I know this may against popular opinion but I like first dates. I prefer than significantly more than last dates. I like the idea of promise and of newness. The last week I have gotten back into the saddle. Let me break down the first date game.
1) Location - Do we go for a group event? Safety in numbers is never a bad idea. Although this can be impersonal it is often the safest play. If things go south there are enough people that can make up for any lapses in conversation. The other day I went this route and had a pretty great time. Bears game, my friends, my bar. I gave myself home field advantage (HFA). HFA is key to everything. Away games are a disaster. Always pick a location you have been to before and that is filled with friendly people that will pretend that they like you.
2) Information - This is like breaking yourself into a a greatest hits album. Only the best stories. Casually mention fun times with friends that make you sound well liked. Avoid phrases such as, lonely, netflix, or the first time I was engaged. Look, if the first date goes well you will have more than ample opportunity to lay out embarrassing stories on future dates. Make it look like you have some kind of ambition beyond finding a bar with $1 well drinks.
3) Payment- Gents should always pay the first time. Even if its a casual thing. Not in order to be a gentleman but to create a culture of indebtedness. This may back fire on you. Six months later you could find yourself paying for everything. This will slowly fester over time and lead to a low level of resentment. Not much you can do other than pay the tab.
The whole first date experience can be fun. Not always but there are chances to be creative. Listen to The Poor Choices Show this week with Chris Bragg to hear more about dating in the big city.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Really
Have you ever been shit on? Just completely shit on? Ever wanted a break? Just once? This is where we find our humble narrator. I was feeling alright. I had made peace with certain things but one thing just fucking broke this camel's back.
When you hit bottom this isn't some kind of alarm that lets you know that you might be out of your depth. It slams you in right in the fucking face. Harder than you knew something could. If this was a movie I would be mouth open on a curb with Ed Norton standing above me.
Alright, so I may not be half as good as I thought. This I can deal with. But when I see some of the people who are, I don't know to shit or go blind. Since I can't see right now I guess I made my choice. What the fuck? Really, just really.
Things never seem to work out in my favor. This is mostly my own doing. I know this. I fuck things up with the kind of reckless abandon that anarchists reserve for trade summits. But in this one instance I feel like I really tried. I played nice. I gave it the old college try. But recent events have decide that may not be enough.
As always I will do my own thing. I will prove myself yet again. But just once I would dig the easy path. I would like things to work out. But it seems that I will always have to do it on my own. If your with me great. If you want to continue doing the same things everyone else has, please continue. But if you want to really do something interesting come with me. If there is a path of least resistance it ain't the one I'm on.
When you hit bottom this isn't some kind of alarm that lets you know that you might be out of your depth. It slams you in right in the fucking face. Harder than you knew something could. If this was a movie I would be mouth open on a curb with Ed Norton standing above me.
Alright, so I may not be half as good as I thought. This I can deal with. But when I see some of the people who are, I don't know to shit or go blind. Since I can't see right now I guess I made my choice. What the fuck? Really, just really.
Things never seem to work out in my favor. This is mostly my own doing. I know this. I fuck things up with the kind of reckless abandon that anarchists reserve for trade summits. But in this one instance I feel like I really tried. I played nice. I gave it the old college try. But recent events have decide that may not be enough.
As always I will do my own thing. I will prove myself yet again. But just once I would dig the easy path. I would like things to work out. But it seems that I will always have to do it on my own. If your with me great. If you want to continue doing the same things everyone else has, please continue. But if you want to really do something interesting come with me. If there is a path of least resistance it ain't the one I'm on.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday, Improvy, Sunday
I go to church every Sunday. My church has a bar. My church is full of fellow believers. My church let's me tell poorly worded dick jokes. For about twelve hours on Sunday I am able to wrench every single ounce of fun out of what used to be a wasted day. Let me back up a minute.
Every Sunday I shake off my hangover and wait for my partner in jokes to show up. At noon Owens, myself, and a guest record a podcast. It's awesome. You can disagree but for me it's the most fun I have had doing anything. We get our friends to come on and talk all sorts of crazy shit about themselves for a little over an hour. The show is online an hour after we record. Please check us out on iTunes. The Poor Choices Show.
