Wednesday, June 27, 2012

How to be a funny man 7


       My 7th and 8th Open Mic. 'Comfort through Discomfort'














What a great day on the video and stand up comedy front. Well 'Epic,' by my standards.

                  I think it may have been in the preparation. I Slept well last night, was in bed before 10pm and got a great breakfast and lunch. Had breakfast in the hostel (USA HOSTELS)  and then headed down to China town for lunch.

                  I've been sharing a room with a good French lad, but we were on different timings so I wasn't sleeping that well. But, yesterday he left, so I had the room completely to myself. Awesome.

                 So all morning I edited a video for the 'Glowpunk' youtube channel that I shot on Sunday for the Pride Parade in San Francisco.  I'm straight but it was probably one of the coolest parties I have ever been to, and a learning and mind opening experience as well. Hopefully you will like the video. Here is the link.  

               


                So after editing all morning I walked the 45 minutes across town to the 'Amnesia' bar open mic, that my friend Chris Duncan was hosting for a friend in his absence. I was up 13th, and decided en route that I was going to try and freestyle  and create tension in the room as much as possible. The room was giving little or no feedback as the room was mainly full of comics and poets. So instead of writing this off as a waste of time, I realized that no matter what I did I was going to bomb (fail). So i decided to just mess about and even went behind the curtain and put on some silly voices and mentioned some subject matters that I would never want to make part of my act. I also called out some one who was not listening and pointed out that "it was funny that creating tension was funny" and that got a laugh.

         Also that "people cared as little about the comedy as the bar owner did about the decor" and that got a laugh. And, that it seemed "that the reaction of the audiance would be the same to the comedy that I made up on the spot as to the comedy I practiced en route" and that got a laugh. I also mentioned that to top it off there was "an alcoholic man dressed in a clown suit staring at me who was there  to highlight the sadness of the situation."(it was another performer dressed as a clown -Dr. Dream( he is great)) And that got a laugh. So a few easy laughs and proof to me that highly personalized comedy is the way forward.

                  Now don't get me wrong, I kinda bombed, but I bombed on my terms and that was satisfying, a great lesson learned and a confidence builder. I remember Dave Chapelle mentioned that it was only when he got comfortable bombing that he became a better comedian, so I kind of tried it based on that. Strange to attempting to fail and winning. Fun times.

               
          So after getting that set out of the way, I showed a stressed Chris Duncan his first appearance in a Glowpunk video I made and checked that he was cool about everything I showed in it. It was quite an honest take of him and he was 100% up for it. He is a clever fella, fearless and open to an admirable level, and as we have joked about on many occasions operating very close to a fatal mis interpretation. I expect great things for Chris Duncan as a result of his 'Highwire Act.' As I like to call it. Anyway, he approved his cameo and we edited the video a little in the car. Then we drove to the second Open Mic of the night. 'The Rock-it Room.'


                 We arrived at 'The Rock-it Room' and signed up . It was a super quiet night, so we went for a bite to eat across the road in the chinese take-away and then walked back over at our leisure. I smashed a can of red bull  (which I have not done in years) and  videoed a super high energy 5 min set that was terrible but again useful for my development. Also the wonderful asian guy running the room was a friend of mine and was nice and friendly and supportive. I guess someday I might let people see that video, but not 'til I feel I am better than that performance. To be honest, that shouldn't take too long.

                Myself and Chris then hit a few bars (drank coke and water) and I sent a few rounds of water to some girls who were sitting across the bar from us, which surprisingly worked better than sending alcoholic drinks. haha! The power of originality and comedy I guess.  That is the end of the blog for today... Feeling good and as you can see by the length of this entry, the red bull is still working.

Peace,
Glowpunk.



             




Sunday, June 24, 2012

Pride San Francisco 2012 - Dancing Child



Met this little fella when i was wandering round the city today making a video for Pride in San Francisco

How to be a funny man 6

My 6th open Mic

I walked an hour from my hostel just above the part of the city known as the Tenderloin, all the way across town to a place called mutinyradio.org. A wonderful upbeat comic and radio presenter called Pam runs the show there. The show is broadcast live on the internet and released later as a podcast. So a lot of comics like to go there to here what they sound like. Of course most comics record there sets on their phones but there is something a little better about the sound when you do it at a proper radio station. The showcase act was by a great improv comedy called 'Moore Devine.' They are very funny and well practiced and I believe once they start making youtube videos will be an internet global sensation. I have mentioned it to them but I guess I am the out of towner who they don't know so i guess they don't give much weight or attention to my comments. Will be nice to see them hit the world stage as soon as they make a video.

