So, you know how when you go a long while without writing a blog post, you dread the inevitable return post where you have to acknowledge how long you’ve been gone? And you put it off and put it off until you realize your blog has gone another two weeks with no update just because you hated the thought of writing that return post? Yeah. Can we just pretend that I’ve written that one already? Thanks.
So here it is, 2008, and while I’m generally not a believer in New Year’s Resolutions (or as I like to call them, “Picking a day to set yourself up for failure and self-loathing”), this year it seemed appropriate to set some goals in January. Why? Because my first-ever actual club gig is this very weekend, at Magooby’s.
Because while I wasn’t updating my blog, I WAS rocking it out at Magooby’s new talent competition. While I didn’t win, I did do well enough to be invited to emcee a weekend of shows, and be paid a sum of money that is not only greater than $0, but is also greater than the amount of money I will spend on gas getting there and back. So this is a very exciting time in my nascent comedy career. Note that this is less than one year since I started comedy (I walked into my first session of Matt Kazam’s class on February 10th, 2007), so I am choosing to take this as validation that not only am I funny, but I am actually talented and have the potential to take this comedy thing further than an endless string of open mic nights.
Which reminds me: Should you be in the area and inclined to come see me, the shows are Friday and Saturday, January 11th and 12th, at 8:00 and 10:15 both nights. The headliner is John Knight and the guest is David Kaye. Cover is $12.
Where was I? Oh yeah, setting comedy goals in light of getting a real gig. Okay, so, my comedy goals for 2008 are behind the jump.
Goal #1: Pursue non open mic stage time. Open mics are great, and I will continue to do them. But I’ve got about 15 minutes of material now, and ideas for lots more. I don’t have to prove to myself that I’m good at this- I only have to prove it to others.
Goal #2: Promote local comedy weekly at Metroblogging DC. I have a writing commitment to that site to begin with, and I think the local comedy scene is one of DC’s best kept secrets. I don’t really have the time or patience to start my own showcase like Jake is doing, but I do have access to a pretty well-read local blog to promote the showcases of others. Besides that, I’m quickly discovering that some of my favorite comics are local ones most people have never heard of. Time to bring the pimpage. This will also mean attending more local comedy.
Goal #3: Pursue my comedy efforts a minimum of 15 minutes per day. Fifteen minutes isn’t much, but the idea is to get myself thinking about it daily, not just when I have time, and not just when I have stage time coming up.
