Saturday November 7th, 2009 - Chicago, IL/Milwaukee, WI
Another day jam packed with things to do and places to be, but all of it was productive. The first stop was downtown Chicago to do Jerry’s Kidders on WGN radio. Today it was a 10am start due to a football broadcast so I got up extra early to avoid unnecessary stress.
There was no traffic at all and I got in an hour early, but that’s a great problem to have. Too many other times I’ve encountered delays and showed up just as the intro music was starting and that’s not good for anyone. I’d much rather be too early and relax for a while.
I usually don’t look over the stories until the day of the show anyway. I enjoy riffing off the top of my head and I’m quick enough to come up with something to add. If I have any real gift, it’s that. I like to not know where we’re going and have the pressure of having to come up with something funny on the spot. That’s the challenge that makes this so fun.
Unfortunately, the other guys are uncomfortable working that way. I read where Jackie Gleason was very similar in style and he liked to keep it fresh too. He didn’t want to take the spontaneity out of his performance and it drove the rest of the cast crazy sometimes.
I have to respect how the other guys work and I do, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. It can be a solid mix though, and today it totally was. We had a strong show and all of us felt like we nailed it. That’s the feeling that makes all of our time doing this worthwhile.
We’ve got an official booking for our play so after the radio show we did a run through of that in one of the conference rooms at the station. That’s a lot of work and will be a lot more before it’s all done, but that doesn’t mean we’ll sell even one ticket. It’s a gamble.
This is all part of the process and none of us mind, but it would be nice if we could turn a buck with this pretty soon. We’re going on two years of hard work with Jerry’s Kidders and we haven’t seen a dime for any of it. Fun is fun, and it is, but now it’s time to cash in. We’ve got a solid foundation now and we’ve all contributed to making this a team effort.
We didn’t have our usual lunch because all of us had other things to do. We focused on the play and made some solid rewrites and threw ideas around and it was totally worth the effort, but it got long and we were all spent by the time we were finished. This was work.
I drove home, took another shower and got ready for two shows up in Milwaukee at the Potawatomi Casino. Normally we’re in the Northern Lights Theatre which is an amazing facility but they’ve got some special shows scheduled so we were moved to another room that was still very nice. Those guys are on the ball and I always enjoy working that place.
The staff is extremely friendly and they treat us like stars. And I NEVER have to worry about my check bouncing. If I’m going to work in Milwaukee, this is the place I will look to do first. I make as much for one night of low pressure fun as I would for a whole week of stressed out insanity at a Giggles or a Comedy Café. I don’t miss those hassles one bit.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
A Double Dodger
Friday November 6th, 2009 - Lake Villa, IL
After the show last night I decided to at least start on the long drive home since I’d slept away most of the afternoon anyway. I knew it would be the longest drive-a-thon this week and I was prepared for it. The bad weather on the way up threw a monkey wrench into the mix and I was concerned about the way back but it cleared up and it was a perfect night.
Tom Slovinski did an excellent job both nights so that experiment was a total success. It was his first real road test and he passed without a bit of trouble. It was fun to be a part of it and hear the unbridled excitement in his voice as we went over both shows in the car on the way down. It kept me awake while driving and helped to shorten a hellacious drive.
One thing I really don’t enjoy is crossing the Mackinaw Bridge, especially at night. That thing is always extremely windy and I don’t feel safe at all. There’s always a sign warning drivers of impending winds and I’d rather not chance it. Too bad it’s the only way over.
Other than weather concerns, drunk drivers are another bane to late night drives. That’s usually when they’re out, and if there are a lot of two lane highways I’ll usually stay over even if it means taking up most of the next day. That’s one fate even I refuse to tempt. I’d much rather be late and living than rammed head on by some goober in a jacked up 4x4.
The other main issue that scares me to death is the old ‘critter hitter’ trick. I’ve bagged a lifetime supply of fresh road kills so far, and I can easily live a fine and productive life if I never again squash another living creature with my vehicle. Skunks, raccoons, opossum, it doesn’t matter. I’ve mangled them all. Deer are the worst. I’ve hit several and it’s ugly.
The average deer is rather sturdy and will most definitely annihilate any car, especially if they collide at exactly the right angle. I had Tom watch along with me as we drove and by the time we arrived in Lansing we’d seen a total of six. One really looked as if he’d go for it and Tom and I both thought we‘d blast it head on, but then it darted the other way.
That sent a blast of adrenaline through both of us, a lot stronger than any caffeine drink could have given us. That easily could have been a disaster. The last thing I’d need now is a mangled Toyota, but adding having to find a ride home from rural Michigan would turn it into an all out tilt-a-whirl of torture. Those six deer are alive, and we’re glad to hear it.
Not too far outside Lansing, I was buzzing along about 75 through a construction zone when I noticed the outline of a police vehicle. Apparently the speed limit had gone down significantly from 70 to 45 and I missed the sign. He hit his lights and chased me down.
