I feel really good about tonight's performance. I got into the "Top 5" of 20 performers and actually felt like I deserved to be there.
Drew Pult won, as might be expected, and there was a 1st-timer there with an entourage who came in 2nd. Of the 3 others, I had a small following, but didn't feel like it was "mercy applause", as I had gotten before, but that a few folks actually liked my act.
I went up #10 (I think) and riffed on 5 performers who had been up before me. Luckily, the audience both (1) remembered the earlier comics & their material and (2) had enough energy to laugh & applaud. 2 or 3 comics later, they would have forgotten & had no energy. I timed my spot on the list well.
Two of the bits played directly off what others had said & done (*actual* ad libs). I had used the other 3 before, with some success, but making apparently spontaneous call backs to what the other folks said made the bits work better than they ever had before. Very gratifying.
I had expected to do a 5 minute set, in the new 20-performer-only format. But they changed it to *4* minute sets. I had timed each element, so I knew what to cut to make it into 4 minutes. Then, as I heard material for the new things, I adjusted the 4 minute set to make room.
I had planned 10 bits, for 4:50 total. Along the way, I ended up cutting 2:05, to make it 2:45, then added 1:15 of the new stuff for a total of 4:00.
There was nothing that fell flat. I also managed to *wait* for laughs better than I had ever done before. When I waited, the laughs came.
Afterwards, I congratulated a few of the performers I thought had done a good job and a few (of them and others) congratulated me. A good night.
In my infinite lack of technical expertise, of course, I managed to make neither a video nor an audio. [sigh]
No guarantees, but I *may* copy the old material and add the new stuff to make a sort of transcript to post later.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Paddy's Coffee House - August 28, 2009
(I'm the old guy on the right side of the photo)This was an *almost* new experience for me.
This neighborhood coffee house is in very-ethnic Union City. Other than the comics, I think I saw 2 Caucasians there, but everybody else appeared to be 18-year old Asians (mostly Southeast Asians, I believe).
The event was hosted by my friend Molly Sokhom, who is Cambodian, and all the other comics were (as usual) young people.
Pretty-much none of my material worked with that particular audience, until my "white hose" closer -- which always kills.
I said "*almost* new experience" because I once made a sales presentation to the Computer Operations department at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on the day after St. Patrick's day. "Paddy's Day" in San Francisco is like a holiday. Everybody goes out and gets drunk. The following day is when everybody has a hangover.
The particular presentation I gave contained a lot of humor -- I was emulating the style of the author of the product, who was very entertaining when he talked about it.
Oh, did I forget to mention that *100%* of the audience was Chinese? *They* weren't hung-over (nor was I) and *they* all sat there, *not* laughing for a solid hour. Talk about a "rough room."
I had the District Manager and a new Sales Rep with me, both of whom were there to observe my presentation and learn about the product from me. Unlike the Chinese audience, my 2 co-workers *were* hung-over and hugely amused at my plight.
Seriously, one hour with no audience response AT ALL.
The good news: I will never be crushed by having an act die on stage again.
I made a composite group photo of the comics in Photoshop from 2 photos my friend Tim shot.
Bunjo's - August 28, 2009 - Distracted fun
I had fun tonight at Bunjo's, despite being distracted by needing be the first comic of the night, so I could leave to get to another gig 20 minutes away.
It *wasn't* polished, what with insufficient rehearsal time, so frequently referring to notes. But the bits mostly worked. Delivery will improve over time.
Here are two bits:
It *wasn't* polished, what with insufficient rehearsal time, so frequently referring to notes. But the bits mostly worked. Delivery will improve over time.
Here are two bits:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tommy T's - August 24, 2009
Man, it is *tough* to make some bits work. Maybe it's my misjudging the audience or my delivery, but some things I expect to work don't.
Two pieces of new material worked. Two didn't, but I'm going to keep working on one of them. *I* know it's funny.
Two pieces of new material worked. Two didn't, but I'm going to keep working on one of them. *I* know it's funny.
