A few weeks ago I started doing open-mic stand-up in Long Beach.
Like last night. And I filmed it. Before that I filmed myself practicing in my room.
The video that follows is a splice of the practice and performance videos. I splice the videos together for a few reasons. One is that a really annoying dude sits directly in front of the camera for about 20 seconds during the performance. You’ll see him poke his girlfriend in the back. Other times, I feel my delivery is better during the practice.
Last night was only the third time I’ve performed stand-up in my life. I’ll be doing it weekly.
7 responses so far ↓
1 G Money // Oct 1, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Funny! Hope you put up more videos amigo hahah
2 JohnnyB // Oct 2, 2009 at 4:07 am
Bowman, doing stand up is hard and I applaud you for doing it. Practicing is hard because there’s no audience – the real practice is just doing it and (in the parts you showed us) you did your bit as you planned it. There was a little nervousness, but it didn’t throw you.
I don’t know you so I may be off the mark here, but you seemed to be channeling Mitch Hedberg and that was sort of distracting because I kept thinking I was judging your Hedberg impression rather than listening to your material. If that’s your own “voice” go for it, but if your trying to create Ian Bowman’s stage persona, work on finding your own groove that feels natural.
The material is okay and it will get better. I think you could develop some stuff based on the characters in your blog here, but, of course, that’s all up to you. Kudos, man, for standing up there and putting it out here. Keep at it.
3 ramona // Oct 4, 2009 at 6:28 pm
i laughed. you seemed surprisingly relaxed. You speak very slowly. standing up in front of a group of strangers and trying to make them laugh is probably one of the most terrifying things, next to syphilis. so, nicely done.
4 Smitty // Oct 6, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I don’t think I could have done that. I commend you Ian. Keep it going!
5 Justin // Oct 8, 2009 at 6:45 am
Respect. It takes bollocks to do that, Bowman.
6 Bowman // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:25 am
G Money – Thanks
JohnnyB – Thank you for the feedback! In terms of the Mitch Hedberg thing, I get that a lot (even when I’m just hanging out with friends). Before Mitch Hedberg was famous people told me I sounded like Norm McDonald. I have sort of a monotone delivery.
ramona – Well thank you Ramona. Incidentally, I had to look up how to spell syphilis before I wrote that joke. I just want you to know that.
Smitty – Thanks man
Will do.
Justin – Thanks Ali G!
7 Alain // Oct 22, 2009 at 2:39 pm
More Norm, please.
Ian, remember when you used to get drunk and pretend your computer had taken over your body. That shit was untouchable.
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