Not what I wanted

Last night at the Forum, I didn't have my video camera so I can't examine exactly why certain jokes didn't work. A couple of jokes (that I feel have promise and am certain worked last week) bombed big time; and this super rude table up front was talking, so I just said "Talk a little more during my set, why don't you?". I then apologized and said I was having a bad week because of my quitting smoking. So I did that joke, and the rude people kind of paid attention for a minute. I never really got out any "good" "new" jokes, and the whole set seemed kind of like a waste since I didn't get it on video; but we'll try again tonight and hopefully I'll get a laugh out or two out of the new stuff.

Fewer problems than Jay Z

I just watched my tape from Tuesday's show at the Funny Bone and I'm really happy with my set. I've been struggling to write more jokes because I want to feature (SOON) but right now I have just short of 30 minutes of material (some clubs require 20, some 25, some 30). A good rule, people tell me, is to have 150% of the time you need, so if you need 30, have 45 just in case. So apparently I need to write 20 more minutes of material (which is essentially doubling my current joke library or catalog).
My problem at the moment (or problems) are:
-I want to continue to work clean
-I don't want to embarrass my family should they ever hear/see these jokes
-I don't know what my "voice" is yet.
-I procrastinate and don't write enough.

The last problem there should be an easy fix; just write more have a schedule and stick to it. Sounds easy, but I watch a lot of movies and have new ones coming in constantly, also I got suckered into playing World of Warcraft again and I have a very low level of self control when it comes to video games.
As for working clean, I like that still. I don't mind filthy humor and during a regular day some pretty nasty stuff comes out of my mouth, but I just don't want to do that on stage. It's not because I think I'm better than anyone else, it's just a choice. And marketing, I'll be honest.
The working clean thing goes along with embarrassing my family. I'd rather they not know about certain things I've done (and do), but I'm starting to think that if it's funny and an audience can learn about my life, I should probably do it.
As for my voice, I have no idea what it is. Am I auto biographical? Probably. Sarcastic? Sometimes. Self deprecating. Oh yeah. But listen to someone people always rave about; George Carlin for instance or Richard Pryor. I'm not familiar with very much of their work (I'm a bad comic that way, I guess). I've never sat down and listened to any of their albums or CDs or whatever you want to call it. But if I heard one of their jokes; I would venture to guess I could say whose it was. You know? They have that voice. It's like when ANY Offspring song comes on, I know it's them, they have a familiar sound to them, a theme of sorts (but more like a common style (the guitar, the drums, bass. Even before they start singing I know who it is). I guess that's what I'm looking for... I think Pryor actually said it takes 15 years (I could be misquoting him) to find your voice. I'll be 40 then, and will probably need to pay some bills, so I hope I figure it out before then. It doesn't have to be soon, but it'd be a whole lot cooler if it was...

Today's problem

Friday night some lady (who's seen me more than a couple times) told me to write more material. "I'm working on it."
Saturday, Al suggested a lackluster set first show was because my setups are too long and I don't have any 1-2 punch lines big hitting jokes. "I'm working on it."

Last night I tried to talk out a couple stories on stage at the Forum open mic. Few if any got laughs, and only because I was talking blue.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to only do new material at open mic; I think I lasted 1 week. The problem is I don't know what to write about; since I try to base most of my bits on my life; I'm limited to what happens (or has happened) to me. And since I work clean, I guess I'm not able to use certain words or take certain positions on subjects... The problem with writing material at this point for me is; I don't know how I write jokes. I'm still really confused about who I am on stage, am I happy or bitter, self-confident or not; I really don't think an audience could take both happy and sad me, and then see me go from no self confidence to some or a bunch. Even though I do that in real life; sometimes I feel untouchable, sometimes not. Maybe the audiences would be able to follow along... I'm pretty sure though, someone will say it's confusing. It probably will be at first.

it could be considered illegal in some states...

I'm working with the Untamed Shrews this week; it's pretty fun. I know Andy Woodhull and I went to the absolute worst strip club with Marge Tackes; but according to my blog, I've not worked with them before. Thursday night Keith Cissel and Kevin Patterson came out to the club because they've worked with the Shrews a lot and are pretty close.

Last night after the first show, some lady came up to me and told me to write more jokes. She said she'd seen me before and that I was funny, but that she had seen it before. I tried to play it off like I wasn't insulted (I was, but only a little) and told her I am writing, but I'm not generating new quality material at a pace I'm happy with yet. The second show was a little rough for me, but Al and I did a weird give away at the end of the first show, where we were both on stage with 2 microphones and some envelopes and tickets. It was kind of cool bantering back and forth like that; I couldn't help but think of the Sklar brothers...

Hello, rich people

Friday night, David Graham and I did a Yacht club private show in St Charles. I did 26 minutes and was really happy with my set; the acoustics weren't the best, the lighting was almost non existent, and the audience was drunk and rowdy (stage right) and quiet and uptight (stage left). But I had a good time, I did about every joke I had, and I made some money. Being able to fill that amount of time feels good, but I keep thinking to the advice that pros sometimes give. Have 1 1/2 of what's needed. If you need 30 minutes, wait until you have 45. Just in case. I'm really hoping this will help motivate me to write more, so that when I am required to do 30 regularly, I will have a little extra in my back pocket just in case.

Breaking rules and breaking down

Tuesday I went up first at open mic, and I did about 80 or more percent new stuff. It was a bunch of the stuff I did Monday at the Forum, and I ate it hard. I won't blame the crowd, but I think if I had been later in the show, my reception wouldn't have been so frigid...

Sick on Sunday

I did a guest set last night at the Funny Bone. I hadn't even thought of getting on stage when I walked into the club, but Rahn Ramey was headlining, and he's taken a shine to me, plus he LOVES guest sets. It's not like I wasn't prepared. I always have an "open mic set" ready should something happen, and I did get to try out a new joke or two that I've been working on. I had to leave before the show ended, though, because I started to feel kind of sick; I ended up throwing up until about 4:30am and didn't get the best night of sleep...
Tonight at the Forum, I did a bunch of new stuff, and even though the audience wasn't the largest I had a good set. One group of about 6 in the center-to-stage-right side of the audience didn't respond too much, and one guy didn't even smile once. I even went a little blue during a couple parts, but I have a couple of new jokes that I'm really looking forward to playing-around with. The show got over in good time; we only had about 14 comics. I didn't hang around much because I'm hoping to call it an early night and get my strength back for when I have to go to work later this week. Hopefully I can trick my immune-system into working by tomorrow night or Wednesday morning...