The Comedy Mothership
I recently went somewhere I had wanted to visit for a long time. The Mothership Comedy Club in Austin, Texas. Living in Washington, it was too far away for a quick drop in. But it was only two hours from our temporary apartment in Houston. So I jumped in my truck to drive toward two goals. One, I wanted to experience live comedy in a club. Two, I wanted to try an open mic. I knew it would be a long shot, but at the very least I would get to see the show.
Only 16 random names were taken off a list of about 150, so I didn’t feel too bad when my name didn’t get called. I was ready, and it would have been fun - but it wasn’t to be. Ever since I got that first big laugh in front of an audience, standup has been something I wanted to try. Maybe in the future.
Watching the show - that was incredible. So many funny people. So many different approaches. So many wild jokes. And the drop in guests throughout the night were incredible. Ron White appeared on stage two hours into the show. Ron White - out of nowhere! That was maybe the funniest live 15 minutes of anything I have ever seen.
I watched probably 30 different performers do 5 minutes of material, and almost every one was hilarious. The city was filled with incredibly talented people, and they were all trying to accomplish the same thing - become a comedian.
How will they achieve this? By doing set after set after set at every possible opportunity. Not just this club, but every club within driving distance. They will even travel to new cities for just a few minutes of stage time. They will spend countless hours in the car, in cheap hotels, doing anything and going anywhere just to make people laugh.
After countless sets and years of work, they may build up a following to the point that they could open for a headliner. Maybe they could put out a special on YouTube that gets some traction. The perfect pieces may fall into place to be on the right podcast at the right time for something to strike a chord with the general public. It’s a lot of maybes.
I really admire the work these people put in. It takes determination and strength. And sometimes it goes horribly and no one laughs. Having done some public speaking, I can attest to falling on my face in front of a crowd. Only it is so much worse for a comedian, because the only reason people are listening is to laugh. I heard that bombing at comedy is one of the most painful experiences in live art. Being up close to it for a few hours, I can attest that it is tough for both the performer and the audience.
Driving for almost five hours to see live comedy and visit a unique city like Austin was special. Sometimes you really need to just get in the car and go. This trip made me realize just how fun it will be to catch shows when I’m in a city with clubs. So go to your local theater. Drive to the big city. It may not happen for years, but when that one unique thing that captures your interest is close by, don’t hesitate. It’s worth it.
