2019 review of my comedy experience in Lisbon and Portugal
So what a fuckin year. Jesus. If you told me at the end of 2018 that I would become a stand-up comedian, and start hosting stand up comedy shows, and travel around Portugal to perform, and also start doing short films, and all the other crazy shit that happened. I would have asked to buy some of whatever the hell you were smoking. I mean, I still might ask that. It’s always good to have a new connect. But all of that shit happened. In a single year. Whaaaaat the fuck.
I started the year doing some shows here and there, but May is when the real magic began. I became the host for the English comedy shows produced by the O Zebras group here in Lisbon. Not sure if I’ll continue that role in 2020, but this is where I learned to be comfortable on stage. Having the chance to work with so many comedians, and getting a lot more stage time was helpful. Maria and Joanna, who invited me to become the host, are such amazing people. I love what they built, and I’m so happy I was part of it. And of course, it all started because Ben Friedman asked me to host his going away show, which was also produced by the Zebras. He was the original host before he went back to the USA. Fantastic series of events that lead to it, and I’m so fortunate it all worked out the way it did.
Not long after that, I got a random message from someone on Instagram, asking me if I would be going up to Porto. That dude was Gonçalo Salazar, and he decided to dive in starting his own English stand up comedy show in Porto which is pretty fucking amazing. I was shocked to see a Portuguese dude in Porto trying to set up an English comedy show when that wasn’t even happening in Lisbon. Like he took some serious initiative there. And to this day, I still have no clue how he found me, but I’m incredibly grateful that he reached out and invited me up there. I ended up going back up there for every English show he did that summer. We had a chance to do the shows in the courtyard of Selina Porto, and I loved every single one. I traveled three hours each way to perform for ten minutes, and it was worth it. I met so many excellent comedians in Porto.
Then a guy named Lee Squires approached me about doing a short film based on one of my jokes. We performed together at one of the Zebras shows, and he was able to get in touch afterward. I’ve never fuckin acted in my life, but it turned out waaaaay better than I could have imagined. So many awesome people worked on it. All I had to do was pretend I know how to act. Everyone I worked with was so great, and that was the best part. I was able to do a few more short film projects after that, and there might be a lot more of it in 2020. We’ll see.
In August, I performed at a private event for the first and probably last time. I don’t think my humor is great for private events. I’m not a great comedian on my own. I’m pretty okay in a lineup, and I think I’ve grown to be a workable host. But I’m never going to be a great solo act. It was dope to learn that in front of a room full of people lol.
In September, an excellent American comedian, Adam Palmeter, invited me on a pico tour around Porto. He got connected with a Porto comedian, Rui Xará, who set him up with a couple of shows, and I opened for him. Gonçalo also had a show around the same time, so I ended up doing three shows that week. One of them was in a city called Famalicão, north of Porto. It was so awesome traveling with another comedian. I always made those trips to Porto by myself. I learned so much spending time with someone who has a lot of experience as a comedian in the USA.
I was invited by Hugo Rosa to join a group of comedians to produce shows for Cais a Rir comedy club. It was the first time that I fully managed a show. Organized the comedians, hosted the night, did all of the marketing. I learned soooooooo much working with everyone on those shows — incredible learning experience and again working with a bunch of great people. It helped me understand all of the challenges with putting on shows from start to finish, and I feel like I’ve got it all down now.
I had another road trip to perform an English comedy show in Coimbra. This time another Portuguese comedian, Mike Pires, invited me there to perform. It was the fourth city in Portugal where I’ve performed. That so weird to type out. Like, shit man, I’ve performed English comedy in a bunch of cities in this country. That’s so wild.
I’m ending the year feeling like a real comedian. Like I can do this shit. I can go out in a room full of people and make them laugh and have a good time. Fuck, that feels so good. But I wanna help put other people on. I’ve been super fortunate with all these opportunities I’ve received. Super super lucky. Now I’m ending the year doing my own thing entirely — the first Lisbon English Comedy Jam. Allowing newcomers to try stand up comedy, helping them find places to perform in Lisbon, and mentoring people to keep them motivated.
On top of that, I’m working with a local comedian to get his very own show started. I’m super excited for him. Dude has worked incredibly hard to make it out to shows and improve, and we’ve been performing together all year. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with it. I’m going to keep helping others find their groove. Connect more people to help build a community. Find more places to do jams and help other people start hosting a show. Things are starting to move in a healthy direction for English comedy in Lisbon. Comedians are beginning to feel empowered to do their own thing and work together. That shit makes me so happy, and I hope to grows in 2020.
I’m happy with everything I’ve accomplished this year. Last December, I was in terrible shape. At that time, I decided to quit drinking alcohol for a year. I changed my diet and my lifestyle in so many ways, which helped me drop 14 kilos. I’ve never felt so mentally and physically in great shape. My work life and personal projects are all headed in the right direction. I’ve surrounded myself with really great talented people who challenge me and make me better, and I hope I’m doing the same for them.
2020 has some gigantic shoes to fill. But I’m going to keep my expectations low. I never expected anything I wrote above would happen, much less in a single year. So I’m gonna keep not expecting things. Take care of myself, take care of great people around me, and let whatever happens - happen.
See ya next year!