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Stand-Up II: America the Beautiful My second stand-up performance... a little less blue, a little more social commentary. Learned alot on this one. My role(s) in this film: Director Writer Actor Submitted by DawnAkemi on December 9, 2007 - 7:25pm. |
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Comedy with a Message
There's an old Hollywood saying used on artists pushing social commentary: "if you've got a message, leave it after the tone." But you've made it entertaining. There may only have been six people in attendance at The Empty Stage that night, but it sounds like they were loving it! So did I. (I especially like that thing you did with the microphone.)
All in all, a worthy sequel to your Virgin Stand-Up routine. Looking forward to Stand-Up III!
Thanks, Dave!
There were a few more than six, but it was a very tired twelve, including myself after a long night of improv...
It's true about comedy with a message, though I felt safe with the relatability of my message here in Hollywood. I wouldn't feel the same in, say, Mississippi... or in front of my father. Still, its definitely harder to do.
I need to look for something more slice of life...
Funny story about the microphone bit... one of my fellow improvisors (remember Rodrigo?) went up before me with a strange and nutty routine about what would happen if men had to give birth that involved using the microphone in sexually explicit ways. He unwittingly made things difficult for me because the only way I could have raised the stakes and topped that bit would be to have literally stuck the mike up my ass!
Ah, well... live theatre... I love it!!!
Topping a mike up the ass
One of my fellow improvisors (remember Rodrigo?) went up before me with a strange and nutty routine about what would happen if men had to give birth that involved using the microphone in sexually explicit ways. He unwittingly made things difficult for me because the only way I could have raised the stakes and topped that bit would be to have literally stuck the mike up my ass!
You could always try this...
The Upside of Extreme Flexibility
Wow... I can't decide if that picture makes me laugh, grosses me out, or turns me on!!!
I'll do some stretching exercises for my next routine...
Talk about fisting.
Talk about fisting.
New sexual position?
Maybe this one should be called "deep face".
99 dictators left in the world!!
I loved it!!!
Dawn, you have a lot of courage to stand on the stage like that.... I dont think I could do it, my SERIOUS reverent respects for you. I'd say you have cojones, except that's innacurate, but you know what I mean :)
Honor to have you here!
P.S. The songs were my favorite part!.... lets make a video!
ovaries as cojones ;-)
It's just that my balls haven't dropped.
Thanks so much Marco!!!
That set was hard to do and I am not a singer (obviously)... that was the first time I've ever sung on stage... very scary.
I'm mulling over doing some video blogging... got any ideas? I'd be grateful for some input!
Video Blogging
Hmm... very very interesting :)
I think my best advice will be this: make every video blog about a particular topic that you feel strongly about (as opposed to things you're only mildly concerned with), make it a message that you're saying (as opposed to just how your week was), a posture, an essay, and make it short and sweet (as opposed to 10 minutes of "ehms" and "uh"): get in, say what you feel its important saying (steal the bullet point format from Colbert if you must), and get out. That alone, puts you head and shoulders above 95% of bloggers, and that 95% is whom I meant every time I wrote "as opposed to" above. Cuz they all do that... but if you avoid those common pitfalls, you'll really stand out.
From there, its a matter of style! I'd love to see your blogs in KC, just paste the youtube address in a regular blog entry and it'll work! Looking forward to it!
excellent advice
Those are some great comments about video blogging, Marco... thank you!!!
I will wrap that into my considerations...
p.s.
Oh, and I will definitely post my video blogs here as well.
WORK that microphone, girlfriend!!!
MmmmMmmmMmmmm!!
My Darling Cici
Thanks for your generous encouragement. I probably blab sneak peeks into my routines... surprise is half of comedy!! I'm glad you had the other song.
Hey... we should compare cojones to see who's are bigger!!!
xoxo!!!
Olé!!!
loving your work
there is an actress working
a great actress
:)
Thank you, Victor!
You sure do make me feel special!
Singing
The singing bit is really good. And you are so brave to stand up there. Liked the 99 Dictators song. Did you really use the word "Shat" in America the Beautiful song? Haven't seen that word in forever
The Phallic thing is done, no really, done. Although calling men a Phallic Thing Holder is new (I think.) Perhaps you could do a safe sex/stand-up theme next?
You are developing a "Comedic standup Personae", which takes time. It was really funny when everyone thought your America the Wasteful song was done, and then you started again, just as they were applauding. Sort of like a small girl who upon hearing applause, does more, to get more applause. it could work. Hang in there, tough small crowds are probably the best to work in front of.
Keep going, and don't apologize for anything.
Steven Gladstone
Director/Cinematographer
http://www.gladstonefilms.com
Singing is fun!
Thank you, Steven... I sure do appreciate your feedback. The songs were fun to do.
