I haven't been putting in the time like I used to for stand up. You can tell by how healthy and clean-shaven I look. And despite my better functioning liver, not performing in a while is going to hurt me on stage.
I've probably wrote this before, but I believe stand up comedy is honest.
By that I mean, you can't cheat the stage time. And you definitely can't cheat or steal the jokes... unless you're rich, you have sleazy car-salesman-like charisma, or most decidedly, you're a Honduran with a fake stage name.
But the point is, comedy is fair. (And not that fake fair the YMCA teaches. Let's be honest, the kid with his right shoe on his left foot shouldn't get the same amount of playing time as everyone else.)
You put the time in, you do well. You don't, you do poorly. Simple arithmetic.
Audiences don't care if you're new, they don't care if they loved your old material, they don't care about your bullshit credits, an audience only cares if you're funny RIGHT NOW.
So, when I get back at it, whether I do poorly or not so poorly, the feedback will be honest. And it's easier to grow from honest feedback.
Shortly after an Open Mic performance.
Me:
" Well, that didn't go so bad.."
Audience: "Yes, it did go that bad, and you should feel bad, scrub."
Me:
"But I did my best."
Audience: "We don't want no scrub. A scrub is a guy who can get no love from me... ect (TLC)"
What have I been doing you asked???