Life and Death

I haven't blogged in quite awhile, probably this entire year. I have been pretty busy with school and really didn't feel like blogging too much. I have been doing mostly local gigs, including a short-lived show at JB'z Sports Bar, which I was hosting on Saturday nights. The restaurant closed down a couple of weeks ago, but we had some great lineups and the crowd was usually pretty solid. Thanks to everyone who performed and supported the show! I'm now 0 for 2 on promoting shows, the other place I did shows at closed down as well. I think I'll just stick to performing and let everyone else deal with promoting.

I've been a regular guest on the Potential Problems Podcast with Allen Clark and John Cuellar. I have been on there for a little over a month now and it's always fun. We have had some really cool guests on there. Check it out!

As far as shows go, I haven't done many road gigs while focusing on school. The semester ended last week and I did a gig in Angelfire with Matt Peterson and Keith Breckenridge, and then went to Hondah Casino with Freddy Charles. I'm trying to fill up my schedule for the next couple of months before getting a job and finishing my associate's degree!

I've lost a handful of friends in the past half-year also, which has been extremely shitty. In December, two of my friends died. Gabby was a former co-worker at the comedy club, she left behind a young child, which breaks my heart. My friend, Jimmy, from Iowa, also died. He was a good friend of the family.

Earlier this year I learned that Lori Callahan, a comic from Denver, had died. I met Lori probably around 2005, I was doing a guest spot at Laffs in Albuquerque and she was headlining. When I got off stage she came up and complimented me on my joke writing and gave me some pointers, she said, "you know you said 'fuck' 17 times?" That was in a five minute set, I had no idea that I had, so I made it a point to completely cut it out of my act, and I rarely say it onstage now because of her. When I moved to Denver in 2009 she was great to me. She took me on some gigs with her to Douglas, Wyoming, and Hill City, South Dakota. She never made me pay any gas, either, which is super cool of a comic to do. Lori actually talked to Wende Curtis, the owner of Comedy Works about getting me a guest spot. I didn't ask her to do it, she did it because that's how Lori was. I never did get the guest spot, but a very cool gesture by Lori. You will be missed!

Last week, I also found out that my biggest fan, Shawn Chamberlain, passed away. My first time featuring at Laffs in Tucson, Shawn was there to see headliner, Dave Ashley, and he really enjoyed my show. Every time I came to Tucson he bought merch, came to all the shows, and even took me out to eat, knowing that I wasn't making much money, he was willing to help out a little bit. I've kept in touch with his family over the years as his health declined. His family was always great to me and very welcoming.