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STEVE MARTIN MARTIN SHORT
Every once in awhile a concert comes along you just can’t pass up. When I saw the Steve Martin Martin Short concert was headed for Nashville, I jumped at the chance to see these two funny legends. To top it off, the show was at the historic Grand Ole Opry. Done!
In full disclosure I should tell you that I am 48 years old. When Steve Martin performed “King Tut” and “Wild & Crazy Guy” on Saturday Night Live I instantly became a comedy fan. It was probably the first time I saw a grown man act like a child and it was infectious. It was pre-VCR days in the Roberts household, so I would place my cassette recorder (the rectangular, black, five button kind) next to the TV and magically capture the insanity. I listened back so much I wore that tape out.
So, what did I think of the live show? It was great. Non-stop laughs for two hours does a body good. They delivered and it was worth my $91 upper balcony ticket. Yes, ninety-one dollars. I have missed out on too many great shows by being frugal. No more. Just like they mention in their show, this was the “See ‘em Before They Die” tour
I love the experience of being in the audience. I think it’s important for every performer to sit, watch and enjoy other performances. No matter how hard I try, though, I can’t just sit and enjoy a show. Being a stand-up comedian for going on twenty-seven years just gets in the way sometimes. The good news, as I was enjoying the show I was making mental notes of what I could learn from the experience. Hopefully you will find some value in the specifics I list below. A more detailed analysis is posted at www.schooloflaughs.com .
Here are
“9 Showbiz Lessons From Steve Martin & Martin Short in Concert” #1) KEEP WORKING
These two guys continue to work and those gigs lead to more gigs. They stay on the radar. They stay relevant. As tempting as it is to fold up the circus tent and quit comedy, you can always get better if you keep working.
#2) A COMEDY BUDDY KEEPS YOU HUMBLE
A comedy buddy can help keep you from getting too arrogant. In the show the two comedians trade affectionate barbs and reminders of their failures and miscues. They also keep each other rooted in reality. A comedian who stays isolated can begin to think they are bigger or better than they actually are.
#3) YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD, OR TOO BIG
Martin short just turned 67 and Steve Martin is 72. Just like the characters in the Three Amigos these two guys could have cashed out many years ago and rode off into the sunset. Instead, they continue to explore their age and experiences for new bits, characters and laughs.
#4) USE YOUR WHOLE LIFE AS MATERIAL
Many jokes and stories during the concert were about experiences these fellows had before making it big. A quick slideshow full of childhood photos allowed them both to use their razor sharp wit to comment on the “pre-Hollywood” versions of themselves. Giving an audience a glimpse into their early days is both fun and endearing.
#5) DEVELOP A “SECOND SKILL”
I love artists who are multi-dimensional. Steve Martin’s ability to play banjo, tell jokes, act, write, perform and interject off the cuff remarks make his performances satisfying. Martin Short can sing, dance, embody a character, perform and captivate with the best of them. Had this just been two hours of story telling or joke slinging, it wouldn’t have had nearly the impact.
#6) SHINE YOUR SPOTLIGHT ON SOMEONE ELSE
The loudest, longest standing ovation during the show wasn’t for Steve or Marty. No, the incredible show of appreciation was for fiddle player Nicky Sanders. And it was well deserved. With Short and Martin offstage the band kicked into high gear and Sanders took over like Charlie Daniels on triple mocha latte. He even wove in a few notes of “Johnnie B. Goode” to pay homage to Chuck Berry who passed away just days earlier.
#7) KNOW WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE
As an entertainer evolves, so does his or her stage persona. At least, if you are truly an artist it will. Knowing who and what you are means being in touch with where you are NOW.
#8) CONTINUE TO GROW ARTISTICALLY
These two artists continue to grow and explore their gifts. Although Steve Martin has been playing banjo for most of his life, it wasn’t until 10 years ago he played onstage with other musicians. It’s not as easy as it sounds. It was a risk, one that paid off.
Martin Short continues to develop characters and star in shows such as “Marty & Maya” where he and Maya Rudolph take on hipsters, nature lovers and everyone in between.
#9) UPDATE YOUR PROMO PHOTO
In one of the funnier early moments Steve Martin congratulates Martin Short on his promo photo. He said he had asked for a digital copy of it but it was taken before the digital age. Indeed, the headshot was at least fifteen years old. Short told Steve he had advantage because he has looked the same sine he was thirty years old.
But it was indeed a jab that landed because it was 100% true.
IN SUMMARY
Overall, the concert was a truly satisfying experience. I would definitely recommend it to any current or aspiring entertainer (comedy or otherwise). It definitely motivated me to write more, take more chances and develop more bits. Luckily for me, my head shot is good to go (I must say).
LINKS AND PARTING NOTES
Steve Martin is offering a master class in comedy. If you are interested, here is a link: STEVE MARTIN MASTER CLASS If you would like to read more about Martin Short check out his book,
“I Must Say, My Life As a Humble Comedy Legend”
In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz- obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his famous peers as the "comedian's comedian."
I highly recommend Steve Martin’s biography, “Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life (Unabridged)”
Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely.
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