RooftopBlog RooftopBlog Home RooftopComedy.com

Categories

Little Reid, Big City #4

by Reid Faylor


You know that one Beatles song? The one about how it, gradually, over time, continues to get better? I think it’s called “Back in the USSR.” Things have been like that song.

I came back last Monday from a trip to Fort Wayne (Indiana!), this time returning with possessions (yes!) and my parents in tow. We spent a day fixing up the apartment, building shelves, hanging window blinds and such, and decided to see the Punchline Magazine 5th anniversary show. While taking the subway out to Comix, my parents commented and how adapted I was already –I could use the metro card with ease, find my way around, ignore the homeless like they weren’t even people (well, I mean … ). I suppose I hadn’t really thought of it, but I do indeed feel comfortable here –it’s not foreign or alien, it’s normal.

Being away from the scene for even a week was strange. It took a bit to get back into the flow, to start getting to the mics on time and jump back into the schedule. When I saw some of the other comics, they had thought I had gone back permanently. After a week. Or maybe it was just one comic. Who I hadn’t seen in a few weeks. But that gives you an idea of the commitment of the comedians here: even a week off is equivalent to disappearing.

I’ve been talking to a lot of comics who also recently made the Ohio-New York transition, and it keeps coming up: it’s strange performing for only comics. A lot of people question whether it’s even worth it, if progress can be made without an audience. On one hand, I haven’t really polished a lot of new material, mostly from the incapability to get a good “reid” (ha! That’s my name) on a joke, getting only worn and bitter comedian reactions. Yet, conversely, all the stage time has gotten me a lot more comfortable, and I’m beginning to find more and more how I like to interact on stage –my mannerisms, method of speaking, timing. Also, it takes going through shows like this to get to booked shows with real audience members, so it’s not all this way. It’s a process. It can definitely bruise the ego, but I feel like progress is being made, if nothing more than getting comfortable with the occasional silence.

Highlight of the week: performing at a youth hostel for drunk, vociferous, and belligerent Canadians, and informing one such Canuck with a lip-ful of Skoal and sunglasses that his real problem was that “your mother threw away the baby and raised the afterbirth.” It’s actually a compliment, as I explained, because if he were a person –he’d be a terrible person. But for a living sack of uterus blood and placenta –not too bad.

Ah. Truly, there are reasons to keep with this.

Follow Reid on Twitter.

Posted: October 12th, 2010 under BIG CITY, LITTLE REID. Author: .
Comments: 28

28 comments on “Little Reid, Big City #4”

  15. Smooth this silky balm on your bare skin, and your makeup will glide on like a dream. You can also wear it alone to minimize pores, smooth out texture, add moisture, and soak in nourishing vitamins C and D.

  16. Blendable, beautiful – this do-it-all shadow lines, shades, and contours your eyes with a lovely crease-proof, smudge-proof formula. Mix and match, or go as sheer or as dramatic as you like with layerable, buildable color. You’ll love the glass jar – just remember to close it tight to keep your cream shadow creamy and dreamy!

  22. reebok running shoes 2011have every reason to attract such a lot attention from

    customers.Apart from the unique stle and external appearance, the comfortable feeling it brings to the wearers add great markt. With one-of-a-kind zig-zag-shaped sole which

    absorbs the impact of heel strike and propels you forward, it reach the goal of reducing the wear
    Easy Tone Shoesand tear up to 20% in key leg muscles. Zig Tech Shoes of 2011

    Zigtech New Style Grey Yellow makes key leg muscles to do less, so you are able to run more. With lightweight, flexible bottom unit,Easy Tone Shoes of

    beautycombined with a minimalist upper and whisper-quiet ground contact,The Zig Tech Shoes of special design bring a comfortable and high quality sense to the wearers.To sum

    up,the best Zig Tech Shoes enable the wearers to run or train fora longer time with a comfortable and relaxing feeling.The
    decent Easy Tone

    Shoeson sale have alluring discount here, have a try now.

  23. Camper shoe firm is one of the most famous is in Spain and around the world, as their designs are highly acclaimed by people who like dressing well. Moreover, the brand launched collections often set trends in this particular season and is certainly worthy of admiration. If you are like parents who give their young fashion footwear, then take a look to this design that presents the house Campe

  24. Good share,you article very great, very usefull for us…thank you. I just like the approach you took with this subject. It isn’t every day that you discover something so concise and enlightening.