My First Hour: My Best Show Yet
Show Note #8
All week, I knew this show was coming. I knew it. I felt it. That’s right, I felt it looming, not in a bad way, but in a this-is-a-big-deal kind of way. I prepped and prepped and I prepped some more. I built my setlist carefully, working in 25-30 minutes of material I’ve been honing, 15 minutes of brand-new jokes I’d written just for this show, and about 15 minutes for crowd work. It was a mix of the familiar, the fresh, and the unpredictable. And oh man, it was so fun!
When I made the commitment to start stand-up 13 months ago, I had no idea where it would lead. I still don’t quite know. I have some things I’ve dreamt about, things I’ve imagined numerous times and it’d be awesome if any of those came to pass. We’ll see. But I’ve only been performing on stage in front of people for nine months; yet, in that time, I’ve experienced the growth that comes with moving through comedy’s milestones. People talk a lot about your first five—your first tight five minutes of material. That first five feels monumental when you’re starting out, and it is. But as you keep going, the challenges (and the sets) get longer.
I’ve gone from 3 minutes to 5 to 7 to 10, then to 15 and 30. And last night, well, I hit the big one: my first full hour. That’s right—1 hour on stage. I’m shocked even as I write that! 1 hour of me telling jokes I wrote! It’s kind of surreal. I’ll be posting clips over the next few weeks from the show but here’s a “current events” one about the closing of TikTok which, at the time of writing & posting this, has already been blocked and, I believe, unblocked. (Feel free to watch, like, and share on YouTube HERE, too, which would be a simple but HUGE help!)
So much of comedy is about progress(ion). Each step pushes you further, teaching you how to build, adapt, and perform. Heck, sometimes it isn’t easy to discern the lessons and it may even take weeks or months to realize them. But doing an hour of stand-up comedy, well, that’s a whole different beast. You’ve got to have enough material, pay attention to pacing, flow, and really work to keep the audience engaged. Tonight, I got to test all of that, and I’m thrilled to say it was hands-down my best show yet. My hope is that, in a year or two, I’ll be able to look back and see it as a stepping stone because I will have grown that much more.
Still, last night I had several friends attend, too, which made it extra special. Afterward, I was talking with my buddy Jerimy, who helps film for me on occasion, and who has seen more of my shows than anyone else. He can probably finish some of my punchlines. I said, “Dude, I just did an hour!” His remark back was awesome, “And you killed!” He had been to my previous two shows where I absolutely didn’t kill. So, for him to see this and say that, I know it was a good thing!
For the greater part of an hour, I had the crowd with me. The energy in the room was fun, and I felt in control from start to finish. Sure, one (or maybe two) jokes didn’t land the way I’d hoped, but out of an hour-long set, that’s nothing. Most importantly, I had fun. There’s something about hitting that rhythm, where you’re in sync with the audience, that makes all the hard work worth it.
This isn’t my first longer set. Back in November, I did 30 minutes in South Carolina, and it went well. Even so, last night felt different. It was a culmination of everything I’ve learned in the last nine months: writing, performing, reading the room, and finding ways to connect. But it’s also the culmination of doing public speaking on an almost weekly basis over the last 20 years, whether in the form of preaching, teaching, or giving a conference lecture. But it was also a reminder of how far I’ve come as a comedian in such a short period of time.
When I first started, I was just trying to survive three minutes. Back then (9 months ago!), 60 minutes seemed impossible. Now, it feels like a new beginning. Comedy is full of milestones like this, and every one of them is a stepping stone. It’s a process, and tonight felt like the payoff for all the work I’ve been putting in. I’m so grateful.
As I drove home, reeling from the show, I thought about how much I’ve fallen in love with stand-up. Sure, I wish I’d started 20 years ago, but maybe the timing is better this way. The stories I tell, the perspective I bring, the commitment to the craft, the deep love for words, the life experience I’m able to share—all of that comes from where I’ve been and who I am now.
So yeah, last night wasn’t just another set; for me, it was a milestone. My first hour. And it was incredible. Here’s to the next step, the next show, and whatever comes next.