Ask A Stage Goddess - What Do I Do With Only 5 Minutes of Comedy Material?

Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 23

Today's Ask A Stage Goddess video was inspired by a question that I answered in my Carlease's Bits n Pieces monthly ezine in March 2010 when I was producing a comedy show called Laugh-A-Latte. The person asking the question was one of my students from the first graduating class of The Laugh-A-Latte Comedy Academy. I've re-posted it here exactly as it was published.

Dear Stage Goddess, I am a recent graduate of your Stand Up Comedy workshop and I'm scheduled to go up at Hot Java for the second time this Saturday.  I just don't feel prepared.  I've been trying to write some new material and I've been meeting with my comedy buddy, but the new jokes don't seem to be working. I think I should sit this one out. ~Am I Getting Cold Feet? Dear Cold Feet, Gee, this sounds familiar. What you are feeling is perfectly normal.  Many brand new comics feel they must have all new material every time they take the stage. That is putting way too much pressure on yourself.  Remember, it took seven weeks to develop your first 5 minutes. You probably spent a lot of time just getting used to being on the stage, memorizing your set, getting comfortable with the mike, etc.  Now you get to play. Focus on something different this time:  try a new way of delivering your lines, connect with the audience more, do more act outs, get even more familiar with your material, rearrange your set list, etc. Kick it up a notch. Every time I take the stage, I have one specific thing I am working on for that set.  There's always room for growth no matter how long you've been doing stand up. Definitely throw one new joke in there just to keep you on your toes.  All of this is what we call "honing your act."  It keeps you in the moment. Also keep in mind that you will have a whole new audience who is hearing your material for the first time. You'll never get the exact same reaction.  And your fans will be listening for their favorite jokes! You are prepared. Take a deep breath, stand-up on those cold feet and makes us Laugh-A-Latte! Email your questions about acting, comedy, or solo show production to askastagegoddess@gmail.com.  If chosen, you could be featured in an upcoming YouTube video!!

 

Ask A Stage Goddess - What acting classes should I be taking?

 This is Day 2 out of 31 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. 

Actors take scene study classes to strengthen their technique. Singers take voice lessons to keep their instrument sharp. What about taking a class just for the fun of it or to learn something that has nothing to do with your area of expertise?

Take your mind off booking the next job and just live a little. Enjoy nature with a photography class, unlock hidden talents with an art class or see the world with a travel club. The more life you live outside of entertainment, the more you will have to contribute to this fascinating industry.

Sometimes the new ability you gain from a class will show up in your acting career at a later time. It gives you something new to add to your resume under “skills”, it may help land you a job or point you in a new direction.

I took a stand up comedy class in 1990 because it was the “thing” at the time. The jokes heard at comedy clubs across the country were becoming sitcom scripts for network pilots.  I tried to take the comedy stage on my own but after sitting in the back of The Comedy Store a few times, I just didn’t have the nerve to get up there. So I took a class that culminated in every student performing 5 minutes of comedy at a well known Los Angeles comedy club. Since taking that class, I’ve developed my material, found my niche, taught my own stand-up comedy classes and had the students perform in a comedy showcase that I produced for five years and most recently produced a film based on that very showcase.

At one point in my career, I believed what others told me about having a “Plan B in case this acting business” didn’t work out. Nothing else brought me as much joy but I started noticing the sign language interpreters on stage with me during my hosting gigs at festivals. It looked like fun so I took a beginning American Sign Language course at a local community college. I loved knowing another language and became fascinated with Deaf culture. I took all the ASL classes they offered and the next thing I knew I had an A.S. degree in sign language interpreting. I tried to interpret professionally, I tried substitute teaching for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing but there was no passion there for me. My dream would be to combine it with my acting career but didn’t know how to make that happen so I just left it alone. I really just wanted to continue to be able communicate with people of a different culture.  Along the way, I made many Deaf friends, one of whom is an actress. When she performed her solo show in sign language, she asked me to voice it for her. I was also cast opposite Marlee Maltin in Sweet Nothing In My Ear and most recently played the role of Principal Rose in the ABC Family show, Switched At Birth because of my signing ability.

So you never know where taking a class will lead you. It’s a win/win situation for business or for feeding your soul.

What is something you  always wanted to learn but have been putting it off?

Among The Stars - Diane Amos

You know you have made it in Hollywood when people stop you on the street because they recognize your work. This is happening to me more and more lately. So much so, I had to do a bit about it in my comedy act. I talk about the person who came up to me and said, "I know you, you're an actress. I just saw your commercial. Aren't you the Pine Sol Lady?" When the audience stops laughing, I say, "That's right baby. It's the Power of Pine Sol." More laughter. What most people don't know is, the Pine Sol Lady (Diane Amos) is a very good friend of mine. We met at the Phoenix airport somewhere around 1999 or the year 2000 when we were both scheduled to work as comics at a resort in Sonora Bay, Mexico. We hung out together for that whole week and have been buddies ever since. She actually lives in San Francisco, but comes to Los Angeles frequently to do Pine Sol spots and other work. Every time she's in town I feel like I'm on vacation. We do all my favorite things: hang out at hotels, eat, shop, laugh and play cards. She likes this card game called Slick which nobody else I know plays. I've been trying to beat her at it for years now. We always get together with her other girlfriends and we just have the best time. Diane is one of the most grounded and fo’ real sistas I know.

With all of her celebrity status she is never phony or pretentious. When we're together we talk about real life stuff: our families, some politics, current events or whatever is going on in the moment. We hardly ever talk about the business, toot our own horns and we definitely don't name drop or gossip. It's so refreshing to have a friend like that in this industry. I always know where I stand with her. This sista does not play.
What I learn from Diane is that you can make it in this industry and live a centered life. She is very sure about who she is: a wife, a mother, an actress, a good friend and so much more. 

After all these years of being friends, I finally had some time for a long visit with her and her family. It was right after Christmas for my birthday and New Years. Not only did I see San Francisco like never before but for my birthday she threw a party for me! My cousin was in town from Atlanta and she welcomed her with open arms & if that wasn’t enough, she performed stand-up on New Year’s Eve with two other comics I know. I was a great show and a great way to start the year.

I am so grateful to be a part of her sisterhood. Now that's the Power of Pine Sol baby.