Tuesday, September 29, 2009
by Amanda.
My comedy class instructor Dave walked up to me and whispered, “Are all your people here? I’m thinking you’re next.” Someone was onstage talking about cooking shows or something, and I shook my head.
I wasn’t ready to go up. A few hours ago, I was. Even 15 minutes ago. But now I was starting to feel like maybe I’m not funny. For whatever reason, this wasn’t a concern in front of strangers at an open mic two weeks earlier.
This time, people who know me were there. And people who ostensibly know me, blog readers who ventured out from behind the computer monitor to support me in real life. I felt so appreciated and excited and forgetful.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
by Amanda.
I’m performing stand-up comedy tomorrow. A lot of other events, including AdWeek 2009, are harshing my buzz and killing my crowd. It’s somewhat difficult to convince a friend to risk his or her job in order to see you crack jokes for five minutes.
But if you can make it, I’d love some laughter.
Who: Me (and others) with a microphone
What: Trying to be funny and not pee our pants
When: September 24th, 6:00-8:30 pm
Where: Broadway Comedy Club at 318 W. 53rd Street (between 8th & 9th Ave.)
How: RSVP in advance at 212-714-4513. Mention that you’re seeing the show in the big room downstairs. There’s a $12 cover and two drink minimum.
Why: Because you’re ready to move our relationship to that next level. Or you’re bored.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
by Amanda.
Next Thursday is the culmination of my 10-week comedy class - a comedy show with my classmates and a few more seasoned comedians. We’ll each have about five minutes of stage time, and the audience will consist of whomever we can get to pay to watch us.
Enter Facebook and other channels for begging.
Though I know no one I invite would let me totally bomb onstage, I want to get sincere laughs. My classmate Cyndi and I became friends over the summer and plan to attend two open mics before the final show. This way, we can practice holding a microphone and trying to remember something we wrote that was meant to be funny.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
by Amanda.
Last week, I had preview tickets to “Bye Bye Birdie” on Broadway. Acquiring these tickets involved some money, some waiting, and a lot of discussion of how well John Stamos has aged.
By the day of the show, though, other plans started to brew. My friend Les from San Diego would be in town that night. I really wanted to see him, because he once proposed marriage to me over the loudspeaker at T.G.I. Friday’s.
We’ve been engaged eight years now. And once he’s ready to deny his authentic self and start being straight, it’s so on.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
by Amanda.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to publicly post my comedy debut details online, but who cares?
You’re all nice, supportive people. None of you would come and be heckling jerks, right?
Okay.
I’m not the only person performing, and I don’t know when I’ll go up. But everyone there will be dangerously hilarious or just dangerous.
So here are the details:
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
by Amanda.
Would any of you like to see me perform stand-up comedy in September?
It’ll be in NYC at a midtown comedy club on a weekday night.
Alas, there will be a small cover and a two-drink minimum. But you get to see me shake like a leaf under a hot light. Good times!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
by Amanda.
When I was a kid, my dad decided to get a private pilot’s license. It was something he’d always wanted to do. My mom was off the nights he had his class.
Sometimes we’d all pile in the car and my mom, sister, and I would spend those few hours visiting my grandmother in a nearby town while I imagined my dad sat at a squeaky desk in a room that smelled like sawdust.
I was told not to mention to anyone outside our home that my dad was learning how to fly an airplane.
