One of the fascinating things I’ve learned since being involved in Comedy is the breadth of variety involved. Shows have different types of promoters, ticketing, acts, set lengths, audience types, and different atmospheres.

Another factor that differs is the types of venue that host comedy nights. Already in my fledgling attempts at comedy, I have performed in a night club, a theatre, pubs, wine bars, and hired rooms in established buildings. On Sunday night, I added a social club to the list.

A social club is “an organisation with the main function of social contact between members and is not related to making money”. They can be recognised as having cheap drinks, and an older guy sitting with an A4 pad by the door checking membership cards, and they usually have to buzz you in at the door. Once in, you’ll often find children placated with cokes and crisps tip toeing to reach the pool table, or that is how it was in the Irish social club we went to as kids. I didn’t think these places still existed, but thank God they do.

Comedy at the Boxmoor Social Club in Hemel Hempstead is a busy affair, with 100+ punters (no kids though) of good humour attending in aid of charity – not sure which charity but I’m sure it’s a worthwhile charity all the same. The night, part of the Laughing Badger brand of comedy, is superbly run by Lee Bryant. The vibe is most definitely relaxed yet maintains the professionalism you hope for on these kind of events. You really couldn’t ask for more from a gig, a warm and plentiful crowd, a lovely bloke running it, a great list of acts, all within a 35 minute drive from home.

All acts for the evening were new to the club, although not new to me (1-0 me, winner!!).  I’ve been on with Steve Williams and Winter Foenander before, and MC Rick Pistol held the same role in the Doctors Tonic gig I did in April. Tom Mayhew, El Baldini, and Hamad Khan – fresh from an appearance at Live at the Apollo – completed the acts for the night.

Great mc work from Rick Pistol, the highlight of which was eliciting the nickname of one audience members’ genitalia (Percy, if you’re interested). Steve Williams was the first act up and was typically top rate, not just the fantastic impressions but the way he worked the crowd. I had the unenviable task of following Steve.

I was happy with my performance. I’m not one of those Michael McIntyre lunatics running up and down the stage causing a sweat explosion. I’m laid back and calmer, not an energetic performer and that was something anyone who has read the blog before would know I’ve worked on improving. However with my set, which is kind of self/family deprecating, a more understated approach sort of works – well that’s what Rick Pistol said and that’s good enough for me.

I felt so much more relaxed than previously and the nerves were nothing compared to what I’ve felt in the past and I think that is something that came from being out quite recently – so there is a lesson there in itself. I will be working on the whole stage presence thing, again, it was clear talking with Steve and others that is something that is only developed with stage time. That said, I felt like the night was another good stride forward for me.

A break and a Percy later, and Tom Mayhew took to the stage with a great set which played upon social awkwardness and was extremely endearing and funny. Hamad Khan followed, and recounted tales of encountering annoying passengers while travelling on the tube in London, before another break set in. At this point, I had to make my apologies and leave due to an early start the following morning.

The journey home was good, I’d really enjoyed the night and had met some excellent folk. I’d had a couple of the audience stop to say they enjoyed my set, which doesn’t sound much, but a couple of the other comedians were standing there at the time. I repressed the urge to kiss or lick their faces, and uttered a cool, ‘oh cheers mate, thanks’.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”

Whoever said that was bang on the money. Nothing in the diary now, so need to look at that and work on some new gags. Hope to test them out on some of you in the near future.

Thanks for reading.

James

It has been too long! What started as a short break quickly grew to 6 long months away from the stage as some TLC was applied to my less exciting but more profitable day job. Saturday night was the comeback, at the Comedy Ladder gig in Stokenchurch. It was my tenth gig, a pathetic effort in terms of lack of regularity, but a big milestone for me nonetheless.

The break took its toll, the nerves jangled as they had on my first gigs and practice was paramount, relearning lines and adding the tweaks and additions I’d planned after my last gig.

While I was in Ireland earlier in the year, I got a message from Andy Gleeks who runs and MC’s the night to invite me for a slot. The original August date was postponed and I returned for the night’s first birthday on Saturday night. The evening boasts a great concept, the idea of the Comedy Ladder being that the six acts compete for audience votes, with the winner returning to the venue for a longer slot later in the year. A headliner then comes on the top the night off.

I was billed for second on and to be honest, it wasn’t the most encouraging of starts. The mic was a tad jammed into the stand and after the first line, I pulled to remove it and applied a little too much force and it jabbed me in the gob when it did release itself! It got a laugh, though.

