In a room of wannabe comics, I watch my brother develop his stand-up set on relationships.
B次元官网网址淎 study conducted in the U.K. found that men tell twice as many lies as women,B次元官网网址� Geoff says into an unplugged mic. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 no statistical researcher, but I already knew this. And besides, the data is way off.
B次元官网网址淭ake this morning for example, IB次元官网网址檓 not even awake for five minutes and IB次元官网网址檝e already told four lies: Good morning; I love you; your breath smells great; and B次元官网网址次元官网网址�
I have to edit GeoffB次元官网网址檚 punchline. The content is more sexual than his little sister is comfortable retelling in the newspaper.
For Christmas, I took it upon myself to register my brother and I in a stand-up comedy workshop with veteran comic Kirsten Van Ritzen to polish our previous attempts at comedy duels. Him: all delivery, no content. Me: reciting short essays with the enthusiasm of someone calling for a department store price-check. Horrible.
Next week we have the pleasure of performing our last lowbrow comedy session for a captive (and, fingers crossed, intoxicated) audience.
But it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to end there. With regular amateur nights around town, I donB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檒l let Geoff and his dude humour get off that easy.
Amateur night at Hecklers? Phillips Comedy Night at Victoria Event Centre? Why stop once he has fulfilled the holiday obligation I forced him into? This kidB次元官网网址檚 got moxie, I tell ya.
Apparently so does every other person in Victoria. One thing I love about our city is the abundance of talented creative types. Pick any weekend and itB次元官网网址檚 a safe bet thereB次元官网网址檚 something local, cheap and entertaining (much more so than my brother and I, by the way). And, if you like it enough, you could probably get involved in some way too.
Just walk up to a performer and start a conversation. People like compliments, free drinks and volunteer labour B次元官网网址� all three of which have high acceptance rates and can only breed good energy and opportunities.
Better yet, start something yourself. Ask your favourite coffee shop, bookstore, whatever, if theyB次元官网网址檇 like to try hosting an evening of whatever it is that butters your biscuit.
IB次元官网网址檓 so excited for this yearB次元官网网址檚 Victoria Fringe Festival B次元官网网址� of first-come, first-served shows B次元官网网址� that I may select dancing as my new primary mode of transportation this summer. But isnB次元官网网址檛 Victoria great at low-budget and DIY theatre all the time? Better lace up my dancinB次元官网网址� boots.
Instead of concentrating on what our home is not B次元官网网址� a magnet to huge music festivals or arena headliners B次元官网网址� I choose to send a tip of the cap what Vic does best.
We are a small city with the resources to consistently produce quality arts and entertainment, by people who seem both grateful for the help of beginners and genuinely interested in seeing them succeed.
IsnB次元官网网址檛 it fun to meet a new artist who lives just up the street or down the hall? Punk drummer, burlesque dancer, filmmaker, playwright, sculptor, poet B次元官网网址� if you havenB次元官网网址檛 met them yet, itB次元官网网址檚 only a matter of time.
Back in the rag-tag crew of comedians, a bonafide award-winning professional takes notes and offers thoughtful advice on how I might polish my little routine, centred around the reading of my Grade 5 journal. Where else do such things happen so naturally?
WeB次元官网网址檝e got a good thing going, Victoria. YouB次元官网网址檙e not perfect, but I love you just as you are.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
B次元官网网址擭atalie North is a reporter with the Saanich B次元官网网址.
