Monthly Archives: June 2014

Happy birthday to me!

Another year, another day of reflection. Not overly humped about this particular milestone, the big 34, because life is good at the moment.

This morning greeted me with the beautiful sound of my children laughing (presume they were watching one of my shows), before they gathered up my cards and presents and simultaneously began opening them for me while commentating what was inside prior to the big reveal. A number of the envelopes I’d been sent had “don’t open before the 29^th on them”, which has been proudly emblazoned on the majority of birthday cards since I was he-man waving seven year old. Bit disappointed there were no badges, cheapskates.

In a conversation with a comedian at one of the shows, I was told how one person approached the stand up after a gig and kept telling him how brave he was. That’s annoying, bravery simply validates that you went up there, which you already know you did. It’s not the kind of praise you are looking for. I haven’t had that yet, but what I do find is that there is a freakishly common reaction when people learn I’m doing stand-up comedy.

Standard fare, is a confused gaze before an ‘oh right’. Having had a second or two to gather their thoughts, I’m then advised that they are a little surprised that I haven’t come to them sooner. I mean, haven’t I seen the hilarious emails they forward? I politely explain that you are not allowed to steal gags for your set, particularly those that have been the subject of millions of chain emails and texts, and which aren’t particularly funny in the first place.

The look of shock that you can’t just cut and paste a good routine into your blank set page actually shocks me. I’m then tipped off about some Jimmy Carr/Peter Kay/Frankie Boyle/Jason Manford nugget that I’d be able to sneak in because they are ‘sure they wouldn’t have heard it before’. It’s a bit like giving an unsigned music wannabe ‘Wonderwall’ and telling him to roll with it in the confidence that nobody else would be aware of it.

On the whole though, people have been amazing about it. My wife isn’t just the butt of a lot of gags, she provides the most committed critique I have and is ever willing to hear my latest version. My mum is taking a day off work to look after the kids so Liz can come to the Northampton gig. On top of the usual support, my Dad has offered me plenty of his back catalogue (which I’ve somehow refrained from using). My brother has been, strictly for research purposes you understand, feeling out venues in Camden/Kentish Town to let me know if I’m likely to get happy slapped for a bad gag. Friends and colleagues have become (sometimes) willing and soundboards for new gags I write. The comedians I’ve met have been supportive and ridiculously uncompetitive. The interest people are showing is great and I really hope to see as many of you at gigs as possible before long.

Very quiet on the gig front in terms of performing, a deliberate hiatus to allow some writing time. I have come up with a ten minute set which I’m sure is stronger than the original five, but time will be the judge of that. Now to learn, tweak, learn, tweak, learn, tweak… I talk a little more about my wife, but have added some material about the kids, particularly Carys. With relationship lines, most people can relate to them but I have been very conscious that the kid stuff could alienate large chunks of the crowd if I dwell on it too long. The new finish is more about a night out before I met my wife, and I’m really happy with that part in particular.

I have a few more dates after July, I’m in Northampton in mid-August, and am delighted to have got a spot on Sian Doughtys Ickenham comedy mic show – where acts are vetted before they can perform, a nice ‘first’ (thanks Sian!!). I will be at the Comedy Compass night in October. Another superb moment was confirmation of a gig in Enfield in early August, gently creeping closer to the London vicinity from which I hail. I think it might be time a have a bash some of the more central venues, providing the new material doesn’t let me down.

So off to enjoy the day with my wonderful family, and test out some gags on some unsuspecting victims.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and keep smiling!

James

Another night, another gig, another lesson.

Venturing into the near but not quite London locality, I had been apprehensive about the gig at the White Bear in Ruislip. A comedian from the show on Monday had tipped me off that it could be a tough one, while a mate from work showed up to offer support – Cheers Alex, You’ve bagged yourself front row at my first and inevitably sold out 02 gig!  Sorry to those I didn’t tell, didn’t get it confirmed until quite late on.

Journey down was horrendous; I avoided the M25 as recommended, but managed to hit non-stop road works on the way down my alternative route.

An hour and twenty minutes later, I arrive and mingle, always good people on the circuit. Mike Lord who ran the gig from Monday night was on as an act too, and I met a lovely comedian named Pamela Hilton. There were eighteen names on the bill, of which I was the thirteenth – great omen huh? The longest act list I’ve been part of as yet and some of the other acts were extremely well supported.

The show starts and straight away the MC, comedy impressionist Steve Williams, is calling me and Alex to seats nearer the front. He asked if I was performing tonight, and left me alone when I said ‘I am, yes’. Alex didn’t have the get out of jail card so took a minor ribbing, and took it well.

The show started and there were 9 back-to-back acts before the break, and I was fourth after the break. Just before I went on, a couple of people left, unfortunately one of whom I’d thought of a good gag for. Always (at least) one good joke that gets away.

I was knackered having been up since before 5am and I hit the stage at 1050pm (had been due on at around 9.30pm). I felt very lethargic by the time my turn came around, which was the first time that’s happened. Anyway, on I went to claim my five minutes of stage time.

Having watched it back more than once, the first half was solid with good laughs, a couple of very big laughs, but then the laughs were harder to find second half. They were there, but for some reason a lot quieter than during the first half. It was like I’d lost their attention literally at the half way mark. Parts of my act which usually hit the spot just passed without response. It’s an odd feeling when you have a tried and tested gag which passes almost as if it were just a statement of fact.

I had been warned about keeping to five minutes and while I was happy with the delivery, I could have done with slowing down a bit and leaving more room for laughter.

