So what's in it for you?

Denver comedy. I've seen so much of it in the past week that I really don't even know where to begin. So I'll list the shows to try and revive some memories.

The Places I've been
Sunday 3-21 Bobby Crane's Hot Hot Stand-Up
Monday 3-22 The Lion's Lair open mic
Friday 3-26 Los Comicos Super Hilariosos
Saturday 3-27 Sam and Roger's Night of Hilarious Fun
Sunday 3-28 Deacon Gray's Writing Workshop and Future Legends of Comedy show at the Denver Improv

I feel like I'm missing something in there. If you saw me somewhere that I didn't include, my bad...this was a lot for me mashed into my wild ride of a work yesterweek.

Let's talk highlights of the week:

It was exciting to get back to Los Comicos Super Hilariosos for the second time. Scheduling conflicts arose in the months of January and February, but March brought the winds of opportunity once more. No let-downs here. TJ Miller was back, Mo Welch was in town, the winds also brought Ben Kronbreg, and Sam Tallent had a guest spot. The usual suspects of Adam Cayton-Holland, Ben Roy, and Greg Baumhauer graced the stage. Andrew Orvedahl headlined. Eight comedians. Eight quality and deep in the realm of "very funny" sets.

I'd never been to Leela's for Sam and Roger's Night of Hilarious Fun before, and I have to admit I was a little mentally burnt this night for personal reasons so I dont have the typical notes I tend to carry. But I remember Jim Hickox having a weird deal going on, with a computer and a web-cam and I think I'll leave it there. Mo Welch was up again and I can identify far too closely with her line "You know what they say about a woman with big hands? Gross." so I pretty much adore her self-deprecating and very funny ways. There were maybe a hundred other comics -some great, some ehhh- but the in-between interactions between Sam and Roger are an epic favorite which is prob why I make it to the Lion's Lair almost every Monday for their open mic. They just might be the friendliest and most humble guys around.

The Future Legends show really caught me by surprise. Everyone came to play and for a great majority of the comedians, their energy was on fire that night. Chris Charpentier, Elliot Woolsey, Rob Gleeson, Jill Tasei, Melanie Karnopp, Pam VanNostern, Jen Scully, Jordan Zuckerman, they all seriously brought it. Charp and Woolsey very clearly dominated their sets, and it was fun to watch. There were a few in the mix that were not so on top of whatever game they might possess, but that'll happen at any newbie night.

In other news:

One of the things that has really stood out lately is the amount of time and dedication that many Denver comics put into their craft. I try to go to events as often as I can, but there are more than a lot of you that I see multiple times per week, working at your set, changing things, constantly pushing for personal evolution on-stage. And when I see you guys at multiple shows--and I'm not really even knee-deep in this stuff-- I wonder how many shows you guys are really doing. Passion is evident in this town. This is a personal investment, not paid overtime. I'm sure there are other gains and losses associated with this passion. For someone like me--I guess I consider myself to have a bit of an outsider perspective--it definitely raises some questions.

In pursuing stand-up comedy, what is the over-arching goal? I assume for many of our comedians there is money fixated somewhere within that goal. Being able to call oneself a professional comedian and, like I've heard Jordan Zuckerman say-to do what you love- has to be intertwined into the dream.

It may be a dream of Dane Cook proportions, with a huge following of the masses and comedy that pertains to the same masses, the invites to do movies and to act. Or the SNL-improv-ish route. Some of you may dream of writing, others of a more business-oriented path within entertainment.

And then there is the side of Denver comics that seems to grasp onto the artistic aspect of their craft. The ones who would rather identify themselves as independent from the mainstream route and relish in the creative side of the comedic endeavor and the ability to constantly morph and create laughter from places that to the rest of us had never previously existed. Is that too much? I dont know.

I'm interested to hear the goals of Denver comedy. Passion entails intense desire...for what in the realm of comedy? Is it so much the crowd or is the promise of what the crowd may bring? Is it bringing a piece to life or is it writing with an agenda of appeal to a certain niche, whether that niche is other artists or the dumb-it-down comedy for the masses?

Something to think about, I think. Someone once told me that a goal doesn't become a reality until it's written down. Sometimes I think it's more frightening to take that step than simply not to take it and to sit on your potential. Maybe that's just me, but I'd be interested to know how many local comedians might have done just that. And if those are the same comedians that show up night-after-night, from the open mics to the comedy clubs.

With that, I'm out.