October 4, 2007

My Stand-Up Showcase Debut at ChUC

Okay, I need to quit jumping the gun, and posting unedited clips, because giant mega files annoy people who don't have fast internet connections.

Here's the edited clip of my stand-up showcase from Tuesday night. Just as a reference note, this is my eighth time on stage, as a comic or as anything else. I'd like to think I'm doing pretty okay for a rank newbie.

16 comments:

Dale said...

More than pretty okay, it was smart, funny and it made me want to wear party pants, mine not yours. Let me know when you go out on tour!

Elizabeth McQuern said...

It's funny, Dale, I don't actually have any party pants. My friend Samantha used to, though, until the day she partied so hard (as her sister likes to tell the story), she tore a hole in her party pants!!

I think we should go on tour with Coaster Punchman! He could show Mama Gin clips, and you could tell Korean Bagel Lady stories and other jokes, and, man, we could own the entire Northern Hemisphere!!

Moderator said...

Funny stuff. But seriously, Jesus made me sit through it.

Additionally, my daughter has red hair. I'm quite scared about what will be shouted, said to her as she gets older.

You should post this stuff on YouTube.

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Hey Grant! Well, If Jesus tells you to watch my comedy, it's not like you have any choice.

Oh, your little girl is also a redhead? Start saving up for therapy now. Or Lady Clairol Blonde #23. One or the other.

It's on YouTube! I also just edited five minutes of that into a clip for Time Out Chicago's Funniest Person in Chicago contest. What the hell. Just because it puts me in competition with some of my best friends, no biggie, right?

Chancelucky said...

Bella,
Wow! It's fun to watch your comfort level on stage grow. Very funny stuff...I liked the weight loss riffs and the line about choosing the boyfriend over the bag of cheetohs.

So, when are you going to be a guest for that other Indiana guy, Letterman?

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Chance, that is so sweet. I do feel like I'm getting a little more relaxed onstage. (Did you hear that screaming whoop before I got up there? There was a lot of love in that room, and you can't help but feel good when you start off like that. Man!)

I LOVE my fellow Hoosier David Letterman. Strangely, I dreamt about him the night before I did my first showcase. I dreamt that I was the nanny for his little boy, true, but I dreamt of him nonetheless. I would lose my mind if I ever had a chance to perform on his show.

How are things with the book project?

Prego said...

What's up, Red?

I'll have to catch up over the weekend... right now Mrs. P and the new addition are sleeping in bed next to me. I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate me waking them with some guffaws.

later,
p

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Oh!!!!! I've been thinking about you and Mrs. P! I knew that day was approaching! Oh my god. You have to tell me, at least, if it's a gorgeous girl or a gorgeous boy.

Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Yeppers, I'm one of those poor unfortunates still on dial-up -- the original 209MB clip would have taken roughly 30 hours to download... the new version only took an hour!

Then again, if you were to edit it down to the funny parts, it would take only a few seconds. ;)

(*slap*) OUCH!

L'Zard

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Oh, SNAP from that scaly little reptile!! SUH-NAP!

...can you see the YouTube clip? Not so huge as the uncompressed clip, but then again, you're living in a hollow tree in Cowfart Indiana, so your internet options are limited...

beep said...

That was great! You're brutal (for lack of a better word...brain freeze) honest is funny.

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Thanks, Jerell! Glad you enjoyed it. Think how far I've come from the "Chicken" video. :)

And yes, unfortunately, I'm largely incapable of self-deceit, so the brutal honesty spills out all over the stage.

Chancelucky said...

Bella,
I think it's good to be a Letterman fan, I just wouldn't break into his house and tell people that you're his wife. Apparently he draws the line at that sort of adulation.

Actually one of the things I found interesting was that you and your material seem to have more of an edge. In my world, it's sometimes called developing a "voice". As that happens, there's kind of a natural confidence that emerges.

Book thing is going slowly....grrr..
Thanks for prodding me.

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Chance - yes, indeed, that's exactly what I'm aiming for. I told Dan not long ago that while I was happy with what I'd played with so far on stage, I didn't feel like I was getting to the meat of things, and really speaking to things that only I could address. What I love about some of my favorite comics like Amy Sedaris is that she's talking about stuff that only she could talk about - she's "totally herself," and that's tremendously important to me.

You've got to keep on with the book efforts! Maybe an outline, or write the last part first, or a little side exercise, like writing a conversation between two characters, just to shake things up and get some ideas banging up against each other. Have you ever thought about working in a writing group that might help you develop your ideas? It's tough sometimes writing all on your own.

Unknown said...

COOOOOL! I was going crazy at the camera trying to focus, but I loved it. The Jesus jokes made it for me. Great progress, GO GIRL!

Elizabeth McQuern said...

Thank you, "C!" I know, there were some camera issues. The sound was from one camera, and the video from another...complicated crap I don't quite have a handle on yet. Thanks for watching and appreciating.