Friday on the road.

It's Friday! tgif I guess. For me it means more work. I'm in Cleveland Oh area working a comedy club which means I will do two shows tonight 8 & 10pm. That's after early morning radio this past Thursday and today. Tomorrow I will do two more shows and even a morning comedy writing workshop at the club to help new guys and gals in the stand up biz.

I really like teaching/coaching and I'm really not exactly getting rich with it - many times it even ends up costing me money but I still love to do it and therefore that is the reason. The old saying "If you really want to know a subject teach it!" I profess to be true. I've learned a lot teaching comedy. I have learned that some new comics would rather not take a class and so continue to keep on making the same mistakes. I relate to that - I came up the hard way in stand up...it took me years to learn somethings that I can now deliver to a new student in a couple of hours of class time. I have gained a partial skill thanks to an inner eye for seeing talent and knowing where an act is going right or wrong. I can tell in an instant if a comedian is real or phony and usually help direct him/her to a new place where they can progress.

I completely understand that some new acts aren't on a fast track and actually like the process of the open mic nights and would really rather subconciously or not want to stay there. It becomes not a way of advancing but more of a way of socializing. I suppose you seek your own comfort level.

Teaching comedy and act refinements is a unique challenge and I've been doing them since the 80's. I think after all this time of experimentation and study I've finally learned how to do it well. lol

Happy Friday my brothers and sistas!! Uncle Hippie is at work helping people laugh a little. It could be worse. Peace.

Have a nice day. :)

chill aka uncle hippie

www.twitter.com/chilichallis1
www.myspace.com/chilichallis
www.standupschool.com

Playing Favorites

Do you play favorites? Do you have a favorite food, color or favorite anything? I reallly don't. It's always an odd question to me when someone asks what is my favorite (blank). The truth is I like a lot of varience in my foods, colors and many effects.

I have written and performed stand up comedy for almost 30 years and many times I am asked who is my favorite comedian or type of comedian. My most honest answer is I don't have one. Steve Martin and Richard Pryor come closest to filling the role of favorite but I have to say I like Steven Wright, Jackie Mason kills me, Bill Hicks of course and yes even Carrot Top.

Comedy is comedy to me. I like some physical comedy, props make me laugh as well as the more ingenious pop culture and political stuff. Anybody funnier than Louis Black?!! He's hysterical on many topics. The first time I saw Pee Wee Herman I thought I was going to whiz in my pants!
Sharp, bold, brainy, clever comedy really gets me and in the experience I have cultivated that takes many forms.

So back to the playing favorites. My thought has been that if you are hard and fast on a favorite you're automatically dismissing too much. I want it all ;) I guess my favorite is in dissimilarity, multiformity, MIXED BAG lol I suppose. I love too many sorts of foods to have a fav. Too many colors and combinations. I don't want a hard and fast area of thought and tastes I want dimensions!
Viva La no limits! FREEDOM.

Here's a experiment you can do. (Hippies are crazy about experimenting you know)
Even when you can get a favorite anything of yours simply try something else. I know it's crazy but see if you don't find the exposure to difference exciting.

just some thoughts. peace
chill -uncle hippie

**I was doing my usual flexing in front of my mirror today and dang if I didn't hit the car in front of me.

You can follow me on Twitter if not already. www.twitter.com/chilichallis1

Secret to life? Got it-maybe.

What is the secret to life? Easy answer: I don't know. Some say life is a continuing game of 'think fast'. I could go with that. Some say it's all about questions, no doubt that's true too. As a writer and lifer in comedy I certainly know the comedic value of a good question. Comedians are constantly or should be at least- questioning EVERYTHING. If you don't have questions perhaps you're not experiencing life as you should. I've always had a thought that you should have a little notebook of questions and keep it with you, simply because we all have found those moments where somebody will say to us "Any questions?"...remove the list and ask them. You never know. I did crack up a tour group once like that. A national park tour guide asked if there were any questions and I removed my list and asked,
"Have you ever gone to work naked and just thought you were dreaming?" He laughed said that he hadn't and we moved on. No harm was done. He did however refrain from asking about questions in my particular group again.

The truth is we're all looking for something and I believe without proper or even improper questions you'll never find it. Becoming clued in on what you're searching for may be the secret to life. Find out what you're looking for and go for it. There that wasn't that bad was it? Secret to life is out! Now we can just get on with it. Perhaps.

**Life is great experience. Try it today!

**The one thing I know about my life is -it has a great cast.

your uncle hippie chill