Sunday December 17th, 2006 - Overland Park, KS/Chicago, IL

562 more miles on the car today but I don’t mind. I saved about 40 by taking a shortcut I hadn’t known about before. I just assumed I needed to take I-70 east to St. Louis and up I-55 to Chicago like I always do but one of the waitresses at the club who is from Chicago told me to head up I-35 north toward Des Moines and then over on US 36 and go through Hannibal, MO. Most of it was four lane and it ended up saving me all those miles. Plus it was a new road I’ve never been on before and even after all the miles I’ve put on it is still fun to do that for some reason. It made the trip fresh and I left right after the second show.

I was glad to get out of Kansas City this time but I do want to come back. The club isn’t going to be in the same spot next time, they are moving to a hot new area that has a giant entertainment complex and when they move there they will close the place I just worked. I got some really nice compliments from the staff on how funny they think I am and that’s very flattering. There is a local comic named Will C. who is a super nice guy and is really starting to put his act together who also works at the club seating people and whatever he can just to be around the business. I did the same thing when I started back in Milwaukee at a club called the Funny Bone. I answered phones and cleaned the bathrooms and sat the audience and then went up and got stage time. That’s how to learn the business. Will was there this weekend and told me how much I influenced him and that he considered me his mentor and hearing things like that makes me want to keep slugging and not feel like I am wasting my time. The shows this week sure made me feel that way but visiting with guys like Will and hanging out with Jerry’s family made me feel like I make SOMEONE glad I show up. I really have NO clue at all if I am doing anything that affects people positively.

I read somewhere that people who make the biggest difference often have no idea at all how much they affect those around them and how much influence they have. I guess I am the same way. I have students tell me quite frequently how much I have helped them and I am always surprised to hear it. I really do try to be a good guy and help everyone I can but I guess I don’t see results as much as I should. I see the things that don’t succeed and that can have a way of taking the thunder out of those that do. To have someone tell me that I have been a positive influence on them makes me feel like I did SOMETHING right.

One thing I did right today was make it back in time to be a part of the charity show put on by my friend Dave Rudolf down in Park Forest, IL. I’ve written about him before here and if you didn’t read it he’s both a wonderful person and great performer. We met years ago and have stayed friends. He does music and kids shows and last year he had cancer of the esophagus of all things and he’s been doing these shows for 21 years. I’ve done about a dozen if not more and whenever I’m in town I show up and help spread Dave’s vibe. He has a lot of fans and I’m one of them and we talked about how it’s difficult to see the full picture of what we do ourselves. When I walked in the place he gave me a big hug and all the people there got an earful of how great I was until I was embarrassed. Nobody would be able to live up to the way he described me but I feel the exact same way about him. He gives of himself and doesn’t expect in return and we have both done all we can for others. Here's a guy who just beat CANCER and he's telling everyone how great I am. I felt like an idiot but I know he meant it. I don't think I could handle cancer like that but he didn't let it get in his way of what he is doing with his life and has just plowed through it. Great!

We sat and talked for a few minutes after the show and then he asked if I would be OK with doing 15 minutes of comedy to open the show. The audience here is always great but it’s full of kids and the first couple of years I didn’t know what to do. Over the years I got used to it and was able to pull it off without a hitch. This year’s crowd was especially hot and I got some solid laughs and a huge ovation and then I brought on Dave who took it all from there and it was a fantastic night for everyone. I brought Jerry Agar along so he’d be able to meet Dave and hopefully plug him on his radio show and he had fun too. Dave has been a huge influence on me and he doesn’t even realize it. He’s done 20 albums and is in the process of working on another one. I thought I was a hustler until I met him. He is just the best there is. Check out his website at www.daverudolf.com. He is one of THE most creative people I've ever met.