20040505

March 3, 2006

Charlie’s Standup Comedy Journal

May 05, 2004: An Interlude from ‘My Small Penis’

This was my first set in nearly a month, and what better place to get back ‘into the groove’ than the Emerald Isle, eh? It’s always a low-pressure gig, with plenty of friendly comics and familiar faces. Plus, they bring free pizza over from the joint across the street — what’s not to like?

For better or worse, for this show I decided to put together a different set than the one I’d been working on. I suppose I can’t really say I was ‘bored’ with the other material, since I hadn’t done any set in four weeks or so. But I did have a couple of new jokes I felt like trying out, and almost nobody brings rotten fruit to the Isle, so I figured, ‘what the hell’.

All in all, I think it went okay — I got a few giggles from the assembled comics, which is about as well as most people do in the room. On the other hand, I also — for the first time ever — consulted my notes onstage, in the middle of my set. Usually, I don’t even have notes; I’m not one of these yuksters who plops down a notebook or writes the set on my hand before going on. I figure, if you need crib sheets for your own stuff, then you might be smoking just a bit too much of the good stuff.

(Or you’re way more prolific than me, and have so many good ideas that they’re hard to remember. In which case, poop on you. I hate you bastards with actual ‘talent’. Get the hell outta my sight.)

Anyway, I felt a bit rusty up there, and ended on a bit of a whimper (or really, a groan — but I swear I can take that premise somewhere and make it a hit… just gonna take some work, is all). And, I had fun, which was the best news of all. After being away for a month, I was afraid that I’d lose the mood entirely, and never want to take the mic again. But happily for me — and very, very sadly for anyone who might be in a future audience — that wasn’t the case. Look out, folks — I think I’m getting the bug again. Hide the women and coffee pots. Ewwwww!

Download Clip of 05/05/04 Set —

Emerald Isle, Dorchester, MA (5 minutes, 5 seconds):