There is a great analogy for subconsciously training the audience to cut their laughter. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist known primarily for his work in classical conditioning, reportedly rang a bell each time he fed his dogs. Any he time he rang a bell after this, the dogs would immediately salivate. They had been conditioned, in the same way that an audience will be conditioned to stop laughing for too long if you keep just moving on to the next thing while they are still laughing – because you are watching the clock.

Naturally, I’d wanted to smash the place down the first time that someone I knew outside of comedy (other than my wife) was seeing it live and I am generally sadistically self-critical. As usual, I felt much better when watching it back afterwards; in terms of laughter I would pitch the response to my set as somewhere in the middle overall. Wasn’t bad, wasn’t great.

As I returned to my seat, Steve (the MC) went back to Alex to comment on the fact he was recording it for me. Other comedians recorded their sets but it hadn’t been mentioned so I wanted to run around and tell everyone I wasn’t recording it because I am egotistical arsehole (that’s just a coincidence), but it is to improve my set. I remember very little while I’m up there, so I need to be able to watch it out without thinking about the words or actions that I need to remember for the next gag.

Some of the stronger acts experienced the same but showed an energy that took the room back once it had started to quell, and it’s definitely one for the list of things to work on. I was more concerned about the journey there and the time I was on than the fact I was going up, it must be becoming more ‘normal’ for me.

Afterwards the acts were called up to the stage for a ‘clap-off’ to see who won – and I was missed. I was starting to think I’d upset someone somewhere along the line.

Then the person who brought the most people inevitably got the loudest cheer and won. She was very funny to be fair and had brought a good crowd so fair play to her, but there were two other strong acts I thought should have been in with a shout (no, not me).

Another well organised gig with a great set up, huge thanks to Pete Jee of Havana Laugh for the opportunity and the hard work behind putting a night like this on.

I left more tired than I’d been in a while, and resolved to try and avoid being 13^th on where I can. Either that or learn to keep the energy up for a far longer period than I’d been used to.

During the drive back I kept asking myself if this was my first ‘bombing’ – but having watched it back, it definitely wasn’t. It’s still weird how the perception can be different from when you are up on stage. It does make you wonder what kind of drive home it will be when the time does come. I’m certain it’s going to be a shitty one.

Few weeks now to work on my material, particularly the latter half, to make sure I can have a happy drive home again for on my next gig. As Winston Churchill said, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won”. And I likes winning, does me.

Until then, thanks for support and enjoy the weekend!

James

I survived gig number two last night, JAM Comedy at Robinsons Wine bar in Newport Pagnell.

Unlike my first gig, I went to work as normal in the day which helped quell nerves but by late afternoon my mind was wandering and I was back to picturing 20000 hilarity-struck fans at the 02 Centre, London.

Given my directional uncertainty with regards to the venue, I left with plenty of time to spare. As I left, my almost-five-year –old was inconsolable because Daddy wasn’t around for bed time. I do read a bloody good story.

Arriving soon after 7pm, I was one of the first there. I met Mike Lord, who kindly allowed me a place on his stage. It’s easy to overlook the task of putting on a comedy night, particularly a recurring night, and it’s something I am in admiration of. One day, it would be great to put on a gig, if only to have a guaranteed slot on a local night!

Three comics from my first gig were on, Frantique Byrne, Winter Foenander, and Ryan Jones. It’s a small world, this circuit. I chewed the fat with Ryan and a new comedian I met, the fantastically funny Jake Pickford. Looking at my watch, which had stopped, was pointless but my phone confirmed start time was nigh.

The audience had a large make up of comedians which was daunting as I’d been warned about them (us?) being a tough audience. Stripped of the luxury of a dressing room, I sat in the audience waiting to be called onto the stage. Third act up, my time duly arrived and before I knew it, the mic was in my hand.

I felt nervous but in a different way than the first gig, that was just the thought of standing up in front of people. Standing up in front of comedy connoisseurs is a whole different ball game and it took me a few seconds to get my head around.

Started off ok, commenting on my introduction, and then nailing the first line. Then I got a little tongue tied for the second gag. Watching it back, it was 3 or 4 seconds and you hardly noticed it but while up there, it felt like a custodial sentence.

I picked up after that and found myself growing in confidence, just as happened at the first gig. I ran through the rest of the set and got decent laughter, missed one of the new sections, but managed to disguise it well enough. Shame though, that was a good gag!

Another discovery is that the walk back to your seat in the audience feels slightly awkward. This is the typical arrangement at these comedy nights so I need to get used to it fast, but last night I just seemed to employ tunnel vision back to my seat. Mike, who was mc, then came on and told that audience that it was my 2^nd gig and there was a nice appreciation of that.

Having completed my time on stage, it was much easier to relax and enjoy the other acts. The Rev Henry King was a great surprise to close the show. Great character comedy. All in all, a great little gig.

I drove home, possibly slightly faster than my mother would approve of, made a cup of tea and watched my set back. Live the dream, baby.

Thanks to Ryan for recording it for me. Watching it back, it was much better than I’d felt while I was up there. It got me thinking that a video recording is an essential part of the learning process. They say stand-up comedy gives you immediate feedback, but I write a joke, repeat it until I’m bored of it, say it on stage and get an audience reaction, and yet it’s not until I get back home that I know how it really went.

My twenty month old son Conor woke up, probably to have a giggle himself, and my wife found herself with him in one ear and an over excited comedic wannabe regaling tales of the evening in the other. Happy birthday babe.

Out again on Thursday and hope to see some familiar faces among comedians and audience. You never know what you are going to get when you turn up at these nights, and I suppose that’s part of the appeal, but also the tension.

Hope to see some of you there, and hopefully it’s another night where I can avoid the inevitable bombing.

Until then, keep smiling.

James