This post came up in my Facebook feed today and I wanted to share it with you. I wrote it when I was preparing my first ever “stand-up” “set”required to enter Humber’s School of Comedy. I wrote the post 6 years ago.
Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded how far we’ve come.
Thanks to Facebook, it’s now easier to get super-reflective on the stuff you’ve been up to over the past, well… since you joined Facebook…. For example, on this day, 7 years ago, I visited Lyon, France. I had a panic attack in a taxi on the way to a Coldplay concert and wasn’t quite sure at the time what was going on. I carried on anyway because I would eventually stand so close to Chris Martin, I’d hoped to catch a bead of his sweat in my mouth. I would later discover Lyon is the hometown of the first CBC employee who would call me a friend.
On this day 1 year ago, Gill and I had our first improv set together as a duo at Winprov at the Cage. We called ourselves Exit, Pursued by a Bear. A name combining her love of Shakespeare and my desire to be chased by bears. I would later discover we were bound for more than just that one performance. We founded a monthly show for emerging and established comics to come present and perfect their material all while doing the same with our own craft. This would eventually bring us out to Halifax, where I am currently enjoying performing daily hour-long improv sets for completely new and different audiences than those from our Toronto base at the Social Capital Theatre one Thursday night per month.
At this time, 5 years ago, I was settling into my new apartment in Toronto, having up and left my life in Ottawa. I had some big dreams, which is apparently rare for someone leaving the civil service. I was happy because if I walked a few feet away from my apartment and gazed through the trees, I could see the CN Tower, not knowing how significant that landmark would become to me. I went back to school. I was weeks away from performing stand-up comedy for the first time. Months away to writing my first comedy sketches. Years away from producing my own shows and touring the country, working in one of Canada’s most significant cultural establishments as well as one of North America’s most recognized comedy institutions, from meeting my future husband, (still not used to saying that,) meeting new best friends, new amazing colleagues & immensely talented creative partners and laughing more and harder than ever before.
I would later discover Toronto (dramatic pause) …is my home.
Happy anniversary, you beautiful bitch.
We find ourselves at the beginning of another New Year, and like many bloggers, this is as good an opportunity as ever to think back over the past year and try to find some meaning in everything before moving on to the next.
Here goes:
1) I turned 30.
2) My best little friend and partner Peanut (my kitty cat) died.
3) I got let go from work.
Am I ready for a new year? Yes please.
Ok. So maybe I’m oversimplifying things by focusing on some pretty negative and shitty experiences. Like, maybe turning 30 isn’t so bad. And losing a pet is awful, but we know they don’t live forever when we bring them into our homes at the get-go. And when they’re super sick, sometimes it’s best to know they’re no longer in pain.
And as far as the job goes, I wasn’t a huge fan of the position quite honestly, and really welcomed the change. Also, because I’m a unionized employee, I was found another position within the corporation and have been totally loving the new challenges, coworkers and environment.
One year ago, I moved into an apartment in Bloorcourt; the heart of Toronto’s indie comedy action. I thought it would be the best place to live/be. As it turns out, my apartment overlooked the neighbour’s balcony and they could see directly into my tiny bedroom/kitchen, their cigarette smoke and blathering idiocy seeped in through my window, which was often left open given the ridiculous lack of temperature control in the building. I moved in 2014, again. Up the road, and this time, with my partner of 4 years, Dan. It’s already nice to have food in the fridge, cable TV, and someone to hug when I get home from late-night comedy shows who isn’t a cardboard cutout of Seth Rogen hanging behind my front door purposed to frighten off potential intruders.
I gave birth to a few babies this year: 50 Shades of 50, The Benoits, Exit, Pursued by a Bear and my fondest little project, Guess Who’s Coming to Improv? Each of these groups/shows have brought joy, fun and a stage to play throughout the year. I am incredibly grateful to all those involved, you know who you are. And if you don’t think I’m talking about you specifically, I am, so don’t worry. You’re amazing. I also adopted Improv Game Show, who continues to grow every single week; and I am as proud as an adopted parent could be of its’ potential.
Non-metaphorically, I welcomed a new brother into my family this past summer, as he and my sister threw the best damn wedding I’ve ever attended. And I’ve been to a few weddings in my short years on this earth, folks. This was hands down, the best. It brought my whole family closer together and it was such a gosh-darned delight to see my now 94 year-old grand-maman stand-up at her walker to boogie down to a few tunes.
I got to work with my brother and my boyfriend on a comedy project; a TV pilot about my hometown. Though nothing came out of the competition part of it, we still plan on creating something together out of the concept and working on other projects as well. We might totally be the next Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, but like, Canadian, …and funny.
I was hired by my dream employer last year to teach improv workshops for students both in English and en français; and every chance I get to share a teensy bit of what improv has done for me to other people is like a tiny little miracle.
I went to New York City to learn more about writing humour. I read both Keith Johnstone’s and Rob Norman’s book to learn more about improv. I read Mindy Kaling, Martin Short and Andrea Martin’s books for inspiration and am now onto Amy Poehler’s. I listen to podcasts about comedy and improv and society and life and I am more motivated than ever.
