So, it's been a year and month since I graduated from Joe Matarese's comedy school and no better time to take stock of where I've been, where I am and where I'm going. I was doing a couple of open mics and booked mics a week and doing shows about every 10 days last time I wrote in November. My pace is about the same presently, but I've added emcee to my bag of tricks which is the next logical step in the process. I've been an emcee twice now and it has a different skill set. I've also concluded that it's not as easy as it looks because it requires constant attention. Instead of sitting quietly waiting my turn to do my 10 to 15 minutes and breathing a sigh of relief after I've performed, emceeing necessitates long term concentration, breathing life into a lifeless audience, containing rowdy guests and setting the table for the headlining act. It means that I must control the pace of the show and can't sigh that sigh until the last comic standing walks off and I wrap up the show. What's the best way to become a good emcee and get asked to emcee? Getting my own venue where I can emcee lots of shows and practice until I can do it in my
sleep.
That brings me to the "where I'm going" issue and I have some choices. I can continue to go to open and booked mics and perform spots at local shows which sometimes require that I bring people. I know many, many comics that have been doing this for three, four or five years, honing their skills, but not taking on anything further. I can scout out a local bar or restaurant and arrange to put on shows or hold mics where I can become a competent emcee in preparation for hosting shows at local clubs. I can go into NYC or Philadelphia three to four times a week and try to convince bookers to give me five minutes on their shows, competing with thousands of 20 somethings who are trying to get those same spots. I'm a 56 year old married retiree with a contented life so I know that the last option would be too much wear and tear on me with only the slightest possibility of getting anywhere.
My plan is to continue to write, continue to perform at mics and local shows, continue to network with people who like my work and ask me to do shows and think seriously about finding a local venue and starting my own show. I'm scared to move ahead, frankly, but I don't see myself sitting still or retreating.
