Pain and Persistence, Not Asphalt, Makes A Smooth Road Ahead In 2014

Tags: amateur comedians, comedy, comedy writing, Saskatoon, stand-up comedy, The Stand-Up Diaries, trevor dean

This month has been a good one thus far, in the sense that my job is going well.  It’s the first place I’ve ever worked at where everybody gets along…..everybody!  It’s a great feeling to be part of a smaller team (workplace) and be asked for your input based on your experience.

The reason this is beneficial to me is that it lets me be able to write comedy with a clearer mind and be in a better place to write, at least it seems that way on most days.

There have been a couple days lately where the pain, frustration and sadness that are non-work related have been pushed to their limits.  It’s at these times where I have been able to come up with new material ideas.  It’s not the ideal situation for me to have to write where I’m in a sad mood and have to tap into that in order to develop material.  Most of my ideas lately have come from just talking things out to myself until I stumble upon something that makes sense within the structured framework of a joke.  Or I will be typing a reply to a friend’s Facebook posting and I come up with an idea right there and then.  I’d be lying if I told you that every idea I have is a byproduct of a strategically planned writing session, because for us creative types that rarely happens.  Inspiration comes in many different forms in many different ways because the creative mind is always turning, and sometimes it doesn’t take much to take an idea that comes to you and make comedy from it.  This helps when you are in a more positive working environment during the day, at least that’s how it goes for me.

I am also happy to report that I will be performing shows in Regina for the foreseeable future, with the possibility of shows in other cities or towns down the road.  I have made some good contacts within the Regina comedy scene that will help me get exposure and stage time.  Sure, the stage time was more frequent here in Saskatoon when I was part of this scene, but I think when you know you’ll be on every week it gives you this sense of entitlement that in turn has you take stage time for granted.  It’s happened to every one of us newbies coming up, even myself.  Although I never let my ego get in the way as some have.  I was disappointed in not getting on stage because I truly believed I could succeed, it had nothing to do with ego at all.  Anyhow….

The stage time is less than before, but I view that as a positive thing because I take things much more seriously now.  The interest in my comedy is growing and as I work towards two major comedy goals for 2015, each stage appearance has to be better than the last.

It’s been a rough road, but they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  In the end, it will make for a much smoother ride down the comedy highway.

be blessed!