As a kid, I was bombarded with morbid humor. My mother told me Challenger jokes the first week after it exploded. I heard about death at the dinner table as my mother regaled us with tales of open heart surgeries gone awry, blood splashing in copious amounts, or tapeworms that emerged like snakes from the small intestine. Humor has always been a part of my life – it’s my defense mechanism, it’s my way of dealing with difficulties in life, and it’s my way of making friends.
I’ve always prided myself on my ability to make people laugh. Whether it’s at my own expense or not, getting a chuckle, guffaw, or even a smile makes it all worthwhile. It’s also an area where my confidence is constantly lacking. My other traits are ones where I’m rock solid. I know I’m intelligent, a great friend, and charismatic. But I constantly need reassurance that I’m funny. Maybe it’s because it’s a more objective concept, but even though I know that I can’t make everyone laugh all the time, I want to so badly! My blog has become a place for me to try new ideas and to attempt to wring comedy from every dark corner of the universe. Recently, though, I’ve been wanting more – I have been wanting another way to showcase my humor. I’m so terrified of rejection, of failing, of not being funny, that I really needed something to push me to try.
Last night, after dinner at P.F. Chang’s, I got that something I needed for that push. And I think I’m going to face my fears and plan for something I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time.
I think I’m going to do stand up comedy.
For Tanis
Hiatus
I’m thankful for you.
Twitter: Blogography
says:
Avitaballing the world… one joke at a time!
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@Dave2, that’s the plan!
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Twitter: kirstenl4w
says:
If your blog is anything to go by, then you will be great as a stand-up comic. And please post videos here to test out your material – I don’t want to wait until you’re headlining Vegas to see your act!
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@Kirsten, I probably will. Maybe. I don’t know.
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Good for you
You should do it. I’m glad you’ve gotten your push.
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@Cri, I’ve been itching to do it for a while, too.
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At least if you get on stage and dry heave a whole bunch we know it will be funny.
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@Clown, that’s true. Maybe that will just be the entire act.
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Twitter: Amanda234
says:
Good for you!
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@Amanda, thanks.
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Twitter: Zakary
says:
You should always listen to your food. Amen.
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@Zak, agreed! My eggs are telling me to strip naked and run through the neighborhood. I’m off.
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Twitter: ellemmes
says:
I’m really happy that you’re following your dreams! I can’t wait to see your act!
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@Lisa, well, it’s kind of a nightmare. The thought of it terrifies me.
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Twitter: http://whall.org/blog
says:
Surely you can’t be serious…
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@whall, I am serious and please don’t call me Shirley.
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nice!
I find it’s never wrong to make life decisions based on obscure advice I get from dessert pastries.
Like that time I left my wife and kids to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.
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@Gav, I heard about those years. You were a hit!
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Twitter: debthaxton
says:
–>Fantastic!
I always stick with just adding….”Between the sheets” after reading my fortunes.
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@WebSavvyMom, I’ve always used “in bed”.
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I love your mom.
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@Jules, yeah, she’s mellowed a bit since then, but that sense of humor scarred me forever. In a good way.
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This doesn’t even remotely shock me or surprise me. Do it!
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@Sybil Law, I plan on it.
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Twitter: poppycede
says:
You totally should, you’re very funny.
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@Poppy, thank you.
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It sure seems like the next natural step from here! And whether it comes from divine intervention or dinner special #9 matters not (channeling Yoda). All that does is that you recognize it for what it is. The push you needed! Now go tear it up! Just don’t forget us!
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@SisterMerryHellish, oh the blog will always be my primary focus!
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Twitter: perpstu
says:
Good for you! If the fortune cookie says it shall be, it shall be. You’ll be amazing, I’m sure!
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@Karin, fortune cookies never lie.
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Fuck thats brave. No bother to you though, your a funny chap.
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@J from Ireland, yeah, I’m terrified.
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I thought you already did standup, like in high school or something. Or am I thinking of someone else? You’re the Asian chick, right?
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@Grant, I did, for a talent competition, but that’s all.
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Go-go gadget humor! I hope you have great success.
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@crisi-tunity, me too.
