Play to Live
Sometimes Ugly Increases Funny
I’ve stolen few things in my life. One of them is a book called Stand-Up Comedy: The Book by Judy Carter. I discovered it on a shelf in Victrola, an idyllic coffee shop on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It is one of those shelves that holds board games and books to help entertain the patrons who forgot their laptops, mole skins, GRE study guides, or novels. One day, I reached up and pulled down the comedy book. I passed the “funny test” and couldn’t resist. I slid the book into my bag.
I ended up giving the book to my friend, Fat, because he’s funny and I thought he should become a stand-up comedian. Five years later, he hasn’t yet, but he still might. I missed the book, though, so I bought myself a copy. Therefore, the hot copy is not in my possession. If you want to find it, I’ll give you Fat’s address.
It’s embarrassing to be seen with this book. I hide it in my sketch book. Maybe I’ll cover it with a brown paper bag. The book is unattractive, and it’s a ridiculous notion that a 36-year-old-failure-at-so-many-things would fancy herself a standup comedian. Yet, Judy Carter makes it seem possible. She offers step-by-step instructions for creating your own routine. She prompts you to list your negative personality traits, things you hate, worry about, and fear, and shows how each of these things really can be funny. Here are some examples for negative personality traits:
“I have low self-esteem. When we were in bed together, I would fantasize that I was someone else.” —Richard Lewis (Carter 25)
“I had to move to New York for health reasons. I’m extremely paranoid and New York is the only place my fears are justified.” –Anita Wise (Carter 25)
Judy Carter is the comedy version of Natalie Goldberg—they are both encouraging and make you feel like you can write, like you can accomplish the impossible. The tones of both writers are intimate; their voices are comfortable and comforting. Here is an example of how Carter addresses her readers: “the more miserable your life, the better your act. The trick is to be willing to expose yourself as much as you can without getting arrested” (5).
I’m not done reading the book yet, so this isn’t any sort of review. I’m currently on page 43, “Finding the Pearls among the Schlock.” I may be stuck here for some time. But I find the book fun and exciting. I guess I’m still trying to answer Steve Knezovich’s question from June 2nd: “I think all of us have writers who inspire us, but how many writers actually ask you to come out and play?” Carter makes it seem possible to become a standup comedian, and maybe I will succeed at it. More likely, I’ll find a few snatches of inspiration, a few bursts of Love-to-Live! Live to Play! Or maybe play to live.
Tags: Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy
Dylan and I have been watching Last Comic Standing lately, and it reminds me how much comedy is like writing. You’ve got to find the heart of a situation, figure out what’s interesting about it and how to package it so people will be attracted to it, laugh at it, whatever. I mean, comedians essentially are writers who are also performers. That’s what’s so cool about comedy. I get to watch someone perform their words.
Josh Blue was our commencement speaker this year. I knew him from Last Comic Standing before I knew he was an Evergreen alumnus.
I clearly need to check out Last Comic Standing. I suppose it is a television show? Maybe I can find it online or at the library.
Yeah, it’s a TV show, and it comes on NBC on Monday nights at 9:00, I think. My boyfriend went to Evergreen with Josh Blue. I think they may have had a class together. Small world!
Wow! Was Blue funny in class, I wonder?
Dylan says that he was exactly the same back then as he was on Last Comic Standing, so if you think he’s funny now you’d think he was funny then. They went to something called Poetry Camp together at Evergreen.
Poetry camp! At Evergreen–in the woods on Puget Sound. With someone making you laugh. That sounds like paradise.
Devin & Doug love watching Last Comic Standing. I saw a few minutes once & it was entertaining.
Oh, my mother is way more with-it than I am.
You owe me $15! Judy Carter
My closest brush with fame yet! I love owing my idols. I’ll have to find a way to pay you.
I love the notion that misery is the humor muse. There’s a hilarious poetic justice in that.
I love that, too!
It can sure make misery seem like better company.
I too am secretely addicted to Standup Comedy, I must buy this book. Even if you would have told me that the book sucked, I’d buy it just because Judy commented on this post!
My college boyfriend and I would watch standup marathons on weekends and we always thought we would both be great comics. I think it’s probably a good thing that neither of us made that career choice.
Oh also, you’re funny, funny girl Ms. Shira. You’d rock the stage as a standup. I’ve seen you in action at Voice Over, don’t even try to deny how funny you are. And you should totally check out Last Comic Standing–it’s awesome.
You are the kindest, Asa. And you are going to rock the pages off that book.
One thing I like about comedy is it’s okay not to be young and pretty. You can be an aging, late bloomer. I look for careers where coolness, looks, and youth are not prioritized.
Hi Shira!
What a great find! Thanks for sharing.
Tamara Sellman
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