Arrogant
The word humility is often defined as lowliness, meekness; a modest opinion of one’s own importance. For years religion has taught us that the meek shall inherit the earth. Regardless of what religion you may subscribe to – I have just two questions: why would a creator who went through such great lengths to make each one of us authentically unique want us to have a “modest opinion of our own importance?” Why would a creator who claims to have made us in his own image want you and me to think lowly of whom we are? That just defies logic…
What makes more sense is the more accurate definition of the word humility, which simply reads, “to know thyself.” How do you think you would look at yourself if you had just one conversation with your personal creator and he or she told you how awesome you really are? How would your life change if your creator told you “<insert your name here>, you are going to write a book and change the way people think, or you are going to start a non-profit organization and change young peoples’ lives, or you are going to be a Church consultant and help hundreds of churches move into the 21st century and save millions of souls, or you are going to be a comedian and bring laughter to the hurting, or you are going to open a foreign language school and foster communication among the nations, or you are going to open a dance school and give young women self-esteem, or you are going to be a writer and send out hundreds of emails…”
I personally believe that our creator does not think lowly of you and I – hell he made us! That lowly feeling comes from us truly NOT knowing ourselves. Our creator wants us to know ourselves. And how do we get to know ourselves? We get to know ourselves by unplugging; by cutting off the TV, by removing the headphones, by taking that walk around the lake, by going places where we don’t get cell service, by spending time with just yourself, your thoughts and your creator. These precious moments of silence are when the universe speaks most loudly.
Spend time using your gifts, your talents, your passions to help others –moments of true deference and altruism help us to realize our own importance. When we take the time to feed someone, make someone laugh, or simply take an interest in his or her day we realize that we are not lowly at all; on the contrary we are each valuable, important, and purposed to change our piece of the world one smile at a time.
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
Right Now
2012 New Year’s Resolution number 10: stop smoking. That’s been on my written goals for the last three or four years now – it’s become a running joke. As I struggle with this addiction, it is easy see that Trenton has two sides (I’m writing about myself in 3rd person, which confirms this hypothesis. One side (usually in the morning) abhors the nasty habit while the “Trenton of the evening” looks forward to sitting out on the balcony listening to Sam Cooke while enjoying a fine .39-cent cigar.
Almost nightly, before I go to the corner store to pick up my fine cigars mentally I go through a sparring match; left brain versus right brain; day time Trenton versus night time Trenton, day job versus comedy, etc. Last night while returning home from a comedy club I literally changed my mind about buying cigars 10 times within a four-mile radius. I heard thoughts such as “you’re gonna smoke this week while in Phoenix so why not smoke today? You smoked last night so what’s the big deal? You can quit later. Nobody’s perfect. When you make it you are going to want to sit on beaches and boats puffing your cigar…etc” In that moment – literally while walking down the grocery store isle I made the decision for that moment not to smoke tonight. I said to myself – ‘self I’ll deal with tomorrow’s battle tomorrow but for tonight I’ll chose not to smoke.”
One of the many things I learned while going through counseling was to be able to recognize the struggle while I am going through it. Say to myself during the struggle “Trenton you are going through a struggle – you want to smoke right now, this feeling will pass shortly.” Yesterday I recognized the struggle, for perhaps the first time, I stepped outside of myself and noticed Trenton having the battle (which is why I’m writing in 3rd person). When we are able to do that – at least for a split second time slows and we can chose to make the right choice. Too often we regret the past and fret the future; ironically the only thing we have total control over is right now; the present. While taking control of the present we have the ability to create the future that we want. I realized last night – that the future I’m imagining is taking shape right now.
Now while watching TV, while writing, while drinking, while performing, while living – I constantly ask myself what future are you creating right now? I use that question to sensor my present and create my future. How are you managing your present while constructively shaping your future?
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
Potential
Men like stuff you can touch, like breast and legs. Not women - they like stuff you can't touch...
like ambition, potential or good credit
The thing is women can wear shirts to make your breast look
bigger.
There is nothing I can wear to look more ambitious.
Its actually quite the opposite - I can't dress like I have potential. I have to dress like I've already made it. What would dressing like I have potential look like?
