Date: 15 April 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
I'm feeling really good. I opened with a pun that the audience adored. Things went a bit downhill from there, but I know that I have a solid joke that kills. This is promising.
A lot of it comes in getting people's attention. If you lose them at the start, nobody's going to pay attention because why bother? You haven't established yourself as someone worthy of attention. It's very harsh, but it's how things are: first impressions matter.
I tried to stick to the schtick I'd set up in my last post. FBI Intern hit a bit of a snag, but I think with sticking to my guns, I can make it funny again. I also tried to throw in some new material, which didn't go over as well as I'd hoped. There's a big gap between 'this is funny' and 'this is something I think is amusing' and that difference is that an idea that has potential isn't enough... I have to say what that potential is and define it. Once you claim the idea, it's yours.
That aside, I think I've got a little less work ahead of me. I've got some solid premises, and I really need to hit up more venues. Tomorrow I'm going to Tsunamedy. This should be fun.
Also, I have a fan! Phil, a guy who's been here for 3 weeks came up after my set and said he thought I was funny. Knowing that makes things a lot easier. I really need to start reaching out to other comics though.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
open mics 21 and 22
Date: 8 April 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
The sad thing about this room is how life-sucking it is. And yet, I did not bad. I feel like I was able to reach beyond my normal audience. I had good material. But I would not call this a success.
I was mildly drunk. This made things bad
Here's the thing. There's a tendency to assume that a few beers will make you loosen up and become better at being conversational. The idea sounds nice, but in reality it's kind of shaky and not true. Some people really do need to lighten up but that comes with practice. You want to sound conversational, but in reality so much is practiced and rehearsed and ready for anything. It's over-preparation disguised as under-preparation.
That said, I need to practice more. I need to actually rehearse and go over my bits. I've got some funny stuff, and this time I tried and aimed for my audience. Next time, I know what I'm going for.
Open mic 22
Date: 9 April 2011
Venue: the Spot Cafe
How much is too much?
There's a question. You want variety, but not at the expense of not polishing a joke. There's something to be said for trying a joke over and over to see if it has legs. There's also something to be said for trying lots of things. I fell into the latter camp. But I think I have a solid amount of stuff now.
'FBI Intern' has legs. 'Louie Louie' doesn't. 'Job Fair' has legs. 'Wynn Hyundai' probably doesn't. That pun is a keeper.
I think future sets are going to be like this:
3 minutes:
Roommates
Job Fair
Media Buying
FBI Intern
5 minutes:
Roommates
Graduating/Living with family.
Job Fair
Media Buying
FBI Intern
Obviously, this is a work in progress. But I'll try and stick with it.
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
The sad thing about this room is how life-sucking it is. And yet, I did not bad. I feel like I was able to reach beyond my normal audience. I had good material. But I would not call this a success.
I was mildly drunk. This made things bad
Here's the thing. There's a tendency to assume that a few beers will make you loosen up and become better at being conversational. The idea sounds nice, but in reality it's kind of shaky and not true. Some people really do need to lighten up but that comes with practice. You want to sound conversational, but in reality so much is practiced and rehearsed and ready for anything. It's over-preparation disguised as under-preparation.
That said, I need to practice more. I need to actually rehearse and go over my bits. I've got some funny stuff, and this time I tried and aimed for my audience. Next time, I know what I'm going for.
Open mic 22
Date: 9 April 2011
Venue: the Spot Cafe
How much is too much?
There's a question. You want variety, but not at the expense of not polishing a joke. There's something to be said for trying a joke over and over to see if it has legs. There's also something to be said for trying lots of things. I fell into the latter camp. But I think I have a solid amount of stuff now.
'FBI Intern' has legs. 'Louie Louie' doesn't. 'Job Fair' has legs. 'Wynn Hyundai' probably doesn't. That pun is a keeper.
I think future sets are going to be like this:
3 minutes:
Roommates
Job Fair
Media Buying
FBI Intern
5 minutes:
Roommates
Graduating/Living with family.
Job Fair
Media Buying
FBI Intern
Obviously, this is a work in progress. But I'll try and stick with it.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
open mics 19 and 20
Oh man, another twofer. This brings me up to 4% of the way there.
Let's look at it.
#19:
Date: 1 April, 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
Holy cow, running into the very impressive Mark Mead. And getting friends to come and see me. Two cool things in one evening. I had 3 minutes and I didn't run out of stuff. I also had a friend record my set. I'll post it on Youtube if I'm feeling generous later.
I do look a bit tense. I need to relax and tone it down a bit. I might also need to try and aim a little... older. I'm okay with being a college comedian, but I need some material that aims a bit older. If I can pull that off, I'll be good.
#20:
Date: 2 April, 2011
Venue: The Spot Cafe
This is the friendliest room in LA. It's all comics, so it's not the perfect room, but it feels good. I actually recorded myself kicking ass, so I've got that going for me. (I should mention that 'kicking ass' is a relative term. I'm not gaining laughs as hard or as strong as other comics, but they're relatively solid. Listening to the recordings is helping)
The best thing I can think of, as far as comedy goes is to be ones' self. I'm trying to have my time on stage just be me talking about stuff. Instead, I'm still amping up the energy in response to nerves, so instead of 'me', it's becoming 'hyper me'. I know 4% of your max. possible capacity is still not that much, but I figure with 20 open mics under my belt, that I should be starting to hit my stride and I should have the calmness thing figured out. I'm not worried or concerned, but it would be nice to figure it out.
