Enjoyed this my friend. Seemed like you could have gone on for another ten minutes. Remind me to tell you about playing golf with the guy who wrote everything for Bob Hope for over 40 years.
Good stuff Bob. I remember sharing some laughs in Albertville, and they may have been aided by a few drinks (all of course after deadlines). After leaving sports writing -- or maybe it leaving me -- I did Toastmasters for a few years at work, and the practice helped me improve the nerves and delivery. Keep going. Talking in front of an audience gets easier. And at our age, if we stumble, we can always blame senility.
Nailed it Bob! Did you perform at Crackers about 10 years ago with Chris Hagen, Leonard Hoops (Visit Indy), and a local chick sports reporter among others? Happy Birthday! Hope to run into you soon at Big Woods.
Very funny material. Little raw but didn’t offend. Frankly, I think you were a little hard on yourself. Good job. Good luck if this becomes a retirement gig. Now retired, I used to do the Toastmaster thing, emcee high school show choir events etc. the nerves before hand are real. Probably, could go for a colonoscopy right after the show. Ha.
You sold yourself short - thought you did a nice job - definitely could tell a little nervous. Find at our age, pushing the envelope keeps us young. Wish you would reconsider the sports writing. I will lose one of my most enjoyable reads!
Dude, you killed. It was a solid set! Very funny. I still wish I could've been there.
At least you saw your warning light. When I did my stand-up set, I was so focused on getting to the end that I never looked up from the first row of tables. Six minutes later it was over and if they ever flashed the time light at me, I never noticed. Congrats. I need an encore performance at the next family reunion.
Doctor, I believe you found your next gig! Great material and with a few more small club shows, you’ll be on your way! Maybe you can work in stories about some of our Thursday nights at that First Avenue, Upper Eastside NYC into your routine. (This would have landed you a seat next to Johnny (Carson) all by those years ago!)
Another scribe here who did the standup turn (and have been doing it for 10 years with Covid’s hiatus). Excellent work, my man, good move taking the course and learning the rules of the road. Took a few courses at Toronto’s Second City, huge help. Linked here this set is from early days. Not material about the biz—I find sports stuff doesn’t work so well in clubs. Just some real life stuff. https://youtu.be/uBHZN5TyKSE?si=-6Jvy_9BARrea0BL
Hey Bob, thanks so much. Check out my SubStack — How to Succeed in Sportswriting (without Really Trying). I’ll comp you a subscription and you can read about my correspondence with Norm MacDonald among other things
Hey Gare: Thanks for checking out my bit. I can’t imagine how cool it was to take classes at Second City. I might do some open mics. At the very least, it was something I needed to do.
My instructor drove across Canada with the comic he started out with, Norm MacDonald. I used to work the door at a bar they performed at in the early 70s (Jim Carrey too). I waited years to do it. Second City Chicago might have online courses — I did improv classes during the pandemic with some folks there
Dave Shoalts retired from the Globe and Mail started at Second Ciry Toronto after I took the plunge. Pat Hickey who’s in his 80s and still working in Montreal does some standup … although sometimes I’m not sure he knows he’s on stage. My big moment, 2017 Stanley Cup, I got up on stage and did some time at Zanies in Nashville when Colin Jost passed out (food poisoning evidently from Cracker Barrel) and the host wanted a volunteer to get on stage and tell a joke … right into my Bannon material!
Very funny and perfect for how I imagine you to be in the real world.
You do need to do all that without looking down at your cheat sheets all the time.
I think you will figure that out. It will become second nature to you!
But, don’t quit writing. I have followed you wherever you go..from the Star, to the Athletic, and now to Substack.
Keep at it..you are good!
Thanks, Mary Kay. And yes, I’ll keep writing. Thank you for subscribing.
Enjoyed this my friend. Seemed like you could have gone on for another ten minutes. Remind me to tell you about playing golf with the guy who wrote everything for Bob Hope for over 40 years.
Nice set Bob! I too am looking forward to a book in the not to distant future.
Great stuff, Bob! Way to push yourself outside your comfort zone.