Monday, August 24, 2009
You are *so* lucky! Tommy T's -- Aug 24, 2009
Last night I wrote my set for tonight at Tommy T's. It's almost *all* new. Also, too long -- I can only do part of it.
The reason you're lucky is that I'm going to post it in its current draft form *here and now.* Get ready!
---
I began doing stand-up this year, at the tender age of 59. Can you show me by applause if you think that's OK? That's a relief.
I am, of course, a space alien playing a virtual reality game called "Life on Earth" that I may win only by achieving fame and fortune for my character "Rich Orwell", a mentally unstable stand-up comic. I have maximized the difficulty by choosing a sick, old body that will expire soon. When it does, I lose the game. [loudly into mic] Back in the bar. Did I leave my meds there?
When you get to be my age, your children and your grandchildren are grown.
David
I talked over the weekend on the phone with my son david. He's 41 and just got divorced after a 20 year marriage. He's a little rusty at dating, so he went to those online dating services. Maybe you've seen the ads on TV for eHarmony dot com, chemistry dot com and match dot com. You've probably never used them, so lemme tell you how they work. You spend a long time taking a personality test and talking about your likes and dislikes, then their computers and psychologists decide who's compatible and see if you wanna get together. Very hi-tech.
He started with eHarmony dot com. They rejected him. I didn't know they would do that. Apparently they feel like if they take your money but you're so twisted they can't get you any dates, you'll probably make a lot of trouble for them demanding your money back. So, Thanks, but no thanks.
Then he went to chemistry dot com. They scored his test and put him in a category they call "adventurer", like Captain Morgan or Marco Polo. The problem was, upon further review, they rejected him, too. They said the only category of women compatible with him was called "victim."
Do you see a trend here? Finally he went to match dot com. And I think he finally figured out why he kept getting rejected. All along he'd been telling them his favorite hobby is "playing with matches." Even match dot com doesn't wanna hear that "play with matches" shit. But at least they asked him for clarification. He wrote back, and I wrote it down. "I'm not some crazy pyromaniac. If you send me some women, I'll just tie them up and play with them. A little. I like to play with matches."
So he's still sitting at home alone, watching internet porn.
Rachel
His daughter Rachel, my sweet little granddaughter, is 19 now. She moved to Hollywood by herself last year to become a movie or TV actress. And I guess she found some success. A friend emailed me he saw her first video on the internet. So I took a look. I thought at first it was about a registered nurse (you know, a R.N.) at the post office, the P.O. It was on a site like YouTube called You p-o r-n. Have you heard of it? I didn't watch the whole thing, but I can tell you the title and a little of the plot. I don't want to offend anybody, so when I get to certain words that start with the letter "B" I'll just say "B" and you can shout out what you think the word is, OK. If you don't guess right, Then I'll give you a hint. OK? The title was "On your knees, B" -- what's the word? That's right Brenda. That was her character's name. She comes into frame wearing a catholic schoolgirls uniform and says to this guy, "I took the virgin pledge, so I'm saving myself for my wedding night. But I can B you." What's the word? That's right baloney you. "Or you can put it in my B" My Be kind to animals." Her grandma and I are so proud, this year for her birthday, I think we'll give her TWO big stuffed teddy bears.
earthquake
As a native San Franciscan and lifetime resident of the bay area, I've been through a LOT of earthquakes. So I don't overreact.
I was in the basement of the student union at UC Berkeley, playing a video game when the Loma Prieta quake hit in 1989. I had the same reaction as everybody else in the room. Pause for a moment. Go back to playing. If a multi-story building is gonna collapse on your head, so be it. I had a *quarter* invested in that game. And I was gonna beat the high score. Ya gotta have priorities.
