Mic 16-18 Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy
What Happens When You Co-Host a Room Before You've Earned It
I was delighted to co-host with Jimmy in the big room at One Star.
Mic 14, and 15 Monday Nights
The Particular Discipline of Showing Up When No One Is Watching
The 5 O'Clock has an energetic crowd, and when I mentioned Lucy's eyeballs, I was stopped with a loud "WHAAAT THA?" I then had to explain how she was martyred and had her eyeballs plucked out, which is why she is often depicted holding them on a plate. Yes, I understand how weird this sounds. Yes, these are my people.
Mic 7, 12, 13 I Just Have to do One More
On Matriarchs, Succession Planning, and Why I Keep Going Back
At first I got a lot of, “You going up?” and I said yes, and they would smile. Comedy people ask, “You going up?” the way Marines ask if you’re storming the beach. I am feeling a little more a part of the scene.
Mic 12 Dead Dog Therapy
I Rescued a Pitbull, Gentrified Her, and Somehow Made It a Bit
I'm a white suburban woman, so of course I rescued a pitbull-boxer mix and gentrified her.
I named her Mabel, bought her a sweater, and planted artisanal grass in the backyard.
Mic 5, 6 and 8: How I got to Hot Nuts
The Long, Winding, Completely Unnecessary Road to a Punchline
I spent two years not making eye contact with the only engineers who actually make eye contact. I’m a Catholic girl. I had to go to confession after my first lubrication conference.
Mic 9, 10, 11 Venues
The Long, Winding, Completely Unnecessary Road to a Punchline
Another comic, also smoking, told us this room used to be packed with comedians who came in from all over. This room was a rite of passage. "Don't judge it by tonight," he said. "Just remember you did a few minutes here—and come back."
Mic 3 & 4 Foot in the Door or in my Mouth.
When Ten People Walk Out Right as Your Name Gets Called
The room was fairly empty when I went up. I bet ten people walked out just as I was welcomed to the stage. No, seriously, they opened the door in this tiny teacup of a room and fricking walked out when my name was called. Tell me how you don’t take that personally?
Mic 2
Walking Into a Room Where Everyone Already Knows Each Other (Except You)
Other comedians from my class had goaded me into coming. They had been before and seemed to know people, too. I can honestly say I have never felt like an outsider anywhere, anytime, in my whole life. There were cliques here. I spotted them immediately. And I was not part of any of them. I have never not been part of them.
Mic 1
What I Was Thinking About When I Signed Up for Stand-Up Comedy at 57
We were assigned a five-minute set we would be working on for the next couple of weeks and then performing at a graduation show. Bill suggested thinking of a funny story or situation that could inspire a set. I immediately thought of my snappy crotch.