It's been a little over a month since my last post. Since my last post, I've performed 2 more venues. A small group of comics are trying to form open mic shows in this area to promote local comedy. They had lined up 2 seperate venues and invited me for some stage time. The first was at a sports bar. I couldn't really tell how many people were there since they were scattered all over the place, but I did my set. Tried a couple things and learned I need to time my material better! I had started with my self deprication jokes, extended them. And added a drunk bit, then realized my 5 minutes was up! I missed out on a good closer so I didnt feel too great about my performance. I went outside and as I was coming back in, another comic grabbed me and tried to offer some advice. Being that I'm in the embryonic stages of this comedy 'career', I try to keep an open mind. Take advice from anyone willing to dish it out. But Im not sure this guy even knew where he was standing. He would contradict himself every other sentence. After our talk, he got onstage and, for the life of me I cant remember if I laughed at anything he said. The gist of his 'advice' had to do with my energy level. And he did put out alot of energy onstage. But that energy is wasted if you have no material. So I'll work on my energy. I did get some positive feedback from other comics. So it wasnt a wasted performance. I know what I did well, and I know what I need to work on. A week later, the show was at a latin restaurant with about 10-15 ppl including kids. This meant the show would have to be clean. PG-13 is what they told me. So I stuck to it. That is, until I got to my prostitution bit (which would have been my closer the previous show had I not ran out of time) I blurt out the R-rated word for vagina and I hear a comic grunt PG-13, so I quickly correct myself with the PG word. That got a pretty big laugh and, had I known the kids were outside, I would have kept my bit going. But I was thrown off and wouldn't have been able to substitute all the R rated words in that bit and still been funny. So I skipped most of the bit and went right to the end which somehow got a laugh. I should also mention that I was getting terrible feedback from the PA system (operated by an 11 y/o) and that was also throwing me off. The PG13 restriction was semi-lifted for the rest of the show. They bumped it up to PG16 with permission from a parent. But by then, my set was over but the rest of the performers did pretty well. I'd have to say this was my least good performance so far. I even cancelled a joke before the punchline and didnt realize it till I saw the video later on!
Although I'm dishing out poor performances, I have to say Im really enjoying this. I still have stage fright and get high anxiety the day of the show, but it seems to be slowly going away with every performance. The nervousness I get is dwarfed by the feeling I get once Im offstage. Even if my set is horrible, I can see what I need to work on and look ahead to the next performance.
Now, I was offered my first paying gig! Im set to host a show next month for the guy who taught the comedy class. Basically Im getting back the money I paid for the class. So if i retire after that show, I would have broken even!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
And thus an addiction is born.
After 4 weeks of attending the comedy class (including stage time at an open mic) and working on my set I did my debut performance. It was an audience of about 25, a bit on the rowdy side so I expected hecklers. I was a little nervous about people screaming out, not because I couldn't handle them, but simply I might have gotten thrown off and forgotten my next line. It was kind of a weird night. The headliner and pretty much every comic couldnt make it for one reason or another. So it turned out to be just me, the host, and one other performer. Its good to know I was the third funniest.
The show started by getting my performance out of the way, which was good for me b/c I was a nervous wreck and I wasn't going to start feeling better until I was done with my set. So Im onstage getting a few laughs and a new joke comes up. I hadnt written it or rehearsed it, but I spit it out anyway. I believe it got the most laughs of any one-liner in my set. The funny thing about that was that I said it wrong and no one noticed. Even I hadnt noticed till a saw the video afterward. Well, heres the joke: 'Well, it's March already, and I have to decide wether to take my tree down, or just leave it up for next Christmas.' Funny right? Well, this is how I said it: 'Well, it's March already, and I have to decide wether to leave my tree up, or just leave it up for next Christmas.' It was weird how everyone got the joke even tho I totally said it wrong.
For the most part, it was a good set. I got laughs throughout, my timing was -mostly- there, and at the end I wasn't booed offstage. I remember having this feeling just as I walked off and the show continued that if there was some possible way, I could get back on that stage and do it again. I felt high. I wanted to go up again that same night! I need my fix. Now I'm just looking for the next open mic i could find close to home. I have new stuff I want to try out, and I have some old stuff that still needs work.
