Why find yourself?

The study of stand up comedy can be hugely important in your life. It has for mine. Real comic artists probably are in touch with their personal makeup better than most psychologists are with theirs.

I say 'real comic artists' because today unfortunately there are far too many faux comedians. They exist because of unskilled bookers and unknowing/uncaring venue owner/mgrs and such. It's a long sad story but all too real and because of this the audience suffers and for the most part is driven away. Stand up regrettably is an art form that can be faked to a certain point. The audience can tell but by then it's too late - the false prophet is already on stage and doing his or her damage to the art. Far too many of these so called comedians take the stage full of selfishness and with zero responsibility towards the audience. They actually have the nerve to think that the show and show business is about them. I digress.

Studying comedy helps you realize that people laugh at pain -YOUR pain. How do you find out about that pain? You have to do a study of yourself - a truthful in depth study. You have to discover how YOU truly think, react and have reacted to turmoil in your life. Comedy is about looking for defects...in the world and your own...mostly YOUR OWN.
How do you do this? A great way to start is by asking yourself the tough questions and being honest with yourself.
A few of the questions for instance are:
What makes you angry? What confuses you? What has been your reaction to certain circumstances in your life? And of course the Why question. Comedy is a lot about Whys? Just like a child Why? Why? WHY!????

We had the right idea in the 60's when everybody was in search of themselves....comic artists have continued this quest and your Uncle Hippie certainly did. Thanks to the feelings safari I have been on for nearly 30 years I know myself pretty well but I still to this day examine, probe and research. I still ask the- whys???
Actually this type of self exploration is not only enlightening but fun and it tends to sooth while relieving you of some pain when you excavate your consciousness. I suppose any art form will inspire you to do this but for studying stand up- it's a must.

As a coach and teacher of stand up I've gotten so that I can tell in a couple of minutes of watching a comedian if they've done their homework in soul searching or if they are just repeating what they've seen work or simply being a mimic. I can only say there are far too many mimics now and the audiences can tell. Despite the shock laughs that a few get there is no connection and the audience, despite perhaps laughing, leaves empty and without that 'gift' that an artist is supposed to deliver. For me that is sad and unforgivable. For without that 'gift' the audiences dwindle and have no real motivation to return and that my friends is exactly what's happening to too many comedy venues lately.

So what can the average person do with this? Study yourself. Keep a diary. Write down your thoughts and always ALWAYS go behind your feelings. Ask the why question a lot and give yourself some honest answers. You'll find yourself and you'll be ok! lol

Just something to think about.

Have a nice day. :)

yur Uncle Hippie chill

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

**I was a little different as a child. When we played hide n' go seek I concealed myself by changing my accent.

Chicago, workshops, and such.

This week I will be going to one of my favorite places- Chicago. I'll be performing at Walter Payton's Roundhouse. WPR as it's called in and around Aurora, Ill. is an amazing entertainment complex and has become a much favored stage for me to perform on and simply have fun. I have many friends in the windy city and of course many comedian pals that will stop in to see me. It's always kind of a mixture of work and party when I'm there and it's an honor when they take time out to watch you work on stage. When you can make comedians laugh you obviously have something extrordinary going on (at least that's what I tell myself) ;)

I will also as always hold a workshop for new and experienced comedians and writers. I admittedly love doing these types of instructional events because somewhere deep down inside the satisfaction of helping new artists feels good to me.

My schedule with writing projects, performing and classes has taken a real spike upward in intensity lately and that is by no means a bad thing. I invariably find the time to do it all and it works out to the benefit of everybody including myself.

I do make some money from teaching though I keep the cost per comic to ridiculously low prices. I understand that especially new people have little cash on hand these days to hire a pro writer and coach. Many know the deal I am giving them and of course a few (very few) don't get it. There's always a few fringe wannabe's that don't get anything -ever! That's just life:)

Pro writers and consultants (that would be me) get up to $200 per hour on studio deals yet sometimes I charge as little as forty bucks (that's correct JUST 40 measly bucks) for a workshop and even offer online help afterwards. So far I have only had one complaint most recently from a guy that just doesn't have a clue about show business or it's processes. He even had the nerve to complain to the venue I held the workshop in. He wrote to them that 'quote' .."...my follow up was horrible!"....LOL. I had to laugh as I do now when i think about it. So did the venue owners. This schmuck shot himself in the foot with the venue and me! Nice going huh? it's not everyday you can come close to ruining your career with one bs email ;)

Other than that I have a national rep that is growing in the best way possible, by the artists themselves promoting my workshops and acting as a street team to get people in. I appreciate that very much. It's nice to know there are people out there that understand this is practically missionary work by me.

