Back at the Zoo
Thursday, January 28th, 2010So… Marlon and Shawn returned to the Liquid Zoo last night. Our illustrious host was absent due to having a paying gig, so the host for last night’s open mic was Chris. There were several Chrises and I failed to remember last names, save for one I had heard before, so no last name for this Chris… for now.
I know I’ve labeled this an LA blog, but Van Nuys is close enough to count, so I’m not categorizing it in the Out of Town category(as of this posting, there’s nothing under that category… but there will be).
This was my third night going to comedy open mic at the Zoo, and this was my time to finally give it a shot. Last time I tried to do comedy, I paniced and ran away crying in the rain. Really… it’s highly important to have material if you’re auditioning for a ventriloquist act in the High School talent show.
I decided earlier on in the week that this was the night I was going to go up. Plenty of crazy shit happened to me on the days leading up to it. Got a flat. Helped my brother/roommate after the same happened to him. Went to a celebrity birthday party(a couple days later tried to look up Sweedish porn with the same said celebrity(hint: it’s somehow related to muppets)).
I assumed all this crazy shit was the universe pushing me in the direction of going for the stage. I went in wanting to be #4 on the list. I didn’t get to choose, but somehow I was listed at #4. Spooky. I ended up being #5, Chris telling me, “You’re next, ” when #4 was called up.
Suddenly I found myself terrified. Heart racing. I’m Rabbit from 8 Mile, though falling short of vomiting in the bathroom. I wanted to run up to Chris and beg for a pair of scissors to cut off the wristband coverd in smiley faces hat implied that I was a comic ready for the stage. Instead I took that left turn while #4 was still on stage and spent a short minute or two in the restroom reminding myself of how I said I would hate myself if I didn’t go up.
I was able to find myself back in the audience, in a nice, comfortable, dark corner before heading up. I got applause coming up, thanks to the host. I started with my name and a joke on that. Got a laugh. Maybe not the best one, but I got it. Being up there, lights in my eyes, didn’t make the fear go away. I had to think like Shinji Ikari, I musn’t run away. I musn’t run away. I almost did after stumbling a bit to get started.
My mind blanked out, but I had notes. Notes related to what I wanted to say. I got applause following telling my age and having recently turned it. I had a bit of a stride going and, though I was still stuttering and scared, I felt less like running away.
I was rather happy to get the signal for time. Yes, partially because I could leave the small stage, but mostly because I had been able to fill the time. I was in part afraid I wouldn’t fill the time.
I stepped off, got applause, again, thanks to the host. I love comedy hosts. They will be my friend forever now. (So far)Always eager to give support to the comic on the stage no matter how bad his act may be.
I was pleased with myself. I had gotten a few laughs and applause(whether I deserved it or not, I got it). It was a good first run. I’m going to work on the stuff I felt worked, remove some condesending shit, and add something else, possibly related to work, and do it again. The goal is at least three times on stage before my birthday at the end of April. One down, two to go. Maybe I’ll do three before March.