Slow start to the new year

I intentionally didn't book many gigs in January. Nor did I try to increase the number of venues where I perform. I wanted to slow down and decide whether to make the commitment to become a serious performer.

Geography plays a role. Tommy's and Bunjo's (in Pleasanton and Dublin, respectively) are each about 5 miles away. Other clubs where I perform are in Sunnyvale and San Francisco, a 40-minute drive or BART ride away. Other clubs where I have not yet performed are all over the Bay Area. I simply have to decide to invest the time and gas money to get there.

I had a good set at Bunjo's tonight (the text of which I will post later) and am booked at Roosters for next Wednesday, plus Wharf Room February 16 and 23rd. I'm also in competitions at Roosters and Bunjo's over the next few months. So I guess I'm starting to get busier. Yes, I *do* like performing.

Slap-Happy New Year!

I got all anal retentive over the holidays. I went through my database of over 220 bits to select only the ones I thought were worth telling. These were almost all things I'd told successfully before, plus a few I hadn't told yet but decided to give a chance. There were also a few new things I'd told but hadn't added to the database yet.

I ended up with around 100-120 bits, many of which I'll only use in certain topical situations (e.g. Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton, or George W. Bush jokes).

I picked 21 that I might use last night. Of those I ended up telling 8. Going up, as I did, last, I was able to make much of it sound as though I had written it on the spot as responses to the other comics' material.

My opening was, "I made a New Year's Resolution to memorize my set ahead of time, but f$%k that." I need to re-evaluate my position. *Actual* comics *do* have their sets ready to deliver. I need to decide if I want to pursue stand-up or become an author.