I’ve been on the road full time since 2009. In the last five years I’ve worked about 211 weeks, been on stage in front of around 60,000 people and driven 200,000 miles. Because when you’re a Road Comic, that’s what you do. But in LA you GET IN LINE.
I used to get on stage every week and if there was an off week I was home I could run up to The Comedy Caravan and get some stage time. But LA is a completely different beast. If you’re “Somebody” or have a manager you can pretty much get a set whenever you want, but if you’re like me...a road comic that no one has ever heard of it’s a little more difficult. Who am I kidding...it’s a LOT more difficult. If I want to get on stage say at The Laugh Factor in LA, I have to show up around 3:00 p.m. so I can be one of the first 15 people in line to sign up at 6:00 p.m. to get on the open mic a week later. The Comedy Store has a lottery, HaHa’s is “pay to play”, The Improv is impossible....Tonight I’ll be going to a club...hope that I can get on the open mic so I can get 3 min probably somewhere around 11 pm or so on a Tuesday night. Lord Jesus.
I know I’m in a new place and it’s part of the process, part of the journey, but at the moment it makes me feel like the last seven years were for nothing. Of course, I know that’s not true, the last seven years made me a pretty damn good comic. But the first few years on the road is when you pay your dues. Unless you move to a new city then you start paying your dues all over again.
God grant me the serenity to accept the fact that it’s hard to get stage time, The courage to keep going for it, and the wisdom to know that Dreams aren’t easy, but they’re worth it.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Good advice Thoreau....I’m trying sir....I’m trying.
I used to get on stage every week and if there was an off week I was home I could run up to The Comedy Caravan and get some stage time. But LA is a completely different beast. If you’re “Somebody” or have a manager you can pretty much get a set whenever you want, but if you’re like me...a road comic that no one has ever heard of it’s a little more difficult. Who am I kidding...it’s a LOT more difficult. If I want to get on stage say at The Laugh Factor in LA, I have to show up around 3:00 p.m. so I can be one of the first 15 people in line to sign up at 6:00 p.m. to get on the open mic a week later. The Comedy Store has a lottery, HaHa’s is “pay to play”, The Improv is impossible....Tonight I’ll be going to a club...hope that I can get on the open mic so I can get 3 min probably somewhere around 11 pm or so on a Tuesday night. Lord Jesus.
I know I’m in a new place and it’s part of the process, part of the journey, but at the moment it makes me feel like the last seven years were for nothing. Of course, I know that’s not true, the last seven years made me a pretty damn good comic. But the first few years on the road is when you pay your dues. Unless you move to a new city then you start paying your dues all over again.
God grant me the serenity to accept the fact that it’s hard to get stage time, The courage to keep going for it, and the wisdom to know that Dreams aren’t easy, but they’re worth it.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Good advice Thoreau....I’m trying sir....I’m trying.
RSS Feed
