Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Come on Down....come down

I am on vacation in Miami Beach Fla. I needed a change of scenery. I'm at a Trump Sonesta. The weather is horrible. Its 68 and windy. You cant sit on the beach with out getting a free dermabrasion treatment. The wind it so strong. Pool side its worse...there are lounge chairs flying into the pool. I cant complain. I could have been scuba diving in Sri Lanka and boom its all over. Off the big vacation in the sky. My children are fighting my husband and I aren't talking and its costing us a fortune. I was so bored I went on Chuckle Monkey to look for an open mic.Then I calmed down. This hotel is crazy too. It is moderately expensive however with Orbitz and Priceline an entire different class of people are here who ordinarily would be priced out...including me. Thrifty folks.... they give out free apples at the front desk. Everyone looks like a pig at a BBQ with an apple in their mouths. At breakfast in the lobby they have a coffee bar with cereal and fruit and bagels etc. A dad is cutting a free apple on a plate.." Daddy I want a bagel. Mommy says you have to have the fruit. Can I have a banana? No Mommy says you have to eat an apple." Crap live a little your on vacation..a banana is a dollar. People are walking in with grocery bags from the local supermarket.They dont want to spend 3 dollars for a coke... I get it. However.. If I have to go grocery shopping when I'm on vacation in a hotel that cost more that $300 night..without discounts. I'm going home. I spent the day at Linens and things and Borders. I ate lunch at Chilies because it was the only place 4 difficult people could agree on. It's like I never left home and they took away all the good stuff. Like my own bed....with out the kids in the room. My vacation begins the day school starts again...Heres looking to the New Year.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

It beginning to look a lot like Christmas

As the clock gets closer to C day.... Chia pet ads and Clap on Clap off the Clapper ads start to flood the airwaves for thoughtful last minute....oh shit I forgot... gifts you get at Wallgreens and Dwane Reede. You can always tell when it is almost Christmas with out looking at a Calendar. QVC starts to dump it clearance winter clothing and storage containers. Since it is too late to get anything to you in time for Christmas. You can see that its almost Christmas by the moms at the mall screaming at their kids that if they don't shut the hell up I'm telling Santa not to give you a god dam thing. Yes joy is in the air. I got the finger today for taking too long to get out of a parking space. On a happy note for this week only LA weight loss has lowered its prices for the many people looking to start their diets before the New Year. Oh and let me be edgy and say Merry Christmas to you all....even the Moslems, Hindus and Jews. I have been wished a Merry Christmas for all my entire Jewish life and I lived to tell the tale unscathed. Oh and while I'm at it Happy New You.... as all the fitness and diet ads will be telling us as of Jan 1, to motivate us all to undo all the holiday damage. I can hardly wait to hear that and to buy gift wrapping paper at half off...

Comments are below
dont forget old navy
Posted on 12/23/2004 at 12:51 PM by

With those annoying ass commercials showing last minute gifts at $10.00 and under. god i hate those commercials



Happy Happy!
Posted on 12/24/2004 at 11:13 PM by Adam Sank

Here's wishing you a very happy (belated) Hanukkah, Robin. And the best of everything in 2005! Mwah!

Friday, December 17, 2004

Riding a rollercoaster.

I have been saying how hard it is to get good at anything 5 minutes at a time...no less comedy. Well maybe I was wrong. I see that the many months of dragging myself to countless open mic's is paying off. I don't feel the burning need to do 6 or more a week...been there done that. Yet the discipline of writing and trying to have at least one new joke a week at open mic has really paid off . After my performance at The Stress Factory Contest... I was feeling down. I really wanted a chance to do a weekend set at my home club. I have something to prove to myself... Time will tell .I want to thank my fellow comics who emailed me because they knew how upset I was going to get about how things went at the contest. I decided to put it all behind me. The following weekend went fantastic and got to do 3 amazing shows. I performed at Gotham and had was very happy. I thought I got a good tape but I came home and it was 7 minutes of static. I spoke to the club and they said they were having problems with the equipment. I walked 44 blocks after the show to drop off a tape at a club. The person who I was to drop it off was away on vacation. I noticed a bunch of comics on the bill I knew but had to run downtown for a set. I almost got to meet Adam Sank....he was playing on the bill. (this was 2 weeks ago) After that I ran down to the Village and had a great time at Sal's and had a really solid set and got paid to boot. That Saturday night I hosted the Callallo Cafe in Morristown. I had done a show there last June and had a great opening set however when I came back to MC between the feature and the headliner I blanked out and a few jokes went flat. I also was afraid to do crowd work. Fast forward to now and .... time and experience must have paid off. I came prepared to do crowd work, I went to the show with several topics to ask the audience about and a few come back lines I might use. When I got to the show the club manager said the headline was running late and asked if I could I stretch it out a bit. Go Long A DREAM COME TRUE!!!! Well like it or not...I did crowd work. I asked about the holidays and about how people decorated. I had a few people there celebrating...different events. I prayed for the years of improv to paid off. I got an applause break during the crowd work. Then I did 20 minutes and brought on the feature. The headliner arrived and I did 5 more minutes of crowd work and 15 minutes and brought up the headliner. It was my best show ever and I have been on a high ever since. It was the most amazing thing to have that much stage time and to do well. I had a fantastic time. Fortunately I audio taped it. This field is filled with such lows at times it is great to have a night that you feel it all came together. I was fortunate the club was mostly married couples and several groups of middle aged women out for a night with the girls. The comedy stars were all in alignment. I say this all the time....You have to be prepared so that if luck shows up you can make the most of it. I sometimes get bitter about the open mics that I have to drag myself out to do. I often forget that even though I do 5 minutes at these...If I have the right attitude and use it for what it is...I could grow into something more than just an open micer. I need to focus on the positive more often. Its better than sitting home dreaming. I did that for 20 years and can never get that time back. If you see me down and out...remind me that its not all fun but there is no place else Id rather be.

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Giving and Getting

I went holiday shopping the other day at Target. I love the option of buying toys,lawn furniture and Tide all at the same time. I went to the Barbie aisle wanting to see what the old broad was up to. Barbie is always into new things...She is up for any adventure. Heck she should be on Valtrex she's so friggen adventurous. I saw Nothing new...no new campers no great job... Barbie for has had her pulse on the hopes and wishes of little girls for decades. Just last year I bought a wheel chair Barbie. (she could have used one of those back in the 60's before her knees bent.) It was kinda routine. Barbie dentist, Barbie surfer, Barbie on roller blades,Barbie Princess and Barbie Bride. Kinda the same old thing. I also noticed Barbie usually got one side of an asile all to herself and today it was almost half of its normal size. I turned my head and saw the New girl on the block.. and she was working it baby.....She NOW had an entire side of the aisle all to herself... Its the Bratz dolls. These dolls look like little Ho's They look like Britneys' and Christianas', ....sluttly cousins. Bratz have heads 2 x the size of their body. Full make-up,and lips bigger than Angelina Jolie. They are scarier than finding your 9 year olds first thong in the wash basket. I'm sure if you take her clothes off she has implants,a thong and a Brazilian...I hope batteries are included for her vibrator. She is outselling Barbie 2 to 1 I was told by a sales clerk.

I walked over to the electronics department to buy my son a game for his game cube. $79 dollars?? Is that for real. Its not that I'm cheap....its that I cant wrap my brain around a toy for $79 bucks. So I rationalize. If I buy him a board game it means a play date...so he can play it. Which means because all his friends moms work...I will have to pick up the kid. I will probably have to make the kid lunch. Then I will have to tell my son after I drive the kid home 3 x to put the game away. Then after stepping on a piece of the game in bare feet and jumping in pain I will give up and I will clean up the mess myself. My son will play the game 4 more times and it will eventually wind up in a garage sale where I will sell it for 50 cents. If I get him the $79 game...He can play it himself, no pieces to clean up...no play date no garage sale....Worse case...It will wind up on ebay?? I decide to tell his grandmother that I found out just what he wants.....and that I will pick it up for her. She is thrilled and thanks me for being so thoughtful. Done.

I walk over to small appliances. I want to buy my sons math tutor a gift. We are also friends who have known each other for over 10 yrs and I love her. I found a great new product a few months ago....Its the Home Cafe Coffee system and it makes a fantastic single cup of coffee in 45 seconds. Best of all there is no clean up. You use pods and when your done toss them. I love it. I used to buy coffee out at Dunkin Donuts on the way home just to avoid the mess of making a pot. The only thing better than finding a great new thing is to share it with a friend. I think that's why I worked in advertising. I saw my friend last Monday and gave her the gift and she cried. It wasn't the gift itself that she was crying over,she told me. It was.... that I had gone out and thought of her and wanted to get her something she would love. It was really the best gift giving experience I have had in a long time. I was one of those moments that giving really was better than receiving. I like to give a gift that the person truly wants and wouldn't give to themselves. Best of all I got to see her reaction.

I like to go to the post office and get letters from kids to Santa. I read a bunch of them and sure there were kids looking for i pods. There are also letters asking Santa to bring their mom, a warm winter coat...and new underwear for their bother who is afraid to wear Spiderman underpants with another kids name magic marker-ed on the back to school because the other kids will know they came from good will. I stood in the post office crying. PMS.... Another card was from a girl asking Santa for new clothes that she had gotten fat and nothing fit her. Before I mailed my gift of some cute clothes in her correct size. I wrote a note as Misses Clause and told the girl to love herself and that I understood, we Claus's all have to struggle with our weight. My gift I wish I could have given her was self esteem.

I never have been good at receiving gifts.. I often don't like what I get and if I do I feel awkward . I remember getting a gift when I was 9. It was a Barrel of Monkeys game. I hated it. It was cheap and I hated the ads on TV. I hated that it was just a bunch of plastic "S-e's" with monkey faces on them. I cried and cried so much so that my parents wouldn't let me have anymore presents till the last night of Chanukah. I am an ingrate.

