Latest Living Article is up.

You can read it HERE.

Also, I have a few new posts on hotchicksandstrangers and the Elton John song "I Don't Want To Go On With You Like That" stuck in my head.

Consider yourselves updated.


Upcoming Comedy
Saturday, October 18 - Fort McMurray
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Makin' Movies

I got a small role in a TV pilot yesterday. My role was being knocked unconscious by the butt end of a rifle and stuffed in the back of a van.

At least I survived this time (although by all accounts, I am to be tortured to death in a later scene). Whether I'm a zombie, a thug, or a bartender, my role usually involves a quick and violent death (or in the case of one episode of MPW Madness, getting a pie in the face).

It was interesting acting in a full mask and body suit. It was an interesting challenge because I had to make all my reactions bigger with my body to get across what my character was feeling. I realize not many people are going to be paying attention to "Cleaner 02," but it keeps things interesting for me. My pro-wrestling buddies were right; you do have to make everything bigger when you're wearing a mask.

One of the other guys at the shoot was really cool. He's a bouncer/professional hypnotist/paintball enthusiast. Needless to say, he was a lot of fun to talk with.

And I thought I had diverse interests.



Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 7 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Wednesday, October 15 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Saturday, October 18 - Fort McMurray
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Dan's Underground Comedy Tour Comes Above-Ground

Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 7 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Wednesday, October 15 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Longtime readers might remember Dan's Underground Comedy Tour where I told jokes in the LRT station.

Just for fun, I decided to revisit the experiment, telling jokes in public.

It was not like riding a bike. It was tough to do again. I may have to make it a semi-regular part of my practice (yes, comedians DO practice--at least, I do) because I find I get so much out of it.

I did notice people were more inclined to stop and watch this time. Maybe it was the location; maybe it was the fact some of them were lower traffic areas and people are more likely to stop when there isn't a big crowd (If you took social psychology in university, you'll know why).

But I also think some of it is me. My stage presence has improved that people are more inclined to stop and pay attention. Heck, that's what stage presence is--being compelling enought that people want to watch you without changing the channel.

I'm not saying I have the greatest stage presence in the world.

But I'm making progress.

To me that's the thing that counts the most.

The Wisdom of Jim Cornette

Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 7 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Wednesday, October 15 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

(I was originally going to post this exclusively on the hotchicksandstrangers blog, but it occurred to me that this applies to more than just romantic partners. It also applies to stand-up comedy, sales, personal lives, or pretty much any aspect of dealing with other human beings)

This is going to sound weird, but a lot of what I learned about romance (and stand-up comedy for that matter) came from learning about the psychology of pro-wrestling. While a lot of what I picked up came from picking the brains of experienced wrestlers, I got some stuff off some DVDs. My favorites are Behind Closed Doors with Jake Roberts and Secrets of the Ring with Jim Cornette.

Both DVDs are awesome, but today I want to paraphrase something Cornette said. He was talking about wrestling fans, but I think it applies equally well to potential romantic partners (or--as stated above--pretty much anything else--db).

Picture your pool of potential partners as one of those circular targets used for archery or darts. Each ring represents a group of people

· The smallest, inner-most ring is the people who are going to like you no matter what you do. For whatever reason, they will dig you no matter what.

· The second ring, is a slightly larger group. They’re the people who are going to like you when you’re at your best. They’ll show up as long as you meet their standards, but if you mess up, they’re gone.

· An even larger group is in the third ring. They are people who will like you if you’re “somebody.” They‘ll like your rich or famous or because other people like you.

· The fourth and final group, is everyone else in the world. They either don’t like you, don’t give a shit about you one way or the other, or have no idea who you are and never will.

Here’s what struck me about Cornette‘s Circle.

1 - You have no control over which circle someone falls into. Some people will like you no matter what. Some people will like you if you’re good. Some people will like you if you’re lucky enough to hit the big time. And some people are going to dislike you no matter what, and there’s no way you can change their mind.

But it’s not in your power to ‘assign’ people into a circle. All you can do is make the choices that feel right to you, shoot for your potential and people will either come along or they won’t.

2 - You can’t tell by looking which people fall into which category. A lot of people I know just assume people won’t like them and don’t even make the effort to get to know them (And on a personal level, this used to be one of my biggest problems…and it still is sometimes).

