Well, like I mentioned earlier, I look the Comedy Girl stand-up classes hosted by Dawn Whitwell at Comedy Bar in Toronto.

But before I performed at the Comedy Girl Grad Show, I did Daniela Saioni‘s West End Girls.

West End Girls was my very first time standing in front of a room of people expecting them to laugh at what I was saying. It was a show called Virgin Suicides.

Poster cred: stolen from Daniela’s Facebook.

Doing stand up for the first time was amazing. I met some amazing comics including an awesome new friend of mine, Priscila Pequeño. Priscila is so funny my non-comedy friends got star struck when they met her.

Photo cred: “Backstage at West End Girls, Comedy Bar, Toronto” myself, from my Instagram @pies.skye

My second show was the Grad Show for Comedy Girl.

Photo cred: “Comedy Girl Grad Show Line Up” via my Instagram @pies.skye

As you can probably tell, Dawn forgot to add me to the line up. I got squeezed in at #5.

More great pictures from that night (all from my Instagram @pies.skye):

Elena Potter during sound check

The Fairy God Mother of Lady Comedians aka Dawn Whitwell

Kathy Kalpakiotis and Aurora de Peña

What I learned from taking classes is that stand-up, like anything in life, is that people who are good at something make it look easy. I’ve always loved stand-up and thought hey I could do that! So I tried and saw just how challenging it really is. Stand-up is its own unique thing and to be any good at it you need practice. Like any performer you need to respect your audience.

At this point, having a few months of perspective, I can’t tell you how much classes made a difference. It has helped with my confidence, my self efficacy, and I know it has helped me be a funnier comic. So thanks Dawn!

I’m also performing tomorrow on Dawn’s show Dawn Patrol. 8:30 pm Monday January 19 at Comedy Bar!

So come out and support live comedy!

My first show of 2015 is Dawn Patrol! At 8:30 pm on Monday, January 5th at Comedy Bar! $7