Am I Funny?

I grew up watching a lot of comedy, I touched on this in a previous post.  Outside of music, watching comedy or funny stuff in general was a saving grace in my life. 

News of the unexpected death of Robin Williams really got me thinking. Especially this article about why funny people kill themselves. It's sad that many of our most beloved entertainers are in so much emotional pain. It doesn't seem fair really, we enjoy their talents yet THEY are in pain.

I recently started performing stand up comedy. I honestly do not think I am funny but people seem to laugh at me (or with me?). I was never a class clown, instead a really quiet and sullen child. 

Here I am at like 3 being silly in front of the camera...

But then life happened and I started to become a serious girl. This was me at age 8 or so. Sad :-(

I tried stand up out of curiosity and now I am actively dating Stand-Up comedy. But along the way I have been discovering for myself...

1- Comedy is therapy - I have been able to tell stories about some pretty painful experiences in my act, people laugh and I get to laugh too. And start to confront those demons that haunt me. But in a funny way.

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive.

--Bill Cosby

2 - Comedy is ownership - I write my own material and present it in the way I want. No director telling me it's wrong, or no auditions (other than open mics that are really less like auditions to me)

I started doing comedy because that was the only stage that I could find. 

--Robin Williams

3 - Comedy is fun - Who doesn't love to laugh or get laughed at. 

I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh.

--Maya Angelou

4 - Comedy is truth - There is a book called Truth in Comedy that talks about the obvious. Truth in Comedy. I tell folks that all my jokes are based on true stories. And that's the truth. Sometimes truth is funnier than fiction. At least mine is. 

"The truth is funny. Honest discovery, observation, and reaction is better than contrived invention." 

- Del Close & Charna Halper

5 - Comedy is male dominated - Men comics outnumber the women comics and that should change. Or maybe they don't outnumber us, they just get more recognition. 

If someone is willing to make a blanket statement like “women aren’t funny,” they probably have some issue relating to or stemming from a woman in their past, probably mom 

-- Jessica Delfino

6 - Comedy is subjective - Not everyone finds the same things funny and that is ok. I have personally laughed at some stuff that no one else in the room is laughing at. But I laugh LOUD so hopefully that encourages the performer on stage.

In black neighborhoods, everybody appreciated comedy about real life. In the white community, fantasy was funnier. I started looking for the jokes that were equally hilarious across the board, for totally different reasons.

--Will Smith

7 - Comedy is change - As I learn and grow, I realize I can address issues through laughter. Several comics have made light of societal ills in their acts. And they do this extremely well, making people laugh AND think.

The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.

--Mark Twain

FOOL

I was a fool to think I could prove to you how smart and intelligent I am

I was a fool to think you could want more than my body

I was a fool to think you would stop when I said no

I was a fool to allow you to become my friend with emotional benefits

I was a fool to think a man of God would be different than the others

I was a fool to think you would marry me, instead of her

I was a fool to believe my kindness would make you stay

I was a fool to think being good, sweet and kind would draw you closer

I was a fool to think you would stay after I gave you what you wanted

I was a fool to think I was good enough when one woman could never be

I was a fool to wait for your texts, your calls, emails 

I was a fool to think you would wait for me

I was a fool to think you were different than the others

I was a fool to think you wouldn't disappear 

I was a fool to think that passionate kiss meant something to you

I was a fool to trust you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you

I am a fool to hide my own heart unwilling to trust again...

....so I won't be a fool.

 again.