There are several ways to get stage time. As a comic, I spent a dozen years honing my craft and got on stage about 1000 times doing standup comedy at open mics, showcases, road gigs, clubs, etc. There are so many opportunities to get stage time. Some are more appealing Read more…
There are a number of ways to find a venue for your one person show. Think outside the box! If it's your first time producing a show, you may want to start small. Managable. How about putting it on at home? Yours or someone else's… My friend Philip puts on Read more…
Logistically, this can seem complex. It’s good to set a date far enough into the future that you have time to prepare and make a great show. But it’s important you don’t make it so far away that it becomes an imaginary goal. Generally, one year is too much time Read more…
Ever try to look at the back of your head in the mirror? It’s very difficult if you don’t have another mirror. That’s what trying to direct your own show is like. Even comedians get feedback on their work. If you’re just starting out and this is your first show, Read more…
You may choose to tell your story in chronological order, or you may choose to do something postmodern. Either way, put it all together and you’ve got your first draft. Read it out loud to a patient and/or kind friend. Don’t get feedback. Just have them be there so you Read more…
The irony is not lost on me: The beacon of lightness I wish to be in the world is sometimes more like a beacon of lumpy meatloaf. They say you teach what you most need to learn, and so I teach saying yes to joy, bringing lightness into the dark Read more…
I’ve written whole sets of posts on how to write a show, which you can refer to here. But I’ll encapsulate it by saying that basically you write every day. Write every day for a month. Same time, same place. Write about just the topic you chose. In all different Read more…
I share this experience with you as a step-by-step mirror of what I’ve done to get my one-woman show on stage. Don’t take it word for word. Take it as a framework to try. Pick up some things and then use your own imagination for how you want to create Read more…
I met Joe in 1998 when I first started doing standup. He was about to start headlining at the Punchline then, and his comedy has grown and ripened into a fine french cheese. It's riddled with self-deprication, wit, and charm. He is one of the best "riffers" in San Francisco Read more…