Bring on the Gavel: Judgment, Artistry, and the Pursuit of Laughter

Judgment: A Blessing and a Curse

Judgment—a component of humanness that is both a blessing and a curse. It can save our lives ("That wild mushroom looks tainted; I shall refrain from putting it in my mouth") and hinder our lives ("I am nobody and deserve nothing") all at the same time.

I feel like this dialogue runs through minds across all sectors, but as an artist, I do feel especially talented at finding ways to lower my own worth while simultaneously expecting others to value it at the same time. What an interesting paradox! (I'm not actually sure if that word fits, just trying to add layers by using big words. Do let me know down in the comment section if it's a fit and what you think about artists working for free.)

Why Do I Lack Confidence?

My lack of confidence is the first joke in this blog. Which, by the way, can we all agree that the word "blog" is a pretty silly word (for advanced intellectuals, anyways, who say things like paradox and other stimulating things). Blog...I'm writing a bloggggggg (that sentence will hit better if you say it like Chandler from Friends).

So, what's with the lack of confidence? I guess it's because I have relatively no training in the arts, and I'm not really book smart or well-versed about the world. Maybe I feel like, “What do I have to say that you haven't already heard?”

No one has ever cast me in a role; I've never been in someone else's show. I don't even know the technical jargon. All I know is that I get a flitter in my stomach when I'm on stage, and it's not always from Indian food.

Learning Through the Stage

Everything I have learned about performance has come directly from... well, being on stage. I produce every show I perform in and generally don’t have a director (with the exception of System Fóbicos). I hate rehearsing, but I do it anyway. I hate promo, but I do it anyway. I don’t feel particularly called to create social media content, but I do it anyway, too.

I do a lot of things I don’t want to do just so I can do the things I do want to do, like be on a mic in front of you. I live for a live audience. Sorry, I need to pause for a second here and apologize to the English language learners—that sentence has the word "live" twice but pronounced entirely differently. How silly is that? And I could change it to "I would die for a live audience," and it would still express joy and excitement. English is such a bizarre language. Thankfully, you can learn it through comedy (wipe sweat from forehead here and also come to a Tringlish Talk—wink wink, nudge nudge).

Do I Deserve a Mic?

I think the real question here is: Do I deserve a mic? Guess you'll have to come find out for yourself. All I know is there is no plan B. I am a comedian, and there is nothing else I want to be. Like, ever ever. I want to be laughing all the time.

The planet is basically a burning sh*t hole... not the planet itself, that's beautiful, just the psychopaths that we have to share it with. But why judge them when you can come judge me! Keep up to date with what's on here.