Start - November, 2004

Diary Start - November 2004

On this page you'll find all of the diary entries from the creation of this website until November of 2004

First & Foremost	I'd like to thank God, my parents, my family, and my church family who have given me support in trying to attain my dreams. I'd also like to thank my muse/editor, Aishia Bailey for her friendship and support. If there are any speallin or :gram-maticol errs's from here on out, they're on me, not Aishia. Enjoy reading! Odyssey!

September 4-5, 2004	I performed in a Community Theater play entitled, 'Amazing Grace'. I played a character named Zarique Taylor, a drug dealer who found that he had the gift to preach the gospel. This, unfortunatly for Zarique, was after he'd been shot. Amazing, isn't it, how getting shot and coming close to death will change your outlook on life? It was a great experience and I learned a lot. It was my first acting gig since returning to the world of entertainment. The cast was full of wonderful people who helped me a great deal. Thanks to Lila, Gerry (the director), Donzell, Emma, who played my Momma, John, Gwendollyn, Walli and Niana. Can't wait to get more acting gigs

September / October	I placed 2nd to Mike Lapara at a comedy competition that was sponsored by Clear Channel's WRVQ94 radio station and The Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, VA. Finishing 3rd was Mike Bruckmueller. Congratulations to all who participated. It was a great experience for me. I hadn't been in a contest in quite sometime, so it was well worth it to get it done and over with. Although I kept telling myself that comedy competitions are unfair at their core, I found it to be exciting. By the time we got to the finals of the competition, the crowds were just electric. You could feel the energy in the air. The laughter and applause hit me in the chest and almost knocked me backwards. The only thing that could have topped it off was to walk away with a win. But this was not my night to be. Mike Lapara took the cake. Hopefully, he'll come back from Cali with a T.V. Deal and cut me a slice.

November 10, 2004	I worked Club R2 in Charlottesville, VA with Mike Lapara. Here's how it went down: long ride, long wait, small crowd, great show. The show started an hour and a half late while the manager and the promoter waited for more people to come in. Some did, but not enough to justify the wait. It was all good. The club, which was beautiful, was a nice place to have to wait. I'm a big fan of the clubs that start their shows on time. I say, train your audience and don't let them train you. Most people appreciate a show that starts on time. People have things to do, places to go, people to see. There always seems to be that tension between people who show up on time and those that stagger in 'fashionably' late. But like I said, it was all good. Congrats to Mike for bringing it home and closing out the show. Thanks for the ride too.

November 12, 2004	This was my first time doing Dinner Theater, and it was horrible... my performance that is. I had a wonderful time with the cast of regulars who, by the way, did an excellent job, in spite of me. It was like that poem called 'footsteps' except when I looked back there were 6 sets of footprints... my castmates who carried me all the way through the play. I got the script three days ago and can't say that I put in the proper time to learn my lines. I was so bent on getting this web-site together that I neglected the play. I am very pleased with the progress of this website. Anyway, I have one more show on the 13th. I know it will be a smashing success, not because I'll get any better but because everyone else knows how to get me through it. Thanks to the whole cast. And to quote a great guy, Gerry Notare(my prayers are with you) , "Dinner theater doesn't go on because it's ready...it goes on because it's 7:30!"

November 13, 2004	I worked the Mystery Dinner Theater and this time it was a smashing success. I remembered 96% (maybe 93%) of my lines and was on cue most of the night. The cast pushed me at the appropriate times, such as when to enter and from where and when to move to another area of the room so that we didn't seem clumped together in one area. I helped to serve the food and took up plates tonight, which is more than I did last night. The reaction from the crowd was very rewarding. So were the tips that I got at the end of the night. I'm told that It was the single biggest night of tips that they'd ever had. To me, it was another chance to perform, bring a smile to someones face, exercise my craft and ... what the hell am I talking about?! I needed the money too. I'd do it again if they asked me! In a heart-beat! (wink, wink, hint, hint!!!) Thanks for the ride Ray!

