Finding the punchline

...and hoping it's funny

This past spring I enrolled in a standup comedy class with Second City.

I’ve had a general interest in trying standup for years but I always had a list of great excuses for not doing it (I don’t have the time, I’m never going to be a professional comedian, it’s a waste of money, etc etc). Finally, Levina convinced me to stop thinking about it and just do it. (tbh, she signed me up and forwarded me the confirmation email saying, “your class starts in two weeks.”)

Gulp. My excuses became flimsy. I’m signed up. I have the time. I might actually have to see this through.

In the weeks before the class started, I couldn’t stop worrying about not being funny. I thought about it while doing the dishes and taking the dog for a walk. I’d bring it up with friends questioning this decision, hoping they’d give me an out and agree that I definitely shouldn’t do it. What did I have to share that was going to be funny? What would my “style” of comedy be?

Then I made the agreement with myself that I didn’t need to get any laughs. In fact, maybe I’d intentionally make a set designed not to be funny. Then I’d be off the hook if nobody laughed.

“HA! I’m one step ahead of you, you weren’t supposed to laugh. Look how clever I am,” I thought.

For 7 weeks, I met in a tiny class of 5, writing jokes, and practicing delivering them into an unplugged microphone. I got some laughs, I got some notes; I felt like I was learning some things.

The real test — the final boss — was the looming “showcase,” when we had to deliver our set in front of an audience. I wasn’t afraid of performing in front of people, but I was terrified of not getting laughs and/or forgetting my jokes. Just the thought of dead silence under hot lights made me sweat.

Why again was I even doing this?

I don’t know…for a challenging new experience (aka type 2 fun)? A new set of muscles I got to slowly start moving and working out? The cool thing was, it wasn’t going to kill me….right?

As the class progressed, and I got a few laughs here and there from my peers, I felt myself click into a different gear. “OK, I guess I can try and get a laugh.”

I started reciting my set to myself as I watered the plants or walked around the neighborhood. I even shut myself in the bathroom and practiced it in the mirror into a hairbrush microphone.

Why again was I even doing this?

I don’t know…I love to laugh. Don’t other people like to laugh? At least I’ll know I can do it.

That was the unlock. When the night came to do my set, I showed up and took my place in front of the small crowd. Some people laughed. And there were a few quiet moments. But I had a rhythm and I had fun holding the microphone and amping up my little stories I’d put together. Really, just being allowed and encouraged to be silly for silly-sake was so incredibly freeing.

So why did I do it?

To practice not taking things so seriously.

To let go of control.

To try something new.

To laugh.

The real comedy of the whole thing is that there was a misunderstanding with Second City and I wasn’t able to get the recording of my set after the fact, so there’s no video or audio proof of how the set went or that it even happened.

Ahhh, sweet sweet impermanence at its best: nothing lasts forever, everything is changing (including ourselves), etc. The moment happened and it felt incredible and I’ll always have that. Don’t sleep on taking that class or trying the thing you think you might want to try. Of course you can do it, so why don’t you?

Speaking of new experiences, here are a few other things I’m up to:

• I’m offering Rhythm of Happiness Breathwork sessions for teams and corporate retreats (I’ve most recently done these for TikTok and OpenAI, message me to learn more).

• On Wednesday I’m co-facilitating this day-long leadership retreat at City Winery in the Hudson Valley. We have a couple spaces left if you’d like to join last minute. Message me for a discount code.

• I have a few spaces left for 1:1 and small group breathwork experiences this Fall. Message me to learn more.

• New playlist of music I’ve been loving

Thanks for reading and for being you,

C