2014 was a good year. Tt felt like momentum was beginning to pick up. My hope is to keep up the pace and trudge on forward. It’s an interesting thing, finding what you love and working towards doing it as often as possible and trying to make a life out of it. It’s not easy all the time, but it sure is something.
Even though I still miss Peanut like fucking crazy.
I’m just saying – it’s not everybody you know that has a notebook at home, which begins with specific details pertaining to battle losses during the First World War, and a few pages later has a really good tag to an overly recounted vagina joke.
2012 was a pretty crazy year. I just went back and re-read most of my posts from the previous year and how much actually happened in 2012. I said to myself earlier that I was looking forward to 2013, a fresh start. But, now that I think about it a bit more, it’s going to be dang tough to top all the amazing things that happened in 2012. I mean, Dave Foley bought me a beer for Pete’s sake!
I was going to draft a list of my top 2012 influencers on Twitter for 2012; people who had really help shape the year into what it was, but as I got to page 4 of my list, I thought two things; I don’t want to type all these people’s names out, and holy cow – what a great year it was; not just for performing, but for meeting people and becoming further connected as part of this wonderful community of funny people & performers in Toronto. Though it has its seedy underbelly, there’s also a crap-load of amazingly talented and friendly people as well. I’m pleased, because that’s exactly why I started this blog – so I can look back on it and remember the challenges as well as the victories, the obstacles and the peaks initially of clown college, but now expanded to the entirety of this funny little subculture.
When it comes down to it… all I’m saying is… I’m sure glad the world didn’t end this year and as crazy as 2012 was, I’m sure there’s lots more in store for 2013! Bring it on!
Sometimes when I’m at home washing the dishes, the smell of my Palmolive Aroma Sensations – Fresh Green Apple, triggers my memory back to my first year of university in Ottawa. I was young & wide-eyed, and my neurotic roommate in residence used to yell at me for not doing my dishes precisely when she wanted them to be done. She liked it so that when she woke up in the morning, she wouldn’t have to stare at my dirty dishes. I had no problem with staring at my dirty dishes in the morning, or for three or four mornings after that if we’re being honest.
The point is, every now and then I’m reminded of her, and how much better looking she is than I. So, I head down to the nearest LCBO and engage in a pretty dangerous/fun wine drinking binge and drown away the feelings of inadequacy with the accompaniment of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way on my shitty MacBook speakers.
Lady Gaga: Not just for gay people anymore!
Maybe if I just drink the whole bottle of Palmolive… Mmm… apple-y.
It’s hard to believe we’re currently rehearsing for our end-of year sketch show!
It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the audience as the second years from last year gave it their all one last time before graduating and/or moving on to the Industry Show. I’m so excited to see everyone’s sketches, the remount of some people’s plays, but most of all — I am stoked to FINALLY see our parody videos we filmed all last semester ago!
(See: Parody Shoots.)
And, I’m excited to actually put on our show, obviously. It really is going to be a good one. We’ve really extracted some of the funniest written scenes, with some of the funniest characters from over the past two years for your viewing and laughing pleasure. And everyone on the team gets a few opportunities to shine! (…)
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to perform sketch comedy, and as repetitive as I’ve been in saying it, I really miss doing it. Paige & I also get to showcase some of our dance experience in this show – in two numbers. So hey parents, all those 15 years of lessons are paying off. (Not literally. I don’t get paid for this. But maybe one day it’ll actually pay off. In this case, it’s just paying off because I’ve been cast in two scenes because I can dance and sing simultaneously.)
Maybe I’m too tired to be posting today. (Maybe that’s why everything’s in brackets.)
Maybe that five hour rehearsal for 10 minute’s worth of (terribly flawed) stage time really wiped me out.
Maybe it was working til midnight yesterday.
I’m finally caught up with Mad Men.
I need an oil change.
And to do laundry.
Zzzzz…
I had the privilege of working Front of House for the very talented first year comedy students’ Archival Show over the past few nights. While they seemed anxious, excited, proud & stoked – I felt calm and reflective. It reminded me of the simpler times – of my own first year…
Well, that was fun. Now. Back to the present.
I wish I’d taken home each of the programs so I could have pointed out which of the performances stood out to me, but I’m forgetful and I didn’t do that. I guess I can point out some points I noticed overall about the performances – I’ll do it in order of how I saw them:
1) Team Melody: What I would have given to be in this performance! An ode to vaudeville with great little snippets & bits all throughout, each just as fun as the last. Lots of individual stage-time for many people in the cast, lots of singing AND a LOT of great parts & focus for the LADY performers! It flowed so nicely. And Monty Python’s Penis Song was in there. Hilarious. I left singing that Eva Tanguay song for hours upon hours after both nights Melody’s group was performing, which I suppose is good and bad. OMG the Bored Room sketch. Too much. SO good. And the Lie Detector sketch. LOVE Mr. Show.
