Wigs & Watercolor: Comedy in Paris
Met great people and scoped venues for my September tour.
Hi! Thank you for reading You’re Invited to Laugh: a weekly look at work as an American stand-up comedian based in Berlin, Germany. I’m Steph DePrez, and moved to Europe as an opera singer in 2019. You can read the full story here. This Monday publication is free!
It’s Monday, it’s sunny, and I’m in a good mood.
Paris was a ton of fun. The weather wasn’t perfect, but spring had certainly sprung, and I’ve learned that the most important thing I need to enjoy a city that isn’t my home is set tasks. I flounder in a sea of non-specifics. I discovered this on a four day solo trip to Mallorca. I absolutely cannot enjoy being in a new place when the only directive is to relax. I need to have a reason to go, a person I’m with, or a job to do.
On Tuesday I joined Coucou Comedy, run by the lovely Anna Beth, for a format show that required both the comics and the audience to wear wigs. It was hilarious, and a very low-stakes way for the audience to feel like they were a part of the show. The concept of a “wig show” is from Chicago-based comic Claire Parlette, who brought the actual wigs in a suitcase with her. I highly recommend going to one of her shows if you’re in Chicago. And I really hope she brings it to Berlin!
Wednesday I joined Blast Off Comedy, run by Terrence Wong, for a concept show called Improvised Power Point. Each comic got one title slide and four random photos. The show was in a basement venue called Pomme d’Eve. Recommend!!
Thursday was a double show night with Comedy Lab at the Chat Noir and the Coucou girls and gays open mic at Le Noddi. Both shows had great hosts and good vibes. The Paris comedy scene is dominated by French comedy, which I got the impression has been robust for much longer than the German comedy scene here in Berlin. The English scene is small but very well organized and tight-knit. A testement to the intimate size is that I did three of the five shows with Karthik, who is now my best friend and closest ally.
My goals for this trip were to 1) meet Paris comedians and make connections, and 2) scope out partnerships and venues for my solo show in September. Both were accomplished!
I have to give a special shoutout to
, with whom I did two shows. I was immediately impressed by her set and then found out she’s a published author with a book on creativity through watercolor. We started talking about musical comedy and the possibility of combining forces for a future project. Friends, this is the kind of connection that I live for! Impossible to anticipate, and the direct result of being kind and curious.
On Saturday night I hosted the mother (ha) of all stand-up shows in Berlin, That’s What She Said. It’s a FLINTA monthly show that I’ve been on a bunch of times. Good audience, good pay, fantastic people. All three of the Queen Bees who run the show are out of town, and so I was the Bee Regent for the evening. It was so much fun.
The sun has come out in Berlin, and that means beers on a blanket. I’ve been seeing a certain someone who lives in the south of the city, so I’ve been spending more time at Tempelhof Feld, a former airport that has since become a central gathering point for all the joy Berlin has to offer: dogs, grills, kites, beers, bikes, bluetooth speakers, and picnics. We tolerate Berlin in the winter to have the privilege of Berlin in the summer. There is no place like this.
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What’s on this week!
Monday, April 28th
Kook’s Nest Open Mic | Brazel Squirrel
Thursday, May 1st (MAY DAY!)
Expats in Berlin Showcase | art.city.people (Host)
Friday, May 2nd
Friday Showcase | Cosmic Comedy
Friday Funnies Showcase | Tor218 (Headliner)
About Me: I’m Steph DePrez an award-winning singer, writer, and performer. You can read my full bio at www.stephaniedeprez.com and also follow me on Instagram and YouTube.
*Dominic Monaghan German voice*
"Do you wear wigs?"
"Have you worn wigs?"
"Will you wear wigs?"