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Lest weekend, I was able to finaly record my comedy album special. The date was moved once and almost a second time, but thankfully I was able to record it at Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia. I was actually born there but moved then I was two years old and only visited once in the 90s so it was very cool to be able to return to record my album. It was stressful leading up the recording. I prepared by running the set the week leading up to the show at a few venues and shows. I decided the order and what jokes to do for the album and where to place them. Because I was recording it a couple times, I had some leeway to see which jokes I could later cut from the speial. I had some help from some comedy producers and clubs who let me run it a few times before I finalized it on Saturday. By the time I got to Philadelphia, II had practiced the hour at least seven times. I was sidetracked with other matters last week with schedulingw which perhaps kept me from overthinking the album. I am really proud of the work I put in and can’t wait for you all to hear and see it when it comes out. In the meantime, I am thankful I have a few months to keep doing some of the jokes on the special on the road in Dallas, Batavia (IL), Tampa (FL), Lake Geneva (WI), Alameda (CA) and Denver (CO). Please tell your friends to come see me or if you are in these towns, come laugh along. #comedy #formerlawyer #standup #careerchange 
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About 6 months ago, I wrote about how I was frustrated with having no representation and having last minute shows cancelled on me and terms of my performances being changed to my detriment. It happened again. And Again. In one situation, I was able to resolve the issue with the venue by hoping on a phone call and explaining my plight and they agreed and understood and made it right. In the second situation, I am unsure what will happen. I emailed to confirm a show less than a week away and they said they did not have me in their books. When I forwarded the confirmation they conceded the error and offered to make it up to me with dates in the future. The problem is, in the meantime, I turned down a lot of offers and have spent the last three hours trying to find new dates to make up for the losses. Its very hard to pick up dates last minute, especially when you originally turned them down and they are likely filled by now. I can't remember where I was contacted in some situations since show offers come by email, instagram, facebook and text so instead of sleeping now (its almost 6am), I am searching for make up dates because without the shows that are cancelled, I will have 5 days straight without a show. For me, thats a lot. I freak out even when I have two days off and the thought of not going on stage for longer is stressful. I can always do some open mics too or create a "pop up" show locally. But its also frustrating because I was looking forward to returning to this venue, especially after recording my album to work on a some new stuff and have had the date on my website for sometime. I should be preparing for my album recording which is less than 3 days away but I am trying to recreate a schedule instead. I need a manager. I need an agent. I need someone in my corner to help me navigate this BS so I can write and create content instead of booking shows and then re-booking them when others cancel them. I thought I could handle it, given my background as a former artist manager in the music industry and being a lawyer, but I really can't. If you know anyone, send them my way ASAP. I have some cool things happening and, other than these cancellations am booked up pretty solidly for the next few months. #standupcomedy #formerlawyer #formermusician #cantsleep  I am a fan of rollercoasters sure, but not when it involves the day to day schedule of my life. In the last 48 hours, my schedule for the next 7 days has changed (and may change again). To begin with, I was scheduled to record my new special/album Saturday September 9th in Philadelphia but they had to move the date to January. I had already scheduled multiple full hour shows leading up to the September 9th showdate to prepare for my album recording so moving the date would be a nightmare on my end and finding replacing shows has been hard too, although I was able to find a back up show in Chicago. The new January proposed date to record was also a conflict for me since I already had booked a healdine show in Texas. I was hesitant to contact the venue, since it is my first time there. I don't have the luxury of moving dates at venues at my level, since I am a new headliner and a lot of places are tryign me out for the first time. Not a good luck to start with requesting to move the date. I told my label Helium comedy studio this and they worked hard to make the original day stay. Today, they confirmed I can keep the date to record my album so I can keep my date. THANK YOU Helium! Great news and I am excited to record next week and head to Florida this weekend to prepare with multiple headline shows in Tampa and Winter Haven. Of course now nature has different plans for me. I wait to see if my flight tomorrow will stand or if Hurricane Idalia has other plans for me. Onward #standup #hurricane #newalbum #formerlawyer  Its hard to for me. It was before I was a comedian but now that i am, its even harder. Even when I have a set schedule, things change. Last week, I had a date cancel again which set a whole series of plans and preparation into chaos. It was a struggle and I am still trying to re-make my schedule one week later. I've had friends ask me to plan ahead to meet with them and I always say, I can do that but if I pick up a show, I have to cancel. It's not ideal. While I do love spontaneity, I also hate cancelling plans or having plans cancelled. It reinforces my inability to plan ahead. I am up for the challenge. It sucks that instead of being creative and writing, I now have to spend hours trying to find replacement work and fish out emails from venues who asked me to perform that week and see if they will still use me. One thing I did plan ahead was ending my podcast, SINGLES ONLY after a successful 7 year run. I was hoping to end on episode 369 because I am a child but in the end we ended on 370. I had a blast with the podcast but it was time to move on. I am goign ot start a new podcast and am working on the steps to plan ahead for that one. (see what I did there). Take a listen to the last epside of SINGLES ONLY if you had a second. Link in comments below. #preparation #formerlawyer #comedylife #standup  Every since I was a kid, I didn't like taking orders or direction from others. When I entered the workforce, I also didn't like working for someone else. As soon as I was able, I became my own boss in the music industry and then later as a lawyer with my own firm. While in both careers, I still had to answer to clients, I still had a significant amount of control over my day to day life. With comedy, you would think as a stand up comedian, you would be the epitome of your own boss. It's often the case, especially when it comes to picking your shows and creating your schedule for writing, projects and what to submit for. In the end, however, there is so much you cannot control, especially at the level of a feature/headliner like me. My schedule is often changed when bigger names need my long scheduled dates or my projects submissions stall because they need to see more from me or get more input from people who don't know who I am. Its stressful, but part of the game. And at my level, I can't tell people off but can only hope they have empathy for what I need to do to re-route my schedule and plans, especially when plans change last minute. Its frustrating, but you can't control the uncontrollable. #standup #careerchange #formerlawyer  |
AuthorPaul Farahvar is a comedian hailing from Chicago, Ill. Archives
July 2023
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Paul Farahvar Comedy
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