The "prayer" Gary Gulman says before every show
"Before every show, I talk about the miracle of even having this outlet, that stand up comedy exists."
This business will grind you down. Every step higher you go on the ladder you see the folks who seem to be doing better and all the things you’re not getting. It can be easy to forget how far you’ve come and how lucky you are to be doing it in the first place.
Sometimes when I’m running from a spot in Times Square to one in the West Village I have to stop and recognize: Years ago, back when I began doing open mics, this was my dream, to be bouncing around the city doing spots in NYC and living the life of a comedian. And here I am doing it.
Sure, I wish I had a million followers and could sell out big venues, but also: I appreciate where I am and how far I’ve come and how lucky I am to get to stand onstage and tell jokes to people. It’s a magical thing. I just have to keep reminding myself of that when some dude from Jersey keeps shouting stuff out in the middle of my setup because he’s convinced he’s “helping.”
Why am I thinking of all that? Because I just read how, before every show, Gary Gulman reminds himself how lucky he is that standup exists and that he’s had success in it.
Gary Gulman: Yeah, before every show. Now I say something –
David Bashevkin: Do you pray, is that part of your –
Gary Gulman: Yeah, mostly gratitude and thanking and –
David Bashevkin: Not in a traditional religious sense you’re not, but –
Gary Gulman: Right, but I speak in English, and I say, before every show I talk about the miracle of even having this outlet, that stand up comedy exists, that I’ve been given the talent to succeed in it, and that I’ve gotten to the point that I’ve gotten, that I haven’t been passed over like so many great talents have, that I’ve been fortunate enough to get to this point, and thank you to the audience that’s there, and it used to be –
David Bashevkin: It’s a meditative reminder.
Gary Gulman: “Please help them forget about their problems,” it became, “Make them feel better about their problems, or feel less alone with their problems,” as I started to speak more about my struggles with mental health.
Good stuff.