Do you also feel depressed after a show?

[CodyK]

I did a good set last night, and today I feel terrible. I think it has become a bit of a pattern whenever I do a set (whether it's good or bad) I feel down the next day. I get stage time about once a month and have done about 15 sets.

Is this feeling normal for the rest of you, and how do you cope?

[lorianddori]

I used to feel that way, but the more I got used to doing stand up regularly, I felt it go away. When I first did stand up, I just always focused on the negative and be anxious even if I did better then I expected. I think it is unhealthy to always be focused on comedy. If you focus on doing other things like, doing good deeds and low pressure hobbies then comedy becomes more fun. I also try and think that no matter how bad or good I do, no one is going to remember anyway.

[Just Brett]

I agree... stay busy with other things in your life. Exercise... especially the day after a show. Stay healthy and active. That's what I do, and I feel great. Mostly.

And its a win/win... A lot of my best jokes come to me when I go out for a jog or 3 hour bike ride. Or hiking...

[thegreg]

Yep, I get that too occasionally, good show or bad. I think it's just a reaction to stress/release of performing.

I find that when I'm low after a show and just want to go home I feel better if I force myself stay out and hang out with people for at least a little bit.

I second Brett about exercise, but I think that's good advice for mood control in general.

[James Smann]

Absolutely I do...I actually get panic attacks really badly after sets...all centered around dying. I concur with the advice to try and keep yourself busy with other things...distracted and such.

[mikemayberry]

I feel the same way, but I kind of like it. Since I started performing a couple nights a week, I find that that night and the next day after work I am down, but I get right back up when I am going to a show. No matter the reaction, I also always think about quitting after each performance. It is a taxing hobby, but I feel better about other aspects of my life because I have this other, more self centered source of frustration.

[Roadside Phil]

I tend to be more down before a show. Maybe not depressed, but overly serious. After a show I loosen up a bit. And if I go too long without gigging I get really cranky.

[Vercetti]

If it's a bad set then that's when I'll get down about it. But even then, that's when I go back and work harder. I try not to give myself time to dwell on negative emotions.

[JManderville]

Thought I did good at open mic.

Then the MC said after I handed off the mic last night: "Nice try. We applaud the effort".

Then I felt insecure and depressed about my set.

EDIT: For excessive whining. 2 for flinching.

[pg13]

First off...you handed back the mic? You mean, you put the microphone back in the stand and put the stand back in the center of the stage...right? RIGHT???

Second...sounds like "mission accomplished" for the MC. I believe it is a federal law (for all I know, it may be international as well) for all comedians to be insecure and depressed--that MC saw you glowing with pride and accomplishment and was obliged to knock you back down a peg.

Third...the best place to grow thicker skin and a sense that your comedy validation should come from within, not from others, is definitely at an open mic.

Be neither too happy or too worried about ANY open mic set. Work on what you want to work on, judge yourself by your own criteria...keep using that time to get better, not to feel better.

And know that MC'ing an open mic is a thankless and seemingly endless job--and they rarely mean anything they say after their opening set is over with...

pg--Who was the MC? I'm curious...--menomonie, wisconsin (hours before seeing Andy Kindler at ACME in Minneapolis!)

[JManderville]

First off...you handed back the mic? You mean, you put the microphone back in the stand and put the stand back in the center of the stage...right? RIGHT???

Yes, that is what I meant. "Handed" figuratively.

Second...sounds like "mission accomplished" for the MC. I believe it is a federal law (for all I know, it may be international as well) for all comedians to be insecure and depressed--that MC saw you glowing with pride and accomplishment and was obliged to knock you back down a peg.

That is what I figured. I doubt I was glowing with pride because I am positive I was far away from a even calling it a C+ set, and I clearly just don't have that confidence on stage yet.

Third...the best place to grow thicker skin and a sense that your comedy validation should come from within, not from others, is definitely at an open mic.

Be neither too happy or too worried about ANY open mic set. Work on what you want to work on, judge yourself by your own criteria...keep using that time to get better, not to feel better.

And know that MC'ing an open mic is a thankless and seemingly endless job--and they rarely mean anything they say after their opening set is over with...

pg--Who was the MC? I'm curious...--menomonie, wisconsin (hours before seeing Andy Kindler at ACME in Minneapolis!)

Definitely, I can accept that.
Really just wanted to vent the feeling even if I know it is counterproductive.
It was probably more about documenting online, an irrational thought of a very green open mic'er. (Now actually, kind of regret even mentioning it)

I don't want to incriminate anyone. Aside from my temporary insecurity, I really loved the MC for the night. She was the best I've seen since I've started going to open mics.

[pg13]

Incriminating?

I wanted to give the MC a high five!

pg--HIGH FIVE!--Twin Cities bound

PS--Some comics, especially on open mics, like to play it cynical. Sometimes it is playful, other times it is just bitter... Eventually, you learn to consider the source.

[JManderville]

Ha!
As always, I'm appreciative of your frank pep talks pg.
Have fun with Kindler.

TDC--Now I'm just jealous and want a vacation.--seattle

[nixonjames]

Not as much now that I've got a year under my belt but the first 6 months especially and probably the first 20-25 open mics... I would definitely have a roller coaster experience. That being said I would swing both ways. If I did good I'd have to fight the 'i got this, i'ma natural, when should i call an agent?' to when I did poorly, 'wow this isn't for me, i'm an idiot for trying, i should quit while i'm behind'

I found that just sludging through it all I started to realize that open mics are just practice, treated them as such, and then all of my attachments to audience reactions melted away. Now I'm doing an open mic with the gauge of, 'did i do it the way i wanted to?' 'did that work?' 'are there pieces i can refine to get it more direct, clearer, and more concise?' 'was it execution or concept?' if the latter than i'll probably trash the joke, if the former then I'll put it in my 'to work on' pile.

There's also a certain amount of downtime the next day when I do well b/c it's such a rush to take the mic, ride the audience and get consistent responses throughout that NOT having that seems to deaden the next day's experience.

For me at least, learning to have no desire to do well or poorly and not care 'how' the audience reacted but more directly, how did I do and did i say what I wanted has made it much easier. just my thoughts from a relative newb

[MJEH]

I tend to be more down before a show. Maybe not depressed, but overly serious. After a show I loosen up a bit. And if I go too long without gigging I get really cranky.

There's something about this that I really like.