Be Yourself: No One Else Is
Everyone else isn't already taken; everybody is just copying each other
You may be asking why I’m posting quotes from some of the comediennes of the past. I’m putting myself in the shoes of the women who are reading these quotes, knowing their sense of humor, and how much joy, light and exuberance it brings to the lives of those around them - and you may be asking yourself: “Can I really step on a stage and really make people laugh, or do I have to become someone else?”
Take some inspiration from Phyllis Diller:
I wanted to become me, totally me.
The more me, the better.
I instinctively knew this and I was right.
-Phyllis Diller
Myself, along with Phyllis Diller, are here to tell you: No. You don’t need to become someone else to use your voice. In a world of deepfakes, generation wide copycat acts (sorry, love you, Gen Z, but what’s with the broccoli haircuts?) and a sea of comedians all often saying the same things - the world needs you being yourself, especially for women.
You wanna know who stands out in the sea of open mic acts that I’ve seen? The guy in plaid with a guitar, or the guy in plaid making jokes? No disrespect, but it’s everywhere. Pop in at any open mic in central PA, and this is what you see - over, and over, and over.
By virtue of who you are, ladies, you already stand out the moment you step on stage. That can be intimidating, lead to more scrutiny and make you more memorable. It’s a mixed bag. But one thing you won’t be is forgettable - even IF you wear plaid, sing the same songs and make the same jokes.
Being yourself doesn’t mean this will be easy. But the most authentic paths aren’t. If you decide to step on stage and put yourself out there, think of Phyllis Diller stepping on stage in a time where culturally, in the US, it was much safer and preferred to blend in. Check out her first TV appearance and her refreshing perspective on how that went below:
Your first time on stage is guaranteed to be just as awkward - or maybe it isn’t. The awkward will find you like a debt collector eventually; but that’s the tax you pay for the bravery to authentically share yourself on stage. And how much more of a fulfilling life did Phyllis live by expressing herself, and how many other lives did she bring light into by bringing her perspective and humor into the world?