Last night, I returned to the Comedy Forum for the first time in about six months. I'll admit I was a little nervous; I really wanted to do well with the material I've written since I last performed there. I liken it to a class reunion, where you want to show everyone how well your doing despite their not-liking-you. I don't mean to paint that kind of picture, I've never felt unpopular at the Forum, I'm just trying to create a metaphor. Anyway, the show started around 8:15/8:20 or so, and I got on after 10:00pm. But not before the guy before me accidentally broke the mic stand. I can't blame him for it, because his replacing the mic in the stand was probably just the last straw, you know? Anyway it took a couple of minutes to get a replacement out, but as soon as it was ready, I was called on stage. My set wasn't as good as I had hoped, and I could easily blame the mic stand or the time of the night or the alignment of the stars or anything. I could blame that stuff, but the simple fact of the matter is; I went too fast. Rob Durham told me that, and for some reason it sank in. Tom Milster's been telling me that for weeks, maybe months. I may have mentioned it before, but I like the way Greg Warren goes up with a no-nonsense kind of attitude. He talks, sometimes with a voice that could issue army commands. But he doesn't rush. That's what I want. Even though some of his jokes are silly, he starts off with a presence that makes you pay attention. It doesn't make you want to pay attention, it just makes you DO it. I'm hoping I can keep that in mind tonight when Janine, Ken and I are in Bloomington. If college night is as cool as I've heard, this should be a ton of fun, and hopefully an easy set.
Live, and let live. The aim of the game is to feel real good.