I should start my own clothing line called "Potential." All the garments would be un-finished. The shirts would be missing buttons - but they would all come with needle and thread so you can potentially finish it - but it’s frowned upon to actually do it.
My men’s jeans wouldn't have any pockets. Have you seen pocketless men's jeans!?
I wouldn't even manufacture my clothing line in a sweat shop - the location would be a factory, and we would definitely have little Asian kids working there, and it could potentially become a sweat shop but my workers would never work hard enough where they actually break a sweat -
And I wouldn't sell them in stores that are already established like Macy's or Saks off Fifth - I would only sell them in boutique stores that haven't had their grand opening yet but have a lot of potential.
Or I would sell my clothing line in stores that just closed and went out of business. People would come to the store and there would be a sign on the window that says "Sorry we're closed, we went out of business." People would look in the window and see our clothing line and say that store has Potential.
I would design a website that looks unfinished and reads "under construction." It would be a novelty because everyone would want the new potential clothing line but no one would ever actually get it.
Potential customers would order my shirts on line and then check the shipping status to see when they are going to get their new clothes. The shipping status would always read --- "in transit" but never get there.
I wouldn't even charge your credit card, I would run the card and place a hold status on the funds (like using a debit card at a hotel)
I would never really take it out of your account. I'm not a thief - I got potential!
--
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
When Should I Give Up?
Download | Duration: 00:35:44
Someone wrote to Kokoa expressing problems she is/was having with her relationship and asked when should she throw in the towel and break up with ole boy, when is enough enough? Kokoa and Trenton give their two cents about the matter...
What are WE Waiting For?
What has been keeping you awake at night? What thought has permeated in your head over and over regardless of how many times you ignore it and try to stuff it back into the dresser drawer full of unwanted thoughts?
So the thought that has crossed my mental rolodex several times this year is “Trenton, take the televisions out of your apartment.” I’m not going to lie – no TV scares me. I don’t know if it is the idea of missing CNN or the idea of sitting in silence that scares me more?
What am I afraid of?
No television means reading more
No television means writing more
No television means mediating more
No television means exercising more
No television means picking up that hobby I’ve always wanted to do
No television means better communication with those I love
Why haven’t I obeyed the calling? Am I afraid of success? I believe there is a small part of each of us that is not only afraid of success but (sadly) doesn’t believe that we deserve it! Guess what – YOU DO!
I was chatting with a friend of mine about how much I hate reality television the other day and she informed me that the producers of reality television don’t allow the characters of their shows to watch TV; they have to always be doing something. I thought that was funny – we watch them live their lives, while ours waste away by the second, by the minute, by the hour…
I think this process would help me become a better writer, better performer, and better comedian – Ironically enough GIVING UP TV would probably be the biggest catalyst of actually getting me ON TV.
So I close with a few questions – what is that thought that has been permeating your mind so often you don’t want to acknowledge it? What is stopping you? Are you afraid of success? What are the positive things that would happen if you obeyed the voice? How would obeying the voice impact your relationships, your happiness, and your life?
What are WE waiting for?
--
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
"Working" Comic
“Working” Comic
When Jesse asked me to write another article for Antithesis, I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about the importance of having a “day job.” I know talking about having a day job is not going to win me the “most popular comic” award. I realize that corporate America to an anti-establishment, alternative, raw, starving artist, authentic comic is like kryptonite to Superman. But bear with me if you will, allow me to explain how “The man” can actually be your number one supporter when it comes to accomplishing many of your goals and dreams.
I’ve had the pleasure/honor to perform weekend feature work at several different clubs all over the US. I wish I could tell you that I was so funny, my reputation preceded itself and these club owners/bookers called me out of a million other comics out there to come and feature at their humble establishment. I wish I could write that – but the truth is I ain’t that good and if I wrote that it would be the best joke I’ve ever written. The truth is, each of these engagements was preceded with my day job sending me to each of these locations for work and rather than hang with my co-workers/customers after 5:00pm I would find the local comedy club, introduce myself as a working comedian, and ask if I could perform at their open mic or do a five minute guest set at their already scheduled show. This routine/strategy has lead to bookings that I never would have gotten if I only performed within driving radius of the city where I live.
