Our kids have looked forward to summer all year long, yet after just a few weeks, it hits…
“I’m bored, Dad!”
“There’s nothing to do!”
Image: James Stanfield
“You’re the parent… entertain me! Isn’t that your primary purpose in life, Dad… to be my personal cruise director?”
“You’re really slacking, Dad… just being our provider and protector.”
“I’ve never learned how to just do something fun on my own, Dad… that’s not in my wheelhouse… that section of the brain that most people use to seek out fun and meaningful activity… that section of my brain is completely smooth.”
“Dad! I almost read a book today!! A BOOK!!! I need help, Dad!”
Luckily, only two more months of this lies ahead of us. We’ll make it.
Image: kgpphotography
Next up, my buddy Clayburn Cox joins the show. He has a new DVD out titled Long Awkward Pauses.
Like many comedians, Clayburn believes that he was a comedian before he ever “made it official” and actually dove into the business. As a kid, he’d tell funny stories and people would ask to hear them over and over again. Eventually, it dawned on him that he maybe should try doing this from a stage.
Luckily for Clayburn, Gordon Douglas took him under his wing and mentored him, teaching him better timing, including how to arrive at his punchline faster and to the point. Clayburn was also greatly influenced by Steve Roye, author of The Killer Stand Up System. By following these wise sages of the stage, Clayburn began to learn the difference between mere storytelling and stand up, as well as the mechanics of comedy.
Clayburn remembers the first time he heard someone say that stand up comedy is a craft. He laughed inside his head, thinking, “You go on stage and talk… that’s all it is!” It was soon after that when he learned that it is much more than just talking.
There are real, tangible differences between making your buddies laugh uncontrollably at Denny’s at 1:00 am, the funny stuff in your own head that makes you chuckle, and holding court in front of an audience with the spotlight on you and you alone.
But, here we are – eight years later – and Clayburn has really honed his craft!
When he’s on stage, Clayburn is very comfortable with awkward pauses… similar in some ways to Mitch Hedberg. But, when you hear him perform, you can’t help but wonder how much of what you hear is really Clayburn at the core, and how much of it is a character that he has created over the years.
No matter what the recipe is, it’s working wonderfully for Clayburn!
In addition to Clayborn, Long Awkward Pauses also features the amazing comedi skills of: Jonnie W., Ed Wiley, and Sam Beman. And best of all, each of these guys’ brand of humor is perfectly clean and fun for the whole family!
