When my first attempt at learning about comedy ended up in a misfire I lost some of the courage I had built up.

It took me until November to finally get up the courage to go back again. At least this time I had learned from my prior attempt. I called the club and made sure that there was going to actually be a workshop on that night.

I remember how nervous I was on the way to the club. It was nearly a 50 minute drive from where I lived which gave me more time than I needed to think about what was going to happen.

Would I have the courage to go in this time? What would the people that were there think of me? Would I have to go on stage that night and be funny? What would I have to tell them about myself? Did I even have what it takes to be funny on stage?

By the time I got there (one hour early like the time before) I was a nervous wreck.

I waited in my van like some kind of stalker until I'd seen some people go inside. The last thing I had wanted to do was be the first person in. I had imagined that senario. In it I got there first and everyone that came in looked at me with curiosity and distain. Each and every one of them judging me without my ever opening my mouth.

So I snuck in with a couple people that were walking in and stood awkwardly in the lobby of the club. I didn't know it at the time but it was pretty typical of the people that would show up at an open mic. Small groups cluster together. With the random person pacing nervously from time to time.

I stood in the corner and tried to take it all in. No one seemed to notice me which gave me a little bit of relief. I didn't know what to do next, I was just waiting for something to happen.

And eventually something did happen. No one said anything but all at once everyone started walking into the theater. It was like someone had blown the equivalent of a dog whistle for comedians.

I followed them into the first comedy club room I'd ever been in. It was dark and the only lights that appeared to be on were lighting the stage, but they were so bright that you could see in the room.

The stage was small and in the shape of a half circle. On the right and left of the room were areas that were raised up. I would later call these the "penalty boxes". The chair and tables were grouped very tightly together. In other words it was laid out like most of the comedy clubs in the country. I just didn't realize that then.

I took a seat in the back.

Without much circumstance the workshop started. People started discussing thing I didn't really understand, but I listened intently and took in all I could.

Then all the sudden the time was up. Everyone got up and filed out of the showroom. I silently went with them and watched as they all broke into their groups again. I walked out of the club contemplating everything I'd heard. Wondering if I'd be able to come back. Wondering if that was the place for me.

No one had even asked me my name.....