I think the best thing you can do in an earthquake is not what they tell you: hide under a table, run out of the building or stand in a doorway. The most fun is to run to a window, point out into the sky and yell, [shout] "Godzilla!" Then look into the eyes of any tourists around you, just to see who wasn't sure if you were telling the truth.
grand for grandma
now that the cash for clunkers program has run out of money, Obama secretly wants to introduce a medical cost-cutting measure called "grand 4 grandma." A tremendous part of our medicare, insurance, and private healthcare dollars go into "end-of-life" care. Money for procedures during the last 6 months of life. If the family is willing to NOT take those extraordinary steps and euthanize grandma painlessly, not only will they save all that money, but the government will GIVE them $1,000.
TEN thousand if she allows herself to be videotaped jumping off the "Grand Canyon Skywalk." The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway that stands at 3,600 feet above the floor of the canyon. A skydiver cameraman jumps first to tape grandma's fall -- the only difference is grandma doesn't have a parachute. extra TEN thousand in government money if grandma can hit a target painted below, although she needs to adjust for tricky, swirling canyon winds and doesn't get a second chance. there is absolutely no danger of grandma being injured or maimed because death is certain, but it is entirely likely she will be puréed, liked mashed potatoes or apple sauce. If they can find what's left of her liver, it can be made into a tasty spread for crackers and labeled with her name and the words Pate de fois moi. Liver paste of me. The family can pay Anthony Hopkins to come to her wake as Hannibal Lecter and eat her liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. f-f-f-f-f-f If willing to forego the chance at the extra money for grandma landing on target, the family can earn an extra TWENTY thousand dollars by allowing them to be filmed while pulling a slingshot in which grandma is seated back far enough to launch her even further out above the canyon floor. The official term for this shall be the Wile E. Coyote "send off."
Ask any republican. THIS is where the democrat's healthcare reform will lead. The Obama Death Slingshot.
The reason you're lucky is that I'm going to post it in its current draft form *here and now.* Get ready!
---
I began doing stand-up this year, at the tender age of 59. Can you show me by applause if you think that's OK? That's a relief.
I am, of course, a space alien playing a virtual reality game called "Life on Earth" that I may win only by achieving fame and fortune for my character "Rich Orwell", a mentally unstable stand-up comic. I have maximized the difficulty by choosing a sick, old body that will expire soon. When it does, I lose the game. [loudly into mic] Back in the bar. Did I leave my meds there?
When you get to be my age, your children and your grandchildren are grown.
David
I talked over the weekend on the phone with my son david. He's 41 and just got divorced after a 20 year marriage. He's a little rusty at dating, so he went to those online dating services. Maybe you've seen the ads on TV for eHarmony dot com, chemistry dot com and match dot com. You've probably never used them, so lemme tell you how they work. You spend a long time taking a personality test and talking about your likes and dislikes, then their computers and psychologists decide who's compatible and see if you wanna get together. Very hi-tech.
He started with eHarmony dot com. They rejected him. I didn't know they would do that. Apparently they feel like if they take your money but you're so twisted they can't get you any dates, you'll probably make a lot of trouble for them demanding your money back. So, Thanks, but no thanks.
Then he went to chemistry dot com. They scored his test and put him in a category they call "adventurer", like Captain Morgan or Marco Polo. The problem was, upon further review, they rejected him, too. They said the only category of women compatible with him was called "victim."
Do you see a trend here? Finally he went to match dot com. And I think he finally figured out why he kept getting rejected. All along he'd been telling them his favorite hobby is "playing with matches." Even match dot com doesn't wanna hear that "play with matches" shit. But at least they asked him for clarification. He wrote back, and I wrote it down. "I'm not some crazy pyromaniac. If you send me some women, I'll just tie them up and play with them. A little. I like to play with matches."
So he's still sitting at home alone, watching internet porn.