Once I started looking at things in this way, it took a lot of stress off me. It also gave me the freedom to stop trying to impress people and instead focusing on expressing myself and trusting that the people who are into my romantic type (or comedy audience, or whatever) would find me.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 7 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 14 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

It's Mental Health Awareness Week.

Saw a cool show at the University this afternoon. David Granirer from Stand Up For Mental Health was in town to do a show. In addition to doing comedy and working as a counsellor, he also teaches stand-up to people with mental illnesses in Vancouver.

He showed clips of his students and they were quite technically sound as comedians.

Needless to say I found this fascinating. After all, I like teaching, I REALLY like comedy, and I have some interest in the mental health field from my experience volunteering on the Distress Line (Here's the link if you're interested in Distress Line volunteering in Edmonton).

Apparently Dave's students also are in demand to do shows all over the place, which is cool, although the thought that went through my head was, "No wonder it's so hard to find stage time in Vancouver."

For Fans of Zombies and Choose Your Own Adventures

A friend sent me this link. It's fun.


Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 7 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 14 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 31
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

New Living Column is Up

Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, October 14 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Tuesday, October 21 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

The latest living column is up here. If it weren't for my inability to upload video auditions, I might be a reality show contestant right now.

In other news, my supervisor brought her one-year old into the office. He loves balls (Obvious joke here--"What guy doesn't?") whether it's stability balls or those round, paper Chinese decorations. "Ball" was even one of his first words.

If you're wondering why I'm bringing this up, it's because of this old column of mine re: putting the baby on the ball.

Clearly one of us was right and one of us was wrong. Although to be fair, I wouldn't have thought of it had she not told me not to do it (there's a lot of negatives in that last sentence. Sorry if it's confusing).

Yes, I AM gloating.

Gonzo Photojournalism

Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

I did the photo shoot for my next batch of articles today, appearing at the Journal offices carrying a hockey stick, a plastic skeleton, and a duffle bag filled with various odds and ends to the amusement of the staff.

I wonder if Hunter S. Thompson had days like that.

Hot Chicks And...Dan?

There's a website called Hot Chicks With Doucebags which is about...actually, now that I think about it, it's pretty self-explanatory.

It's pictures of guys (douchebags) with women (hot chicks)and accompanying text that is mostly tearing down the guy, talking about how hot the woman is, followed by the occasional bellyaching about "how come women like that end up with guys like him?" Sometimes he even fantasizes about riding in and rescuing these innocent women from the clutches of greasy douchebags everywhere.

It's funny stuff, but (deliberately or not) the guy seems to miss a couple points.

Point One - If there is one central tenet I've learned about romantic relationships, it's this: People find each other for a reason.

I'm not sure whether that's uplifting or chilling. But I do believe it's a fact (supplemented by the Dawn Dumont Corrollary: The two most damaged people in the bar will always find one another)

Part two will continue after these announcements from your sponsor...


Upcoming Comedy
Wednesday, September 24 - Cold Lake, Alberta somewhere--it's a last minute thing
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Welcome back.

Point Two - A woman in a picture with a guy is not necessarily WITH that guy in any meaningful sense of the word.

I know this for a fact because there are enough pictures of me with women on my camera and many others to start a 'Hot Chicks with Dan' website (with enough left over for a 'Passable Chicks With Dan' website, followed by a 'Great Personalitied Girls With Dan' website)

Why do these pictures exist? Because I go out dancing to clubs regularly to dance, and invariably women will want pictures of themselves with me.

I tell myself it's because they know I'm a comedy superstar (Cold Lake, tonight--here I come)or my status as Brilliant Writer/Voice of a Generation (and Monster Pro Wrestling, lest we forget).

But I think mostly because there's something fun about getting your picture taken with the eccentric, thirty-something club regular dancing by himself. It's the equivalent of getting your picture taken with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland.

But girls aren't F***ING Mickey Mouse.

By interesting contrast, of the women I've ACTUALLY hooked up with in the last two and a half years (more than six...less than ten, depending on your definition of what exactly counts as a "hook-up") I have photographic evidence of exactly TWO of them...one of whom is my rhymes-with-burlfriend (I know, I know. The "G" word to me is like "Lord Voldemort" to the citizens of the Harry Potter-verse. Merely the thought of it fills me with dread)

So in conclusion: Don't Pity the Hot Chicks...they know exactly what they're getting.

