Few more weeks, not many shows

Still not many shows, performing, or writing. Last Wednesday I did the Store. Once again it was really slow, but I felt I did really well with what I had to work with. I did some self deprecating things that worked. I was working, and felt after the show I'd get a few people say they enjoyed my set, but no such luck. Friday was Winston's. I didn't feel great about my set. The entire crowd knew each other and weren't really a fan of me. I couldn't really gain any traction. Oh well. This past week I have been working nights, as I will next week. I was supposed to do the Store on Thursday but called out. I just didn't feel like going in, and just wanted to hang at my apartment with a lady. Friday was Winston's. It was our reunion show from the mini tour we did last summer. I put my self up first out of the 4 as I knew I wouldn't have anyone there for me. My set was weird. They weren't a typical Winston's crowd. I may have been too dirty, but I just couldn't connect with them. It was pretty annoying. Saturday I did a charity show at 5 PM that I was asked to headline. I still am thrilled to be asked to do longer sets. The crowd was somewhat small and spread out. It's always weird performing when it is still light out. There was a drunk lady that had been somewhat of an issue throughout the show. She was basically yelling with her back turned when I started. Luckily she left. The manager for whatever reason sat a group of six that were there for the 730 show but wanted to eat dinner beforehand. They were talking and going over the menu. I can't really be mad at them as they weren't expecting the show, but the manager should never have sat them in there. Also, there was a man in the middle of the crowd asleep. ASLEEP!! At 6 PM. Comedy's great. Anyways I did a lot of riffing, and a few jokes. I did around 25 minutes. I was very happy with it. It's always nice to do a good amount of time, in an environment where all signs point to failure, and I can turn it into something pretty good. I wish I would have recorded it.

Couple weeks in the books

Last week I did the Store on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday was a bringer show, so they are the by far the easiest, best crowds to perform for. They were actually ahead of time, as there wasn't as many comics and they were doing shorter sets. I was able to do a 5 minute pop in spot. I mean this crowd was almost too easy. Every joke got a huge applause break and it almost through off the timing/ flow of my set. Had people come up after saying I was the best and I did 25 minutes less than the headliner. Thursday was the Store again. Crowd not nearly as hot. There was maybe 15 or so people. I went up 3rd or so after 2 not the best openers. I felt by the end I opened the crowd up and had a decent set. Friday I was co headlining Winston's. I've been putting myself on once a month for a couple reasons. One, if people are not people me on their shows, why would I give the money and 15 minutes on my show. Second, I was enjoying comedy so why not do more time. Lastly, if I think they won't bring anybody there's no sense booking them. My set went well. I planned to do new jokes, but I opened so strong I just wanted to have a solid 15 minute set. I believe I did so. This week was slow. I did the Store on Wednesday. Once again a pretty small crowd. But they were supportive. I had trouble reaching the energy and big laughs from the middle of my set and didn't end as strong as I would have hoped but oh well. The comic after me tours and is on last comic standing and she did much worse than me which is always a nice feeling I suppose. Friday I did Winston's and it was rough. There was a good amount of people, but I just didn't have a good set. Maybe my energy was off or something. The comic after me did bring a good amount of the crowd and they were a lil chatty and anxious to see him. I just didn't do well, even though a couple gals said I did. Who knows. Sadly my love for comedy that I had a few weeks back has dwindled. I haven't been writing or performing as much. Sucks. I know I have to work some evenings in the next couple weeks so maybe after that I will be able to bounce back. Who knows. At this point I don't know if I'll ever move to NYC.

Week in review

Wednesday and Thursday was the Store. Wednesday was a fun set, don't remember anything really specific. I riffed off what the comic before we said, but that's all I really remember. Thursday was a late night set. I hadn't gone up that late in a little while. There was a few pop ins and I ended up going up 40 minutes after I was scheduled. The comic before me did around 20 minutes and did this long closing bit mixing singers and their lyrics. It's really old and been on tv. It interesting when I asked if there was any single women, there was a good response. Normally, earlier in the night I got nothing. I think it has to do with the people not really knowing what heckling means. But as they get a little drunker they feel they can be more apart of the show. Friday was Winston's. We had a co headliner from L.A. that I worked out with a dude for him to pay her. I hate these shows as I don't feel in control. She was supposed to do 20 and when I asked when she wanted the light, she said 25. Oh ok. She was pretty high energy and funny. She couldn't get much momentum, and actually got off the stage. It's a bar show, and it's tough. My set was ok. I butchered the comic's name I brought up next. I felt bad but she clearly was annoyed. Oh well. I had a friend in town that hadn't seen me so I decided to do jokes I knew worked, but it was still meh.

