It's been about a month since my last blog, I apologize to the 8 people that read it. You can just email me if you miss my insight that much.
I worked the Baltimore Comedy Factory December 21st - 23rd on what they were calling their ''Christmas Party''. It was probably the worst week I ever had there. Jon Mumma did a pretty good job of describing the shows in his blog if you want to read about it. I don't like to get in the habit of making excuses when shows don't go well, but this was the weirdest week I've ever worked in any club. Fights broke out, people were being removed left and right, a woman turned a guest set into a hostage situation, comedians were falling off the stage and I actually walked on stage to close a show at 1:30 am.
I love the Factory and I love the people there. It's my home club. I've had some of my best sets there, but this week exhausted me. I've said this before, comedy is my therapy. I do it to because it makes me feel good. When it doesn't, I need to make changes. I decided I needed a break. Not so much from comedy, but from the type of comedy that keeps me from enjoying myself. One nighters in a restaurant, synagogues, warming up Lottery shows, etc...
My next show was a New Year's eve gig at Tracey's in Baltimore with Mickey Cucchiella. I walked on stage about 10:20. I walked off about 10:40. Sorry Mick. Again, very, very, mediocre. So now I'm feeling even worse and my next gig is a pool hall in Laurel. The exact type of gig I promised to stop doing, but I already committed so...
Of course, irony of ironies the pool hall pulled me out of my funk. It's not that I destroyed, but I basically had a really solid set following 3 comics who completely ate a shaft. Then, the comic that followed me took a massive dump on the stage. The show was closed by Rob Maher who also did well, but the point is that I did well in a room where everything was going against me. Comedy is an enigma. A bipolar, schizophrenic mistress. It is our job to control her. I did at her craziest. I love comedy again.
This week I am at the DC Improv with Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlane. First three shows have gone really well. One crush, two solid sets, no flat spots, a handful of applause breaks.
I will say that Bonnie McFarlane is basically the
coolest 'name' comic that I've met since I've been back in the mix. Brutally honest, loves to talk shop, doesn't take herself too
seriously and doesn't talk down to semiconductor salesmen who emcee her shows. She also writes great jokes. I am not looking forward to next year when I come to one of her shows and she struggles to remember my name.
Rich Vos is also pretty cool, which came as a total shock since a bunch of people told me he was an asshole. He's not, he's just from New York.
At the end of December, I was invited, by the program director, to do a week of shows on 98 Rock. I'm pretty excited about this. I love doing radio. Basically, on radio, your job is to have an 8 minute conversation every half hour. It's probably what I do best. I have not been given my dates, who I am partnered with or any of the other details, but I will put it on my shows page as soon as I hear.
Justin Schlegel just got booked to do a tour of Canada. That's awesome. I'm wondering who will be the first local to ''make it''. Justin's got as good a shot as anyone. It is annoying that he is so cutting edge that he does a video blog, but it is so cutting edge that he can only put one out monthly.
I still haven't heard about my bus.
Last week, on two occasions, I heard a song come on the radio and I said, ''Wow, that's a good song!'' Both times I found out it was John Mayer.
I guess I'm gay.
I heard Opie and Anthony were talking about Kimbo on their radio show today. I'm such an innovator.