Don't Fear the Douchebag...fear leads to hate which leads to the Dark Side.

Do however check out the website. The pictures are pretty funny.

In the absence of a 'Hot Chicks with Comedians(*)' site, it will have to do.

(*) Unless this counts.


Upcoming Comedy
Wednesday, September 24 - Cold Lake, Alberta somewhere--it's a last minute thing
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

The Power of Red Bull Compels Me

I am hooked on Red Bull.

It's weird because I'm not into coffee, excessive drinking, drugs, or cigarettes. I don't even like prescription medication and will avoid if at all possible.

But Red Bull is magic.

The first time I tried it, I didn't think much of it. It didn't make me any less tired, but it made it impossible for me to sleep.

That sucked.

Now though, Red Bull has become "Dan-Be-Happy-Juice." It puts me in a better mood.

There's a Buddhist precept about not misusing intoxicants. I've decided to get around it by a rather generous definition of the term "misuse."

I'm a bad Buddhist anyway.

But I'm a pretty good MC. Come to The Comic Strip next Monday and see for yourself.

Also there are a couple new posts up at the hotchicksandstrangers blog on everything from the economics of dating to communication skills and (of course) some sex stuff. Check em out and see what you think.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

New Living Article Up

Latest Living article (on my laser eye surgery) is up. You can find it here.

I was also interviewed by the wonderful and talented Misty Harris for an article on humour here.

Finally, I made a last minute appearance on Kamikaze Komedy with Lars and Matt Lisac two nights ago, so those of you with time machines might want to go have a listen.

Slowly but surely, I'm becoming more comfortable with media stuff, but it's an uphill battle.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Comedy Thoughts

I read a cool magazine article the other day (it was either Rolling Stone, Psychology Today, or possibly a branch of the GQ/Esquire family)about comedy. One of the comedy writers they interviewed noted that comedy by nature is offensive, but the only people who are offended are people who have been personally affected by the particular issue.

In other words, people weren't offended by stuff that happened to other people. As a hypothetical example, if the guy wrote a sketch about--I don't know, a guy getting hit in a face with a pie--every one in the crowd would laugh but the one guy who saw his mother hit in the face with a pie and it scarred him for life wrote in going "I didn't think that was funny at all."

I think that's true, both in my experience as a comic and a human being. The Palin/Clinton sketch that I found so funny actually offended a surprising amount of people (including several of John McCain's campaign staff, apparently). When someone makes a joke at my expense, I tend not to be bothered unless it's something that hits too close to the bone, in which case I catch myself thinking "That's not funny."

Which is sometimes true, but often not. Sometimes the joke isn't funny. Other times it's hilarious, but I just don't have the perspective to see it at the time.

I find it interesting that the humo(u)r we find offensive says more about us than it does about the comedian.

Speaking of funny, here are my upcoming events including a HILARIOUS comedy show on the 29th.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

My New Favorite Link

My new favorite link. Hilarious.

What I love about it is that even though it's hilarious, it makes some pretty strong points.

That's what the best comedy should be like. I wish I had written this sketch.

Oh well. Gives me motivation, I guess.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Forget Jerks...Chicks Dig Shoes

The Suicide awareness march went well. I was moved by the amount of people and their strength in willing to publicly face down an issue with a lot of stigma attached to it. I was also really inspired by the people at the agency where I work for all the effort and time they put into organizing the march.

Of course, it wouldn't be my blog if I didn't comment on at least one funny thing.

One of the things the agency did was take donations of shoes and then set them out on display as a reminder of the people we've lost through suicide. The shoes were donations not the shoes of actual people who killed themselves (I feel I need to make that clear or the humour might be lost).

As we were setting up the shoes before the event, at least three or four times I heard one of my female co-workers say: "Oooh, these are cute."

Usually followed by, "I wonder what size they are."

I said they should leave their shoes and take the ones they wanted.

For the record, we all left the event wearing the same shoes we started in, but it was a near thing in a couple cases.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Lifting the Silence The Seventh Annual Suicide Awareness March

A good cause. I'll be doing the march this year.

