Sit Again, Calm down and Stand Up For Women!

By Hollie Harper

Though I used to be 26 once I first received into stand-up, the concept of creating individuals snigger had been brewing within me for way back to I can keep in mind. Rising up, Joan Rivers was my idol,  and I’d watch her performances each likelihood I received. Whereas my household by no means absolutely understood my obsession, they supported me and even purchased me certainly one of her tapes for Christmas once I was 15. I wore that tape down and had each phrase of her monologues and jokes completely memorized, a lot of which nonetheless reside with me in the present day.

As I grew up, I spent each spare second writing jokes. Whereas working as a waitress I’d discover myself writing jokes between taking orders and delivering meals to my clients. Each state of affairs was a possibility to write down one thing humorous. My older sister was lastly the one to push me to confess not solely was this my ardour, but additionally my future. 

This was scary for thus many causes. Whereas Joan was my idol, she was the exception to the rule, as most comedians had been males. Even much less was my likelihood of seeing anybody who appeared like me, a girl of coloration. My decisions had been to surrender earlier than I started or hold combating and dealing for my place within the trade that I knew I deserved.

My as soon as in a lifetime likelihood lastly got here one night time whereas working as a waitress in a blues bar. The host didn’t present up for the open mic. Figuring out this was my ‘do or die’ second I made a decision to take my shot and in between taking orders and delivering drinks I manned the stage and this slapstick comedian was born.

Turning into a stand-up is a blended blessing. I really like connecting with the viewers and making individuals snigger. There’s nothing fairly as exhilarating as seeing individuals having a great time due to what you’re doing. What I didn’t love was the sensation that stand-up comedy was a ‘Boys Membership’. Regardless of how laborious I labored I felt that I’d by no means be a part of that membership, and after three years, I transitioned to sketch comedy. I spent the subsequent ten years honing my craft and although I cherished sketch comedy, my first real love was nonetheless stand-up.

I do know they are saying that ‘lightning doesn’t strike twice’ however for me it truly did. At certainly one of my sketch exhibits, the comic was a no present and I as soon as once more couldn’t waste the chance and opened the present. I continued there for a few years however nonetheless felt hesitant to name myself a stand-up till simply 5 years in the past once I received the braveness to check out my jokes at an open mic for an necessary upcoming present and thought “I can do that!”

Two years in the past, whereas discussing names of comics for a present a pal was taking pictures, he turned to me and mentioned “What about you?” The religion he had in me was what I wanted to return to the platform I cherished so dearly. 

Seeing extra girls, particularly younger girls of coloration in stand-up is extraordinarily necessary. No woman ought to ever suppose that there isn’t a spot for her due to her gender, nor do I need to hear the phrase ‘girls are simply as humorous as males’ ever once more. It’s 2020, we will do no matter we would like irrespective of our gender, race, sexuality or some other kind of identifier, so long as now we have the eagerness, expertise and want. Nonetheless, many ladies in the present day are nonetheless being informed they don’t seem to be as humorous simply because they’re ladies, and sadly consider it. 

I discovered Stand Up! Women 18 months in the past once I was launched to Bryn Bowen, a board member,  on the Black Ladies in Comedy Pageant. I keep in mind attending my first present and tearing up desirous about how I might have used this in 1985. It was not till I used to be in my late 20’s that I used to be in a position to lastly see an all-female stand-up present. 

Stand Up! Women is a nonprofit group, based by Holly Weiss, whose core mission is to coach, encourage and equip ladies from underserved communities with the communication abilities crucial to reach and lead male-dominated workplaces. By way of creating and performing stand-up comedy, the ladies achieve confidence and study to ‘personal the room’. The hope is that by studying these abilities at a younger age, younger ladies will really feel empowered to hunt out positions of management in settings like a courtroom, working room or boardroom.

It was a no brainer to say sure once I was supplied the chance to turn into an teacher. It has been an honor to offer these ladies an opportunity to search out their voice and mentor them as they hone in on their craft in a nurturing and welcoming atmosphere. It has been an absolute pleasure to look at these ladies remodel into assured younger women and our future leaders! 

Stand Up! Women can be internet hosting a digital fundraising occasion on October 29th at 7:30 pm EST. The fundraiser, Sit Again, Calm down and Stand Up for Women, consists of an at-home film exhibiting of All Joking Apart, adopted by a Q&A hosted by award-winning comic and author, Judy Gold. 

The Q&A panel will embrace the movie’s lead actress Raylene Harewood and director Shannon Harwood, Stand Up! Women program contributors from Cristo Rey H.S. (Brooklyn), Stuyvesant (Manhattan) and Democracy Prep (Harlem) and a gaggle of feminine comedians together with myself!

Matters to be mentioned are feminine empowerment, gender bias, mentoring, and what we will study from bombing on stage. 

Based in 2018 by profitable skilled girls and other people of coloration, Stand Up! Women has enrolled 30-50 ladies a semester throughout New York Metropolis. Every program consists of 8-12 weeks of instruction and culminates in a efficiency showcase at a comedy membership in NYC, and for now, on Zoom. To learn to get entangled, go to http://standupgirlsnyc.org. 

All Joking Apart can be obtainable for rental and sale starting November 13 on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and different main platforms.

By educating ladies stand-up comedy we train them to faucet into their voice, converse and be HEARD.

As a result of within the phrases of Kamala Harris, “Excuse me, I’m nonetheless speaking.”