Jenn's Thoughts: Moving through the OOPS

As someone who has planned events and shows my entire life, and who has now turned this love of planning into a business in Ottawa, I have made and seen some pretty big OOPS.  OOPS can happen at anytime during the planning process, anytime during the show and anytime afterwards.  OOPS do occur in other segments of society, but those are called mistakes.  When mistakes happen in production/shows etc. it is called an OOPS, meaning it is really just a mistake but we are all way too into ourselves and must  make everything a big deal; what is show business with out the drama!


There are even fake OOPS:  Who remembers nipplerama when some young boy band singer ripped the clothes off a large breasted singer? (I will not say their names as I feel that would pay some degree of acceptance to the ridiculousness in what they did).  Out came a nipple and the word "Wardrobe Malfunction" became a household term.  These are not OOPS, these are publicity stunts, to which people are paid to come up with!  OOPS happen on their own, are not intended to occur, and can ruin a show or somehow improve it; it depends on the OOPS and how smoothly things are moving to start with.


Let me tell you about a big OOPS I once did.  Now this was for a government conference but it relates enough to show business.  I was young and it was my first big government job and first big event to plan in  the government.  I am so excited to manage this process, and show these government types how easy it is to plan events!  I had to get a logo  made, and did what I always used to do in the private sector:  I emailed a few friends for some ideas, flushed out the general concept and then would hire someone.  Wow, if anyone knows anything about government planning (which I now do, which also makes me a little sad), they know that this is NOT how you go about business in government.   I emailed three people.  THREE people for ideas for an Aboriginal artist to get an idea on price range.  Of those THREE emails, a mere 2500 people were then forwarded my informal message about "government looking to contract Aboriginal artist".  OOPS.  The fallout of this OOPS was 350 submissions within two days of something we had not actually asked for.  The moc-tel moved faster than gossip that mom's in rehab!  Now that's fast!  The fallout from this experience was that an OOPS happened, and I learned from it.  I also learned that the government has really stupid processes, but now, ten years later, I can say I understand the point behind them!  I really am old!


Last night I had a small OOPS.  It was very small, and still makes me laugh the day after.  I was producing Don Kelly and Friends, which by the way was an excellent show!  I said afterwards that I could carpet the world with my faults, but producing shows is something I can say I do quite well.  When people tell me on their way out that "they have never laughed so hard in their lives", or that "I was having a really hard day and I am glad I came, it really helped" I am reminded why I love producing these shows:  I like to bring joy to others.  I can't do it myself so I hire comedians to do it!  ;0)


Carrying on with my OOPS, we had a nice 50/50 draw.  I came on stage with THE Don Kelly and we pulled the winner, very dramatic, very exciting, we announce the winning numbers.  No hoots or hollers we look at the audience who turn back and say "we can't read our tickets".  It was DARK in the theatre.  I wittily said "um, we'll do this again later!"  (and we did).


I make much less OOPS now, as indicated by the show last night.   The point with OOPS is to make sure that each OOPS becomes a learning opportunity.  If the OOPS can be avoided, let's start with that, but if not then use the OOPS to grow as a person/professional.  The worst thing in the world is a multiple OOPSer.  (not to be confused with multiple orgasms; those are not so bad)  Someone who does not learn from their mistakes is bound to continue repeating them.  We as human beings have to evolve and grow ourselves, but also let go of our ego at times and grin and bear it. (cliche central tonight)


 Many people would quit over some of the OOPS I have personally committed.  I could spend weeks talking about them all, but let's focus on now:  I have learned from each life experience I have had, and continually try to get better at all I do.  There were days when I thought "just screw this, why try", but I do.  I get up each day and try a little harder next time.  Some old dude (I think it was Einstein but too tired from after party last night to bother looking) said "Success is just a series of going from failure to failure with enthusiasm!"  I love that and try to teach my kids the same!


I was going to write more about the show itself, but what was in my head was how we have grown, and how I as a feminist and promoter have to take a few minutes to event pat myself on the back:  Your event did not suck, congratulations!  (if you are heeding any of my advice today, this is important, keep your ego in check please)


Blogging after four hours of sleep the day after an event I have been planning for four months now seems a little OOPSy


Until next thoughts...


jenn h.
jh5

Jenn's Thoughts: Bigotry, thy name is........

This week no guest bloggers, but fear not, great bloggers next week!  Today you are stuck with me, you may as well stay now that you are here.  Welcome, Tansi, Bounjour.

"Tolerance is a great trait to contain, but so is the ability to shut up."  Unknown 

Tonight I did a Tuesday spot at Absolute Comedy.  It went as it usually does for me:  They like me, laugh at some, but at the end of the day...meh, nothing special.  I am like visiting relatives, I can stay for a little bit and they like my charm, but after a certain time I become annoying.  This isn't about me though, so let's move on!