Rachel
His daughter Rachel, my sweet little granddaughter, is 19 now. She moved to Hollywood by herself last year to become a movie or TV actress. And I guess she found some success. A friend emailed me he saw her first video on the internet. So I took a look. I thought at first it was about a registered nurse (you know, a R.N.) at the post office, the P.O. It was on a site like YouTube called You p-o r-n. Have you heard of it? I didn't watch the whole thing, but I can tell you the title and a little of the plot. I don't want to offend anybody, so when I get to certain words that start with the letter "B" I'll just say "B" and you can shout out what you think the word is, OK. If you don't guess right, Then I'll give you a hint. OK? The title was "On your knees, B" -- what's the word? That's right Brenda. That was her character's name. She comes into frame wearing a catholic schoolgirls uniform and says to this guy, "I took the virgin pledge, so I'm saving myself for my wedding night. But I can B you." What's the word? That's right baloney you. "Or you can put it in my B" My Be kind to animals." Her grandma and I are so proud, this year for her birthday, I think we'll give her TWO big stuffed teddy bears.
earthquake
As a native San Franciscan and lifetime resident of the bay area, I've been through a LOT of earthquakes. So I don't overreact.
I was in the basement of the student union at UC Berkeley, playing a video game when the Loma Prieta quake hit in 1989. I had the same reaction as everybody else in the room. Pause for a moment. Go back to playing. If a multi-story building is gonna collapse on your head, so be it. I had a *quarter* invested in that game. And I was gonna beat the high score. Ya gotta have priorities.
I think the best thing you can do in an earthquake is not what they tell you: hide under a table, run out of the building or stand in a doorway. The most fun is to run to a window, point out into the sky and yell, [shout] "Godzilla!" Then look into the eyes of any tourists around you, just to see who wasn't sure if you were telling the truth.
grand for grandma
now that the cash for clunkers program has run out of money, Obama secretly wants to introduce a medical cost-cutting measure called "grand 4 grandma." A tremendous part of our medicare, insurance, and private healthcare dollars go into "end-of-life" care. Money for procedures during the last 6 months of life. If the family is willing to NOT take those extraordinary steps and euthanize grandma painlessly, not only will they save all that money, but the government will GIVE them $1,000.
TEN thousand if she allows herself to be videotaped jumping off the "Grand Canyon Skywalk." The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway that stands at 3,600 feet above the floor of the canyon. A skydiver cameraman jumps first to tape grandma's fall -- the only difference is grandma doesn't have a parachute. extra TEN thousand in government money if grandma can hit a target painted below, although she needs to adjust for tricky, swirling canyon winds and doesn't get a second chance. there is absolutely no danger of grandma being injured or maimed because death is certain, but it is entirely likely she will be puréed, liked mashed potatoes or apple sauce. If they can find what's left of her liver, it can be made into a tasty spread for crackers and labeled with her name and the words Pate de fois moi. Liver paste of me. The family can pay Anthony Hopkins to come to her wake as Hannibal Lecter and eat her liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. f-f-f-f-f-f If willing to forego the chance at the extra money for grandma landing on target, the family can earn an extra TWENTY thousand dollars by allowing them to be filmed while pulling a slingshot in which grandma is seated back far enough to launch her even further out above the canyon floor. The official term for this shall be the Wile E. Coyote "send off."
Ask any republican. THIS is where the democrat's healthcare reform will lead. The Obama Death Slingshot.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Bunjo's - August 21, 2009 - *Still* not the best, but fun
Another evening of only semi-stellar performing. The older, tried-and-true material worked, but only *some* of the new stuff.
I continue to be aware how difficult it is to do topical humor. That "common ground" issue keeps coming up. While *I* am a news junkie, most of the people in the audience aren't. Further, talking about current events means my material is unpracticed, not polished & rehearsed.
Tom Ridge's revelations about the Bushie's political manipulation of the Homeland Security Threat Level was lost on the crowd. So was Michael Vick's "60 Minutes" interview & its ramifications.
I absolutely need to go autobiographical. The story about granddaughter Rachel's video on YouPorn worked OK (on the younger members of the audience only). Perhaps talking next time about son David's experience with internet dating will work better. At least people of all ages (who watch TV) will have heard of those dating sites. I can also go more "PG" than "R" or "X" talking about dating instead of porno.
