First of all, drop everything and go see Curt Mariah at one (or both) of their upcoming open mics:Aw

First of all, drop everything and go see Curt Mariah at one (or both) of their upcoming open mics:Awesome Thursdays, TONIGHT at RFD, Chinatown. NWDCSkip the Garnish Pre-Show Open Mic, THIS Friday Sep 26 @ Woolly Mammoth TheaterThese plugs are shameless because of one fact and one fact alone. Curt is my incredibly talented sibling and the weekly host of our daytime comedy show at the Petworth Community Farmer’s Market. Oh, you didn’t know?When they’re not slinging mushrooms, Curt is slowly making a name for themselves in the DC comedy scene with their take-no-prisoners comedic style and tailored nerd shtick. In any given performance, you get a glimpse into the life of a black, queer, millennial huckster trying to bring the lemon back now that everyone’s made lemonade and realized how boring it was… I knew this would detour into a strange culinary metaphor. Let’s just cut to Curt! GSF: Who are you and how are you down with Good Sense Farm? CM:  I work in the mushroom greenhouse and do the farmer’s market mostly. I do the chefing when Good Sense Farm has events, so you’ve had my cooking if you’ve come to any of our SporePrintDC pop ups last year. I also made up the recipe for our Umami Spice Seasoning Salt mix, my most successful claim to fame thus far. GSF: You are quite the salesperson at our Petworth Market table. What’s your secret?CM: Eye contact! If you can establish eye contact with a person, even if they are all the way across the market, they feel compelled, no, obligated to come over and try a sample. After the sample, they’re hooked! It’s funny when someone knows you got them, it’s like a tractor beam. I convert begrudging samplers into happy customers every market day!GSF: Let’s hope they don’t read this because sales will plummet! Besides being a monster at closing a deal, you have other talents. Can you tell us about those? CM: I do standup comedy, and host shows all around town. I host The Ask Rayceen Show first Wednesday of every month. I’m also coming out with a web show that’s still in production. I’ll leave it at that.  Follow me on Instagram @curtmariah for all the details!(Curt hosting on set of the Ask Rayceen Show)GSF: What training, if any, do you have in comedy or performance? How has that background affected how you approach pursuing your passion? Share any philosophies or strategies with the flock.CM: I’ve taken a few acting classes, but really it’s mostly just natural, raw talent (and modesty). I still get really nervous before I perform, I’m working on that. My advice is remember to breathe! I forget sometimes.  GSF: Ok, an owl, a squirrel and a honey bee walk in to a bar….Have you heard this one?CM: Yeah. The bartender says, “Hey! You guys can’t come in here!" The owl says, "Who?? Who??" The bartender says, "You THREE! Get out, or I’ll have my bouncer PUT you out!" The bouncer starts toward them. The owl is wise enough to fly right out of the door. The honey bee is so scared, he starts bumbling around, and the squirrel, well, he just went nuts!I made myself laugh with that one - but probably no one else! Come to one of my shows! I have way better stuff than that!GSF: …CM: [still laughing]GSF: Anyway, since farming is something of a family business for you, we’d like to know if comedy is, too? How has your family influenced you? Who ghostwrites the best material? No pressure. CM: I grew up in a storytelling family, so I’ve always liked spinning a good tale. I just get up on stage and tell stories about myself, and people laugh. With me, I hope. My mom thinks she’s my ghostwriter. Every conversation we have, I come away with new “material” from her, I’m still waiting on the perfect time to tell her joke about being a mother with three kids… GSF: Well, feel free to use that one I told you about the watermelon…you know, if you need it.CM: …[clears throat]GSF: Yeah. So nice chatting with you and I’m looking forward to a delicious fall. CM: Me too!BREAKING NEWS! Curt dropped the teaser for their upcoming show, Curbside Pickup yesterday and we were lucky enough to get permission to let you see it. We’re so excited that it’s almost here! You’ll see another Good Sense Farm family member in there too!  A video posted by Curt Mariah (@curtmariah) on Sep 23, 2015 at 2:29pm PDT -- source link

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