Tom was frozen next to me but I’d been in this situation before. The officer wasn’t one of those do gooder Nazi types and calmly asked to see my registration and insurance card, which of course I didn’t have. I don’t know why, I just didn’t. He could have put us both through the ringer but instead I got off with a warning, probably because he thought my ‘I (heart) Uranus’ bumper sticker was hilarious. I dodged two major bullets tonight. Whew.
After the show last night I decided to at least start on the long drive home since I’d slept away most of the afternoon anyway. I knew it would be the longest drive-a-thon this week and I was prepared for it. The bad weather on the way up threw a monkey wrench into the mix and I was concerned about the way back but it cleared up and it was a perfect night.
Tom Slovinski did an excellent job both nights so that experiment was a total success. It was his first real road test and he passed without a bit of trouble. It was fun to be a part of it and hear the unbridled excitement in his voice as we went over both shows in the car on the way down. It kept me awake while driving and helped to shorten a hellacious drive.
One thing I really don’t enjoy is crossing the Mackinaw Bridge, especially at night. That thing is always extremely windy and I don’t feel safe at all. There’s always a sign warning drivers of impending winds and I’d rather not chance it. Too bad it’s the only way over.
Other than weather concerns, drunk drivers are another bane to late night drives. That’s usually when they’re out, and if there are a lot of two lane highways I’ll usually stay over even if it means taking up most of the next day. That’s one fate even I refuse to tempt. I’d much rather be late and living than rammed head on by some goober in a jacked up 4x4.
The other main issue that scares me to death is the old ‘critter hitter’ trick. I’ve bagged a lifetime supply of fresh road kills so far, and I can easily live a fine and productive life if I never again squash another living creature with my vehicle. Skunks, raccoons, opossum, it doesn’t matter. I’ve mangled them all. Deer are the worst. I’ve hit several and it’s ugly.
The average deer is rather sturdy and will most definitely annihilate any car, especially if they collide at exactly the right angle. I had Tom watch along with me as we drove and by the time we arrived in Lansing we’d seen a total of six. One really looked as if he’d go for it and Tom and I both thought we‘d blast it head on, but then it darted the other way.
That sent a blast of adrenaline through both of us, a lot stronger than any caffeine drink could have given us. That easily could have been a disaster. The last thing I’d need now is a mangled Toyota, but adding having to find a ride home from rural Michigan would turn it into an all out tilt-a-whirl of torture. Those six deer are alive, and we’re glad to hear it.
Not too far outside Lansing, I was buzzing along about 75 through a construction zone when I noticed the outline of a police vehicle. Apparently the speed limit had gone down significantly from 70 to 45 and I missed the sign. He hit his lights and chased me down.
Tom was frozen next to me but I’d been in this situation before. The officer wasn’t one of those do gooder Nazi types and calmly asked to see my registration and insurance card, which of course I didn’t have. I don’t know why, I just didn’t. He could have put us both through the ringer but instead I got off with a warning, probably because he thought my ‘I (heart) Uranus’ bumper sticker was hilarious. I dodged two major bullets tonight. Whew.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Another Nut Cracks
Thursday November 5th, 2009 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI
The drive between St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie is only about fifty miles, but today it seemed like five hundred because of the weather conditions. There was rain and sleet and slow and wind, and then it was sunny for five minutes. Then it was like a blizzard again.
It went back and forth like that the whole way and I can’t recall ever seeing such diverse weather conditions on such a short trip. My little Toyota was rocking back and forth with such force there for a while I thought for sure I’d wind up dead in the ditch as bear chow.
We ended up making it to the Kewadin Casino and checked in. They feed us here and it was lunch time so we went and had a spectacular meal. That’s one of the perks of this run so Tom and I made full use of it. After lunch it was nap time and I made full use of that as well. I didn’t get much sleep last night so I went down for the count and sawed some logs.
I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon and woke up around 6pm. I don’t usually turn the TV on often but today I did and saw the coverage of the shooting situation in Texas at Ft. Hood. Of course I was stunned like anyone else would be and it made me feel very sad for the families of the victims. If anything puts a damper on comedy it’s a mass shooting.
These kinds of situations are never going to go away unfortunately, but I sure wish they would. If the guy was that wacked out, he should have gotten help or just blown his own head off. Why do these nut bags always have to take out innocent people? Have a plan.
The second thing I thought of was his name. They said he’s from Jordan and probably a Muslim and that pours gas on that whole situation. I know all Muslims aren’t bad but this won’t do anything to squash those rumors. Innocent people will get screwed once more.
My friend Azhar Usman comes to mind immediately. Azhar is a wonderful person and hilarious comic as well. Unfortunately he looks like he should be the poster child for The Taliban’s recruitment division. He’s dark skinned and has long hair and a beard and he’s about 6’2” tall. I have to admit, I’d look twice or more if he was on an airplane with me.
