Checking my email a couple weeks ago, I was pretty damn excited to see an email from Wiley’s Comedy Club asking me to headline a Sunday Comics night.

Of course I said, “YES,” and then proceeded to be anxious for three weeks straight. That’s not completely true. I have total confidence in my comedy abilities, I just wanted to make sure I did an amazing job.

>>>>PHOTOS FROM THE SUNDAY COMICS NIGHT: Headliner Jessica Graue

I consider Wiley’s my home club even though I got my start at the Dayton Funny Bone. One of the best parts about being asked to headline was the fact that July is my comedy anniversary. It has been four years since I started this harrowing journey of my life.

The week leading up to the show, I had my set in my pocket and looked over it constantly. That’s typically my process if I have a big show. I write bits out in different colors and memorize the words and colors. I actually didn’t feel too anxious throughout the week.

I made a Facebook event a couple earlier to try to get as many people to go as I could. I made sure that is was very clear how important this show was. However, the many “goings” and “maybes” amounted to only about 4 people not including my dad and husband who were there and are usually at every show.

This show was so important to me that I texted numerous friends to tell them. Many said they would try to come, but they did not. I was even able to tell them when I was going on. As a comic a common questions is, “When are you going on?” We hate it because we never know at an open mic. But as the headliner, I knew exactly when I was going on!

I didn’t get nervous until just a few minutes before I was to go up. When I did get on stage, I jumped right in. At about two minutes in, I felt a wave of doubt for a minute. I say minute, but in reality, it was only a couple seconds. On stage a second is a minute. I even looked out at the crowd and said, “Wow. This is wild and overwhelming.”

But, then I got my stride and rhythm back. From that point on, I felt like I was having a conversation with some of my closest friends. I was telling secrets to my most cherished confidants. I tried to do the jokes that defined me the most. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

The laughs kept coming. One thing that was new to me was being able to break for laughs. Sometimes you have to wait for it. With a 5 or 6 minute set, that is difficult. I relished my laughs and especially enjoyed hearing the familiar laughs.

Then it was over.

Accolades were received. People said I did well. My dad stayed up until 9:30 p.m. which he probably hasn’t done since the 1990s. The ladies particularly loved me and Karen Jaffe, the show’s booker and a close friend, said I did an amazing job.

I believe I did well. It felt amazing, so much so that I will only be headlining from here on out. Of course I’m joking, but I’m glad I was bestowed this opportunity. I’ll always remember it. Mainly because my husband recorded it and I’ve watched it 17 times. I see a punchline I missed or a few words I transposed, but all in all, I’m proud of myself.

With that being said, my next show is at Katz Lounge on Tuesday, Aug. 15. I’m only doing 6 or 7 minutes. So, NO, I do not know when I will be going on. Just come at 9 p.m. and stay for the entire show you bunch of lazy jerk offs!

Jul 30 I headlined Wiley's and I liked it

Aug 9 All alone on stage

Jul 21 On being a fat comedian