The best gifts I have received have involved doing something with someone. When I was 10 I went to a special lunch with my mother. Mom took me out of school... a gift in itself and we went to lunch at Lord and Taylor's, The Bird Cage resturant. They had watercress finger sandwiches and all the ladies wore hats and gloves. I still remember everything 3 decades later. I hated the food, but on that day I knew in my gut that I wouldn't grow up to be a hat and glove kinda gal. The fact that I got some special time with my mom is what made the gift so special and memorable. To this day the first really nice hot day in spring I pull my kids out of school and take them to the beach. I might take my son out of school early next week and take him to see A Series of Unfortunate Events movie.I think he would like that. Best of all it wont wind up on ebay.

To all of you ... I wish you all wonderful holiday and much health and success in the New Year.

Thursday, December 2, 2004

Indigestion from Eating it

Well,last night I ate a big bowl of crap. It was the last round before the finals of the contest for stage time at the Stress Factory. Two weeks ago we had 160 people in the audience. Last night 10-15 people outside of 25 comics. My opponent is a great comic and I knew I had my work cut out for me. He is a seasoned performer and half my age. He went first, my choice. He did a brand new set. All the comics laughed... hell I laughed!! I started to panic. I had planned on a bigger crowd and was going to do my standard set. I decided to do a new joke I had been shopping around at open mic's and thought It would get me off to a great start. Well its a semi made up story...however these 25 comics know me and I think I shocked them more than I made them laugh.

Its a joke about having an affair with a college prof. When I was 18...which in reality never happened. It might have if not for the fact he was MARRIED. So the comics in the audience just looked back at me. I plowed on. I started doing a bit of this and that and they have all heard it before for the past 18 months. Also the real audience who were laughing were sitting in the margins of the room on each far side. So it was like playing ping pong trying to connect.

Every joke I did felt like I was doing it to a mirror. All a could hear was my own inner voice saying..."turn it around ...do this...nah...don't panic. You can fix this. Its not getting better. Its a lost cause." I had won all of the other rounds I had done. I got off stage not disappointed in the fact that I might very well have lost but that I am not omnipotent...I am going to do poorly sometime. I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if I would have been better off doing my standard set. I am glad I had the courage to try something new. I felt I had nothing to loose. I felt that my opponent did new material for an room full of comics who needed to hear something new to laugh at. I went up to my opponent and told him what a great set he had. He told me he thought I might have won. I said he was nuts ...he said that my last joke ended stronger than his. I had a bunch of friends there who are comics and they may have or may not have voted for me.... Who knows. I do!

To be frank... I'm flustered. I'm embarrassed...I blew it in front of my peers. I have 3 shows this weekend 2 of which I will be getting paid for. The other is a guest spot. I am worried. What if ....and then it get ugly. I guess this is part of the process of becoming a comic.

I got a wonderful email from a dear friend who was at the show last night. .. the kind words of another comic really helped. I just need to let it go and really focus on doing a great job this weekend. I'm hosting a show at the Callahoo Cafe here in NJ. Its a fantastic room and usually its a full house. I need to do well. I did it 6 months ago and had a great opening set...and so so in the middle of the 2 acts. I think I will do more crowd work this time. Talking about the holidays would be good. Why is it that all the good stuff has to show up when you feel off your game?

Comments are below
I have never seen you before
Posted on 12/02/2004 at 03:27 PM by Mark Anundson

but feel like I know you a bit from reading your blogs. I bet you have success this weekend with your shows. I bomb more often then I would like to admit but for some reason my next set after a bombing kills. It isn't something I plan on it just seems to go that way.

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

When too much is too much

I cut back on my obsessive open mic going for a few weeks. I didn't see the point of it. I had a set that worked and other than to keep fresh how many times a week is necessary anyway? Add in a good 3 month dose of writers block and what's the point. I found myself looking for alternative spaces to do comedy. I will be hosting a booked show starting this Feb. once a month with 10 comics a night. It is impossible to get good at anything in this world 5 minutes at a time. I make my kids practice there music for 30. Plus they just go right upstairs...no need to drive for 2 hours and wait for 2 hours to do 5 minutes. I have my favorite open mic's. I like the Stress factory for there audience and to see my friends. I like the Lantern for the quality (usually of the comics...some nights are better than others) and Sal's it great for the above reasons and then there is Sal of course.

So I cut down to 2 performances a week for the past 3 weeks. Guess what happened???? My writers block lifted. I don't know why. Maybe because ...I thought I was done for the day when I knew I had a mic that night. I found myself...performing in my everyday life again. Cracking up the produce guy at the supermarket. Being hysterical at motor vehicle. The curse is over. ...at least for now. I have been coming up with new stuff for several days in a row now. Some not all usable for a set.

SO this all said I want to hear about your writers block and if it correlated to doing too much and burning yourself out. How have you gotten your writers block lifted I want to know? Also what are your favorite open mic's and why?

My favorite open mic's are based on a few criterion. I do like one that is fair. I like the mc to do no more than a few minutes in between sets. I don't mind if he does 5-7 at the start the room usually needs it. I hate when the mc does a complete set between each performer. Rule of thumb ...I don't want to be there for more that 2 hours do the math. No more than 20 comics. Lastly give me a real audience and it seems I will forget about a lot of the above. I am booked for 5 real non bringer shows in the next few months and find that using the open mic's to hone a set with a goal in site makes it seem much more productive and meaningful for me.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Its a Blogexplosion!!

A few days ago Steve Hofstetter talked about the web site blogexplosion.com I posted my blog on there and I have gotten over 166 hits in 5 days. My blog has been read by over 160 people outside of our cozy little comic community. I just wanted you all to know that I haven't been spending my entire day hitting the refresh button to be #1on the front page of this site.

I don't know about you guys but I like getting feedback on my blogs even more than having a lot of people reading it. I love checking my email and hearing back about what others have thought about a topic that I posted. Blogexposion is really very interesting...you can look at lots of blogs by surfing around and in turn, you get your blog put on a rotation so that others can be directed to your blog. I guess it must be working.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was very different. Unlike the Thanksgiving of my childhood with 27 relatives and a children's table. This was more like a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with just my husband and children and parents. We ate at the Marriot Hotel. The food was very good and something extra...it was all still hot. We sat at a table the 6 of us...that had 3 chairs on one side and a bankette on the other. Every time someone wanted more food from the buffet...our entire side had to swoosh over and stand up. I felt kinda sad for myself at one point. Why is my family so f'd up. We are scattered all over the USA and the few that are still alive...have to be with other family due to marriage or we plain don't like them. I had my home being painted so having the dinner at my home was impossible. When I have it at my home I usually can add a few friends who are in the same boat as we are over too...and its a bit more festive. I sat there at the Marriott and thought it could be worse...I could have a house full of family all enjoying a wonderful dinner together and I could have to be working like the staff at the hotel was doing.(okay if it was a great paying gig maybe...Letterman, Comedy Central definitely ) I asked our waitress If she had dinner earlier with her family and she said that she had to work all day. No Thanksgiving for her I guess. On a plus note the food was good the kids loved it...also by not having it at home I didn't have to shop all week,shlepp it all home, clean, cook, serve,clean,clean and clean. On the down side I was craving a leftover turkey sandwich all day. Alas no left overs.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Now that one is funny.

Now that one is funny.


Last night, I did 2 open mic's. I did not allow myself to do more than one minute of old material. I did the first show at the Lantern. Matt ran a great show. I went on around # 24... I was worn out waiting so long. I got up with really just a few notes and some premises. I started to tell the story of my Aunt and Uncles funeral. It didn't fly too well. SOme of it was salvageable. I then talked about.... My brother the Doctor, and My sons Bar mitzvah. Lastly my Gay friend Barbara. The Funeral got a few laughs..the structure of the joke is wrong. I still think it has a chance. The Bar Mitzvah joke was awful and its the 2nd time I have tried the premise...It might never fly, I will give it a few more shots. It just doesn't feel comfortable. My brother the doctor..felt hacky. I hate it. I will put it back in my book and revisit it in a few weeks. My gay friend Barbara did well. The joke flows it feels like it belongs to me. It feels like I had the joke for years and I wrote it just a few weeks ago.

I did another the set later at the VILLAGE MA. The funeral joke did so so. The joke just wont flow out of me. It needs to be written out and structured better. I got to the joke about my Gay friend and boom...big laughs to a room full of comics. I love when I find something new that works.

I have had a very hard time coming up with new material for the past few months. I think for starters its that...My standards have gone up. The kind of jokes I want to tell has changed. That might be why it has gotten harder. Not since Motherhood have I found this to be true....that the longer I do this the harder it gets...the anti keeps going up. As a mom, you master changing diapers and the next thing you know your dealing with night terrors...or food allergies. It never ever is done. There is always more work waiting to do. Tonight I gave birth to a joke that I like and am proud of. It just cost a lot more than I thought it would. Some jokes are easy they just pop into my head. Other jokes are like doing woodworking...they have to be hand crafted. I want to write a new 15 minute set and I am finding it so hard...yet what I have done I feel in someway's is better than what I have done before. I think this is what you have to go through if you want to get funnier. For me...that is my goal for the immediate future. To write and perform funnier material. I dont know what the next level in comedy is for me....but getting funnier is a goal I can work on for now.

Comments are below

Posted on 11/24/2004 at 09:28 AM by Joe Fernandes

I'm glad to hear you took the risk with the new stuff. I keep telling myself to do that and I usually punk out. I did some new ideas last night, but I kept retreating to the old to get the laugh back. It was a weird show... I would warm them up with the old... then cool them right off with the new. What was even weirder... the jokes that fell flat... people told me after that they liked them. Not the ones they visibly laughed at... the ones they stared at. Its very confusing. I think thats why I like it so much.



