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I am a big "To do" list person. I have monthly, weekly, daily and even sub-daily lists (day/night) lists. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than crossing something off the list. Sometimes I cheat and put something on the list, just to cross it off. When I miss a day on my To Do lists, chaos ensues. I play catch up all day and then hit a mental block. I then get anxious and overwhelmed because now I have to make up for the previous day of "to dos" and then also do todays list. It keeps me up at night. Then there are unplanned things that pop up requiring quick decisions and attention. Something I hate doing because I don't know if I should cancel a show for a new opportunity or take the new opportunity and alienated the existing one. In comedy (as in life), it's hard to say no to shows and opportunities but sometimes, you just have to cancel or un-commit from something for your own wellness. I really need an assistant and a manager. Maybe that can be my new years resolution! #careerchange #standup #formerlawyer # #opportunity 
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Everyone is affected by extreme weather but for the entertainment world, it has a unique affect. Obviously when weather is horrible, we are affected, like recently with all the cancellations in the Midwest due to the "blizzard" that never came (but the extreme cold that did). Or this fall with Hurricane Ian in Florida Shows were cancelled left and right in both cases and now with the Southwest issues, my flight plans for January shows are in jeopardy too. But weather doesn't have to be extreme to affect our shows. And sometimes it's not even the weather. From years of experience producing and performing shows as not only a comedian but a musician as well, I know, for example that the first nice day of summer means nobody wants to be inside at a show. I also know the first very cold day of winter, nobody wants to go outside. Just as the first day after a few days of snow or extreme weather, people are ready go out to shows and very ready to laugh. On the road, however, you learn that other uncontrollable factors affect your shows, like the Annual Gun show in town, or the local NFL team in the Playoffs or a former President holding a rally. It helps to plan ahead but sometimes, you just can't control what you cant control. The show must go on. #standup #careerchange #blizzard #formerlawyer  I recently had a few shows where most of the crowd was my personal friends and fans. Its a different energy when you have friends and fans in a crowd, that's for certain. I am by no means a known headliner and most of the shows I do on the road, I am either opening for a national headliner or headlining a show where most of the audience does not know me. Which is why doing shows for a mostly friendly crowd felt like home field advantage. Almost too much laughter. The positive is that the energy for these shows was electric. So much laughter and applause breaks. The negative is that it felt like cheating. I mean, how much of the laughs were earned and how much was just friends and fans supporting me? I talked to a fellow comedian who felt the same way after his home town show. "Why can't we just enjoy the win?", we thought. Either way, its funny that even when we crush, we comedians somehow find a way to find a way to take away from a win. In hindsight, I am glad to have made so many people happy and see so many friends supporting me. I hope to have more shows like this in 2023. #standup #formerlawyer #careerchange #2023goals  Sunday night, I produced my first comedy fundraiser event. Before I did comedy, I raised money in the political world and also did a few music events through my company Shoeshine Boy Productions but never comedy. As soon as I agreed to do it, I regretted it. I forgot all the hard work and dedication that goes into a fundraiser. And the promotion. Man do I hate that. And the stress the night of the show, wondering if enough people will show up. And then, of course, I also had to perform. But I thought about my father and the millions of people affected by Parkinsons directly and indirectly and pushed on. I am happy to report, it was a success. The Stand Up to Parkinsons for Parkinson's Foundation was a success. We raised almost $7,000 at the event AND I presented an oversized check for $10,000 from MY foundation (Farahvar Foundation) to Parkinson's Foundation from the year of "Better Call Paul" shirts I sold on the road. None of it would have been possible without Allison and Anne at Parkinsons Foundation Midwest, Chris Lange, Alex Strong, Anne Ringrose and everyone at Zanies Comedy Club, comedians Joseph Antonacci and Josh Sneed, the sponsors Rosebud Restaurant Group Sugar Factory LLC. and I am so grateful for the opportunity to raise money for a good cause and thankful to Jamie Masada at Laugh Factory who showed me the importance of charity. #blessed #charity #parkinsons #comedy  When people ask me "How's it going," I usually respond "We'll see!" especially if I am about to perform. I say it in jest, but in reality, so much of my mood often revolves around how well my last set went. I don't think I am alone in allowing a show to make or break my mood, at least for a few hours. This past week demonstrates the ups and downs of comedy best. Saturday night, I performed for two sold out shows. One was for a friend's show that I was invited to last minute and the second one, was me headlining a favorite club of mine in Florida, Coconuts in St. Petersburg. The shows went very well and I was able to work on my new hour of material I hope to record in in 2023. Even if things don't go amazingly well, performing for large crowds always feels great, especially as a headliner. Then came Sunday. I had promoted a show as part of my "Paul Farahvar & Friends" campaign in Florida. The last one was a huge success in Naples Florida, so I was hoping for the same. No dice. We had less than 10 tickets sold just 7 hours before showtime. I decided to cancel the show. My rule is there can't be more comedians on the show than audience members. While we may have had some walk ups, we also may have has people who bought tickets not show up. I wasn't going to take any chances, especially on a holiday weekend. I was really looking forward to the show but I made the executive decision to cancel. The venue was kind as were the comedians who were on the show, who supported the decision. Now I can't wait to get on stage again! #comedy #24hours #careerchange #formerlawyer  |
AuthorPaul Farahvar is a comedian hailing from Chicago, Ill. Archives
March 2023
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Paul Farahvar Comedy
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