Dude, looks like Comedian.

An interesting conversation developed after Comedy Loser last night, downstairs at the infamous comedians roundtable discussion. I took away some pretty powerful thoughts about my voice and my very existance as a performer.

I constantly categorize female comedians or at least the material as I see it to be very female and very hack. I constantly try to write material that isn't about my period, or not being able to 'find a man' and instead owning a large amount of cats.

I guess I just hate to remind the audience that I am a female comic, because of the constant struggle against 'she's funny, for a woman'.

I have become so enraptured with the concept of being labelled a 'female comic' instead of just a comic, that I have actually started to deny one very important fact - I'm a woman. It's true I have the 'junk' that makes me a female - AND denying the fact that I am a woman on stage or any time in my life is denying who I am.
It doesn't mean I have to write ALL material about being a girl, BUT it is a unique part of my voice I can not ignore.

Denying the female voice inside of me just enables those ignorant assholes who DO see female comics as unfunny. I am sort of admitting this is true by trying to downplay that I am a woman. Instead I just think "don't look at my tits..just listen, close your eyes and pretend its a guy if you have to".

So from now on I will no longer ignore the parts of my identity. Instead I will start to embrace them and use them for inspiration.

Edmonton was fierce. It was awesome to get out of the city for a few days and hang out with the same people I do in Winnipeg. haha, but it was fun. I was so excited to go to Improvaganza and watch Pat and Peter (Good Morning World) do amazing improv.
I was pretty star struck when I got to talk to them, I just started rambling about my stand up comedy and somehow ended up saying that Good Morning World on the comedy network gargles my balls compared to what they did with their daily online version.
FOOT meet MOUTH.

Whtye Ave. was so dumb. I was there for about 15 minutes and it was too long. Loud obnoxious assholes everywhere. The smash of beer bottles, people dry humping in an alley. I'm so glad I have no desire to be a part of that garbage. My weekends might be kinda quiet and my idea of a good time is a bottle of wine and good conversation -but I'm glad I have outgrown the Flin Flon 'Sharla' side of myself quickly, before it transformed into some of that bullshit I witnessed.

Comedy Season is winding down. I am looking forward to some chill time, some time to write, hang with friends, get ready for the Fringe and breathe.

Sad to hear of George Carlin Passing. Although he has an insane amount of funny quotes. My favourite that always stays in the back of my head:

"There are two types of Comedians. There are the ones who try to relate to the audience and there are the ones who the audience tries to relate to."


Carpe Omnious.

CDL

Chaos, Clocks, and Watermelons.

I had a dream last nite that i had a three way with Jason Bateman and Kyle Cease. It was fucking good...and hilarious. It was also much less creepy than my regular sex dreams with Tom Hanks.

I performed last night at the Charley. It was kinda strange being in that room again. It reminded me of when I first started doing Standup. A lot has changed.

Lately I'm really feeling the support from my comedy community. Which is humbling because a lot of my friends are also my mentors. Lately I have heard how much I have grown as a performer this year. How drastic it has been and how comfortable and relaxed I am getting onstage. I think Improv has certainly contributed to that. And I think I have really concentrated on breathing more. Having fun on stage, taking more risks, trying new shit, and being less afraid of not getting a laugh.

I've worked hard on getting over my paralyzing trepidation. Why? Because my heart is in comedy, my heart is in performing. It's what I love. And I refuse to let my fears and hereditary anxieties prevail, and prevent me from doing what I love. Fear can suck my dick.

Going to Edmonton this weekend - and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope to take in some comedy and some R&R. Usually my 'trips' are to Flin Flon. So it will be nice to NOT go to Flin Flon. Improvaganza is goin on-so should be excellent.
And there are several comics/friends of mine who will be in the city for work-should be fierce.

Carpe Omnious

CDL

Banana Milk is Evil

For the record, whoever thought adding banana flavour to milk was a good idea - was a moron. This is the same guy who probably uses the instructions that come with Band-Aids and likes to go to movies like White Chicks and Rush Hour.

