Cat N'Fiddle Coming up.

I’m back in Hamilton for the final night at the Cat N’ Fiddle’s open mic for this season as summer approaches.

It’s been a great place to get to know other comics and work out new comic kinks, which I’m sure will be a never ending process. I have several friends out in Hamilton who are comics, one of which has a room. The comedy community is smaller and much more accessible. And, coming from Toronto, I always find it very cool when actual strangers talk to me!

In Hamilton, I pushed myself to be “out there” by talking about my having done porn and my stint as an escort. It’s an easy salacious place to grab people’s attention and stand out. I’m still constantly shocking my mother at the age of 46, so it’s safe to say I have lot’s to draw upon for comedy. My latest mom shock was disclosing that I’m becoming Jewish (rich material there).

I may be new to comedy, but I’m not new to life. Now a former AIDS advocate, I’ve been featured (along with a couple other people) in a documentary, done tons of media work and public speaking, even worked as a corporate trainer, travelled extensively. Who knew a lot of this was great training for stand-up.

After my second set at Spirits as the fundraising dare (which killed by the way, it was more than I could have ever dreamed of as I was quite terrified to do it). When I went to a different Toronto room hosted by the same person as Spirits I totally geeked out, meaning neurotic and shy. “I can’t go up and say hi, she’s talking with the comics, I can’t interrupt. I’ve only done two sets, I don’t want to be a really needy overzealous wanna be comic.  I was completely intimidated. The really shy quiet kid in me comes out at the worst of time. 

Being in Hamilton helped me overcome some of that initial, “Ahhh what am I doing here??”

Since my gay gig at Woody’s (which ended with me mooning the crowd while taking off my bathing suit to auction off…..It’s a much longer post for another time) I’m starting to feel more confident. 

I will be though declaring a moratorium on bending over in front of crowds again in Hamilton tomorrow night.

Now I have set my sights on the Toronto scene, and I feel that geeky side coming out again. 

To counter that I’m attending as many open mics I can to get to know the rooms and start networking. When I watch comics performing, I remember that I've been on plenty of stages and I can do this.