Relationships Talk

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Looking for some dating advice?

Share-apy is probably not the place to get professional help–but it is a lot of fun.

The comedy event, created by comedians Sam Dee and Lisa Perrin, allows visitors to ask real-life questions and get personalized advice from the hilarious hosts.

Dee and Perrin are not therapists, but their mission with Share-apy is to provide a few laughs and to normalize common problems.

“Everyone’s got so much pressure on them to always show their highlight reel,” Dee said. “I think getting everyone together and showing that everyone has weird problems [makes you feel] not so alone in that.”

Both Dee and Perrin are involved with several other Cleveland-based comedy projects. Dee hosts the Nice Try Variety Show at Mahall’s, is a member of improv troupe Casually Late Stampede, and is creating an all-female comedy festival for the fall. Perrin is a member of improv troupe Asking For A Friend.

Share-apy came about after Dee saw musician Andrew W.K. giving life advice to fans at a show. Dee was inspired by the storytelling aspect, and wanted to put a humorous spin on it. She asked Perrin to join her, and the two melded their improv and standup backgrounds to create Share-apy.

Since then, Share-apy has hosted a string of successful shows at Forest City Brewery, with themes like “Body,” “Phobias,” “Lying,” “Childhood,” “Family” and “Confidence.”

“It’s been incredible to watch it evolve,” said Perrin. “It’s really great when we have so many people who want to come onstage and tell us a secret truth about themselves into the microphone. Watching that happen is wonderful.”

Dee and Perrin stressed that the point of Share-apy isn’t to make fun of people’s problems–instead, the event curates a safe space where their attempts at advice is the funny part.

Share-apy’s next show takes place Wednesday, June 27 at 8 p.m. at Forest City Brewery, and will focus on dating. Tickets to the show cost $5, and all proceeds will be donated to ActBlue to support children separated from their families by ICE.

As a sneak peek to their Wednesday night show, Dee and Perrin shared 10 tips for a successful date:

1. It’s best to find a partner who has the same sorts of issues you do, so you have something in common right out of the gate. Insecure? Of course you are! Fear of commitment? Perfect for now! Cynical? Well, what’s the point of being optimistic when you’re single! (Sam Dee)
2. On a first date, try using the app that blends your faces together to show what your future offspring might look like. (Lisa Perrin)
3. At the beginning of your first date, bring up religious and political beliefs because it is a quick way to know whether or not this is going to make it past appetizers. (SD)
4. Instead of going to a movie, try suggesting an unconventional activity for a date like a Civil War reenactment, rat hunting or arson. (LP)
5. Be sure to list all of your martial-arts training so they know your body is a weapon. (SD)
6. Everyone loves over-the-top romantic gestures! Make a portrait of your date out of their own hair and skin flakes and present it to them. (LP)
7. When a date is too attractive, one can become “Hot Blind” and not realize their date is a very terrible person. Bring a friend along to sit at an adjacent table to judge everything your date says. Then they know if they’re a viable partner or just a beautiful sleaze ball. (SD)
8. Find a reason during the date to show off something you can do that is impressive, like yo-yo tricks. (LP)
9. To save money on dates, consider science! Cloning technology has come a long way and you can always grow another you to keep you company. It also never hurts to have an extra set of organs lying around. (SD)
10. Impress your date with your sensitivity by suddenly crying for no reason. (LP)