Keep the Faith, Robin
Posted on 11/24/2004 at 11:53 AM by Adam Sank

Taking risks is the only way to go. Remember that in the beginning ALL your material was new material. And you perfected it, and now you own it. (I gotta keep this in mind, myself...)

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Comedy....doctor in the house?

I am going into the city today.... I usually have a goal as to what I want to accomplish by performing each time. This time I don't know. I am not going to drive for 3 hours today...to do a set that I know can work and that I can pull off most of the time...what for?? I don't have a new 5 minute set. What I have are a bunch of disjointed jokes and premises. I feel totally lost in comedy right now. I think I have risen to a new level over the past year, which is fantastic...yet I'm kind of floundering now. I won the who can invite the most people to join the Soapbox contest and besides becoming a staff member as a prize I won the book "How to become a Working Comic." I don't know what it is but I feel stuck. I don't feel ready to get into high gear and market myself. I have a strong set of 20-40 minutes in length and yet I don't know if I'm what you would call a feature act. Could someone out there clue me in ...what comes next. I have been a fantastic open micer for the past 18 months... now what. Do I do regular showcases?? I'm producing in NJ a bunch of new shows and will be starting a once a month Saturday night room in Somerset County come this February. It just is as I'm going down this road the further I go the less direction I seem to have. I also am obsessed with writing another completely new 15 minute set. I have had a lot of false starts and am struggling to make it all flow. In some ways it seems that it is getting harder instead of easier?? Where were you in your second year of comedy. I know we each grow at our own rate...it just is I just want to know if these growing pains are normal or not ....what do you think?? To all of you here at the Soapbox...Happy Thanksgiving.

Friday, November 19, 2004

Stressing out......in New Brunswick

Last Wednesday The Stress Factory was packed solid. It was open mic night and the Survival of the funniest contest round 4 or 5?? The show was like no other, From a guy showing his junk to it ending all in a bar room brawl it was quite a night. I began with a guitar playing comic with not too many jokes or songs. Brian Baumley went up and had a fantastic set full of new material that just killed. Things moved on and the first round of the contest began. Gordon Baker Bone VS. Joe Conte. Each had fantastic sets...It was hard to tell who had the better one...we will have to wait and see.

The audience was at that point very responsive. The room was filled to the brim and I start filling myself with doubt. I had been planning on doing all new material, since I was not competing in the contest this week. I hadn't expected an almost full house. What to do ...What to do. Everthing in me wanted to just stick to my tried and true stuff. Walking the dog as I call it. My standard set almost always can do a solid job...In a full room in top performance mode its as close to a sure thing as I can get. But what about the new stuff????? Here is the chance in front of a full house to see if any of the new stuff has legs. Will my donkey joke work?? What about the joke about my best friends secret confession to me?? Yes, I had done the latter joke at one open mic in the city but it was to a room of only comics..... who knows if it will work?? I would die to bomb in a full house. To bomb is one thing but to do it in front of all my peers. My name is introduced... I go up and do a smattering of my old stuff. I was scared and pissed...I had the jokes but was still working on the delivery and the wording. I thought how angry I would be at myself if I didn't try out the new material. I thought about how I would have to write in my blog and confess what a wuss I am if I just stuck to the old crap.(see my Blog "Walking the Dog") So I took a breath looked down in my note book and started. The first one did so so.. I tagged it with a remark an salvaged it. I then moved on to all the other new stuff .They liked it!! It worked. Who knew??? I'm still funny.. Thank God I found the guts to do it. I had been feeling dried up and done for weeks. I havent even felt creative enough to blog. It was such a rush to see that I still could create new material to say and perform. I dont know why but when my creativity goes on vacation I feel like it will never come back. I got off the stage happy. Did I kill ?? No but it was a solid set.

A few more comics went up and the rooms vibe started to change. Comics who's material usually kills stood waiting for laughs that didn't come. I sat watching two of my favorite comics stand on stage bewildered as to what was going on. I sat there feeling the same emotion. The room took a downward spiral. The room went nuts....(Literally and figuratively....) see Tommy Brennans blog. The crowd at one point became negative and wasn't connecting to the comics even before the mayhem occurred. I left right after Greg and Jarret performed. They both did sets that were very strong but the crowd had turned by then. I had no Idea how crazy the night would become after I left.

I have a few things to say about the guy who took out his DICK during his set. It wasn't funny. You also put the club in Jeopardy by such actions.....there were people in their 50's sitting right in front of the stage. Do you think your parents needed to see that.

To the raciest idiot. You bring down all of us. I thank Tommy for shutting the jerk down. I have sat in NYC and heard homophobia and anti-Semitism and pedophilia ranting's all hidden in the guise "that its comedy" . First rule of Comedy....Its not funny if no one laughs....and your ass hole buddies laughing don't count. Your no better than a school room bully who harasses a kid and then defends himself by saying "where's your sense of humor I was just kidding"? Please don't talk to me about censorship. Your not funny and that can get you censored all the time. What do you want to do in comedy anyway......when did Leno have a comic on who took his dick out???? Do you think your so ground breaking you'll be the first. Spending $5 dollars to get on stage at an open mic doesn't give you the right to take a shit on it. You stink up the whole place and it reflects badly on us all. Hopefully this will blow over and we can move on.

On a happy note. I will be producing a once a month Saturday night show in the Somerville area beginning this February. I will be putting up 8 comics each month doing 5 to 15 minutes sets depending on the comics experience. Feel free to email me through the Soapbox if your interested. I look forward to having a venue right here in NJ for comics seasoned and new to grow and develop.

Comments are below
Cool
Posted on 11/19/2004 at 10:15 PM by Scott Beaton

Good to hear you are starting a room, keep me in mind, and yes a picture is in the works. I too am thinking about starting a room at school ,telling the admin it is for students then opening it to everyone, but I have to see what is going on with construction. I also am working on a room down here or at least producing a semiregular show here at the shore. I am sure it will be a good room with no flashing.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

HAVE DO BE vs BE DO HAVE

I often open my set with the joke about feeling older than dirt. Usually its just to acknowledge to my audience that I know, they know, Im middle aged. Tuesday I attended a mind altering comedy show. Chicks and Giggles is a monthly show now at the Raga on E. 6th Between 1st and A. It is held on the first Tuesday of the month... If you havent been you should. I saw Michelle Maclay, Ophira Eisenberg, Giulia Rozzi, Claudia Cogan, Correne Kristiansen, Christina McGrath, Carolyn Castiglia,and Michelle Buteau

The reason I consider this a blog worthy topic is that I saw a different kind of comedy. Now I feel older than ever... I need a comedy face lift. These women comedians were on to something very new. The style and format of their sets were about having a comedic voice and spirit....the jokes emerged from there. Many new comics including myself approach comedy like this. I want to be a comic....I need to HAVE Jokes I need to DO Shows then I will BE a COMIC. These women do it differently. They are BEing Comics. They are DOing Shows and they HAVE Great Jokes. The comedy comes through them ... they are what is funny the material is a reflection of them and their own funny sprits. Part of their ability to do that is TALENT plus the sets are longer and the atmosphere is supportive and nurtures this brand of comedy. It was fresher and smarter than most of the comedy I have seen in a long time.

I am doing the show this January and feel like burning my marble note book. I seldom have the time to be more anecdotal due to the fact that I am newer to comedy and am grateful for sets over 5 minutes. I need to regroup and think about getting in touch with the source of my own inner funny....... then get up on stage and let my material I have written flow from that place. I can do this ...I started with improv, that could help. I don't know if this is making any sense. Lately many comics on this blog page have talked about where they get their inspiration from. I think for me its getting very in touch with my point of view and putting it like a spotlight on what is interesting to me. Most of the time when I see a great comic it is not the one great joke that I remember....what sticks with me most is that persons just a funny bastard...... When I think God is he or she really funny I remember THEM and want to see them again because THEY are what cracks me up... and I know there is more where that came from and I cant wait to see it. Hummmmmmmmmm Am I overthinking this guys? Or is a case of which came first the chicken or the egg??.... what do you guys think???

Comments are below
Oh a good excuse to stop working on my research paper, thanks Robin!
Posted on 11/11/2004 at 01:12 PM by Scott Beaton

I get what you're saying, I think anyway. I feel like that sometimes that I am not truly tapped into the funny that I am capable off. Maybe I am not comfortable enough on stage yet, maybe I don't have the confidence in myself yet, but for whatever reason my funny feels contrived, but maybe thats because I know how much writing went into it. All of my stuff is stuff from the heart but at the same time I don't think I've found my comic voice and I can't wait to get there. Sometimes I look at my jokes as a way to keep going and get on stage until I find that voice, like waiting tables till you hit it big. I know that they aren't the best but it is the best for where I am at now. And sometimes I get lucky and I write something that I really do feel is reflective of the funny I know I am truly capable of. They say that the greats are themselves on stage just times ten. But in order to magnify yourself like that you really have to know you and define your comic sense and I think that takes time. I can't wait until I can write 5 minutes that all 5 minutes seems right like it all has the same voice to it, my voice. Like I said I have jokes now that I feel reflect my personality while others just keep me on stage until I get more of the great ones. I think it is like anything that once you do it long enough it will just click, things will come more natural. I think that if anyone sticks around long enough to get to that point than they can make it. I know what you mean about the comedy coming through them, I think the same thing sometimes and I just go "Damn I want that". But I know that "that" will only come with time and work. So in the meantime I'll keep getting on stage at open mics and shit hole bars and writing every random thought I have down on napkins and notebooks. And maybe one day I'll get find that comic voice inside me, and like you described, people will leave my set not remembering specifics just knowing that I am ony funny fucker. See you at the stres factory!



