The crowd at the Funny Bone last night was huge. It wasn't a sold out crowd, but in comparison to the audience size at the Legacy Café on Saturday, the crowd was, what we in the business call, "bigger". Joey and Brett from the Fairview Heights Funny Bone were there, as was Henry Phillips, Westport's headliner last week. Not being on the list, I was content to mill about and BS with the other comics, talking about upcoming shows, bits we're working on and generally just waiting around. During the meeting, two spots on the list opened up, and so all the "extras" were asked to sign up on a separate list. I missed that announcement and was in the lobby looking through my backpack when Kevin Patterson asked if I wanted to sign up. I said yes, and thanked him for looking out for me (thanks again, Kevin). Anyway, since I was at the bottom of the list and was literally on stage last week, I figured I'd go in the showroom watch, work on some stuff at my table and call it a night. I sat at my table and worked on a hypothetical list (just in case I was to get picked). I also did a little reorganizing with my index cards (which help me group jokes by bits (I'm trying to put all of my jokes in a 15 to 20 minute set order so that it "flows" without changing subject too dramatically) ). While Tim Heeley was on stage, Keith Cissel (who was MC-ing) asked if I wanted some time, I replied that I did, and he said I would be on after Tom Shelton, who was following Tim Heeley. I was now the second to last comic of the evening (I think I've mentioned before how I like closing, being 2nd to last, however 2nd to last seems less appealing to me because there isn't that chance of running a little longer. In either case, the crowd could be getting tired/restless, but that extra minute or two really makes it seem more glamerous. Anyway, I get on and start with my Make a Wish line, then I go into the single / fat jokes and followed with the three "date" or ladies problems jokes. The blog below this one is entitled something like "It wasn't so much a date as I drove her to the funeral", that bit got a really good response, and Tim Heeley said it was one of the funnier things I have come up with in a while. Of course reading it probably doesn't do it justice, so I'll have to post the video on my media page. Of course that does me no good if you don't click here. Anyway, closed out with my pharmacy jokes, medical study bit (with a new addition, which I liked) and my tetris bit. I messed up the tetris phrase "I need a manager" because I was thinking about how I wanted to close with "the blackest thing" but I had seen the light and knew it was time to get off stage. No worries, the crowd gave me a good send off, and I had fun, so I can't be dissappointed. Afterwards, I went over to the Backstreet Jazz and Blues karaoke shindig with Lara Csesgody, a comedienne from Chicago. She and I were ordering non-alcoholic drinks at the bar (water and coke, respectively) and started talking. After comedy, we started making fun of the singers doing karaoke. Then we raided the RFT for news about open mics, comedy and anything else that got our attention. Matt Wolff came over and hung out a bit, but around Midnight we all decided to split.
This Saturday is the show at the Omega Complex; I'm looking forward to it as it will be a different crowd, and there should be some publicity, which would be nice. Considering I'm going to be the only white comic, I might stick out a bit. Let's just hope I'm funny. Wednesday is the competition at the Comedy Forum; let's hope I'm funny…
Thursday is my show at Hard Times in Montgomery City with Joe Lehnig, Brett Clawson, and Andi Smith. Please god, let me be funny...