“Bringers” bring the tension

Well, I sit here at my desk on my lunch hour preparing for a busy Thursday, but also a busy Wednesday evening. That is because as I stand now (to my knowledge) I am 2-4 people short for a bringer at Gotham Comedy Club.

For those of you that don’t know, a “bringer” is a show that allows amateur and semi-pro comics to strut their stuff in front of large audiences and perform along seasoned professionals. The idea is that you get seen by club people and make a good tape at a name club (at which point you mail it out to other clubs and said tape ends up holding up books or being reused for celebrity sex tapes).

[On a related side note I mailed a club my CD in California and they replied that they found some sharp material on my CD/DVD. Unless I got a bonus, I am pretty sure my CD has no DVD qualities. At least form letters in business and work-life don’t make your dreams feel obsolete as well.]

I have done these bringers at many clubs in NYC and tonight is at Gotham. I remember a few years ago I reeled in 16 people for one bringer and within 2 weeks rattled of 20 more. My comedy was exciting and intriguing, and my friends could not see flaws in my comedy. They were like a new girlfriend – everything I said was right and charming. But then as the relationship lengthened bringers seemed the only way to get on the big stages in the city, friends began to grow restless. Suddenly comparing my looks to the Rock and Adam Sandler did not appear funny; it appeared annoying. “You always do that joke and I hate it.” or “You never tell the jokes I want to hear.”

So I began writing at a much more rapid pace to give my friends and fan something to laugh at each time they saw me. But then the clubs were not as impressed because some of the newer stuff was a little rougher. And then you find out that your friends, who are not made of money, begin to realize that supporting comedy careers is an expensive line of work. So as a young comic one is caught in a tough spot.

The big questions are what to do and how to do it. The goal is simple – working comic. But sometimes it seems like an unreachable goal. Like right now – as I struggle to get the 10 people required for the show. All I can promise those that do show up a good ten minutes.

Maybe this is a more somber, reflective blog because I have reached a point in comedy where I want to make a shift in my career trajectory. Or maybe because I have been listening to Johnny Cash’s rendition of NIN’s “Hurt” on repeat. Either way, comedy is fun on stage. That has been true from day 1 and will be true tonight. But the stress that goes with it for the other 23:50 a day sucks.

That said, I can’t wait for tonight’s show.