HE’S the one that has to suffer the most when things like this happen because everyone assumes he’s a terrorist along with every cab driver and millions of other good folks who moved to America to build better lives for themselves and their families. It’s just not fair.
I know life isn’t fair and never will be but my heart goes out to Azhar and everyone else who happens to be of Middle Eastern descent who are good people and just want to live a peaceful life. I know there are bad ones just like there are bad apples of every group but it stinks that those maniacal selfish bung holes have to ruin it for all the others, and they do.
Check out Azhar’s website at www.azhar.com. He’s really funny and a very gentle soul. Hopefully he can help to cool off some of the tensions that are sure to get tighter after this little cowardly punk stunt. Life is tense enough and nobody needed this. Enough already.
The drive between St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie is only about fifty miles, but today it seemed like five hundred because of the weather conditions. There was rain and sleet and slow and wind, and then it was sunny for five minutes. Then it was like a blizzard again.
It went back and forth like that the whole way and I can’t recall ever seeing such diverse weather conditions on such a short trip. My little Toyota was rocking back and forth with such force there for a while I thought for sure I’d wind up dead in the ditch as bear chow.
We ended up making it to the Kewadin Casino and checked in. They feed us here and it was lunch time so we went and had a spectacular meal. That’s one of the perks of this run so Tom and I made full use of it. After lunch it was nap time and I made full use of that as well. I didn’t get much sleep last night so I went down for the count and sawed some logs.
I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon and woke up around 6pm. I don’t usually turn the TV on often but today I did and saw the coverage of the shooting situation in Texas at Ft. Hood. Of course I was stunned like anyone else would be and it made me feel very sad for the families of the victims. If anything puts a damper on comedy it’s a mass shooting.
These kinds of situations are never going to go away unfortunately, but I sure wish they would. If the guy was that wacked out, he should have gotten help or just blown his own head off. Why do these nut bags always have to take out innocent people? Have a plan.
The second thing I thought of was his name. They said he’s from Jordan and probably a Muslim and that pours gas on that whole situation. I know all Muslims aren’t bad but this won’t do anything to squash those rumors. Innocent people will get screwed once more.
My friend Azhar Usman comes to mind immediately. Azhar is a wonderful person and hilarious comic as well. Unfortunately he looks like he should be the poster child for The Taliban’s recruitment division. He’s dark skinned and has long hair and a beard and he’s about 6’2” tall. I have to admit, I’d look twice or more if he was on an airplane with me.
HE’S the one that has to suffer the most when things like this happen because everyone assumes he’s a terrorist along with every cab driver and millions of other good folks who moved to America to build better lives for themselves and their families. It’s just not fair.
I know life isn’t fair and never will be but my heart goes out to Azhar and everyone else who happens to be of Middle Eastern descent who are good people and just want to live a peaceful life. I know there are bad ones just like there are bad apples of every group but it stinks that those maniacal selfish bung holes have to ruin it for all the others, and they do.
Check out Azhar’s website at www.azhar.com. He’s really funny and a very gentle soul. Hopefully he can help to cool off some of the tensions that are sure to get tighter after this little cowardly punk stunt. Life is tense enough and nobody needed this. Enough already.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Way Up In The U.P.
Wednesday November 4th, 2009 - St. Ignace, MI
Good news is coming from all directions, and I’m not complaining. First, I’ve got a full week of decently paying gigs, even though I’ll have to drive all over the U.P. of Michigan and back to do them. That’s ok, it will give me a chance to pay some bills and also help a young comic named Tom Slovinski get some road chops. He’s my hand picked opener.
I met Tom at the Zanies Rising Star Showcase a few months ago and I thought he had a lot of promise. He lives in Lansing and I was able to pick my opener on this run so he was the one I chose. He’s thrilled to have the work so I swung through Lansing to pick him up on my way. He’s young and eager and wanted to talk about comedy for the whole drive.
That made the trip a lot shorter because he asked excellent questions. He’s a student of the comedy game just like I was at his age and I’m glad I’m able to pay forward some of the mentoring people like C. Cardell Willis, Gary Kern, Kyle Nape and others did for me when I started. Tom is a bright guy and very funny and I don’t think my effort is wasted.
I hit major rush hour traffic in Chicago on my way through but there’s not much I could do about that. I left home a little later than I wanted and got caught, but I was up late so it was better to at least get a couple of hours of sleep before driving 521 miles to St. Ignace.
On my way to pick up Tom I received a call from Marc Schultz telling me I was chosen for a holiday party on December 18th. He sends out DVDs with several acts and the client chooses who they want. This one picked me, and I’m thrilled. It was a direct result of my Late Late Show appearance and that’s great news. That’s starting to pay off for me now.