So there were about 6 people in the room when i got up and hopefully a few listening in over the internet. I tried a piece about smoking weed for the first time and finding a San Francisco town within china town and then becoming a giant redwood that just wanted to die. There were 3 mics on stage and 2 of the 3 micrphones broke during my set, so that kind of messes up the flow, but i tried to work the mayhem into my set and I guess it was fine for the level I am at. I can feel myself caring less and less about bombing and caring more and more about having fun and being brave and risking material. It is amazing how quick you can improve at something when you are starting from a no skill level. Anyway i did my 5 minutes and then walked back across town, taking in a crack ally beside best buy on my way home. Managed to make it home with a 2000 dollar camera and 2000 dollar laptop intact. Even came up with some premises and ideas on the way home. I have noticed that walking in a new environment is very good for coming up with ideas, and in San Francisco being anonymous and down town with the 'crazys' in the tenderloin, no one looks  at you when you are mumbling to yourself. Ended up at the 'purple onion'comedy club where some comics I met recently were performing. They both did great and the lads on the door kindly let me in free because I am a 'comic.' ONe of the perks of embarrassing yourself on stage regularly, i guess.


Strange but true: Saw the second person receiving a blow job in a car while walking through town. I think I must be walking through the bad parts of town . ha!



Spend the next night messing about trying to fill a comedy gig at 'Amnesia' standing outside the door messing with people and advertising the show. Basically getting my stage time off stage. Good fun, met a nice girl.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

How to be a funny man 5

   My Fifth open Mic

       Tonight was a great night. I wrote a piece yesterday that I thought was well written and had confidence in. Today I performed it at an open mike called "Amnesia" on Valencia and delivered it with conviction, and no missed beats. Today I got a look into the future of my stand up comedy.

       I found that I could operate at a level I didn't think was possible for me yet. I got a few handshakes after getting down and one guy even got off his seat to say he enjoyed it. (that is my measure of success) It was a solid two minute story that required a lot of energy and memory. Now don't get me wrong, every comic worth his salt could do what I did, but for me it was a huge jump.



Before getting up, I had half a beer and a mouth full of coke. Then when the guy before me was going up I walked outside and walked round the corner and just raised my heart rate with a little swinging of the arms and some jogging on the spot. A minute of that and I walked around to the entrance again only to be met with Chris Duncan, who was hosting the open mike. His few words of advice were, enjoy the fact you know no one.

Before I knew it, Chris was onstage inviting me up to take the mike. I slagged him a little bit about the pitter patter of his shoes and explained to the audience that if they laughed I was a comedian and if they didn't I was just a guy telling a story.

           I got to abstract quickly, which felt good and comfortable. The room was polite and attentive and laughed when expected. My final punch line could have been a little better but the little laughs throughout the story and the 100% attention of the audience made me feel like a winner.

      Now the key is to be able to replicate this again, in many different ways and have strong 'bits' from start to finish. By no means do I think  I am a good comedian, but by god today went well for me. I feel more comfortable committing to my material and longer stories instead of one liners, and all that came from today. A milestone for my development.

Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg. Had to battle with my mind a little just to get on stage today, i think partly cause I felt last time I had very little to say and the rewards are so minimal in a room full of comics, but as expected you always get something out of getting up there... Gotta fight through the fear. I feel like I can actually think straight now on stage or at least the fog is lifting and clarity and control is seeping in, which is something that only four 5 minute sets ago I did not feel. A great rate of progression but lots more to achieve.

After 'Amnesia" me and Chris roamed the streets and Chris did a 10 minute set at the 'Rockit Room.'
Tomorrow  going to a comedy central gig on some free tickets... i'll let you know how it goes.



