Sometimes I am reluctant to tell people I’m an aspiring comic or that I do improv. Not because I’m embarrassed by my dreams, but rather to prevent a socially uncomfortable response that can often remain. If I say “Oh, I’m an aspiring comic,” I either get people trying really hard to say something funny or, in the style of the famous clown fish Marlin, am asked to say something funny. “Pull my finger” usually works, but gets a bit stale ‘ahem.’ I think what frightens me more, though, is when people say “Oh I had no idea you were funny!” Gee thanks! Cue sad music and commence a shattered-dream-slump-walk-down-raining-pavement-with-broken-umbrella.
It may stem from my mother’s response to me being signed on by an acting agency. “Well I guess they can do a lot with make-up and airbrushing these days…and only film your good side.” Which side this is I have yet to determine.
This got me to thinking about how I react to other peoples’ professions – I too am guilty of the same pigeon-hole response style. Especially if I meet a homing pigeon. I directed this reflectiveness to ask others what the common reaction was to the announcement of their own jobs. I realised I am not alone in fearing the dreaded answers, and I do it too-all the time!
My husband is a pianist (not a 12”one) and when he tells people what he does, they generally respond with a very negative appraisal or admission of their own inability to play an instrument/carry a tune. Or they ask if he can teach their kids how to play. Friends’ who are GPs are suddenly asked about ailments that seem to never go away. Lawyers just get glared at, as do the bankers.
Is it okay to say “Yes- I feel I am funny enough to pursue a career in comedy, as I feel I am and can be funny?” If a model says she is a model, most people think “Yeah, I can see that she is chi-chi-ooh-lala looking.” A Dr? Presumably she has passed all the required exams, so most people wouldn’t think “A Dr? Really?” But as a comedienne, am I alone in feeling a bit reluctant to say “Listen then laugh” or is this trait part of the self-loathing, hyper self-critical , overly observant tendency of a comedian that make us (ooh I said us and not they) create funny stuff?
I’ll give it a go. From now on I’ll say “I am an aspiring comic-hear me make you laugh….pull my finger!”
Courtney Cornfield
