I got a lot of comedy work in the hopper lately. It's a Funke family trait to bite off more than you can chew, so I'm glad to be so busy.
I'm also proud to say that while I'm not on the 8-10 shows a week I once was, the caliber of shows I'm on is better than ever. Even though I'm not out every night, I feel as though comedy is pretty consuming.
When you're a comedian and you haven't made it (example: me) your life is pretty much divided into odd parts:
1. Hype: You've got to self promote. This means asking everyone you know on a regular bases to come to a show via all social medias and face-to-face contact.
2. Writing/Performing: You have to back up what you're telling everyone is worth leaving the house to see.
3. Financial Backing: You need to eat, and pay rent. So taking a day job, or any job at this point is important. I'm glad to have a steady day job that involves writing, editing...and some dorky internet knowledge.
So, in the 8 hours when I'm not working, I'm working on comedy. And to further prove that, I will now shamelessly promote comedy shows....
I'm producing (aka putting a ton of time and money to put on a show) one of the best shows ever. Ballsy statement, right? I don't think so. I'm so proud to work with co-producers Selena Coppock and Liz Simons to put on a show that not only has amazing comedians but it also encourages the audience to cheer for/represent their favorite borough.
Well, I guess it's not the worst. I'm at least aware that it isn't great.
Still, it's shameful that I had to look up whether it was writers block, or writer's block.
Maybe it's my bad grammar that is the root of my writer's block.
I took a break to ponder this possibility, and -
watched 'The Bernie Mac Show", watched 'Malcom in the Middle', watched more 'Bernie Mac Show', got sad about Bernie Mac, tidied up the kitchen, thought about calling my mom, walked over to my computer to get my phone, checked TopTwitsBlog stats, saw a tweet about 'Modern Family', thought about a post I wanted to put on www.ILoveTVMoreThanYou.com, started writing a blog onwww.ILoveTVMoreThanYou.com, checked Facebook, and then realized...
It's not my shitty grammar that is blocking me.
I'm still writing and editing through that.
I can write new stand-up jokes
-although, judging from the Treehouse response last week, new ones weren't that great.
As a stand up comedian from time to time I get recognized. I am not at all saying I should move to limos and big glasses, but I assume the attire of any-minute-I-may-be-a-superhero and the distinctive voice/name may play some part of people realizing they've seen me before.
Tonight on subway on my way home from a full day off, a couple sat across from me arguing over me.
They would look at me and then discuss observations.
This went on for about five minutes, or so, until I was good and awkward in the steamy subway car until finally the boyfriend got the stones to speak to me.
"We know you."
I looked up from my dog eared copy of the Bell Jar and offered, "Um, I'm a stand up comedian."
The girlfriend nearly lept out of her seat, "YES! You're the funky girl!"
"Yep. Sue Funkeeeeeeeee."
"No, it's pronounced Funk."
"You sure?"
"For the past 27 years or so, I've had it down pretty straight. Funk, but it's spelled F-U-N-K-E."
"See, I knew I was right," she said and walked out the door.
I'm still not sure if she was talking to me or her boyfriend about that last part.
Four months ago to the day today my best friend Joe Powers put on one of the best performances I’d ever seen- this after a week of marathon performances.
For 8 days prior we hung out putting all time and efforts we had into being funny in terms of stand up and sketch to co-produce shows with our sketch group, The Ultimate Experts.
Joe is also my neighbor, and not unlike a sitcom stereo type there were often random drop-ins where I would find myself going about my day and then Joe would be there to eat lunch with me, or distract me with a beer.
On that night four months ago the experts didn’t have their celebration shot that we normally have together afterwards. We just went straight to partying, talking to friends and audience alike. The show we run at the Producer’s Club is a monthly (kinda bi-monthly) which takes place on Fridays at 10pm and ends around midnight. By the time we’ve cleaned up and shut down the bar it’s around 1 or 2 am and we’re all pretty high from the rush of putting on a major production.
That night Joe and I went out on the town with two other pals and had some fun moments, deep conversation, and beer – this could’ve pretty much have read like any other evening we’d shared except for two things: 1. The show was phenomenal that night. 2. Joe fell three stories onto concrete at about 5am
It’s still traumatic to write about, but it’s even worse to think about when you have the actual visual of him lying there in blood. All I could think was, “Not Joe.”
But, alas, it was Joe Powers.
He survived the fall, and after four months has been in and is now out of a coma, couldn’t move the left side of his body – and is now working with therapists to walk, couldn’t talk and is now speaking.
The mind is a really amazing thing, and how the body can heal after such trauma is truly an awesome thing to watch. It’s been a roller coaster these past four months. Joe has his good days and his bad, but he’s moving forward each day – which is something I’m very grateful for.
The thing that makes it all hard, and I’m going to sound selfish, is – I don’t have that best friend around anymore. I went from an everyday pal to a once a week mostly one-sided chat.
It’s hard to go to mics and parties sometimes because I catch myself thinking one of two things: 1. This would be a lot more fun if Joe were here. 2. I really hope no one falls off the building tonight.
Talk about awkward, like that’s not the kinda reputation any gal would want. “What kinda gal is Sue Funke? – Well, don’t invite her to a party if you wanna walk away from it.”
Oh, that’s awful to think, but really, I just never wanna see that kinda thing twice.
I’m just glad Joe is safe now and recovering, and I hold onto great hope that there will be a day where Joe and I get to do another open mic together, take the train home, grab some tacos off a truck and watch America’s Funniest Home Videos while we discuss comedy and life.
So, what do I want for Christmas? A hair dryer. Oh, and Joe Powers. I’d like a fully recovered Joe Powers. I miss him very much.
So, if any of you brain surgeons out there can figure out how to accelerate Traumatic Brain Injury healing, I would really REALLY love that Christmas miracle.
And now some of my favorite moments from the August 22nd Ultimate Experts show:
