Every time I go to a family gathering and there’s new faces
in the crowd
I’m expected to trot out a few
of my crazy stories
like the time I was struck blind at midday;
but it’s early in the evening
& the crowd
hasn’t jelled
isn’t well oiled
& you have to go in cold.
You feel like calling out, Where’s the Warm-Up Act
to make folks loose & jiggly.
Every comedian needs a warm-up act.
It’s a tough gig working a group that’s cold.
No one should be asked that.
Even the Warm-Up needs a Warm-Up.
John Malone 
Wish someone’d thaw out my family before I arrive. A couple years away and everyone’s abut of a stranger. Wine helps. I’m sure your humor would melt the hardest heart.
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🙂 it did but I had to work hard; next time I’m hiring a Warm-Up act 🙂
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ooh, something like a one-man band. I imagine this…https://youtu.be/6OwnBuPbMqc
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hhahah; ohh yes; he would do a treat 🙂
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Maybe all you need is a straight man?
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🙂 trouble is, they like to regale their new friends with my stories … it’s a compliment in a way 🙂
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i love the last line. 🙂 i think your family thinks you are the warm-up… not for a bigger act but for everybody’s state of ease. Like K said, they’re depending on your humour to melt the atmosphere a bit so the rest of the gathering can mosey along, well-oiled and sweet.
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well, that’s a good way of looking at it; I fall into that role so easily 🙂 looking around now for new material: there’s Xmas coming up, folks to be entertained 🙂
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the stand-up comedian in you!
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true: I’ve always admired stand-ups; Seinfeld is my fave 🙂
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My senior high school English teacher loved Seinfeld. We didn’t have TV so I borrowed one of his books from the school library to see what Mr C was on about. The book made me laugh out loud a lot. The other TV show Mr C loved was South Park.
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Ahh yes. South Park was pretty funny too — and for me, a while chain of comedians going back to Jerry Lewis and Bud Abbott —
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Time to bring in a baby
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hahaha; I’ll pay that, Beth 🙂
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Lead them in a warm up. 😉
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Lol. anything to make my job easier, Chel 🙂
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I imagine you’d tell some wonderful stories John.
If you feel like you need a warm-up, that’s fine, but my guess is any newbie would be fascinated and think you’re a natural.
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thanks, Eden; I’ve got a bakers’ dozen of ‘classics’ that people seemingly never grow tired of 🙂 you know what they say, Eden: gotta keep the customers satisfied 🙂
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Life can be hard sometimes; humor makes it better in all cases. The best thing is when life is going well and humor is added on top of it, like whipped cream on strawberries!
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another great image: thank you 🙂
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Hahaha! That’s way too much pressure. I’d be nervous and sweating the whole time. Nothing worse than a cold audience. Why not just start laughing. They’ll either join in or think you’re crazy. Couldn’t get any worse. 🙂
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thanks Terveen: good to get your view. Yes, intemperate laughter, I can do that 🙂
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I’m sure that you are fine without a warm-up, John. Anyway, if the warm-up needs a warm-up, who warm’s up the warm-up’s warm-up. It could get very messy! 😂
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thanks, Hobbo: you’re right — all those warm-ups mean a whole lotta people: it could get very messy, not to mention expensive 🙂
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😂
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Haha! Love the humor in this.
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it’s my default setting, Bob: I can create humor out of almost anything 🙂
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A beer and a schnapps and the Swedes are an easy audience, even the ones not understanding English!
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hahaha;you make me smile, Ulle: it’s good to start the morning off with a laugh?
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