2/8/24 Austin, Texas

Lately my conversations about work with coworkers have been about venues on the road. Ways to keep the burning and bills paid. It’s never been like this before. “Work” always meant turning wrenches or moving furniture. Now it means packing a duffle bag with a driving outfit and stage outfit and heading somewhere I’ve never been to. Driven by dreams and fueled by caffeine. And the form of caffeine changes depending on the area I’m in. A week ago I closed out a road with Roderick for the first time, and I didn’t do poorly. I held my own, got laughs, learned, grew. I’ve closed out shows before - Milwaukee in June of ‘23, I did 25 minutes for $75. May of ‘23 I did 30 minutes Duncan and that still didn’t feel the same as February 1st, 2024. I know Milwaukee, it was my first home scene. I knew Duncan, I lived there and personally knew 95% of the audience. I didn’t know Montgomery. I think I’m finally a comic.

My work is doing 30-60 minutes of comedy infront of strangers on the road. Not oil changes in Illinois or lifting couches in Texas. My job is looking at my Atlas to find towns that could go for a show. Finding out how much it costs to take out an ad in the newspaper in those towns. Which clip I have that would make them laugh the most and actually buy a ticket specifically to see me. Like in Tyler, Texas in September of '23 or Wellington, Colorado in November of ‘23. That shit happened. Twice