And just like that I officially have my first Conservatory class under my belt. Yesterday as I was riding my bike to the Second City I had a bit of an “ah ha!” moment when I realized that I was actually excited to walk into a class full of strangers. My how far I’ve come from last year at this time when I was lingering outside the building for my very first class debating on whether I should go in, or just say screw it and skip on home to continue being the creepy little loner that I used to prefer.
I will say it seems as if I’m with a much more “theatrical” group this time. I think I’m the only one in the class without a degree in acting or theater, so there’s that. I’m just an actor, but they’re act-orrrrs. If you catch my drift… Jazz hands top hats and all. Seems like a really good group of people though. Sadly I know better than to get attached to them because nothing is permanent in the Conservatory. I’ll be with this group for only sixteen weeks before there’s another cut. Rumor is round two of cuts are even more brutal than the first round. I’ll just pretend that thought isn’t already weighing over me.
The thing that I found pretty interesting is that the class is mostly girls. And even last night when I did stand-up, again it was mostly girls. The females are starting to rise up in the comedy scene my friends, and I’m liking it. In a world dominated by guys, it kinda seems like most times the girls have to work twice as hard to be funny. Because if you don’t think there’s a stigma with women in comedy than you’re just kidding yourself. Of course we’ve come a long way from where it used to be, but still today a good guy comedian can hit it with five great jokes, but for the girl who follows him to be considered on his same level she has to hit it with six. At least that’s what it seems like from my perspective anyway.
But anyway, last night I did stand-up with my pals Ricky and Kathleen. We went to the Monday night open mic at Merkles in Wrigleyville. It was a good time with a long performance list a talented comics, I’m thinking they get a good crowd because you get a free shot of Jamison right when you get done. It’s the little things… It also doesn’t hurt that the hosts are both insanely funny and actually want to be there. I’m writing a lot of new stuff right but luckily I had Kathleen and Ricky along to politely tell me before going on that perhaps some of the new material I shared with them wasn’t quite ready yet… Such as the impression of the “man on bath salts auditioning for a Klondike bar commercial” I’m kind of playing around with. But what would you do for a Klondike bar? And yes, the actual joke is just as awful as you think it is. New material sometimes takes a while to work itself out. Or just work itself back into the trash.
And now because I’d like to give you all a little chuckle for the day I’m going to leave you with one of the head-shots of mine I never intended to share with anyone because I look like that big of a creep. But now it’s just funny to me so I can’t help but blast it out there.
I call it my “serious Stephanie Tanner” look.
Why I was never scouted to be a professional model is still beyond me… I can obviously work a camera.
the question is, will you be doing open mic on sept. 8th, because i will be in chi-town for the night!
I'm in awe of what you do! I have a hard enough time just speaking in front of all my co-workers!
i think i'd like to see you perform live. maybe i'll put that on my bucket list.
I'd love to see/hear you perform. I think your hilarious in writing so I can only assume you'd be 10x better live.
Bwahahahaha! I can totally picture you saying, "How rude!" in that photo! Oh, Stephanie Tanner… 🙂
Sarah @ Life As Always
I would love to see you do stand up, I bet you are HILARIOUS!
I hope next time I'm in Chicago you are doing stand up somewhere cause I gotta see it in real life. I'll keep watching for you on SNL.
Totally want to see your stand-up! I bet you rock it!
I have no clue how anybody does stand up. It's so intimidating and so hard to come up with stuff. It's so cool that you are doing it and enjoying it.
Haaaahahaha. Headshots are so awkward. Not yours in particular, just in general…. Oh okay, this one included
I think it's awesome that you're the only non "act-oooorrrr" in the group. I'm all for studying acting and theatre (it was part of my major too!) but nothing beats raw talent. 🙂 Also, I ::might:: be moving back up to Chicago in December… if I do I want to know when you're doing stand up so I can come see you!
I love reading about your comedy adventures. And totally know what you mean about actor vs. act-ooorrs. I'm in the same boat. Off to drama school in London and I think I might be the only MA student without a BA in Theatre. Oh well…I mean, how hard is jazz hands, am I right?
i wanna see you perform. i bet you are hilare. 🙂
look at you! i'm sure you are super funny. i laugh every time i come to your blog!
so on a completely random note i'm reading my small town little southern IL paper last night and see there's a new pastor in town and no joke, he's from Norfolk, Nebraska. thought of you instantly. and laughed out loud.
Next time you come to Nebraska, I request you put on a stand up show. Then, let me know when and where and I will come see you! 😉 And love the head shot. You do look like Stephanie Tanner!!
When you're all famous and everyone is talking about you I'll be like "Yeah, I've known who she is for like EV-AH."
I'm totally rooting for you, I mean you clearly nailed the serious Stephanie Tanner look and you made mothballs interesting so I think it's only a matter of time before SNL begs you to join them.
Congratulations, yay!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
That first class is always the hardest, so good that things are coming easier now and that you feel excitement and not sickness at the thought of venturing into a room full of strangers
I just think this is so amazing!!! You are actually doing it!!! MARK MY WORDS when I go to Chicago I am coming to see you do standup!!!
Spot. On.
I'm loving the rise of females in comedy – anything guys can do, girls can do better. And funnier.
Hahahah "serious Stephanie Tanner." Perfect!
I'm excited for you! Do you have any youtube vids or something of you doing standup? I'm really interested in seeing it and not in a creeper way, because I just don't have enough time in my day (of sitting on the couch reading blogs and watching reruns on Bravo).
Serious Stephanie Tanner, I died!