Cut the Bullshit Game.
Len Bakerloo is the stage name for Brooke Allen, a real-life 30-year Wall Street veteran with a career arc that took him from mathematics to trading and eventually hedge fund management. He attributes his success and longevity to “keeping my head, detecting bullshit, and avoiding believing it.” He not only survived but thrived during the crash of 1987, the Russian debt default, the dot-com bubble, the 2008 near-demise of Western Capitalism, and numerous other crises. He says, “In every instance, these debacles represented the triumph of bullshit over common sense and human decency.” In his retirement years, Brooke has decided to become a crusader against bullshit. He says, “Most people talk about other people’s bullshit but they fail to realize that the bullshit that harms them the most is the bullshit they believe.”
For more than a decade, Brooke Allen has written non-fiction under his own name and been published by Quartz, Science Magazine, and various trade publications (see: BrookeAllen.com/publications). More recently he has been developing Len Bakerloo as his more whimsical twin (see: LenBakerloo.com) and info on the show can be found at LenBakerloo.com/bullshitgame. As a complement to his show he has created BSPrize.com where you can nominate anyone for the Bullshit Prize (it’s like the Nobel of Bullshit) and BullshitReview.com (where anyone can write a 5-Star review of themselves and their work as long as it is mostly bullshit). He tweets in support of the show under @BSPrize hashtag #BSPrize and he can be reached at: Brooke@BrookeAllen.com or on his mobile: +1-973-509-0229. Photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9lwutk6npak046w/AADa6uFgoLPOkVmcFBWhUyoWa?dl=0
(Cut the Bullshit) Len Bakerloo Speaks Truth to Power is at 11:15 AM at Molarity’s (Venue 332) August 5-15, 18-29, 2016 and will be free (non-ticketed). More here. It will be previewing in New York City at 59E59th Street Theater on July 12 and 19 at 6:30 PM and July 13 at 8:30 PM. (More here.)
Len Bakerloo™ 