Comedian, facilitator and event producer. I love jokes and how they can help us move through hard stuff.
Sign up for the Cathartic Laughs newsletter for tips on how to joke about the curve balls life throws our way.
I've been storytelling to tourists on bus tours lately, and am starting to get the hang of things. In my last newsletter, I wrote about my goal to weave stories and history that are complex and not easy into my tours, as well as keep the sense of fun going.
I'm humbled to say that it is a more challenging thing to do than I originally thought.
First thing, I need to collect all the guests and get on the road before I can tell them stories. A few weeks ago, I was flustered trying to pick up all the guests and start on time and I tried to park in front of a busy Coal Harbour hotel and BAM, I took another bus' mirror clean off. Nothing like getting into a crash with a bus full of guests to build their confidence in your ability to keep them safe for the next 6 hours.
I had to use humour to deal with the scenario (which was plainly my fault). As I got back to my bus after exchanging info with the other bus driver, a motorcade of police drove by. My guests and I joked that it seemed like a lot of police to arrest me over a minor crash.
Later in the tour, when I had to reverse stall park the bus at Capilano Suspension Bridge, it was pin drop silence in the bus. I could feel everyone looking out the windows to make sure I didn't hit anything. I laughed at the group saying that I could feel how tense they were and I didn't blame them. They relaxed and laughed. If you can't deal with me driving a bus, the suspension bridge might be too much for you!
Capilano Bridge has been around since 1889
When I got back to base, the mechanics decided they would start calling me Crash. Fair play. Not the first mirror I've damaged this season. I don't want to brag, but I am 7 shifts incident free. Hoping to keep the streak going.
I've found that if I get behind schedule and flustered when picking guests up from the hotels, then it is like they can smell my fear and I can't get back in control of the tour. It is a very similar feeling to being anxious on stage, and the audience senses it and turns on you. Being able to shift the energy with jokes as a way to get a sense of control back has been a useful tool, when I can manage it.
In this job, the things I can reinforce my authority to guests include planning out my route to the different hotels, looking up traffic and being firm with guests about the rules on tour. At a comedy show, it can be knowing my material, having everything prepped in advance which allows me to relax and be playful and allows the audience to relax.
Speaking of shows...
UPCOMING SHOWS
Who Wants To Be Decolonized?
On Wednesday June 10th, Who Wants to be Decolonized? is at Little Mountain Gallery. This is one of my favourite shows in Vancouver. Brenda Prince hosts an Indigenous take on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? that is both funny and informative.
June's show is the last one before summer break.
Three comedians, Nancy Ho, Jan Bannister and Al Hassam will have their chance in the hotseat, answering questions about Indigenous culture. If they get stuck, they can Ask Aunty, Call Kookum or Ask the Audience.
Details:
Wednesday June 10th, Doors 7pm, Show 7:30pm Little Mountain Gallery, 110 Water St. Upstairs in the Racoon Room Online discount code: DECOLONIZE50 (not valid at door) Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/who-wants-to-be-decolonized-4/​
The Am I The Asshole Game
And the last Am I the Asshole Game of the season is this Friday June 12th! Thanks to those of you who showed up to our last show where we talked about accidentally bumping Costco hotdogs and men's retreats.
This is the last AITAH Game until November!
We have another stellar lineup of comedians who will add their own flair and make this show totally unique!
Lee Keple shares a story of a time she might have been the A-hole and YOU the audience, will decide her fate with the help of three talented performers in character. We are lucky to have returning expert Ese Atawo (Riverdale, The Flash), Caitlynne Medrek (Fargo, Heartland) and Nick Blythe (Blind Tiger) grace our stage and bring surprising new characters to the show!
Ese Atawo as a pirate on a previous AITAH Game
Details:
Friday June 12, Doors: 6:30pm, Show 7:00pm Little Mountain Gallery, 110 Water St. Gastown Use newsletter online discount code: 50AITAH for half off the $18.86 tickets (not valid at door).
Comedian, facilitator and event producer. I love jokes and how they can help us move through hard stuff.
Sign up for the Cathartic Laughs newsletter for tips on how to joke about the curve balls life throws our way.
Cathartic Laughs Comedy, Events & Workshops by Em Cooper CHECK OUT UPCOMING SHOWS! Photo of Em Cooper by Chelsey Stuyt Tourists are Teaching me to Get to the Point Over the past two months, I have been learning how to drive a bus. I got my Class 2 license and trained up how to give bus tours around Vancouver to tourists. I have given walking tours previously, but when walking, you can stop at a building, talk about it's history and move on. In a bus, you have 10 seconds to tell a story before...
Cathartic Laughs Comedy, Events & Workshops by Em Cooper CHECK OUT UPCOMING SHOWS! Photo of Em Cooper by Chelsey Stuyt Hey friends, How are you? How's your brain and heart coping with the news of late? It's rough. I have found that as news gets more overwhelming, my comedy has become increasingly silly as a way to process and to just take a break. Perhaps the GOAT of silly stand-up is Chris Fleming, whose new special Live at The Palace is out on Crave/HBO Max. I'm late to finding Chris'...
Cathartic Laughs Comedy, Events & Workshops by Em Cooper CHECK OUT UPCOMING SHOWS! Photo of Em Cooper by Chelsey Stuyt Spring is coming in Vancouver. With it the slow emergence from hibernation-mode and (hopefully) the integration or implementation of some of the things we've been learning over the winter... CLOWN COLLEGE I took my first full clown workshop recently with Deanna Fleysher. It was amazing. While my partner jokes that I was attending clown college, it felt more like learning how...
​