TUESDAY. REGULAR ASS DAY.
Office. Miners humming.
Knocked out a Clicks & Bricks interview with Aurora Winter. Entrepreneur. Author. TV exec. One of those moments where you know the season is going to slap.
FUNNY BONE TO PURPLE QUARTERS
RULE AT THE FUNNY BONE:
Put your name on the list four weeks in a row. If you don’t get up, you’re guaranteed the fifth.
I was up last week, so I knew I wasn’t going on tonight. Just had to show up, sign in, keep the streak alive.
Counted 18 comics in the room. Thought I might accidentally get pulled up. Didn’t want to. Funny Bone feels like work. Purple Quarters feels like play.
Turns out there were more comics in the bar I hadn’t seen. Night filled with 22. Perfect. Didn’t go up. Headed to Purple Quarters.
THE WIRE QUOTE
Carcetti in The Wire: becoming mayor means eating shit sandwiches all day.
That was Purple Quarters. Crowd wasn’t bad, just locked up. Engaged but stiff. Comics were solid. Laughs came slow and thin.
THE REAL PROBLEM
I haven’t been writing. Been leaning on a couple sets I can run decent.
Instead of hunting funny, I’m buying laundry detergent. Dish soap. 50-year-old starting-over bullshit. Necessary, but it eats focus.
When I block writing time, I start spotting funny everywhere. Haven’t been doing that. Energy on stage felt dulled. Brought positivity, got chuckles… no big laughs.
SET NOTES
- Tried swapping “hit the floor like a Jenga set” for “like a starfish.” Starfish killed another night. Fell flat tonight. Back to Jenga.
- I can read the room. I knew they weren’t loving it. But adjusting mid-set? No clue yet. That’s the muscle I don’t have.
THE MAGIC MOMENT
Alex Hayes closed strong. Only nine people left. Mostly comics, plus a couple who had clearly been through some shit.
Alex connected with the woman. They lit up. Laughed hard.
They needed it more than anyone in the room. That’s the fix. That’s the drug. That’s why you keep coming back after nights of shit sandwiches.
THE SCENE
Camaraderie is growing. Comics stepping up. Alex and Sam bust each other’s chops but it’s good energy.
I’m not here to lead comedy. I already lead in boxing and data centers. Right now, I need to write these books.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
TikTok one-liners? Just volume. Throw spaghetti, some sticks. Fun, noisy, not the real grind.
Tonight proved it: if I’m not hunting funny every day, the set goes flat.
CLOSER
Some nights you crush.
Some nights you choke down shit sandwiches.
Either way, you show up.
Because the only way out is through.
Question for you:
How do you keep creating when life fills your plate with laundry detergent and shit sandwiches instead of inspiration?
