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Thanks to Bea, we got to watch Jay Mohr at the Improv last night.

Never really knew that he had his beginnings doing stand-up, so we didn't really know what his act was all about. It was a mix of observational comedy and a bit of that "angry with the world" routine. It was balanced off with his experiences of being a dad to an 11-month old son and how women have it easy when it comes to masturbating and how he's really an air marshall armed with a killer ballpen.

The walls of the Improv were lined with photos of other great comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, back when they were younger and thinner.

How long did it take them to reach the point when they finally get their own talk show, their own sitcom?

How many clubs did they have to play before they became an overnight success?

How many jokes died on that stage before they figured out what's funny?

How do you become funny?

Jay Mohr told the story of how he was walking to the Improv one day and he was feeling really shitty, felt really sick and didn't want to do the show. Then his cellphone and it was Buddy Hackett asking him how he was and he told Buddy that he was feeling really terrible and still had a show to do. So, Buddy Hackett told him, "At least you're not that Siamese Twin whose twin is gay and his boyfriend is coming over and you only have one asshole." And that made him feel better.

In COMEDIAN, Jerry Seinfeld told a story to upcoming comedian Orney Adams, who was complaining about doing so many shows and why it was taking so long to become successful. Jerry told him of a time when the Glenn Miller band were in plane and on their way to a gig, but their plane had to land because it was snowing really hard. So, they were still several miles away from the gig and the whole band, all dressed up in their swanky clothes, had to carry their instruments and walk in the snow. They came upon a house and they looked through the window and saw a family eating a hearty dinner, while the fireplace crackled and warmed that quaint household. One of the band members turned to another guy and said, "Who lives like that?" And they continued their trek through the snow til they reached the club where they were supposed to play.

You do the gigs because you like it.

You don't do it to become famous or to become rich. That's just the side-effect, a plus, a consolation of sorts.

And you continue your trek down the road to the next gig.

Which just makes me wonder... am I doing the right gig?

"Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."




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