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I had an opportunity to go to the Friars Club in New York City where there was a salute to Soupy Sales. If you're too young to know who Soupy Sales is, all the more reason to keep reading. If you know who he is, then you might get a kick out of this.
The event was to celebrate the publication of a new book by Soupy, a collection of jokes called "Stop Me If You've Heard It: Soupy Sales's Favorite Jokes."
But unlike most book signings, there was a 90 minute show afterwards in the Friars Club dining room in which half a dozen comedians each told, well, jokes. Legendary radio personality Joey Reynolds served as master of ceremonies. He would toss out a subject and each comic would tell a joke on it. With the exception of one of the comedians who was perhaps in his Forties, the rest were of a certain age. If I didn't know they were comedians--still working comedians I might add--it would have been easy to assume that they were retired insurance agents, lawyers or accountants.
And in the center of the stage sat Soupy Sales, himself probably in his Seventies and not in the best of health.
But once the joke telling began, these guys--these grandfatherly type guys who looked so staid and mellow--suddenly became young again. It was like watching hot, up and coming comics in their Twenties. They had life. Juice. Energy. Passion. And the guy I'm assuming was the oldest was the best.
He had to be in his 80s.
But he killed. I mean, he killed.
The lesson I want to share with you is that it was both humbling and inspiring to see these guys performing. They'd been comics all their lives. Some more successful and better known than others, but they were doing it. And enjoying it.
That's what the writing game has to be like. We all want the high six figure deal, but getting WGA minimum isn't bad either. And a decent sized option might keep you going too. Or maybe a rewrite that brings in some fast cash.
But in the end, you'd better be enjoying the process of writing;the pleasure of creativity;the satisfaction of coming up with a new idea and making it work.
Go Soupy and his buddies! |
