Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Thank You

I wish it was something more profound. But "thank you" just about covers it. It'd be more powerful if this blog were a big white space like a snow covered field with those two words in the center, challenging you to think of anything more appropriate outside of those words, but it's not that way.

Thanks to everyone that said I was funny. Thanks to everyone that came to a show to see me perform. Thanks to my fiance for putting up with me while I lived out a childhood dream. Thanks to all the other comics I met and had fun with on the way. Thanks to all the clubs that gave me 5 to 30 minutes to make people laugh. And mostly, thanks for the laughs. A momentary hiccup of breathing that happens almost by accident for some, but it meant the world to me.

Thank you.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Not Too Bad, But It Could Have Been Better

I had been saying all along that I didn't care if I went through and won the competition, and that wasn't a lie. Up until a couple of days ago. Somewhere along the lines, it got in my head that I did want to win it. All through the couple days leading up to the show, the thought kept running through my head "This is my competition to lose". I'm not sure if that's what took me out of last night or not, but I can tell you this, I was disappointed.

And I wasn't disappointed that I didn't win. My real problem was that I had gotten so wrapped up in it, that I didn't have the best set I could. My material was fine, but I was a bit rushed, and I was very nervous last night. More so that I usually get. Also there were some mic problems that were affecting me, which didn't seem to happen to anybody else, but that could be because of the odd way I hold the mic. I can't be sure if it was the anticipation of the show, or hearing less than desirable news at the doctor's office, but something had my nerves up pretty good last night. But it's behind me now and I'm a bit relieved that I don't have to go through that anymore. I know those all sound like excuses, and I'm not saying it would have been different had everything gone perfectly. It probably wouldn't have, I'm just painting a picture from my perspective.

Congrats go out of course to Timmy Brochu, Chuck Sanborn, and Renee Wright for moving on to next week's finals. I wish you luck, because I probably won't be there to see the show. It was fun while it lasted, and I wish everyone luck in the competition.

One really cool thing that came out of last night was a story I heard in the "green room" before the show that cheered me up. Ian Harvey had left Portland a few months back to head out to L.A. to hone her/his craft. Working in a niche demographic of gay/lesbian humor, she got taken on by Margaret Cho to open shows for her. She told me that she's always talking about different jokes that her friends back in Maine tell, and she told Margaret Cho my "Douchebag (Dowshbag)" joke. I asked if she liked the joke, and she said she almost pissed herself. I can't be really sure if she liked it really that much but it was still a cool story to hear. To think that my little joke in little old Portland Maine, made it to Cho's ears, who makes scratch for being a professional and made an impression, well that was the cat's pajamas.

I do appreciate all of the people that did come out to support me, and I apologize that it wasn't my best work. I've done better and I'll do better again. Comedy isn't easy, and it isn't an exact science either. You try and learn and move on. With that said. I'll be back on the little stage in front of the bricks again on May 13th. I'll be hosting that night and plan on having some fun with the crowd. We'll see if it goes well or poorly, but either way, you'll be able to read about it on the 14th.