So M Buddy cancelled for some unforeseen work issue. Understandable. I'm a forgiving person. We made a DO-or-DIE pact to go onstage on May 8th together. So over this weekend I'm going to prepare a kick-ass set. The irony lies in the idea that I won't know if it's a kick-ass set until I leave the stage. But clearly I'm willing to chance it, weigh the consequences, and follow Nike's way outdated instruction and "JUST DO IT!"
I found another craigslist ad of a buddy who also wants to get started in the comedy biz. This new buddy (we'll call "N Buddy") eventually called me. We spoke over the phone for a bit. (I think people are always surprise to speak to me on the phone, because I'm never what they expect me to be. I'm a bubbly person by nature. I'm giddy and cheerful, but not cheerleader cheerful. Pleasant. It's not nerve-wracking and you don't have to make up things to say with me. I'm good like that.)
Anyway, N Buddy was happy to make my acquaintance and we're going to meet up with my already scheduled meeting with M Buddy. All of us are going to do our homework and hollow out some kind of set and format of jokes. I'm fairly confident about my jokes and writing. It's the delivery that worries me most. I'm still stuck between that rock and a hard place where I don't know HOW TO execute the jokes. Intonation. Persona. Who am I onstage? Eventually, I'll figure this out. But I fear it will take longer than I expect.
~Lucy
Saturday, May 5, 2007
M Comedy Buddy cancelled, but new one to join the pack!
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Cancellation, once again-- and on an ITU night, no less!
Bummer! M Comedy Buddy and Non-Comedy Buddy cancelled for tonight's ITU show. I'm debating whether or not I should attend. I really should be nailing down my act. Comedy buddy and I made a pact to go on stage on May 8th. The goal seems to be slipping through my/our fingers.
M Buddy had work travails pop up! ("work travails" - redundancy maybe?) Non-Comedy Buddy stated that tiredness was to blame. (I take full responsibility, for NCB's lethargy last night. I wanted to attend another scheduled comedy show Brainyaxe that was for the most part eventful--and wet--and I dragged NCB with me.) 'Wet' is the preferred adjective because it rained (as the weather report stated it would) and when all was said and done, we needed to head home. Maybe I should rename this post "Rainyaxe?"
So now that everyone has cancelled, I'm not sure I should attend the ITU show. I guess you'll find out tomorrow as what the final decision will be.
Successful Meeting with M Buddy
So I've had two more meetings with this same comedy buddy, we'll call "M". It's been great so far!
M seems interested enough to want to improve upon the craft.
The first meeting, M brought some of M's previous work, and as we combed through it, we realized more and more that it was in "story" format, rather than "joke" format. So luckily I brought my handy Comedy Bible, which M owns. Not to say it was easy to explain the idea to M that, "These jokes need to be rewritten in a new format, or we need to start fresh!"
My LSAT course... oh, by the way, did I tell you I was taking an LSAT course? Yeah, well, I need to be prepared, just in case this comedy thing goes south! Anyway, it starts May 12th and I will swamped the minute that gets underway. I still have to remain 'logical' and law school is on the horizon as a back up.
I also need to start thinking about letters of recommendation. I have no idea. I haven't had a steady job--well, ever! And although, I'm a great law school candidate, I might have a harder time than most proving it.
Anyway, Comedy Buddy M and I met up now for a third time, this time with M having completed 'homework,' assigned by me. (Pretty funny idea, eh?) So when we met up he had a better idea of how to approach joke writing.* We read his premises (basis topics on a joke). Okay. Fine. Then we got to hashing away at his premises, and some how we tapped a nerve and a flood of ideas came flowing out. It was exciting to witness the comedy process firsthand.
This reminded me about the myth behind inspiration. Inspiration and great ideas don't come to you at will. Sometimes you have to go out and drag your muse back in the building. You gotta show the muse that it's now or never. Eventually, you'll intrigue Muse. Muse might see that you're hard at work and begin to pace around you while you drill away. Eventually Muse is going to get restless and want to grab the pen out of your hand, like some curmudgeonly school marm.
"No, no. Don't do it like that. Do it like this."
And Muse finally adds its two cents, and together you make things happen. The point being, you need to entice Muse by doing the work anyway. Eventually, the Muse will want to 'get in the mix,' jealous and irked Muse is not involved in the process. Muse can be a bit of a bastard is greedy for praise. And despite Muse's best attempts at wanting to see you fail, Muse's need for accolade wins out. And eventually, Muse wants to be apart of every single accomplishment. Muse can't sit by the sidelines and watch you at work. So you need to entice Muse by getting started in the first place. Even when you're so uninspired, it's mind-numbing. Muse will get involved. I promise!
~Lucy
* By the way, I don't want to say, by any means that I have any grasp of joke writing or comedy at all. You've seen my history in comedy, which has consisted of a month and 3 days. But M has been 'out of the loop' for much longer.
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