The Sacred Sideshow

One year ago today (2/16/19) I did a show at my friend Christopher Place's place. I had just written some poems about my recent heartbreak as Vic Smith, and was excited to share them at The Big Top,  the name of the venue. When I heard "THE BIG TOP" I imagined a big luxurious tent, with a fancy bar and many plastic chairs in front of a large stage, for me to be reciting my heartfelt poems.

I was inspired to write the poems as my break up from a few months before was right in my face on Valentines Day, and I felt this was the best way to get over my sadness at the time. My buddy Faraaz, who I met in Ireland close to a year earlier was visiting Chicago with his cousin Lianna, and they were coming to see it. I also posted a video online promoting the show on V day to get the word out.

The day of, I wrote up the poems on some notecards for the show and made my way over to The Big Top for The Sacred Sideshow.

It was quite far on the South Side, I got off at Sox-35th on the Red Line, and I had to walk for about ten minutes. I was beginning to think that I was going to the wrong place and was getting nervous, as things began to look a bit desolate. I was soon entering a neighborhood of many apartment complexes, away from general civilization, and far away from my large tent with plastic chairs.

I arrived to the address. I called Christopher and he buzzed me up to go in. I walked up to meet him and all the different people. Christopher was wearing a black dress shirt, a rainbow bow tie, and black leggings, outlining his groin, so I gave him a hug.

He showed me the performance space, in the living room. It was a long room with pillows and cushions on the ground for seats on both sides of a strip pole with a mirror behind it, an ideal space for poetry.

Faraaz and Lianna soon arrived and made their way upstairs, it was great to be reunited almost a year after meeting them in Ireland. They seemed cool with the odd set up for the show.

We were catching up, meeting new people, then out of nowhere I see my Dad's friend/old co worker, Nick walk over to me with a beer. My first thought was that he had come to see somebody else.

"Nick, what are you doing here?"  I asked.
"We came to see you perform, Vic." Nick replied.
"Holy shit, how did you know?" 
"You posted it on Facebook!" 

I forgot about posting that video on there, and didn't think anyone would actually show up from my doing that. But, Nick came with his wife Jackie to see me perform, as they are big fans of Vic Smith. Nick also does an impression of me, here it is So, Lianna and Faraaz met Nick and Jackie, we all talked for a bit and the show soon started.

We were all ushered into the living room area to sit on both sides of the strip pole, for our highly intoxicated host to begin the show. Christopher began a long introduction of the evening. I sat next to Faraaz and Lianna and saw Nick and Jackie across the way,  "admiring" Christopher's groin.

I was going third and the first act was a guitar player, who played some covers and a few original songs. Then after that, the pole and the space was more utilized for my openers who were two burlesque dancers. They had a fun choreographed dance as they stripped to their panties and nipple tassels. Perfect segue for Vic Smith to come to da stage! Here's a quick video of Faraaz laughing and Christopher standing up shirtless.

I'd never performed with a strip pole as a mic stand, or to the audience being to the right and the left of me. But the audience was really fun and laughed a lot at the heartbroken Vic Smith.

We took a brief intermission, and Nick and Jackie left as their backs and knees were hurting from sitting down for so long. They were also a slightly bewildered by Christopher's attire and demeanor.

Some other acts consisted of ukulele playing, singing, and a Brazilian Jujitsu guy demonstrating some moves on Christopher. The closer was a seasoned stripper who used the pole appropriately. They had people vote on who they liked the most, and the burlesque act won. There was also a raffle, and some guy won 10 bucks, and he gave me a single as he said he liked me the best :)

It was a real fun show, then Christopher kept us around a bit longer to allow/force people to come to the stripper pole and share. There were a few long and awkward pauses before some people went up to speak, one of them being Lianna. We were soon allowed to leave after some speeches were made.

Lianna, Faraaz, and Vic

Faraaz had rented a car, and he drove Lianna and I to a restaurant near by to grab a late night meal. It felt like we were in a foreign country together again, as we were in an area I was unfamiliar with, and it seemed exotic.

They asked me how I came up with my poems and I told them about the break up I went through recently, and channeled that through Vic Smith. They helped me realize I was still in pain about everything that happened, and provoked me to begin some more healing soon after.

We had an amazing conversation. Both of them were so open to me sharing what I'd been through, and sharing their own experiences. They are so open and honest as cousins and I got a lot out of our short conversation over dinner.

