Comedy and Kids

When kids are growing up, writing comedy becomes quite effortless.  The comedy writes itself.  Here is my son Steven, in the company of our cat, Scooter.  They both broke their legs during the summer and recuperated together.  Believe me, the broken legs did not slow either of them down!  When they were both in the backyard I thought to myself, "What a sight!  Let's hope no one calls child services!

http://comedybysally.com

Pets are great companions and their company makes every day easier and brighter.

Zanies Rosemont - Amazing Room for Comedy!

   Comedy is most definitely like a drug.  I know a lot of comedians who have tried to "kick the habit" and failed (or shall I say succeeded!)  It is rooms like Zanies in Rosemont, IL who will suck you back in every time.  The outstanding sounds, lights and eager audience make well written jokes play like music.

     My own stand up comedy career has steered me towards daytime and early evening corporate events but the love of comedy clubs lurks around every next corner.

    Last Friday was Zanies Comedy Clubs "soft" opening night - let's say an "opening" night rehearsal.  I'd been offered a spot to be one of the first comedians to perform in the new room and I turned it down.  This was my husband's "baby" (My husband is Bert Haas - VP of Zanies) and I wanted him to soak up the credit and celebrate with him.  My only focus was giving him flowers on stage.  I wanted to tell him that after 25 years of "husband" jokes, it was absolutely time to say "thank you" and "congratulations" and "job so well done."   I wanted Bert to walk on stage and receive the flowers and get acknowledgement because he deserves it.  I did not plan to "do time" (comic's expression of performing on stage.)

  My idea did not seem to sit well with the host because he was concerned I might bring the show's opening to a "serious" or perhaps "emotional" halt and I completely understood.  He was concerned that the flowers might bring a slowing element to the stage that night and he asked that I first "do a little time."  I eventually agreed to perform but with great reservation.

    The reason for my reluctance was actually very internally acute.

    I resisted because I knew the comedy drug would kick in and kick in strong and I'd be back in the 2:00 a.m. comedy club scene mentality.  All my fears were well-founded.  With a glass half-full, I celebrate re-entry into late-night funny.

  The audience that night was outstanding and I've been "rehooked."  After many years of performing at daytime corporate events, I am re-entering the comedy club circuit.  Stand up comedy is a drug beyond personal control. Let all beware.  If you grow up seeing things "funny" and perform in a great room, there is no escaping.

France - Culture vs. Concrete

Don't misunderstand me - culture rocks!  Or do I mean a lot of culture is made of rocks, marble and concrete.

The good news is that we just returned safely from a trip to Paris.  The unfortunate news is that I traveled to France as a "debt" I owed to my husband who was kind enough to move from a Chicago suburb to a small town  that is one hour away from his place of work in downtown Chicago.  Bert runs Zanies in Chicago.  Thank goodness we both love to laugh.  It's saved our marriage, again, and again and again.

I appreciate Paris and all that it stands for but a visit wasn't necessary.  I'm afraid of airplanes and heights and I dread big cities because of the noise and overcrowding.  You'd think that would be a lifelong argument to not make the trip but Bert had romantic ideas from watching all those black and white movies that he loves so much.  He just forgot that I wasn't in any of them.

I have also become an "anti-hoarder."  After watching how the world works for so many years, I have very little appreciation for the material world.  Walking past shop after shop, after Parisian shop, I knew the costly and beautifully made clothes were wasted on this tourist.  Ever since our move to a small town I can't bear to go shopping.  I imagine every trinket for sale in a plastic garbage bag as it appeared when I donated and/or threw it out when I lightened the load in our new house.

Bert is obsessed with clothes.  He dresses well and puts on a great appearance.  We were the odd couple of this new black and white movie.

The best part of the days were the outstanding restaurants where we ate magnificent dinners.  I'd like to say there was no downside to this one however the downside is apparent the moment you enter the city.  Parisians are thin and they look good!  How do they do it?  We were now playing the part of the Fat Americans in our movie.  Well, it turns out they smoke quite a lot.  That fit well into the scene if our black and white came out in 1944.

What's important to me now is a healthy and loving family and making other people in the world feel good.  There's no store or monument for that.  It's building from the inside out.  I like to do it in green fields surrounded by rescue dogs or standing on stage and delivering stand up comedy that makes people laugh to tears.  My entire movie is in color and I love every minute of it!

Where'd I Go?

I'll admit. Blogging is a tough one for me. I tend to go, go, go and I have a hard time stopping to talk about it.

This week, we're getting ready to put on another clean comedy show in Wauconda. "Clean" comedy is being met with rave reviews as people are tired of the young and brash comedians of cable TV where anything goes. I find it ironic that we, as Americans, are so easily offended by political incorrectness and yet national television broadcasts every rude gesture, comment and word known to man. I see a gap.

Today I scheduled another corporate event which will be a get together for the women of Queen of Rosary Parish in Elk Grove Village. Although that's a bit of drive for me, the very nice woman who booked me said she lived in Lake Zurich. Ironically, we live about 10 minutes away from each other. Where did the conversation lead from there? We talked of the beautiful outdoors and (my personal) love of deer. I absolutely love the outdoors and thrive living near nature. Seeing a deer is a beautiful and peaceful experience for me.

When my family was looking at houses in this area, we were checking out the backyard of one of the homes. From behind a group of trees walk three deer - a mother, a father and their baby. It was a scene Disney creators would envy. My husband immediately asked the realtor, "Now how much did you pay to have the deer appear? You sure know what my wife likes." Unfortunately, the house was out of our range but I have since driven by it a couple of times hoping to see that vision again.

Life is good. One of my favorite quotes is, "It's not what happens to you in life, it is how you interpret it." What a fantastic freedom. I decided from that day - I will interpret everything as positive and "for the best." And do you know what?  It works.