Description: I finally did it—my first stand-up comedy open mic! In this episode, I share the nerve-wracking experience of trying stand-up for the first time at a downtown Corpus Christi open mic hosted by Tina La Cochina. After telling guests Chris Longoria and Ronnie Fryar I wanted to try comedy, they got me on the hook and I had to kick myself in the butt to actually go through with it. Learn what it's really like to practice in front of an audience (ouch), why the huge difference with stand-up is you can't practice alone, and how people said I already have stage presence from my years performing classical guitar and playing in bands. I discuss bombing in front of colleagues, the advice to "do it five more times," and how I'm already thinking about how to improve the material. Drawing parallels between performing Villa-Lobos on classical guitar and learning comedy timing—you can feel when the audience is listening and you have control. Real talk about starting something new, not waiting for perfect, figuring it out along the way, and being the example for what I preach: just start, then make it better next time. More eyes watching because of Corpus Christi Originals podcast recognition. Remembering grammar from elementary school to write jokes. Will I do it again? Yes. Recorded November 2025. Blog Post Here.