Hi Everybody,
Welcome to my blog. That's me and my dog, Kidd-nap.
My name is Maggie Gautier. For those of you who don't know me, and I suspect that's most of you, I've spent some time in the last twenty years writing, producing and starring in one woman shows. They haven't really been one woman, because I've had musical guests, but basically, I've been the featured talker and it's been fun.
So when someone asks me if I do comedy, I say no. Or sometimes I say yes just to make it easy. What I do, as an artistic expression, (other than cooking) is I consider myself a humorist. That means I don't have the pressure to be funny in some kind of format that I don't think actually exists. I tell funny stories, sing songs, talk with the audience and generally have a good time. When people ask me why I don't perform at comedy clubs, it's because I found them depressing. To a lesser degree, I've performed at open mics I truly admire folks who do that sort of thing. Me, I say I've spent a good part of my childhood trying to entertain a group of drunks and hecklers, why would I want to bring that into my adult life?
What I do is I rent theaters or spaces, set the date, sell the tickets, get some friends to help out the night of the show, have fabulous musical guests (on one occasion I messed up here-it's hard being funny when the opening act sings depressing suicidal songs-oh you live and learn).
Anyway, I'm in L.A. and I'm going to rent a space, pick a date, sell the tickets and this time I'm going to blog the process. It's my way of stepping out into the great unknown and it's exciting and scary at the same time. What I want to say, what the show is going to be about will unfold during the blog. My working title right now is, "I Don't Have Fame to Blame" in that I'm not famous and I really don't have anyone to blame.
I feel really inspired and eager to do a show and more nervous than I have been in a long time. The key for me is to do the work and to move entirely away from "having to prove anything." Yes, I want people to really like the show, yet I don't want to force anything the old, 'do you like me now?' stuff that is so not appealing.
So, I'm going to blog. I'm going to hope you come to the show on the night of the event and I hope that after seeing the show, you may want to do one of your own.
On a practical note, I've looked at two theaters. One charges $400 for the night and the other $600. It's crazy. Way too much work for no money unless the tickets are much higher than I think the market will bear. In that most people don't know who the heck I am. So the theaters I've looked at aren't really an option so I'll be looking at other venues. When I was in Chicago, I was able to rent a theater on an off night for $35 per hours plus I supplied insurance. It's what made it possible financially.
I'll keep looking. Oh, just had an idea. Got to go so I can make a call to see if the theater is available. It's kind of far from my house, but in L.A. that's kind of common.
More later,
And the beat goes on,
Maggie
http://www.creativelife.com/
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