August 14-20, 2009 - As the "Voices of Monarch Beach"

DP LIVINGPROFILES 4OF OUR COMMUNITYDPDana PointSUDOKUby Myles Mellor and Susan FlanaganEach Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has beensubdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. Tosolve the puzzle, each row, column and box must containeach of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades:easy, medium and difficult. Level: MediumLast week’s solution:SOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTIONSee today’s solution in next week’s issue.DLiving the DreamWill Dana Point talk show hostDuke Fightmaster be the next Conan O’Brien?By Angela SmithDana Point Timesuke Fightmaster isn’t a big fan of theexpression “don’t quit your day job.”In 2007 the 36-year-old Dana Pointtalk show host and father of two threw cautionto the wind and walked away from acareer in the mortgage industry to pursue hisdream in the entertainment industry.“I was not allowing myself to be creative, Istuffed passion and creativity for the sake oftrying to make money and eventually it juststarted coming out in weird ways,” said Fightmaster,who earned a music degree in college.“I was always searching for somethingcreative to do during this stint of abandoningmy creativity.“Then one night I heard that Jay Leno wasretiring and Conan O’Brien was going toreplace him so I had this idea that I’d replaceConan O’Brien and start a talk show,” he said.In November of 2007 the Duke Fightmastershow began. “My first talk show was in mybedroom. My wife was my sidekick and I hadtwo friends in the audience,” he said. “Thenext week I had four friends in the audienceand eventually I had thirty people in mybedroom, most of them sitting on my bed.”Eventually the neighbors started to complainabout the noise so they had to find anotherlocation.Duke had ties with a professional comedian,Patrick Keane, who introduced him tosome people that helped him get his showPage 18 • Dana Point Times • August 14–20, 2009Duke Fightmaster. Courtesy photoence consists of anyone from 18-40 yearsold, including the occasional local transientsthat might be passing by. “I always say thatthere’s no audience crazier than the DukeFightmaster Show audience,” he said.“We’ve done 86 episodes and that’s all ona budget of zero. We have a raffle that paysthe rent for the room, and we’re also in theprocess of looking for a new venue that willallow live bands,” Fightmaster said. He isalso negotiating with Cox cable to get onTuesday nights at 11 p.m. if he is able to sellthe commercial space. “I’m currently reachingout to the community to find local businessthat would like to have commercials onTV and the Duke Fightmaster Show has aspecial deal to get them a low cost commercial.We’ll film and if they want we’ll write andhave cast members star in the commercialfor their business and Cox goes into over aquarter million homes in Orange County,” hesaid. Fightmaster will also give sponsors plugsin his show, mention them in the credits andeven set up an interview for them on the showif they like. “We have a unique opportunity toconnect our fans with their businesses,” hesaid.Fightmaster has put everything on the lineto pursue his dream. “Truth be told, I’ve lost alot of money because of this with a hope thatthere’s going to be something on the otherside. I strongly believe that if you follow yourpassion and don’t quit, good things can comeof it, but it’s still yet to be proven.” he said.And what does his wife think of all of this?“She hasn’t aggressively come out and told menot to do the show, but there might be somepassive aggressiveness,” he said. “She’ll comeon the show and sing songs about how she’snot happy that I’m not making any money.”Now Fightmaster is fulfilling his artistic urgesand he’s only just beginning. “I feel extremelysatisfied as far as doing something that istrue to myself, I feel like I’m following myheart. I always felt like I was living a lie whenI was making money and I’m in the process oflearning if following your passion pays off,” hesaid. Luckily, Fightmaster’s wife Lesley sharessome of the same views. “If he’s miserable at ajob it’s just not worth it,” she said “It might bea pipedream but I believe if you do what youlove, money will come.” DPTo check out sample commercials or to seethe latest show visit www.dukefightmaster.comoff the ground. Over the last year and a halfFightmaster has had help from several ofthese people and with his sidekicks, talkshow band, fans and production crew (allmade up of his friends) the show has comea long way. “Some people just come to theshow and then they become a part of it,” hesaid. “The #1 fan, San Clemente residentRyan Barber, found me on Myspace andhe became a character on the show andhis roommate, Mike Daniels, become theproduction manager.”What might one see in an episode? “I havetwo sidekicks, my wife and my right handman Ryan (who chooses to remain anonymousbecause of his wacky performanceson the show), we sing funny songs, we havemusicians, comedians, B or even D listcelebrities, interesting guests from aroundtown, and local entrepreneurs or peoplefrom around the community,” Fightmastersaid. “We do a 20 to 11 list like a top tenwhere audience members can participateand my house band “Wet Dream” plays atcommercial breaks with a DJ named ‘the Operator’playing the music, DJ Flux rapping,Tantalizing Tanya dancing, and ‘DealersChoice’ singing the hook (aka the chorus).”The show is free and takes place at 310Legion Street in Laguna Beach from 8:30p.m.-9:30 p.m. every Friday and Redbull providesfree energy drinks. “I’m always lookingfor local talent, anyone from around thecommunity who wants to do a skit, help withwriting, or just sit in the audience.” The audiwww.danapointtimes.com