Last night, I found myself at a comedy club, anxiously waiting for my name to be called. Watching 15 or 20 people endure the harsh reality of their dreams dying on stage was a familiar yet unnerving experience. As the bucket neared its end, my name was finally announced—I was going to close the show. It's always an out-of-body experience for me. I spend hours prepping, nailing my jokes, and getting ready to go, only to be consumed by anxiety when the moment arrives.

Back in the day, open mics were different. Club owners would scout for new acts, potentially launching a comedian’s career, or established comedians would refine their material. Now, open mics have become part of established shows, with club owners often working out their own material and mingling with the audience. It's an interesting mix of vanity projects and genuine comedic attempts.

So there I was, waiting for my name to be called. They finally called "John Spoiler," mispronouncing my stage name. It felt like a troll from the shadows, as the host flirted with a drunk guy in the audience, knocking over the bucket and mixing up the names. It was an out-of-body experience, reminiscent of my acting days. The anxiety before a performance, whether on stage or in front of a camera, is always intense. I pace, jump around, and keep my energy high, ready to entertain and hope my jokes land.

I had a funny bit about OnlyFans prepared, but that's for another time. The experience of waiting and then having my name flubbed, only for someone else to go up, was a unique kind of frustration. It made me reflect on out-of-body experiences in general, like the time I visualized my spirit energy as a little ball of blue creative energy, only to see it as red fire during a particularly intense moment.

As I observed the comedy club chaos, I thought about the unpredictability of performances and the anxiety that comes with them. It's a wild ride, whether you're an actor, a comedian, or both. You prepare, you hope, and you watch yourself from a distance, trying to control the uncontrollable. Last night, despite the name mix-up and the frustration, I couldn't help but appreciate the bizarre beauty of the comedy club scene. It's a place where dreams are made and broken, where out-of-body experiences are just part of the journey.