If there were one thing I would change about myself it would be that I get bogged down in unimportant details periodically. I have a sense of order in my head and when it’s disrupted I expend energy trying to “fix” whatever it is, although I logically realize it is merely my flawed perception of order.
So, at work, I am a known resource for all things grants and policy related, which is a good thing. But, I also numb people with boring levels of arcane, esoteric, yeah whatever just answer my question already context. OK, that last bit is an overstatement, someone just thanked me for providing them detailed context for a problem, but I do go to far sometimes in trying to get something “right.”
I say all of the above, because I realize I have no control over the “comedy scene,” such as it is or its individual constituents. So, I get frustrated when they, the other individuals, don’t follow the view of comedy that I hold. For example, my slam last night in regard to the literal-minded young comic who busted my chops over an incorrect literary reference. In truth, of course, my reference was off the mark. But, in my world view right now there is a huge glut of “comedians” who I believe rely too much on cleverness.
In my pure construct, stand-up comedy has a huge component of truth and honesty. The funny comes from the fact that life is funny, human existence is funny, blah, blah, blah. Good jokes scan organically, you can’t see the construction, the wires and pulleys and whatnots that hold it up. Like any good story, you hear the story rather than observe the literary trappings that are the delivery system.
My favorite comics often don’t sound at all like they are telling jokes.
But, all around Boston at the moment, it feels like there are many people formulaically spewing bon mots without context or honesty. It’s very, “Hey, listen to me, because I am clever and quick and have read many books that only clever, quick people read.” Turning a metaphor into a literal translation furthers no dialogue and tells me nothing about you, the teller, and what makes your viewpoint unique. It’s like candy, empty mental calories. Yes, that word does sound like this other word and it would be wacky if they were confused. But, so?
But, the larger question is, why do I care? Why does it bug me? Why not render onto the candy people what is theirs and go tend my own garden and garble and mix metaphors in my own way without worrying about them?
I don’t know why, but every now and again I grab opportunities to bitch slap the clever. It’s a complete waste of my time, logically, yet I feel compelled.
It’s actually the same reason I stopped doing improv. Improv is very fun when people invest in the scene and the dialogue develops, because you are all throwing into that scene. It freezes (and becomes hard to watch) the minute someone makes a choice to promote something that doesn’t further the scene. Sure, it might be a clever reference or a well-done character, but we are all standing around now at your mercy while the scene itself hits the floor.
The kind of stand-up I hate stops the show in the same gears grinding way. If in your cleverness you throw out a joke about another comic’s set, etc. that spotlights your “talent” but doesn’t build from the other comic’s base, I think you are negating the other performance. As with improv, your job is to build the show up by not denying what has gone before. Riff on other jokes/comedians, call them back, even disagree, but if you find yourself telling the audience how you would have done that differently or you are clearly mocking what they do, shut up. Don’t try to make yourself king of the mountain, let the audience pick you by moving the show forward.
OK, I’ve blown philosophical shit out of my ass long enough. I suppose I should work on the stuff that pays my bills.