If you’re not progressing, then you are just existing. On Nicki Minaj’s- Moment For Life, Drake said, “Everybody dies, but not everybody lives!” And that is so true and real! Are you living, enjoying life to the fullest, or just existing? I’m out here LIVING! In case you haven’t heard, I’m doing comedy now. I’m getting good people! I like it! But it’s a challenge, and I like a challenge.
Yall know I write these blogs and go off on Twitter (jaydukes1911). But, I’ve always thought, what if I did stand-up? I could be good? But I’m doing stand-up with the next step in mind. In entertainment, you have to do what you love. And don’t get me wrong, I LOVE hosting! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Love entertaining people and making sure they have a good time. I love the stage, I love the mic, I love the limelight. But with hosting, how much income is that really, if you are JUST a host? It’s not bad… But if I want to be “working” in the entertainment industry, I need stability. If you ask somebody, “What do you do?” and they respond, “I host shows.”, you’re next question is, “Oh really? Like what?” Trust me, I have this conversation every week. Just as a host alone, that title does NOT have enough pull until you get on 106 and Park or something like that. Even though I’m good, I still have to sell myself to people who have never heard of me before.
Also, I did NOT leave North Carolina A&T comfortable in my performance. I think I did “OK”, but I need GREAT shows! Consistent! Great! I am a perfectionist. Song selections were good, compliments of DJ T. Mobile, but they were feeling jokes A WHOLE lot more than vibing to the music. I thought they were going to be party-walking the whole night! And I told a couple jokes, but my confidence wasn’t there. A comedian once told me, the only way you will get better with telling jokes and or doing stand-up is to GET ON A STAGE! At least three times a week. Every night if you can! Live on the stage! Because as a dude with an ego, you think EVERYTHING you say is funny. Not the case. You want to find out what’s universally funny and not just funny to you!
So, that’s what I did! I did my FIRST show in Anderson, SC and BOMBED!!!! Did terrible! Too many filler words, wasn’t confident in the material and was ALL over the place. I went back and prepared for my next show. Really put in work and a lot of practice. I drove to ATLANTA that next Wednesday to perform at Keedar Whittle’s, from BET’s Hell Date, room. I did “ok”. I actually got boo’ed by ONE dude. But he boo’ed the dude in from of me too, so people told me he was just being an asshole. Drove BACK to Atlanta that next week and did the same room. That show felt good! I was confident and lots of laughs. So, I really have been working! Going to Atlanta every week to get better and I can see the progression.
Yesterday, I performed with Keedar and Finesse Mitchell at The Comedy House in Columbia, SC. I did “ok” again. I could feel that I was WAAAYYYYY… too nervous though. And I wouldn’t calm down for anything. I should’ve took a nap or something before! Lol… Big S/O to my brother, cuzzo, and all The Claflinites in the building. Was A LOT of love. But hey, I’m working HARD and continuing to get better! I must say, that’s one thing I like about entertainment, if you work hard at it, you WILL get out what you put in. But prayer comes first, because God will allow you to cross paths with that person who can catapult your career. Ma Dukes always tells me, “God’s favor ain’t fair! Put it in his hands.” So, I said all that to say, I’m STILL hosting shows, I’m STILL doing radio… And you guessed it, Comedy is… my… NEXT STEP! But I will get to the point where I’m GREAT before I put it in my bio. Keep supporting the movement people!
Jay Dukes qka Mr. Million Dollars qka Mr. “Hey… You Look Familiar”
Yall know I write these blogs and go off on Twitter (jaydukes1911). But, I’ve always thought, what if I did stand-up? I could be good? But I’m doing stand-up with the next step in mind. In entertainment, you have to do what you love. And don’t get me wrong, I LOVE hosting! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Love entertaining people and making sure they have a good time. I love the stage, I love the mic, I love the limelight. But with hosting, how much income is that really, if you are JUST a host? It’s not bad… But if I want to be “working” in the entertainment industry, I need stability. If you ask somebody, “What do you do?” and they respond, “I host shows.”, you’re next question is, “Oh really? Like what?” Trust me, I have this conversation every week. Just as a host alone, that title does NOT have enough pull until you get on 106 and Park or something like that. Even though I’m good, I still have to sell myself to people who have never heard of me before.
Also, I did NOT leave North Carolina A&T comfortable in my performance. I think I did “OK”, but I need GREAT shows! Consistent! Great! I am a perfectionist. Song selections were good, compliments of DJ T. Mobile, but they were feeling jokes A WHOLE lot more than vibing to the music. I thought they were going to be party-walking the whole night! And I told a couple jokes, but my confidence wasn’t there. A comedian once told me, the only way you will get better with telling jokes and or doing stand-up is to GET ON A STAGE! At least three times a week. Every night if you can! Live on the stage! Because as a dude with an ego, you think EVERYTHING you say is funny. Not the case. You want to find out what’s universally funny and not just funny to you!
So, that’s what I did! I did my FIRST show in Anderson, SC and BOMBED!!!! Did terrible! Too many filler words, wasn’t confident in the material and was ALL over the place. I went back and prepared for my next show. Really put in work and a lot of practice. I drove to ATLANTA that next Wednesday to perform at Keedar Whittle’s, from BET’s Hell Date, room. I did “ok”. I actually got boo’ed by ONE dude. But he boo’ed the dude in from of me too, so people told me he was just being an asshole. Drove BACK to Atlanta that next week and did the same room. That show felt good! I was confident and lots of laughs. So, I really have been working! Going to Atlanta every week to get better and I can see the progression.
Yesterday, I performed with Keedar and Finesse Mitchell at The Comedy House in Columbia, SC. I did “ok” again. I could feel that I was WAAAYYYYY… too nervous though. And I wouldn’t calm down for anything. I should’ve took a nap or something before! Lol… Big S/O to my brother, cuzzo, and all The Claflinites in the building. Was A LOT of love. But hey, I’m working HARD and continuing to get better! I must say, that’s one thing I like about entertainment, if you work hard at it, you WILL get out what you put in. But prayer comes first, because God will allow you to cross paths with that person who can catapult your career. Ma Dukes always tells me, “God’s favor ain’t fair! Put it in his hands.” So, I said all that to say, I’m STILL hosting shows, I’m STILL doing radio… And you guessed it, Comedy is… my… NEXT STEP! But I will get to the point where I’m GREAT before I put it in my bio. Keep supporting the movement people!
Jay Dukes qka Mr. Million Dollars qka Mr. “Hey… You Look Familiar”
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