Ah, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Where I went to college and where I first performed stand-up comedy.
I had recently injured my hand and couldn’t play the guitar, when I saw a flyer taped onto a streetlight inside the Florida State University campus: “Open mic at the Askew Student Life Center”.
A voice in me said: “Do stand-up.”
I had never done stand-up before, so the voice made little sense. But I had grown up adoring Seinfeld, and SNL, and Jim Carrey, and Mike Myers, and Steve Martin, so I said to the voice in me: “Hey. Yeah. Let’s do stand-up.”
That first set wasn’t great. But I still loved the experience, and I knew I had to keep getting on that stage.
During my remaining two years of college in Tallahassee, I fully devoted myself to stand-up.
Even after my hand healed and I was able to play guitar again, I stuck with stand-up.
Even after tough nights, and paralyzing fear, and insecurity: I still stuck with stand-up.
I had fallen in love with it.
Stand-up comedy gave me complete autonomy, a regular thrill, creativity, laughter, a healthier outlook on life, and, perhaps most importantly: relationships.
Funny and life-changing relationships.
Thank you, Tallahassee!
I hope to be back soon.
Looking forward to doing stand-up!