Im glad some one got it???
Posted on 11/12/2004 at 02:40 AM by Robin Fox

Correct... I guess what I was driving home was the girls were funny first.. at the core of who they are.. all the jokes and fun sprang forth from there. I think that this Voice is only developed with time and hard work. I dont know if it really matters...maybe its just another small piece in the big puzzle. The more I know the more I know I need to know more.



yup....
Posted on 01/14/2005 at 02:19 PM by Stacy Yannetty

Hey I enjoy your blog ! The vacation one is gold. Anyway, you hit the nail on the head. Sometimes its not necessarily the material, its the person, and I think we comics are like salesman. We're selling our personalities, which is not easy to do, but its our personalities that make us likable and make the whole thing easier, but there still has to be great jokes with the whole package. I don't know how long you've been doing comedy, but everybody I know says and I believe this to be true, that it takes about four years to get to the beginning of that; knowing who you are on stage. Whew, that's a long time. But, like any art, its a process, and the process is what's interesting, not just the end result. But I think from what you wrote you are intuitively getting it; the spotlight thing about what's interesting to you, that's it ! You got it girl.

Monday, November 8, 2004

Hitting the Brick Wall.....has this happend to you???

I hit a brick wall this past week. I did 8 shows in 4 days and began to loose it. I don't know if it had to do with sitting in traffic at 1:30am 2 nights in a row at the Holland tunnel or having to endure not one but two ventriloquist acts in two rooms in one night. Elaine Stretch the Broadway Star tells a story of a prostitute who when asked if she liked her job, answered. "Its not the work that's hard its walking in heals and climbing up and down the hotel stairs".

I tend to do most things in extremes and on paper it seemed like a good idea... If Im going into the city anyway why not go from one open mic to the next. I had my first paid gig at Sals' Comedy Hole coming up and a showcase at the Cellar at the end of the week, so how could it hurt.

I found myself feeling detached from the audience and sick of hearing my same jokes. By the time mid week came around I became punch drunk. I did an underwelming job at the Duplex. Everyone there had prepared day after the election jokes and I didn't have any. I felt naked. I met a friend there and we went to dinner and had a reprieve from thinking about my set for a few hours. After dinner I started to walk to the Lantern by myself. Suddenly out of no where I became completely overwhelmed. Why am I doing this?...Its to hard. What do I need to prove to myself? What's this all for? Your to old for this!! Your the joke! You will never ever write another funny thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The jokes on you. Im cold. I want to go home.

Before I knew it, I was standing at the doorway to the Lantern and walked down the stairs. In front of me sat yet another ventriloquist. I took out my book. I looked for a few thoughts I had barely worked on. I didn't care anymore. I went up to the stage when my name was called.....the white light hit my face. I improvised the 4 main ideas I had tried to flesh out on paper. Laughter returned. John Morrison was laughing. This might be going well. Applause. I sat down.I got a few pats on my back. Later upstairs on the street John paid me a lovely compliment...that meant the world to me... I went home happy.

Thursday I did a show in NJ ... It went well. Did I kill...no? I delivered a good set nothing more. Friday was the Cellar showcase it went well although I did feel that I didn't do the full 5 minutes. I had 3 hours to kill between the cellar and my show at Sal's. I walked with comic I greatly respect who has been in this for a few years longer than me.. to his car. I asked him If he ever felt that he hit a wall. He knew just what I was talking about. I felt better. Later walking again alone I found myself in a surreal experience when I realized that for 3 blocks I had been seeing nothing but shoe stores. No, I had not fallen into some Sex in the City shoe heavan....rather I found out that 8th street is Shoe Street. I walked past Washington Sq. Park and was asked if I needed anything from a drug dealer. I was shocked and some how complimented that he would ask someone my age, maybe I am not that old. I stopped at Esperanto on Mac Dougal for a cup of coffee and went outside to say goodnight to my son on the phone. It was around 10pm. A young black man sat down next to me and was talking on his cell phone too. It was Dave Chappelle. Once we were both off of our phones I said hi to him and told him I was a fan and a comic. He was warm and approachable I mentioned that my friend Larry Bailey had seen him a week before at the Cellar ...He remembered Larry. Then I had to ask him about the brick wall. He knew....He knew just what I was talking about.... there are lots of them ahead of us all it seems. I mentioned the ventriloquist night to him. He laughed and said something about following a Hypnotist. He had some serious drinking to do and kissed my hand goodnight. I crossed the street to Sal's. I watched Sal perform. I looked and learned. He did one of the best sets I have see him do. I got up to do my first paid gig in NYC and had an excellent set. This is a long race.....what can get me through it is... pacing myself, the support of others who have been in it for the long haul and just staying the course. It only looks easy.

Comments are below
Pucker Up Butter Cup!
Posted on 11/08/2004 at 04:55 AM by Tommy Brennan

To Robin,

This is for someone I've seen grow in front of my eyes no matter how many times she bugs me in my booth of solitude. I've seen em bad and I've seen em great, lately greater than ever before Rob, I feel the same way every week @ the same place around 8:30 pm on weds., its natural. I wish I could gallop all over the city and have showcase spots and Chapelle kiss my hand, be it hairy, I still would have liked it. All I'm saying is you're being what you want to be and you hate repitition. Welcome to Comedy, party of everyone?



You Can't Make This Stuff Up
Posted on 11/08/2004 at 09:27 AM by Scott Beaton

Wow, you couldn't have written a better scenario than that. Seriously though Robin, if you were feeling that way and you recieved that kind of intervention, I would take it was a sign of big things to come. And I'm with Tommy, I woouldn't have minded Chapelle kissing my hand either.



Funny you should say that.
Posted on 11/08/2004 at 01:40 PM by Robin Fox

Right before I called my son. I read my horoscope. It said something like.... The best is yet to come, the most creative years of yourlife are infront of you. Then I called my son. It really was a night of signs.

Thursday, November 4, 2004

Take my life please.

There was a link to an article in the NY Times about the open mic comics in and around NYC. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/nyregion/thecity/31comi.html

I read the article and was already nursing a small depression....I wanted to jump off my roof by the time I finished it. Considering all we go through and how little in the end we are given it is a miracle any of us get up on a stage. It is an inherent need for some of us. It is an inner beast that only can be satisfied by getting in front of an audience with a mic (mic can be optional if need be) Talent.....would be nice. Funny, would be helpful. It is better when it is done well. My hat is off to anyone with the courage to follow their dream. Marry is portrayed as a sad case in point. I must admit though ... the time he takes to go to hospitals to bring some sort of reprieve how ever how short or what level of funny,,,shows that he does this from a burning desire in his heart to be who he is... a comic. He is not at that hospital expecting his big break. I must say that the community of creative people that comedy attracts is a nice thing for many of us. No harm no foul.

Comments are below
I read the article
Posted on 11/04/2004 at 03:33 PM by Shaun Eli

and showed it to two people, both of whom have seen me perform. They said it was a very sad article.

I agree with, unfortunately, the opening of the article-- that some people stand on stage not to entertain, but to complain. And that makes it more difficult for us, not only to attract people to come watch stand-up, but also makes going to open-mikes painful sometimes, because we have to listen to people's sadness without any entertainment. (this is not a swipe at Maury; he has material

Funny.....who knew?

Last night I did 2 open mics. I really like to try new material when I do them and scanning the audience of comics most had heard my standard set a gagillian times...I had to spare them. I took up my book and did tried a bit of this and that. After I was done a bunch of comics said how much they liked my set. Really??? I dont know? I told a few real life stories they worked kinda...sorta.. Best part of the show at the Morrison Motel was at the end there is a raffle for the door prize of $100 and I won. I quickly ran over to Sals comedy hole at The Village Ma and participated in the laugh-off. I did a few other new things on stage and I dont know how I did. Low and behold IM in the final round against a very funny comic. I won. Sal has the best prize for winning. I won a Sat night spot. Talk about a guy giving comics a chance at a leg up. I dont know I didn't have any sense of myself. Time to whip out the tape recorder and see what everyone else saw... Who knew???

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Happy on Holloween....

I havent bloged in 10 days.... the last entry kind knocked the wind out of my sails.. See Brush-off With Greatness. I also have be using the message boards to talk to the gang from NJ. So for the past 18 months I have been living out my life long dream of being a standup comic. Time to reflect. A few weeks ago I was in a very competitive contest in the Village. I had made it into the semifinals and then moved on to the finals. I make no bones about the fact that the very best part of being in the contest was the opportunity to play on a weekend in a sold out room in NYC. Not only one week but two. The excitement was beyond belief for me. The room was white hot and to play to an A room is just the best thing going...especially if your on your A game. I musty have been I made it into the finals. Between the two weeks of the semifinals and finals a strange and amazing thing happened to me. I woke up early in the morning and much to my surprise I felt something very rare and unusual for me. Known for being moody and depressed far to often....you can imagine how shocked I was to realize that even before anything had happened yet that morinig....I was HAPPY. I have to say that no one was more shocked than me. I have always been a reactive kinda happy person. Something good had to happen in order for happiness to follow. I think living a creative life with objectives and goals has been the reason for this outbreak of smiling and well-being. Being a Mom is fulfilling but the goals and rewards are very long term and sometimes very anti climatic. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the baby slept through the night. Where is the hallmark card for that one. I consider it an accomplishment that my daughter who is 17 has no body piercing or tattoos........Yippppppy. My son cleaned his room Zooooooooowiiiii. The fact that I have a pre teen and teen that are good kids who don't hate me or their dad does make me proud and happy. Just not in the same way. I think the reason for this is that my accomplishments with comedy are all mine. Something that is very rare in my life. I drive the family car... I eat in the family kitchen...TV in the family room. I share my bedroom. Everything I do and have is wrapped up in the people I love the most. Yet the minute I pull out the driveway My own life and personal fulfillment begins. It might seem obvious to any one else but to me having a life for and of my own provides a happiness I forgot I was missing.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Brush off with greatness.

