The Big Bumper Thread of Stand-up Comedy

[DanaC]

I got a minute in and had to stop cause I was really laughing and didn't want to miss anything.

Then I listened to the rest.

I do remember readingthat story and it making me smile - but hearing you tell it was soooo much funnier.

Your delivery is awesome. You sounded really confident, like you've been doing standup gigs as a career for years.

Back in the day, me and J used to watch a lot of new stand ups - open mic type stuff. Saw some people die hard. Saw some die but knew they had the funneh somewhere. Saw some and just knew they had no funneh at all - and saw some that just got the audience right on side and held the room. You put me in mind of the latter.

[infinite monkey]

Well now I envy you for one more thing!

Very nicely done.

[DanaC]

The line about paying a man more made me laugh so hard.

[Gravdigr]

Ms. Fobble, that was great!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Kudos Ma'am. You're right, the difference between good and great is not the jokes but the timing.

Ms Noonan, Ms Noonan, Faux News here...
1- Aren't you worried about neglecting your family while doing World Tours, or just flying to this coast or that, for appearances?
2- Does it bother you that millions of men and women are having sexual fantasies while watching you perform?
3- Is it true you frequent a subversive Philly area Jihadist website?
4- Does your chewing gum lose it's flavor on the bedpost overnight?

[Clodfobble]

Thanks you guys! I have so much fun doing it, it's truly therapeutic. Even the one time I completely bombed, I felt like I should feel bad but I didn't, I swear to God it was an even bigger high than when I do well.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

1- Aren't you worried about neglecting your family while doing World Tours, or just flying to this coast or that, for appearances?

I know you're joking, but in all seriousness, I'm not worried because this isn't a career for me no matter how much better I may get with experience. Obviously the reality of my life makes it a non-starter, but aside from logistics, I am actively refusing to let my left brain have any piece of this action.

See, here's how it is. I'm naturally about 90% left brain, and that's a balance that works for me. But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key. She got out a few times, but I got better at predicting and avoiding the escape routes. And by the time the job was mostly done and I was finally able to step back and check in on her, she'd turned into Helena from Orphan Black. You can't just release something like that back into the world, you know?

So not only did I choose these open mic nights as a specific way to ease my right brain back out on day trips, I made the conscious rule for myself that I wasn't going to let it become work in any way. Instinctively I want to be the best at everything I do, and this is the one place I won't allow it. I won't network with other comics before the show, I won't search out other places I could perform in town, I won't actively try to write material. It's all fun and no ambition and that's how it has to stay.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key.

Whoa, that may be what it takes for you, but it sounds like a tough row to hoe for Mr Clod.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

snip--

See, here's how it is. I'm naturally about 90% left brain, and that's a balance that works for me. But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key. She got out a few times, but I got better at predicting and avoiding the escape routes. And by the time the job was mostly done and I was finally able to step back and check in on her, she'd turned into Helena from Orphan Black. You can't just release something like that back into the world, you know?

--snip

... um...

Dear Doctor Scientist Detective Fobble:

I should tell you that "she" has been sneaking out and hanging out with us for a long time. She's more flexible and agile than you might have thought. She *is* funny and articulate and warm. She is a good friend and good company. She's always made it back safe and sound, no harm done. I feel kinda weird tattling on her like this, but I thought you should know. Please don't put a new lock on this door. We'll take good care of her and get her home before bed check, ok?

TIA.

Her friends, and yours,

teh cellar.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oh oh, I volunteer for the bed check.

[footfootfoot]

Really terrific, Clod. I missed seeing your face, but I understand you need to keep a degree of anonymity. I wished you talked a little slower so I could savor the story and let the tension build, but I realize you were under time constraints. I really look forward to more.

You will be giving Kathleen Madigan a run for her money.

[Undertoad]

Finally got to listen, away from work...

~ Most Excellent Job ~

[Clodfobble]

Kind of--he's naturally about 95% left brain himself, so it wasn't much of a stretch. He's the type you have to force emotions out of to begin with, so he's more than happy not having to deal with anyone else's.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Really terrific, Clod. I missed seeing your face, but I understand you need to keep a degree of anonymity.

I wouldn't mind having my face in the video, you can't really google that. But that would mean having someone else sit in the audience to record it, and very close to the stage at that. I asked another comic to record me once from the back area where we all stand, and it came out unusable. I did this one myself just taking the phone up on stage and setting it on the stool beside me (BigV's suggestion, I think it was) and even then the audio is questionable.

[footfootfoot]

Do you need the audience's energy or could you make a demo tape of just you performing to the camera? Then add the laughs at the right places so it doesn't sound weird.

[Clodfobble]

I could do that, but I won't, because it wouldn't be fun.