On the plus side, it's been a really long time since I bombed. I can live with that.
Let's look at it.
#19:
Date: 1 April, 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
Holy cow, running into the very impressive Mark Mead. And getting friends to come and see me. Two cool things in one evening. I had 3 minutes and I didn't run out of stuff. I also had a friend record my set. I'll post it on Youtube if I'm feeling generous later.
I do look a bit tense. I need to relax and tone it down a bit. I might also need to try and aim a little... older. I'm okay with being a college comedian, but I need some material that aims a bit older. If I can pull that off, I'll be good.
#20:
Date: 2 April, 2011
Venue: The Spot Cafe
This is the friendliest room in LA. It's all comics, so it's not the perfect room, but it feels good. I actually recorded myself kicking ass, so I've got that going for me. (I should mention that 'kicking ass' is a relative term. I'm not gaining laughs as hard or as strong as other comics, but they're relatively solid. Listening to the recordings is helping)
The best thing I can think of, as far as comedy goes is to be ones' self. I'm trying to have my time on stage just be me talking about stuff. Instead, I'm still amping up the energy in response to nerves, so instead of 'me', it's becoming 'hyper me'. I know 4% of your max. possible capacity is still not that much, but I figure with 20 open mics under my belt, that I should be starting to hit my stride and I should have the calmness thing figured out. I'm not worried or concerned, but it would be nice to figure it out.
On the plus side, it's been a really long time since I bombed. I can live with that.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Open Mics 17 and 18
Two open mics in two days? Oh heck yes it's happening. I still am going to post separate commentary about each one, but the general theme of this week is all about trying new material.
But Nick, why would you try new material instead of polishing the stuff you're already doing?
I think it's more honest. Anyone can speak a clever, pithy pun or other wordplay. But only I can be me. So let's break it down.
Date: 25 March, 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
Three and a bit minutes, and I actually got a decent spot on the list. (I signed up for spot number 6, a much choicer spot than #19) I did okay. People laughed at jokes. I actually did have a recording of the set, it's not bad... it's just that the jokes are a little rough.
And now, the follow-up:
Date: 26 March, 2011
Venue: The Spot Cafe
This is a cool little room, because Saturdays they have a joke-and-commentary session. You get five minutes, and people give you feedback.
Listening to the recording from last night gave me a chance to hear where the gaps were, and where the less-than-funny jokes were. So today I worked to improve the set, and clear things up. This set went even better. People were laughing, and the comments I received were that it was a pretty smart set. No, I don't have a recording of it.
Here's where I'm at: Within the Month of April, I'm going to try and get some recording up on the site. Maybe on Youtube. I'm also going to try and audition for the show the people behind the room host. I'll have to do a 10 minute set, and I'll have to be around in LA for a while. Fingers crossed, ladies and gents.
But Nick, why would you try new material instead of polishing the stuff you're already doing?
I think it's more honest. Anyone can speak a clever, pithy pun or other wordplay. But only I can be me. So let's break it down.
Date: 25 March, 2011
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
Three and a bit minutes, and I actually got a decent spot on the list. (I signed up for spot number 6, a much choicer spot than #19) I did okay. People laughed at jokes. I actually did have a recording of the set, it's not bad... it's just that the jokes are a little rough.
And now, the follow-up:
Date: 26 March, 2011
Venue: The Spot Cafe
This is a cool little room, because Saturdays they have a joke-and-commentary session. You get five minutes, and people give you feedback.
Listening to the recording from last night gave me a chance to hear where the gaps were, and where the less-than-funny jokes were. So today I worked to improve the set, and clear things up. This set went even better. People were laughing, and the comments I received were that it was a pretty smart set. No, I don't have a recording of it.
Here's where I'm at: Within the Month of April, I'm going to try and get some recording up on the site. Maybe on Youtube. I'm also going to try and audition for the show the people behind the room host. I'll have to do a 10 minute set, and I'll have to be around in LA for a while. Fingers crossed, ladies and gents.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Open Mic 16
Date: 16 March 2011
Venue: The Spot cafe
I'll be returning to this lovely cafe tomorrow, to ply my craft and see what works. It's penance for not going out tonight, which I admit I should have. Le sigh.
The thing is not that I don't want to perform, it's that I have other things on my mind. I'm trying to balance schoolwork with whatever semi-social life I have, and balancing that with comedy. Couple all that with my general apathetic nature towards actual work and the ill-founded belief that I am owed this, and things will have to change.
I think the attitude I'll have to adopt is that I am owed nothing. I have to earn and work for every laugh. I deserve the silence, I work for every laugh.
I listened to this performance. It wasn't terrible, but there is a lot of silence on my part. I think this means I have to practice more. I'm not going to try and present myself as something I'm not, but I have to present myself as something. Defining myself as a character might help.