November 15, 2004	I went to the 955 club last night to check out the D.C. show. I got to see my old friend Sean 'Joxe' Savoy and all of his peeps. Those guys put on a pretty good show. I can't say that I watched all of their sets but I was listening to the crowd as they did their thing... Tonight was also the first time that Trip did comedy. It wasn't all that bad. You know when you see a comedian start off with a book joke, you automatically think they're going completely hack? Well he used his book joke to set up an all original 3 and 1/2 minute set. Even though most of it was about taking a dump it was clever potty humor.(I don't know how clever you can get with jokes about taking a dump but he got as clever as anyone could.) Who knows? Maybe he'll give it another shot. I love seeing people go on stage for the first time. There's not much like it. You can only do it once and it's nice to be able to say, 'I saw such and such do their very first show!'... I got a call earlier today from VA comedian Bam Bam, asking me to do a show this weekend in Virginia Beach. I haven't been able to get in touch with him since. I have this other show that I'm suppossed to be doing with A.J. Jamal in December and I have yet to be contacted by him. They're putting my name on flyers and such, but someone may be in for a shock come Dec. 17. He better call me soon with some details... Well I've got to get prepared for my Capital One show so peace for now!

November 16, 2004	O.K. Tonight I went to the Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, VA. Power 92 Jamz is our new radio sponsor. I'm glad that they took over because they seem more interested in promoting it than did the radio station that was doing it before. (Big up to Mike Street!) I performed, Damon Isom, Bam Bam, Bodacious and the headliner was Henry Welch, from Alabama. It was a high energy show from start to finish. The Power 92 guys got the crowd off to a rowdy start and it really never came down from there. People were talking when they felt like it, people were shouting out stuff. They were standing up in the back of the room, half because they were drunk and half because they were ignant! It was interesting. I'm hoping that they switch up how they line up the show with the radio guys. It was good and bad all at the same time... Damon Isom did a great job with the hosting gig. Henry Welch did a great job. He told me about a room that he runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but we'll see how that goes... Cap One tomorrow!

November 17, 2004	I did the Capital One gig. I can't believe what the crew over there did with the cafeteria area of the building. It was like walking down a street in the heart of New Orleans. Of course, I've never been to New Orleans, but that is what I'd imagine it would look like. In one area they had a Jazz band playing in what looked like a club. Next to them they had a game room where you could go in and play pool, foos ball or video games. Next to that they had a casino area, complete with folks dressed as dealers. The room that I performed in was set up like a theater... The music stopped, they made an announcement that the comedy show was about to start, and folks slowly made their way over to my area. I have to say that it wasn't the tightest 30 minutes that I've ever done, but it was entertaining. The crowd wasn't rowdy but they were somewhat talkitive, in a good sort of way (if there is such a thing). It was a very intimate setting with a large group of people that knew each other. I mixed my material in with audience interaction and made my way through what I thought was a good set. I kept it clean and not too controversial. It was after all a corporate gig for one of, if not the largest employer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Hopefully I'll get some of the folks that were there to visit the survey page and let me know what they thought. I'll keep you posted... P.S. I've got a bunch of material that I need to get on paper. I'll be spending some quality time in front of the computer and the mirror in the next couple of weeks. Gotta tighten up!

November 19, 2004	I went to the Virginia House of Comedy in Virginia Beach with Bam Bam. I'm tired and I didn't do any of the driving. We left a little late to get to a show that started late - very late. I was surprised that no one in the audience complained about what time the show started. It was as if they expected it. I don't know what to think of that. I mean, if they don't mind, should I? That's a legitimate question... Anyway, the shows went very well. The crowd far outweighed the crowd for the second show but both crowds were attentive and appreciative. I'm glad that I went down there... I'll drop off my headshots with the owner/booker Rob tomorrow and see if we can nail down some dates to get me back there to headline... Anyway it's three in the morning. I got back a little while ago after a long trip and I'm tired. I'm gonna hit the sheets and get ready for the ride again tomorrow. You know that I'll let you know how it goes. Peace!!!

November 22, 2004	It's monday and I'm just sitting down at the computer to write about Saturday's show. I went back down to the beach with Bam Bam to work at the Virginia House of Comedy. I had a great time. The other comedians on the show were the emcee, Dave "Champ" Champion and the feature act Mocha. Dave works that club all the time as the emcee and did a pretty good job. Mocha was one of the best female comedians that I've seen in a long time. And what a voice. That girl can 'saing', as my Grandma would say. I can't say that I was on top of my game off of the stage. I borrowed a friends camera to take down there with me so that I could record the shows. It just so happened that I left the show early and left the camera at the club. By the time I remembered it (at 2:00 in the a.m.) the club had closed and everyone was gone. I called Bam Bam and asked him if he had somehow managed to see it or grab it, to which he replied, "Camera?" By this time I was just hoping to see it again. I didn't care when I just wanted it back. To cut a long story short, the next morning as I walked to the car along side a somewhat sleepy Bam Bam, I had resolved myself to making a return trip to the beach in search of a camera that I was hoping had not been taken. "You want to put your stuff in the trunk?" Bam asked me. "Yeah, what little stuff I do have!" He smiled and popped open the trunk. To my delight, there in floor of the trunk were the camera, my bag, my c.d.'s, and the tri-pod for the camera. Bam Bam had gotten them the night before and stored them for safe keeping. "Dude, why didn't you tell me you had these?" I asked. "Had to teach you a lesson. Never lose your focus in this business!" And as I refrained from punching him in his eye, I thought to myself, 'lesson learned my friend.' Lesson learned. Thanks for looking out my road dog. Heading to the 955 club tonight. I'll let you know how it goes.

