The fuck-ups of being Mike Birbiglia

So I went to see this comedian Mike Birbiglia last Friday, did I tell you?

You said you were going; in fact, you were on your way out that night when we talked. How was he? I saw that he added a show.

He was fuckin' great. I was amazed at how comfortable he seemed, from the very beginning. He's quite a performer. The show was basically about the fuck-ups of being Mike Birbiglia and the humor in those fuck-ups. I don't know if fuck-up is really the word, though. It's more like the situations he found himself in.

I really like his performance style, the way he relates to his audience from the very first step he takes on stage. It makes me think about my performance style and what I'd like to achieve. I'd like to focus on that more. I want to be a really good performer. I don't mean that I want to perform like Birbiglia or Richard Pryor and any of the people I admire. I want to be myself onstage -- and be the best performer I can be with that.

You'll get there, farmboy. You're on your way.

I'm working at it, I tell you. 

Comedian guy Mike Birbiglia

Hey! I only have a couple minutes, man. I'm taking the bus to see this comedian guy Mike Birbiglia downtown.

That's the show you've been looking forward to, right, farmboy?

That's it! It's been such a long fuckin' time since I've been to, like, a show in a actual theater rather than a coffeehouse or something. Which is great, of course. I'm just a little tentative like I always am.

You'll do fine, farmboy. Have a great time.

I will, man. I'll let you know how it goes.

My own selfish education

So I just saw this show on Netflix, this Mike Birbiglia guy. It's called "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend." Man, it was amazing! I want to watch it again, so I can see how the story was constructed. 

Aren't you going to go see him, farmboy?

Next month. I'm really looking forward to it. See, his stuff…it's inspiring, makes me want to work at what I do with songwriting, you know? 

That sounds like a good thing.

Ah, yeah, it's me taking stuff from a talented guy for my own selfish education. I love it when that happens. I like being inspired. I like seeing or hearing or reading something that makes me think "See? There's something else that can be done." I like it when my own self-given boundaries are suddenly moved.

I look forward to hearing these new songs, when they're written.

Oh, man, from your lips to God's ears, you know? I want to hear new songs myself.

So I'm going

So guess what I did?

You ran the New York Marathon? You dreamed of Africa? You walked to the market and back home again? You felt like a seed on the wind? You swam…

What the fuck are you talking about?

I don't know, farmboy. What did you do?

Now I don't want to tell you.

Please, farmboy? I really do want to know.

So I bought a ticket to see this comedian whose work I really love. His name is Mike Birbiglia, and he's kind of a storyteller in a way. He's on This American Life sometimes.

Can I ask how much it cost?

$32.50. Well, plus fees, but I ain't gonna talk about that. This is something I know that I would regret if I didn't go. So I'm going. I never go fuckin' anywhere and I've been working a lot. This is my Christmas present to myself.

Well, then, merry Christmas!

Thanks. You too, man.