I can also go local-geographical. "Godzilla" bit, get ready for some stage time!
As always, I'll look at the video & decide what to post.
Update: I looked at the video. Of a 7:30 set, 3 minutes *worked*. 1 minute old, 2 minutes new. That only leaves 4:30 minutes of new material that *didn't* work. Grim. [sigh]
I continue to be aware how difficult it is to do topical humor. That "common ground" issue keeps coming up. While *I* am a news junkie, most of the people in the audience aren't. Further, talking about current events means my material is unpracticed, not polished & rehearsed.
Tom Ridge's revelations about the Bushie's political manipulation of the Homeland Security Threat Level was lost on the crowd. So was Michael Vick's "60 Minutes" interview & its ramifications.
I absolutely need to go autobiographical. The story about granddaughter Rachel's video on YouPorn worked OK (on the younger members of the audience only). Perhaps talking next time about son David's experience with internet dating will work better. At least people of all ages (who watch TV) will have heard of those dating sites. I can also go more "PG" than "R" or "X" talking about dating instead of porno.
I can also go local-geographical. "Godzilla" bit, get ready for some stage time!
As always, I'll look at the video & decide what to post.
Update: I looked at the video. Of a 7:30 set, 3 minutes *worked*. 1 minute old, 2 minutes new. That only leaves 4:30 minutes of new material that *didn't* work. Grim. [sigh]
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Roosters - August 19, 2009 - The set I planned.
*Some* things worked tonight at Rooster T. Feathers in Sunnyvale, Ca. Others didn't, and I tend to fixate on those. Too many words. Too many non-words. Delivery too rushed. Not adequately rehearsed.
All that aside, a good time. Laughs where I expected them. Some of them long and loud.
As always, the set I wrote is MUCH better than what I delivered. I'll post that ACTUAL set later, with links to short video segments (i.e. only the bits that worked).
-------------
Let's address the elephant in the room, the thing we all see but don't talk about. Yes. I AM the youngest, most attractive comic you'll see tonight. Show me by applause if you thinks it's OK for a 59-year old man to start doing stand-up.
Are there other guys named Richard here? What do people call you for short? Rich, Rick, Dick? Guys called Dick have a bad reputation. Dick Nixon, Dick Cheney. So when I got my native American name, I didn't like the way my wife says it. "Walks with a limp... dick"
did you see Michael Vick on 60 minutes Sunday? You know about this guy? highest paid quarterback in history who played for the Atlanta Falcons and was convicted of running a dog fighting operation in Virginia for 6 years. Now he's out of prison, got attorneys, agents and media advisers to help him through interviews like 60 minutes. He will be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, where there are a lot of aggressive dog lovers. He may be involved in a lot of penalties.
I think he's already been sent to prison for unsportsmanlike conduct, but he may be exposed to to unnecessary roughness, Intentional pounding, and (especially since we're here at Roosters) personal fowls.
It's a good thing Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC East, so it won't be until the super bowl when he may have to meet the AFC North team, the newly-renamed Steelers, the Pittsburg Pit Bulls.
Bill Clinton in the news, getting those reporters out of N Korea. I saw him on CNN being debriefed by Pres. Obama in the white house situation room. Remember him saying he smoked marijuana but "Didn't inhale"? "Don't inhale" is the first thing they teach you in glass blowing class.
Do you or your family watch pbs kids' shows, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Barney? Mark Sanford, the Governor of South Carolina who disappeared for 5 days over (and you gotta love this) fathers' day weekend in June to visit his mistress in Argentina. On his return, he gave a press conference where he called his mistress his quote soul mate unquote. His wife is, understandably upset. He's trying to work things out. He took his wife & 4 sons on a 2 week vacation to Europe. Returned on a Wednesday. His wife took a little time to recover from jet lag, then took the boys and moved out Friday. He's facing ethics charges for having the state pay for his ticket to Argentina. His wife gave Vogue Magazine an interview where she said, "I have learned that these affairs are almost like an addiction to alcohol or pornography." So who is the object of his addiction. The media hasn't been showing pictures of her, but I obtained one. Who can blame him? [show] Carmen Sandiego. What a babe. Where in the world is Mark Sanford? He's in Argentina.
