My Summer Challenge: I Performed Stand-Up
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.
Joseph Campbell
This summer I challenged myself – I signed up for a stand-up comedy course.
The course is Comedy Girl, an all-female stand-up class taught by seasoned performer and writer Dawn Whitwell. The Level 1 training at Comedy Bar was no walk in the park. Week after week, we honed our personal narratives into 3-5 minutes of stage material. It was tough work, which saw the class drop from twelve students to eight.
On August 30th, I made my debut at Comedy Bar. It was a rush to be performing on stage. It was also surreal and mind boggling. Eight weeks earlier, the notion of my pulling off stand-up was as likely as my becoming a pole dancer.
I’ve always loved comedy. As a kid, I spent Sunday nights glued to the television set watching Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. I then got hooked on stand-up with early favourites like George Carlin, Joan Rivers, and Rita Rudner. Although I secretly mused about doing stand-up myself, I never had the “chutzpa” – until now.
My performing stand-up comedy was an itch that needed scratching. I was in a rut. I was ready to embrace my inner dragon and seek out new forms of creative expression. I also wanted to show certain men in my life that women are funny. Yes, we are.
Do I see myself getting back on stage? Hell, yes.
Thanks Comedy Girl. You’ve opened my heart and mind to new possibilities.
Are you ready to challenge yourself?
