Life Lessons to Git-R-Done!

I can't believe it is already May 6th!  It has been a busy couple of weeks preparing and performing shows in a variety of different formats, which the artist in me truly enjoyed not only because of the challenges I faced as a performer but the lessons I learned as a result of the process.

On Tuesday, April 23rd, I was an actor in an Old Time Radio Show play that enabled me to use a variety of character voices that I don't usually get a chance to use in my library shows.  I was reminded of how much I enjoy not being me.  It was also fun not to be in charge of the production.  Or the PR for the show.  I didn't even have to memorize the script since it was a radio show performed live on stage!  All I was responsible for was showing up and making sure the four characters I was playing would be entertaining for the audience.  Plus I finally got a chance to wear the Typewriter-print outfit I had made a few months ago since we didn't have costumes. Not only did I make some new friends in my fellow actors, I had a blast just being a member of the cast!

The cast of Fragile Fate, an Old Time Radio-style play.

As I have already mentioned in previous posts, the next night, I performed at McCurdy's Comedy Club down in Sarasota in honor of World Book Night. This was the performance of the week I was most nervous about.  I hadn't done a comedy club in over a year and it was also somewhat of an audition since the owner had never seen me before.  I wanted to make a good impression so I could come back for future shows.  While I only had to do 12 - 15 minutes (which seems like nothing compared to my hour-long set at my library events), it was the pressure to be instantly funny telling literary jokes to a non-reading crowd that scared me.  What if they didn't laugh?  Or worse yet, shush me?!  But the audience ended up being so supportive!  I also got some great advice from club owner Les McCurdy on how to better my act for the clubs, plus an open invitation to return to McCurdy's so I could continue to develop my act.  I learned that even with my years of experience in performing, there is always more to learn if you are open to hearing it.

Performing my literary stand-up comedy
at McCurdy's Comedy Club.

On Friday, April 26th, I was back in my comfort zone doing one of my library events performing for the Leesburg Public Library staff. On arrival, I was instantly approached by a group of friendly librarians on how excited they were to have me there.  One in particular I had met the year before when I performed at the Florida Library Conference where she had been one of the first people to buy one of my purses.  I later learned she also recommended me for this event - a prime example of how just one librarian can make a difference in employing another.  Thank you Alicisa!  This was also the first library event where I kind of hung out with the staff before I performed.  As a result of that personal time with my audience, I was more comfortable and less nervous which I think made me funnier and certainly better able to interact with them during the show.  They also showed their support in purchasing some of my literary purses and going on my Facebook page and telling me how much they enjoyed themselves.  I don't know if it was my brand-new pink Librarian outfit that I wore or the fact that I was 100% myself at that show, but I felt on top of the world!  Like I wasn't just performing for librarians, but entertaining friends.  Thank you Leesburg Library Staff for not only validating my work as the Stand-Up Librarian but for making unemployed librarian Meredith Myers feel like a member of your staff!

The Stand-Up Librarian with the Leesburg Library staff!

And finally, on Saturday, April 27th, I participated in ARTpool Gallery's Crafty Fest.  While I have been making and selling my literary purses for over a year at my shows and my Etsy shop, I had yet to do any type of craft fair so I thought it was about time I tried it out since I am an artist on residence there and could get a free space.  Thank God it was free because I did not sell a single thing in five hours of sitting in the blazing sun!  Now I don't know if was the lack of people in attendance at this thing or that the ones who came didn't buy a single thing from any of the artists making their own stuff, but soon began to dislike being a craft fair vendor!  It's like being homeless and begging for money that you already spent. Seriously, people walk right past your booth without even an acknowledgement of you or your homemade items.  Or if you are lucky, they stop and touch everything on the table making the once organized display now a heap of colored objects and then walk away. Once in awhile, someone will tell you how much they love everything and must have it but then walk to the booth where the girl is selling ripped-up Levi cutoff shorts and buy those instead.  Oh well, so I learned that I still don't like working retail even when it is my own stuff.  The one perk?  Lots of reading!

Stand-Up Librarian Designs being a vendor
at ARTpool Gallery's Crafty Fest.

I often talk about my troubles with letting go of my past and the person I once was or could have been today had I continued working as a publicist.  Or I had focused all of my energy on being just a comedian or just an actor.  I also admit to imagining how different my life could have been if I had hired as a librarian right out of grad school!  But then I stop myself.  Life didn't happen that way for me.  Instead I made a choice to listen to my heart - which stupidly resulted in me trying to do all of it...at the same time! Exhausting?  Yes.  Regrets?  Not a chance.

