I rarely comment on Facebook posts. This is not because I don't want to contribute, but more due to the fact that I don't think it is my place to interfere with anyone's life. Plus I'm usually eating something unhealthy and I really don't want cheese all over my keyboard.
However, a recent post on a Facebook group by a comedian I know personally, who was extremely disgruntled by his local comedy scene, caught my eye.
He writes:
"I AM SO CLOSE TO QUITTING COMEDY! Has anybody ever felt this way? I'm tired and exhausted of trying and having to put up with the local comedy scene and politics. After everything I have done and all the work I've done and places I've been, it's still close to impossible to get a simple 5min stage time on my own dime to work on my material. What is the point?"
Seeing his pain and frustration, I could not help myself but to respond:
"Hey friend,
I rarely post on here, since I really don’t feel like it’s my place to give anyone advice. However, I think this might be a good time to share my experiences. What I’m about to say might come off a little blunt, but I think sugar coating anything isn’t really going to help anyone who is serious in pursuing this business. The truth is, no one is going to call you and invite you to anything. No one cares where you’ve gone, what you’ve done or how much you’ve progressed. It’s a small stage up there and there is only room for one. The only person that should care about what you’ve done and what you’re doing, is YOU. So the minute you begin worrying about what everyone else is getting or accomplishing, you’re going down a seriously dark path. This is a God-awful business. The traveling sucks, the grueling politics sucks, the horrible schedule sucks, and the only good thing is the second you step on stage. You must not forget that, or it’s game over.
To be honest, no one ever calls or invites me to shows. No one cares what I’ve done or what I’m doing unless I can be a bridge so they can get what they want. This is the nature of business. I’m not saying you won’t make any friends, but you must remember you are not here to make friends. You are here to WORK. Like the person above said, there are lots of open mics, and I don’t see myself anywhere beyond that till this day, because the moment you feel like you are beyond any stage time, your career is over. As for booked shows, I spend hours and hours everyday emailing, facebooking, researching, responding to texts about clubs, existing shows, upcoming shows or setting up my own shows. If you see me at any venue and see me on my phone, I am not ignoring people or playing a game. I am booking, networking, and setting up things that are months down the road.
So if you are going to quit, quit. No one is going to blame you. I think about it everyday myself. Is it bullshit and is there really a point? I can’t answer that. Yet, if you truly love it, then you have to make that call for yourself.
Good luck, my friend."
Sometimes, life is like Godzilla. It may seem monstrous at first, but hell, there's a sense of beauty like no other despite its uneven grace.
Now back to eating cheese.
-Ed.