I mean to make a difference in comedy from the ground up. I have taken on venues that short change comedians, club mgrs, bookers that run shoddy agencies and clubs and even other comedians that steal material and such. I will continue to do this forever. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I do it because I love it. What other reason needs to be? Peace kids.

Have a nice day. :)

Uncle Hippie chill

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

Greetings friend!!

I like salutations. Unless of course there's zero thinking and effortless emotion behind them which you can so clue in on can't you? When somebody asks 'how are you?' and makes no effort to look at you or put any feeling behind it- it might as well not even been said. It becomes more of a passing grumble.

Remember a greeting is suppose to greet! which means to make at ease and issue comfort...it's from the Latin word 'gree' which means to make happy. Ok I just made that up sorta but you get my point huh? People always fall for that 'it's from a Latin word' explanation all the time. Yep I'm the same person that makes up statistics on the spot to win arguments...nobody checks them out- so sue me. lol

Anyway I digress. Back to the point at hand...it's a fact that it's a powerful thing to simply put a little soul behind your salutations. 'Soulful salutations' I like that! ;)
People take notice and perk up around you when you greet them with just a little added zing, they definitely remember you. Gifting of positive energy is truly that easy to pass along...and yes I meant gifting as in the Latin word to give. ;)

I have an old friend that simply says "Howdy!" when he greets you. It's an uncomplicated greeting that is my friend to the core. He means it when he says it and what it really says using his voice and soul is "I'm delighted to see you". From his expressions and lips you can tell it's a warm greeting. Hmmmm, expressive salutations! I like that too!

Some salutations are getting a little old. "What's up?" is sooooo tired and 90's. PLEASE find anything and I do mean ANYTHING else but "What's up?".

How about this from the 60's -"What's shakin!? or What's going on!?". They've been used but still not as lame as "What's up?" Try "Bonjour or Buenos dias or Buenas noches" .
"Shalom" (that's bound to set you apart lol) How about going right at it with a heartful "Greetings!!!" That will get you a second look for sure.

Remember first impressions are important right? A salutation displays an attitude plus it makes a statement about you. I'd make it a warm statement if I were you.

Have a nice day :)

your Uncle Hippie chill

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

Positive attitude is life changing.

Attitude is everything- I sincerely believe that. The proper attitude is key in performing, all facets of communication and life itself. You have to possess attitude if not for anything but yourself. Being in touch with the in's and out's of your attitude is being in touch with YOU.

It's always been strange to me that you hear constantly while growing up that you should think for yourself and so when you do those same people then exclaim you have an attitude. No doubt they're referring to a bad attitude and to me that's a whole other thing. Of course you can have a bad attitude due to past experiences with pain and personal wounds I understand that, however there is such a thing as a great attitude, an understanding attitude, a nurturing attitude, a go get'em attitude etc etc

I've always been told I have a hippie attitude. I suppose that means laid back attitude and a sense of responsibility of things and people beyond my immediate world kind of attitude. I can live with that.

Wanna have fun? Pick out a certain day and tell yourself no matter what you are going to have a great attitude. Make it an affirmative Friday! or Great attitude Tuesday! or even motivated Monday!! lol
You will have very good results, I've done this many times in my life as a comedy writer and stand up comedian. Attitude has been my kick in the pants to get going in a successful way for many years and now is a way of life.

Attitude works wonders also in communication' - it's persuasive and catching. Ever talk to somebody that is full of great attitude...you can't fight them- they're convincing and find good in all circumstances...that's the kind of human energy that is very powerful.

Get all Dale Carnegie on somebody's ass today it will feel good! lol

Have a nice day...and weekend too!

peace,
Uncle Hippie chill

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

Social media ramblings.

Had somebody ask me recently if I had optimized my Google yet? I told them that was a private matter and we chuckled. I got to thinking that many things involved with computers, the web, internet etc sounds dirty or sexual but isn't. It's all of course from an attempt to attach action words to something that is relatively inactive. Remember when surfing meant just that? Taking your board down to the beach and actually getting into the water? Now it's simply moving a mouse around. Of course not an active living running around hard to catch mouse - nope, one that is attached to your pc and is just sitting there on your desk top awaiting your command.

Have you Tweeted today or Twittered? Sounds like a vibration of some sort, perhaps it is in a stretch...but not really. Don't even get me started on You Tubing.

