u/mrpokergenius

I've been recording myself, finally have a setup that marginally works. Pixel, old school tripod, and a DJI mic. I use these for myself to watch and learn what I can improve on. I suck at even basic video editing so it is no where near a polished product. I'm also told that we don't necessarily want to share our early stand up performance because they are cringe.

I want to share it with some people, mostly my friends/acquaintances and most performances are over 5 minutes long on video. My pitch to them is I don't want to waste their time on having them come out to see me in person, but they can waste a little bit of their time to see it on there phone. I've gotten some good feedback from people, lots of criticism, my friends are jerks. I feel I've got it set up on You Tube to public and everybody can see it. I'm not even 100% sure about this.

What do you guys do with your recordings? How do you use them? Share them?

Here is where I am at in the process. Feel like I'm good enough to do this. Have tried like 4 or five times over 3 and a half decades. Last serious time was 2014 after just having a baby. (Bad time to do it.) What always ended it in the past was a great job, great woman, or a baby.

This time have things dialed in and it can be argued that I have a lot of free time and no financial pressure. Been on stage around 15 times this go around. Yes I can make people laugh, have times of crushing it, and times of bombing. Many times in the same set.

What I mean by jumping in deeper or quitting is its about that time to try to make a decision. I have two more weeks until I can't take my gear back to Best Buy, that is a $250 investment. I also might be making another investment to take a comedy writing class for $350 from a comedy club. I hate the idea of paying for classes, but if it will improve my stuff at a faster rate or let me know that I could quit sooner it is worth it. LOL

Looking at next steps of the idea of increasing a social media presence make it seem like more and more work. I have goals if I go down this path that I want to achieve. Trying to adjust my skill level and expectations. For example in poker I'm probably the 95%, taking classes and getting grades in college I'd guess 99%, sales career minimum of 90%.

What percentage do you need to be in comedy to make a low six figure income, what about a televised special? It is tough because I'm not close to the marks right now; how long will it take, what can I peak at, and it's tough to project where you will end up.

First off let's talk about a typical open mic. 90% seem to be not at a real comedy club, but in a bar. It seems like if you are not in NYC or LA they are all free. It also appears that there is frequent cutting in line or curating the list as well. I believe the cutting in line is fine and great if it's a great and professional comedian. When it is your homeboy and you let him cut and then he gets to cut in line at your mic that's where problems come in.

Ultimately though I think running a mic would be a long, difficult, boring job and have zero interest in ever doing it. I would like my comedy career to be able to skip this step. The people who host open mics I thank you. The job sucks I believe, and you are very underpaid for the work you put in.

So here is my idea or what I want to do. I want to be able to buy my way in or to the front of the line. This money is in cash not cash app, Paypal, or Venmo. I'm tipping you cash to get in the front of the line or close to it. Sometimes I don't have time to wait, I have a life. Sometimes I just don't want to. Can I pay to go faster, think like a fast pass at Disney.

I also feel the same thing should happen for running the light. Most mics in Denver give you 4 or 5 minutes, sometimes I and all of us go over on our time. This can be from I practiced but something happened earlier in the show that I want to play off or I'm targeting a joke or bit to somebody in the crowd (who is not a fellow comedian) to give them a better time in the show. The crowd can be laughing to much and my final bit will push me over the limit. I'm willing to pay $5 to go a minute over and I'd pay $10 for each additional minute. I'd always pay the 5 and never pay the $10 (I'd stfu).

I'd picture the crowd on this sub mostly royally complaining, but I'm talking and most interested in the comments of the people who are running the mics. My wife just got a pay raise of 3.5%. I'm proud of her. Most mic host seem to make between $50-$100. If I just tipped $5 that is raising there pay 5-10%.

Curious to hear peoples thoughts.

https://preview.redd.it/ldan81ii69ch1.png?width=942&format=png&auto=webp&s=999817bc810702cffc5f480766f486ff4be3f92f

I felt I had to go first in that spot 100% of the time. I felt all the spots sucked for my second placement.

I'm trying to make a short you tube video about my though process. I felt like that one dude from the Princess Bride ... I can't do this because ... I can't do that because.

https://preview.redd.it/fhc9avbp59ch1.png?width=849&format=png&auto=webp&s=e31490260134005d660eb3b90bbe055616605eeb