I always love a good story of transformation.
The documentary STEVE (martin) tells the story of a really awkward, out-of-place aspiring comedian who wants to do something genuinely new but was initially failing badly.
It is cringe-worthy at times. What is this guy doing?
But Steve keeps relentlessly trying things, observing, and changing. It goes something like this (so far)…
Is there a future for me as a magician?
-> No, that looks like a dead end. Let’s try comedy.
Should I follow the classic comedy conventions like using “indicators” to signal when the punch line happened?
-> Nope. Let the awkward tensions build naturally and see what happens.
Should I open for other acts and perform for 1000 people who are there to see someone else?
-> Nope. This is getting me nowhere. I’d rather headline for 50 people who actually want to see me.
And finally, this long-haired comedian who looked he was “trying to be the Eagles” decided to change his whole look and attitude. I just like the clarity he finds.
I wasn’t making any waves, so l made a decision.
Instead of being at the tail end of an old movement, I’ll be at the front end of a new one.
And he follows it up with action.
And so l decided, “Okay, I’m putting on a suit, I’m putting on a tie and I’m cutting my hair.”
Instead of looking like a hippie from the ’60s, I’ll look like somebody new from the ’70s.
And of course kind of a punch line.
Or like someone from the future.
Someone from the future indeed. He was about to become the biggest comedian in the world.
Mental Break Town 