Tonight, there was an amateur comic I had not seen before.  Off stage he was a nice fellow, but when he got on stage, he pretty much insulted fat people, Asian people, Arab people, etc. etc.  He went on for a bit, telling people he was "keeping it real" and "telling the truth".  He is a black man, and I not sure where that fits in, but I think it is important to state.  This wasn't a rebel rouser from the KKK coming to comedy night, this was someone who likely has experienced hatred and discrimination himself, hence my confusion.

During his entire act, I kept thinking "is he for real?".  I won't lie, I didn't even think his jokes were that well written, but we are amateurs and that is not the point.  Written well or poorly, they had hatred behind them. Racism IS hatred.  Or is it?  In the year 2011 is racism ever acceptable on stage, regardless of one's nationality?  Let's discuss...

There is a comic in town who does something similar, but he is quite funny.  Josh Williams does his comedy stating how racism is wrong, and tolerance is needed, but then goes into some racist stereotypes; the entire point is making fun of himself for not knowing that he is being racist.  It is intelligently written, and the audience follows him.  It is obvious he is not racist and is being ironic.  Perhaps this is what the young lad today was trying to do.  Perhaps many people who tell race and culture jokes are trying to be sophisticated and full of iconic irony.  But when it falls, it FALLS, and not only have you sucked on stage, but you become memorable at "that racist guy", a label I am sure no one wants to have. (even racists are starting to realize that racism is not "in" anymore, they don't stop being racist, they just stop being open about it)

"But he is new, and just learning...." is what people will often say when I point out how racist or completely sexist a joke is.  Sure, the person is just learning comedy, but we were human beings way before we became comedians.  There  are people who can do this very well, who can break the standards of political correctness, but they always do it without hatred. Doug Stanhope has a bit he does on why he uses the word "Fag".  He does so in such as way that no one would ever question him or accuse him of bigotry.  There is nothing negative behind his joke and in fact, he talks about gay rights!  He is a genius, but he is one of the few I have found who can say anything they want and no one questions it, because he does it in a way to not alienate people.  

 In this day and age, who wants to spend their money listening to someone go on about Asian people not driving right, fat people taking spots on buses, Indian people eating curry, Arab people terrorizing.  (These were all his jokes tonight, I kid you not).  Is their a demographic that is craving for this type of humour?  And as a comic, are you willing to take risk alienating the audience, and at what point does this stop being comedy and start being hate speech?

Whooah, did I just say the "h" word.  Yes, and there are times where comedy may cross that line, but not so it has to go to a tribunal.  Last year a court case found in favour of an audience member who was the victim of hate speech they said based on sexual orientation.  This court case infuriated comedians, and I stayed silent because in this case the woman was a grade A "C" word, without a doubt.  If my facts are correct, she threw water at him and it just escalated.  I don't agree with the findings in this case, as it was an argument with two people, one who was in the comics venue ruining his performance by being obnoxious, thus the  argument began.  That said, my mind did wander to why the comedian, in his arsenal of insults, went to her sexual orientation.  As asshole is an asshole, whether gay, straight or otherwise.  Why was her sexual orientation even brought up?

Imagine though there is no conflict.  What if an Asian lady was in the audience tonight, and had to listen to someone talk about why they hate Asian people?  When there is no irony or intelligence behind the joke, then is it not just someone being a racist ass?  I am not singling this comedian out because he was so bad (although in my opinion he was) but comedy or not, racism is racism, and if you are going onstage and being racist, then you take your chances at being labelled as ignorant.  

I am not advising dark comics to stop what they are doing, but before you commit anything to stage, THINK about what you are saying and WHY you are saying it.  I can think of three scenarios to why one would do racist/bigotry jokes:

1.  They are racist/ignorant

2.  They watched stand up in the 80's and think this is what goes for funny

3.  They are doing intelligent comedy, written for intelligent audiences, using irony as the base.

After that people, say what you want, but I will state that JH5 will always be a blog/venue that does not support racism, or racist comedy.  I even cringe a bit at people of one ethnicity doing jokes just on their ethnic background.  In Aboriginal comedy I am more of a Don Kelly fan than a Don Burnstick fan.  I like a good Indian joke, as do most Aboriginal people, but I feel Burnstick crosses a line at times to overusing stereotypes and alienating audiences.  I think comics need to have greater depth at all they do, and in the end, any topic can work, as long as it is written and delivered properly.  

So keep writing people, and take on any subject you choose.  Just write it well, write it smart, and for the love of God, Asian people are not bad drivers so just stop already.  

Jenn H. 

JH2 of JH5