I got to meet more people I really look up to the other day, almost unexpectedly.
Not *totally* unexpectedly. I mean, I did go see them live and sat as close to the stage as humanly possible, but I didn’t really know if they’d come out afterwards or not. But again, like Donald Glover before, these comedians surprised me with their down-to-earth approachability, even more so because they’re all superstars. Sure, Glover is Just For Laughs’ Rising Star this year, but Tim Minchin plays ARENAS now, and Rove/Christmas aren’t all that different.
After the show, I was going to eat at the L’Astral’s attached bistro, but the Down Under Trio were dining there, too, so I moved along not wanting to disturb them. Can’t say it wasn’t exciting to be ABLE to have dinner in the same room as them, though.
Thanks to all three of them: Rove McManus, Jarred Christmas, and Tim Minchin, for their autographs (WITH messages, Rick Mercer…) in my writing book that I just happened to have with me.
Lessons learned, among others:
- Stay humble at all times. All three of these guys were genuinely appreciative of every single fan they met. Rove McManus had a daily talk show for a decade in Oz, Tim Minchin is one of the most in-demand comedians and musicians in England, and Jarred Christmas is quickly becoming a global name. All three of them were just fun, normal guys the minute they got off the stage, delaying their dinner, giving hugs, learning names, and signing anything requested.
- Localize your act. As great as Donald Glover was, some of the more American bits in his set didn’t hit quite as hard in Canada. Especially French Canada. Jokes about presidents and GameStop just need a little more set-up, I suppose. Rove and Jarred both took things an all the way and then some by having pretty extensive local bits, including dealing with BC Grizzlies and Montreal Bixis, respectively. It really gives a performer huge cred in the moment, and makes a show more personal when they’ve clearly taken the time to absorb your culture: it’s the thought that counts.
What? There’s a TENTH episode of this podcast that Ben Wright and I do weekly? Crazy.
Since I have next to no memory of recording this and am still in the process of downloading it, here’s Ben’s sum-up:
This week we talk about UJump, detours to Quebec, and crazy food. Ben admits to having no indie cred and considers pimping out his roommate Sam through Xbox Live. And we get rid of those annoying songs in the middle.
You know the drill: instead of just listening to the show on this page, just make life easier by subscribing on iTunes or Zune!
Also like us on Facebook! It is the only way we will have self esteem.
Last Saturday, I was asked to co-host a fundraiser for the Surrey Urban Youth Project at Rhizome Café in Vancouver. Soon after the show started, I came to realize that I was the host for as long as I could stay, and I can’t say I had a bad time.
45 minutes before Shyam was meant to pick me up to head to Rhizome, I figured that I best come up with something to perform, as well. For those of you who had been to a Tamanawis Coffee House in 2007 or 2008, this might be a bit of a recycled bit, done with a different “poem” each performance. But hey, it works (almost) every time, and I think I half hit the mark on this occasion.
This particular edition of ‘popular spoken word’ was SAVED by Rup of BPM and his beatboxing. Without me assuming there would be SOMEONE there who could beatbox, and more importantly without him being there, I think the whole bit would’ve fallen apart pretty quick.
Either way, enjoy! And let me know what you think!
PS: I neglected to post vlog fourteen on this site, so here it is!
14 plays
Say what you will, but Raffi’s still got it.
“Tomorrow’s Children”, from Resisto Dancing
I hope I can be this good a standup one day. I have funny things to say, but I don’t know how best to say them.
e.g. if the main joke in this bit had happened to me, and *I* was injured on the elliptical, I have no idea how I would make it as funny as Streeter does here.
ONE DAY…
My second CH Live standup clip is up! Remember the first one from a year ago? I must have really liked the way that first one came out because I’m wearing almost the exact same thing.
And hey, if you like me doing standup, become a fan on Facebook. That’s where I post show info and clips and all that other stuff my ego demands I do.
