as you may have heard by now – i hosted APTN’s, “2009 Aboriginal Day Live” from Whitehorse, Yukon this past week and the whole experience has reinforced something that i’ve been saying for years – we’ve got insane talent in the aboriginal community.

i was fortunate enough to be asked to host the northern stage for APTN’s, “2009 Aboriginal Day Live”, and as soon as i was asked – i jumped on the opportunity.  it was a no brainer.  i mean, hosting events, performing, etc. – that’s easy to me.  what i forgot to think about was that it was going to be LIVE, on NATIONAL TELEVISION, and that i’d NEVER done live television before.  i’ve been on tv, shot stuff in studios, film sets, etc., but i got the feeling that this was going to be different. it was a weird, barfy, antsy feeling.  one that i hadn’t felt about a show for a long time.

the build up to this gig nearly killed me.  i don’t think i slept for nearly three weeks before ab. day and it was an ongoing battle to rest, relax, allow myself to enjoy what was happening rather than freak myself out about it.  i think i put alot of pressure on myself to make an impression on those that hired me.  i was hired to write and perform and i really wanted to show them what i could do.  that pressure was heavy and totally unnecessary.  they hired me, for who i am and what i’ve done and can do.  i forgot that.  

the good thing about that barfy, antsy feeling i had was that it injected that love of performing back into me – not that i ever lost it.  as someone that’s on the stage alot, the “high” that one gets from performing tends to go away after you’ve been doing it for a long time (13 years in for me, close to 10 years of theatre, improv and sketch comedy, 3 years of standup comedy) and i just relate that back to it becoming “my job”.  let me be clear here – i love my job.  but i’m sure, doctors, graphic designers, furniture makers all love their jobs as well.  i imagine there are days they really look forward to going to work and there are some days they don’t.  i imagine at first they all got really excited about their first few weeks, but, after awhile, that wears off.  well, it had for me.  the most common question i get asked about performing is, “ARE YOU NERVOUS?”  i always answer NO.  i don’t get nervous.  even in highschool theatre, i was always able to stay grounded before i got onstage.  what i had to learn as a young performer was to use my “nervous energy” into something positive (being in my funny place, being BIG onstage, etc.)rather than something negative (freaked out, thinking about how they’ll like the jokes, etc.).  once i figured out how to channel my energy properly – i never got nervous.  THIS SHOW WAS DIFFERENT.  i was nervous, that performance rush was there for me, and i felt excited to step onstage again.  it was amazing to reconnect with that.  i’m going to try and hold onto that for awhile.  it’s a feeling i like.

the biggest note i got from the producers and the director was – to be myself.  i was told that that’s what got me there and that i could/should just relax and enjoy the time. so, that’s what i did.  i’m glad i did too.  everything from script meetings, to rehearsals, to the anticipation of doing “live hits”, to hanging with the musicians, to joking with the crew, to memorizing the script, was off the hook.

the lineup for the show was amazing. the list was eclectic and really highlighted the fact that “aboriginal music” bridges gaps, it crosses cultures, and more importantly, it doesn’t fit into a box or category.  

here’s the list of performers from the whitehorse stage.  please take time to visit their websites, order their music, and keep supporting aboriginal music.

• Ed Peekeekoot (country/roots/spoken word/flute with a hint of comedy)
• Donny Parenteau (kick ass country/fiddle rock/foot stompin’ metis jams)
• Jerry Alfred (northern canada rock & roll with a traditional flavour)
• First Nations People Performance Group (dance/song/language/culture/mind blowing)
• Kinnie Starr (hip hop fused with rock blended with spoken word art rockin’ to a beat)
• Derek Miller (indian blues, grungy party rock, all rooted in killer song writing)
• Crystal Shawanda (old country meets new country, storytelling roots with a rock sensibility)

 i’m in whitehorse now and i’m prepping for a day of rehearsals, sound checks, and script work as we get ready for the big day.  the site in whitehorse is incredible.  the view is simply breathtaking and the stage, lights, and sound are beautiful.  i hooked up with derek miller in calgary and we talked for a long time about our people, the scene, the music, and the change that is happening now.  he feels it – so do i.  there is a big cultural shift happening right now – alot of young and hungry talent is rising up and the shift is upon us.  we talked about how awesome it was to be a part of a show of this magnitude and i’m glad he’s excited as i am – i was starting to feel like a fruitcake.

