Beer and Tuesday

Sean Gardner at the open mic last night had a great bit. He explains that he is an alcoholic, because he hangs out in a lot of bars, and thus, his comedy is inspired by alcohol. So he brings up a tall boy of Miller High Life and places it on a chair in front of him, and does a ventriloquist act with it. In all, it was hilarious. It also brings up a good point. Last night, during the open mic and the Ultimate Experts meeting, I drank quite a bit. In total, three Pabst Blue Ribbons and three Miller High Life tall boys. Does alcohol affect my comedy? I usually have a beer before I go on stage. Sort of relaxes me, and allows me to remove the guards that I have placed around me. The last thing you want to be when on stage is guarded. The next to last thing you want to be on stage is drunk, so I keep it to just one beer before a set. I've seen comics collapsing on stage or just yelling at the audience. I don't want to be in a position where I get belligerent, though in my life, I have never gotten belligerent while I was drunk. I'm quite friendly when drunk, but I also believe I'm wittier than I am. These two things lead to some really annoying conversations where I'm the obnoxious one. But I'm never mean.

Well, the meeting last night was a success. Our skits are really forming into something funny. And, as always, it's fun just to hang out with the gang and catch up on each others lives and careers. Tonight, we see Joe, and hopefully will get some more practice on the trains.

I wrote a new joke on the way to the mic after I saw a sign advertising Puerto Rican Day. It went over well, so I just need to develop it a bit more. Of course, this joke will only work in New York right now, so I need to play around and rewrite so that it can become more universal. Also, did my "dream that makes your therapist quit the profession" bit that fell apart when the speaker starting hissing. It was the first time I'd even been heckled by a speaker and for some reason, it threw me off. Finished with a newly rewritten old bit about porn and its lack of production values. I like the premise, I'm just having trouble with keeping it from become hacky. But I want to throw a new spin on an old concept. It stays within my character who is someone who lets movies dictate his life. Some of it is sublime, but other elements of it definitely swim in the waters of the hack shark. But I'm still developing.

Called head shot guy, didn't get a response yet. Also started working on my business cards. I have some graphic designer friends who I hope will give me valuable advice. I will get these cards made after I get my head shots so I can put my fascinating mug on the back. I hope my mug is fascinating.

Today, I will go through and call other head shot people on the list of numbers I've acquired from others. I'd rather do this main one since it is trade and doesn't require money for someone who is a professional in the business for 20 years. But I can't put all my eggs in one basket so the smart thing to do is move forward. Stay tuned.

P.S. June 14 is Puerto Rican Day or as I like to call it, Arthur Will Be in Long Island Day. I'm all for cultural heritage celebration but I don't think it has to be so loud. Nothing should be loud on a Sunday. The best cultural heritage celebration should be, "Hey, nice flag." "Oh, thanks." and we're done.