Christmas gifts that are a tough act to follow.

It's that time of year again, where friends, family and loved ones get together to eat, drink, and be merry. Oh, it's also that time of year to give gifts you want to get rid of or spend the least amount of money on.

Last year I think I out did myself with the gift that no body can get rid of, or ignore. Introducing, the limited edition, one of a kind, "The Official Denis McDonough Standup Comedy Nite Lite".



I know that this nite lite is a tough act to follow, But I think I found two gifts to give this year. I can't tell you what they are yet, due to the fact those two LUCKY people might read this. I will post an update soon with pictures.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

I made the rookie mistake of getting mad on stage!

I made the rookie mistake of getting mad on stage!

I did it, I admit it! I did dumb thing of getting mad at the crowd last night at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh N.C.
I am no rookie, but last night I was easily sucked back into the rookie mode of getting mad and being mean to the crowd lol

I use to always put myself down in a funny light hearted way when a joke wouldn't go as planned or the crowd missed the punchline...it was and still to a degree is my defense mechanism. I would get laughs and used it as a way to get the crowd back. But I teetered the line of convincing the crowd I was not funny and the line of making them see I am good at breaking the awkwardness of a joke gone bad. I think you need to find a happy medium between those two worlds...(Breaking the awkwardness and saving a joke).
But last nights crowd was a fickle one. I know, i know you shouldn't blame the crowd!!! but anyone who has ever been on a standup stage has to admit...some nights (very rare nights) you CAN blame them, there are exceptions to that rule and I am sticking to that!!!! no matter what any other of you comics say lol

Last nights crowd picked apart the first 6 comics before me. They ranged from never been on stage to being on stage for a while but hasn't quite found their persona or act yet. The crowd was talkative and vocal about how they felt about your act. Picture the same attitude of "Showtime at The Apollo" but with rednecks! Yee haw!

I got up there and was pretty confident I was going to bring the show back and get them to laugh. The first few jokes were a good indication of my soon to be snowballing anger towards them lol I think my first few jokes are very strong and have been tested over years of doing them...but not to them! They were silent and very good at starring at me.

Them giving me the silent treatment really threw me off and the old stupid defense mechanism reunited with me and took over. I went to a dark place and started to pick out the people who I saw were the root of the talk back heckles. I am usually good at that! but last night I couldn't think of anything witty or funny to come back at them with. I would of done better if I came back with "Oh yeah? Well I am rubber and your glue!". That would of killed next to my witty remarks lol
Well I look at last nights set like this...
If you don't have a set like that every now and again, you will keep all the anger in and let it fester. I think you should do a set that you just throw away and let all your anger out on. I am talking about the type of crowd you have to fake and not let them see you realize your bombing. I know its all part of showbiz to get out there and act like everything is ok when it's going bad...or struggle to get them back. It can be good therapy! and prevent you from finding a nice tower and a bolt action rifle to take out your anger with ;)
I know there will be some of you that will throw the whole U can't blame the crowd rule and the our job is to entertain the crowd at any cost rule!
But I still think you need to get out the demons on a crowd that is not going to make or break our career!

If only Lee Harvey Oswald had an open mic near him!

Chia-Shrek in the back! and all Business in the front!

Here is an update on "Chia-Shrek"!!! ( 1/07/2009 )

I realize that I live in the South/Bible Belt, but When your chia-shrek has a mullet..."Your Chia-Shrek Might Be a Redneck!". Sorry to all my comic friends reading this for subjecting you to that last line.

I guess it's more "Party in the Back" than "Business in the Front" for this beloved 3D animation ceramic head planter.

I will Try to give daily updates on the growth/DeRednecking of Chia-Shrek. Don't be sad, but I might miss or skip a day of updates on this exciting growth process...Waaaaa!

The Return of Chia-Shrek in 2009

Here is the update on "Chia-Shrek"!!! Like a trailer park parent, I left poor little Chia-Shrek all alone during the holiday vacation. I worked at home on New Years Eve and almost entertained the idea of driving all the way to Chapel Hill from Raleigh just to save a ceramic 3d animation character head. If I did drive to the rescue of this potted X-Mas gift, I would be the guy who drove to the rescue of a ceramic 3d animation character head!
When I finally got back to work on Jan 5th 2009, I found the poor little ceramic guy in bad health. SO the following pictures are the results of 2 days worth of Intensive water care. As you can see, some of it is springing back to life...and some are not so lucky. I will keep you posted on his recovery and hopefully he will stop looking like a middle aged balding ceramic 3d animation character head.

Unfortunately, thats all the updates I have for now. You will just have to wait for more. If you need that adrenalin rush, you might have to resort to watching paint dry AGAIN till the updates.