On Saint Patrick's Day, I went to the Mercy Lounge to see Warthog, a Ramones tribute band. I stood right up front and danced myself into a next-day limp. My wife told me the next day that from her view in the back of the room, she only saw one other guy dancing during the set. No pogoing, no fist-pumps. In disbelief, I asked, "Wasn't anyone having any fun?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, I know we were."
I've heard comedians say the easiest way to make a nervous comedian comfortable is to laugh at his jokes. If the room appears to have a good time, the comic will relax and perform better. Maybe he still tells crumby jokes, but it's easier to tell the difference when the joke is delivered with confidence.
You know why I dance at shows, even though nobody else in the room joins me? Because I want to set an example. Maybe the band playing isn't my favorite, but I can still make a conscious choice to have fun. If I'm having fun, the band will have more fun. If they have more fun, maybe I'll like their music more. But even if I don't like their music, it's not like I have to jump around during the whole set. Whatever the case, I'll have taken something away from the night and known for a fact I gave them an honest shot.
Some people say, "Dance like no one is watching," assuming you would feel more comfortable dancing alone. I say, "Dance like everyone is watching," so you won't have to feel alone.
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