Many years ago in 1993 I was watching TV. When the credits ran on the beginning of the show I recognized a name. It was a very uncommon name so I knew It had to be the person I thought it was. Memories of college flew into my head. I had been friends with this person and had eaten dinner with her and her gang for most of my sophomore year. Darla...Lets call her... was one of those larger than life people. She was a presence... She appeared ultra confident. She had opinions on everything. She knew who she was. She grew up in NYC and was sophisticated and street smart. She was a drama student and out of all her gang it was obvious to me that she was going to be a star. I on the other hand...was lost, insecure, unsure of how and what to do in life.

I was drawn to Darla and her gang like a moth to a flame. Some nights I would be leaving the cafeteria and see her coming in I would turn around and pretend I had just gotten there and join them. As much as I was insecure and depressed at the time....I had one thing I knew for sure. I could make Darla laugh every time. She thought I was funny and would tell me to sit with them. I would make them all laugh and would have a blast. Darla thought I was hysterical. Back then I had dreams of becoming a comedian....unfortunatly I had no jokes, I had no clue how to become a comic and the Internet wasn't invented yet.

Life moved on. Many years passed. Then I saw Darlas name as the head writer and producer of a MAJOR TV sitcom. Wow...sure of course....who else...... A few more years passed and Darla was the Producer of another Hit TV show. The show she was producing had a very special episode. Everyone was talking about it. The show was wrapped in controversy. Darla was quoted in the papers defending her show. Later that year the episode won the Emmy and there along with the STAR of the show on the stage of the Emmys stood Darla holding her very own Emmy. I was so happy for her. Then and there. I decided to write Darla an email and congratulate her. I couldn't find her email address anywhere... I looked on classmates.com I looked and looked I googgled her name but couldn't find an email address or anyway to reach her. This was six years ago and still from time to time Id try to find a way to contact her.

This past Monday I found a piece she had written for the Writers Guild. I emailed them asking for a way to contact her. Later that night Darla emailed me. She stated that she was sorry but my name didn't ring a bell,,, who was I? Could I write her back? The reason I haven't blogged in 3 days is I was composing my letter to Darla. I gave her some information to try to help her remember me and then I told her how I knew that she was special way back then in college and that she was such a creative sprit that I knew she would someday fly, to where ever she wanted to be. I also told her how I had become a comic and that I am finally happy doing what I always wanted to do. I wished her continued success in her career as well as the rest of her life. I also told her I had been trying for quite some time to contact her and that I was so happy to finally have found a way to reach her.

The very next day she wrote back....."Thank you for all the nice sentiments and memories. But to be honest, I don't remember any of it. And I really don't remember you. But thanks for saying hi and good luck with your career."

Oh well.

Comments are below
Ohmigod, What a BITCH!
Posted on 10/21/2004 at 01:31 PM by Adam Sank

Let the parlor game commence: My guess is Marcy Carsey, of Roseanne fame.



Thanks Adam
Posted on 10/21/2004 at 02:04 PM by Robin Fox

No its not Marcy



Guess
Posted on 11/02/2004 at 03:02 AM by Jon Bander

Sorry to hear about that Robin. Now, for the fun part: My guess is Dava Savel from Ellen. The controversial episode was "The Puppy Episode," where she admits she's gay. Don't deny it. Circle gets the square baby.



I will never say.................................................................
Posted on 11/02/2004 at 08:46 AM by Robin Fox

I think the reason she didnt remember me was the fact that I mentioned that I was a comedian and maybe she thought.... I wanted something from her. Her response to my email couldnt have been more terse and cold. John when you hit the big time hopefully youll remember me and send me an autograph. xx

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Third Cut is the Deepest

I woke up tonight and went downstairs to watch TV. There was a Rod Stuart commercial about 2 minutes long of Rods newest CD of Standards. Enough already Rod....it was cute the first time..playing off type. I liked hearing that raspy voice bring new life to a bunch of moth ball ridden songs.....okay and the follow up album last year (yeah I called it an album sue me) I will let it slide. Perhaps it was a contractual obligation. But a third album....and selling it on TV through an infomercial. Cut it out. Sheryl Crow is covering your songs...... you are a standard. Your making me feel old .....Knock it off. What's next an album of children's songs?

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Girls Night Out

I did my fifth Saturday night show ever last night. It was in true road show format. They had a MC an opener, feature and headliner. I thought I was to be the opener...but he asked me to feature. Im thinking I have 20-30 minutes of material IM sure of...OK. It was a Girls Night Out Show.....why is it when there are all men comics its called a Comedy show the headliner asked hypothetically. I loved doing a longer set...its heaven. You can pause and let a laugh build and die down. You can kid with the croud. I loved every second of it. It must have showed. I had a strong set...I had an excellent set. It was my best set ever. I did it for 16 people.Pathetic huh?? But they loved me. I was going to just go after I was done but there was the matter of getting paid. The owner of the club told me Id get paid....to be determined. The Mc when I asked him at the end if he could pay me said....I just made enough to cover the headliner....sorry ....I didn't make anything tonight either. Welcome to show biz..... I had 3 women came up to me at the end and said they tought I was the best of the night. Where could they find out where I was playing ... Do you have a web site. No. I told them and then I gave the www.comedysoapbox.com. and told them I list my bookings and they could email me to confirm. Thanks soapbox. Also they told me they work in an office with 100s of women who would want to see me..... so no pay but I got 3 women ready to start a fan club. I went home happy. Still I would have liked to have gotten gas money for the ride home.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Speehless part 3

Firstly... I did perform. By not talking for two days I did have some voice. I drank hot water with lemon and tried to relax. The first words I said in two days came out....and allthough a little deep for me...you could hear me. I had a good first 7 minute set and made it into the top 3 of the first 5 to perform. The nest 5 went on and they picked there top 3. When it came to the final two from each group I was eliminated. I was okay. It was a room filled with fans playing the game with not only who they wanted to win ...but also who they wanted there guy to go up against. That I held on so long was an acomplishment. The best part of the night was that the Club owner announce that the finalist had all been passed at the club and that we will soon be working the weekends and be getting paid. So I am offically a working comic. The room was all kids and I still did well.. As soon as it was all over, I realised that my voice fealt stronger. Was it all nerves.. was it the Airborne..tea???? Or just me....relaxing.

Comments are below
Congrats, Robin
Posted on 10/17/2004 at 11:52 AM by Adam Sank

I knew you'd come through!

Friday, October 15, 2004

Speechless part 2.

Update on my big weekend with no voice...What to do ? Im thinking of bringing a wipe erase board on stage and writing my jokes, perhaps with a reader? Or someone else could say my jokes and I could do the facial expressions. Kinda Komedy Kareoke. I have not spoken for a day now and have a tiny voice left. Im in the finals for a $2500 prizes and $2500 in cash tonight. The contest is at the Sals Comedy Hole at The Village Ma.. on Mac Dougal at 10 tonight. Im going....Im drinking tea...Im praying and Im doing the best I can. Murphys law is a bitch!!!!!!!!!! UPDATE>>UPDATE>> It is hours later now and Im leaving.. I got vicks vapor rub on my chest. Haulls in my mouth. A scarf around my neck. A Big thing of hot tea. Oh and of course its raining out. Robin Fox the mime comic is on her way...Look out New York.. Look for Speachless 3 sometime tonight after midnight Ill let you know if My voice showed up. I still have to compeate on top ot this.

Comments are below
I LOVE that idea!
Posted on 10/15/2004 at 03:12 PM by Greg Manuel

Though what you should do, is have that somebody come up with you and read your entire set out loud while you stand there and gesture. When they don't infuse the right inflections and emotions into the stuff, you'd whap them on the shoulder, and they'll roll their eyes and go "Alright, FINE! GAWD! Now I lost my place, y'happy? Ugh...'So my husband wanted head last night, right?'"

Speechless

Why is it that weeks can go by and nothing really is going on. Your home on a Friday night just like in high school wishing you had a date. Its just now you want a club date. I was booked this week. Thursday I had my first booking at the Underground. It was a flyer spot and meant 2 hours of barking. I was thrilled. I admired a lot of the comics on the bill and couldn't wait. Friday I am in the Finals of the World Comedy Laugh Off. And Saturday my very first Paid feature spot in a Jersey club. This morning I wake up and much to my horror....I HAVE NO VOICE. My biggest dilemma is to find a replacement for my flier spot. Jarrette Kruse saved the day and he is probably performing as I am writing this.... Then it was to get my voice back for the contest tomorrow. Why? Why? Why? Other comics told me everyone is sick ... and we all share the same mic. Occupational hazard...I guess. Im drinking tea, not talking (next to impossible for me or any Mom) taking airborne......and praying.

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Color my word

I have to paint my house. I am so tempted to paint everything just white. The painters are coming this coming week and I dont have a clue what colors to paint. I have never been one of those women who lived for fashion...or to decorate. I used to think I wasn't into fashion because I didn't have the figure I wanted...so why bother. I have come to a new conclusion. Im not into it because Im clueless... its like being tone deaf. It must be the same thing with decorating. I don't like decorating. I hate swatches and color samples. I get dizzy just thinking of going to the paint store and deciding what colors I want to live with for the next 5 years. Get a decorator....no I hate them even more. They come up with a entire plan that sounds great....But I cant tell if I will like it till its done and then $1000s of dollars later I have a room that would look great in HER house. I keep thinking ... I can do this, I can do this...I cant. Why do I have talents that are useless? Like I can usually identify the famous actor who is doing the voice over on commercials. Lisa from 6ft Under is on several. Alex Baldwin can easily be confused for Gene Hackman...I can tell it subltle differences ....In this arena Im gifted. Where can I return this gift and trade it in so I can exchange it for having a clue wether "whisper heather" is better than "moss" Where do you get a job naming colors?... I might be good at that. Luck bastard who has that gift and has actually found a job.

Comments are below
I should know something about useless talents...
Posted on 10/14/2004 at 09:55 AM by Greg Manuel

...there was once a time when I could name every WWF World, Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion from 1985 (Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana & Greg Valentine/Brutus Beefcake) to 1995 (Bret Hart, Razor Ramon, Money Inc.).