Good stuff Bob. I remember sharing some laughs in Albertville, and they may have been aided by a few drinks (all of course after deadlines). After leaving sports writing -- or maybe it leaving me -- I did Toastmasters for a few years at work, and the practice helped me improve the nerves and delivery. Keep going. Talking in front of an audience gets easier. And at our age, if we stumble, we can always blame senility.
Thanks, Steve. Albertville was my first Olympics. I was so lost.
Nailed it Bob! Did you perform at Crackers about 10 years ago with Chris Hagen, Leonard Hoops (Visit Indy), and a local chick sports reporter among others? Happy Birthday! Hope to run into you soon at Big Woods.
Bob,
Nicely done! Brave move and funny too! Are you checking this off a bucket list or forging ahead into more comedy?
I honestly don’t know. I might do some open mics.
gosh, Bob, that went well
As one golf the individuals who called and left nasty messages for you when you where at The Star…great job!
Very funny material. Little raw but didn’t offend. Frankly, I think you were a little hard on yourself. Good job. Good luck if this becomes a retirement gig. Now retired, I used to do the Toastmaster thing, emcee high school show choir events etc. the nerves before hand are real. Probably, could go for a colonoscopy right after the show. Ha.
You sold yourself short - thought you did a nice job - definitely could tell a little nervous. Find at our age, pushing the envelope keeps us young. Wish you would reconsider the sports writing. I will lose one of my most enjoyable reads!
We have all been waiting for a report
Very funny . Glad you could relax and hit the spots . Good luck Bob.
Dude, you killed. It was a solid set! Very funny. I still wish I could've been there.
At least you saw your warning light. When I did my stand-up set, I was so focused on getting to the end that I never looked up from the first row of tables. Six minutes later it was over and if they ever flashed the time light at me, I never noticed. Congrats. I need an encore performance at the next family reunion.
All the best,
Matt, the cousin in VA
I just realized this was Matt Lantry lol. Wtf is mfl. Sounds like another failed spring football league.
Thanks, brother. I think they lit me at 5 minutes instead of 6, cuz I had to cut my last two jokes. Oh well.
Better to have too much material than to be standing out there with nuthin'.
Doctor, I believe you found your next gig! Great material and with a few more small club shows, you’ll be on your way! Maybe you can work in stories about some of our Thursday nights at that First Avenue, Upper Eastside NYC into your routine. (This would have landed you a seat next to Johnny (Carson) all by those years ago!)
Another scribe here who did the standup turn (and have been doing it for 10 years with Covid’s hiatus). Excellent work, my man, good move taking the course and learning the rules of the road. Took a few courses at Toronto’s Second City, huge help. Linked here this set is from early days. Not material about the biz—I find sports stuff doesn’t work so well in clubs. Just some real life stuff. https://youtu.be/uBHZN5TyKSE?si=-6Jvy_9BARrea0BL
Loved your standup.
Hey Bob, thanks so much. Check out my SubStack — How to Succeed in Sportswriting (without Really Trying). I’ll comp you a subscription and you can read about my correspondence with Norm MacDonald among other things
That would be awesome.
DM’d you a link
Awesome. Thank you.
Hey Gare: Thanks for checking out my bit. I can’t imagine how cool it was to take classes at Second City. I might do some open mics. At the very least, it was something I needed to do.
My instructor drove across Canada with the comic he started out with, Norm MacDonald. I used to work the door at a bar they performed at in the early 70s (Jim Carrey too). I waited years to do it. Second City Chicago might have online courses — I did improv classes during the pandemic with some folks there
You’ve piqued my interest. Also, can’t wait to watch your standup later. Need to find a quiet place.
Dave Shoalts retired from the Globe and Mail started at Second Ciry Toronto after I took the plunge. Pat Hickey who’s in his 80s and still working in Montreal does some standup … although sometimes I’m not sure he knows he’s on stage. My big moment, 2017 Stanley Cup, I got up on stage and did some time at Zanies in Nashville when Colin Jost passed out (food poisoning evidently from Cracker Barrel) and the host wanted a volunteer to get on stage and tell a joke … right into my Bannon material!
https://macleans.ca/society/life/killing-it-a-sports-writer-does-stand-up-comedy/