Laughs came for the opening gags but I felt stiff (not in that way), and my mouth was dryer than a popcorn fart. I had brought water up with me, but had forgotten to take the lid off so I was reluctant to break the flow that I needed to find my unscrewing and supping it.

Earlier in the show, Andy introduced one of the first row as the local vicar, which caused me a degree of panic given the adult content of some of my material. After one joke, I looked down to him and made an emphasised apology. That got a good laugh.

Then I began to find something approaching my flow and the laughs kept coming, the new material worked really well and I was beginning to wonder what I’d been worried about. Eventually I took the plunge and hydrated, and then I felt I got back to where I’d left off. The other acts had the confidence and performance style which I need to learn from, but I felt the content of my material stood up very well.

When I finished I sat down to enjoy the remaining acts and was buzzing when I found out afterwards that I’d come second in the votes. What surprised me even more than that bombshell was that the vicar approached me afterwards to say he enjoyed my set and I’d got his vote! What a ledge.

So I drove home happy, resolving to take some more confidence into my next outing and to keep the momentum up with more gigs. TalkSport played in the background but I hardly heard a thing as I sat in a trance and thought about the pointless and energy-sapping nature of the nerves that had preceded it.

Thanks to Andy for putting me on, it’s a great night all round with a real emphasis on fun, which is what you want on a night like this. The venue, audience, and format all work brilliantly and there is a great atmosphere to perform in. Thanks to Linda and Tim for coming, and for the ever constant support of the Thornton’s – very much appreciated.

After going to bed in the early hours, I made it up bright eyed, bushy tailed, and a spring in my step in time for early morning football. I finished the day exhausted, but happy, and ready to roll again for my next gig in 3 or 4 weeks.

Cheers.

James

Last night saw me do my thing at Laughter’s Just The Tonic, in Welwyn Garden City. I met Jonathan Prince when he performed with me on my first night and he’d been great with advice before I went on. Last night I was on at his show, and my shortest ever journey to a gig – yaay. A huge thanks to Jonathan for the nod. I love the work and buzz-building he applies to the show and its one of those where the promoter and venue really do fit and give real hope for successful and sustainable comedy hub. The venue was good and seemed to actively support the evening in a way not typical of some of the other venues I’d performed at.

Mc’ing the evening was Rick Pistol, who opened the show in quite unique fashion – which really set the tone of the evening. You were, between laughs, thinking ‘this is the weirdest thing I’ve seen and chuckled at in a while’, but you found yourself thinking that over and over as the evening progressed.

Joe Jacobs opened sharply speaking among other things, about the mechanics of office speak.

I came on next… and it was good to have my brother and his other half in the audience, alongside the long suffering Mrs Howard. Whenever there is a high standard of acts, you do appreciate a bit of additional support. I was pleased overall with my performance, but again took immediate note of some amendments I think will be beneficial to the set. After I left the stage, the MC (Rick), immediately likened from my moving from Brent to Stevenage with moving from Iraq to Iran.

Arthur Turner performed his set next, with his unique doctor-based set drawing amusement from the audience. Don Biswas followed up with an array of strong jokes, all bustling for inclusion in his forthcoming Edinburgh show. I really enjoyed his set, while Arthur had my brother in stitches (quite fortunate he’s a doctor really).

Interval came and a picture of all the acts together was taken, a nice touch. The show resumed with Cally Beaton holding court and bringing the audience fully into the spirit of the evening. I was really impressed with the performance and use of a particular audience member.

Phil Zimmerman, who many would recognise from Never Mind the Buzzcocks exposure, came on and consolidated the ‘unique’ theme of the evening with his non-confirmative approach to comedy, both frightening and amusing. Phil has a multi-streamed offering in terms of skill set, with side lines as a freelance football writer on the Sunday Times and The Independent, and as a musician.

Headline act to close the evening was Peter Ford, delivering a masterfully tempered and warm account of life for the more mature gentleman. His stories of the old lady in the post office and about shopping with his wife were particularly popular among a consistently strong set.

The night really did get me thinking about the variety of different styles encapsulated within the stand-up comedy framework, all completely different, yet all seeking the result for the work and imagination that goes into the routines. Loud and quiet, relaxed and energetic, traditional and completely out of the box. There are no set rules in comedy and that was probably my overriding observation following the evening.

