For The Love of Comedy
Three Nights of Comedy and One Reminder Why I Started
This past weekend reminded me exactly why I fell in love with stand-up comedy in the first place. On Saturday night, I was at 50 NORTH Pub & Eatery competing in a comedy competition. Did I win? Nope. Did I have fun? Absolutely. And honestly, that’s the part that matters most to me. Hearing people laugh at something that came out of my weird little blind comedian brain is still one of the greatest feelings in the world. There’s just something magical about making a room full of strangers forget about life for a few minutes and laugh together.
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The next night, I headed to Calgary and performed for a much smaller crowd. Maybe around 20 people. One of those intimate little comedy rooms where every laugh feels personal and every silence feels like your soul just tripped over a chair. But honestly? I loved that show too. I also got to perform alongside comedians coming fresh out of comedy workshops, and it genuinely felt like watching future stars figure themselves out in real time. There’s something really cool about being around that kind of energy. Everybody trying. Everybody nervous. Everybody chasing that perfect joke.
Then Monday rolled around and I was right back in Red Deer doing another open mic. Three days. 3 stages. Three reminders that stand-up comedy still feels like home to me. People sometimes ask why I keep doing comedy. Because I love it. Simple as that. Sure, getting paid here and there is nice. I’m not going to pretend gas stations accept “exposure” as currency yet. But the real reward has always been the laughter, the connection, and that feeling of standing on stage knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Am I a superstar comedian? Not even close. But the passion is still there. Honestly, it might even be stronger now than when I started. Now it’s time for a short little stand-up comedy siesta until April 11th when I head back to Calgary for FunnyFest. This will be my third year competing in the festival, and somehow, every single year, I’ve managed to make the Top 10. Could this finally be the year I win? We’ll find out. Either way, I already know one thing for sure. I’m going to have fun.
And thank you for continuing to follow this strange, wonderful comedy journey with me. Also please subscribe to my new home online here on SubStack. Currently, I am in the process of moving all my original posts from my previous Website. I only send out 1 email per week on Sundays with 1 blog I really want you to read. Sometimes when you come back, there might be other blogs you were not alerted of because I don't want to be that person that emailed you about everything. Cheers!
Take care everybody. From your blind comedian
J.R. Bjornson AKA Blind Guy Comedy.