It was a great night, and great to see both of them. Seeing them is rare as Lianna is at U of I in Champagne, and Faraaz was in Phoenix at the time and has since moved to Reno.

Since then he and I have kept in touch over the phone, discussing all areas of life every few weeks or so. He is a psychiatrist, so I certainly enjoy the free therapy sessions.

I am grateful to Christopher for putting on this show, and inviting me to play. It was certainly a different experience, as he is an eccentric dude. He's also extremely sincere and kind and open, and a good pal. I'm excited for the next Sacred Sideshow, and will let people know when it is!

Alan Roger Currie

MOOOOOODDDEEEE OOOOONNNEEE!!!

Thanks to my good friend Shawn Shaw, I know Alan Roger Currie, and his philosophies on straight forward, honest communication in approaching women that you are attracted to. Otherwise known as Mode One behavior.

Alan Roger Currie is an author and a dating coach, his books that I have read are "Mode One"  "The Possibility of Sex"  "Oooh, Say it Again"  and "The Beta Male Revolution".  I could do very long and extensive articles regarding each of these books, but I'll just be acknowledging ARC right now. 

Since discovering him and his techniques and philosophies on interacting with women, I have gained a lot more sexual experiences and wisdom in the dating realm. Before knowing him I was naive about men and women's true sexual nature, the characteristics of alpha males and beta males, and learning to conquer my fears in taking action with approaching women honestly. 

He is extremely intelligent and eloquent with his boldness, and has a deep understanding of masculine and feminine behavior and attraction. He does a great job of breaking down aspects of human behavior in dating and sex. He is very extensive and detailed, and allows the reader to fully understand all angles of what he is communicating.

If you are unfamiliar with mode one behavior, it is basically being upfront and honest with your romantic and sexual intentions. It is one of the four modes of communication when dealing with people. It wastes a lot less time when you are straight and to the point with your intentions. 

Because women already know that when you approach them in most situations, you are interested in them sexually or romantically. Women respect and appreciate the bold honesty more so than coy and indecisive behavior from men.

Depending on the situation, I usually have no problem walking up to a woman and letting her know I am attracted to her, and would like to spend time with her intimately. I have also talked dirty to women and have gone home with an hour of meeting them.

Talking dirty to women is another thing he goes in to extensively. Primarily in his book  "Oooh, Say it Again".  It can seem like a scary thing to do, but it can also create some extremely fun and interesting experiences. I've done it many times, and I've never been slapped, or told off by a gal, they usually appreciate it or are entertained and intrigued. It doesn't always work in getting them to reciprocate, but it works in getting your communication across directly and efficiently.

As a straight man, you want sex from attractive women. So you might as well let her know that you are interested and give her the opportunity to decide if she is too. There are many woman who are interested, and are waiting for a bold guy to come present an opportunity to them. 

Don't be a guy pretending he is really interested in getting to know a gal so he can make a physical move on the third or fourth date, only to be rejected. This provokes men to get upset and angry that a woman wasted all that time for them.

I've done it in various places and forms and it has worked for me a number of times. I've also done it and it hasn't worked, but the rejection came very quickly, and both parties were left self expressed and unharmed. Sometimes you end up having an authentic conversation with a stranger about dating and sex, and they may even wish you luck with the next gal.

There are also times when a woman will give you responses that are not direct rejections or reciprocations. For this, you should check out his second and third books  "The Possibility of Sex"  and  "Oooh, Say it Again".  He breaks down the kinds of women that will engage in head games and mislead men. Because you could end up wasting time with a girl who really isn't interested. Or you could walk away from a girl who was interested, but was just testing you more.

And as a woman, if you are looking for a relationship with a guy. I imagine that you would rather have a man tell you that he is only interested in you sexually, if you inquire about a possible long term relationship. Instead of pretending that he is looking for something deeper, to go out on a few dates and have sex. To find out that he only said that so he could get in your pants.

Mode One behavior has changed my life, and listening to this man's audio books has really improved my social and dating life. I invite you all to check him out, here is a brief introduction to him and the mode one approach.

I think there is an aura in the air that men are much hornier than women. Women just want us to believe this! Because we will work harder to gain their sexual company if we men believe this (Spend time listening to them, and spending money and energy impressing and flattering them).

Although, overall, men are generally hornier, just not by as much as we are made to believe. Women are also horny, they just have more sexual options than most men.