2) Team Eric/Christel: Reminded me loads of our performance last year, structure-wise (which makes sense, considering the Tothmeister directed my section.) BUT… our transitions were better. I’m just kidding. But we had that weird onesie Bruno was crabwalking around in– However, this year they had an exceptionally well-choreographed Thriller transition, which was rather impressive. The Lumberjack song – a classic! It was also fun to see the Lawrence Welk song revisited – and as funny as it was to see a lanky dude in drag, I still couldn’t get the image of Camille Cote out of my head singing around and chasing bubbles. Oh, and OMG the Hunger Strike sketch is amazing. LOVE Mr. Show.
3) Team Baumander: Lewis’ group seemed more, disciplined, more sharp. Does that make sense? I don’t know. All I know is that adding the CSI intro to the Wayne & Shuster bit was a stroke of genius. And the Smothers Brothers song was super well done! The Jerry Lewis opening was FANTASTIC! Holy cow! It seems that some people were more heavily featured in this group than the others. You would see some performers a lot more than others. I’d be curious to know Lewis’ decision-making process for allocating roles. It was fun, again, to see some of the performances revisited from last year ie: the Marx Brothers one (well done!), Bronx Beat (still heard Rachel & Camille in my head the whole time) and the Hail Satan one, thought not my favorite… I just wanted to make sure I mentioned that I LOVE Mr. Show!
All in all, the performances were very well done and SO much fun to watch. First years should congratulate yourselves on a job well done – and a good chunk of dough raised for LAMP. I’m glad to have been part of the whole thing. 🙂
And now I’m filled with the desire to research and watch some classic archival sketch comedy over the reading week break!
I suppose a great way to stick to my New Years resolution of writing more/all the time, is to write more in this blog. I know it’s supposed to be behind-the-scenes confessions about my time at Humber (Clown) College, but well, it’s the Holidays still, we don’t go back to school until Monday, so in the meantime, please excuse my non-school-based rambles.
My cat’s in heat.
(Why do I always talk about my cat? I don’t mean to. I don’t think any cat-owner means to talk about their cat(s) as much as they do. They’re just so adorably distracting.)
Last night we cuddled and spent the evening catching up on hours upon hours worth of Glee. Hey! I don’t care what you have to say! That TV show, love it or hate it, is bringing more and more children into the performing arts. I wish Con had a glee club when I attended school there. We had an improv team that couldn’t afford to go to the only improv competition for French schools in Ontario. It was all the way in Timmins. That’s pretty damn far from the Niagara Region.
We couldn’t even put on plays. We tried to once, but interest and enthusiasm among the cast was so low we had to cancel it (AND I’d nabbed the lead! #unfair) Trying to compare my high school education with high schools on TV is impossible. They don’t write shows for 300 or so French Canadian public school children, most of whom’s ambition remains “staying a live to deal pot to the next generation of Wellanders.”
I think small-town Franco-Ontarian culture does have a place within pop-culture. Somebody get me on the phone with TFO!
I should probably have written that last bit of rantiness in French.
Eh bien. Peut-être la prochaine fois.
With the launch of Facebook’s new Timeline and, as time, in the real, non-social-networky world goes on, I’m beginning to realize I have a bit of an obsession with time. Let’s add the word “time” in here one more time for good measure. Time.
I’ve never been the greatest at managing time. I used to sign up for many extra-curricular activities, (dance, piano lessons, army cadets, sports, improv, taxidermy, etc.) I was out so often that some of my fondest memories are of my parents and eventually my siblings rushing me from one place to the next. It was a regular occurrence for the driver to brake especially hard at red lights and stop signs when I was trying to put on my cadet dress uniform over top of my ballet tights in the back of the moving car.
In university, I became a bit better at managing assignments, but not until third year. I’d had enough of all-nighters because I worked. I needed to be (somewhat) conscious to up-sell popcorn to miserable suckers. I began to recognize patterns in the professors’ assignment-schedules, knowing I would be given a certain amount of time to write a certain amount of essays that were all going to be due within the same week so, I’d begin writing them well in advance. By fourth (and fifth) year, I had pretty much managed it. And if I still couldn’t finish on time, there was always bribery. Sexy, sexy bribery.
I finished school and moved to France and there, time sped up. It started to feel as though it was going so fast I was spinning. (Note: it might have been all that wine.)
When I came back state-side, (province-side?) I was obsessed with seeing people; staying in touch with friends I’d made in France and re-connecting with school and work friends – booking and often over-booking myself, throwing parties at which I would try to combine all of my social circles at once in an attempt to save time and thus, kill several birds with one party-stone.
It is impossible to combine everything in one. Comedy in Toronto is helping me to realize this. On any particular night, there are at least a dozen performances I can attend, either as a performer, or (more commonly) a spectator. I can’t see them all. I can’t do it all. And there are parties. And there are other meet-ups. And there are joke-jams.
Then, there are nights in.
Nights. In.
Sometimes they’re the simplest and the most meaningful.
Brie Watson 