Wednesday Wisdom: Go For It

#WednesdayWisdom #Comedy #SyracuseNY #SyracuseActorsStudio #TracyChamberlainHigginbotham

Okay, so I did it! I stepped on stage at the age of 61 and delivered a pretty good 5-minute comedic set at the Palace Theater. I wish my Dad, the funniest person I know, were in the audience, although some of my potty-mouth descriptions might have made him raise one of his perfect eyebrows. A half hour before I went on, I found a secret location in the loge staircase, pulled out a small flask of vodka and lemon, sipped it, and went over my bit. The liquid energy made me feel more confident, and I needed the time to prove to myself, for the hundredth time, that I knew my lines. It was my time! I walked up on stage after a semi-freak-out over whether to use the portable microphone or a headset. Finally, my spazzy Italian hands needed something to hold onto and swing from side to side as I performed. To my delight, I did not forget any of my lines, heard the audience roar a few times, took my hat off unexpectedly to prove the title of my skit, “Hi, I’m Tracy, and I’m Bald,” was an honest statement, and landed it. Many people came up to me afterwards with high praise, which I took to heart only because I heard the audience’s laughter. Today’s Wednesday Wisdom and lesson trying something as risky as comedy when you have never written or trained for it, is to know oneself. I know I’m funny. I already make people laugh. I have no problem making fun of being bald at 61. I know what I look like. I always try my best, and when I fail, I stand back up and try again. Maybe it’s the “T” in my name that means “tenacity” more than “Tracy,” I’m not sure, but I want to encourage you today to do something really daring, out of your norm, way beyond your expectations. It is nerve-wracking, exhausting, exhilarating, and in the end empowering. Only you know what that one thing is that you must try. Go for it!