Becky Pedigo has spent the better part of her her life doing something most of us would never have the guts to do - and she's written a book about it. I was fortunate to be able to get an interview with her to discuss her book, Killing me Softly With Jazz Hands, today.
Thank you for stopping by Becky.
My pleasure Chris
1. Without giving away too much of your book, “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands”, in many ways, this book started a very long time ago when you first took to the road as a stand-up comic. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Well most of the stories are about my life lived on the road, so yeah, I guess it started about 27 years ago. Which is a testament to my love of procrastination and my work ethic.
2. Most people – myself included – would never have the guts to take to the stage in front of a crowd, yet you seem to have a natural affinity to it. Has that always been the case, or do you get a case of nerves from time to time like everyone else?
Good grief, no! That has definitely not always been the case. I was incredibly shy and scared to death for the first two years. But the thought of not doing it scared me even more. That, and being stuck in Amarillo, Texas for the rest of my life married to a feedlot cowboy.
I don’t really get nervous anymore but I do get some butterflies. It’s more excitement than nerves. But once I get my first laugh they go away.
3. Reading, “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands” is a real look behind the curtain at the life of a comic, and one that most people can scarcely imagine. Was one of the goals of writing this book to reveal what a life on the stage and the road is really like?
In a way I guess it was a goal. People always want to know what it’s like being a professional touring comic, especially as a woman. Most assume it’s a pretty glamorous lifestyle. It does has it’s moments, but honestly, mostly it’s just a job. It can be pretty lonely and boring at times. You spend 23 hours a day waiting for the one hour you get to be on stage. That hour makes everything else worth it.
But mainly I just wrote the stories for me, basically just a way of killing time, in lieu of killing myself. I’m kidding (sort of) but it was cheaper than therapy.
4. How long has the idea of writing this book been germinating in you?
Actually, I never thought these stories would be a book. They were just a collection of part blog, part essay and part rambling thought pieces that I’d posted on my blog site over the course of five years or so. Friends kept telling me to make them into a book.
5. When people read “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands” what do you think they will come away with?
Hopefully they’ll come away with having had a good laugh or two.
6. What do you think will be the most surprising aspect of the book?
That I hate kittens. What?!
7. Any plans to write a sequel to “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands”?
No plans for a sequel, however I did starting writing a new book, which turned into a solo show. So the book will have to wait until after the show opens in 2016. See, I told you I love to procrastinate.
Becky Pedigo was born in Amarillo Texas. She’s spent the last twenty-five years traveling the globe doing stand-up and has appeared on various television shows including “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and her own half hour special, “Comedy Central Presents - Becky Pedigo.”
She now resides in Los Angeles, California. Her hobbies include having someone else clean her house and getting to sleep in her own bed.
Her book about a life spent on the road, Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands, is available as both an ebook and print, and it's available here, or by clicking on the image above.
Thank you for stopping by Becky.
My pleasure Chris
1. Without giving away too much of your book, “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands”, in many ways, this book started a very long time ago when you first took to the road as a stand-up comic. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Well most of the stories are about my life lived on the road, so yeah, I guess it started about 27 years ago. Which is a testament to my love of procrastination and my work ethic.
2. Most people – myself included – would never have the guts to take to the stage in front of a crowd, yet you seem to have a natural affinity to it. Has that always been the case, or do you get a case of nerves from time to time like everyone else?
Good grief, no! That has definitely not always been the case. I was incredibly shy and scared to death for the first two years. But the thought of not doing it scared me even more. That, and being stuck in Amarillo, Texas for the rest of my life married to a feedlot cowboy.
I don’t really get nervous anymore but I do get some butterflies. It’s more excitement than nerves. But once I get my first laugh they go away.
3. Reading, “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands” is a real look behind the curtain at the life of a comic, and one that most people can scarcely imagine. Was one of the goals of writing this book to reveal what a life on the stage and the road is really like?
In a way I guess it was a goal. People always want to know what it’s like being a professional touring comic, especially as a woman. Most assume it’s a pretty glamorous lifestyle. It does has it’s moments, but honestly, mostly it’s just a job. It can be pretty lonely and boring at times. You spend 23 hours a day waiting for the one hour you get to be on stage. That hour makes everything else worth it.
But mainly I just wrote the stories for me, basically just a way of killing time, in lieu of killing myself. I’m kidding (sort of) but it was cheaper than therapy.
4. How long has the idea of writing this book been germinating in you?
Actually, I never thought these stories would be a book. They were just a collection of part blog, part essay and part rambling thought pieces that I’d posted on my blog site over the course of five years or so. Friends kept telling me to make them into a book.
5. When people read “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands” what do you think they will come away with?
Hopefully they’ll come away with having had a good laugh or two.
6. What do you think will be the most surprising aspect of the book?
That I hate kittens. What?!
7. Any plans to write a sequel to “Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands”?
No plans for a sequel, however I did starting writing a new book, which turned into a solo show. So the book will have to wait until after the show opens in 2016. See, I told you I love to procrastinate.
Becky Pedigo was born in Amarillo Texas. She’s spent the last twenty-five years traveling the globe doing stand-up and has appeared on various television shows including “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and her own half hour special, “Comedy Central Presents - Becky Pedigo.”
She now resides in Los Angeles, California. Her hobbies include having someone else clean her house and getting to sleep in her own bed.
Her book about a life spent on the road, Killing Me Softly With Jazz Hands, is available as both an ebook and print, and it's available here, or by clicking on the image above.
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