I’ve been performing in and around New York City for the past eight years. I’ve performed for shoulder-to-shoulder packed rooms and to four people in the back of a bar. There have been nights where I’ve done extremely well, and other nights I’ve walked home wondering what in God’s name I think I’m doing with my life.

The life of a comedian is not easy, but it has highs that make it completely worthwhile. There are no words to describe the feeling when the spotlight is on you, the crowd is into it, and the laughter is loudly ricocheting off the walls to something you wrote – and just said. It’s a moment that the office funny guy and the joke teller at the local bar dream about.

I talked with Joe (Concha) last week about writing an article for RealHoboken.com on how I prepare for big shows. I scribbled down some details on what I eat, how I call my grandmother the night before every show, how drinking ginger ale helps my diction, and how I write and rewrite my notes over and over again. But what I couldn’t get out of my mind is how I got here in the first place, and the exact moment that made me want to become a comedian.

In entertainment, “courage” is the word that separates the “dreamer” from the “doer”. For anybody to get up in front of a group of people (90% of which have been gargling down large quantities of booze) and try to tell jokes is a feat in itself.

Growing up, I never enjoyed getting up in front of the class and speaking -- I dreaded it, to be honest. But by the time my freshman year in college rolled around in rural Keene, New Hampshire, I became a DJ on the college radio station. I loved every minute of it, mainly because it was just me, the microphone, and the music (and on occasion, a buddy of mine in the studio). I played a lot of music and always tried to have some sort of story to go with the songs (what they meant to me at the time). My friends would say it was like they were in my dorm room and I was putting on a pretend radio show for them.

An example?

College DJ Adam Wade: “From the Basement Tapes, here’s Bob Dylan and The Band’s ‘Million Dollar Bash.’

“Now, last Friday night, I went to a late night party at Alpha Pi Tau. It cost three bucks to get in and from the icky smell of the basement to the luke warm cheap keg beer, I must say it was anything BUT a million dollar bash. Oh, and by the way, Amber, the girl I met there with the dark red lipstick, curly blond hair and corduroy rodeo jeans, if you’re listening to this show call 350-TUNE, I got two free tickets to Yankee Lanes Bowling Alley. Yep, me, you and some bowling! You’re the lucky winner tonight, sweetheart! Bobby Dylan and the Band, take it away.” (cue music)

A few weeks later, at the bi-monthly college radio meeting (which was attended by all DJs, college newscasters, local community DJs, and board members) I got a special award for the best new radio DJ by my peers at the station (The prize -- a collection of Matthew Sweet CDs). My confidence was on the rise. More and more people were tuning into my show. Many would call in and request more Adam Wade stories before and after the songs. The college newspaper interviewed me and took my picture for their weekly special profile. I was becoming a big fish in a small pond. It was a very exciting time for my creative growth. I was enjoying the ride.

Then a bunch of local bands were scheduled to come onto campus and the radio station was sponsoring them in what they called a ‘BAND EXPLOSION.’ The general manager of the station asked me to be the emcee of the event. It was a paid gig -- $100 (a lot in college if you remember!!). Without thinking, I enthusiastically said yes and as I walked back to my dorm I realized that I had just agreed to go in front of about 1,000 students and talk/introduce the bands.

I ran over to some bushes and lost my lunch.

In the weeks leading up to the big event, flyers were being put up all over campus and all over town and my name was on all of them. It was a surreal experience to see my name everywhere. But I was deathly scared of getting in front of people, and I didn’t have the heart to tell the general manager that I couldn’t possibly do this. Everybody at the radio station was working so hard in promoting this event.

As Band Explosion Day arrived, I found myself at the event, minutes before it was supposed to start, in a complete panic. Just as I was about to spit out the words, “I can’t do this” the general manager said, “OK, Adam, I’m gonna go on stage now and introduce you, here’s the lineup. There are seven bands. You’ll be introducing ‘The Kirks’ first and please mention that ‘Brown Factory’ is the headliner of the show.” He handed me the list and went on stage.

I just dry heaved this time.

The general manager addressed the crowd and gave them info about our radio station and our community efforts. He then said, “And it gives me great pleasure to introduce our emcee of today’s Band Explosion. His show, ‘The Man They Call Elvis’, is the number 1 show on our station. He’s a real gentleman, and ladies out there, he is SINGLE. Everybody, it’s Adam Wade!

I walked up the fours stairs and onto the stage, the crowd of a thousand roared. I grabbed the microphone and looked blankly out into the audience. I didn’t know what to say.

“I love you, Wade!” Screamed a girl, and everybody laughed.

I smiled, and without hesitation I yelled into the microphone, “And I love you, too.”

Big laugh. My heart was beating a mile a minute, and I quickly introduced The Kirks.

I got off the stage and a bunch of people that worked at the radio station patted me on the back and said “Great job!” I was nervous, excited and happy all at the same time. It was like nothing I had ever experienced.

I continued to go on stage after each band and each time I became more and more comfortable and stayed on stage longer and longer. The crowd even started chanting, “Wade, Wade , Wade, Wade!” as a band would finish, letting me know they wanted me on stage. When I got off the stage, I couldn’t wait to get back up there. I was hooked. The crowd seemed to really like me, and the reason they did, was… because I was being me!

And now, I’ve done this so often, I don’t even puke anymore ... most of the time.

Box Office: 212-757-4100

Watch Wade tell a story about a hot Hoboken girl and dog doody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7cvC8BE7ks

and for more Adam Wade, go to www.adamwade.com