There's an open mic I go to fairly regularly on Mondays. I saw it go through 2.5 host regimes. It went from one person (Martin Morrow) to two (Laura Hugg and Martin) to two (Laura Hugg and David Phillips) to one (Laura Hugg). Laura had a fun idea; give folks who are fairly regular attendants a chance to co-host. I was one of about 5-ish other people who'd been given a chance. Like any new thing, I was nervous about it. Hosting an open mic has no requirements. There are hosts who've been doing comedy for a few months, and some for years. It's also something that happens on a daily basis. For my first time, I did ok, I suppose. No fiascoes, no great successes, it came and went before I had a chance to even really process what was going on. I was focused more on not screwing up and trying to say something worthwhile in between each person. But all I was, really, was a facilitator. I helped to run the proceedings of an open mic. Nobody was there for me (except for my wife, Rachel, but you know what I mean), and if I wasn't there, it would have gone just as any other night. It sounds like I'm belittling myself, but I'm trying to be even-handed. To me it was a big deal. It was the first non-open mic comedy experience that I'd had. But for so many, it's as routine as taking a single step on a long walk.
Yesterday there was an interesting show. There's a weekly comedy show called 2 Hour Comedy Hour. One of the things they do is that they have a drawing of a name (of people who've submitted), and that person gets to do 42 seconds on stage. It's very cute, and gives someone a chance to get on stage who doesn't want to necessarily to into comedy, but get a taste of stage time. Kind of like karaoke, kind of. So, the producers of the show had an idea to have 42 comics do 42 seconds. I had never heard of something so rapid fire before, but it sounded like it would be very interesting. I didn't find out about this show until after it had been booked. Fortunately, I knew one of the producers a little, and when a few of the comics had to drop out, I was asked to fill in. Now, I'll temper it with the facts that I approached them first, and my "booking" came only after other people couldn't do it, but I DID get to go on stage, and perform for an audience of people who came to see a comedy show. This was always my goal in comedy. So I don't care if it came with caveats; in a small way, I'm achieving my goals. I even got paid. They split the proceeds evenly with all the comics. This is my payment, in its entirety, and it's awesome.
Despite the full realities, I consider this a positive week. I had fun, and I'm grateful for it. Next step, get on stage again, not at an open mic, for more than 42 seconds. Follow your dreams, eh?