We, being my brother Shaun, his girlfriend Cailin, and my wife Liz, stayed on afterwards for a drink up until about midnight. The journey home brought the near-custom fast food stop which brought its own challenges. The club next door had just shat out its incumbents and that resulted in a 20 minute queue with me on my own stood among a cattle of 15-18 years doing all the things that 15-18 year olds do, having drunk beyond their capability. Age has never kicked me in the gut so hard. Bloody happy meals at one in the morning from kids babbling on about university acception/rejection between choking each other by tongue. I’ve just felt that kick in the gut again. And for the record, a Big Tasty, is neither big nor tasty.

Back home to watch the set. Was relatively pleased how it went. I had been nervous leading up to it but did feel better as soon as I got started on stage. I’m really developing that, ‘sod it I’m here now’ mentality and seem increasingly eager to just get on and start. Each gig affords me more comfort on stage and I’m actually starting to believe I won’t be lynched on the way out, which is a bonus.

And for whatever reason, something possessed me to start reviewing the leaders debate that I’d missed and sadly, the robotic and cloned ‘representatives’ was a far cry from the originality and uniqueness offered at the show earlier in the evening. So it has to be Mickey Flanagan for prime minister then.

It was actually Good Friday last year that I took my first steps into comedy and it was somewhat fitting to be on a show of someone I’d performed with that evening, last night. It was a pleasure to have performed there and I would definitely like to do it again.

Enjoy the long weekend and good luck avoiding all mention of bloody zero-hours contracts!

James

I hope you all have been well and not suffering significant pains of withdrawal caused by the inactivity on this blog, and indeed my wider comedic adventure. I can run off a number of factors (excuses) for the break but essentially, I’ve needed a humongous kick up the arse to get me going again.

Initially I wanted to step back and enjoy Christmas, then January apparently takes a couple of weeks to pick up. Meanwhile the day-to-day drudgery of life required some of my attention and it wasn’t until the start of February that I actually started looking for a gig. By this stage, I’d largely forgotten my set and sometimes you look at a gig and find nonsensical reasons not to apply, meanwhile (shockingly) those you have applied for don’t immediately respond to snap up 5 to 10 minutes of time from this good thang. It’s a bit early for me to start the ‘don’t you know who I am?’, but y’know, really,…. Don’t they?

Fortunately a new night has started in Colindale at the Chandos Arms on the first Thursday of every month and I was delighted to get booked into the second outing, which took place last night. The organiser was, as I found out yesterday, in Australia now so I wasn’t sure where that would leave the night but the show must go on. It had been left in the capable hands of Peter White to manage, while Miryam Muller took on MC duties for the first time.

The comedians mingled as we waited for the audience to arrive, and I spoke with Peter and Andy Gleek (a great act who’d been on at Ruislip when I was). Then I saw Stevenage comedy royalty as I introduced myself to Steve Adams. Now normally when I go to a gig, I can be sure of being the funniest person there – from Stevenage… any yet even that was taken away from me last night!

I was on third. I had worn a jumper with blue and black deliberately so I could open with a gag about it being white and gold, but I just skipped over it and went straight into my routine. I began with some tried and tested lines (with a few tweaks), and then finished with two and half minutes of new material. I’m really pleased how it went down. Of course, still a million miles from the finished article, but progressing very nicely – especially considering the hiatus from which I was returning.

Other acts on included Steve Hili, Valerio Miconi, Simon Swain, and the wonderful Rosie Martin, before Steve Adams closed the show brilliantly.

I always enjoy talking with the other comedians. It never ceases to amaze me how varied they are, springing up from all walks of life, all professions, and most have fantastic tales to tell. It’s very rare that they aren’t incredibly warm, welcoming, and encouraging, and last night was no exception. Also had some great feedback from others in the audience, which was superb.

I’d seen Steve perform a year ago while in the audience and been very impressed, and yet far from initiating a turf war after I got my Stevenage-bashing out first, he couldn’t have been more helpful. I also enjoyed speaking with Andy and Peter, learning what I could from two guys out there doing it, and doing it, and doing it well (see, LL Cool J reference, I’m still hood).

The night itself is full of potential, bound to grow and become an integral part of the dazzling Thursday night Colindale scene J   It’s really got my juices flowing again and I can’t wait to work on the set again, ready for my next gig, in Welwyn next month. I can’t wait. Let me know if you are interested in coming to that one, and I’ll pass you the details once I have them.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the sun this weekend. Oh yeh, and Happy New Year…

Mwah.