The show started by getting my performance out of the way, which was good for me b/c I was a nervous wreck and I wasn't going to start feeling better until I was done with my set. So Im onstage getting a few laughs and a new joke comes up. I hadnt written it or rehearsed it, but I spit it out anyway. I believe it got the most laughs of any one-liner in my set. The funny thing about that was that I said it wrong and no one noticed. Even I hadnt noticed till a saw the video afterward. Well, heres the joke: 'Well, it's March already, and I have to decide wether to take my tree down, or just leave it up for next Christmas.' Funny right? Well, this is how I said it: 'Well, it's March already, and I have to decide wether to leave my tree up, or just leave it up for next Christmas.' It was weird how everyone got the joke even tho I totally said it wrong.
For the most part, it was a good set. I got laughs throughout, my timing was -mostly- there, and at the end I wasn't booed offstage. I remember having this feeling just as I walked off and the show continued that if there was some possible way, I could get back on that stage and do it again. I felt high. I wanted to go up again that same night! I need my fix. Now I'm just looking for the next open mic i could find close to home. I have new stuff I want to try out, and I have some old stuff that still needs work.
Monday, January 28, 2008
I shall continue
I went off on a tangent last night. It was way past my bedtime when I finished and I realized I hadnt really talked about what I was setting out to do, or why. Well, obviously, what Im doing is a journal. As I mentioned last night, and in the blog's title, I'm chroncling the early stages of my comedy career. Starting with my very first performance-mentioned last night- and continuing through classes I take... I'll be starting one next week.
Why are you doing this?
I probably would have started comedy years earlier had I had a bit more help and/or information on where to begin. Whenever I asked about starting I was told 'Do open Mics'. I guess that would have helped. But there's a starting point before the open mic. You can't just go up there and wing it. Or can you? I'd never have the balls to get in front of people with nothing prepared to say. As a fan of standup, I knew it took more than just 'doing open mics' to get started. There has to be alot of writing involved. I refuse to believe the great ones just got up there and were lucky. They had to have sat down and jot down some ideas first. So I decided to start writing. What I almost never did though was put pen to paper. Most of my material was recorded to memory. Or so I thought. I was lacking the discipline to actually grab a pad and record my premises. Even though I had scattered notebooks all over my house and my car, whenever something came to me, I somehow convinced myself I'd remember it. So alot of comedy gold has been lost in my subconcious. Maybe it'll pop up again, who knows. So here I am on a tangent again.
So why again? umm, well, I guess I just want to pass on some early knowledge to those who are in the same boat. I've read other comedians blogs. But they all mention their current status and bitch about their road gigs or how the booker promised more money, blah , blah.
I may need to use this for myself in the future. Possibly, remind myself of what I'd set out to accomplish. I hope to keep using this journal step by step throughout my experiences to not only offer help to others but to motivate myself to continue writing. If I discipline myself to write down my thoughts on comedy Im sure little funny tidbits will spring up and get me started in writing the next great comedy special.
Why are you doing this?
I probably would have started comedy years earlier had I had a bit more help and/or information on where to begin. Whenever I asked about starting I was told 'Do open Mics'. I guess that would have helped. But there's a starting point before the open mic. You can't just go up there and wing it. Or can you? I'd never have the balls to get in front of people with nothing prepared to say. As a fan of standup, I knew it took more than just 'doing open mics' to get started. There has to be alot of writing involved. I refuse to believe the great ones just got up there and were lucky. They had to have sat down and jot down some ideas first. So I decided to start writing. What I almost never did though was put pen to paper. Most of my material was recorded to memory. Or so I thought. I was lacking the discipline to actually grab a pad and record my premises. Even though I had scattered notebooks all over my house and my car, whenever something came to me, I somehow convinced myself I'd remember it. So alot of comedy gold has been lost in my subconcious. Maybe it'll pop up again, who knows. So here I am on a tangent again.
So why again? umm, well, I guess I just want to pass on some early knowledge to those who are in the same boat. I've read other comedians blogs. But they all mention their current status and bitch about their road gigs or how the booker promised more money, blah , blah.
I may need to use this for myself in the future. Possibly, remind myself of what I'd set out to accomplish. I hope to keep using this journal step by step throughout my experiences to not only offer help to others but to motivate myself to continue writing. If I discipline myself to write down my thoughts on comedy Im sure little funny tidbits will spring up and get me started in writing the next great comedy special.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
I shall begin... and continue
After countless futile attempts at keeping some sort of journal, I think this will be the one thats not forgotten. I plan on keeping this journal for as long as my comedy career goes. If I decide to never set foot onstage again after bombing in my first Open Mic set, you would have read my last entry.
