On the Road…..To Being a Comedian

On the Road…..To Being a Comedian

By Eric Miller

As my comedy career starts progressing, I believe I hit a point in my comedy career that is pretty significant; well at least for me. The other night I had my first road show and it was PAID!. The road show is a rite of passage for comedians I believe. Actually to tell you the truth I’m not sure what a rite of passage means but it sounds smart and I think goes with the idea I am going for.

As a kid growing up you always hear about comedians hitting the road performing all over the country having ups and down but all along having fun while pursuing their dream of comedy.

For me this road gig was only one stop- Binghamton University. An old professor of mine asked me to perform at a show they were putting together on campus. It was great the crowds came and the show was a success. The best part however was I was able to return to the place where my comedy life started and just perform at the place that taught me a lot.

It was strange though, on the ride up I was thinking of something interesting, I am traveling 3 hours to perform for 15 minutes. Now on the surface this may seem silly but I feel this is truly what loving comedy and being a comedian is all about. Sometimes a good portion of your day is “sacrificed” for 8-30 minutes of performing. However we live for this, the pre show rush begins as you wake up and whether you had a great or terrible show, the post show feelings linger. These feelings just lead to excitement for your next show-whenever that may be.

Now I know some of you may be thinking he is talking like he has been doing comedy for years. Well this whole road show led me to ask myself a few more questions. One being AM I A COMEDIAN????
Did doing a paid road show make me one?

Sometimes people ask me- Are you a comedian?….. I often don’t know what to say

(Yes I perform on stage and do jokes )

I usually answer that question “ well eh sorta, I just started, but I do shows”

But I finally decided to tell myself I AM A COMEDIAN and no not because I did a road show. (I am about to get into some preachy advice) I am well aware that there are many people who are funnier then me, better on stage then me and have been performing much longer and it might be insulting to them to say I m a comedian and so are you , however (HERES THE PREACHY PART)- I learned recently that as humans beings, we love to act according to what our identity is.

If you have an identity as pessimistic or nervous or a procrastinator- you will act accordingly

However if you plan on being a comedian or anything in life. TELL YOUR SELF …..

I AM A COMEDIAN- Because then you will go on stage and act like one!!

Rather then “ Um I sorta , kinda am- because then you will go out and kinda sorta of act like one

(Note*- if you don’t have a medical degree and not a doctor, don’t go performing surgery and writing prescriptions because I don’t want that hanging over my head)

As I digress I realize I have a lot of hard work (open mics,practicing wherever and whenever I can) to make where I want in the comedy world. However this road show was what I hope is the beginning of a great comedy career and career in entertainment.

So I would have to say my first road show was quite an experience. Maybe the road was what I needed to get my thoughts in order about this whole thing we call comedy. Maybe the road up to Binghamton was a metaphor for the pursuit of comedy, Maybe you think I’m on something right now, But I am not. My comedy career will no doubt have its obstacles just like the road but the key is to stay on track and get to your destination

Thanks

Eric