The thrill of the stage can be alluring for any aspiring entertainer, but those sacred moments in front of the crowd is one small sliver of a sometimes arduous experience. Comedians, for example, battle with balancing a day job, family obligations and a long list of rejections from potential opportunities. Those experienced or talented enough to make laughter their lone occupation still don't lead always-glamorous lives, having to put up with the rigors of road travel and unhealthy habits.
In the midst of a storm of stressors, a talented troupe of comedians teamed with Find Your Anchor (FYA) to do just that, finding some solace during April 5's "Mental Health Day" at the Bergamot Comedy Festival. At The Crow comedy club, jokesters jumped at the chance to make FYA boxes, filled with what Founder and CEO Ali Boroswky called "resources and good vibes."
The boxes included cards detailing "anchors," or reasons to live in the name of suicide prevention and awareness.
Borowsky said the process was about creating "tangible" mental health resources, as the boxes are sent out worldwide to those in need requesting them, or put in locations such as libraries or coffee shops for a little "divine intervention."
"[Anchors] don't have to be groundbreaking," Borowsky said. "They can be steak tacos, a lazy Sunday, going to a standup show ... it's not solving my problems, but it's something to get through another night, another hour, and those seemingly small things can have such a big effect when you're struggling."
Borowsky and the comedians on site attempted to build 300 boxes during the afternoon session, part of a mental health focused day for the entertainers run by Comedy Gives Back. The nonprofit teamed with Crow Founder Nicole Blaine to bring FYA to the comedians, as well as a meditation session and a motivational session with Comedy Gives Back co-founder Amber J. Lawson. In addition, the proceeds from that night’s performance at The Crow went to Comedy Gives Back initiatives.
"Bringing tools like this in real time to people, we're boots on the ground giving the community tools to live happy, full-functioning, well lives," Lawson said.
Lawson also broached on the many struggles of the profession, citing that the FYA boxes were a "genius" idea because they can live in the green rooms of comedy clubs, giving anyone a thoughtful message when they need it. She added that a longtime notion, that fixing one's mental health takes away their humor and crazy insight on the world, is far from the case and that healing yourself should take precedence.
"If my mental health is good, can I still be hilarious? ... but that's not the truth, if you're a funny person, you're a funny person, and you can evolve over time," Lawson said.
One of the funny people that took part in the Bergamot Comedy Festival and the mental health resource day was Matt Duckett, who found success in both getting industry contacts at the festival as well as "advocating for himself" by creating the boxes.
"We've lost far too many people over the years, just really brilliant, talented, great individuals due to mental health issues," Duckett said. "Speaking as someone who's had his own mental health journey ... it's incredibly important to me to advocate for mental health resources."
Another proud advocate is Blaine, who opened The Crow as an answer to some mental health.
Struggles she faced as a frontline health care worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blaine wanted to bring the resources straight to the comics so that they can spend time "feeling less alone," and appreciating the community the space has built for herself and others.
"Therapy has always been key in our world ... everything about The Crow is are we making someone laugh, one of the greatest mental health ways to survive," Blaine added.
For more information on Find Your Anchor, visit findyouranchor.us and for more information on Comedy Gives Back, visit comedygivesback.com
