Gig update. Preparation, preparation. Meh.

I was on at Glee 17 last night at the Rose and Crown pub in Walthamstow.

As I'd been told it was a joint headline spot, I wasn't actually expecting to be on last, but my co-headliner (rival) couldn't make it after all, which meant I was to headline the night over all and indeed after all... (no foul play or tragic accidents arranged by me, she just couldn't make it.) Yes, I learnt this at 7.30 last night, when I arrived at the pub. It is roughly a ten-fifteen minute spot, according to what you want to do, from what I can gather.

At which point, it sort of dawned on me, a bit late in the day, that I wasn't really geared up (prepared) for a headline spot. Previously having talked myself into believing it didn't really count as a proper headline, just a bit of a nice extended set... Eeek, what now? Well, I had some new material (tried once) and some really old material (only tried three times and not used in the last 18 months.) and some other bits and pieces, that if I put it all together, it was long enough, but possibly not good enough and could I even remember it...

Arse.

Well it was happening, whether I liked it or not. I still had the interval to try and put some structure to what I had got and read through the old stuff.

The night definitely has a certain charm to it. A sort of haphazard anything could happen kind of charm. It is a great room for comedy and the promoters are lovely guys, but (and I'm sure they would agree to this), they are still learning how to make the night reach its full potential.

There were about sixteen acts on during the night and a nice variety of acts too. The promoters are actively encouraging first timers and really new newcomers and I think the audience accept that and enjoy the evening even if some of the acts struggle a little bit. Hopefully everyone, acts and audience alike, was having some fun.

As for my headline. Well I did enjoy myself, I'm fairly sure the audience enjoyed it. It was nice to resurrect my Albanian for a night. He needed a little dusting off, and I did forget a bit of the tale that a callback later on relied on, but people still laughed and liked the local E17 references in the story. It was one of those gigs where people were complimentary after, but things felt a bit different for me.

I didn't get the same buzz I usually get. Had I not drunk enough? Perhaps not, but the feeling I was left with was: I want to do better. The audience had enjoyed it, but I didn't blow anyone away...I should have known and practiced my stuff more. It was a privilege to be asked to close the night and I can't afford to take those opportunities for granted.

That sounds like Norm, but it's true. Is this what they call drive and motivation? I'm not sure I like it. Oh cripes. Am I getting addicted to comedy? I'm not sure I like that either. I'm certain it will pass. Perhaps it is something I've eaten. Please do not panic dear reader. See my next entry, when I bring back apathy and depression.

One thousand apologies, much thanks and lots of love to Becki for putting up with me being a bit needy post gig. I think I'm still living with the after shock of the two minute gong on Sunday and need a bit of reassurance that it isn't all that bad.

In other news. I've just had the estate agent round taking new pictures of the flat. He didn't like the old pictures as much as he thought he did. No, it is fine that he waited over three weeks to decide that. Fine!

He talks sooo much. He was telling me about getting in touch with my inner five year old, as according to something he read somewhere, that is the purest most unadulterated form of who you are. I said "That is all very well, but would you mind getting in touch with your inner estate agent and selling my freaking flat please?"

Alas, I didn't really say that. I said "oh yeah, when I was five I liked animals and showing off".

So there might be some truth in it after all.

I can hardly wait to see the new pictures of chez Ogs and hope they attract my perfect buyer. He or she has to be out there somewhere...

OK, even working at home lunchtimes have to end sometimes. Back to the grind for me people...

Oh, straw poll... More pictures in this blog? Views anyone? It is getting very wordy around here. Sorry.

Happy Thursday x

Gigs 73, 74, 75 and 76 …

Gig 73 was at Party Piece over a week ago now. I felt more than a smidge like I let myself down as I didn’t want to do my brother material (again) but didn’t really prepare enough stuff to fill the five minutes. I probably stayed on stage for closer to three minutes and a fair bit of that was filler, rather than thriller. I have to say, the night over all was good fun, as it usually is.

