Probably working in a Japanese steak house! This, from 2011. As is often the case, I feel Arlo’s pain. I almost certainly could augment my income with personal appearances. Lots of cartoonists do so by putting together a cabaret act, although it’s never called a “cabaret act.” Many cartoonists actually seem to enjoy performing live, indeed are almost compelled to do so. And they find very appreciative audiences. I can’t do it. Stage fright. There is little that unnerves me more than speaking in front of a group, even a small group of familiar people. I should say, delivering a prepared program. If the format is conversational, i.e. Q & A, I do all right, but when it comes to a presentation, I’m hopeless. The rare appearances I do make usually begin with, “Are there any questions?”
34 responses to “Private Chef”
Taping wives? Whether or not in public? I think would depend on type of tape and reason. Could be videotape recording some kind of public performance. Could be sticky tape for other reasons, (fill in your own).
Anyway, I thought Jackie said Hal died, so who resurrected him?
Sideburns: Your doctor may be right about the odds but have you ever known someone with one of those severe reactions? The mild case of shingles that I had was bad enough – I got the vaccine as soon as my insurance deemed me “old enough”.
Jimmy, I help people speak for a living. Just three things in this venue that might help.
1) Recognize that what you’re feeling just means that you care. There would be something wrong with you if you didn’t feel what you’re feeling.
2) It’s the exact same biochemistry you experience just before the big game, or riding a roller coaster, or going to see a scary movie (or whatever you do for a thrill). In one case, you think of it as something to cultivate (e.g., being up for the game); in the other, you think of it as something you should get rid of. It’s not what happens to you but what you think about what happens to you that determines your experience. Learn to think of it as energy (being “up” for speaking.
3) Since the Q&A and other conversational venues work for you, you have a great basis. You have a preconceived notion about what “speech” means. Don’t think of it as a performance; think of it as a planned conversation. That is, you think ahead of time about what you want to talk about, but you let it develop as it goes. Speaking isn’t about getting the words right; it’s about giving your ideas impact, and that means a conversation. They won’t remember the details, they will only remember impressions, and the most important part of it is YOU. So just be you and converse. Related: tell stories. That’s what people use to make sense of experience. Just the sorts of things you share right here in your blog.
I don’t know if any of that helps, but it seems to help a lot of the people I work with. I hope you can share your gift even further!
No, Ruth Anne, I haven’t. However, I trust my doctor to know what he’s talking about, and if he thinks that it isn’t a good idea for somebody of my age and health, I’ll follow his advice. If your doctor thinks the vaccine is a good idea for you, by all means take it.
There is a new type of shingles vaccine that does not contain a live virus, unlike the older one.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html
I had chickenpox as a child, meaning I’m at a higher risk of getting shingles so my doctor recommended I get vaccinated. I’ve read enough medical charts with shingles cases and aftereffects to make me want to avoid it. And I didn’t have any reactions to the older vaccine the VA gave me. I hope they will begin offering the new one instead, though.
Shingles made me go naked for months.
And consider sleeping standing up.
Worse disease ever.
Trust in Doctors is a very important thing. So is having an open communication with him/her. I have certain family members that seem to have paranoia about everything in medicine and the bottom line is that they refuse to go to the Doctor. I have been seeing the same one for 22 years and have regular blood and urine draws (I’m on a medication) and he recommends tests that do me no harm and that my insurance pays for.
I still think that I need to change my diet due my general muscle soreness and arthritis. My next visit, I hope to address that. In general, I think that he is doing a good job, if only someone that can filter out all of the contradicting medical information coming out of social media.
Scleroderma is worse. Actually, you can make a case for many as the worst ever, especially if you watch a loved one go through it. Alzheimer’s?
Shingles: Nasty chicken pox virus having another go at you. Had the mildest case in the world [L arm, then ring finger, then gone.] Wife had slightly worse case, sent us home from a retreat a day early. Former student*, shooting pains all over face and same side of body. [*She is now a noted, retired biophysicist in the Twin Cities.]
Today’s TIP blogspot. http://thatispriceless.blogspot.com/
Melcher is at least as cruel as he is funny. Actual scene is at a Westminster Inst., perhaps a decent old folks home.
Peace,
Westminster Union is [was] a workhouse, place to keep the poor or helpless out of sight. Here’s more than you want to know.
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Westminster/
Peace,