My quest to get HD quality video of my “TV clean set” is officially over. My many attempts ended in multiple failures. I do still want that video someday, but my pressing need has passed. Maybe when I quit trying?

Seven times a professional video guy was hired. Seven times something went wrong. Twice there was technical difficulties (one resulted in BLANK mini DV). Three times the crowds were small (see video below). One night the crowd was too large (long story… camera man set up three million miles away… people walking in front of camera). One night, the crowd size was fine, but the level of their laughter was lacking. I’d like to think that night it was all the crowd’s fault, but of course, I blame myself. And I blame my luck. Sure it’s true that not everybody is going to get me, but do all of them have to show up on the same night? I wish that set wasn’t as bad as I remembered, but sadly, I have it on video – two camera shoot.

It was a emotional crushing period of weeks. I reached inside and gave everything I had, but came up short. This is the first blog post I’ve written since the fiasco began. I suppose I could write up the whole sad story, but to be honest, I’d rather have my prostate checked with a cattle prod than relive it again.

Of the seven videos, I like the one below the best. But unfortunately I can’t use it for the intended purpose. The jokes weren’t the ones I had on my TV clean set list (the cameraman had technical problems for the first 7-8 minutes). It was filmed in front of a small audience; late show Friday. I ended my set that night working blue. Although we used two cameras, I didn’t feel it worth paying to have the video produced. Instead I used the raw video from the one close-up camera and edited it myself. It was a simple job. Start point. Stop point.

WARNING: For (im)mature audiences only. Especially at the very end. My last three bits are purposely offensive. And I don’t mean just to the morally prudish. I’m sure the alternative comedy nerds will find these dick jokes beneath their comedic sensibilities too. Even those in the audience who were digging me, were made to feel squeamish. One woman’s reaction is plain to hear. I know I should feel bad for making her so uncomfortable, but I have to admit, I was loving it. Gotta believe she was too.

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