Vanessa Caldwell just did her very first stand-up comedy show. After years of believing she didn't deserve to be in the spotlight, she actually got up on a stage and told some jokes.
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Vanessa Caldwell tells jokes on stage at Comedy Bar in Toronto. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
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Sunday Edition17:44What's it like to do to do stand-up for the first time?
There is no simple way to ease into stand-up comedy. No baby steps.
If you want to do it, you've got to get up on a stage and let the audience decide if you're funny or not.
Vanessa Caldwell just did her very first stand-up comedy show.
After years believing she didn't deserve to be in the spotlight, she got up on a stage and told her jokes.
Vanessa had some help — Comedy Girl, an all-girl stand-up class, and a gang of women who were all in the same boat.
But when it came time to perform, it was just her and that microphone.
Her documentary is called "Stand Up."
Comedian Dawn Whitwell has been teaching Comedy Girl classes since 2008. She now teaches women-only, co-ed and Aboriginal classes.
After her first performance, Vanessa took Comedy Girl, Level Two. And just like Level One, Level Two ends with a graduation show at Comedy Bar in Toronto.
Comedy Girl Grad Show: Behind The Scenes
Every Comedy Girl class ends in a Grad Show at Comedy Bar. Level Two “graduates” performed on March 17, 2016. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Last minute advice from Comedy Girl instructor Dawn Whitwell: “No one will laugh if you don’t look like you’re having fun.” (Liam Maloney/CBC)
“Try to enjoy yourselves!” (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Pre-show jitters in the green room. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Danita Steinberg gets ready to host the show. The host performs first. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Rose Rocha performs. She rediscovered her funny side after a break up. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Congratulations for Rose after she finishes her set. Dawn encourages everyone to record their sets on their phones, so they can listen back for laughs from the audience. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Tonight is Rae Kolbin’s first-ever stand up show. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
A big laugh breaks the tension while everyone waits to perform. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Jaime Polatynski performs her set on stage. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
It’s over! (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Vanessa Caldwell reviews her jokes in the green room while her Comedy Girl classmates are on stage. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Deborah Belcourt performs stand-up for the third time, with new material and jokes that she’s reworked after her first and second shows. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Deborah’s set list. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
A lot goes on backstage: listening, worrying, preparing, practicing, laughing. (Liam Maloney/CBC)
Lesley Anderson (right) and Vanessa discuss last-minute changes to Lesley’s set. “I really like the part about how people think you are your husband’s mother. I think you should keep it.” (Liam Maloney/CBC)
