A Happy Place

This won’t be a very long post, I promise. I just need to get some things off my chest, and I think this is really the best place to do just that.

If you know me, you know that I am the type of person who is prone to jump from one thing to another. One of my personality flaws is that I look for instant gratification. I have come to finally accept that and realize that stand up is my home. When I stand on that stage with that microphone in my hand, I really feel at home. I feel that I belong. I’ve been doing it off and on for 18 years. I started with the very first Blankfest and never looked back. My big problem was that I had no confidence in my jokes or in myself. Something that I am sure a lot of people suffer from. That was until this most recent Blankfest. I got on stage that second night and from what I can remember, I killed. One of the guys in the band Racing to Red Lights looked like Peter Steele from Type O Negative if he had lost every ounce of muscle and I went out of my way to mention that, and all of the jokes I told were solid and that laughter from the crowd clicked something in me. Like I NEEDED to do this again.

Cue Moonie at McAuliffes. I saw that he was performing, and I reached out to my dear friend JJ and asked him if there was a way I could get on the bill. After a few days, low and behold I was opening the show. My voice was trash. I had some kind of issue after my post Blankfest illness that usually always manifests itself, and I was nervous to be performing again. Could Blankfest have been a fluke? Or did I finally step back into the world I belong in? Turns out I was walking in the right direction.

I got on stage and I would say 90% of my jokes killed. I guess people don’t want to hear about kids crying, but nurses being kinky freaks are ok. I felt a surge of electricity, and it all came from just giving up. Not caring about what I said, and it showed. I was told that I killed by numerous people.

I was mulling around a joke in my head all Wednesday and to certain people in the world it could be INCREDIBLY inappropriate and the old Ron would have thought about telling it before not telling it and saving it for a private conversation with an equally disturbed friend, but that night I went to a mic and I closed with the joke, and it got a huge laugh. I felt amazing. I knew that this is what I was meant to do.

There are three people that I have to thank. First and foremost, JJ McAuliffe. He always supported me getting up on stage and doing comedy, his own stage for example which I have performed on more than any other and when I finally shoot a special, it’s going to be there.

Secondly. Chuck Nasty. Ever since I even slightly mentioned that I was thinking about getting back on stage, he has been behind me, pushing me to succeed. Constantly telling me that I am talented, even when I never feel that way.

Thirdly, Paul from Shameless Place. That man supports me in everything I do, no matter how stupid or inane it can be. Even when I am being ridiculously blasphemous. He knows what I mean.

So I guess what I am trying to say is never get discouraged. That one thing that you want is out there, you just have to grab it.

Oh, I always wanted to say that I have a gig coming up on February 22nd, opening and hosting two AMAZING bands. Check out the flyer below.