it came quickly and most of it’s a blur – but it’s finally here.  i’m a few days away from hosting the 2009 ABORIGINAL DAY LIVE broadcast on APTN (the gig of a lifetime really) & i’m not sure that i’ve really slept in the last 4 days. in fact this past week has been a blur for me. i’m running on adrenaline and coffee.  i try and eat, but it just doesn’t work for me.  i know i’ll be fine as i work best under pressure situations, and i know i just have to remember to have fun with the crowd, but man oh man – it’s overwhelming. 

i’ve got a sizeable script to memorize and i’m starting to regret not hitting the gym harder (or at all), and i’m constantly struggling with “whether my stuff is funny enough”, BUT, all in all, I’ve never been more stoked about a gig in my life.  I’m not sure why, or how I was chosen to host this, but, I’m going to slow everything down, enjoy the moment, and make some memories.  at this time, the only thing I wish was that my kookum were here on earth to see it, but I know she’s watching from that big bingo in the sky.

i’m honoured and humbled to be part of such an event.  i’d like to think i’ve worked hard over my “comedy career” and that i deserve this gig – but a big part of me is really overwhelmed.  i just need to remember to breathe – and always make sure my fly is done up so as not to show my “ojibwayness” on television in FULL HD.  lol.  

make sure to tune in. it’s going to be one hell of a show.  visit the website to get full show lineups.

i’ve been neglecting this blog-diggy lately, so here goes:

• another season of comedy loser is coming to an end. this has been my third year of producing comedy at the king’s head on tuesday nights and i’ve had a hell of a time doing it.  i enjoy the community building in the process of producing shows.  i’ve met some amazing people at that place (and i’ve met some real douche bags – but – life is about balance right?) and i’m proud to have been associated with the nights.  i said at the end of last year that i was moving my show to a different venue so as to create a change of scene for myself – it fell through as the venue simply did not open it’s doors.  i love producing, and i’ll continue to produce – but in a different way.  i’m starting my own weekly show this fall as i feel like i really need to be onstage more and i want to focus my time on building my material and to try and take my act to where i’d like it to be.  having my own weekly show will allow me to be onstage every week, work on old and new stuff, but also to invite whomever i want in for the show.  it’ll be a variety show format for two weeks, comedy loser, and cagematch:winnipeg.  location will be announced shortly – though, some of you already know where it is – it’s not official yet.
• i’ve been slipping on updating the “life according to clarence two toes” project.  the last two weeks nothing has been posted as the “business” of being a self managed/promoted/etc. comedian has caught up to me and i haven’t been able to get any time to do the art.  that’ll change.  new episode up this monday…i promise.
• CLICK HERE!. this is the screenshot i took when looking up my web stats for today. it was reported that my site was reached 111 today through various search queries on the internet – 3 of these came through people searching for DOG FUCKING and 2 of them came from people googling INDIAN FUCING DOG.  how and why does my site pop up when this is typed into a search engine?  for the record – i’ve never fucked a dog.  thanks internet.

a couple of weeks ago i was honoured to be a part of the cbc radio series – NDN ACTION.  i was asked by a kick ass producer, ruth shead (@ruthlesstravels on twitter), at the cbc to be a part of the series as they were profiling a handful of indian people around manitoba that are taking action to make change/create change/be the change in their communities.  it was a fantastic interview and we talked for nearly an hour about a whole bunch of different things.  i generally hate talking about myself but ruth had a sensibility and an understanding that i hadn’t experienced with the media before – a breathe of fresh air really.

there are a few details in the interview that i could have given better context to, but, i was so wrapped up in conversation with ruth that i hadn’t noticed.  anyway, i’m proud of this interview and the story it tells – enjoy.