November 09, 2006
You try to tell me that I’m clever
-- Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories
Do you ever stop and realize that you’re a performer? No matter how hard we try to go about life normally and just be an average person, at some point during the day, unless I’m crazy, which is highly likely, I think everyone goes into some sort of routine or shtick. Maybe it’s just me, but I think that most people do this. Let me explain.
Me for example. I’m kind of funny. I don’t say that to be boastful or egotistical AT ALL. Now that I’ve said it I may very well wake up tomorrow like Samson did after Delilah shaved his head and find my power gone. I just mean that the majority of my life I have been told that I am funny and I make people laugh and they enjoy reading what I write, or listening to me talk because it makes them giggle. I’m no Dave Chappelle or Alec Baldwin (Have you seen him on 30 Rock – seriously) I’m just a regular person doing my thing. None of this shtick ever really occurred to me until a few weeks ago.
I was introduced to a friend of a friend (FOF). My friend said something like, “Hey, I want you to meet Amy, she’s the one I was telling you about.” FOF says, “hey, nice to meet you, (friend) tells me you’re funny.” I stared blankly at friend and after a slight pause I retorted with, “hey, nice to meet you, (friend) said I’m funny? Wow, that’s NO PRESSURE AT ALL!” Friend and FOF laughed hysterically. Me, feeling encouraged, pressed on – with the full routine – exaggerated hand gestures, over use of the phrase “d’ya know what I mean” and ragging on someone else that FOF had just met. After friend and FOF were thoroughly entertained I sat down and as they left, I thought, what did I just do? I just performed like a little spider monkey playing a squeeze box on the side of the street! (Does that still happen? Did that ever really happen anyway?)
But it worked. A ha! That’s my thing – that’s my routine, my shtick. I’m Amy Dabbs and apparently, to some people, I am funny. Armed with this knowledge I unfortunately have become self conscious about it now. Any funny person will tell you the key to being funny is to NOT TRY. It has to come naturally – if you put it on, it’ll be noticed and people will just roll their eyes. After the above incident, I met someone else a few days later. This someone was Grace’s boss. (Sorry, didn’t see the need to withhold your name). Now, admittedly I knew Grace had told her boss a few things about me – I’m a lyrical gangster and they refer to me as Hip Hop Amy around their office. Again, NO PRESSURE AT ALL. The lovely Grace introduces me and says, “This is Hip Hop Amy!” Boss replies with, “Nice to meet you, I’ve heard so many funny stories about you!” Thanks Grace. And then, automatically, the routine started. I may as well have a string to pull tacked on my back, y'all. I went through my paces, and waited for a laugh or chuckle. When I got one, I was ready to reel it in and go back to average, boring Amy.
What about you other superheroes out there? What is your secret weapon? What role do you take on? The Intellectual? The sweet one? The sarcastic one?
Or am I crazy?
Don’t answer that last one.
Do you ever stop and realize that you’re a performer? No matter how hard we try to go about life normally and just be an average person, at some point during the day, unless I’m crazy, which is highly likely, I think everyone goes into some sort of routine or shtick. Maybe it’s just me, but I think that most people do this. Let me explain.
Me for example. I’m kind of funny. I don’t say that to be boastful or egotistical AT ALL. Now that I’ve said it I may very well wake up tomorrow like Samson did after Delilah shaved his head and find my power gone. I just mean that the majority of my life I have been told that I am funny and I make people laugh and they enjoy reading what I write, or listening to me talk because it makes them giggle. I’m no Dave Chappelle or Alec Baldwin (Have you seen him on 30 Rock – seriously) I’m just a regular person doing my thing. None of this shtick ever really occurred to me until a few weeks ago.
I was introduced to a friend of a friend (FOF). My friend said something like, “Hey, I want you to meet Amy, she’s the one I was telling you about.” FOF says, “hey, nice to meet you, (friend) tells me you’re funny.” I stared blankly at friend and after a slight pause I retorted with, “hey, nice to meet you, (friend) said I’m funny? Wow, that’s NO PRESSURE AT ALL!” Friend and FOF laughed hysterically. Me, feeling encouraged, pressed on – with the full routine – exaggerated hand gestures, over use of the phrase “d’ya know what I mean” and ragging on someone else that FOF had just met. After friend and FOF were thoroughly entertained I sat down and as they left, I thought, what did I just do? I just performed like a little spider monkey playing a squeeze box on the side of the street! (Does that still happen? Did that ever really happen anyway?)
But it worked. A ha! That’s my thing – that’s my routine, my shtick. I’m Amy Dabbs and apparently, to some people, I am funny. Armed with this knowledge I unfortunately have become self conscious about it now. Any funny person will tell you the key to being funny is to NOT TRY. It has to come naturally – if you put it on, it’ll be noticed and people will just roll their eyes. After the above incident, I met someone else a few days later. This someone was Grace’s boss. (Sorry, didn’t see the need to withhold your name). Now, admittedly I knew Grace had told her boss a few things about me – I’m a lyrical gangster and they refer to me as Hip Hop Amy around their office. Again, NO PRESSURE AT ALL. The lovely Grace introduces me and says, “This is Hip Hop Amy!” Boss replies with, “Nice to meet you, I’ve heard so many funny stories about you!” Thanks Grace. And then, automatically, the routine started. I may as well have a string to pull tacked on my back, y'all. I went through my paces, and waited for a laugh or chuckle. When I got one, I was ready to reel it in and go back to average, boring Amy.
What about you other superheroes out there? What is your secret weapon? What role do you take on? The Intellectual? The sweet one? The sarcastic one?
Or am I crazy?
Don’t answer that last one.
Posted by Amy at 16:15:15 |
Holli wrote:
And, seriously, you really do crack me up regularly, so I don't think you're in danger of losing it.
Now, you have me thinking...What role do I play? Honestly, it's different for whatever group I'm with. With some friends (who shall remain nameless!), I'm the decision-maker. For my family, I'm the comic relief. Others call me the human dictionary.
It's so great that you got me thinking about this. What a great post!