Losing my Comedy Store Virginity.

A funny thing happened on my first time ever at The Comedy Store.

I did stand up comedy at The Comedy Store tonight. I was not even booked or trying to get stage time but I ended up on stage in a surprising and unusual manner.

Senthil Rajasekharan — The Comedy Store.

Tonight means a lot to me because Stand Up comedy means a lot to me. In my mind, The Comedy Store is sacred ground.

I was afraid and anxious to even be at the Store. I avoided going there even though I have been in L.A for a month. As I walked to the club, I was scared to make eye contact with the other comedians standing outside because I was afraid they would make fun of me. I made myself small and insignificant and walked up to the security guy and talked to him as politely I could “this is my first time here” and showed him my tickets. I thought one wrong move or wrong word might piss him off and I would be kicked out of the venue and banned for the rest of my life.

The whole environment was overwhelming to me.

I started doing stand up in Minneapolis over 9 yrs ago. Performing comedy in a big city has been my dream. Hollywood and The Comedy Store is as big as it gets and I’ve now realized that dream.

I was not supposed to be a part of the show. I was there to support my comedian friend Annick Adelle (a hilarious comedian) and the rest of the acts on The Shindig Show.

I got there way too early and I was told to wait in line with the rest of the audience. I was second in line. Being my first time ever at The Store so obviously I did not know the seating rules. When they opened the door and started seating, I realized that they seated people front to back which means number 2 in line (that’s me) has to sit in the first row. I have done comedy for a while and I know sitting in the first row means I will definitely get picked on by one of the comedians. I was scared and nervous. I was begging to be seated in the back but I got a firm no. I kept nervously looking around for a way out of the front row seat but it was almost show time and time to just buckle up. Life is a ride, it will be bumpy and you will get wet. Might as well enjoy it.

The first comedian gets on stage and sure enough he starts talking to me,

“Where are you from?”

I said, “Minneapolis”.

“And what do you do for a living?”

I paused for half a second before saying, “I do comedy”.

“Come on show me your stuff?”. He said that to me instantly.

“Are you sure? Because I don’t want to take away your time.”

“What’s your name?”

“Senthil”

“Ladies and Gentlemen from Minneapolis put your hands together for Senthil.”

And off I went to the races…

I did about five minutes of time. I had a decent set. Belly room had a hot crowd.

I have been on stage every single night for the last 9 and a half years. If you wake me up in the middle of the night and asked me to jump on stage and do time, I can.

The 5 minutes were over quick. I got a few laughs and the audience was into it.

I felt like I went to Fenway Park to watch a ballgame and David Ortiz invites me over into the field, tells me to play. I took the bat from him and hit the next pitch out of the park.

I never thought I would get on stage at a paid show any time soon at The Comedy Store or at all. To get on stage and do time on my first ever visit to the club made me tear up.

Earlier today, I heard two women talking about losing their virginity. Don’t judge. I am not a creep, I was listening to their podcast. Their virginity was special to them since they put it on such a high pedestal. They cried after losing their virginity.

I can now relate to those two ladies because standing up there on stage at The Comedy Store, doing time and losing my Comedy Store virginity made me cry too.

Senthil Rajasekharan — The Comedy Store

Very few people can say that they went to a top comedy club in the world to watch a show but ended their night by getting on stage and having a good set.

I got off the stage and sat back at my table and the girl sharing my table, a total stranger asked me, “And you were not supposed to be up there?”

What a great compliment.

I don’t know what made this night possible. Maybe it’s not such a big deal, may be it’s just my fantasy. I’ll hold on to this beautiful moment even if it’s a fantasy. One thing is for sure, I was told to sit in the first row. That had something to do with it all. Many of you reading this would have found a way to be more assertive than me and found a way to sit in the back. But I am Senthil and I sat where I was told to sit and earned stage time, an awesome comedy story and a few friends at The Comedy Store.

P.S : If you are interested in watching my tape ( recorded at Goonie’s Comedy Club, Rochester, MN) here is the youtube link,

https://youtu.be/KoymTn8fab4