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Twitter: tlkaply
says:
DO IT DO IT DO IT! Remember, too, that the risk is always proportionate to the gain. I await your further adventures with interest.
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@Tracy Lynn, thanks.
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Aha! I will offer you the same WHOO-HOO along with a little advice, as, uh, some of my best friends are stand ups. (And I have written comedy for a living.)
Start watching a shitload of comedy. Stand up is way more than being funny.Watch the comics you like, the comics you hate, watch the same bits told in different performances.
Go see a bunch of stand-up (natch.)
Carry the notebook for bits/funny schtuff (you may do this already.)
Some comedy clubs/improv groups have classes. These are hit and miss, but the plus is that there’s stage time (doing stand up in your living room is waaaaay different than doing it on stage.)
Follow comedians on Twitter. They’re not always funny (people gotta tweet about their breakfasts, yo) but it’s a unique bit of perspective (I worship at the altar of @PFTompkins, @julieklausner @BillCorbett & @SaraJBenincasa. Some people at earlyish part of the process are @apey @genegeorge and @branwell. YMMV.)
If you want baby steps, start broadcasting. Having a live show with a camera in your face and time to fill is still a “safe space” (minus the Ustream haters who think you suck. (Not YOUyou.) (I mean me.))
Comedy podcasts! Go Superego go, Comedy Death Ray, blah blah blah. (Podcasting = another way to get out there and build your material.)
/advice mode off
Good luck! xo!
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@Nina the slackmistress, thank you for the advice – it’s really helpful. I’ve grown up watching tons of stand-up and idolizing people like Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Sam Kinison, Mitch Hedberg, Steven Wright, and Louis CK. I may email you later for input, if that’s okay?
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@Avitable Totally!
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I would totally be there if I still lived in that half the world! I think you’ll make the masses piss themselves laughing. Maybe even blow alcoholic beverages out of their noses. You are just that good!!
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@Tiffany, thanks for the vote of confidence.
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Twitter: rachael1013
says:
Awesome! Good for you! Can’t wait to hear all about how it goes.
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@Rachael, oh, I’m sure I’ll be telling everyone!
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Twitter: an_bhean
says:
I’ll expect lots of updates, and hopefully some video clips as you progress in this project. I think you’ll be excellent!
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@Robin, thank you.
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Twitter: themuskrat
says:
Awesome! I’ve seen some acts that preceded the headliner that I knew for a fact I could outperform, and since I’m only funny to myself, I’m certain you could do it!
Doug Lewis at Taunt Vortex went from practicing medicine to blogging to doing standup out in TX and loves it…some of his videos are on YouTube, and he’s actually pretty good, I think. His blog is here: http://tauntvortex.blogspot.com/ (though he rarely writes now, saving it for the stage instead).
One of the videos is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e2wpP7dJi4
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Twitter: themuskrat
, August 29th, 2010: 8:59 PM
@Muskrat, This one of Doug’s better in terms of content: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptS3CIHvsAw
You should do it!
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@Muskrat, cool- thanks. I’ll check those out.
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Twitter: mooshinindy
says:
I hear there’s one of them reality tv shows about funny people!
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@moosh in indy., I don’t know if I’d want to do that, though. Scary!
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Twitter: Faiqa
says:
I think you’d be great. I’d pay money to see you. But, I’m kind of bad with money when it comes to stuff like that. But, still. I think you’d be great.
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@Faiqa, heh. Smartass.
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But will you get a dry erase board to bring on the stage? Because that would be epic. You must have a way to accompany the drawings.
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@Traci, I don’t know if the drawings would make it.
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I’m so proud of you! It’s rough, for sure. And it takes a lot of stick-to-it-iveness but I know you’ll be amazing.
Check to see if there are some local classes down there you can get in on. Stand-up, Storytelling, Improv, Sketch, whatever. It will all help.
So so proud.
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@Lora, thank you, and those are good ideas!
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*chanting* Avitable! Avitable!
Last Comic Standing… just sayin’..
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@beccasaun84, I think I’d rather work locally for a bit doing it before doing a reality show.
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Twitter: elizabethbarone
says:
Cool beans. I say go for it!
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