20250514_First Time Documenting as a "Man on the Street".

This is not my first time doing "Man on the Street" but it was almost as awkward for most of it. This was the night that the Infinity Room in Salem, OR hosted its last open mic. It was sad. This is the mic I canceled on more that any other but it was also my favorite room.

Last night at Montavilla Station was pretty cool. First off, I am always impressed by hosts that care about running a good show and being a place for all comics. Lucas, BWL, and DJ Zay do that. Thank you for being the man with the plan, Lucas.

I also truly appreciate comics that show up early because you can tell they work hard. Like Mason Davis and Imani Rashon Patterson. Always ahead of the mic start.

Also the ones who get there even if it's late and the room is starting to turn into an episode of No Reservations in some way or another, because they have to put in the work. That's Christian Gray on Tuesdays at MVS. He's a motherfuckin' hustler, you better aks somebody. Ya' heard me?

They all come to do work. It inspires me to work harder. Keep going. Always improve.

That's what my wife and I do every day. We "get after it" without regret or fear. Well she does, I have fears. Lightning. My wife is my partner and I got her back because I know she's got mine. She's also my partner because if shit goes South we each get half, Eddie. You PNW young'uns telling me about your partners makes me want to say "Bless their heart." Getting your toiletries back in a breakup ain't make you a partner. Damn I'm judgy tonight.

My wife and I are getting old together, it sucks but its also a challenge which we love to conquer. Getting older is so much funnier that I thought it would be because you never know when, or often why, something hurts. We just look at each other and say "Old." It sucks to be away doing mics all the time and recording this documentary because I am giving up time at home. Fortunately, we don't have kids so we really dodged a bullet there. People with kids are suckers. We have friends with kids though so I am not shitting on them. I love their kids, and my niece, but that's it. I don't care about anyone else's kids. If your toddler gets in my way at the brewery, where they brew the beer and make the alcohol, and something bad happens. I don't care. We have 8 billion more humans on Earth. You're entitled little shithead can eat dick. That's the risk you take. You aren't on the Serengeti like our ancestors so you don't have to worry about lions. Nope, just a 46 year old guy with early neuropathy who wants a tasty beverage and doesn't have great balance, or look down. You brought them, pay attention to them if you don't want something bad to happen.

As I was saying, there are days I don't want to fucking go to the Montavilla mic, shit, any mic. The one I host included. Just to sit behind the camera all night watching a lot of people who are very funny, not be funny. (And a lot of people who are not funny, not be funny too.) Not because they can't destroy a room but because a lot of the time when I see them at mics, they are working in the sandbox. Trying to figure out how to make an idea they had be funny to a room full of strangers. This has a tendency to lead to a lot of bombs. But then, you'll be there and you'll see it come full circle. You'll see that comic you thought was never going to be funny again, nail it. Destroy a room. That's precious as I think Jon Stewart said to Jerry Seinfeld in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. That's magic.

By the way, seeing those episodes of CiCGC before and after being on stage there are a lot of things I understand better. Standup bits are precious, they are very rare. Every time you see a comic nail a bit in a special for each 5 minutes it probably takes 1-3 months to work it out at mics. It's a grind. It takes grit more than anything else. That ratio could be shorter or longer depending on work ethic and what I will call "understanding" comedy. It's not a voice, it is an understanding. It takes time. That's an Imani Denae, Adam Pasi, Shein Brendon, Brent Lowery, Lance Edwards and a lot of others so don't fucking cry if I forgot you. This is a marathon, not a sprint Ronnie Macaroni and Mx Dahlia Belle. Well MxDB you've been on Netflix so I doubt you would even care about my opinion. Your special was dope to quote Lucas Copp. Congrats on that.

Y'all are all killers but you know that. Lucas is catching up with you too, by the way.

I love seeing the NKTOBs too. Grant Leavitt, Zachary Clark, Gabe.

You know, doing this comedy and documentary thing is a lot like when I lived in France as an exchange student, or was in college getting a degree, or was absolutely miserable in the Army Reserves. Not because I hate the Army. I don't. My grandfather died in France fighting Nazis in World War II and I saw his face every morning growing up in my house always knowing the reason that I never knew him was because he gave his life for complete strangers in a place that many people think is a joke. Like I would do for Portland. That's the kind of soldier I am and what I believe freedom means.

Oh, but if you only knew the sweet heaven that is France in spring, summer, fall, and winter. I know I'm lucky because on a day that I found myself with no Euros in my pockets at 26 years of age I was walking on a street overlooking Lyon and realized that I was, and I am not a religious person, #blessed. I was living in France. That's not an invitation to talk to me about your beliefs, FYI. I am very comfortable being an atheist even though I think most atheists are fucking annoying. Even the ones I know. Which ones? I'm not saying. It's Luke. I love you Luke but you can be as annoying as a couple of sweaty young, in shape white boys riding around the hot and promiscuous South in the summer talking about John Smith. Or any Southern Bapist.

While living in Lyon I was getting an education in the classroom and every day meeting and learning so much more from living and studying with people from all walks of life. I was getting drunk with friends until 2AM and then teaching French kids how to say "What's up?" and "How you doing" like Joey Tribiani. That day I was broke and was walking around in Lyon, there was no where else I wanted to be in that moment... other than a very expensive yacht in the Mediterranean at sunset drinking the best champagne in the world with a South American supermodel doing cocaine off a dolphins nose. The champagen would be one that none of you have ever heard of before. I'll ask my wife which one that is. She's the wine talent, I am just the enthusiast. I think that would be interesting to be that rich. To see if I would be as good with that level of wealth as one cab be. Which is to say, I would be an asshole. I don't care. I would be a huge asshole and enjoy every second of it before I killed myself. Is suicide humor okay again? I forget. I guess it is as long as it's not a veteran. Just thinking out loud here. My brother-in-law is a veteran so I can say that.

Now is a good time to say that I believe in Freedom of Speech and think it's the super annoying bedrock of democracy. Even vocal fry should be protected. I fucking hate you people and love that scene in Loudermilk where Ron Livingston does his best melancholy asshole Larry David impression to a barista. So, I think people can say anything they want and it helps us all identify the assholes more easily. Because no matter who you are politically, how you identify, who you like to "knock boots" with, or where you're from -there be assholes in that group of people, and we have to let them speak in order to know who they are. Also, Freedom of Speech is necessary so we can talk about things, all things, and find common ground. Even if there's screaming involved.

Now is a good time to say that's why the stage is a protected place in all this PC-ness. Especially an open mic. Before you go to cancel someone, wait, let's see them work out that bad bit. Let's always "Wait and see." We all make mistakes and when you're trying to find the funny -sometimes you bomb.

In the meantime write a joke that rebuts the idea. Better ideas win in my opinion.

Okay, I am letting this get away from me, stop it Sean. Stick to the bit.

Those points in my life -joining the Army at 19, moving to France as a 26 year old Sophomore in college and others like opening a food truck, or connecting myself to another human and buying real estate with them are the things that all of us should have the ability to make a reality and they make this life worth it. Being funny just helps make it a little better. Because let's face it, if we aren't trying to be funny, what's the point? Making someone who you don't know laugh is a great feeling but making someone you know laugh, really laugh. Well that's the tits.

If you want to learn more about my time living and traveling in France and Denmark check out my blogspot that still exists from my time there at:

Have Fun, Eat Well, Be Humble (chezstgeorge.blogspot.com) <-- There's nothing humble about a blog you young handsome devil.