10 Musicians & Comedians Recall Their First Performances
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Most of us have dreamed of taking the stage in front of thousands of enamored, ecstatic fans. Selling out shows, being admired, respected, beloved. Hearing thousands of people singing our words or laughing at our jokes..
We don’t dream of performing in front of six people. But, as the old saying goes, “Everybody starts somewhere.” And nobody starts in Madison Square Garden. People start in dive bars and little clubs, in living rooms, on sidewalks. In open mics and talent shows. The dream is an audience of 10,000 people; the reality is an audience of 10. We hear and see a lot about the former, not so much about the latter.
So we’ve gathered a group of quick interviews with notable musicians and comedians, in which they share experiences of the first times they performed in public. The common themes: They were terrified, and the experience wasn’t exactly transcendent. We also requested some advice for those who wish to perform but have never done it before.
7. Jay Mohr
How’d you end up performing for the first time?
My first time performing I was 16, and the comedy club a town over from me had an open mic night for teenagers. On a Sunday. At noon. I just tried to do it. I felt that maybe stand-up was something I could slide into. Nothing ever made sense to me before. The idea of stand-up made me want to try it as a career.
What do you remember most about that first performance?
What I remember most was the absolute stoppage of time and space. Depth perception was completely gone. Sound was all one giant doppler effect and time..what the heck was time anyway… how long have I been standing here…? What am I even saying? Did I say that already? What time is it in real life? Now how long have I been up here? I can’t see anything… How long have I been up here?
What advice can you give people who want to perform but have never done it before?
If you want to do stand-up… GO DO STAND-UP. DO IT AGAIN AND THEN DO IT EVERY NIGHT YOU CAN FOREVER.
8. Doug Benson
How’d you end up at your first performance?
I had no intention to become a stand-up. I had moved from San Diego to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. Mere months after arriving, two friends suggested I try comedy. They said they would go to the Comedy Store and sign up on Pot Luck Night as well. One friend showed up too late to sign up and the other didn’t show up at all. I am still a stand-up to this day and I have no idea what those guys are doing.
What do you remember most about that first performance?
I used props. But I grew out of the prop thing four or five years into my career. OK, maybe eight or 10. I am not a prop act, dammit! But when I started, there were lots of comics using props, people like Pee Wee Herman, Howie Mandel and Joel Hodgson. These days I can’t think of any. Other than Carrot Top. He’s cornered the market. You gotta give him props for that.
What advice can you give people who want to perform but have never done it before?
To paraphrase Nike, Just Fucking Do It.
9. Jimmy Pardo
How’d you end up performing for the first time?
I had just turned 21 and my co-workers at the record store said “OK, it’s time.” So, I went to the closest open mic that weekend. Quick side-note: It was also the day I became “Jimmy Pardo.” I signed up under the name “Jim Pardo” and my friends said, “But WE call you ’Jimmy’" and I changed it… the rest is almost history.
What do you remember most about that first performance?
It actually went pretty well considering I went through what I thought was 15 minutes of material in about five! Carla Filisha, who is now a writer on Mike And Molly, was one of the paid performers complimented my set and gave me phone numbers for other club owners in the area. We remain friends to this day.
What advice can you give people who want to perform but have never done it before?
Just do it. It’s going to be a bumpy road when you first start. Sometimes it will be great… others, the worst. But, if it’s in your bones, you owe it to yourself to do it. Maybe it won’t be for you, but at least you tried.
10. Andy Kindler
How’d you end up performing for the first time?
I was a salesman at a stereo store. That last sentence was designed to confuse young people. I was at a company picnic goofing around and my friend Bill asked me if I had ever done stand-up. He convinced me to start by teaming up with him.
What do you remember most about that first performance?
I was cushioned from crushing shame and disappointment by having someone else to share it with. My first performance on my own two years later was horrifying. I remember telling the crowd it wasn’t going well. They knew that already. I will admit to quietly sobbing in the car on the way home. I couldn’t imagine it ever getting better. That’s how many people currently react to my act.
What advice can you give people who want to perform but have never done it before?
You have to jump in the pool, even if it’s at the shallow end and the water is cold. Maybe metaphors and analogies are not my thing. The point is that you can’t wait until you feel confident and have no fear to start. Everybody is terrified when they begin, unless there is something wrong with them. Just try to be nice to yourself. When in doubt, blame the crowd.