Peace

Glowpunk



Saturday, June 16, 2012

How to be a funny man 4

My Fourth Comedy  Open Mike

              Decided to hit up a place called 'Amnesia' on Valencia @ 19th in San Francisco, Signed up around 7 i think and they threw the names into a jar and I got up 2nd last but there was only like 15 of us so it wasn't too long. There was still maybe 15 people around. The stage was raised up about 4 feet and the room was long with most people way at the back of the room. Again the room consisted mainly of comics and some musical performers. There was a cool 50 year old guy dressed as a clown who played some psychedelic music and said some cool things, almost simulating a trip. Fun
                                                                    (Not me in the photo, justa picture of the venue)
               So this time as i knew my chance was coming up I was still mellow, went out for a breath of fresh air and swung my arms round a bit to get the blood flowing to the brain.. walked up and got a little intro as a "newbie" walked up the steps and under the lights. Nerves were nothing compared to the first time on stage. On stage i'm thinking super fast but talking super slow. I can see everyone and hear everything and am hyper aware of the room but still to scared to interact with the room in depth. Some people were talking so I pulled them up on it and laughed it off and continued on . Got a few genuine laughs but know that i am no where near my potential. I am slow, immobile, slurring words and missing rythms and not word perfect yet. I would say weak, but optimistic. Still running that bombing the last time on stage over in my head, but conscious that this is the process. Glad I got up.... i feel like a lot of comics who start out might relate to this.... I am trying to get away from my bad performances with every further performance.... My brain is getting into gear . With the comics and on the street i hold my own and perhaps outshine some of the lads, but once on stage with a mike in my hand I am the slow one... It is psychological.. I know i will overcome it with a few hundred more shows and then i think i will see big steps..

               Came to the conclusion with Chris Duncan ( a fellow comedian with 2years hard graft down)  that there are many ways to bomb and that I am not bombing in the worst way. So that is good. I see good times ahead for Chris. His stage presence and 'likablity' are thorough the roof, just a few subtle nuances and some luck and he will hit where he wants. A talented young man who appears fearless. A good inspiration and good fella. If you are reading this Chris HI!!!!!  Here is his facebook page. Tell him glowpunk sent ya ! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Duncan-Comedy/194889017225824?ref=ts

              Getting up 5 times next week, so hoping to see improvement by the end of the week... I guess that is why i feel like keeping a diary of this. Apart from maybe helping others there is an element of being able to look back and see real progress in mind and skill.

Right people
Peace

Glowpunk

Monday, June 11, 2012

How to be a funny man 3 (take 2)

Third Comedy Open Mic

Tough crowd, bad show, I bombed but Great host Mike runs a good ship

Monday night at the Brainwash, it was a mixed open night, three rappers/poets before me and then I got up and tried to deliver dry material. The room was completely quiet. I nearly left with my tail between my legs after my 3min30sec set but by chance stayed on and watched a guy kill. He was great.

   The room was still silent for him too, and that made me think wow, it really is partly the crowd and the room. He was touring and everything and still played to silence... He did brilliantly though and kept his pauses and timings... I imagine we may hear about this fella in the future, i think he may have just given me the best lesson about sticking to your guns and be fearless with your material... The room tried to destroy him and he just slowed it down and destroyed the room. Awesome to watch a comedian kill in complete silence.

I did how ever make a few school boy errors...



1 Signed up after a rapper.
2. Tried new material without preparing and committing properly.
3. Showed signs of fear.
4. I wasn't amped up or focused, too casual.
5. Openly cared to much about the audience's reaction.


I "bombed"... and if that is as bad as it gets I should be ok from here on in....maybe... hmmm

Walked back through the Tenderloin and Mission Street area which is a tough part of town and arrived home in one piece, Laptop intact... It seems the lads on the streets there only want to sell drugs and not mug. Actually have met a few cool cats on my little walks. Sad to see so many people in turmoil though.

New goals, commit to my material and pause and hold as the material dictates, be less reliant on the audiences responses while still being present.. It is a fine balance and hard to put down in text but I know what i mean and i guess some people who have been in my position will.

The key is to get up tomorrow and try and kill.....

C'mon ego stay strong! You can fucking do it!


Glowpunk


How to be a funny man 3



My Third Comedy Open Mic
     
      Third gig was a disaster, queued from 6pm signed up at 6.25pm. waited around 'til 10.45pm only to be told there was no time left for us to get up. I guess this is part of paying your dues. The host being as nice as he could, offered to let me and Tom up first next week. So that will be a nice day of not waiting... Tom headed off, so i guess it is time to hit the comedy open mikes on my own..
Going to take Friday Sat and Sunday off to try and write some good bits, feel like i have nothing funny to say so will try that for the next few days and hopefully on monday try it out and see how it goes down.