What are you doing? I've decided to start this blog as simply a log of my journey through what I would call my comedy career. I'll consider my career's starting point as 1/5/08. That was the night of my first introduction/performance. After noticing a dwindling audience at a monthly local show in December, I decided to offer the show's booker some help in promoting the following show. He, of course (arm twisting not required) allowed me to design and distribute flyers. Only two people showed up from my efforts (they were family). Although I didn't produce I big turnout the guy running the room noticed my efforts. I believe he knew my intentions were to help support local comedy. So, when I showed up that night, before anyone I had reserved signed in, he came up and thanked me by offering me the opening spot.
"Wanna get onstage tonight?" He asked.
"Huh?" I thought I heard him wrong.
"Yea, Ill let you do one joke to start the show. It can be your own joke, a stock joke..."
I don't recall ever agreeing to perform. I think he knew I was gonna take him up on his offer.
Immediately, my hands started shaking. I've always had terrible stage fright and never had any proper public speaking training.
A couple of the night's comics came up to me and told me stories of their first time on stage to get me to stay calm, but their shitty stories weren't working. I was too busy trying to think up a joke that would get me a decent laugh. The host even told me to forget about doing just one joke and offered me five minutes. I don't think it was his place to offer, but I was tempted. Regardless, I was having trouble remembering a single joke, much less, a 5 minute set.
So, after what felt like an eternity and 1 liquid cocaine later, my time to shine had come. I dont know what felt better. My first laugh, or my first intro. The host had worked the crowd up pretty good so that raised my comfort level onstage.
I have to confess, I went the safe route. I have quite a bit of my own original material and I do believe it's funny. But it IS untested. For me, it was too much of a risk to try my stuff my very first time up. If it bombed, I'd have retired that same night. So I went with a solid stock joke. Judging from the laughs I received, it wasn't much of a well known joke. As soon as I hit the punchline, 'Turn it around'- the room errupted with a laughter I had hoped for but didn't realistically expect. Immediately after, the comics were urging me to do another, but my stage fright popped into overdrive and I simply 'clocked out' and walked offstage to a sweet sounding applause. So i go home feeling pretty good about myself. I felt, if nothing else I managed to speak in front of a large group of people.
The next morning, I check my email and notice a message from the shows promoter offering me standup comedy classes. It made me wonder, did he see some sort of potential, or did I suck that bad?
What are you doing? I've decided to start this blog as simply a log of my journey through what I would call my comedy career. I'll consider my career's starting point as 1/5/08. That was the night of my first introduction/performance. After noticing a dwindling audience at a monthly local show in December, I decided to offer the show's booker some help in promoting the following show. He, of course (arm twisting not required) allowed me to design and distribute flyers. Only two people showed up from my efforts (they were family). Although I didn't produce I big turnout the guy running the room noticed my efforts. I believe he knew my intentions were to help support local comedy. So, when I showed up that night, before anyone I had reserved signed in, he came up and thanked me by offering me the opening spot.
"Wanna get onstage tonight?" He asked.
"Huh?" I thought I heard him wrong.
"Yea, Ill let you do one joke to start the show. It can be your own joke, a stock joke..."
I don't recall ever agreeing to perform. I think he knew I was gonna take him up on his offer.
Immediately, my hands started shaking. I've always had terrible stage fright and never had any proper public speaking training.
A couple of the night's comics came up to me and told me stories of their first time on stage to get me to stay calm, but their shitty stories weren't working. I was too busy trying to think up a joke that would get me a decent laugh. The host even told me to forget about doing just one joke and offered me five minutes. I don't think it was his place to offer, but I was tempted. Regardless, I was having trouble remembering a single joke, much less, a 5 minute set.
So, after what felt like an eternity and 1 liquid cocaine later, my time to shine had come. I dont know what felt better. My first laugh, or my first intro. The host had worked the crowd up pretty good so that raised my comfort level onstage.
I have to confess, I went the safe route. I have quite a bit of my own original material and I do believe it's funny. But it IS untested. For me, it was too much of a risk to try my stuff my very first time up. If it bombed, I'd have retired that same night. So I went with a solid stock joke. Judging from the laughs I received, it wasn't much of a well known joke. As soon as I hit the punchline, 'Turn it around'- the room errupted with a laughter I had hoped for but didn't realistically expect. Immediately after, the comics were urging me to do another, but my stage fright popped into overdrive and I simply 'clocked out' and walked offstage to a sweet sounding applause. So i go home feeling pretty good about myself. I felt, if nothing else I managed to speak in front of a large group of people.
The next morning, I check my email and notice a message from the shows promoter offering me standup comedy classes. It made me wonder, did he see some sort of potential, or did I suck that bad?
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