frustration

Post by **Murphdogg** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:01 pm

I'm frustrated lately, I got the rep as a dirty comic, cause of the sets I did when I ran a bar, and the set's I've done at other bars..I can get low down a dirty..but I can be clean..but because of the no holds bar things I've done at bars I've got a bad rap...damn

Post by **robfharris** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:50 am

Murphdogg,
The blessing behind that is, now you know what people are not paying attention to you. The people who have taken the time to take in your set are not saying that.
About 3 years ago I had the same problem, and it was based off of a one time event (in the words of Doug Stanhope when talking about "the penis incident"... it was completely appropriate AT THE TIME).
You'll change all of those opinions over time, if you want to. I used my situation to take a look at what I really wanted to talk about. If I'm being considered "blue", that doesn't mean I have to curse... but that opened the door for me to talk about any subject I wanted to. It amazes me today the stuff I talk about and how it is usually the 60+ crowd that makes it a point to tell me they enjoyed my set. The truth is freedom.
Take a look at your situation and see if you can make it work for you. This may be a blessing, maybe you have the beginning of a "following" and you haven't realized it... whatever you do be true to yourself. As the Hippie Chick pointed out a couple of days ago, comedians don't get treated well in the business. So you have to make any and everything work for you... You'll be fine.

Post by **Anditsdeeptoo** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:17 am

Murphdogg,

Hell Lenny Bruce was considered a "Dirty" comic, he and the likes of TMIC, Sam Kennison, etc. seemed to do ok with that moniker. Keep your head up, you know you'll rise above the bullshit.

Post by **JTF** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:20 am

Anditsdeeptoo,

He doesn't mean "dirty" as in content.

Murphdog,

Grab a bar of Irish Spring and a washcloth. People will marvel at your new, clean image!

Post by **robfharris** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:26 am

JTF,

Post by **Anditsdeeptoo** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:30 am

JTF,

Sometimes I'm convinced you have truly lost your mind

Post by **Jennifer** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:17 pm

Anditsdeeptoo,

Post by **jane_haze** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:12 pm

Anditsdeeptoo,

He has.

...and speaking of frustration...this guy trying to put together a microsoft gig wanted 3 comics for $1200. If I would have been a bit more overt and tried to sell myself in anyway, shape or form, I would be getting a bit of that. Not saying "Oh well, I haven't been doing it that long....etc."

So, I now know for next time...if the guy who can sign a check over to you asks for a joke...give him a damn joke and sell that bitch!!!!

Well I'll know next time...

When is that gonna happen again? People often just come up to comics randomly and say "Hey, I'll pay you a lot* of money?"

*I say "a lot" because that's heck of a lot more money then this working for free stuff I'm doing...

Jane

Post by **Murphdogg** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:24 am

jane_haze,I feel you on that, I think for the first few years you do it for the love of doing it. I got a offer to go on the road as a mc for another comic and get paid..but i'd have to quit my day job cause their week long gigs, but the money isn't enough to live on. But the cool thing is at our stage, we can still experiment, and try and find our voice, I figure I keep doing it, find my voice..Wait till I know iv'e got it down, and then agressivly try and make things happen..the cool thing about comedy is when your funny and consistantly funny, it's kind of hard to be held back. I'm still at the faze where I can get over like a mofo with a crowd..or not catch them at all and not get over..And I want to get to the point to where me not getting over is a rare thing, that's when I'll start sending the headshots, gettin web sites and trying to sell myself. Right now I'm still on and off, and I think I've got to get to the point to where when I don't feel on, I can still trick the crowd into thinking I'm funny...But hell I'm having fun, my mentor told me to look at it as a hobby for the first couple of years

Post by **jane_haze** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:38 am

Murphdogg,

Good point. But I do see it as a hobby. There was just a one time, phat chance of income supplementing. It was like the monetary vitamin C.

But doing it as a hobby is why I wasn't selling myself like I should have. I couldn't live off of stand up if I tried.

Jane