almost every night with my little brother, and my mom would watch. We just played. And I think Mara and I just never stopped playing. Mara: I think this is the most fun we’ll ever have, even if our lives stay this way. I did the same thing as a kid. I was always the ham, doing impressions, making little voices, putting on fake radio shows with my sister. Since I can remember, my dream has always been to be on stage. I don’t know why it took me so long to fi gure that out. Kristin: I too can’t believe I did stand-up so long before I realized exactly what I was doing. We knew it on a level, just not to the point we do now. We did LadyFace for a year and mOXie! has been running for a year now since we started last June. After two years, I think we’ve established what we love and want to do. And the point of what I want to do on stage is be as real and funny as I am in real life without any pressure or expectation. Has the Denver comedy community shaped you two as the artists you are today? Kristin: I’m only six years in and I did stand-up for a year and a half before I moved here. But this city has provided a safety and comfort to try new things and grow. People ask me if I get nervous, and I say, “Never here!” There’s not a stage in this city that I would be afraid of. Denver gives me this amazing sense of home. Mara: This is where I started doing comedy fi ve years ago. I’ve always been warmly embraced and I have the freedom to do diff erent kinds of things because it isn’t LA. It’s easier to fi nd a place to put on your own show and see if it works. And people will come and stumble in, and these little pockets of fans will form. That’s how stuff gets started. It’s cool to watch everyone grow and develop these friendships which I think is the most important thing of it all. I’ve met the love of my life doing comedy here. We might not be the richest and some of us might be wearing western shirts that are maybe too big, but we have each other. I’m not making money for things that I’m putting so much work into but it’s my work that I believe in. And it’s going to pay off in a way someday. Kristin: And you have to already see it as paying off . I hate the idea of one day this will all pay off . It’s worth it every time we do it. Otherwise I don’t want to be doing it in the fi rst place. Mara: And you’re also getting to do the one thing that really makes sense to you. I had a realization, a real, real one after my surgery. I thought, “Man, life is very short and the only thing that’s ever really gotten my bell ringing is making people laugh.” I can’t imagine giving it up ever or not having it in my life. That’s how you know it’s something you’re suppose to be doing. Like I loved rollerblading but I don’t do it anymore. Kristin: Skating was my jam. Those were the days when I was never paying attention to the real world or adults. They were not even a thing to me in the 90s. I was way too busy being cool. Mara: Oh, adults. I’m sorry what, I was reading baby-Sitter’s Club. Kristin: I’m halfway through nancy Drew back off . Mara: I was more of a Fear Street gal. Kristin: I did nancy Drew and then I was like, I think I’m done reading for the rest of my life. Mara: I’m an avid reader. I’ve read all the nancy Drews and boxcar Children. I think I’ve got it. Kristin: You could say I’m pretty well-read, well-cultured, I don’t really feel the need to keep reading. Mara: And that was the last time I read a book. Those were the days. I think you two are just as true to yourselves now as you were when you were kids. Kristin: I think that’s just the process. I think that people who even have Comedy Central specials want to be as comfortable and as themselves as they can. It’s what anybody as a performer wants to be doing. Mara: If you ever watch an interview with Martin Short…I think he’s just the most charming human ever. It’s because he’s so himself in everything he does. He’s telling these stories and he goes into character but you always know it’s him. That’s how I’ve always looked at it and it’s hard. Sometimes you tell jokes that you think people will be right on board with. But they’re like, oh, you’ve never done that. But it is just trial and error and trying to stay vulnerable. Kristin: I don’t think it’s trying. It’s just doing it. Mara: But trying is just getting on stage. Trying is taking a leap of faith and going for something. I think about that all the time when some people put pressure on themselves or others. Why, when we could all just chill out and give ourselves a break? What’s the harm in not doing so great. ISSUe 6 9 There’s not a gun to anyone’s head if you aren’t perfect the fi rst time you try something new. Kristin: I don’t want to get to excited or depressed about anything. I don’t even want to entertain doubt right now. I just want to have fun. All artists struggle with fear of rejection because there’s no one to answer to but yourself. How do you handle this fear? Kristin: I’m just getting to it. I’m realizing that we’re all artists and all humans. We do almost everything out of a fear of being judged by others and all you’re really doing is judging yourself fi rst. You’re going ahead and letting everybody else know what they should think about you. When I’m at home or in my element I’m so relaxed, and I’ve realized I can take this energy wherever I go if I want to. And that’s what we can all do. Mara: You have to open yourself up to what you really want to do and you will get closer to it. Otherwise, you’re just shutting yourself off to chances and opportunities that may come. Kristin: We’re constantly pulled by certain forces or things and we need to just let ourselves be who we are. Somebody said to me, “I wish I could focus on comedy the way you focus on it.” But really, comedy just took me. It wasn’t a choice where I said I’m going to get into it. I think whatever you need just takes you if you let it. I think we all have a whole bunch of talents and skills and amazing things we can do. What’s the biggest thing on your hearts right now? Mara: I think we’re in a really cool part right now, because we’ve even been told by comedians who come through that this is the best times of our lives. They’ve made it and that’s great and they love what they’re doing, but this is when we’re creating and making important connections. This is what it’s all about. Kristin: It’s the best thing. We’re in the middle of magic. Have fun with kristin and mara to kick off your summer: Kristin’s Cool Shows: June 4- Yeah Right! at Beauty Bar (1st Wednesday of the month) June 5th-7th - Headliner: Baron Vaughn at the Denver Improv June 10th- Greater Than Social Club at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret June 26- Making Fun at Deer Pile Mara’s Awesome Shows: June 1- JOKEOKE at Voodoo Comedy Playhouse June 17- The Great Shake Em Ups at Deer Pile July 11-13- Comedy Exposition Festival in Chicago Next MOXIE! with Kristin and Mara: July 7- MOXIE! Secret Talent Show at Deer Pile Look for the new MOXIE! web series premiering on funnyordie.com in June and July. www.facebook.com/moxiecomedy
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