(why I’m doing stand-up)
I am a story-teller, I’ve decided. I write and tell stories.
And you know, read, think about and discuss them. I write and tell in different
formats and situations and I enjoy the process. But I wonder, is there
something that I am better at than another? Should I really try to focus on one
area? Or jump around as the project, timing and opportunities present
themselves? How to know? I decided to devise an experiment.
I think I’m hilarious. But when am I funniest and how best
to be funny? And why even bother trying to figure it out? Well, because I added
“do open-mic stand-up comedy” to my “things to do in my year of 50” list. Since
I was already thinking about it, I figured why not use comedy to test if I
should focus, or jump around. It’s not a fool-proof test, but there will be data,
experiences, feedback, stuff to analyze. Something’s gonna happen.
I’ve got a rough routine. I wrote it as a humor piece and
submitted it to McSweeney’s Internet Tendency on 10/7. We’ll see what happens.
I’m editing this piece here about my intentions and will post it to my blog right
before I walk over to do my first stand-up open-mic. I will put it here so it
has a place to be and to document my intentions in advance. Keeps me honest. I
will walk over with or meet friends at Bishop’s Lounge. One of them will tape
it. I will post my video to YouTube. I will link to video and essay in my
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Something’s gonna happen.
Then really, whatever happens, I get to interpret it.
If I loved doing stand-up, receive a warm response and my friends liked it – I
will try again. What if I hate live performance and bomb, but my written humor
is accepted by Internet Tendency – then I will try to do more written humor
pieces. Maybe the response and feelings are equal – then I jump around. So I
have a date, a crew, and something to say. Then just see what happens. It’s all
learning. It’s all equal. All outcomes are the right outcomes.
