What it's Like in the Tryouts

Auditioned and didn't make the cut…
(Got published in the SF Chronicle instead).
This year the SF Comedy Competition is attracting pros from Boston, LA, Chicago, Vancouver and Honolulu to challenge local talent. About 25 comedians were invited by producers Frank Kidder and Jon and Fox, leaving 15 openings for auditioners to fill. With nearly 150 people vying for those few slots the failure rate was high .Nevertheless, I decided to fight the odds and give it a shot, having done stand-up comedy for the past two years. The first night of auditions, I was present as an observer only watching 30 auditioners, which perhaps fiber pot passable. Some of the acts were downright embarrassing, including a man with a winged helmet who had the lights pulled on him after he zipped down his fly to pull out a dollar. Another contestant, a zombie-like blonde, was mercilessly heckled until the lights went out signaling that she had exceeded the 5 1/2 minute limit (not to mention good taste). An impartial witness can easily classify the performers mistakes into three categories: poor stage presence, smut and stolen jokes. However, the audience defied freely at lines ripped off from Lenny Bruce or carbon dated from the Paleolithic Age, and lapped up the most moronic graffiti from the bathroom walls at Greyhound terminals. ~ Clark Peterson • SF Sunday Examiner & Chronicle • August 8, 1981