Mulling, not unlike cider.

I sure do write a lot.
I'm not boasting, I just feel the need to state that fact. Mostly because I'm losing track of what I've been writing. With the Coaster's now every two weeks, that thankfully gives me some leeway - but I've still found some difficulty in writing new material.
I've been cranking it out, but I still don't have time to really refine much. In fact, I haven't had time to refine anything - which means my stand-up material has to be great on the first shot. But for it to be great, it needs to be refined. Eeeeeesh.
I've been doing this long enough that I know enough tricks to get the audience on my side, whether or not they're laughing. I have to remind myself of this fairly often, as repeating material has become a no-no. Partly audience fatigue, and partly some weird challenge I've set on myself.
The comedy scene in Whitehorse has to manage a ridiculous balancing act. We need to maintain a pretty high level of laughs for the audience, on a regular basis, or we will be quickly dismissed. Once we lose an audience member - they generally don't come back. I try not to let it affect me too much, but no other part of the Arts scene has to deal with this.
I've been to Whitewater Wednesdays, a local jam session for musicians to get up and play whatever they like. And I've seen a lot of crap music there, but the audience at least fakes support.
I've bitched about this so many times to myself - I'm like a broken record - a broken Yes albulm no less.
Don't get me wrong, I've come to udnerstand why our audiences are so mercurial. A lot of the time I don't blame them. At our comedy open mics, quite often people were treated to over 20 minutes of floundering. It's painful to watch. Sympathy can only go so far. Anyone on stage should be able to realize that if after a loooooong space of dead air - it might be time to pack in your stage time.
I've seen members of our wee roster do the same material over and over again. While I understand some people may have not heard some of it, repeating the same bits for over two years...that'll lose flavour with a lot of folks.
But really, what the fuck do I know? I'm not a professional in the sense that I make a living out of comedy. Am I funny? Yes. Am I a leader. Fuck no.
I've had enough experience performing in improv, sketches and stand-up that I know I'm a good comedian. But that sure as hell doesn't make me feel comfortable judging other people's material. Especially as we all come from different senses of humour.
And there's always an audience for something - no matter how small.
And small is what we're dealing with - Whitehorse is a small town.
We're still soldering on though. We've built a comedy scene, and it seems to be growing.
I've always known that no matter how funny you may be, there's always someone funnier out there. And there has been some complancency with some of the comics. Some weird, "Well no one else is doing it", kind of sentiment that brings a ridiculous arrogance and laziness.
Already, we've have four new performers to the open mics who have material that is on par with what us regulars are doing, and even surpassing some. That's certainly given me more of a drive, mostly from excitement that there are other people interested in keeping a comedy scene alive.
And this will also pull in the audience, as they'll get to see new faces, new material, new angles.
It's the shot in the arm we've been waiting for.
Who knows, I'm just talking out loud here. And writing a lot.