29 Comments
User's avatar
Christopher Harding's avatar

All of us who has a pleasure of enjoying your performance that night, said to ourselves, this man is a natural. The fact that you were nervous about it didn't show and you had the audience, as the saying goes, eating out of the palm of your hand. Brilliant performance! We're all looking forward to more from you.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Chris.

I may give it another go. :)

Matthew Gray's avatar

* As a chef-podcaster, I approve of this recipe: equal parts fear, foolishness, and heart, sautéed over high heat in front of an audience. You served this story beautifully, Larry.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Matthew.

As always, your delectably engaging wordplay is like a scrumptious chocolate bagel delivered straight to my cortex.

Seriously, I appreciate your thoughtful comments and support!

Flori Posen's avatar

Wow! Impressively hysterical performance, Larry! You certainly appear to be comfortable up there on stage! ;)

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Flori!

The only thing that comes even remotely close to this experience was the time I went skydiving; they're surprisingly similar.

Brigitte Kratz's avatar

Wait—you write, "I’ve based my entire life on varying degrees of comfort," and then you go on stage and hammer out a 12-minute live storytelling performance!?! You‘re indeed a prankster, Larry.

Chapeau.

(And now I think we need our own WH event where we challenge ourselves to tell a story live)

Larry Urish's avatar

Thank you, Brigitte. Once I settled in (after the feathers flew), I felt okay. In fact, I may do it again.

Linda Kaun's avatar

I loved seeing you perform live on stage Larry... It really does multiply the energy of your words, humor and aliveness out to the world... I imagine if you did this a couple more times, you might get hooked.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thank you, Linda. *If* I get hooked, it'll likely be adrenaline addiction. I was terrified, yet it was fun (kind of like the one time I tried skydiving).

Lee Reeves's avatar

Chris is right. You are a natural storyteller and perfomer. I'm glad you stepped out of your comfort zone--that place where nothing ever happens--and regaled us with your prankster humor. And I'm looking forward to seeing you on stage, once again sharing one of your captivating stories.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks a million, Lee.

I never would've tried this without the help and encouragement from you and Steven. Much appreciated!

Norman T. Leonard's avatar

Larry, you’re a cold blooded killer. I started performing stories earlier this year. I’ve done five now. It gets more and more comfortable. The more I do it, the more I feel like writing stories isn’t enough. They need to be performed live. I’m not a church guy or a temple guy, but live storytelling feels like church. I would love to see it become more ubiquitous, the way standup is. Great work here, my man. The feather bit was great. You teed it up nicely.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Norm. Doing FIVE in your first year is beyond impressive.

Whenever I feel scared poopless about going on stage, I try to remind myself of a quote that's easy to understand and very difficult to live by: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

More to be revealed ...

Rachel Parker's avatar

Shew, even just reading the offer to speak unscripted got my pulse hammering. But you crushed it! I think my favorite part was the “kidnapper” voice ◡̈

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Rachel.

That kidnapper / ransom note bit didn't get the giggles I'd expected from the audience, but that's okay. As the saying goes: "It's not about getting what you want ... but wanting what you get."

I always appreciate your support!!

Craig Reem's avatar

Love the video; you really do have a future in Hollywood! And, love the story, as I do Coca-Colas. More power to you; when I get up in front of people, I NEED my script.

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks Craig. It was terrifying but fun

CansaFis Foote's avatar

…ready for fire arms, armed to fire Reid, Read arm as fire…i truly don’t understand why we choose order given how much fun it is to betray it…words out of order make a lot more sense…wrong that wrote I sorry…

Dana Allen's avatar

Oh my word, Larry. This is so funny!!! I now want to see a picture of greta! And you defo are a natural!!

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks Dana.

Greta is a very private individual. The mere thought of going out leaves her completely deflated.

Dana Allen's avatar

You just outed her, man. Better watch out!

Rick Lewis's avatar

Eleanor Roosevelt and Julia Child eh? ha ha, loved watching the video and your theatrics Larry. You didn't tell us that you were an open mic regular!

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Rick.

"Open mic regular" refers to the fact that I *read* my essays about once a month, with the AZ Wordsmiths.

However this is the first time I ever *performed* a story at Stories That Matter. I may do that again -- scary but fun.

Rick Lewis's avatar

It was awesome. You’re a natural as Chris said.

Henny Hiemenz's avatar

So cool! Wish we had something like that where I live.

Larry Urish's avatar

Henny, if you hunt around a bit online, you may be pleasantly surprised to see what's out there in your neck of the woods (assuming you don't reside in, say, Antarctica). Your clever wordplay would translate well into 10 minutes on stage. Just my 2 cents.

Henny Hiemenz's avatar

I meant I wish so I could go watch, not participate 🤣. You’re a braver man than I!

Larry Urish's avatar

Thanks, Henny.

Truth be told, I'm pretty sure you replace "braver" with "crazier" – but in a good way. :)