November 24, 2004	I've got bubble gut. I don't know what it is that I ate but I can tell you that it's moving everything that is in front of it, out of the way. It's screaming, "I'm coming through and can't nothing stop me!" I do so very much wish that it would just let me be. But I guess that's what I get for changing my diet. I did the show at the Funnybone last night. It was Apollo night, hosted by the new 105.7fm. Dee Dee Renee was there representing the radio station. Ummm Ummm Ummm!!! Like Forest Gump, that's all I got to say about that. No it aint. She is fine. Better built for T.V. but hey she's got a voice to match. It was a wierd show. I was the emcee and I can't say that the crowd was all that loose, either before or after I did my set. Damon Isom went on after me and did a fairly decent job of working his material and getting the crowd more into it. 'Bodacious' followed with a set that started off luke warm but ended red hot. The headliner from Atlanta, Georgia, C-Dog, did his thing and closed out the show well. We talked about the business of comedy and people getting funny with the money. It happens too often for my tastes. And his too! But hey, as long as they still make lawyers and bats we should be okay.../... I'm thinking about trying out for this play in Richmond, VA. I really enjoy acting and want to do much more of it. I saw the audition notice in the paper on Sunday and it seemed like something that I'd be a fit for. I'll keep you posted about whether or not I did it and how it goes if I do. Peace for now. Gotta go get ready for my set tonight, closing out the show at the Bone.

November 25, 2004	OKAY!!!! Here's the deal: I went to the Funnybone Comedy Club in Richmond, Va and performed in the headliner slot. It was a tight set on a good night. My man, Bam Bam, went home with the 100 dollar prize as winner of the open mic competition. Here's the kicker. I got up to the club with plenty of time to relax, soak in the atmosphere, go over my material and to just chill. Well, as I walked through the back hallway to where it meets the performing area I was shocked to see none other than my ex-girlfriend. What's up with that? She was beautiful, sitting across the table from her also beautiful younger sister. My heart sank. Why was she here? It's been quite a while since I've seen her and you can best believe that this was not where I thought I would see her. This club is my safe haven. It's my home base. It's where I'm comfortable and in my element. It's at the club that I can relax and be me and focus on what makes me happy, performing. It's one of the few places where I can get some solid time not thinking about whether my heart will ever mend. I fake like I'm okay, but I'm not. I figure that if I fake it long enough I'll believe it one day. I felt like George Castanza from Seinfeld when he was going off about his worlds colliding. I felt betrayed. I wouldn't go to her job to see some kids perform in a play. I really expected not to see her where I perform. It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't still in love with her or if she was there to see me, but she wasn't. Apparently she was there to see her cousin who was performing at the open-mic part of the show. Ironically, I am the one that told her cousin to come to the show to perform. I didn't know it was her cousin at the time because I would have laid down some ground rules like, "You don't bring the girl that I would drop everything for to a show with you! My heart can't take it!" But I got dupped. Lisa, the cousin of my lost love, did a pretty good job on stage, it only being her second time performing. She actually did something that impressed me quite a bit. She switched up her routine and added about 3 minutes of things that she had not rehearsed. That's tough for some more experienced people to do, so I give her props for doing what she did. Listen, it's officially Turkey Day and I'm spent from a great night of comedy but mostly from trying to keep my emotions in check. So I think that I'll hit the sack. But I'd like to at least bang this out on my keyboard: I will always love that woman because I didn't choose it. There will never be a day when she doesn't know that she is loved. There will never be a day when she wonders if someone is thinking about her. As long as I live, that day will never be. And as long as you live you will know that I love you.

November 25, 2004	I had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I spent it with my northern family. I'm too tired and full to type and so I'll update this day at a later date. Peace and God Bless!

