Old Man

Old Man                                                                  1134

Monday, June 13, 2005-12:58 P.M.

Ray and I had a nice weekend in our mini-tour of Florida's Route 19, in the nice towns of Weeki Wachee and Homosassa Springs.  The gig in Weeki Wachee was nice, the show was in the hotel we were staying in, which is always a bonus.

The crowd was "Cocoon" old, and even though I'm not that young, (38) I felt like a pitchfork in a utensil drawer.  Ray did a great job in the opening spot, and then I got a great surprise as the audience really enjoyed my show.  I didn't bother second-guessing whether or not my material was too "blue" for them, I just delivered it the way I deliver it.  I did back off on the language, though, just out of respect.  They rewarded me with good laughter and applause, and I moved a fair amount of CD's and DVD's after the show.  The manager actually remarked to me that several comics have brought merchandise with them, but no one ever sold very much.  I think that makes a statement right there.  I was proud as a peacock.

Saturday night in Homosassa Springs was a good show, but they really made me fight for it.  Good response overall, but there were a few moments where they got absolutely silent, like it was a total group decision that "We didn't like that joke," moreso than "We didn't understand that joke."  There was mile audience interaction, but nothing scathing.  I plowed through my set and finished well, which is what I wanted to do.

Yesterday, I finally got to a comic book store.  I picked up the ever-elusive final chapter in the Justice League "Syndicate Rules" storyline, as well as the new Astonishing X-Men, written by the incredible Joss Whedon.  Then, after a saunter through the "6 for a dollar" bin, I scored a big pile of Superman and Justice League back issues.  I'm sure I got some doubles by mistake, and I will happily farm them out to my wife's friend Mary's son Shaun.  He's 12, so it'll be like Christmas in July for the lad.

I have today off before resuming the tour in Winter Haven, Florida, then it's up to Alabama for a couple of dates, and back to Ocala, Florida, then Saturday off.  Sunday and Monday take me to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, then the Casino Magic showroom in Biloxi, Mississippi.  This will be my first visit to the states of Alabama and Mississippi, which leaves Louisiana as the only state in the region I haven't performed in.  Someday....Someday....

I had a brief cock-up with my scheduling through the Comedy Zone...I was supposed to perform in Greensboro, North Carolina on my way home to upstate New York, but got the dates wrong.  Luckily, I got that straightened out this morning...I actually picked up work that same week, thanks to Carol Pennington at Hysterical Management in Cleveland.  One of her client clubs opened up in West Palm Beach, and I scored the open week of dates.  It's half the money I was supposed to make in Greensboro, but at least I'm not unemployed.  Also, it gets me home a day earlier than expected, which my wife will appreciate.  I miss her and the baby very much, so I appreciate it, too.

Keep on rollin'.

Ralph Tetta
Rochester, NY