After 28 years, my wife refuses to do certain things for me. So, like Mark Sanford, I got a mistress, too. She likes to do what I want ALL the time. Let me introduce her to you now. Her name is Hoover. And she's very different from all the other women I've known. I only used to date white hose.
All that aside, a good time. Laughs where I expected them. Some of them long and loud.
As always, the set I wrote is MUCH better than what I delivered. I'll post that ACTUAL set later, with links to short video segments (i.e. only the bits that worked).
-------------
Let's address the elephant in the room, the thing we all see but don't talk about. Yes. I AM the youngest, most attractive comic you'll see tonight. Show me by applause if you thinks it's OK for a 59-year old man to start doing stand-up.
Are there other guys named Richard here? What do people call you for short? Rich, Rick, Dick? Guys called Dick have a bad reputation. Dick Nixon, Dick Cheney. So when I got my native American name, I didn't like the way my wife says it. "Walks with a limp... dick"
did you see Michael Vick on 60 minutes Sunday? You know about this guy? highest paid quarterback in history who played for the Atlanta Falcons and was convicted of running a dog fighting operation in Virginia for 6 years. Now he's out of prison, got attorneys, agents and media advisers to help him through interviews like 60 minutes. He will be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, where there are a lot of aggressive dog lovers. He may be involved in a lot of penalties.
I think he's already been sent to prison for unsportsmanlike conduct, but he may be exposed to to unnecessary roughness, Intentional pounding, and (especially since we're here at Roosters) personal fowls.
It's a good thing Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC East, so it won't be until the super bowl when he may have to meet the AFC North team, the newly-renamed Steelers, the Pittsburg Pit Bulls.
Bill Clinton in the news, getting those reporters out of N Korea. I saw him on CNN being debriefed by Pres. Obama in the white house situation room. Remember him saying he smoked marijuana but "Didn't inhale"? "Don't inhale" is the first thing they teach you in glass blowing class.
Do you or your family watch pbs kids' shows, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Barney? Mark Sanford, the Governor of South Carolina who disappeared for 5 days over (and you gotta love this) fathers' day weekend in June to visit his mistress in Argentina. On his return, he gave a press conference where he called his mistress his quote soul mate unquote. His wife is, understandably upset. He's trying to work things out. He took his wife & 4 sons on a 2 week vacation to Europe. Returned on a Wednesday. His wife took a little time to recover from jet lag, then took the boys and moved out Friday. He's facing ethics charges for having the state pay for his ticket to Argentina. His wife gave Vogue Magazine an interview where she said, "I have learned that these affairs are almost like an addiction to alcohol or pornography." So who is the object of his addiction. The media hasn't been showing pictures of her, but I obtained one. Who can blame him? [show] Carmen Sandiego. What a babe. Where in the world is Mark Sanford? He's in Argentina.
After 28 years, my wife refuses to do certain things for me. So, like Mark Sanford, I got a mistress, too. She likes to do what I want ALL the time. Let me introduce her to you now. Her name is Hoover. And she's very different from all the other women I've known. I only used to date white hose.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tommy T's - August 17, 2009
This felt worse at the time that it plays on the video. I'd give it a B- grade overall. But I *really* need to stop saying "You Know" all the time. Speaking coaches call these "non-words", just like "uhh". Weak. I had a new topical bit about Michael Vick that I didn't deliver well. But I'll do it better at Roosters on Wednesday. I also introduced a new bit about my granddaughter Rachel's YouPorn video. Parts of it worked well. I just need to tighten it a bit. The Mark Sanford bit worked better, now that I eliminated the 2 book covers. The hose closer, of course, killed. At Dr. Brian's suggestion, I included a reference to Chris Rock that worked well.
