Last week, I headed up for an open mic. Prior I had to
amazing killer sets back to back and I suppose I got over confident. Instead of
taking the material that I know works well and adding a bit here and there new,
I tried to go 30% old and 70% new.
What wrong approach that was. The reason the bits that kill
do well is because I’ve had the opportunity in Hamilton to do a number of sets
and work them out. Coming up cold at this venue with all this new stuff was
just not finding its groove. The lights were shining in my eyes and I couldn’t
see anyone, and the audience was very non-responsive (not just with me but
almost all the comics). Nonetheless, it was the antithesis of the week prior.
The other part is that in Toronto, the edgy stuff is what
works for me. I know I have to come up with clean material. But to be myself,
is to be “out there” with crazy material. Perhaps the rest will come in time.
But I got to go where my heart is with the humour, and that means either dirty
or dark. That’s me folks.
The fact I couldn’t see anyone, and the quiet I got all
freaked out. Why aren’t they laughing crazy like the week before? I could feel
my voice cranking up higher, and the exact opposite of the theory of improv
(say yes to everything) I shut down saying “No!!!!” and then it was a matter of
just getting through it.
On the upside the first part of the set was working, I had
them laughing.
In the meanwhile, I signed up for improv. Besides being a
very fun night out, it’s great help training the mind to not be in the mode of
over thinking everything, such as preparing for a set, and being in the moment
and freeing the voice that holds ourselves back saying, “no …..”
They say if you get thrown off, get right back on. This week
I have three sets lined up. Ironically, I was feeling frustrated as to how the
hell am I going to get a set in Toronto with so many comics that I ended up
three places, including The Flying Beaver.
Needless to say is that I feel anxious to pull off another
good set. So let's break a leg tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment