When I first started booking my stand up tour, I was ambitious; I’d travel all over the West Coast, the South West, maybe even Canada. Then, I booked three shows, all in California. Not exactly Black Flag level touring, but by this point I couldn’t help but think it was for the best. Living out of a few backpacks exhausts you, and I figure out that getting around by yourself in a new city can be tricky when you don’t have an RV to ride around in. A little downtime seems all right.
My free days are spent in San Pedro while I stay at Matt and Kevin’s house. I hang out with Matt, take in more local sites like the aquarium, maritime museum, and views of the ocean while drinking cheap horchata. The morning of my last full day in LA, I have to figure out public transit again on my own to get to the Razorcake house. It’s nerve racking; I’m by myself with everything I have at this point, and the first bus out of San Pedro is not only late, it’s the wrong bus. But it sorts itself out, and I make it after two hours. Todd Taylor even waits up for me, and treats me to a late lunch.
Tonight I’ve got a slot on a weekly showcase called The Ed Galvez Punk House, in Santa Monica. I had plans to see my friends Johnny and Chelsea beforehand, but as the afternoon goes on I’m quickly realizing that I’ve budgeted my time poorly, and have to call them back, asking if they can come a half hour out of their way and pick me up. They say yes. While I wait for them to show up, Todd and his wife meet with a notary public to refinance their house, and I sit in their living room thinking to myself “My friends are real, responsible adults, and I’m freeloading in their living room, so my other friends can go out of their way to drop me off and try to make a room full of strangers laugh, for five minutes.” Johnny and Chelsea arrive, and we take off. They buy me dinner as well.
Waiting inside the theater, I feel out of place. There are comics here from TV and other big shows, while my last set was at a literal punk house. Fortunately, the Black Flag playing over the PA makes me feel more comfortable, making me determined to win over the entire room. It’s a good thing I’m up first though; otherwise I’d go crazy. When it’s time I go out, talk about looking like I’m a child, get some laughs and get out. I’m relieved, and watch the rest of the show sitting on the floor in the back of the room. Afterward, a few people even tell me they liked my set.
Johnny and Chelsea drive me back to Todd’s, but by that time he and his wife are both asleep. I’m a little excited, and part of me wants to stay up, but my only option is to go to sleep on a couch in the Razorcake office, which I happily settle for.
Next up: Joe goes up to the Bay Area and finishes up his tour.
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