It’s difficult to break into comedy. That first time onstage can prove a personal nightmare for many untried comics. For those hesitant to confront a merciless audience at an open mic night a new option has arisen, backyard comedy jams.
Hosting a comedy party gives fresh comics a chance to tackle an audience of familiars before venturing out into the big, bad world. Luckily for the soon-to-be up-and-coming comedian Gil “Crickets” Mendez, his wife Annette knows how to host a soiree, setting the bar high for others planning to open (temporarily) a comedy club from their homes.
Although I’m not a drinker, alcohol should be encouraged for a few reasons: First of all, most things are funnier to a drunk. Secondly, if you are terrible only intoxicated friends (or dicks like me) will tell you to avoid the mic in the future if you ought not be there. Finally, drunk friends – entirely unprepared to tell jokes before a crowd – might take to the stage after the planned performance if drinking is encouraged. This can lead to all sorts of new material for the next gathering…
Thankfully, my first backyard comedy performance proved good times. I was a little worried going in that I might be setting myself up for disaster, committing myself to an evening of forced laughter for the pride of some sure-to-fail comedian. The Mendez backyard was filled to the brim with tables set to look like any big city comedy club but under a fall sky. Gil got the crowd laughing and only occasionally cringing with “lines in the sand” blatantly adulterated. Good times. I’ll be looking for him on the Valley’s open mic circuit.