One of the comics said I did a good set. Thanks, man. I didn't actually do a good set, but I'll take what I can get.
Venue: The Spot cafe
I'll be returning to this lovely cafe tomorrow, to ply my craft and see what works. It's penance for not going out tonight, which I admit I should have. Le sigh.
The thing is not that I don't want to perform, it's that I have other things on my mind. I'm trying to balance schoolwork with whatever semi-social life I have, and balancing that with comedy. Couple all that with my general apathetic nature towards actual work and the ill-founded belief that I am owed this, and things will have to change.
I think the attitude I'll have to adopt is that I am owed nothing. I have to earn and work for every laugh. I deserve the silence, I work for every laugh.
I listened to this performance. It wasn't terrible, but there is a lot of silence on my part. I think this means I have to practice more. I'm not going to try and present myself as something I'm not, but I have to present myself as something. Defining myself as a character might help.
One of the comics said I did a good set. Thanks, man. I didn't actually do a good set, but I'll take what I can get.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Open mic 15
Venue: 705 lounge, Hermosa Beach
Date: 14 March, 2011
Whoaaaaaa, we're ... 3% there. Seriously? 3 percent? At what point do I start performing to rooms that are more than a dozen people?
Rarely, mayhaps never
Oh. Well, three percent's not bad at all.
It felt solid. The room has people who aren't comics, which is good. You've got actual audience members and some musicians playing songs. That's a good thing. The downside is you're still playing to 12 people, which makes it hard to tell if a joke is working. Based on my experience at the Newmarket, a group of 30-40 is enough to sustain enough laughter for the things that are kind of funny, and they'll really laugh at the funny stuff. Twelve people? Well, you'll hear laughter for the funny stuff, but not for the kind of funny stuff.
That said, I'm cutting secondhand smoker for now. I think it's time to try a new bit. Rooster worked, and I've got high hopes for the bit on condoms.
I've only played to audiences 15 times, so I'm no expert yet. But operation 'do a bunch of open mics over spring break' is going well.
Date: 14 March, 2011
Whoaaaaaa, we're ... 3% there. Seriously? 3 percent? At what point do I start performing to rooms that are more than a dozen people?
Rarely, mayhaps never
Oh. Well, three percent's not bad at all.
It felt solid. The room has people who aren't comics, which is good. You've got actual audience members and some musicians playing songs. That's a good thing. The downside is you're still playing to 12 people, which makes it hard to tell if a joke is working. Based on my experience at the Newmarket, a group of 30-40 is enough to sustain enough laughter for the things that are kind of funny, and they'll really laugh at the funny stuff. Twelve people? Well, you'll hear laughter for the funny stuff, but not for the kind of funny stuff.
That said, I'm cutting secondhand smoker for now. I think it's time to try a new bit. Rooster worked, and I've got high hopes for the bit on condoms.
I've only played to audiences 15 times, so I'm no expert yet. But operation 'do a bunch of open mics over spring break' is going well.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Open mic 14
Venue: Silverlake Lounge
Date: 11 March, 2011
What took me so long? A combination of fear, laziness and rain. After being snubbed by a campus comedy group, I was afraid that maybe I'd lost my edge. I was also a little lazy in getting over there because driving in LA is just annoying enough that I don't want to do it unless I have to. I'm the same way about laundry, grocery shopping and flossing. And rain because rain makes every LA driver an idiot.
The room:
Well, it's dark. It appears that it's mostly comedians, who have their own sense of humor, by which I mean they perform their piece and then vamoose. The rest of them kind of chill in the back. A lot of it is comics playing to comics, so there's in-jokes that I don't really get.
I did pretty good. I started off a bit slow, but got good near the end. I think the stuff that's true is better than the stuff that's funny. Maybe the stuff that's 'me being me' is the funniest stuff.
The lessons learned here are kind of useful.
1) Learn how to work my voice recorder. It will serve me well.
2) go up in the top 10. People bounced after the first 10, so I'm playing to the largest audience possible.
3) That wasn't so bad. It's comics, so nobody's going to laugh anyways. Go out there and get yourself heard, Nick.
Date: 11 March, 2011
What took me so long? A combination of fear, laziness and rain. After being snubbed by a campus comedy group, I was afraid that maybe I'd lost my edge. I was also a little lazy in getting over there because driving in LA is just annoying enough that I don't want to do it unless I have to. I'm the same way about laundry, grocery shopping and flossing. And rain because rain makes every LA driver an idiot.
The room:
Well, it's dark. It appears that it's mostly comedians, who have their own sense of humor, by which I mean they perform their piece and then vamoose. The rest of them kind of chill in the back. A lot of it is comics playing to comics, so there's in-jokes that I don't really get.
I did pretty good. I started off a bit slow, but got good near the end. I think the stuff that's true is better than the stuff that's funny. Maybe the stuff that's 'me being me' is the funniest stuff.
The lessons learned here are kind of useful.
1) Learn how to work my voice recorder. It will serve me well.
2) go up in the top 10. People bounced after the first 10, so I'm playing to the largest audience possible.
3) That wasn't so bad. It's comics, so nobody's going to laugh anyways. Go out there and get yourself heard, Nick.
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