#4 in a Series: My Second Year

I did it. I asked for a one year unpaid leave from teaching. During that year, I tried to make good use of the time. If I wasn't doing a paid gig, I was at an open mic. Six or seven nights a week, working on my writing, delivery, networking....this was my job.

Tribble Runs to Montana, Pat Wilson gigs at casinos in northwestern Washington, Kay Frasier one-nighters in Medford, emceeing at Harvey's in Portland, emceeing at Seattle Comedy Underground; if there was stage time and someone was willing to hire me, I took it. I also spent five days in San Francisco, performing at every venue that would let me on their stage.

Two established headliners who've been in the business for more than twenty years have both told me they used to cringe when they'd watch me perform in those early days. Hey, I didn't blame them -- I cringed, too, when I'd watch the videotapes after my shows. I still do, sometimes. I have a lot to learn.

The owner of Harvey's Comedy Club, the major club in Portland, let me do something unique: He allowed me to put on a show benefiting a school scholarship fund. This meant I needed to drum up an audience. I passed out fliers in neighborhoods, went to all of the schools inviting their staffs, notified the local newspapers, and went on KATU's AM Northwest morning talk show. The room was nearly sold out, and I did 30 minutes on the main stage at Harvey's.

In September 2007, I entered the San Francisco Comedy Competition, and, in November, the Seattle Comedy Competition. Being the comedian with the least amount of experience in each of these contests, I had no illusions that I would make it past the preliminary rounds. In San Francisco I took 4th place on one of the nights in front of a huge crowd. I didn't fare as well in Seattle, taking an embarrassing last place for the week!

Did that mean I should roll up into a little ball and die? Or quit? No. It meant I had to keep working. Where others may give up, I keep going. Which is why, six months later, I asked for another year of unpaid leave from teaching.