This sounds super exciting and this definitely sounds like a 'yes' that you will not regret (spoken confidently, as a stranger, who also has no experience in comedy. Anyway.)!
No no no, it's a win-win! If you do it and it goes poorly, at ~some~ point down the line you'll be proud you've done it regardless. (And you can write about it here!) And if you do it and it goes well, then, great!
Also, in case of really REALLY bad nerves the relief of having it over with will render the actual outcome of the performance irrelevant... you just gotta cross your fingers you never see anyone in the audience ever again haha
That’s impressive, man. I don’t think a lot of people would have the guts to do it again. It’s awesome that you’re going for it. (Maybe bring some of that talc that gymnasts use.)
Wow! I'll keep an eye open for Deric Cahill's work and hopefully see you in it! You are a funny guy! And BTW, you got the lucky break when you met your wife!
Great story. I quit stand up after one night at the Ice House. I killed but poor stupid me wanted to do theatre. When will you be in Seattle?? I want to come.
We had a Substack meet up a few months ago. See if Tom Pendergast is available or Holly Starley, Jenn Zug, or Christine Castigliano. I forgot the other names.
Exciting! It’s cool that you’re pushing yourself to do it when you initially didn’t want to. I suspect you’ll be glad you did. Hope you kill out there!
Thanks, Chris. The first time I got on stage, I was so nervous that when I was done, I handed back what the host called the "sweatiest microphone anyone has ever given" her. I had a major phobia of public speaking.
Of course, after years of getting on stage, that went away, to the point that I actually remember sometimes being bored. But if I went too long between shows, the butterflies would come back.
So now it's been ten years. I've been away from comedy longer than I did it.
I hope so. Multitasking is actually my biggest concern. Well, no, writing standup after so much time away is actually my biggest concern. I'll have to rewire my brain.
I started a humor blog in 2005, which I enjoyed and it had mild success. I started standup in 2008 and found that it became difficult to blog. It's a different kind of writing than standup, and at the time I was using all my processing power on writing for the stage.
So now, after ten years of only writing for "print", I gotta switch again. I think for a lot of people this is no problem at all, but for me it's like rebuilding an engine.
I thoroughly Get it. The transition connectors get sticky and it sometimes takes a hammer to knock one piece out for a bit so the other can be crowbar-ed out of the corner.
This sounds super exciting and this definitely sounds like a 'yes' that you will not regret (spoken confidently, as a stranger, who also has no experience in comedy. Anyway.)!
It’s basically a no-win situation. If I do it I’ll be so nervous before my stage time I’ll be asking me “why am I doing this to myself?”
If I don’t do it I’ll be asking myself “WHY AM I PASSING THIS UP?!?”
No no no, it's a win-win! If you do it and it goes poorly, at ~some~ point down the line you'll be proud you've done it regardless. (And you can write about it here!) And if you do it and it goes well, then, great!
Also, in case of really REALLY bad nerves the relief of having it over with will render the actual outcome of the performance irrelevant... you just gotta cross your fingers you never see anyone in the audience ever again haha
Yeah this is a win win. If you fail, at least you tried. If you succeed then you get to do it more!
That’s impressive, man. I don’t think a lot of people would have the guts to do it again. It’s awesome that you’re going for it. (Maybe bring some of that talc that gymnasts use.)
Hahaha…hey, if it’ll get a laugh
Wow! I'll keep an eye open for Deric Cahill's work and hopefully see you in it! You are a funny guy! And BTW, you got the lucky break when you met your wife!
Thanks! I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, except maybe my work ethic…
Great story. I quit stand up after one night at the Ice House. I killed but poor stupid me wanted to do theatre. When will you be in Seattle?? I want to come.
5/9 at the Laughs Comedy Club, which is the most uninteresting club name I’ve ever heard of.
I hope you come! I’m only doing a guest spot, but with hordes of people coming to see Deric it’d be nice for someone to come see me. 😂
Dang. I’m flying to Boston that day. How long will you be in town?
I think we’re leaving the next morning, though we don’t have a show until the 11th in Portland. Damn I’d love to finally meet another Substacker
We had a Substack meet up a few months ago. See if Tom Pendergast is available or Holly Starley, Jenn Zug, or Christine Castigliano. I forgot the other names.
Exciting! It’s cool that you’re pushing yourself to do it when you initially didn’t want to. I suspect you’ll be glad you did. Hope you kill out there!
Thanks, Chris. The first time I got on stage, I was so nervous that when I was done, I handed back what the host called the "sweatiest microphone anyone has ever given" her. I had a major phobia of public speaking.
Of course, after years of getting on stage, that went away, to the point that I actually remember sometimes being bored. But if I went too long between shows, the butterflies would come back.
So now it's been ten years. I've been away from comedy longer than I did it.
Yeah, I think I'll be a little nervous.
This makes my heart happy. And, yeah, also makes me smile.
You're pretty good at doing both at the same time.
💫
I hope so. Multitasking is actually my biggest concern. Well, no, writing standup after so much time away is actually my biggest concern. I'll have to rewire my brain.
I started a humor blog in 2005, which I enjoyed and it had mild success. I started standup in 2008 and found that it became difficult to blog. It's a different kind of writing than standup, and at the time I was using all my processing power on writing for the stage.
So now, after ten years of only writing for "print", I gotta switch again. I think for a lot of people this is no problem at all, but for me it's like rebuilding an engine.
Or maybe I'm just trying to freak myself out.
I thoroughly Get it. The transition connectors get sticky and it sometimes takes a hammer to knock one piece out for a bit so the other can be crowbar-ed out of the corner.
Let me know if you find an easier way.