Marc said this probably won’t be the last one, as he sent out quite a few DVDs to quite a few potential clients and he’s gotten positive feedback about me from a few people. It’s finally starting to pay off after all these years and I’m not going to take it for granted. I’ve worked super hard to get in place to even be considered for these shows, so I’m grateful.
Next, I got a call from Jerry Agar telling me we’re booked in January for the first run of our play “You’re On The Air” with The Kidders. Vicki Quade put it together and we’re at The Beverly Arts Center, where I’ve worked before with the Chicago Style Standups. It’s the exact kind of place we want to be playing, and we were all pumped to hear this news.
Then, another call came in from Rick Piccolo telling me he’s working on not only a gig for Jerry’s Kidders, but a paid comedy class session at one of the local colleges where he lives. He’s been working on it for a while and it looks like it’s finally coming through for next year. It will be a paid situation and he said the people in charge are glad to have me.
Not as glad as I was to hear of all this. One call after another came in with one piece of good news better than the next. The show tonight was extremely fun, even though it was a small audience. They were fantastic laughers and the staff was great too. This is exactly how I pictured life is supposed to work, and I’m going to keep that picture in my head.
Good news is coming from all directions, and I’m not complaining. First, I’ve got a full week of decently paying gigs, even though I’ll have to drive all over the U.P. of Michigan and back to do them. That’s ok, it will give me a chance to pay some bills and also help a young comic named Tom Slovinski get some road chops. He’s my hand picked opener.
I met Tom at the Zanies Rising Star Showcase a few months ago and I thought he had a lot of promise. He lives in Lansing and I was able to pick my opener on this run so he was the one I chose. He’s thrilled to have the work so I swung through Lansing to pick him up on my way. He’s young and eager and wanted to talk about comedy for the whole drive.
That made the trip a lot shorter because he asked excellent questions. He’s a student of the comedy game just like I was at his age and I’m glad I’m able to pay forward some of the mentoring people like C. Cardell Willis, Gary Kern, Kyle Nape and others did for me when I started. Tom is a bright guy and very funny and I don’t think my effort is wasted.
I hit major rush hour traffic in Chicago on my way through but there’s not much I could do about that. I left home a little later than I wanted and got caught, but I was up late so it was better to at least get a couple of hours of sleep before driving 521 miles to St. Ignace.
On my way to pick up Tom I received a call from Marc Schultz telling me I was chosen for a holiday party on December 18th. He sends out DVDs with several acts and the client chooses who they want. This one picked me, and I’m thrilled. It was a direct result of my Late Late Show appearance and that’s great news. That’s starting to pay off for me now.
Marc said this probably won’t be the last one, as he sent out quite a few DVDs to quite a few potential clients and he’s gotten positive feedback about me from a few people. It’s finally starting to pay off after all these years and I’m not going to take it for granted. I’ve worked super hard to get in place to even be considered for these shows, so I’m grateful.
Next, I got a call from Jerry Agar telling me we’re booked in January for the first run of our play “You’re On The Air” with The Kidders. Vicki Quade put it together and we’re at The Beverly Arts Center, where I’ve worked before with the Chicago Style Standups. It’s the exact kind of place we want to be playing, and we were all pumped to hear this news.
Then, another call came in from Rick Piccolo telling me he’s working on not only a gig for Jerry’s Kidders, but a paid comedy class session at one of the local colleges where he lives. He’s been working on it for a while and it looks like it’s finally coming through for next year. It will be a paid situation and he said the people in charge are glad to have me.
Not as glad as I was to hear of all this. One call after another came in with one piece of good news better than the next. The show tonight was extremely fun, even though it was a small audience. They were fantastic laughers and the staff was great too. This is exactly how I pictured life is supposed to work, and I’m going to keep that picture in my head.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Kidder Kaboodle
Tuesday November 3rd, 2009 - St. Charles, IL
Big Jerry’s Kidders summit today. The four of us have been out of touch for a while for various reasons, most of them legit. We needed to get back on the same page so we met at Portillo’s in St. Charles, IL, right across from the Pheasant Run Resort. Portillo’s is a very popular hot dog restaurant chain in the Chicago area that has achieved legendary status.
I was turned on to them back in the ‘80s when I first moved to Chicago. They serve hot dogs and Polish sausages and Italian beef sandwiches among other things. It’s not a fancy menu but they really do it right and every location seems to have lines around the joint for the drive through window at all hours of the day. People in Chicagoland LOVE Portillo’s.
The guy who started it has become a celebrity in town and there are now probably about 40 or 50 locations, mostly in the suburbs. There’s a picture in every one of where it began in 1963, and it’s this tiny little mini house looking thing that isn’t very impressive at all.
What’s extremely impressive is the business the guy built out of that little cart. He has a gold mine and I’m sure he’s a millionaire many times over. Good for him. He found a gig and did it well, and in a town where hot dog joints are everywhere - his brand stands out.