From there I try to make rehearsal for my (sadly) soon to be defunct 5B improv team. I wasn't having the best time seven weeks ago. Completely my fault. As a teacher once said "If you can't don't know who the asshole is, it's you". It was me. A few weeks in I decided to have as much fun as I could playing with some amazing people. Lo and behold I did. I love my team. I love watching them play.
After rehearsal it's show time. We go on at seven and we try to entertain for about forty minutes. It's a cluster fuck in the best way possible. Nothing is off limits. We play harder and faster than I ever have. It's been so cool watching each and everyone of us have our "moment". That scene or phrase where we put it all together.
Then I get to watch a whole group of ridiculously talented people give it their all. Again I love these shows. But what I enjoy more is watching people put it together. I have known most of these people for a year and they continue to blow me away with how talented they are. Each and everyone of them has just killed it.
From there it's off to see the best one-two punch in Chicago. Middle Age Comeback and 3033. I have been going to these shows for the last year and there is not better night aroun. Every week MAC will, sing, dance, yell, throw puppets, and remind the entire room how far you can push improv. Two guys create more and play harder than just about every team in town. 3033 is a collection of the smartest improvisers in Chicago. I am always blown away by the discoveries they make throughout the shows. Each of the members of 3033 is unique in what they do. If you are trying to build a team emulate these guys.
The crowd at MAC and 3033 consists of many of best young players in town. It feels like some weird club that meets every Sunday. The excitement that builds as "Undercover of Night" or "Time to Pretend" get louder and louder before the shows is electric. We clap along and cheer the same way every week. It's our ritual. Knowing that Chin is going to play music cuts from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Jai Ho" is half the fun. Waiting for that moment when Rush walks into a scene and lays out the entire show in two sentences is the best. MAC playing the stick up game never fails to destroy.
After twelve hours of comedy I am never tired. I only feel tired on Monday when I am at work. I only feel tired when I think that it's going to be another week till next Sunday.
Every Sunday I shake off my hangover and wait for my partner in jokes to show up. At noon Owens, myself, and a guest record a podcast. It's awesome. You can disagree but for me it's the most fun I have had doing anything. We get our friends to come on and talk all sorts of crazy shit about themselves for a little over an hour. The show is online an hour after we record. Please check us out on iTunes. The Poor Choices Show.
From there I try to make rehearsal for my (sadly) soon to be defunct 5B improv team. I wasn't having the best time seven weeks ago. Completely my fault. As a teacher once said "If you can't don't know who the asshole is, it's you". It was me. A few weeks in I decided to have as much fun as I could playing with some amazing people. Lo and behold I did. I love my team. I love watching them play.
After rehearsal it's show time. We go on at seven and we try to entertain for about forty minutes. It's a cluster fuck in the best way possible. Nothing is off limits. We play harder and faster than I ever have. It's been so cool watching each and everyone of us have our "moment". That scene or phrase where we put it all together.
Then I get to watch a whole group of ridiculously talented people give it their all. Again I love these shows. But what I enjoy more is watching people put it together. I have known most of these people for a year and they continue to blow me away with how talented they are. Each and everyone of them has just killed it.
From there it's off to see the best one-two punch in Chicago. Middle Age Comeback and 3033. I have been going to these shows for the last year and there is not better night aroun. Every week MAC will, sing, dance, yell, throw puppets, and remind the entire room how far you can push improv. Two guys create more and play harder than just about every team in town. 3033 is a collection of the smartest improvisers in Chicago. I am always blown away by the discoveries they make throughout the shows. Each of the members of 3033 is unique in what they do. If you are trying to build a team emulate these guys.
The crowd at MAC and 3033 consists of many of best young players in town. It feels like some weird club that meets every Sunday. The excitement that builds as "Undercover of Night" or "Time to Pretend" get louder and louder before the shows is electric. We clap along and cheer the same way every week. It's our ritual. Knowing that Chin is going to play music cuts from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Jai Ho" is half the fun. Waiting for that moment when Rush walks into a scene and lays out the entire show in two sentences is the best. MAC playing the stick up game never fails to destroy.
After twelve hours of comedy I am never tired. I only feel tired on Monday when I am at work. I only feel tired when I think that it's going to be another week till next Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)