You can see the video at http://bit.ly/3ViOVe
You can see the video at http://bit.ly/3ViOVe
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Bunjo's - August 14, 2009 - Not the best, but fun
http://bit.ly/c6ptD
Enjoy. Please.
[Note: this is a slightly shorter version of the same video from before]
Enjoy. Please.
[Note: this is a slightly shorter version of the same video from before]
Screw you -- I'm busy and tired
I decided I might NOT transcribe and post the two sets I performed last week. If I had the videos, no problem. But typing all that sh*t feels like WORK. When I get rich and famous, I'll HIRE somebody to transcribe it all. :)
What I can offer you instead is a video of the complete set I did last night at Bunjo's Comedy Club in Dublin, Ca. Not my BEST set, but fun, anyway.
What I can offer you instead is a video of the complete set I did last night at Bunjo's Comedy Club in Dublin, Ca. Not my BEST set, but fun, anyway.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Remiss
I've been remiss in not posting this week. I have to transcribe and post the sets from Tommy's on Monday and Bunjo's on Friday. I'm taking tomorrow night off, so maybe I'll get them done then. I'm mad at myself for not bringing fresh batteries for the camera Monday & starting the video too early Friday, so I have only the first *few* minutes of my set. [sigh] On each occasion, though, I recorded the audio, so at least I can copy down the words for you when I get a chance, gentle reader.
I joined MySpace Comedy today, something I've been consciously avoiding. MySpace has become the "crazy uncle" of social networking sites. Too many teens, tweens, and crazies. But I need the presence, so I did it (MySpace.com/richorwell). I mostly use Facebook (Facebook.com/rich.orwell) and Twitter (Twitter.com/rhetorich).
If you want it, you can make a bid on the domain name "sitonmyfacebook.com" Best of luck.
I also joined a few more SIGs (Special Interest Groups) at Mensa, so I need to read all *those* daily email digests. I've got 100 digests from my 2 Yahoo pun groups to read, too.
On the comedy gig front, I've booked open mic nights and new talent showcases in the next few weeks at 3 clubs outside my "comfort zone" of Tommy T's and Bunjo's: a second appearance at Rooster's in Sunnyvale, and first appearances at Paddy's Coffee House in Union City and the Wharf Room at Castagnola's restaurant in San Francisco. It will be a good learning experience to work at different clubs, each with its own audience mix.
I've decided to change the flavor of my sets to more "biographical" and less "current news & politics". This will require a good deal of writing, but I have until Friday to work on it.
I joined MySpace Comedy today, something I've been consciously avoiding. MySpace has become the "crazy uncle" of social networking sites. Too many teens, tweens, and crazies. But I need the presence, so I did it (MySpace.com/richorwell). I mostly use Facebook (Facebook.com/rich.orwell) and Twitter (Twitter.com/rhetorich).
If you want it, you can make a bid on the domain name "sitonmyfacebook.com" Best of luck.
I also joined a few more SIGs (Special Interest Groups) at Mensa, so I need to read all *those* daily email digests. I've got 100 digests from my 2 Yahoo pun groups to read, too.
On the comedy gig front, I've booked open mic nights and new talent showcases in the next few weeks at 3 clubs outside my "comfort zone" of Tommy T's and Bunjo's: a second appearance at Rooster's in Sunnyvale, and first appearances at Paddy's Coffee House in Union City and the Wharf Room at Castagnola's restaurant in San Francisco. It will be a good learning experience to work at different clubs, each with its own audience mix.
I've decided to change the flavor of my sets to more "biographical" and less "current news & politics". This will require a good deal of writing, but I have until Friday to work on it.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Brief Throught
I'll post more about last night's set at Tommy T's tomorrow. But this is what I put on Facebook last night:
Tonight at Tommy T's, I was the one who sucked most of the ones who sucked least. Which is to say: of the 30 comics who performed, the audience got to vote for a favorite among the "top 8" chosen by management. While I got the least votes of those 8, at least I got to be in the group. As her father's character said to Jodie Foster in the movie "Contact", "Small moves, Ellie, small moves."