His places are always very clean and well run and there’s a vibe of efficiency whenever I walk in, no matter the location. He’s got the mojo working, and I respect the guy beyond words. I’ve never met him but I’d like to shake his hand someday and say how much of a fan I am of his accomplishments. I know nothing about hot dogs but I admire Portillo’s.
Another guy I admire a lot is ‘Famous Dave’ Anderson. I did get to meet him years ago when I interviewed him on the radio in Salt Lake City. There’s another guy who made his mark on a competitive business and stands out because of his quality and efficiency. I’ve always been a fan of Famous Dave’s restaurants because I see how well they‘re operated.
I don’t want to get into the restaurant business but if I did, I’d gladly work for either one of those places. Someone in charge has a clue, and they know what they’re doing. I would bet they’ll both be around for a while and I’d have to feel good about my job being safe.
Job security was the main issue of our meeting today. We’re all concerned about money right now and wanted to get on the same page of how we’re going to move forward in the next twelve months with the Kidders brand both on radio and as a live performing show.
We’ve got opportunities on the horizon but nothing is in stone and we all have to make a living NOW. If anyone gets hired to do something else it could easily jeopardize all of our hard work as a group and nobody wants that to happen. We’re in a delicate situation here.
Our play with Vicki Quade is moving ahead, but that takes time. None of us can say for sure we’ll be making our living doing it in 2010. Portillo’s built a hot dog empire but they focused on one thing and did it right. Jerry’s Kidders now need to focus on our product.
Big Jerry’s Kidders summit today. The four of us have been out of touch for a while for various reasons, most of them legit. We needed to get back on the same page so we met at Portillo’s in St. Charles, IL, right across from the Pheasant Run Resort. Portillo’s is a very popular hot dog restaurant chain in the Chicago area that has achieved legendary status.
I was turned on to them back in the ‘80s when I first moved to Chicago. They serve hot dogs and Polish sausages and Italian beef sandwiches among other things. It’s not a fancy menu but they really do it right and every location seems to have lines around the joint for the drive through window at all hours of the day. People in Chicagoland LOVE Portillo’s.
The guy who started it has become a celebrity in town and there are now probably about 40 or 50 locations, mostly in the suburbs. There’s a picture in every one of where it began in 1963, and it’s this tiny little mini house looking thing that isn’t very impressive at all.
What’s extremely impressive is the business the guy built out of that little cart. He has a gold mine and I’m sure he’s a millionaire many times over. Good for him. He found a gig and did it well, and in a town where hot dog joints are everywhere - his brand stands out.
His places are always very clean and well run and there’s a vibe of efficiency whenever I walk in, no matter the location. He’s got the mojo working, and I respect the guy beyond words. I’ve never met him but I’d like to shake his hand someday and say how much of a fan I am of his accomplishments. I know nothing about hot dogs but I admire Portillo’s.
Another guy I admire a lot is ‘Famous Dave’ Anderson. I did get to meet him years ago when I interviewed him on the radio in Salt Lake City. There’s another guy who made his mark on a competitive business and stands out because of his quality and efficiency. I’ve always been a fan of Famous Dave’s restaurants because I see how well they‘re operated.
I don’t want to get into the restaurant business but if I did, I’d gladly work for either one of those places. Someone in charge has a clue, and they know what they’re doing. I would bet they’ll both be around for a while and I’d have to feel good about my job being safe.
Job security was the main issue of our meeting today. We’re all concerned about money right now and wanted to get on the same page of how we’re going to move forward in the next twelve months with the Kidders brand both on radio and as a live performing show.
We’ve got opportunities on the horizon but nothing is in stone and we all have to make a living NOW. If anyone gets hired to do something else it could easily jeopardize all of our hard work as a group and nobody wants that to happen. We’re in a delicate situation here.
Our play with Vicki Quade is moving ahead, but that takes time. None of us can say for sure we’ll be making our living doing it in 2010. Portillo’s built a hot dog empire but they focused on one thing and did it right. Jerry’s Kidders now need to focus on our product.
Eleven Percent
Monday November 2nd, 2009 - Chicago, IL
Back at Zanies in Chicago after a week off. It felt good to get back in a groove but I’m wrestling with the same issues I’ve always had with time management. I spent all day at home working on tedious but necessary tasks like sorting receipts and answering emails.
I intended to get a walk in but I had so many other things to do, I just didn’t get around to it today. I was on a roll doing what I was doing so I decided that was being productive and chose to keep doing it. There’s no way I can do everything I want to do in each day.
That’s unbelievably frustrating but also reality so I have to make my choices carefully. Today was the tentative start of a new session of comedy classes so I had to be at Zanies by 6pm to see if anyone showed up. We did get a turnout and I’ve got a few more on the fence so hopefully we can squeeze in one more class session before the end of the year.