You really do not have to put this time, money and effort in to exchange orgasms with an attractive female. Just be honest and bold with your intentions, and allow women to decide if they will reciprocate or reject your advances. It makes things very simple. I suggest you check out his work and become a student of ARC if you want this for yourself.

My First Open Mic

I was living in Carbondale Illinois, going to SIU to study film. I had been obsessed with the idea of doing stand up for about a year before that, and decided that this was the place I was going to start. As I'd be a new guy in a new town at a new college, and wanted to recreate myself.

Walking around campus one day I saw a poster for Double Shot Comedy open mic on Wednesday nights at The Long Branch Cafe. I rattled this idea around in my brain for a month or so, thinking of stuff to write, and fighting the thoughts of fear and what not, and decided to go on the night of October 23rd 2013.

I biked over there from my dorm building, and I sat in a booth for a few moments looking at my notecard of "jokes" and a big friendly looking bearded man walked over to me slowly. He asked me if I was there for the open mic and I said yes. I told him I wanted to perform for the first time. He understood and told me his name was Pat, and I told him mine, and he left me to my preparation.

The show soon began and he went up there to introduce the show and told some jokes. There was no microphone, which startled me.

"So let's get the show started. It's this guys first time performing! Please give it up for Luke Warner!"

I did not expect to go first. People clapped, and I went up there as my stomach dropped and my heart pounded through my chest.

I don't remember much of my jokes, I do remember one joke I told that I heard from my grandfather which was "One good thing about Alzheimers is that you can hide your own Easter Eggs". The audience made a noise that I'd never experienced. I thought it was only laughter or silence. There were groans, and sighs, and some laughs here and there through out.

A pic I drew of myself on 4/7/2014

I also said something about how my friend told me that he heard of a frat that used to lace the faucets in their house with roofies for when girls who came over for parties needed a drink of water. I must have had some kind of joke in there. The rest of the jokes I don't remember. 

I was up there for maybe 3 or 4 minutes, I remember shaking a bit, and the laughs I got were okay enough to make me believe it went decent. I got off the stage and sat down to watch the rest of the show.

At one point a guy named Austin Acree went up and made fun of my shirt, as it said "KOK" on it, which was a shirt my sister gave me, referencing a bar "Killroys on Kirk". That, of course I would make some kind of joke about roofie ing girls. So I didn't like him then. I grew to like him a lot as he was a nice guy and very funny.

The closer for that evening was a blind guy. He had a big beard, a white dress shirt, big black sunglasses, a sweet hat, and his cane. He went up there and said "Give it up for Luke, it was his first time on stage and that takes a lot of balls." So everyone clapped for me and it felt really nice. He did about ten minutes on weddings, and about how he's perfect for ugly women.

The show ended and I went up to him and thanked him for giving me props. He put his hand out for me to shake it and I did. I never saw him again, and he never saw me. I said goodbye to Pat and the rest of the folks. Feeling good that I had a new community to come back to. I biked home that night feeling accomplished, as I'd finally done stand up.

I went back there 13 more Wednesdays, and did a different open mic 5 times at a bar where people didn't pay attention much and or heckled. I missed two Wednesdays at Long Branch because I found out that my grandfather died on one of them in December, and that my dog died on one of them in April.

I remember the one where my dog died because instead of going, I walked around near campus and found a basketball court and a few deer hanging out near by. I took a video of the deer as they were staring at me, and I was contemplating going closer to them but was too scared to do so. I felt oddly connected to them and nature as I was sad about my dog.

I did a total of 18 open mics during my year in Carbondale. It helped my time there as I struggled at that school. I expected to be a hit with all the ladies, and make a bunch of new friends, and I didn't really do either. 

I had two roommates, one black dude with a child from the West side, and a short Napoleon complexed black dude from the South Side. We would smoke blunts in the bathroom, and they would tell stories of gang banging and what not. So I started off in fear of them and tried my best to fit in with them.

I soon moved out of their room into a room with a milk toast white kid from Oregon. If I had stuck it out in my old room for another month or so I could have had it to myself, as my old roommates got kicked out of the school for shooting people with paintball guns. 

Playing basketball, making short films and doing open mics were the best things for me in Carbondale. 

I didn't do that much film stuff there either, I wanted to be making more movies in class. I did make one comedic short film that turned into a trilogy. I also made a documentary about my little circle of comedians in Carbondale.

I am proud of myself for doing that at that time, it provoked me to find improv, and create a new comedy journey for myself. Doing stand up was my first time ever performing on stage in any capacity.  I'll always remember that time and those people I started with.