Tom O'Connor's Blog, page 6

New Month. New Stuff.

Starting off a new month with a new bit of fun. Last Friday night I drove across town to record another episode of the StoryWorthy podcast with hosts Christine Blackburn and Hannes Phinney. Always a fun time… and the episode is already posted and ready for downloading. You can find it at the iTunes store of course or just go directly to the StoryWorthy website… and hey, don’t just listen to my episode, check out some of the other great stories by awesome storytellers.

Meanwhile, I’ve started teaching a new “level 2″ improv class at bang on Tuesday nights. Last week was the 1st of six classes, and it is already shaping up to be the highlight of my week. Teaching this stuff is always a treat, but it is even more fun when the students are this funny, fearless and eager. It is really inspiring.

Used to the Muse.

By almost any standard, 2012 is off to a good start.

Creatively I was visited, and a bit roughed-up by, “The Muse” all through the month of January, and I’m not complaining about it. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not really a  touchy-feely, new-age guy, but I’m having trouble finding a rational explanation for what occurred. In less than 30 days after New Year’s Eve,  I managed to write – from blank screen to finished script – not one, but two “spec sitcom pilots” … a feat that would normally take me half a year. Odder still is the fact that these two scripts didn’t spring out of ideas I had been mulling around for a while etc. …no, they both came to me like they were being downloaded directly into my head. No kidding. It was an exhilarating and unfortunately very rare feeling. I simply couldn’t type fast enough to get it all down – and I can type hella-fast. This would only be bragging if I pretended I understood it and was trying to take credit for it. More than anything else – I’m just grateful for the experience when it happens. And yes, the scripts have started “going out” and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far… although no one has busted out their checkbook…. yet.

My January performance at Comedy Central’s “Sit n Spin” show went well. I hope to have the video posted to my Funny or Die page in a week or so. Looking forward on the calendar, I’ve booked a return engagement at the PEZ Show, Alex Alexander’s great ‘readings’ show at the Actor’s Comedy Studio, and I’ve submitted material to a couple of other shows on new (for me) stages. Will keep you posted on all that… and keep an eye on my “Performance Calendar” over here on the right –>

And last/not least:  I’ll be teaching a new “level 2″ improv class at Bang starting next week which I’m sure will be the fun highlight of my week for the next 2 months… I just have to make sure it is equally fun for the students.