I’ve come too far with this project to just let it die and I refuse to let that happen. I have a proven system that has taken years to develop and it’s still getting better because I work at it all the time. I know I have a dynamic product, now I have to market it to the masses.
Having Zanies in my corner doesn’t hurt. They have been good to me and have stood by their promise to let me be their exclusive comedy teacher. No matter how many others try to set up shop in Chicago, I’ve got the cherry location everyone craves. That’s one chip in my favor but I still have to get the word out so people know that classes are available.
Bert Haas and I had a meeting after the show tonight to discuss exactly that. He wants a set schedule for the classes, much like Second City has for their improv classes. They’re a money machine when it comes to that and that’s great, but now even they’ve jumped on a growing bandwagon and added standup classes. It’s time to claim this and make it mine.
I listened to some great audio programs on the way to and from Zanies today. I’m trying to pack my head with quality thoughts at every turn. Tony Robbins had my ear on the way there and Wayne Dyer was my choice for the way home. I enjoy listening to both of them.
Every person in that field has virtually the same message, but they’re all correct - what a person thinks about most of the time, becomes reality. Many use the phrase “Thoughts are things” or some variation of it and it’s very true. Our thoughts can be our biggest boost or our biggest bust, and ultimately we’re the ones who control them. That’s the basic theme.
And a most splendid theme it is. Even George Clinton has a variation of it with one of his album titles - “Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow.” No matter how it’s said, the truth is all of us have a lot of untapped power inside our coconut that stays unused.
We’ve all heard the statistic that we use about 10% of our total brainpower. Who’s the one measuring this? I think they’re WAY high on that number, but if it’s true all I’ll need to do is use 11% of mine and I’ll be looked at as a genius. I think I still have a way to go.
Back at Zanies in Chicago after a week off. It felt good to get back in a groove but I’m wrestling with the same issues I’ve always had with time management. I spent all day at home working on tedious but necessary tasks like sorting receipts and answering emails.
I intended to get a walk in but I had so many other things to do, I just didn’t get around to it today. I was on a roll doing what I was doing so I decided that was being productive and chose to keep doing it. There’s no way I can do everything I want to do in each day.
That’s unbelievably frustrating but also reality so I have to make my choices carefully. Today was the tentative start of a new session of comedy classes so I had to be at Zanies by 6pm to see if anyone showed up. We did get a turnout and I’ve got a few more on the fence so hopefully we can squeeze in one more class session before the end of the year.
I’ve come too far with this project to just let it die and I refuse to let that happen. I have a proven system that has taken years to develop and it’s still getting better because I work at it all the time. I know I have a dynamic product, now I have to market it to the masses.
Having Zanies in my corner doesn’t hurt. They have been good to me and have stood by their promise to let me be their exclusive comedy teacher. No matter how many others try to set up shop in Chicago, I’ve got the cherry location everyone craves. That’s one chip in my favor but I still have to get the word out so people know that classes are available.
Bert Haas and I had a meeting after the show tonight to discuss exactly that. He wants a set schedule for the classes, much like Second City has for their improv classes. They’re a money machine when it comes to that and that’s great, but now even they’ve jumped on a growing bandwagon and added standup classes. It’s time to claim this and make it mine.
I listened to some great audio programs on the way to and from Zanies today. I’m trying to pack my head with quality thoughts at every turn. Tony Robbins had my ear on the way there and Wayne Dyer was my choice for the way home. I enjoy listening to both of them.
Every person in that field has virtually the same message, but they’re all correct - what a person thinks about most of the time, becomes reality. Many use the phrase “Thoughts are things” or some variation of it and it’s very true. Our thoughts can be our biggest boost or our biggest bust, and ultimately we’re the ones who control them. That’s the basic theme.
And a most splendid theme it is. Even George Clinton has a variation of it with one of his album titles - “Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow.” No matter how it’s said, the truth is all of us have a lot of untapped power inside our coconut that stays unused.
We’ve all heard the statistic that we use about 10% of our total brainpower. Who’s the one measuring this? I think they’re WAY high on that number, but if it’s true all I’ll need to do is use 11% of mine and I’ll be looked at as a genius. I think I still have a way to go.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Nothing Is 4 Ever
Sunday November 1st, 2009 - Pittsburgh, PA/Kenosha, WI
Well, the Purple Satan got his revenge on Green Bay. Big whoop-de-doo. I hope he’s finally happy, because apparently the blind worship of an entire state for 16 years wasn’t quite enough. He had to whine and suck his thumb like a baby but now that baby got his wish. I’m glad I didn’t watch even one play of it, as I was driving back from Pittsburgh.
It’s amazing how things that appear to be locked in stone in life can get reversed and go in exactly the opposite direction. I was a supporter of Brett Favre, along with every other Packer fan, both rabid and casual. Even other fans had to respect his talent, and they did.