From The Support Network website:

Each year, approximately one million people die by suicide around the world. This means nearly one life is lost to suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is a leading cause of death world-wide.
The Support Network invites you to join us in raising awareness for suicide prevention and in honouring lives lost to suicide.

Event Details:
The Suicide Awareness March begins at The Royal Glenora Club and continues on to the legislative grounds where we will gather at The Eternal Flame for a brief ceremony. We will then return to the Royal Glenora Club for a reception and lunch.

Meeting Place:

The Royal Glenora Club
11160 River Valley Rd - parking is available

Date:
Friday, Septmember 12, 2008

Time:
11:30 am March Commences
12:00 pm Ceremony at The Eternal Flame
12:30 Reception and Lunch at The Royal Glenora Club.

New Living Article Up

New Living Article is up here
I'm working on adapting my comedy act now that I'm not wearing glasses anymore. Since I have joked about having bad eyesight AND jokes about the surgery, I'm working with the idea of bringing my glasses onstage and using them as a way of transitioning. I have a few different ideas and I'm excited at seeing how it works out because it's something different and new from what I've done before.

In other news, I am trying to write a dating story from a woman's point of view for the 'Dating for Shy Guys' book. Right now I'm stuck...on what to call the woman. Shannon? Monica? Gertrude?

Sheesh. If I'm having this much trouble with the name, I can't wait for actually writing the section of the book.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Crowd Pleaser

People do interesting things. I've never been much for big crowds, but sometimes they're interesting to watch--especially when the words "Rider" and "Nation" are involved.

Today I went to the University bookstore before work. It wasn't open, but because it was the start of classes, there were mobs of students outside everyone of the three entrances waiting for the doors to open.

As soon as the doors opened, I couldn't help myself. I adopted my best zombie walk and staggered through the doors groaning: "Braaiins...braiins..."

The clerk that saw me laughed his ass off...well, chuckled anyway.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 5
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Honesty? Radical!

I just finished reading a book by Brad Blanton called 'Radical Honesty.' His thesis is you are supposed to tell the truth to everybody all of the time. No hiding anything. No white lies.

I was just wondering how following this would affect my life (not to mention this week's Zombie Project on Right Speech). I was also wondering how this commitment to the unvarnished truth would work in an intimate relationship.

That's when I looked at the 'About The Author' notes at the back.

The author has been married FOUR times.

The puzzle pieces click into place.

Living Article coming out on Friday. Hope people like it.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 5
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

I Can Lead A Nation With A Microphone

I am driving my co-workers crazy playing Handlebars by the Flo-Bots, over and over again.

It isn't just the tune...although I really like that quite a bit. A lot of the song's appeal is that I relate to its message.

Sort of.

The song is overtly political, and asides from watching the U.S. Presidential race, I'm not a political guy.

But to me, the song isn't so much about politics is it is about the desire for MORE.

When I hear the words I think of someone who isn't happy with what they have, who thinks they'll be satisfied once they get the next thing...and of course they never are.

Certainly, I see it a lot in the entertainment business. I feel that way too. I would love to have my words read or heard influence a lot of people's lives, to "lead a nation with a microphone."

When you start in comedy, all you want is a spot on a show. Then you start looking for paid spots. Then you aren't happy unless you're MCing or headlining or on TV or...

It never stops.

Of course, this isn't exclusive to comedy. Some of us seem to be born with that gene, that drive to achieve--in life, relationships, careers--that strand in our DNA that keeps crying out (as my favorite line in the song goes): "Look at me/Look at ME!"


It's okay to want those things. It's okay to be ambitious, to have dreams, and pursue them. But it's equally important to appreciate what you have.

Wanting stuff is okay. Needing stuff to be complete is another matter entirely.

In the meantime, I'm happy to be on the show.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some co-workers to drive crazy.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 5
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com

Zombie Rises

As promised, the first Zombie Diaries entry is up.

This looks fun.


Upcoming Comedy
Monday, September 29 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton

Upcoming Living Columns in the Edmonton Journal
Friday, September 5
Friday, September 19
Friday, October 3
Current Living article is up here.

Dan's musings on shyness and relationships can be found at hotchicksandstrangers.blogspot.com