Virus,Trojan virus, protection for your hard drive etc etc sounds like something that the Free Clinic or pharmacy should deal with huh?

No question there's a 1001 more I could go on and on.

Personally I like the secrecy terminology part of the web that uses passwords, private messages, protected sites, encrypted codes, firewalls, all to keep out the dreaded hackers, the enemy of every fun loving user and friend of the web. We must defend against the snoops and disrupters - death to the hackers. Do you think having a moat surrounding your computer is too much? I tried it once it's simply exhausting having to bring down the drawbridge every time you want to get to your laptop.
And those archers - forget it!

The web, internet, social media, whatever it is you have to appreciate it. Humans are in control and so that means as it always does that there will be the good and the bad, the true and the untruthful. Let the buyer beware.

20 years ago I never thought I'd be a blogger. As a matter of fact if somebody would have called me that my first instinct would have been that I was being insulted. Yet I am a blogger. There that felt better I'm out of the closet...yes I am a blogger!!!!! Freedom!!!

Come to think of it are there blog-ettes? Hmmm sounds like a band that would have opened for The Bangles. ;)

**Bought a cheap laptop once. Well they told me it was a laptop it turned out to be an Etch-a-Sketch. No wonder my emails took forever.

**Computers can be very frustrating. Unless of course you find just the right porn site.

Just a rant. Have a nice day.

Uncle Hippie

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

How to tell a joke!

I've always had a passion for great quotes and jokes. Nothing I love better than a quick one-liner delivered with proper attitude and at the appropriate time. The late Henny Youngman was a master of said one-liners. Rodney Dangerfield another joke master who had that marvelous talent for machine guy type delivery of the funny.

One of their secrets for getting a laugh in their act was speed. The faster you get to a punch line the more likely it is to hit a home run with your audience's funny bone -end of story. Henny and Rodney could have given lessons in that technique, they were gunslingers of humor- nobody topped their speed to the punch line.

Another secret both possessed was 'timing'. To many timing is a big mystery, it is said you can't teach it and some people don't have a clue as to what it is or how to obtain it. I for one don't look at 'timing' as such a mysterious elusive thing. I have always believed that timing is nothing more than the proper passion and attitude demonstrated at the point where you deliver the punch line.
Passion and attitude dictate speed and fuel intensity which creates great timing.

So what does the average joke teller take from these secrets?
First never tell a long winded joke. Find short ones you can repeat.
Only tell jokes you love and have a passion for retelling. If you keep it short and have a 'feeling' for the joke you have a far better chance you're timing will be better and so the punch line will have pop!
Know your audience. Share jokes that are appropriate and are of interest to the people you're telling it to. Make sure everybody can laugh at it and they will. ;)

Spread the humor folks it's good for everybody but do your homework. There's a quote that says, "There is no better time than a joke being shared by somebody doing it justice!".

Have a nice day.

your chill and Uncle Hippie,


www.twitter.com/chilichallis1
www.myspace.com/chilihcallis
http://www.standupschool.com/

Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign

How many paths are there to life a zillion? Everybody seems to have an opinion as to which one is best or which one you're already on. I had people tell me when I was young to go the straight and narrow path. Walk the pathway on the side of righteousness etc.

Some were convinced I was on the way to self destruction....a highway to hell. So from that I quickly got that good gets a path and hell gets a highway huh? Kind of says how many are traveling the wrong way.

Then of course there are those that will tell you it isn't a path or a highway...life is a fast track. As in "Oh that guy is on a fast track to success or hell!" Apparently life's roads always lead to hell. Except of course for a path. No one ever seems to take a footpath to hell. It's always a track or highway or lane as in a 'fast lane' to hell.

Sometimes it's just the way you're heading that is incorrect in life- as in you're on the wrong side of the street or you're going in the wrong direction or that's the wrong route to take. That would of course be in the direction of hell!

Remember nobody ever ambles, strolls, meanders or saunters into hell. They're always on a fast lane or fast track or highway to it.

With all of this in mind conceivably we could have traffic signs for life. 'Do Not Enter' -'Wrong Way' -'Slow Down'- 'Dead End'- all take on whole other meanings if put in perspective to living huh?

Write some of your own it's a fun creative exercise. What other road signs do you see that could be erected in your life? 'Caution' would be a staple I would think. lol

**Saw a road sign that read: "Careful Deceptive Curve ahead".
How is a curve deceptive? It's really a straight-away?!

Have a nice day.

Uncle Hippie Chili

www.twitter.com/chilichallis1
www.standupschool.com