2 down, 3rd time might be better

Glowpunk

How to be a funny man 2

My Second Comedy Open Mic

           So, Second time up tonight, it was across town at 'Dirty Trix'  408 Clement Avenue. The room was kinda cool, about 20 people there so much quieter then the brainwash. It was a nice atmosphere to try stand up in, it had an attentive crowd, some of whom were just there to have a beer and listen. Again there were some people who were great and some who were terrible.

          I feel like i might have done just about enough not to be associated with the terrible.  Felt stronger on stage. I wasn't as nervous getting up and the pulse rate was not at the high level it was at the night in the Brainwash Cafe. The host was a nice fella and they had little music intros, the lighting was cool and it had a kinda cool red curtain behind the performers which gave that nice atmosphere.

Again we signed up at about 7 and went got up at about 9.30. I had walked 2 hours for some meetings that morning, so I was super tired, but had a Redbull to get the head in order. To get there I walked and got a lift on my friends push bike. Took about an hour. Again got up and did about 2 mins 30 secs and felt like it went great compared to the first night... Even handled a few heckles, all be them pretty chilled. I think i may have been to aware of the room and gone a little fast, but that was ok for me... Me and Tom met a nice guy called Chris Duncan who is a 5 year vet and is awesome on stage and he kind of gave us some light pointers. Basically get up again and enjoy it..

           So yep a lot less nerves and a better delivery all be it pretty bad. Still havn't told a dick joke or used too much bad language. It seems to be easier if you go blue, but I just don't want to go that route...

          Tom is heading off on holidays so hopefully I will still get up on stage when he is gone, I guess we'll see, Thursday night is the next one, back in the Brainwash. Hopefully it will go ok, but I have heard that you need to be prepared to play to complete silence and to bomb when you are starting out. Hasn't happened yet but I think it could happen soon...

Two down, number three coming up... gotta keep getting up and face the fear... that terribly seductive adrenaline. Right now I feel like my material is hacky and weak, looking forward to cracking and writing some good bits.


How to be a funny man 1

     
   
My First Comedy Open Mic


        Just back from doing my first open mike stand up comedy thingy ever. I did it in the brainwash comedy club on Folsom, San Francisco. It went well. Me and my cousin Tom signed up for 5 minutes but did far less. The goal was to get up, say a few things get some laughs and sit down. We succeeded at that. Although, it was hard to tell what was charity laughs and what we induced. Either way a milestone.

I've religiously texted emailed and kept little notes of funny thoughts i've had for a few months now. It doesn't amount to much and a lot of it is nonsense and far from funny, but I pulled a few bits of that out and used those bits to make up 2mins 30 seconds of short concise jokes. Im too new to go into long stories, I guess I would forget and mess up in the panic

While signing up on the registry sheet there was some excessive fumbling over the pen, all adrenaline induced i guess and funny to see how amped we were. The place was noisy and exactly the wrong atmosphere for any a good performer, which in a funny way made it the perfect place to begin. Every one in the room was a comic and those who weren't sat down the back talking. The standard for the most part was pretty low, so that took the pressure off us. there was even a few people who just got up and talked crazy. I think they might have been off their medication

We got the customary "A LOT OF LOVE " welcome from the crowd which the host Tony Stark rallied (gentleman) and then got straight into it. It was over before we knew it and then  we walked outside and talked about how we were glad it was over, and how surprisingly it was worth the 4 hour wait for about 3 minutes of material.  My first joke was "Two Irish guys walk into a bar but it wasn't a bar that sold alcohol it was a metal bar, and it went straight through the first guys chest and out through the other guys head"


I liked it, and I guess some people did too cause it got a reasonable response.

There is a chance to get up every night of the week in San Francisco and do 5 mins, so i guess it is a good place to go for wannabe comedians like me. I decided to stay in town instead of traveling across the country as previously planned to see what can be accomplished in the comedy world in a month, getting up about 4 times a week.

So in closing I would say that everyone should go and look at a few shows first then write down some buts and get up there and let people know it is your first time. They will be supportive.

We recorded it on video but I think I will keep it to myself for a while, incase it is the last one I ever do.


My cousin Dex came along for the laugh and to see how it all worked and thinks he might give it a go next time. He spent the itme in the car writing lyrics for some music he is making.

Right, now to see if we will get up again.

Glowpunk