I did use the word "shat" and think the phrase "we shat our grace on thee" is hilarious... don't understand why that didn't get a bigger laugh.
I agree there is nothing new in a "phallic thing" microphone bit. However, I don't think that matters: I've been studying alot of stand-up and a comedian can tell the oldest, moldiest, dust-filled joke and still get laughs... it just depends. In the writing of that joke, I think I could have set it up better... and I think I could have sold it more committedly. I know I was thrown by the fact that someone went up before me in that show and pretty much fellated the mike, complete with grabbing space work "balls"... I would've had to work hard to top that. Timing is everthing.
I'm so glad you saw the bit between the two verses of my rewritten "America the Beautiful"... that was planned. I think I coulda held the moment a tad longer... but I was happy with how it turned out.
All in all, I was very pleased with my second stand-up performance.
The past tense of bowel movement
I did use the word "shat" and think the phrase "we shat our grace on thee" is hilarious... don't understand why that didn't get a bigger laugh.
At a guess, it was missed. I mostly caught it from your body language, and then thinking it over, realized what you had said. Of course perhaps there were those in attendance who didn't know the meaning of the word. Without wanting to insult anyone. A nightclub crowd, especially after a several drink minimum, is most probably the sharpest bamboo skewer under the finger nail.
Steven Gladstone
Director/Cinematographer
http://www.gladstonefilms.com
Shitty shatting
Perhaps they did miss it... though the movement on my part was purposeful to empasize the phrase. The crowd wasn't drunk as the venue was a theatre serving lite beer... but they were definitely tired/low energy as I went up second to last (after 12:30 am)... shit, I was tired. The poor girl that went after me had to drum up even more energy for laughs. Definitely placement in the line-up has an effect on what happens.
The Dawn Akemi Show
Well, if I make it to LA soon....I expect to have front row seats to "The Dawn Akemi Show"! :)
You should put together a routine, and go to the comedy clubs. You could totally make it.
You're good at revising music lyrics too, just like me. :-P Although, you're more eye candy that I am. haha.
Much obliged, Eric!
Comparing my music lyric rewriting talents to yours is a high complement indeed.
I am considering the comedy clubs... but, honestly, a stand-up career and lifestyle does not interest me at all. I am exploring the work to expand on my comedic and actor talents and skills, but do not know how far I want to take it. I really am an actor first.
Thanks for thinking I'm "eye candy"... I like to think of myself as the whole, satisfying meal!
I like your stand up act
I like your stand up act videos. I can't wait till you do one where you say something funny.
Heh heh.
One step at a time...
Thanks Brandon.
You know, it's hard enough to get up on stage and put a microphone in my hand!
I'll work on some funny for next time.
U gettin betta...
and more comfortable up dea huh?
There were three students... A Japanese girl, a Caucasian boy, and a Filipino boy. The teacher asked the students to use the words, "chicken, nut, and bread" in a sentence. The Japanese girl went first.
"Last night for dinner my mother cooked us chicken and yummy banana nut bread".
"That's good", the teacher replied.
Next went the White boy, "I live on a farm and we raise chickens, and grow nuts to put them into our bread".
After that, the teacher asked the Filipino boy to use the words in a sentence.
The Filipino boy replied, "Ho ya know... my madda said neba put de plastic bag oba my sistaz head cuz chicken nut bread"... :)
I know I know... not dat funny, but I'm working on dat genre... ONE DAY.
Local Style Humor
Thank you, Davonie!
I loved those jokes... I laughed... so trademark local.... makes me homesick.
Lovely Bones
Man walks into a Baptist Church. Walks right up to a little woman retiree and asks, "Where's the Goddamned preacher?!"
Quite taken aback, the old woman says, "Excuse me?"
The man responds, "Where's the Goddamned preacher?!!"
The
old woman, quite flustered, walks to the back of the church and goes
into the preacher's office where the preacher is sitting working on his
sermon for Sunday. She says, "There's a man out here cussin' at
me and he wants to talk to you." The preacher stands, straightens
his tie and walks out to cleanse this cussing man of his sins.
The man sees the preacher and the old woman coming.
"Are you the Goddamned preacher?!!!"
"Yeas I am," replied the preacher.
"Well, look here. I just won four hundred million dollars in the lottery, and I'm donatin' half of it to this church."
The preacher replies, "I see. Well, brother, is this bitch here givin' you any trouble?"
Gotta love them Baptists.
If it's just ridiculous, it's bad.
IF IT IS RRIIIDDDIICCUUULLOOUUSS, then it's okay.
Thanks BigSugar...
.... for sharing some of your BigSweetness on my blog!
Yes, religious hypocrisy is a great subject for comedy routines! And absurdity, ridiculousness... very funny...
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