The unfortunate part about becoming self-employed instead of taking on a new job is that there is no gift giving to one’s self. There were no new shoes or new dresses or even a new back-pack to carry around my stuff. I will have to make do until we ( meaning me ) starts to make some cash.
The other unfortunate part of being a comedian is that generally we don’t make any money. AT ALL!! That’s why I’m glad I started out producing shows last year and that performing only came after the cart and the horse. If I can get butt’s in seats in my room, then I will have a possibility of maintaining this lifestyle of luxury. You know luxury? Where I get out of bed early because the anxiety of being self-employed won’t let me sleep or, the luxury of spending some time during lunch trying Meusli I bought at IKEA because it was cheaper. It didn’t come with instructions so I added Banana’s and Sugar because wow, that’s some dull food. Oh yeah, its a glam factory around here.
Last week I spent time on the ground. This means I walked around and talked to people. Specifically concierges. In San Francisco (the number 5 destination in the world) concierges rule the world. Most of them are super fantastic especially one I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE at a hotel close to Fisherman’s Wharf. Others, aren’t as great as he is because, it can be difficult to strike up a conversation. Ahem!! Most of the feedback I received was great and some was not so easy to hear. “Tourist go to the Wharf once and that’s it. No locals, no repeat business, etc.” I hear the same from friends and other residents, “oooh we don’t go to the Wharf, too many tourists.” or, “Its just a fucking tourist trap and its too expensive.” This reputation does not make my job easy.
In fact the locals almost hate the Wharf. I’ve read forums and blog comments that literally wish the Wharf would slip into the ocean and go away. I find this offensive. Offensive because how can a part of your community that benefits you through taxes and employment be so awful? Why would you hate the very thing that helped your city become what it is today? Why do you hate everything so much in general? For more on the hate in general go to SFGate, Mark Morford covers is so much better.
The Wharf used to be a place where drugs and prostitution reigned high but I do know of other neighborhoods in the city that are much more dangerous and dirty. When you wish such a horrible outcome you wish a few thousand people out of jobs, you wish a neighborhood into depression and you wish a bit of history, your history away. I’ve known of a lot more things that I would rather wish away for a lot better reasons.
As residents of San Francisco we all know this city has major problems. Turn your hate onto the bureaucracy that has created these problems and demand it to be fixed. Don’t turn it onto hard working individuals. OK, I’m down off my soapbox. Basically all I’m sayin’ is – get your butt to the Wharf. More importantly get your ass out into your own neighborhood and support your local businesses and stop pointing fingers from your ivory towers.
I could go on and on but I won’t because there is 100 years or more of history behind it and, that’s just too much for me to tackle in one blog post.
Upcoming Shows for This Week
Tuesday, February 9 (Happy Birthday Cheryl) – Its Ladies Night, all female line-up
Thursday the 11th, Wharf Room Comedy’s Cure for the Common Thursday
Friday & Saturday 12th & 13th, Tickle the Tiger, Chinese New Year Show
Sunday February 14th, My Bitter Valentine – Comedy for the Dead Inside
All Shows at 7:30 find out more at www.castagnolas.com
Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets
Find Wharf Room Comedy on Twitter @wharfroomcomedy or
Our website will be up soon – stay tuned.
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