South Carolina Trial Law Blog

Whew. What an experience. It was scary as hell, but a lot of fun. It went over pretty well. I think I had good material, but was a little shaky until I got my first laugh and then settled down. My material is sort of an intellectual / bizarre sort of shtick. I think it takes people awhile to get it, but about halfway through I noticed that I had pulled the crowd into my world and they were riding the wave with me. Definitely fun.

I learned a lot from it and will definitely do it again, and work on polishing up the act. The owner of the club has offered to let me do a guest spot whenever I want (during the week, not the weekends when there's two shows and more of a time press), so I'll be getting back up there, practicing and getting better.

I think a lot of the skills in stand up are similar to trying a case:

• Public speaking
• Poise in an uncomfortable setting
• Winning a group of people over to your side
• Thinking on your feet
• Taking what you're given,  even if it's not exactly what you thought it would be.
• Not pushing where the crowd won’t let you go

However, the stand up is a much more visual element. As trial lawyers, we spend a lot of time thinking of how to explain things. With the comedy, you don't have to explain, as much as sell the material. Much more theatrical, sometimes a head shake, a raised eyebrow can do the trick. One of the things Manny taught me to do was instead of *saying* "I'm thinking...." Look up to the ceiling and THINK.

Last night as I was driving into MB on my way to the Comedy Cabana to see my good friend Dave Swanner in his debut as a stand up comic I had no idea what to expect but I was absolutely expecting the worst. Great legal mind, technological wizard, organizational master.....check, check, check......Another Jerry Seinfeld? I was thinking not.

Dave was part of a stand up comedy clinic. Under the schooling of a
professional comedian from Atlanta who came up each Monday night for three hours they honed their comical wares for a month. Last night was graduation, so to speak.

As the teacher introduced the first one, I was so nervous for all nine of the students. About four very good margaritas helped calm my nerves. The
place was absolutely packed. Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised, with ALL of them. Some funnier than others, but all got their fair share of laughs. I was seriously expecting the usual cheesy rim shot with a bunch of crickets chirping in the background.

Ok, what you all have been waiting for, my review of Dave. As he skipped up onto the stage with his Hawaiian shirt and white sneakers I said a short prayer for his wife up near the front that she doesn't die of embarrassment. My prayers were answered, sort of. Aside from the absolute respect I have for him for getting up doing probably one of the hardest things known to man, speaking in public AND trying to be funny, he actually was pretty damn funny. Not the best, but pretty damn funny nonetheless. There were three guys who were very polished and funny as hell, but as I later found out, unlike most of the other students, it was not their first time in something like this.

I'd love to give a few examples of Dave's "shtick" but I don't think etiquette would allow me to discuss the topics of his routine other than to mention it involved beer chugging elephants and masturbating whales!!! ha ha ha I kid you not!

Anyone who wants to give him a hard time (other than on his selection of topics) I say, don't knock him until you have done it yourself. As a REAL trial lawyer and not a settlement mill, I applaud Dave for doing anything and everything he can to improve his trial skills, those being telling a story to a bunch of strangers, and most importantly telling it well enough to get them to agree with you, or in this case to laugh with you, not AT
you, which is exactly what he did last night.

Bravo David Seinfeld, bravo!!

Oh, and happy birthday last night!