There is a flip side however to performing outside of your driving radius – most clubs do not pay for travel, accommodations for features. What that means is even if I were to get lucky enough to get booked at a club to do feature work outside my driving radius, I would most likely have to sleep in a nasty hotel (think hostel), walk back and forth to the club (sometimes in the rain, sleet or snow) and live off of McDonalds, Burger King, or some other fast food joint for the weekend. If its one of those clubs that books Wed – Sun (Zanies Chicago) – that could really be a problem!
But having a
day job can remedy that situation.
Having a good day job means you can tell a club owner – “pay me like a
regular in town feature and I’ll take care of the rest.” This shows humility and shows that this
is someone who is serious about his or her craft. Sure I know – you are thinking well “won’t club owners take
advantage of me?” Yes! - but the
truth is they are doing that now.
Most of us are begging for 10 to 15 minute sets at our local comedy club
right now (I know I am) – and we do them for FREE! Why because what we as comics relish is stage time and club
owners know the comics who are not national touring headliners (95% of us) will
do almost anything for stage time.
So if you are going to be taken advantage of – at least get something out
of the deal. If an owner/booker is
going to use you, then use him or her right back. The best way to do that…rather than doing 15-minute sets for
free - make him or her pay you for (6) 30-minute sets over the course of the
weekend. Most of the times what I
get paid to feature ($400 to $600 bucks) for a weekend, won’t cover the
expenses I pay to get to the gig (flight, & a bad hotel) – however whatever
I’m in the hole: A) I write off on my taxes, and 
If you have a dream that is
not worth your investment (time and money) then it probably is not your dream.
The last thing I’ll say about having a day job is that it expands our horizons – broadens the number and types of people we hang around, affords us different experiences. Most of us comics sound just alike. We don’t know it but we do. Go to How many hear weed jokes do you hear a night? How about rape jokes? Masturbation jokes? Facebook jokes come a dime a dozen. And if you are at an “alternative” room add a few jokes about comic books, Star Wars, Atari, Dungeons & Dragons, blah blah blah – you get the picture. Sometimes I feel like we are all trying to write the next great dick joke. Why do most of us sound alike? We hang around each other [comics}, doing the same things [weed, write, movies, rinse, wash, repeat] all day. When we don’t get out of our comedy bubble our limited existence becomes our entire perspective hence we all start to sound alike. On Marc Maron’s Podcast back in November, Chris Rock says we are like a bunch of little girls, hanging in clicks at comedy clubs. To a certain extent I agree – we are all so desperate to be liked by our fellow comics that we hang around each other all day, doing the same thing, eating the same food, and wonder why so much of our “A” material sounds just like that other comedian. If nothing else a day job puts us around normal people for a few hours a day. It puts us back into the “real” world that way we can talk about real life, scrutinize it, and make it funny like those comedy greats that came before us.
I’m not going to lie my day job isn’t glamorous. I don’t get paid a million bucks and have a sweet corner office. It doesn’t drive my passion or get my blood boiling. And the truth is I’m glad. If it were that great, I may not be as motivated as I am to do comedy. If it were that great, I wouldn’t spend two hours (unpaid) writing an article that nobody is going to read (I’m kidding JesseJ )
Don’t get me wrong. A day job is not the red pill. It won’t magically take us down the rabbit hole where we write better, no longer need to go to open mics, and spawn unlimited creativity. On the contrary…
If I would have never had a day job, chances are I never would have had the opportunity do a guest set, or much less feature in Utah, Tucson, or Myrtle Beach. These experiences shape my writing, and prayerfully help me to become a better comic. Having a day job broke me out of my comfort zone (Chicago and San Fran) and allowed me to test my talents in unchartered waters. It has allowed me to invest in the passion I claim I love - go to comedy festivals all over the US(that don’t pay a dime) and as a result my fan base has grown, my comedy has gotten better, my voice is becoming authentically mine and on a practical level I’m featuring at seven to ten different clubs twice a year all over the US. Hands down – having a day job helps you become a “working” comic – pun intended.
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
What time is it?