Then there's the uncanny knack for THINKING about the Simpsons episode that will be playing the minute I get home from work...

As for your painting dilemma? Go Rolling Stones with it. PAINT IT BLACK!

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

The Winner Is???

The past few weeks have been pretty exciting. I am in two contest and in both I have moved on to the next phase or final. Its bittersweet in someway. In one contest I was up against a comic that I have come to really respect and like and hated that it would be ahead to head competition. Unfortunately for one of us I won. It really took away from the dance I would have wanted to do if I won against someone else. My winning meant him not winning and I feel awfull.

Its so objective these contests. I really like being in Contests for many reasons. Firstly its an opportunity to play for a much larger audience. Then there is the benefit of getting some kind of gage on how well you are doing at this craft of comedy. Am I good enough to make it even into the darn thing. I was trilled just to be told that I was accepted into the Ladies of Laughter contest no less placing first in the NJ semifinals.

On the down side is not doing well. Or the variables....Judges were talking during your set. The worst comic brought his entire town with him. You had a cold. And God forbid the entire thing is rigged....ala....Last Comic Standing. I had a good friend loose at a very prestigious contest because...... Someone heckled her the entire set. Then there is the plain truth that you were just not as strong that night as the other comics. Contest force me to hone a set down to its absolute best under the restrictions of time and content. The worst part of contests is..... as wonderful as it is to do well in them.... The crash you feel when you loose is unbearable. Every negative quality I have, shows its awful head. Im bitter and remorseful. I second guess my every move. If I have a tape I examine it like its the Zebrudder Film of Kennedy's assassination. Then I swear I will never do another friggin contest. On the plus side as time moves on I can look back and see that each contest I have done, has made me a better comic. I also have met amazing people and made valuable contacts. I was just asked today by a producer of a contest I did last summer if I am available New Year's eve for a paid gig!!!!!!!!! Oh by the way I lost that one too. I have never won a contest yet......or have I ...I just didnt know it. I was looking at the wrong prize.

Comments are below
Go, Robin, Go!
Posted on 10/12/2004 at 08:49 AM by Adam Sank

I'm so proud of you!



You're a special act
Posted on 10/12/2004 at 11:00 AM by Joe Fernandes

I enjoy your act so much and when my family saw you at the Stress Factory 2 weeks ago, they echoed the same response. Its hard to explain but you have that certain "something" that most comedians I see dont have. An honesty and natural humor that makes your show fluid and real. Now, I'm not an authority on comedy, being that I have only been doing this for 3 months. But I am an experienced fan and I cant fake a laugh. And you make me laugh every time. Contest are fun, but by no means an accurate gage to go by. Just watch Last Comic Standing... aside from Dave Mordal and Vos I don't laugh. You have also been a tremendous source of encouragement for me since I started and I am thankful. Keep on making them laugh!

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Howard moves to satellite

So Howard is moving to Sirius satellite radio. I guess thats it then. Thank you FCC for ruining the only still free of charge mass medium left in this country. Thanks for all the lawsuits and fines you gave out to protect our free air ways. Thank so much for letting a handfull of corporations own all the stations...by deregulation. Companies used to be able to own only a few staions and never more than one in a market. No more now you can buy them all and guess what.... radio and music have turned to crap. America used to have 1000s of independant stations each offering a different point of view. Each with its own music and programing director. Each city had its own spin and sound in someways. Now there are a handfull of corporations running the show ... all spewing out the same crap. Radio sucks now. But Rush Limbaugh is on coast to coast. So great Howard will be able to curse..... But no commercials you say.....yeah sure just like cable... wait there coming. Thank you FCC for governing our free airwaves right into toilet so that now we will be forced to pay to have the Free of the FCC Airway we deserve.

Comments are below
i couldnt agree with you more
Posted on 10/06/2004 at 12:08 PM by

Robin you hit the nail right on the head, but ist not just radio. Its to the point now that even in comedy clubs you cant say what you want. i had a friend thrown out of an open mic at a bar because he refused to change his act because there were children there. im not sure about the rest of the country, but in new york unless you have a resturant license anyone under 21 cannot be in a bar. I've come to the conclusion that these days entertainment business is all about appealing to the mass market while keeping the religious minority thats in power satisfied. And i think it really sucks. Thats why nbc is able to air shit like last comic standing, but comedic greats like howard stern is forced to go to satelite radio. What ever happenned to freedom of speech? what ever happenned to adult only entertainment. Robin i used to think stand up comedy was the last bastion of free speech adult entertainment, but after what happenned to my friend last week i seriously doubt it



M'eh...
Posted on 10/07/2004 at 11:07 AM by Greg Manuel

If it means he'll cease the whining about the FCC (this is bigger than just YOU, Howie. A little perspective, hm?) and bring some substance beyond his love for lesbians into the world of radio, then more power to him.

Third times a charm.

I had a really productive day. I did 3 shows at 3 different places two in the city and one in NJ. What made the difference was allowing myself to try some new stuff and not getting tied up with having to KILL. At least thats what I did at 2 of the shows. The middle one had a real audince and I did my core set. What was different was that I tried it with a different energy. Just to see. I was more relaxed ...the room was relaxed and it felt right. I made a joke to a friend after my set that it was like doing an UNplugged version of my core set. I really enjoyed myself. Which is why I like to do comedy in the first place. The audience responds to your having a good time and I wasnt going to wait for their response before I was going to decide if I was goiing to have fun or not. I also liked doing many sets in one night. It was a lot of fun. My energy was good and I felt a momentum. I had to document feeling like this because often I can feel like where I want to get in comedy is more important than where I am. Tonight I liked where I was.

Monday, October 4, 2004

Who you calling sick?

I had a cold this weekend... which woudnt be the end of the world if not for the fact that my entire family had the same cold. It was a weekend of lets compete to see who is the sickest and can complain the most. I of course must lay it on thick because 1. I live to complain 2. Otherwise everyone thinks as the mother its my job to play nurse for everyone...which I do anyway. 3. I am an attention whore....need proof I have a blog. As my friend Correnne so nicely pointed out to me. I recently heard about this stuff called Airborne...its a homeopathic remedy. None of my family would take it. I took it as it prescribed and guess what ... I am all better now. Which is good because no one can be sicker than my husband unless their dead. It was a losing battle competing for most sick against him. I may like attention But he likes being a sick needy baby even more.

Comments are below
Admitting it is the first step....
Posted on 10/04/2004 at 05:40 PM by Correne Kristiansen

Oh Robin! I'm so glad to hear you accept the fact that a blog is a diary for attention whores! But in reality I think all of us comedians are shameless attention whores. Of course, I'm still more of a comedy slut than a comedy whore because I'm not getting paid. (I think I may have stolen that line from Mike Trainer, so if he's reading this, here's his shout out.) And since we're already getting dirty, let's face it, if comedy is like sex, an applause break is a multiple orgasm....




Posted on 10/04/2004 at 11:00 PM by Robin Fox

See I said she was funny on her home page and she just proved it.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Wife Swap-this Weds

Posted on 09/27/2004 at 11:00 AM

Seldom do I get excited about a new reality show....since most of them are crap. Often, after I watch one... I feel dirty and cheap. Wife Swap had a sneak peak Tonight on ABC. On the show, they will switch 2 wives and their lives for 2 weeks. Oprah had on a preview of the show and at least the first installment looks amazing. Oprahs show featured a set of moms trading their lives.This Weds.is the Premire on this episode One wife is a NY Socialite Millionaires and the other a School Bus driving Mom from rural NJ. The NY Mom...should we call her that? She seems like a women with offspring and has outsourced every detail of their lives. If she could have gotten around it ....she would have not gone to the trouble of giving birth. Shes got 3 nannies a full time maid and driver. She is so busy doing nothing that it is exhausting to watch her. The other Mom gets up at dawn and works chopping wood for 3 hours every morning. Then does all the work around the house and drives a school bus twice a day. I only got to see snippets of the show but Oprah had on the two families and it was great.

Fast forward...its a day later I didnt get to finish this blog.(see I FEEL NAKED Post) I watched the sneak peak tonight. They took an anal retentive, ocd nut job and switched her with a sloppy 12 pets and shit all over the house....wife. I loved it. It was like the World Wrestling federation for me. No one knows what your life is like till they walk in your shoes. They featured VERY polar opposite women and families. Perhaps the lesson learned is that...when your so extremely polarized to one side the only way to find you way to the middle is to go all the way to the other extreme and then you can more clearly find your way to the middle road. The children and husbands reactions to the new wives are so much fun to watch . Maybe they just found a Reality show that caters to my niche

I find this show interesting...because usually moms are judged often by externals...the home, the kids and how they turn out, if your floors shine.....all that crap. This show explores how the home we make and the relationships we build are really what being a wife and Mom are all about.

My husband made an interesting comment..He asked whats the prize?? Money??? What do they get??? There is no prize (or actors to pay.. ABC makes lots of money. huh) So why do they do it?? My husband needs to know. I think the show for these women is an Acknowlegement of some kind. You dont get a pay check as a Full time mom, or an employee of the month parking spot...there are no promotions. Maybe thats it. Or perhaps its just that "15 minutes of fame".... Hey any wives out there wannna switch lives with a standup comic and her nutty bunch???? Oh and I forgot the other question my husband asked...Does the husband get to do her????? "no"

Saturday, September 25, 2004

I feel naked

UGGGGGGGGGG. Im working on my blog. I do a firsts draft. I cant finish it.... So I deactivated it so I can come back in a few hours and edit it. At least thats what I thought I did. Several hours later to my horror.... I go to the blog page and there it is with a gazilllllllion typos, spelling errors.....and incomplete.. My secrets are out. I failed typing...(not keyboarding as it is called now) I am spell check dependant and I am easily distracted..A.D.D. (formerly known as stupid).

Friday, September 24, 2004

TAKING THE DOG OUT.