November 27, 2004	I'm at the library trying to edit my web pages and get some things straight. I decided to sit down here and do some typing. I'm a little worried about myself because I don't believe that I've made a movement in porportion to the amount of food that I ate two days ago. I figure that this is what happens to people around this time of year. Maybe that's my body doing its own thing and putting on some winter weight. I know plenty of people that carry their winter weight through the summer. I'm very disappointed in the fact that I'm not working with Tracy Morgan this weekend. I got a call from the club last Saturday saying that they had put someone else in the slot for the weekend and that I wasn't working. No explanation was given. Hey, this is comedy! I'm not happy but what can I do? It's not my club. I was looking forward to working with Tracy for the credit and more importantly for the money. This is what I do. A week off is a week without pay. Do comedians have benefits? Soda, booze and comp. meals do not a dental plan make. Nor a retirement plan. Nor a 401K. I'll take it as a lesson learned, although I am still trying to decipher what kind of lesson, and move on with my life and career. It's all about the show anyway right? Absolutely!!! I write, I practice and I perform. And I'm getting better everyday. I love what I'm doing and pray for continued success and prosperity. Find your calling if you haven't found it and go for it with all your heart. Keep God first in all you do and just see where he takes you. I've got a show to do on Monday and I'm going to try all new material. We'll see how it goes. Peace for now!

November 29, 2004	I'm at the public library. I'm sitting between two people who are very into what they are doing and I find myself just grateful for a moment of quietness in a room full of people. I go months on end without dreams and then my ex pops up at a show and I can't stop dreaming about her. They're not good dreams either. They are usually her telling me that she doesn't want to be with me. Great! I get rejected even in my dreams. If that doesn't make for some good material, nothing will. I've got a show this evening at the 955 club in Richmond. I'm getting prepared for my show this weekend with Brett Butler. I'm looking forward to it. I'll write again when I feel the need to pound the keys. For now I'm going to try to get in touch with my uncle. He's got a computer that I think I can use to upload a video taped performance of myself onto my computer. This way I can just send promoters to the site to get a glimpse of me. Hopefully this will cut down on the cost of sending out promo. packages. I gotta start traveling and doing some showcases. These are abstract thoughts I know, but isn't that what a diary is for? Peace for now. See you at a show!

November 30, 2004	I had a friend call me and tell me that the entries into my diary were getting longer and longer. Well I guess that I have more to say and... I can type very well. Don't get mad at me cause you use two fingers and it would take you 5 minutes for what I type in 1. Ha Ha! I was the emcee tonight at Easy Street. It was a great show. Melanie Piegary (formerly Rasnic), Brandon Eades, Joe Vargas, Marshall Henry and myself. The crowd was great and the comics did a wonderful job. I tried out several new jokes very successfully I might add. It's always good to get new jokes out. It keeps you fresh and sharp. I can see quite a few people getting better and better in their sets and it just makes me happy. Yay!!!!... / ... I went to the Firehouse Theater today and auditioned for a play. I really have no idea how it went. I'm so new to this whole auditioning thing that it really does me no good to try to judge my performance. I'm hoping to get a call back but who knows. I'll keep you informed. It'd be nice to get a part but I'm keeping it real. It might not be my blessing ... / ... I met the owner of the Switch soft drink company tonight. Apparently his daughter is quite the poet. Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay and watch poetry after the audition because I had to go to my show. But I did pitch a commercial idea to him. I'll let you know how that goes. Peace for now.

November 30, 2004	I was the emcee at the Richmond Funnybone Comedy Club tonight. It was a fun show. Power 92 was the radio sponsor. I'll tell you that ever since radio one took over the promotions for this night it's been getting better and better. Rosetta Divine a.k.a. Ro-digga the Mommy with the slanted eyes, was there representing The radio station. I'll have to say that this is the second week in a row that Radio One has sent a fine, fine sister to the club to hold things down. The other people on the show were Bam Bam, J-Smoove and the headliner from Atlanta Georgia, Double D. It was a fun show. Everyone did very well. I'm getting pumped for the show this weekend with Brett Butler. Everytime that I go out to the car that was given to me by my buddy Ray Bullock I'm thankful for generous people. I'd still be riding my motorcycle back and forth to shows, because I wouldn't miss a show or be late to one. Even if it means putting on enough layers to end up looking like the Michelin Man. I'm loving comedy, the highs and the lows. I'll be saying my prayers in a few minutes and then I'm off to bed. But just to let you know, If you're reading this I'll be praying for you too! Good night and God Bless.