This is a Love Letter – From Saskia Bee

          “I love stand-up comedy. I’ve loved it since I was little, watching Rosie O’Donnell host VH1’s Stand Up Spotlight. Nobody loves Rosie anymore because she’s gay or a woman or liberal or fat or whatever now; but I still love her for being the harbinger of stand-up in my life. And for her role in A League of Their Own. And Another Stakeout. Actually, fuck you if you don’t like Rosie. But that’s not what this letter is about.

          This is a love letter. This is a letter I’m compelled to write because I’m so full of love that I can’t keep it inside me anymore. It’s difficult to write because I’m not good at articulating my feelings. (Fun fact: I couldn’t even identify my own emotions until I was in my mid-20s.) My inclination is to try and make this letter “funny” along the way. But me being funny isn’t what this letter is about either.

          My misanthropic streak keeps me at arm’s length from most things. I am not outgoing. I don’t think my personality is fully integrated. Every thought is laced with anxiety. But I found little pockets of solace in stand-up comedy. I found a way to sort-of-communicate without the louder-than-me world’s interruption for a few precious minutes. I stumbled upon neat places to do this kind of communication. And in those places, to my delight and surprise, I discovered people whose souls came from the same pool as my own.

          Folks start comedy for roughly the same reasons – somebody convinced you that you’re funny enough to try it and/or you low-key need therapy – but they continue on for different reasons. The ones who keep on for the ego stroke are exhausting to be around. The ones who keep on for the outlet to be mean without much consequence are sad to be around. The ones who keep on to make money off other people are yucky to be around. But the ones who keep on because they fell in love with the process, the camaraderie, and the love of nurturing a shared creative spirit – those are magical to be around.

          The ones in that last group are at the Tickle Your Bone Comedy Weekly Comedy Festival at Brigett’s Last Laugh every Tuesday night at 7:30 in Phoenix, Arizona. It is my favorite comedy room in this city. I’ve never had a bad time there, and that’s not an accident. The line-up is thoughtfully curated. The host is authentically enthusiastic that you’re there, and he goes out of his way to set comics up for success. The audience is relaxed, engaged, and appreciative because they actually came to laugh. The comics you know from other shows are happy to see you again. And the comics you’re just meeting for the first time are your new friends now.

          Thank you for existing, Tickle Your Bone. You are full of the best people in comedy, and for that, I love you.

–Saskia Bee“