Few more shows in the books

Finally off nights so got some sets in. Last week I was only able to do Winston's. It was pretty busy. The show was set up a little differently. I booked one headliner and had him pick 3 features. I had never seen any of them but they had some friends which is always good. I was working on new material with some old stuff sprinkled in. I remember doing pretty well and having a few people give me a thumbs up. Tuesday I grinded 3 mics as it was my 6 yr comedy anniversary. I started at the Comedy Palace, I hadn't performed on that open mic since I stopped teaching the class 6 or so months ago. I was a little worried as the manager had been hounding me about some paperwork. Luckily he avoided me as he the most passive person I've ever met. I basically just worked on some added material I added to the Home Depot joke. It went ok. I closed with a one liner, it went meh. Next set was at Lestat's where I was doing 10 to 12. I should truthfully have been able to do more. The show only had 4 people on it, with 2 doing 5-7. But whatever, I planned my set out and stuck to it which I rarely do. I messed up one of my first closer and pepppered out. I closed strong and have to say it was a decent set. Next was headlining Til Two. It was a strange show as a few of the comics were gay and the entire audience was gay males. Can't say I've ever performed out front of just men in the crowd, but all gay men was interesting. I did as best as I could. I guy after said I was funny and told me I should talk about Steven King when I talk about Maine. Oh ok. Thursday I did the Comedy Store. They were a pretty low energy, small crowd. I kind of had fun with it, and was extra self depricating. I wouldn't say I did great. But strangely after the show, 2 seperate groups of people said I was their favorite. Which is rare, and sometimes I do feel I do the best, but I didn't expect to hear it that night. It's always nice to be complimented, esp. when it's unexpected. Friday was Winston's. My set started off a little weird as I was co headlining, but the feature I went up after A. bombed very hard and B. brought most of the crowd. It's been awhile since I've seen someone have that many people support him and do that poorly. Anyways when I got up they were all talking. i kinda addressed it, but just plowed through, after a minute or two they weren't as loud. I wouldn't say I did great, but powered through some new jokes and had a decent time with the set.

Headlining Til Two open mic

Well I went up last at least. I swung by after work. I had been driving past it every Sunday night and just not doing it. I forced myself to go up for 2 reasons, the only night I can go up this week is Friday at Winston's as I'm working every night and I wrote 3 new jokes yesterday. There was about 5 comics in the room. I checked in with the host and there was only 2 people ahead of me, so I signed up and went to my car and put together a set list. The host who I've never really spoken to was also doing sound. So he brings me up then has to run back and turn the music on. Very strange. He butchered my name, which hasn't happened in many years. I opened with a few porn jokes which is a little weird as the host is a former porn star. First one does well, second, not so much. New jokes hit pretty well, although I was doing the last one, and the host started playing the music. It really threw me off, he said it was accidental, but honestly how do you accidentally turn music on. Anyways, I bailed on that joke, and tried my new merbutler joke, which got a decent laugh. I'll likely keep swinging by if I have new stuff to work on. I'm looking forward to not have to work every night.

Fun night at Winston's

Crowd was much lighter than last week, but they were attentive and enjoying the show. I worked on some new jokes, and did one of my old jokes as requested by a comic who was moving the next day. I felt a little off throughout the set. I don't know if it was from the booze or just working too much. I messed up a few words, and made up a few words. One mess up kinda helped me as I was able to get a new tag out of it (parmesean a pigion). Anyways, sadly I have to work every night this week too, so I'm going to have to take advantage of my time at Winston's on Friday.

Started off being booed

Well last night was interesting. There was a pretty good/ young crowd. They all looked the same. They basically were all punk kids, all there for one or two people. This can be challenging. I was at 1st supposed to go up right after the main act of the night who was doing 15 minutes. That can always be weird when everyone is doing 6-8 minutes then someone does a lot more time. This wasn't the case as we had a lot of pop ins for big ole L.A. One of them being Dat Phan. I've seen him around town a lot lately. He's a very intense person. Constantly pacing and on his phone. Last night he was passing out Snickers ice cream bars. Anyways. The comic before me closed with a "joke" about a parent being happy their mentally challenged child got killed in a school shooting. So, as he says my name as he's starring at a piece of paper, a woman started booing. He was the host of the L.A. Comedy Store when I did it a few years back. Told the audience the open mic comics didn't have souls, feel free to throw things at us, boo, etc. So he's not the most professional, funny comic. But he is a paid regular in Hollywood, which makes me question comedy in general. I somewhat get being a dick as host of an open mic, but how can you not at least remember my first name. He bragged about spelling my name out phonetically, when I told him just to say my first name. Well after having a really subpar set, he takes out a piece of paper and just said my first name. Pretty bad. Anyways, I acknowledged the booing and she said she was booing the comic before me. I just said, you should follow him and boo in his face. She was drunk, but it was kind of funny to see her complaining to the door guy almost an hour later about how offensive and bad he was. My set went pretty well considering. The manager went in to watch which is very rare. I always feel an added pressure when he is in there to do jokes that I know work. But after I did some old shit, I transitioned into some new stuff to close. They all did pretty well. I closed with a newer joke that got a slight applause break which is always good. I was going to do my race track closer, but when that joke his pretty well, I didn't feel like running the light. The show went kinda long with all the pop ins, but I was still happy to be there. I even hung out a little bit after to chat with a couple comics. I really wanted to go up again. Sadly I have to work tonight and won't be able to go up. Have to wait until tomorrow night.