Normality? restored.

Well I have managed to have 2 full sleeps in a row!! Both nights of 6-7 hours straight! I know many young comics will shudder in horror at this. "What, only 7? Not 12 hours of slumber??"
Sorry kids, Daddy Makk usually does 6 and is up with his brain racing with ideas. Of course I let them simmer over some morning coffee first. I just can't waste (yes waste) a whole morning or day sleeping. I do 6 then get my errands done. Email, some writing etc. Later in the day when I feel a bit sluggish I power nap for 30-60 minutes. I find that is all I need. the power nap took a few years to perfect but I can usually hit REM sleep for a short time. Shitty, upright airplane seats excluded of course.

This week entails checking out some of the open mic rooms around Toronto and catching up with many comic friends. I like the fact that there are many places in this city where comics (newbies and vets) can work out material. Stage time is so important to the quality of comedy. You learn by doing, not sitting in some class room or worse, waiting for the phone to ring. Comics have to get out and just DO! Sometimes you just need to go and watch, hang out. I do my best writing when hanging with my peers.
My home city of Calgary is void of a lot of stage time given the number of comics. Hopefully that is going to change soon. Idle comics make a poorer product to sell and weaken the industry. Some bookers can see that, others can't. If you do well in one room it will attract audience members or their friends (on reccomendation) to your other gigs in the same city. PERIOD.

While in Australia I was pleased to see a higher percentage of stages availablein ratio to comics, on average, than most of Canada (T.O. still had most of the Aussie places beat but could not equal the people and scenery). The really cool thing was the lack of exclusivity of the rooms over comics. In Melbourne they had 2 comedy clubs (not just open mic rooms) and comics were allowed to work BOTH! Sometimes even in the same week. I found this to be so cool. Why not? If someone is funny they will draw a crowd at club A and club B, no matter how often they are seen. What amazed me is the two clubs were within walking distance (unless you were a fat lazy slob) of each other! The frequency of comics appearing at any of the clubs came down to how well the management treated the acts. While I never worked "The Comic's Lounge" I had heard, thru the grapevine that "The Last Laugh Comedy Club" (where I played for 6 weeks straight..including the festival) was the better room. My loyalty was with them. The pay was good, the room well run and the accomodations where superb! A nice place to sleep, while on the road, is a must if a club wants a good show. I have worked many rooms where I am on my own for accomodations. Sleeping on a buddy's couch will affect
A- the level of the show
B- the attitude of the comic
C- the amount of loyalty a comic has.
There were also many one night rooms to play down under. These could be done on the same week as a club. Which I found to be very encouraging. Many people don't like driving cross town all the time to see a show or maybe they need to be introduced to comedya much of the public still have not been to a comedy club. Small, one niter rooms often whet their appetite. The best way, I found, was to do the small one night rooms BEFORE the clubs. It helped me hone my stuff, for the better stage, of the purpose built comedy club. The comedy club is always the best way to see a show but the small pub rooms help to grow the acts.

Being exposed a lot in one city is no problem in my mind. This is of course if the comic is always trying new material, changes up the order of existing material and keeps it fresh. There is nothing I hate more than to see a guest spot, or open mic spot (or even a paid spot) used up by a comic only to deliver the same material he/she has always done. You have wasted our time and a spot that a 'growing' comic could have used. Stop it! My rule, always try at least one new bit every night. That way, old stuff will get pushed aside to make room for new.

Well the day is a wasting. I have to head into Toronto's busy, smoggy, city core and get things done.
The wonders a full night's sleep (finally) can do to lift ones spirits!

p.s. sorry for the lack of pics on the last 2 blogs. I have lost my digital camera cord. (I think it is in the Hong Kong airport) I will have it replaced soon.