So after a week of playing a variety of different roles - actor, stand-up comic, Stand-Up Librarian, designer - I have finally learned the very important lesson that the role I created for myself - The Stand-Up Librarian - is the one that brings me the most joy (and surprisingly, also the most profits!)  Like in my favorite book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho that I gave out to the audience at McCurdy's for World Book Night, it is often through the long, difficult journey that you find your treasure...within yourself.

Celebrating MY success with Larry, who I first met over
15 years ago in a Chili's. Create your own opportunities.
Git-R-Done!

World Book Night at McCurdy's Comedy Club

For a direct link to the video, click here.

Thanks again to Les McCurdy and McCurdy's Comedy Club for having me out to perform last week on behalf of World Book Night to open for the incredibly energetic and hilarious Dale Jones!  As the mission of World Book Night is to promote reading to light and non-readers, I thought it was the perfect time for me to leave the library and return to the comedy club to do my literary stand-up comedy and surprise the audience with free copies of my favorite book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  

I can honestly say that I had more fun giving out the books to the audience than I did performing, which is yet another example that I will always be more librarian than comedian, however thanks to creating the phrase Stand-Up Librarian, I can always do both!  After the show, I got a chance to hand out my bookmarks, take pictures, and talk one-on-one with members of the audience and it brought absolute joy to my heart to hear how much they loved seeing a real librarian have fun on stage with books and how grateful they were to receive their free copies...and not have to return them!

As is my mission with Stand-Up Librarian, if something I said gets someone to use the library or pick up a book, I have done my job.  If they laugh or sing "Joyce Around" back to me, well that just means we had some fun too!  

Thanks again to everyone who came out to the show...

Giving comedian Dale Jones a copy
of The Alchemist before the show!

Thanks Les McCurdy!

The first librarian to ever perform
at McCurdy's Comedy Club!

I LOVED giving The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho to the audience.

Celebrate World Book Night at McCurdy's Comedy Club

I've got a busy week ahead full of a variety of shows and appearances including a play, a library staff day, a craft fair, and the one you should not miss - McCurdy's Comedy Club! 

On Wednesday, I will be popping into McCurdy's Comedy Club in Sarasota for a quick 20-minute set in honor of World Book Night to promote reading and give out free books to the audience.  While WBN is actually Tuesday, I am already committed to doing a play, so I figured why not extend the celebration!?!

What is World Book Night you say?  

World Book Night U.S. is an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially printed paperbacks to light or nonreaders across America on one day. Volunteer book lovers help promote reading by going out into their communities and sharing free copies of books they love. The mission of World Book Night is to seek out those without the means or access to printed books.

My mission as the Stand-Up Librarian has always been to educate and entertain people about the importance of libraries and literacy, which means that most of the time I am trying to reach the people not reading!  It is the reason I use pop culture and catchy songs in my shows and why at Stand-Up Librarian Designs I make purses and hats, not Kindle cases.  I keep hoping that maybe a joke, a cute purse, or a literary parody song encourages someone out there to grab a book or get a library card!  

Joining World Book Night as a Giver also seemed like a perfect time for me to head back to the comedy club.  Most of the time as a literary comedian, I perform at libraries or book events for librarians and book lovers, but I have missed the diversity of the audiences at comedy clubs (well, not the hecklers or drunks.)  In performing at a library fundraiser down in Sarasota back in January, I was reminded of McCurdy's Comedy Club.  It was one of the first places my friend and comedy mentor Dan Whitney, first performed as Larry the Cable Guy.

I don't talk about my journey into becoming a comedian or the "Stand-Up Librarian" very much (I am saving that story for my book), but I will tell you that one story has been the reason I keep going regardless of the obstacles put in my way.  It is called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and it is the book I will be giving away on Wednesday at the show.  

For reservations call 941-925-FUNY (3869) or visit McCurdysComedy.com.  McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre is located at 3333 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234.  

Hope to see you there!

Cannot wait to give out my favorite book of all time:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho!

I wanted to be a comedian because of
Dan "Larry the Cable Guy" Whitney.

While our comedy and talent is very different, Dan's work ethic
as a struggling comic in the 80's & 90's continues to inspire me.

Celebrating ARTpool Gallery 5th Anniversary & National Library Week!

For a direct link to video, please click here.