I am the kind of comic who is either too new at this, afraid, or untalented to just hop on stage for a regular show and do new untested material. Each new joke must audition for room in my line up. HEY... You new kids farting in my car Joke... Where do you think your going? We dont have room for you here at a real show. Go to a half dozen open mics and see me when youve gotten some laughs... then will see about putting you up...will talk.

Not a bad policy, So I go to the open mics and take out the new stuff. Unless the new joke gets a huge response...I seldom give the joke a chance in my core set. FAST FOWARD... I am in good room ...the crowd is hot... I get up on stage and instead of adding a new joke or two... I "Take the dog for a walk." That meaning, I just do my standard set. I have to tell you, That everytime I do this..I hate myself. I can have people tell me how good I was on stage and Im thinking..."Wimp. How are you ever going to get better if you do the same stuff over and over." Its going for the safe bet. I gotta kill so I can get booked again. Its hoping that, if I do well... Ill be offered longer sets and more stage time. I dont want risk a new set, because what Im looking for is more important than an artistic risk. I guess its just part of the place I now if find myself,in comedy.

Most disturbing is when I get to an open mic, where there for some freak of nature is a good audience... Out of some sickness I will waste the entire set and not do my new jokes. Sometimes I do it out of laziness. I hate myself for doing it out of a need to show off. To have to kill in a room desigened...to be a safe place to bomb. My ego refuses to let me risk bombing. I think this is the core fear all together. This is the reason I make new jokes audition...and do the safe and sure thing. Im not willing to bomb at the cost of getting better. This must stop. I dont want to be a comic who 5 years from now is doing the same set. I am going to stop this....it cant go on... Im waisting time. Hopefully you can come see me bomb at an open mic near you. Im done ...Now I got a write that fart joke..I was just useing it metophoricaly.

Comments are below
A win is a win
Posted on 09/24/2004 at 08:18 PM by Mark Moseley

I know what you mean about showing up at an open mic, ready to do new untested jokes, and finding an 'audience'. I do the same thing. I do time-tested material. But don't look at it as wimping out. I see it as a chance to do my best to entertain people who SEEK TO BE ENTERTAINED. It doesn't matter if its just comics. They didn't come to the spot for you to make them laugh. They came to try new stuff. But you instincts are right, and real. Its proof, I think, that you are a BORN entertainer. You see a real audience, and your mind goes into 'Its Showtime!' mode. Not a damn thing wrong with that.




Posted on 09/25/2004 at 08:52 PM by Shaun Eli

Nothing wrong with trying new material in front of a paying audience, though I've learned that it's risky to open or close with it.

As far as wanting to get better, you can get better doing the same jokes. It's practice telling them over and over, learning what to emphasize, how to work them, how much to pause...

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Thanks Dr. Phil

.... Look at me, I am a walking cliché....Sometimes I act like a typical Housewife. I will confess that I like Dr. Phil. Dont Judge me! What cliche are you?? I like the Big Know All.. As a comic I thrive on burning the harsh light of the truth on subjects that society and individuals like to lie about or deny. Today, Dr. Phil had on a bunch of dumb ass parents who cant get their kids to go to bed, eat the food served to them, and get this ......change out of their pajamas. These morons let there 3 and 5 yr. olds walk around in PJs all day long.... Even go to a daytime birthday party!! I have met too many of these kind of parents. They negotiate with their kids everything. "Tiffany & Brandon, when do you think you might want to go to bed"? "Brandon, if you don't stop holding your sisters head in the toilet Mommy is going to have to give you time out." I hate these parents and I hate the crummy, future jerks of America they are raising.

DR Phil's show is like an antidote for me....From all the shows like Jerry Springer, Moray Povich and Ricky Lake. Im sick of insane people parading around as if they are normal. I realize I sound like a conservative...uptight hard ass..Trust me on this one, Im Not. I just cant stand parents who think that they should be their kids best friend. Or their kids should like them. Dont these idiot parents know that it is HEALTHY at some point in your life to hate your parents... I didn't want my Mom to be my best friend.....I wanted a Mom. It is a joy for me, to see Dr. Phil telling these goof ball, permissive, no backbone, whimps that they are being lousy parents in the name of love.That they are doing a disservice to these kids and that love is doing what is best for the child even if the child doesnt agree. THANK-YOU THANK-YOU DR.PHIL Best of all he said it to their faces. When I do my act.....I can only pray that someone hears me and the truth I speak. The best thing about doing stand up is having the outlet to say.... This is insane...heres why....and see Im right! A while back I had someone do something really sick in front of me........ I told her she was nuts......she didn't agree. The next best thing to getting her to go on Dr. Phil was to talk about it on stage and get a room of people agree with me. .....oh yeah....and laugh.

Monday, September 20, 2004

And the winner is...............

There are times that define you. There are times that your actions spell out so clearly that things have changed and that you are no longer the same person. Tonight was one of those defining experiences. The Emmy Awards were on and I who am a complete Award Show Junkie...couldnt care less. I had a set to go do in NYC. I didnt even listen to the live audio feed that I could get in my car. I had to listen to the news station for traffic on the 8s. I was going to take the Holland tunnel via the Turnpike.. no NEWS88 says 45 minute delays...quick I dart on to route 1&9. I switch over to 1010WINS traffic on the 10s.... Shit 1&9 half hour delays. I see an exit for Tunpike North get off cross my fingers...Yes only a 5 minute delay at the Lincoln. Im in the tunnel in a flash. No traffic Mid town?? Lucky!!! Find a parking spot in two seconds...WOW.. Run into the club...great crowd..drunk and roudy..Just like I like um. Had a good set with 2 new jokes that went well. Handle a guy whos talking...He asks me to repeat a joke just for him, he was talking. I say somthing like come back next week Ill do the same set. Shut him up and finish strong. Id like to thank, my car,1010WINS,the nice folks at NEWS88, My EZ pass, Nicortee gum, and the lovely people at the club tonight....oh yes.... It is much better being the leading charecter in my own life. I'll watch E tommorow and see what I missed.

Friday, September 17, 2004

On call

Like in all jobs some days are harder than others. Today I was in all major modes: Mommy, daughter, chef, maid, laundress, chauferr, Jew, sex kitten, and comedian. Holidays are a bitch. One of the perks of being a stay at home Mom is you dont have to dress up till evenings usually. I hate putting on panty hose before 5. But as a good mom setting an example I had dress up and go to services. Due to terrorism threats other than the handicapped you cant park in the main lot. I found a space about a half a mile away and walked in high heels to the High Holidays. We got there just in time for the aerobic portion of the service. Up down Up down turn sit stand stand sit. Feh. I decided to go out to the lobby for a short break. I hit an all time "your just like the movie Punchline record (see earlier blog-Arent you Sally Field) In less than 2 hours I got 4 people ask me If I saw the movie or recommend it to me. I thought the movie was a flop...now it seems the entire friggin world has seen it.

After thanking G-d for all the good in my life I went home to 2 hours of cleaning and setting up for dinner. I also had to go to the store for last minute supplies for dinner. Company came a 5pm dinner at 5:30. I am the only adult female in my family so I play host and the part of Alice from the Brady Bunch. How nice would it be to have someone like Alice to serve the meal and clean up after. I wouldnt even mind doing the cooking.

My dad and mom are always a challenge, My mother is telling this sad story of this women's terrible misfortune, she is welling up almost crying as she relates the story...."she was abused and homeless"...only to find out it wasnt anyone she knew but someone she heard while listening to talk radio. My dad of course irritated my husband by asking why and when this and that around our house was going to be repaired or repalced....this is always a sure way to annoy my husband and after 21 years I am convinced it is on porpose.

I can never get mad at my children when my parents are around. They always think that we are wrong and that their grandchildren can do no wrong. This is great for them but drives me up a wall. Who are these people..when did they get so mellow. I was asked to leave the table if I had my elbows on it...or laughed to loud with my cousins during holidays.

During dinner my parents were arguing about their screen name for thier new computer. My mother whos name is Alice says Marty..How can you forget our screen name its Alice in wonderland. I make coffee, run upstairs for my 3rd wordrobe change of the day to go into the city to do a 10pm show. Parents leave, I leave for the quietest time of my day driving 50 minutes into NYC. Im in the club in under an hour a new record door to door. The room is light, I bark for an hour (see woof woof blog) feet are killing me. I get on stage at 11:20 and have a good set, I even venture doing some stage work with the room. I leave...and am home by 12:40 I start this blog and lost half of it while spell checking it.......ugggggg. I decide to finish it in the morning. Its 11pm the next day and it took me an entire day to recover from the day before. Oh and I forgot just as I was leaving the club last night a comic runs up to me and says "Hey Robin..You gotta see this movie....its with Sally Fields and Tom Hanks... the record stands at 5 Punchline references in one day. It was a hectic day and yet the best part was getting up on stage....Something is strage about that to me. I think after years of doing what ever just came up next for so many others...Im living a part of myself that is for myself. The creative, the performance and the recognition is all for me.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Poooooooof

Laying in bed the other night I stared to think, hey thats funny, I could use this in a bit. I should write it down...no let me think a little more about it. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Im in the car rattling my brains what was it, what was the bit. Its melted and vaporized never to be remembered. What if it was my break through bit.

The same thing happens at dinner parties and long drives in the car. I have a recorder and a marble notebook. Either I cant get to a pen or my recorder is out of batteries or the thought just runs out of my head before I can even think to document it. I am not the kind of writer who can sit and write a joke. They come from inspirations and connections I make in my day to day life. I swear to myself each time that I will be more diligent and not let this happen again ... till it does. Pooooooooooooooof comedy vapor is heart breaking. To console myself I think...If it was any good I would have remembered it.

Monday, September 13, 2004

Banging my head against the wall.

