THE LAUGH MONKEY (From the Archive)
Originally published in Relevant Magazine (January/February 2007)
Have you ever had that dream where you are alone on stage and everyone in the audience is expecting you to answer a question you didn't actually hear? And also, it's church. And also, you're naked.
That’s what performing comedy is like.
I have spent the last 15 years doing, among other things, improv and stand-up comedy. This has perpetuated two consistent identifiers in my life: an unending sense of anxiety and a flaring rash when others ask me to "do something funny.” I'm not complaining. I appreciate the God-given gift to bring others joy. But I don't always feel like turning it on. As a matter of fact, there are moments I know that I cannot turn it on-that I will fall flat on my face during the attempt and that the already-awkward moment will end with the cursed comment "well, he was funny last time.”
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to NOTES FROM THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE: the Mark Steele Archive to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.