Dear Just For Laughs Festival,

Good evening. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to read my deep and heartfelt thank-you. I felt I needed to write to thank you for the wonderful festival. It truly is amazing what can happen when a community comes together to make something like this happen. What a week and a half that was! I am already looking forward to participating in next year’s Just for Laugh Festival. Heck, maybe next year I can volunteer in the front of house rather than just behind the scenes.

I want you to know that I wouldn’t trade my volunteer experience for anything in the world. And the fact that I wasn’t paid for the work I did only accentuates my strength of character. It takes a special kind of person to give themselves fully -body and soul- without expecting anything in return. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become that person. I feel a little like Angelina Jolie for my humanitarian efforts, of course she is more famous than I am so far, but we share the same altruistic ideals and potential for stardom.  

Although I wasn’t trusted with handling tickets or money throughout the magical ten days, being in the same room as many high-end celebrities and Hollywood types was very cool for me. You should know that even while behind the scenes I allowed the motto “it’s just for laughs” to seep into all the work I did. While filing papers I made some funny remarks from the perspective of a tree. It kind of reminded me of something a famous comedian might say on one of our many stages. My co-volunteers seemed to really enjoy my captivating volunteer style and need for attention- good or otherwise. I know it wasn’t asked of me, but my philosophy is that anytime can be an opportunity to perform, even if you feel your voice isn’t being heard or honoured.

It just feels amazing to give so much to this festival and ask for nothing in return. I can’t help but think of how immensely proud my dead mother would be of the humility I’ve shown while behind the curtains of some of the greatest standup comedy shows to grace this earth. When asked, “Why do I do it?” “Why do I volunteer year after year after year, for a company that doesn’t seem to care about me, expecting nothing back?” “Why do I do it while also being so funny that I should probably be performing? Or at least given a chance to work front of house?” I think to myself, why does anyone do anything? I just love to give. And if one day my good karma comes back around and I’m offered and hour-long headliner spot, I would be too humbled to decline.

While my peers are busy starting families and getting promotions in their high paying careers I am happy exactly where I am- with my volunteer shirt and pamphlet that I memorized seven years ago.

Sometimes I day-dream of telling my deceased mother that my one true wish has come true: I am a performer at the Just for Laughs Festival. They have finally taken my volunteer pass, that I’ve recycled for the past ten years, and traded it in for a shiny new “performer” pass. I imagine her smiling in her grave as she recognizes the time and effort I have poured into this festival- with no expectation of something more- only to see me rewarded with so much more! My very own headline spot! If she weren’t already dead, I’m sure she’d die again from excitement for me.

For the great opportunity to volunteer in the same department and never advance despite many years of involvement in the Just for Laughs Festival, my rotting mother and I thank you. It is true what they say: “A great man is recognized when he himself does not recognize he is great” and also “sometimes a great man deserves to tell jokes from the perspective of a tree for a paying audience - especially when his mother died of heartbreak due to his own failures”.

Thanks again for everything! I will keep my eyes out for the list of volunteers for next year, and maybe even the list of respected standup comedians ;)

See you next year,

Timothy Kidder

Dedicated Volunteer for the Just for Laughs Festival and maybe one day stand-up comedian for that very same Just for Laughs Festival