The night plays on my mind, not because I didn’t even muster five minutes of material, but because by the time I left the venue, I found myself very staggery drunk and not sure how to get home. Well, I know the way home, but almost immediately after leaving the venue, I fell over (not sure how many fellow comics may have witnessed that)… grazed my hand and obviously got myself all shook up.

I got a bus to Seven Sisters, where I found the tube was not open and I was not at all sure what bus I’d need, or if indeed there are any that could take me directly back to Walthamstow. Whilst I wobbled about and tried to focus on the night bus map, I got approached by some guy. I don’t remember what exactly he said or did, but he managed to scare me and feeling like everything was getting out of control, I did what any self respecting drunk would do and started sobbing.

Somehow, I had enough sense left to abandon all hope of finding a bus and instead telephoned my local cab company. Yes, still sobbing. The bus stop man was still lurking around and the guy in the cab office was sweet enough to stay on the line while I waited for the cab to turn up.

The cab thankfully didn’t take too long at all to arrive and I was soon home safe and sound.

So: I don’t know if anyone saw me fall over near the venue. I don’t know what this guy did to freak me out, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and just say he tried to chat up the wrong person, a woman already on the brink of a drunken emotional outburst anyway.

The night as a whole has been quite sobering food for thought as I know when I go out drinking, stay out late and try to get home alone, I’m already putting myself in danger. I KNOW that, but I tend to ignore it. I laugh in the face of danger. I think I’m a bit street wise and can handle oddballs and think that even if I’m drunk, I can still take care of myself. I’m not about to put myself under house arrest or stop having fun, because I’ll be honest, I’d die of boredom sooner than I’d ever die of a drunken mishap.

However… I was lucky last Tuesday not to have had my drunken fall in front of a moving vehicle. I was lucky that I’m just a bit embarrassed about crying at a cab controller over a weirdo at a bus stop and not crying in hospital about an actual attack by someone nastier or more persistent. I shouldn’t let myself lose control like that and it might just be the shock I needed.

I did drink a hell of a lot last Tuesday. I need to remember that is one thing when I’m travelling home with Becki or I’m not half starved because of Weight Watchers and taking prescription drugs to quit smoking that could worsen the effects of alcohol. I generally need to be more careful and maybe even drink a bit less. Just a bit less.

Gig 74 was The Leicester – Should I Stay or Should I go Gong. My buddy Norm has written about it. His link is to the side of this page.

Norm was kind enough not to mention how I got gonged off only 2 minutes into my set. Perhaps this should be called gig 73.5. As yet, the counting of gigs has not been reduced down to the counting of minutes on stage, so I hope you’ll let me off that one.

I learnt a hell of a lot on Sunday and to that end, I think we can say it still counts.

Not a gig, but on Sunday afternoon, I was lucky enough to hear Adam Bloom talk to a class of new comedy school students. I haven’t gone back to school yet, but was invited in for that session. It was ace. He was very inspiring.

Back in the saddle for Gig 75. I went to the Lion’s Den last night. We could dig over the old debate and controversy of pay to play, but I enjoyed the night. I paid my four pounds and I had fun. Now, I’m not one to judge other acts, but there is quite a broad mix of quality at the Den *ahem* - not all of it good. People have to have somewhere to learn and it is a pretty safe environment there to do so… Acts know what they are getting and so do the punters. No one gets hurt.

I went on about mid way through the second of three sections. Not too early, not too late, but when I went on, the few acts before me had struggled, people talking at the bar were getting hushed and the energy in the room wasn’t fantastic. Perhaps that just made me think, oh well, it might not be pretty, but I may as well say what I’m here to say. I wanted to try out some new ideas before today.

To be honest, I lasted until I got my little light shining and I think people were enjoying it. I was enjoying trying out some new stuff.

A success!?

I’m leaving now for gig 76. I was offered a headline spot at my local new act night – Glee 17, but it seems I’m now sharing said headline and I didn’t quite make into any publicity other than the facebook invite... I’ll propose he still allows me a ten spot, offer to do it to close the first half and have a few more pints there after.

Even I can stagger home from there and if I play my cards right, I might even have a Sproglet with me…