by Christopher Stone

Created on: December 21, 2008   Last Updated: January 31, 2012

I have chosen, within the past few years of my life to change careers, and I am happy I did. I decided to take a shot at stand up comedy, I have been told throughout my life by a uncountable number of people that I was meant to be one, and I have been performing around home in some form or other since I was in my teens so I did it and I found I like it very much.

I must share my very first time on stage with the masses because it is likely that no one else on this planet could have this kind of luck when attempting such a change,

I was in a medium size comedy club in a unnamed city in Georgia, getting ready for my first time in front of the crowd when a booming voice rang out back stage, "all comedians gather around for the do's and don't's for the night, after which I will post the performance order". After a lengthy little speech from the club owner about which curse words not to say and the promise of getting your mic cut if you run over on time, he posted the line up, I read down the list and sure enough there was my name in the number seven slot, right after a elderly gentleman I had met earlier while waiting. I figured this would be a good starting point because: there were twelve comedians on the list and I was close to the middle which should give the club a little time to take care of any hecklers and the older comedian performing before me said " don't be too nervous, I have been doing this for years and I have performed here several times, and I always kill, but so does everybody that performs here". The latter statement seemed to take some of the pressure off,

The night started with first one comedian, then another and sure enough the crowd seemed to like most everyone behind the mic, some of the comedians did not seem that funny to me but hey, the crowd seemed to and that's all that really matters. Just as the fifth comedian was finishing his set I felt the pressure start to build again, I began to think....Now there is only five minutes between me and total failure, (this is pretty much how most comedians think on their first set) when my thoughts were interrupted with "somebody help, catch him hes gonna fall off the stage!" I looked towards the stage just in time to see older comedian falling, he was still holding the mic stand with his right hand, with his left hand holding his chest before he hit the floor a couple of people from the audience jumped on stage and grabbed him under the arms and gently laid him on his back. Someone in the audience

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