Coaching

kerripom
May 1
2 min read

Updated: May 7

I had an up-and-coming comedian call me today for possible coaching.

The conversation we had was not unique. Many of these new Comics want me to coach them on how to get paid gigs and Stage time.

When I asked them how much work they put in before wanting to get paid, the answer was not very much. She wanted to go right to the part where people are hiring her for money after she has been on stage three times.

And, in some way, she got paid for doing these shows even though she had never been on stage before, except at open mics.

I've been a professional comedian for 20 years, and I told her the first few years of my comedy career were opening for better headliners than me running their merch tables and stacking the chairs, and learning. I watched them be better than me.

Thank you, Bone Hampton and Carlos Oscar, Paul Aldrich ,Deren Streblow, Sherri Evonne

Thor Ramsey

I know in this TikTok generation, these platforms can give entertainers a false sense of security because they're getting millions of views online with edited content and musical backgrounds.

But when somebody wants to stand-up comedy coaching and they want to learn how to hold a microphone and an audience's attention for 60 to 90 minutes, I'll be honest. The one advice that I always give them is that there's absolutely no substitute for stage time.

They can tell me that the open mics are horrible, but then it's up to them to find a way to get on stage.

My ex-husband, Ron McGehee, once said it takes a hundred shows to get comfortable on stage.

I feel like that is a fair assessment.

If somebody wants to be a master chef and open their restaurant, wouldn't it be wise to take cooking classes?

I know those people up there entertaining us make it look easy, but I can tell you from the blood, sweat and tears that it's taken me to develop my AC,T there's absolutely nothing easy about it.

I just celebrated 20 years in this business, and I wouldn't trade any of the early years for anything. That's where I learned my craft, and it was hard, it was tedious, it was exhausting, it was exhilarating, and it was the best time ever.

And you can ask any of the people who went on the road with me as my openers, like Lisa Mills and Kristin Weber Witty it wasn't glamorous!!!!:)

But I loved every minute of it.

I think a fair trade for babysitting my kids was comedy mentoring??:)

I don't know, maybe somebody needed to hear this today ?

If God puts a dream in your heart, there's no reason you can't accomplish it. You just have to be willing to put the work in to be excellent at what He's called you to do.

Am I right??

Ok, I'm done

Carry On.