...and Some Random Thoughts on Comedy

On the stand up comedy front, I have now hit open mic eleven. Which is nothing in a big city but in a smaller town like Ithaca it's still not an accomplishment. Two were at least out of town, more than an hour from where I'm staying, so there is some effort. Slow start but I was always more tortoise than hare anyway. I'm hoping to push that number up next year but I have a few things to work on.

First I need to find a way to get more time speaking. I'm not sure if I'll have time or resources to make this happen before my return to Ithaca this March, but it's something I need to keep in mind. I've been working behind the scenes jobs for years so one-on-one conversation is what I'm used to. Any public speaking competitions from High School are little more than a memory for me so pretty much useless. It's time that I fix that before I try to get much further. I enjoy being on stage, I just get nervous up there because I care about what I'm doing. I want to fix this, because I plan to continue to care about it.

To work on my fear of heights I just went to Darien Lake and rode every roller coaster, one after the other. It didn't fix the problem but I had fun, even if I did scream a lot. At a slightly less than manly pitch. Having fun even in the face of fear was a good step and help me address some other issues in my life. Certainly not the proper approach to all problems but sometimes you do just have to go for it. For speaking though it's repetition I need. Since those opportunities don't typically drop into my lap, it's time to track some down.

I could find a somewhere to read to a group of children. Book stores and libraries both have story time readings. As an audience children are not always the easiest to keep the attention of, so I'd have to animated while still patient. That might be easier than trying to hold attention at a bar, but kids will let you know if you are reading wrong. I was once chastised for reading a fairy story wrong. I still don't know what I did wrong.

Some local acting wouldn't be bad, though for now it's a bit of a drive. Prepared lines and movements in front of a live audience are a lot different from trying to entertain using only yourself. Plus typically when someone comes to see a stage performance, they have some idea that they will like what they are going to be watching. Which sounds nice but not something I will have the advantage of. Student films are also out there, but again not the same.

Street performance is how many people got their start. Eddie Izzard to name my favorite. I have no skill at music, juggling or slight of hand, so my only thought was to try story telling of sorts. I have a partial mockup of what I want to try, I just have to try it. It is no frills for now as I have no props or costume, but some people like the idea. Not exactly a winter performance so I will have to work on it in private until spring. I like to think of it as one-on-one improv.

One other thought is to try and start my own stand up open mic. Not sure if there is room for a second, or even where to do it, but more stage time would benefit everyone. Something to look into at least. I have four more months living out of town so it's not like I won't have the time to look into it.

The second thing I am doing is rethinking what I am going to do. I've gotten advice from four people that I have been considering. The two guys both said I should slow things down. Which I guess could just be nerves getting the better of me. So hopefully more speaking practice will help there. From the ladies it's, “be kind” and “punch up not down”. Which has been food for thought. I'm debating setting aside what I have so far and just trying to start with this in mind. In the few attempts I have made, I tried jokes, making up stories and just telling ones I've been part of. I found where I am the most comfortable and how I prepare the best. Now I just have to get more focused on what I want to say.

I have some ideas, we'll see how they go.