The people you work with is one of the best things about doing stand up comedy. I found out I would be opening for Bill Burr at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI on November 4th 2011.
He has a long list of credits and accomplishments because he is fantastic. In the span of about 30 days which included this show Burr’s schedule consisted of theatres, performing abroad in Europe, selling out Carnegie Hall, appearing on Jimmy Fallon and being awarded the “Comedian of the Year” at the Boston Comedy Festival. He is on fire. And this guy got the privilege of opening for him.
My friend and self appointed Hype Man Southside Eric surprised me by buying tickets and driving to Madison with his girlfriend to see the show. It was a surprise because usually when I get a gig, he hits me with the “Hey dog, hook your boy up with them tickets.” I found out when we talked briefly before the show.
In the green room I talked briefly with Bill about sports and he mentioned he hadn’t been home in weeks. I would have loved to ask him more about comedy, being on Breaking Bad, working on the Chappelle Show or any number of awesome pieces of his career. But in my mind, part of being a professional is not bothering the people you work with especially in entertainment. If you want to be an asshole go work at Ed Debevics.
The show began and the crowd’s energy was incredible. I was strangely calm and confident when I went up. Being a fan of his work I feel like I know his audience. I started the show, did well and really enjoyed performing for them. Then brought him up and watched him destroy. While I had seen him before it was never from the same stage or in front of almost a thousand people. I have a couple phone camera pics but they aren’t great and WordPress is an unfriendly interface that hates me.
After the show ended we were walking down to the green rooms he turned to me and said “Great job.” He then went out and signed DVDs and took pictures with fans. While Bill was signing DVDs I spoke with Southside E and he said “You really did a great job” and good or bad he is always honest with me.
We hung out for a minute and then I drove Bill to his hotel. I warned him I was new to driving a manual. As we were headed out a couple of guys were walking and one of them yelled “GREAT SHOW BILL!!” Bill chuckled to himself and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if the car stalled, right here.”
I told him a quick story about how I recently learned how to drive a stick in one day on a trip from Chicago to Louisville. How I was sweating at a four way intersection when I stalled out my car for the third time at a stop sign. I was ready to implode from the anxiety and a lady leaned over her toddler who was in the passenger seat and yelled at me, “YOU ASSHOLE! LEARN HOW TO DRIVE!”
Bill laughed. I dropped him off.
