November 98

Nov 5 - Blackthorn Tavern

Very funny show. I didn't perform though. I need to start up again in front of an easier crowd. I accidently took a month off from comedy. It wasn't planned, it just happened that way. Work became a hassle and there was a bunch of stuff going on in my real life. I kept planning to do shows all month, but things kept popping up, or I was just too tired from work, or I was in Iowa burying another in-law. But now I have a new job. One that should be less taxing on my creative juices. As opposed to procreative juices, but that's another story entirely. So I'm starting up again. I'm going to try to do a show or two on Saturday, and then the Luggage Store on Tuesday. I'll let you know how it goes.
 

Nov 6 - Thoughts on the SF Comedy Competition

I watched the finals on TV and for the most part it sucked. The show itself was well produced and looked at least as good as most of the stand-up shows on Comedy Central. I want to thank UPN44 for airing the show. The problem I have is with the comedians. Anyone who knows me, knows I laugh loudly at anything remotely funny. Aside from one comedian and Will Durst, the host, I wasn't doing much laughing.
 
First my pet peeve; All of the comedians on the show were white males. I know the majority of comedians are white males, but not all of them are.
 
Will Durst said during the show that the comedians are judging seven categories, but didn't tell us what those categories were. Apparently none of them have to do with how funny you are. And I'm not talking about just how much I laughed, the audience wasn't laughing at most of these guys either. I was keeping track of a few metrics myself though. Most didn't seem to show any trends, but one scary trend did appear. The comedians finished in order of whoever used the most racial or sexual slurs. Apparently this was also one of judging criteria.
 
Another judging criteria that I imagine was used was relative commercial potential. Any of the finalists could be working in sitcoms tomorrow. They all have the right look, the right attitude of what is expected of a stand-up turned sitcom star. But is marketability really something we should be looking at? This formula excludes a huge body of very funny comedians.
 
I should mention that the one comedian I laughed at was Scott Silverman. Who also happens to be the only SF comedian in the finals. Did a very funny and very honest routine about himself and his life. He finished fourth.
 

Nov 8 - Java N More

A little rough from being away from performing for so long. All the usual mistakes, but I had some good material about my trips, and pretty good energy.
 

Nov 11 - Luggage Store

A managed to offend quite a few people with an ad-lib about blow-jobs. Very good energy, I got to pace before the show. A few bits were rough, but overall a good step towards getting my stage presence back.
 

Nov 28 - Java N More

Check out the TUX! I got it at a church rummage sale for $11.00. The shirt cost me $15 and the tie cost me $17. This is the first time I EVER enjoyed getting dressed up. At first I was wearing the tux mostly as a joke, but I noticed a few things. When you're on stage wearing a tux you get instant attention. There is no need to try to grab the audience, because they are already watching you. My set was a bit ragged though. I didn't have anything thought out, and relied on the tux for most of the jokes. I think it would be even funnier if I didn't mention the tux at all.
 

Nov 28 - Java Source

Two shows in one night, but my heart wasn't really in this one. I don't like the Java Source very much as a place to perform, and was mostly doing it to kill time before I had to pick my sister up at the airport.