Whaddup my fellow comics and all my peeps in blogland! Just wanted to post up a set I did at the comedy club, Catch A Rising Star out in Princeton, NJ. It was an absolute psycho night rockin’ out with my homey Henry Cummings. We had the pleasure of doing our thing with our bud Karlyn Briggs doing a set as well. It was a great turnout and they loved it. The key that night for me…freestyling.
When I say freestyling I simply mean the art of going off the cuff and not being boxed in with my material. I used the crowd, the club and the Hyatt Regency Hotel (they house Catch A Rising Star) to entertain the crowd. I felt this would far outweigh me forcing my prepared headliner set. It also gave me the freedom to invent new scenarios and create additional material which I’ve been able to incorporate into my newer sets.
Here check me out:
I believe that whenever you have the opportunity to perform 20+ minutes, you should try to roll off the main route and rock a side road. Try that bit you’ve been working on. Say something that pops into your head. I know your saying to yourself, “Jerrold, why would I take the chance on not having the perfect night to take a risk like this?” Simple. Two reasons. One, more than likely the show your on doesn’t have a talent scout or management – it’s just a show, have fun. Second, no one will remember you!! Your mission is to increase your set – more jokes, more money, more gigs. Your a comic, let that fear shit go!
So I merge my material with bullshit – basically I extend the joke, let it ride a little. It worked here and the crowd loved it. Sometimes it doesn’t work and falls flat. So fucking what. No matter how funny I am, most people left saying, “That bald-headed black guy was funny.”
So until the stakes are that high and my performance is in a make it or break it situation, I’m gonna wild out on stage. I’m gonna give the crowd my all and create that sense of community. Let them be part of the show. Most importantly, I’m gonna enjoy doing what I do…being funny!
I’m Out!!
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