Standup 1 + 2

I’m still in the beginning phase of standup comedy but that doesn’t stop me from doing things people suggest waiting for, such as hosting an open mic on public access.  About once a month or so I pull in local comedians to do however many minutes. Most are beginners like me. I encourage audience members to come up and tell a joke or two because, why the (insert a noun like "balloons") not. I try to do about ten or fifteen minutes worth of new material each time. 

I want to put out as much content as possible, get some feedback, fine tune it later.  A number of the comedians come back to do the next show and the next and I like this feel.  If people were to watch consecutively, hopefully they would see the natural growth and development.    

People often ask me, is it hard producing, directing, hosting, and all of that?  And I say yes.  It would be nice to be able to be one of those people that just fills in a blank. “But of course, I’ll take that spot- you do the rest” But, whatever.  Some things I do or produce are limited in such regards. If I had X and X things would definitely look a lot closer to a B or B+ (I’m pretty sure). 

It’s cool to work with a number of people, reaffirm them that heck yes- you are talented and please come back. OR even, hell yeah, you bombed but this is a learning process, please get back up there.

With this in mind, here are two very early standup videos of mine:

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Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle

I performed Standup at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle with success!   

This place is cool. The comedians are usually lurking about nervously beforehand in the foyer, scribbling gibberish and cackling.  Or they're quietly contemplating rudimentary quantum physics and how to get another free booze.  Maybe a stray fan?  

Meeting these people is one of the best parts- people striving to make laughter, share thought, earn a hefty "good job." They've already had so many stories to tell, success and losses that are all: sad, hilarious, and grand.

I prefer working on projects with people, collaborating but this is cool. This is teamwork. Everyone plays their own specific part, each works their own way to make the best of the night.  If everyone plays it right, everyone has that good time.  If something doesn't go completely right with the audience, as long as you don't piss too many people off with what you're doing, your peers will/can help pick you up: celebrate the doing, the process. 

My set involved: 

• Car Crashes
• Neck Problems of the Third Kind
• Wifeliness 
• Kittens and politics
  

A neat thing, the wall behind the stage is completely written on with loving, hopeful, or desperate missives. "I was here, this night of nights, washed in the ether of creative juice-stuff- I did it, way to go awesome, awesome me."  I'm not saying that that's what I wrote because it isn't, mine was much more eloquent and had the word butt in it.  (Actually, I didn't write on the wall but now feel very obligated to write the word butt all over that wall)

Another neat thing: there's a door with a peephole in the green room to spy on the audience.  

Another neater thing: no, I forgot, I can't talk about that. Never mind. (aliens)

Was I nervous? Yes. Timing things is rough.  Remembering things difficult. But these are good things.  Sometimes this is what helps endear the audience to you, letting them know you are human no matter how outrageous and weird your content may be.  Really we're all just trying to get to know ourselves, sharing our vulnerabilities consciously or subconsciously helps.

Anyway, an after party involving people and things was certainly had. The next time will come soon. Stay Tuned!

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Performing Stand Up Comedy

First of all, I think it's cool and completely awesome to give anything you or anyone is doing a rad project name.  Getting spleen surgery?  Project Ouch My Spleen.  If you're getting something horrible done to your balls why not try something sarcastic like: Project Oh Yeah My Balls are Going to be Okay Even After the Sharp Pointy Thing Touches Them Unnaturally, Froynlaven! What about mundane tasks? Absolutely! Awe, yeah it's Super Project Just Get Meat and Candy at the Grocery Store Go Time. Either way it makes the experience sound intellectual and filled with fun and mystery... until some weird people catch on and you're never seen from again. True Story.

Anyway, yes, Project X: Performing Stand Up Comedy is exactly as it seems. I'm prepping to perform a stand up routine at the end of the month.  I'm working with the book The Comedy Bible by Judy Carter.  It has numerous practices and such... some of which I will be documenting as the deadline approaches.  Hopefully this will provide entertainment, perhaps even encouragement.  Yes!  You're probably funny (maybe) and you should try stand up comedy too. If I become famous my standard advice for beginners will surely be: if at first you don't succeed why not try tear-away clothing? First, because being naked is awesome and second, for most being on stage will be like baring it all anyway.

Update:  Universe beware October 1st!

Update! I have performed! Video coming soon! Comments and tips will be welcome.

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