I still respect the guy’s talents. Who doesn’t? On paper, he will go down as one of if not THE best football player that ever suited up in the NFL. That’s impressive, and it doesn’t matter what he did personally. But it does. He pissed off millions of people by the way he handled this situation, even though his team won the game today. I’m not a fan anymore.
If you’d have bet me ten years ago I’d be cheering against Brett Favre, I’d have taken it and laughed in your face. I’d NEVER cheer against the Holy #4. He was the man and that was Green Bay gospel. Then he had to pull his little crybaby stunt and it changed the way a lot of people looked at him, including me. Now I have a completely opposite opinion.
I’m still blown away by how this happens, but it’s not the first time. When I was a kid I absolutely despised Muhammad Ali. I wanted him to lose every fight and shut his mouth, but he never did. I thought he was a braggart and a loudmouth, and he was. What I didn’t appreciate then was he was also a brilliant showman and amazing athlete, but I do now.
I think Muhammad Ali was the greatest athlete of the 20th century, which is a complete departure from what I used to think but my perspective changed. I admire the guy’s work in the ring and out and wish I could have enjoyed it back then rather than be reviled by it.
There are a few other examples too. When Steve Martin got hot in the ‘70s, I didn’t get what was so funny about him for the life of me. I tried to like him, but it didn’t sink in for whatever reason. Most of my friends loved him and I couldn’t understand why I was in a minority of one. Now, I can appreciate him and really think he was brilliant, but not then.
Married couples who divorce have the same feeling. At one time they are ready to live a life together, or at least they think they are. In all the world, they’ve found ONE partner to share life’s journey. Then, that person becomes a hated rival and their number one enemy. What used to be a relationship is now a battleship, and the roles are completely reversed.
This has happened a couple of times of note in my life recently. My ex business partner and I were friends for many years, or at least I thought we were. We got along quite nicely for a long time, but then he not only cleaned out the bank account, he started up doing the exact same business I taught him how to do. He took what I taught him and stuck it in my face and he went from confidant to competitor immediately. It still doesn’t make sense.
Then there’s this whole ugly mess with Giggles and Funny Business. I thought we had a very strong working relationship, but I guess I was wrong. When it came down to proving it, they both leaked out. I did what I said I would, a week of shows for low pay. I’d shown a lot of good faith over the years to both of them, but never had it shown back in return.
I used to look forward to going back and working there, but one bounced check ruined a lot of things. Now, I have a really bad taste in my mouth about them as people. I know the feeling is mutual, and it’s all really wrong in my opinion. I think all of this is wasted time.
What put this whole day into perspective was a story I read in the in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this morning. A 37 year old mother of three was walking home with her children after grocery shopping and walked over a train track. One of the kids was in a stroller and that child and the mother were killed by a passing train. The other two kids saw it happen.
Wow. How unspeakably horrific is that? I was stunned as I read that story, as it said the two surviving children weren’t physically hurt but were ‘traumatized’. Hell yes they were traumatized, and I wanted to go find them and give them hugs and cry along with them.
The article didn’t give the names of the lady or the children, what ethnicity they were, a description of their social status, nothing like that. I would assume since they had to walk to the store they were probably not that well off, but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily the case. What it did say was there was a foot bridge across the tracks fifty yards away.
Was the lady in a hurry? Just plain lazy? Who knows the real story of why she chose to cross railroad tracks with three small children, but she did. Too late. What really gripped me were the two kids who lived. Their lives changed forever, and probably not in a good way. They’ll surely never forget Halloween of 2009, no matter how long they both live.
I wanted to reach out to those kids and try to do something to soothe their what I’m sure is excruciating pain, but there was nothing I could do. That got me to thinking about God, and my perspective on that subject has changed dramatically over the years also. I wonder if there is one, and after seeing stories like this I’m having my doubts. What’s the truth?
The older I get, the less of a clue I have about anything. I do know a football game isn’t anything I should be concerned about so that didn’t affect me at all. Brett Favre has a fine life and more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes, and I might actually like him if I had a chance to meet him. Or not. Either way, who he works for is of no major concern.
My heart really went out to those kids. I don’t care who they are or what color they may be or even how stupid their mother was for taking them across railroad tracks. None of it matters now, does it? Those kids are ultimate dented cans and will have a rough struggle.
Some of the problems I have, I’ve brought on myself. I admit it, and I am trying to get a grip and fix what I can. These kids had no control over this, and it’s a true tragedy. I send all good vibes their way and know that my problems are microscopic compared to theirs.
Well, the Purple Satan got his revenge on Green Bay. Big whoop-de-doo. I hope he’s finally happy, because apparently the blind worship of an entire state for 16 years wasn’t quite enough. He had to whine and suck his thumb like a baby but now that baby got his wish. I’m glad I didn’t watch even one play of it, as I was driving back from Pittsburgh.