Thanks to Marina Williams and everybody at ARTpool Gallery for having me out to perform a couple of my literary parody songs on Saturday night in celebration of their 5th Anniversary.  It was a wonderful way to kick off National Library Week, plus we had great weather and a whole lot of fun!  My favorite moment of the show was hearing the audience chant "JOYCE, JOYCE, JOYCE" during my first-ever live performance of "JOYCE Around," a tribute to James Joyce and all things Irish.  There was also something special about performing "THE RAVEN is Hard to Handle" under a crescent moon. Perhaps Edgar Allan Poe was looking down on me and laughing at my silly mustache.  Special thanks to Clinton Lee at Brentwood Photography for the fabulous photos! 

I look forward to spending more time at ARTpool now that my literary bags are being sold there.  Just look for the library shelf filled with books and birds!

Support libraries and local art!!!!

"THE RAVEN Is Hard to Handle"

"JOYCE Around"

Stand-Up Librarian Designs now available
at ARTpool Gallery!

Performing at ARTpool Gallery - SATURDAY!

Just a heads up for those in the Tampa Bay area...I will be performing my literary parody songs at ARTpool Gallery's 5th Anniversary Party THIS Saturday, April 13th.  The event is from 8pm - 12am and supports local artists.  As a 5th generation native of St. Petersburg, I am extremely thrilled to celebrate my friend Marina Williams and ARTpool Gallery for their incredible artistic contributions to my hometown.

Body Art Runway Show, Live Music by Waking Giants,
Burlesque & Fire-Eating by Tokyo Belle, Belly-Dancing by Harem Dreams and Oriana,
Stand-Up Librarian Meredith Myers, Aerial Dance Performances by The Girly Show, and more!

My literary fashions will also be available for purchase at ARTpool Gallery from now on, so please come on out to say hi, support local art, and flap your wings while I sing "THE RAVEN is Hard to Handle" in my brand new Raven costume. 

My new Raven ensemble.  Purses available for purchase here.

Tickets for the event are $20 at the door but there are $10 tickets available on the ARTpool website which ends Friday at midnight.  For more information, visit www.artpoolgallery.com/

See you Saturday!!!! 

Happy Easter!

Wearing an Easter outfit devoted to Peeps was pretty sweet!

HAPPY EASTER from me and my Peeps!!!

2013 Peeps collection.

"JOYCE Around"

For a direct link to the video, click here: "JOYCE Around"

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

As a redhead with pale skin, I often get mistaken for being Irish.  I’m not, but I sure love a lot of things that are.  U2. Liam Neeson.  Lucky Charms.  So instead of doing another long-winded blog post about my passion for all things Irish or Irish-inspired (I seriously doubt Lucky Charms are made in Ireland), I decided to put all of those things into a comical song honoring one of our best Irish authors…James Joyce.

Joyce is another one of those classic authors that I have a hard time reading.  I got Ulysses from the library about two months ago with the intention to get through it by today but I am still on page 35 “I am a struggler now at the end of my days.  But I will fight for the right till the end.”  I admit to having no idea what this character is fighting for because my creative mind got distracted by a song that kept playing over and over at the Irish pub I was having lunch at.  It’s like every Irish pub has a contract with the 90’s Irish rap group House of Pain to play “Jump Around” on the hour every hour for the tourists in the joint.  Jeez, how about some Celtic music or at least some bagpipes?  Why does everybody have to “Jump up jump up and get down?”  Wait a minute.  What if I could pass JOYCE around by using an already catchy hook that people will not be able to get out of their heads?

Hence how “JOYCE Around” was born.  Well, that and I had made another cool hat and needed a place to wear it.  Unlike my other parody songs, I rewrote the entire song with my own lyrics honoring several of my favorite Irish actors and musicians.  Sadly, I could not include Sinead O’Connor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pierce Brosnan or Cillian Murphy because I couldn’t find words that rhymed!

I want to thank my brother for giving me the heads up that there was a James Joyce Irish Pub in Ybor City, which is where we shot the video.  The staff there was awesome (especially Johnny who played the tattooed bartender reading James Patterson – his reaction was hilarious and we did that in one take.)  I wanted to incorporate the tough-guy theme that House of Pain used in their video so while Johnny’s tattoos were real, my librarian & book-related tattoos were just temporary.  I also want to point out that the “library” I am dancing in front of is real.  The pub encourages people to donate their old books so patrons of the bar can “enjoy a Guinness while they unwind with a good book.”

So this St. Patrick’s Day, don’t drink and drive, drink and READ…preferably James Joyce.  “So get out your books and JOYCE Around!”

Still trying to finish reading Ulysses on the set.

Trying to be tough with my librarian/book tattoos.

Once again, I made everything I am wearing in the video.

Thanks to the staff at the James Joyce Irish Pub in Ybor!