Tonight at Tommy T's, I was the one who sucked most of the ones who sucked least. Which is to say: of the 30 comics who performed, the audience got to vote for a favorite among the "top 8" chosen by management. While I got the least votes of those 8, at least I got to be in the group. As her father's character said to Jodie Foster in the movie "Contact", "Small moves, Ellie, small moves."
Healthy, defined
Maryann, Wife Charming, after the several times it takes to walk all the dogs, is feeling a little "down" physically. So I took her blood pressure and blood sugar. Pressure was a tad high, but the sugar was 99 -- which is to say, perfect.
On those rare occasions I take a non-diabetic's blood sugar, it always amazes me that it comes up plus-or-minus a point or two of 100.
Hurray for the human body. Go pancreas!
On those rare occasions I take a non-diabetic's blood sugar, it always amazes me that it comes up plus-or-minus a point or two of 100.
Hurray for the human body. Go pancreas!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Lately
I've been entering the text of the several hundred jokes I wrote into a database, complete with keywords to find them & string them together into comedy routines.
This is tedious, mind-numbing work.
I have A.D.D. I don't do "tedious." I don't do "mind-numbing."
What I *do* is find distractions to take me away from getting the work done.
Squirrel!
This is tedious, mind-numbing work.
I have A.D.D. I don't do "tedious." I don't do "mind-numbing."
What I *do* is find distractions to take me away from getting the work done.
Squirrel!
Rhetoric Dept Grad Speech -- the Joke
I love to share this story with rhetoricians.
I graduated with honors in Rhetoric in 1993 from the University of California, Berkeley, and won the competition to be the opening speaker at graduation. The competition consisted of delivering our (5 minute) speeches to the department chair and some faculty members.
When the Chair told me I had won, he also told me I would have to delete a joke from the speech I had written. Censorship at Berkeley? Amazing.
I was given a choice: tell the joke and lose my honors status or not.
Here's the joke:
"Because there's no 'pre-law' major at Berkeley, many future lawyers here study Rhetoric. It is a rare opportunity for those of us who do not intend to become lawyers to observe the lawyer in its larval stage, before it pupates as a pupil at law school and emerges as a full-fledged, adult, blood-sucking parasite."
The Chair said, "The PARENTS of those future lawyers will be in the audience." I replied, "They'll understand that something is either actionable or not. They may even like it. It will roll off them like water from a duck's back." At that point the Chair reiterated his "don't tell it or else" position.
So I didn't tell it.
BTW, in the tradition of oral presentation, the department gives each graduating student the opportunity to give a 30-second statement when his or her name is called. It's a lot of fun to watch.
I graduated with honors in Rhetoric in 1993 from the University of California, Berkeley, and won the competition to be the opening speaker at graduation. The competition consisted of delivering our (5 minute) speeches to the department chair and some faculty members.
When the Chair told me I had won, he also told me I would have to delete a joke from the speech I had written. Censorship at Berkeley? Amazing.
I was given a choice: tell the joke and lose my honors status or not.
Here's the joke:
"Because there's no 'pre-law' major at Berkeley, many future lawyers here study Rhetoric. It is a rare opportunity for those of us who do not intend to become lawyers to observe the lawyer in its larval stage, before it pupates as a pupil at law school and emerges as a full-fledged, adult, blood-sucking parasite."
The Chair said, "The PARENTS of those future lawyers will be in the audience." I replied, "They'll understand that something is either actionable or not. They may even like it. It will roll off them like water from a duck's back." At that point the Chair reiterated his "don't tell it or else" position.
So I didn't tell it.
BTW, in the tradition of oral presentation, the department gives each graduating student the opportunity to give a 30-second statement when his or her name is called. It's a lot of fun to watch.
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