What I Am Thankful For

Tags: comedy, stand-up comedy, thanksgiving, The Stand-Up Diaries, trevor dean

I am thankful to still have a following for The Stand-Up Diaries almost two years later.

I am thankful that my friends, fellow comics and members of the Saskatoon media read my blog for insight to the Saskatoon comedy scene.

I am thankful for Jerry Corley, my comedy coach and founder of The Stand-Up Comedy Clinic in Burbank, California.  If it wasn’t for Jerry spending several hours over a few months getting to know about me, my struggles in life and my struggles in stand-up comedy, this blog would have been finished a hell of a long time ago.  He believed in me, and in my ability to deliver some kick-ass material.  Before I met Jerry I had a shitload  of material but it lacked some basic fundamentals of comedy writing, making it difficult not only for the audience to understand, but for Jerry himself to understand as a comedy writer to try and make it better.  He believes I have the potential for success, more success than most of the current Saskatoon comics have ever achieved.  I know that I could succeed as he suggests, I just can’t see it right now.

I am thankful that I have been able to purge two of comedy’s biggest bullies in Saskatoon from my life.  I’d tell you who they are, but I don’t need one nutcase in particular to come to my workplace and threaten me again.

I am thankful to the Regina comic who gave me an open invitation to Pass The Hat in their city next Friday night.

I am thankful to everyone who witnessed the comeback set live or those of you who saw the video from YouTube.  Your honest reactions to it were overwhelmingly positive.

I am thankful to the core group of my friends who came out the first few months I did comedy to support not only me, but the others.  Veronica, Connie, Jae, Marky, Daisy, Mike and others were there for me during the first few months that made it easier to get up on stage and perform.

I am thankful for not being homeless anymore.

I am thankful for having steady employment where people aren’t lining up behind my back to fire me.

I am thankful for my church.  Without their prayers and support, there’s no way I would have lived on my own or get a decent job.

I am thankful to all of you around the world who read this.

I am thankful to write this blog and express my opinions which are based on facts.  If I write about somebody being an asshole and they don’t like it, here’s a helpful tip…….don’t be an asshole and I won’t have to write about how you mistreat me.

I am thankful that i don’t find people to blame my lack of comedy success on.  The ones who think I blame everyone else for my problems but me are called bullies.  I defended these people and of their inexcusable behaviour for far too long.

I am thankful that from my involvement in comedy, the “other” comedy club in the city gained some regular, loyal customers.  I’ve never been thanked for that, because it’s easier for someone to kick me when I am down rather than say thank you for helping to build the following.

I am thankful that I live in a country that gives me the opportunity to do whatever I want, when I want, whether I have my family’s blessing or whether the world is against me.  God bless Canada.

I am thankful for the gifts God gave me that allow me to get up on stage and make an audience laugh.

I am thankful for being in good health.

I am thankful especially for Drew.  He became a real friend to me when I needed one the most as I lived at the Sally Ann. Well, Maurice too, but Drew played a huge part in me getting back on solid ground again.  So did Steve, I suppose….

I am thankful for my critics.  Yes, I am thankful for all of the negativity that has been fed into my life from comedy, from my family not believing in me, my friends staying quiet about their opinions of my sets, being bullied on Facebook, being bullied on stage, being threatened at work, being threatened with violence online and having audience members beak off when I am on stage.  Without you all, I’d have no motivation to stick it to each and every one of you who doesn’t think I can succeed.

God bless you all.  Happy Thanksgiving