He took pride in knowing when it was 11:11, just like it is right at this moment as he began his freewrite. He threw caution to the wind and announced his chicken feet wish in writing. I wish that this year, I will write and perform a stand-up set for pay! For good pay, even. Whoops. He ran out of time before he added that caveat. Well, no bother. A big step to even enter the world of stand up comedy... of professional stand-up, no less. Next year's 11:11 wish can be about getting that pay rate bumped higher.
But what will he focus on? He has things that he cares about! And the comics he likes the best are comics that help him feel less alone. The world is a somewhat lonely place, even when you have loved ones who love you in your life. You want to feel connected to the mass of humanity, and sometimes it's hard to feel that connection. Laughing together safely, comfortably helps build that.
Safe? Should comedy be safe? No. Well, yes. What?
Here's what. Comedy should be safe to enjoy in that it challenges to make the world better, but doesn't ask you to do something that makes you feel like you're making the world worse. That's what a lack of safety kind of means to me. I say kind of because I'm just analyzing this now.
I mean. I don't want to be asked to laugh at mocking someone for something they shouldn't be made to feel bad about. Let's not punch down, in a nutshell..
But it's not safe in that people who harm people might not like what you have to say and feel motivated to harm the comedian or their audience.
Comedy should be righteous? Not in the annoying "above it" way, but in the, it should strive to ....
The teacher said something great. On stage, she strives for her comedy persona to be the person she wants to be. I interpret that as someone who boldly and bravely speaks truth to power, is kind, and who can bring along people who disagree by making points clearly and comedically. It's hard to disagree when you're laughing.