Saturday was very interesting. I drove out to PA for a gig. I was all pumped up because hey this is the real deal. Im performing on a Sat. night at a comedy club, prime-time, paying crowd, non-bringer. I drove the 2 hours with my crummy mapquest directions and pulled up to the club. Well, not really a club, an upstairs room above a resurant/bar. I was one of 4 comics. The booker and the room manager couldnt have been nicer. Sad fact was we had only 20 people in the room. We almost had 5 more but they didnt want to pay a cover and left. Hey, no problem Ive played for less people and they were all comics. I went on first after the Mc. I was full of energy and thought if I should change anything because the room was so intimate. I decided to stick to my original plans and I am glad I did. I had a good set. Nothing went flat. Nothing to amazing but a consistent job. The booker of the club grabbed me after I go off and told me that he will book me again and in a few other rooms he runs. On the 2 hr. Long ride home I thought that went well...but do I want to run out here again for such a small room...he didnt say anything about paying me. Then I thought sure I do. Where do I think I should be playing. I am in my second year doing this who do I think I am. Someone needs to knock some sense into me. Later that night I woke up and went to the bathroom as I walked out of the bathroom I hit my head on the door giving myself a black eye and splitting my eyebrow open. As in all things including standup be careful what you wish for

Saturday, September 11, 2004

Saturday Night Live

Well, boys and girls tonights the big night. Im going to the show as they say in Minor League Baseball. I have a real live Saturday night gig, in real club, with a real, non bringer paying audience. Okay its in the middle of nowhere in PA. Okay its still minor league....Im thrilled all the same. Now I just gotta do well. This is my third show on a Saturday night. My first Saturday night was in a one nighter club where I opened and MCed. The opening went really well however, when I came back on between the feature and headliner,,,I tanked. Fortunately the Headliner got the show back on track. Months later I did a fundraiser for Gildas Club. Right before we went on the Rabbi of the temple where we were performing informed all 3 comics that he expected us all to work clean. The headliner went into a panic because he had very little clean material prepared. I was asked to go as long as I could and did almost a half hour. I had my best show ever and was thrilled. So tonights my third time at bat. Its a 10 minute set but the booker of this club said to consider it like an audition and if I do well he can book me in one of his other clubs. So Im driving about 4 hours tonight for 10 minutes of stage time....Only another comedian would understand why.

Friday, September 10, 2004

Woof Woof.....for laughs

I got a last minute call from the booker of a club I often perform at. Do I want to perform tonight? I say yes.... but can I just check quickly with my family and call him right back? I call my husband who the night before after almost two years of being very supportive, decides to put his foot down. He has decided that 4 nights out, at comedy a week is his personal limit. I understand...but at the same time resent needing to ask permission to do what I consider my job. So I ask him to keep the peace and he suprises me and says. "sure you should do it." "Go for it," Thats why Im married 21 years to this man...he still keeps me guessing. He explained hes happy for me but he misses me awwwwwwwwwwwe. Well you had 2 decades of me all to yourself...thanks, I gotta run.

I get to the club and we have no audience. We delay the start to 11pm from 10pm. I offer to bark fliers.I didnt drive an hour in traffic to tell jokes to empty chairs. Hey, I could go home and tell my joke to the empty sofa in my livingroom...no way..its heard all my stuff. Who new I could be so convincing. I myself, got 20 or so, people to walk in and see our show. We had 2 top comics do feature spots and 5 or 6 other comics. It turned out to be a decent show. I shouldnt be telling any one How well I did barking because Ill wind up walking the streets of NY more than the Lincoln tunnel bunnies. I must be naive or maybe I am just taking it all in stride for now...but its all for the good of the show and Call me crazy but I like to perform in a room full of people. What humbles me is how many other people are on the street barking... so called candy thugs for education, homeless people barking for change and a meal, and other entertainers looking to fill a room,so they can perform. I was always the one at the PTA or any organization I belong to asked to do fund-raising. I guess Im good at begging. If I have to beg....let me do it for an audience. Hell, Im not making any money at this point...Im working for laughs and compliments. I might need to buy more comfortable shoes.

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

Aren't you Sally Field

Almost since the day I started doing standup.At least twice a week, someone once knowing that I am comedian will say ..."Have you seen that movie with Sally Field and Tom Hanks...its Just like you.!!!!!!!!!!" I say "Oh you mean the movie PUNCHLINE." Many of them arent to sure of the title, but they are positive that this movie is just my story come to life. OH YES YES....its just like that. Lets all examine the film closely and see for ourselves.

Firstly Sally works several nights a week at an open mic at the same club, with the same comics each week.....Im buying it.... Next she has a dressing room/green room where they can all hang out before and during the show. I haven't seen one of those yet...but who knows what the future holds. The club is huge and there's a decent size audience ... possible. Sally doesn't even have to drag four bodies with her each time. Shes married to John Goodman, and befriends a young handsome yet bitter male comic. Ive met a few. He persuades her that she needs to talk to her audience more to find her comedic voice. She does.... and shes instantly good at it....She does it for long sets ... one montage after another. OK 5 minutes at a time....maybe with good editing. Then Tom 10-15 yrs younger than her falls in love with her. Sally loves her lovable tub of lard at home....John Goodman... and resists fucking Tom Hanks, the hot young comics brains out. Being friends with him will have to be enough. She realises that she is in love with his Talent and Comedic Stylings,and that is all they can ever share. What is totally unbeleavable is .... She takes cabs to and from NJ.....where does she live?????????? Next to the toll booth on the Jersey side of the Holland tunnel. Other than the cab thing......OHHHH YESSSS IT IS EXACTLY LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Now that you have completely pigeon holed me.....dont you feel better. Thank god she didnt see the movie,This is My Life, with Julie Kavner and Winona Ryder.

Saturday, September 4, 2004

To hot for me to handle

I am the proud mother of two great kids. My daughter, who I always thought was pretty and not just in that oh Im her mom I have to think that way, is now 17and recently beautiful has transformed to HOT. Walking around in the city with her is like sticking $10,000 dollars in your purse and walking thru a bad neighborhood. She more than turns heads she turns entire bodies. She 5ft 10inchs 120lbs blue eyes, and wears 3 inch heals. She dresses simply but with style. Yet the hot steams through. She has been asked to model but SHE thinks it would interfere with school.

Lots of male comics ask me what they got to do to hook up with my daughter& I tell them 2 to 4 years shes jail bait. I have a good relationship with her. Not in that sick my daughters a stripper and I shoot the polorids of her putting her boobs on the heads of drunken customers. For $20 bucks a pop. She is the girl I hated in High School. She is the girl who everyone thinks life must be so easy for. Having grown up most of my life looking like a troll Im here to say yes, yes, yes it is. Life is not fair, but if it isnt Im glad its not fair in her favor. Shes honest, nice and has good values.

I ask a cop for directions and he acts annoyed,she asks and gets a police escort on foot to the exact location. With great power comes great responsibility(spider man, seen 5 times with 11 year old son) My job as her mother is to show her how to use the power she has been gifted for good and not free drinks, dinners, cars and jewelry. Thats what I would have shot for if I had been so lucky. As it stands I have been invited by many male comics to do shows and reminded to bring the hot daughter. This all said. She was getting ready to go to a wedding of her Indian friends sister. The family had leant her lime green sari. She looked beautiful. I asked her if she could, would she let me borrow her body for just one month. That way I could see first hand what life might be like being her age in her body. I said you could trust me I would take very good care of your body. Only one thing, you might not still be a virgin. Thoughts like this prove to me that. I may think Im a good mom but deep down I really am a bad teenager...Whos really lucky her kids have turned out so well. My daughter is a better kid than I was or would be. Worst of all shes a Republican. Where did I go right?

Comments are below

Posted on 09/02/2004 at 01:09 PM by Greg Manuel

"Where did I go right?"

I hope you don't mind, but...*b-doom CHING!*



hakky huh....I see your point
Posted on 09/02/2004 at 01:24 PM by Robin Fox

It was a homage to the Producers and and to the fact that this liberal leftist could raise a child who would vote for Bush if she was old enough to. Its the first thing I have written other than a letter since college.



No, not hacky at all...
Posted on 09/02/2004 at 02:08 PM by Greg Manuel

I happen to be a big fan of both the Producers AND rimshots. I originally didn't get it til I realized the connection you just outlined. :)

Friday, September 3, 2004

I need some new soil to grow in

I pride myself in not being your typical suburban drone. YES... I do drive a mini van...ugh. I clean my house....I cook dinner 6 nights weekly,I do homework(my 3rd time in 7th grade)...I shop for everyone but myself..I do laundry...BUT that's where the similarities end. I dont play bunkko...craps for housewifes. I dont play Mahjong I tryed it for a bit. I just went for the food. I got so nuts eating the whole time that I once put a tile in my mouth by mistake, I hated it and quit. I dont do lunch...who feels like sitting with 6 women who order salads and then play the REAL game of the day, which is "Lets see who can eat the least" I would drink too much and be bored. I dont do the gym....though I do belong to one...or was it two???? I dont have a nanny or an au pair... Just what I need another person around here to annoy me. I dont do the nail salon thing.....who can sit so long. I hate to buy clothing so Mall hopping isnt for me. I really dont like suburbia... I grew up here and it was all I thought I ever wanted. Sometimes I like to sit outside on my deck but the constant sounds of lawn mowers and leaf blowers annoys the shit out of me. Im antsy. Lately it seems, I am most at home in a Comedy club. I can sit for hours waiting for my turn, with a calm that amazes me. Maybe its the drinking ???? I get along with people in comedy.... I cant say this is true with my peer group back on the cul de sac. I guess you have to grow where your planted. I think that has happened....but now this girl is all grown up and her kids are older too. Ive got root rot. I need a bigger pot to grow in. Laughter, Rejection and working for complements will have to do for now. Comedy is my new world. Best of all I can still be a mom during the day.....make dinner...kiss them all good-bye ... drive to the city and finally be home, on a small stage, with a mic in my hand.