The Stand-Up story

The ability to make someone laugh is fascinating to me. When I discovered I was able to do that to people, it was something I wanted to keep pursuing. Comedy is like my big brother, it got me out of a lot of situations. The bullies stop bullying me because I was funny. The girls started noticing me because I made them laugh, which led to me getting ass. I get a great sense of joy entertaining people, whether performing or writing my sketches. As long as I can remember I was a funny person. I guess watching a lot of comedy shows when I was young like "Mad TV", Eddie Murphy, "Full House", and "The Wayans Brothers"it really molded my comedic humor. In my high school I was the class clown cracking jokes all day with my friends and teachers not doing homework. A lot of friends and people I met always suggested  I should pursue stand up comedy. The problem was I was scared, didn't know where to go and what the hell was I going to say. Being funny around your friends is different from being funny on stage and in front of strangers. It was the summer of 2009 I was recovering from a ACL reconstruction surgery on my knee. I was basically miserable laying in bed all day, had no job, broke, and annoyed with my mom. The moment I learned how to walk correctly my main concern was to find something productive to do, to escape my mom and where I lived. I went on google and typed in "Performing stand up comedy" I found websites and clicked on the new talent showcase link. The new talent event was basically "Bringer Shows "which meant, you bring six people who are willing to pay you got five minutes of stage time. I wasn't ready to perform for people I knew because that would make me more nervous.  If I bombed I would rather bomb in front of people I didn't know because I wont see them again. But I decided to still send emails to comedy clubs pertaining about the new talent showcase and how it was my first time. I received emails back and felt more wanted and had a good vibe from the Laugh Lounge comedy. In the Laugh Lounge email I spoke to a guy named Sergio Chicon who is a Comedian and the producer of the new talent showcase. We exchanged a couple of emails and just like that I booked my first amateur comedy show for July 25th. I was shocked that it was that quick (Thats what she said). Feeling nervous and realizing the show was two weeks away I decided to call Sergio to talk to him more on a personal level. We talked for 3 hours about comedy, his experience, my life, his life, etc.. The conversation basically gave me the confidence I needed to finally perform. He suggested I do an open mic to get my feet wet before I do a show. Sergio referred me to his friend Pudge Fernandez who ran an open mic at the Laugh Lounge every monday. At the "Open Mic" you would pay five dollars for five minutes. Sergio also told me he would introduce me to Donnell Rawlings a comedian which I was a big fan of who was on the Dave Chappelle show. Donnell played a memorable character called "Ashy Larry". After hearing this I was so excited and agreed to do it. Sergio also said I can stay to see Donnell perform for free that night but only on one condition, don't act like a "Groupie". After the conversation was over I had the confidence like I was Eddie Murphy. I sent out text messages to all my friends giving out details to my first show. Noticing I had a couple of days until monday and I had to decide what to say on stage. I started to think about everything I said that made people laugh, I even went on youtube and watched some Stand Up for ideas. I was going crazy wondering if the crowd will think I'm funny, how will I perform my jokes. Finally I decided to talk about one of stories About my mom because all my friends loved them. My friends thought my mom was hilarious so I guess I get my funny side from her as well. I wrote down a paper full of jokes thinking I got an hour special, its monday and I'm feeling confident. I put on my fitted "One Night In Brooklyn" shirt, blue jeans and my cool looking Supra shoes. I took the L train to the J and got off at Essex St. I was listening to some Mos Def I was in the zone feeling good, going over the jokes in my head, I was ready. I got to Laugh Lounge met with Pudge, signed up, had a soda then headed down to the open mic. When I got downstairs I freaked, there was a crowd of thirty people. Some were talking, and sitting around waiting for the show. I instantly text my high school friend York telling him the situation and for him to come down. He said he will try to come, which means in Yorks language there 's a big chance he's not coming. I felt if  I bombed at least I will have one laugh by default but now I don't even have that. Pudge came down and went to the stage and spoke on the mic "Welcome everybody to another week at the Laugh Lounge open mic, we have a great show lined up we have about 30 comedians performing!" When I heard this my mouth dropped, I looked like the last lonely kid waiting at the school yard for his parents to pick him up. I thought all those people were regular people from the outside not comedians. I thought to myself it's hard enough to make regular people laugh now I have to do it to comedians. Pudge went on to say "We got some special treats, we got a new comer performing today and we have a documentary crew shooting some sets. So bring your A game because you never know". At this point I got so nervous I had to take a mean dookie out of no where. The show started and I saw some good comedians and a lot of horrible ones which gave me some confidence. Pudge came to me and said "You got two more people ahead of you, relax, just have fun, you'll do fine" Now Im sweating in an Air conditioned area, my heart is pumping and I have to take a even bigger shit (straight water and chunks). If I died at this moment it would be a shitty heart attack literally. But wait it gets better. I looked to my right and I saw my friend York walking towards me with a smile on his face and a corona. At this point I wanted to say to him "Aint shit funny bitch! Why the fuck did you ever tell me to pursue stand up, this aint fun. Im bout to shit myself and why the fuck you here! You were late for everything in your life". Instead I said "Wassup" with a sad puppy face and told him I perform next after these two performers. The last set came to a close and pudge pats me on my back as he walk to the stage. "Alright everyone we have a special treat for you. Our next comic, your gonna love this. Never performed he is being born righhht noooooow. You are popping his cherry (someone in the crowd yells woo!) Give him a lot of love and lot of support cuz we all been there. Everybody put your hands together for Ricky Herrrrrrrrreraaaaaa." I looked over to the documentary crew and noticed there's a red light flashing on the camera which meant they are recording me. The crowd cheers as I walk to the stage with a piece of paper in my hand. I grabbed the mic hoping nothing goes wrong, like the mic blowing up in my hand (knowing my luck). I said "Wow talk about no pressure" Then I told my first joke which was about how my mom got me into jerking off. I had bad acne in my teen years and there was nothing that worked to make it go away so my mom was convinced that jerking off was the solution. I heard the whole room lit up with laughter as I told the joke. The laughs became less and less, Before you know it my time was done and I got off the stage receiving a loud cheer. At this moment I was on what they called "The comedy high" I was feeling good, really happy, people came up to me said "Good Job". It was one of the greatest moments of my life. I went to York and asked him how did I do he said "Yo your first 3 minutes was hilarious you had me and everyone dieing. Then you died down at the end. Next time you should look at the crowd more, you was looking down a lot" I personally don't remember what happen on stage, it was like I blacked out after I heard a laugh. I felt someone tap me on my shoulder as I was talking to York I turned around and it was the guy that was recording me. He asked if he can interview me for his open mic documentary I agreed to it. The rest is history.


PS: THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! THANK YOU MOM FOR PRESSURING ME TO JERK OFF BECAUSE THAT STORY MADE PEOPLE LAUGH.