I had a lot of fun at the stand up show down last night. Even with a small crowd - I enjoyed what I did and felt strong about my performance. For the first time in a long time I didn't have that crippling nervousness beforehand. I just tried to remember to breathe and have fun. If I feel like some of what I say connects with even one person - that's all I could ever ask for.

I'm starting to get psyched for the Fringe. With our dates/times/venue finalized, it finally feels real. Being able to perform at the MTC Warehouse is both a blessing and a curse for our show. It's big..and it's big! Promotion is going to have to get crazier than my old man playing Monopoly. But overall, I feel very excited to have such a great space.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be addressing the victims of Residential Schools in a few hours. For some people, it will be the most emotional moments of their lives. I hope our PM speaks from his heart and not from his speech writers, not from a stand point of 'having to do this'.
Imagining those gathered in Ottawa, and thousands of other survivors gathered with friends and family in their communities to watch together seems so surreal, it overwhelms me.
I wish them strength and a chance to heal.

thanks

CDL

Pink Moon

This is a beautiful church in Barnburgh, a tiny village just outside of Doncaster- where I will be staying when I travel to the UK, hopefully in August. I can't wait to see new places and visit old friends.

Last night, they took only 2 comedians from Canada to be semi finalists in Last Comic Standing. 2. as in two. From the entire neighbouring country of Canada. But they take 8 fucking assholes from North Dakota. Fuck that show.

I continually have this anal pattern of writing notes to myself. It's constant and annoying. I feel like I am going to forget, at age 24 I don't trust myself to remember. I write on post its, in notebooks, in tiny notebooks I carry in my purse. I write with whiteboard markers all over my mirror, I write on macbook desktop post its. I write on my hands...it's so dumb.

I need a haircut..fucking badly.

Comedy Break, isn't really turning into much of a break at all. It's like waxing my eyebrows. It's hard for me to leave it alone....until eventually I look like ALF.
I'm doing the standup show down with Matt Cohen on Tuesday, then I am doing Keener's late nite Cavern show on Thursday.
I signed up for an Improv workshop on Saturday, then Monday (16th) is the Charley with Jason Beck and then the Kingshead Shitz and Gigglz show with John B. Duff.
July 9th is the next round for Rumor's contest..

sooo not really a comedy break..as much as a comedy fest! Play rehearsals are underway as well. The Fringe is creeping up like a dirty old man named Jonesy.

wow this blog sucks.

I'm sorry...never again. please don't break up with me.

thanks.

CDL

Popped My Improv Cherry...and it wasn't at Prom..it was in Shop Class!

So I want to talk about Improv, but it's difficult at 11:01 as I watch the 2nd helping of overtime for my red wings. I still can not get over that shot from Pittsburgh at 34 seconds left. I must say....if I was a fan I woulda been shitting everywhere..and yelling...and jumping. But instead I am literally CRINGING.

Double Overtime is Double Bullshit.

HOWEVER.

Being a part of the W.I.M.P was an incredible experiance. I'm still feelin it. I was proud of myself. And after much trepidation, I made my debut as an improviser.
I performed with a fever and with the worst nervousness of my life. I couldn't have done it without the unreal support of my troupe, Shop Class.
Seriously such a great dynamic to be a part of. Supportive, fun, creative, and united. I feel so lucky to be a part of a group that acts as Improvisers should. About creating something together, not about egos and bullshit and looking cool or funny. Shop Class really is about making the 'group' look good. Helping each player. A team. "I have your back and you have mine." Truly believing this made me feel fearless as soon as we stepped on stage.

I'm so blessed to have shared my first experiance with such great people. I'm very excited to see what happens next.

I heart Improv.

I wish things were like that in all parts of my life. I'm glad to get away from comedy for a bit. Take a break from some places and some people. I need some time for myself, to breathe and think. Sometimes I feel like I take a step forward, and then someone else takes 5 steps back. Sometimes I wish everything wasn't so complicated. That things could be simple and pure and just be.

For more arty bullshit, visit my blog again.

Thanks.

CDL