It’s amazing how things that appear to be locked in stone in life can get reversed and go in exactly the opposite direction. I was a supporter of Brett Favre, along with every other Packer fan, both rabid and casual. Even other fans had to respect his talent, and they did.
I still respect the guy’s talents. Who doesn’t? On paper, he will go down as one of if not THE best football player that ever suited up in the NFL. That’s impressive, and it doesn’t matter what he did personally. But it does. He pissed off millions of people by the way he handled this situation, even though his team won the game today. I’m not a fan anymore.
If you’d have bet me ten years ago I’d be cheering against Brett Favre, I’d have taken it and laughed in your face. I’d NEVER cheer against the Holy #4. He was the man and that was Green Bay gospel. Then he had to pull his little crybaby stunt and it changed the way a lot of people looked at him, including me. Now I have a completely opposite opinion.
I’m still blown away by how this happens, but it’s not the first time. When I was a kid I absolutely despised Muhammad Ali. I wanted him to lose every fight and shut his mouth, but he never did. I thought he was a braggart and a loudmouth, and he was. What I didn’t appreciate then was he was also a brilliant showman and amazing athlete, but I do now.
I think Muhammad Ali was the greatest athlete of the 20th century, which is a complete departure from what I used to think but my perspective changed. I admire the guy’s work in the ring and out and wish I could have enjoyed it back then rather than be reviled by it.
There are a few other examples too. When Steve Martin got hot in the ‘70s, I didn’t get what was so funny about him for the life of me. I tried to like him, but it didn’t sink in for whatever reason. Most of my friends loved him and I couldn’t understand why I was in a minority of one. Now, I can appreciate him and really think he was brilliant, but not then.
Married couples who divorce have the same feeling. At one time they are ready to live a life together, or at least they think they are. In all the world, they’ve found ONE partner to share life’s journey. Then, that person becomes a hated rival and their number one enemy. What used to be a relationship is now a battleship, and the roles are completely reversed.
This has happened a couple of times of note in my life recently. My ex business partner and I were friends for many years, or at least I thought we were. We got along quite nicely for a long time, but then he not only cleaned out the bank account, he started up doing the exact same business I taught him how to do. He took what I taught him and stuck it in my face and he went from confidant to competitor immediately. It still doesn’t make sense.
Then there’s this whole ugly mess with Giggles and Funny Business. I thought we had a very strong working relationship, but I guess I was wrong. When it came down to proving it, they both leaked out. I did what I said I would, a week of shows for low pay. I’d shown a lot of good faith over the years to both of them, but never had it shown back in return.
I used to look forward to going back and working there, but one bounced check ruined a lot of things. Now, I have a really bad taste in my mouth about them as people. I know the feeling is mutual, and it’s all really wrong in my opinion. I think all of this is wasted time.
What put this whole day into perspective was a story I read in the in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this morning. A 37 year old mother of three was walking home with her children after grocery shopping and walked over a train track. One of the kids was in a stroller and that child and the mother were killed by a passing train. The other two kids saw it happen.
Wow. How unspeakably horrific is that? I was stunned as I read that story, as it said the two surviving children weren’t physically hurt but were ‘traumatized’. Hell yes they were traumatized, and I wanted to go find them and give them hugs and cry along with them.
The article didn’t give the names of the lady or the children, what ethnicity they were, a description of their social status, nothing like that. I would assume since they had to walk to the store they were probably not that well off, but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily the case. What it did say was there was a foot bridge across the tracks fifty yards away.
Was the lady in a hurry? Just plain lazy? Who knows the real story of why she chose to cross railroad tracks with three small children, but she did. Too late. What really gripped me were the two kids who lived. Their lives changed forever, and probably not in a good way. They’ll surely never forget Halloween of 2009, no matter how long they both live.
I wanted to reach out to those kids and try to do something to soothe their what I’m sure is excruciating pain, but there was nothing I could do. That got me to thinking about God, and my perspective on that subject has changed dramatically over the years also. I wonder if there is one, and after seeing stories like this I’m having my doubts. What’s the truth?
The older I get, the less of a clue I have about anything. I do know a football game isn’t anything I should be concerned about so that didn’t affect me at all. Brett Favre has a fine life and more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes, and I might actually like him if I had a chance to meet him. Or not. Either way, who he works for is of no major concern.
My heart really went out to those kids. I don’t care who they are or what color they may be or even how stupid their mother was for taking them across railroad tracks. None of it matters now, does it? Those kids are ultimate dented cans and will have a rough struggle.
Some of the problems I have, I’ve brought on myself. I admit it, and I am trying to get a grip and fix what I can. These kids had no control over this, and it’s a true tragedy. I send all good vibes their way and know that my problems are microscopic compared to theirs.
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