Tomorrow I'm gonna throw 15 months of service right out the window.

The BBQ Pit
21

With all due respect, Satan, and regardless of Ender’s reply, the “point” you made doesn’t apply here. Ender hasn’t had a chance to get better because the workshops, where he could have gotten better were shuffled around, and he wasn’t informed when they did take place. He didn’t have a chance to get “better” performing with the rest of the troupe, because he wasn’t informed about those rehearsals either. He hasn’t been given chances and then blown them; he just hasn’t been given chances.

Linda sounds like the kind of person who judges people solely on their ability to dance to her tune, not their merits. Don’t be sorry that you didn’t get a chance to (gag) work with her; you’d probably be more angry than you are now.

A question, more or less moot: If you’re on good terms with the other performers, couldn’t they have kept you informed? I mean, if you’d said to them, “Linda never tells me anything, so could you let me know when the workshops are happening?” If you felt you could trust them!

22

rilchiam,

Thanks, but perhaps you misunderstood just a bit. I missed a few workshops because Linda didn’t inform me that they had started. I didn’t miss all of them, just two. When I knew of the workshops, and they happened on a weekly basis while in session, I never missed one.

I couldn’t ask anyone else about cancellations because these weren’t fellow players. These were people who were also coming through the ranks just like me. The actual performers have their own rehersals on another night.

I agree with Satan to a point. I took six years of debate, I should damn well know how to argue effectively by now. Yet, when push comes to shove, I back down. For that, I can’t excuse myself. I should have been able to state my case better. That said, yes, there is quite a difference between arguing to your boss and performing for a crowd.

Some may be asking why I didn’t come forward before now. Partly, it goes back to what I said at the begining: I’m a pussy. I don’t create confrontations unless they’re absolutely necessary. Also, by not complaining, I felt it would help my chances by not being a nuissance. Well…apparently that thinking wasn’t right.

So now I’ve given notice. The worst they can possibly do to me is fire me before I actually quit. Oh no. If Linda gets in my way, I’m just going to let it all come out. I’m thinking she’s at least smart enough to know not to…I’m hoping she isn’t.

23

“And as you walk out the door, light the place on fire!” - Denis Leary

24

I have arrived. OK, first of all, they’ve been dicking around with you for 15 months? Fuck em. They’re not the only gig in town, and even if they are, you place an ad in the artistic/alternative paper and start your own.

Sounds to me like Linda decided early on you’d suck on stage. But rather than send away an excited guy who wants to participate, she strung you along. One thing you didn’t mention: I assume you had to pay a fee for the workshops. How much money, energy and pain have these people gotten from you?I repeat: fuck 'em.

In addition, you mentioned everyone hates Linda. Your problem now , I imagine, is it would be difficult to start your own improv group, as you don’t have a lot of stage experiance, and in improv, feeding off the audience is a skill like any other. So may I suggest you strategically examine the vets from the troupe and decide who seems the most qualified to lead rehersals, yet unhappy enough to leave. Then talk to them. Tell them the whole story, without suggesting they defect with you. Feel them out. This is highly political. Comedy is a small community. Unless you can present a united force, don’t attempt it.

In any event, I wouldn’t remain too optimitstic about staying with Comedy City. Linda is gonna make your life as hellish as possible, and Clancy will side with her, because she has the power. If you decide to stay with them, invite Clancy to dinner, at a place you choose. You’d be amazed how a meeting on “your turf” will help you formulate your thoughts and feelings. Make it clear you’re not trying to gossip about Linda, but you’re just trying to get all frustrations out in the open.

You’ve been too flexible for too long. If you love improv, it won’t matter if you’re doing the question game at a party. If you’re good at it, you’ll get noticed. On the positive, you have gotten a lot of training out of these people.

My sister had similar experiances with Acme Improv in LA, and finally told them to fuck themselves. Best thing she ever did. “No one can make you feel inferioir without your consent.” E. Roosevelt. Never was that more true than in improv.

Good luck, keep us posted, let me know if you want more advice on forming a group.