Today as I observed the King Holiday I took a moment to read his historic "letter from a Birmingham Jail." King wrote "...time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through tireless effort...and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe…”
Patience is a virtue but I submit to you today that the world has waited far too long for many of us to utilize our gifts and accomplish our purpose. Much like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. many of us are held captive in jail – not a jail cell with bars, a thin mattress and/or peanut butter jelly sandwiches – many of us are prisoners of a jail far worse. For our jail is one of our own creations, a mental captivity that if we are not careful will sentence us to the death.
Do you know what we also have in common with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? We all have a dream. Sure some of our dreams may not be quite as lofty as winning a Nobel peace prize or spear heading a civil rights movement but make no mistake your dream is just as important!
When we bust out of the self imposed mental prisons we ourselves create, when we loosen the chains of procrastination and apply for a grant, go back to school, open a business, make jewelry, create a clothing line, write a book, or do whatever it is that the creator placed in our heart to perform, it doesn’t just impact you. Passions expressed, Purposes accomplished doesn’t just change the world somewhere – they change the world everywhere.
In spite of the world advising MLK to wait – he pushed to accomplish his purpose, he refused to hide behind excuses like “I’m too young, I’m too old, I have children, I don’t have enough money, I don’t have enough charisma, I don’t have enough education, blah blah blah…” – he knew something about himself that we should all know – if we press toward our passion and have persistence, our creator; the universe will do the rest.
Take a look at your watch, iPhone, or wall clock – trust me the time is now
-- Thanks to you I go to Boston Jan 25th for the Magners Comedy Festival - Many of you have asked for the show information so that you can pass along to your contacts in Boston so they can support me in person.
Show info is at the following link http://magnerscomedyusa.com/comic-stand-off.php
I truly appreciate each and every one of you
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
Your votes made me the #1 Vote Getter!!!
Magners Comedy Festival
Just wanted to check in and remind you that the Facebook voting round ends tomorrow at midnight. Now is the time to bring out the big social media guns, if you were holding onto any for whatever reason. In no particular order, these comics currently hold the top 5 spots with the most votes:
Brian Mitchell
Linda Aarons
Kat Radley
Raj Sivaraman
Trenton Davis
The Top 10 comics with the most votes will advance to perform in Boston at the Magners Comedy Festival. You can point friends/fans/family to vote here:
https://apps.facebook.com/magners_comedy/entrants.php
Thank you so much for rallying your fans, friends, tweeter contacst, etc and helping me spread the word about the Magners comedy festival. You are all wonderful and I truly appreciate your support.
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
847.651.4378
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
Magners Comedy Festival - This is a Big Deal - I Need your Votes
Magners Comedy Festival
I've made it into the TOP 25 for the 3rd Annual Magners Comedy Festival Stand-off! I managed to get past thousands of stand up comics from across the country and come out on top.
Starting today, voting will begin to whittle the top 25 contestants down to the top 10 finalist. These elite top 10 will then go on to compete head-to-head at the Magners Comedy Festival in Boston.
So..HERE IS HOW TO VOTE FOR ME!!
Go to Magners USA FACEBOOK page at:
https://www.facebook.com/magnersusa?sk=app_257337257651346
Click the "to watch and vote" button in the middle of the page. You can rate me based on 1-3 "pints." You can vote once per day through the end of November so, I need you to make this part of your daily routine for the rest of the month (1)Wake up (2) Brush your teeth (3)VOTE FOR TRENTON. Feel free to setup a daily reminder on your PDA or desktop.The top ten comics with the most "pints" will advance to the next round of the competition in Boston!
Forgive me in advance, as I'll be sending out reminders to vote twice a week during the month of November.
Please send to all of your contacts, share with your friends, co-workers, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, family, acquaintances, the UPS man, enemies, even your church members. Tweet the link to vote, put in your facebook status, blog to your followers, put the notice in your local pigeon's beek - whatever way you can get the word out please do so because any and all votes will help me get to Boston.
If you have any questions please contact me directly.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate you taking the time out to vote for me.
Trenton Davis
comedian/actor
847.651.4378
comedy@trentondavis.com
www.trentondavis.com
www.rooftopcomedy.com/trentondavis
