April 13, 2007

Chicken No More

I did it! Woo!! My stage fright is GONE. Here's the proof.

Thanks again to Brett Snodgrass, the winning bidder of my eBay stage fright auction, who also served as cabbie and cinematographer. (That wasn't actually part of the deal, that was sort of above and beyond the call of eBay - thanks, Brett!) It was nice to have an art director help me figure out the "releasing the stage fright into the universe" thing. We had a cool little private ritual out in the open parking lot behind Bad Dog involving flames, heavily metaphorical objects, and maybe a little pinch of fervently creative magical thinking.

Anyway - here it is, the "put up or shut up" moment:



Yes, I was insanely nervous. Looking at the tape, I can't believe how relaxed and comfortable I seem. So I'd never spoken into a mic before. Whatever. When I stepped offstage, a local producer invited me to perform at a new faces showcase, which I will, after as many open mics as possible. Also, I got a really sweet comment on my blog from the girl who went up after me, also for the first time. I tried to google her, but to no avail. E-mail me, other open mic girl!

I'm going back again on Sunday with probably entirely different jokes. I still like some of the stuff I did last week but some of it is sort of boring to me now, and I've had a ton of new ideas over the past week. Plus, while I like some of the more storytelling-ish ones, they take some time to build, and for the sake of my own nerves, I'd like to get to a bunch right off the bat that have a quicker payoff.

I was on the phone with my mom shortly before the show, and she asked for a word count on the dirty language I planned on using, because, of course, nice boys won't be attracted to me if I use naughty words. (And really, after my show at Second City, you'd think she'd be desensitized to this kind of thing.) I told her I only planned on using one - of course, I was bringing it out of my grandma's mouth in the joke, and it was "bitch." But at the last second, the final joke I had written to include Brett's name (as part of the auction) seemed really clunky and slow, so on the spot I changed the end...and I used the word "ass." Sorry, Mom. I'll do better next time.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

You go girl! Not nervous, good eye contact with the audience and your language was very mom approved..I think grandma would love it, if she could hear it all :)..I'm ready to see you in person and I expect you to be very, very funny, even if it is at my expense. M O M

Collin said...

Great job! You didn't look nervous at all. Now that you've been on stage it'll only get easier, right?

Anonymous said...

That was really good Elizabeth. Your stage presence was downright professional. Doing it the first time in front of a friendly audience of friends is definitely the way to go. Perhaps I'll dust off my routine and try stand-up again after 5 years. I just have to try in front of hostile strangers instead of doing so in front of people I mostly knew. :-)

Anonymous said...

Way cool. I'm sooooo proud of you, and I look forward to impressing someone, someday, by saying, "Yeah, I've known her for years." I still aspire to take you someday to see "Men In Black." ;)

Anonymous said...

I think the lithium helped.

Dale said...

You did it! Good for you Elizabeth. I'm in awe. Great guts and great job.

Coaster Punchman said...

Awesome! You have a great, natural conversational style. The joke about your grandma & Mamie Eisenhower was hilarious! And I didn't think you looked nervous at all.

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Thanks, Dale and CP! At the moment I'm going over new jokes, getting ready to go up again tonight. Sort of feel like puking. Going to do it anyway. That's what it's all about, right?

Curt Purcell said...

Looks fun--congrats!

Anonymous said...

GREAT job, Elizabeth. You're bringin' funny back! Now there's nothing you can't do.

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Thanks, Manda! I'd like to think I can do for funny what Justin Timberlake has done for sexy. Well, you know what I mean.