James

Wow, that was an experience. Prior to me doing it, has anyone in the history of comedy come on stage to both Oasis AND Mavado? I think not! Brap, brap. Ahem.

Prior to last night, my biggest gig had been a sold out 70 crowd. Sunday night was more than double that with 150 people packing out Prince Harrys Comedy Night in Hammersmith. What’s more, it was an urban night meaning it was a different type of audience to deliver jokes too, in many ways it felt like another first gig.

Sharing the bill were some superb acts. I arrived and couldn’t find parking so tried to go around a block which never quite rounded and ended up back out of Hammersmith. Eventually made it back and found a spot but it had made it a near 2 hour drive.

I saw the promoter, Warren, as I arrived at the venue and noticed a lengthy queue outside making their way into the venue. Shit, nerves started to jangle in the pit of my stomach. I went to school with Warren, so my presence on the evening was kind of by way of favour, he’s been a top man for putting himself out to give me a bash at this night and I put in the work beforehand to give myself a decent chance.

I didn’t know what to expect in terms of venue. I had no idea what end of Hammersmith the gig was in but it turned out to be just off Hammersmith Bridge at a multipurpose venue, Lala’s. A restaurant and a private members lounge, which sounds far more promiscuous than is the reality.

A smooth bar with a vibrant atmosphere furnishing the interior, seats lined in rows across the centre in front of the stage, and then the rows arching round the stage to spread the audience 180 degrees around you. Pukka.

It was the September show that Warren first offered, but we agreed it was too soon. October looked a certainty, but I dropped out thinking I could do with one more gig to get myself to a level where I’d feel confident for this night. Then November was the date, and I couldn’t back out again. If I did, why would Warren bother asking again? No, time to bite the lip, and go in swinging.

The day of the gig was, well, different. I started off meeting Sooty, Sweep, and Sue with my kids at the theatre, before coming home and preparing for the gig. Warren called and I ran him over the set in the briefest of terms. He came up with an idea that I wasn’t sure about, playing a Mavado song to get the crowd moving. Now while I have an extensively eclectic musical ear, and while Mavado is no stranger to my Spotify playlist, that doesn’t mean I’m suddenly going to develop the rhythm that has eluded to me up to now… while on stage in a sold out show.

Anyways… I meet Warren at the venue (after a bit of a parking ball ache) and he shows me around a bit, introduces me to people, all really sound. I’m thinking, this’ll be alright, this. The music is playing as I’m preparing, headphones can stay in the bag here – t’riffic. Deejay Campbell of football fame turned up looking dapper and Warren introduced me as one of the comedians. Gwaaan.

Warren’s now dashing around the place, talking to literally everyone as he runs around doing the organisational stuff promoters do. I noticed Prince Harry aka the White Yardie in with the DJ so I popped over to speak to him. He was sound, recognised me from the pic (gwaan again), and then I just started running over my set again. Eventually show time arrived, and Harry was preaching to his receptive flock.

A young comedian called Spudz opened for what was only his second show and the audience were clearly disappointed when he’d done his time. Genuinely funny guy, talented, and definitely one to watch out for as he inevitably makes his way up the circuit.

Harry back up, does a few gags, and then calls me on to the guitar strumming sound of Wonderwall. A few ideas back and forth earlier with Warren, the idea was to play Oasis to greet me in, before I get stroppy with the DJ (Mr l) and stomp off until they put my song on, and then Mavado comes on. Worked a treat, the music got people hyped before I’d started my prepared set, and it launched into the show.

First gag dropped lovely (boom), second slightly shaky but got a laugh (boom-ish), and then 3 or 4 mins of strong and very decent laughter (very boom). Only one gag in that section flew over more heads than a 747 (not boom at all). The first half of the set, worked like a treat and all the new material about Brent/Harlesden was hitting funny bones left, right, and centre. One lady loudly described a gag as ‘disgusting’, which was the first time I’d be complimented like that during a show.

The second half was more challenging and more of a struggle. I started to lose them a couple of times, but managed to get them back laughing before too long. It was the closing of the set that was probably the low point, I prompted the audience for something and didn’t get a reaction, and rather than using the lack of reaction to adlib like I should have done, I thought – fuck it, I’m outta here!   I threw the last gag out and then thanked the audience and bolted.

As I walked off, I could only recall the last 60 seconds, which hadn’t been my finest moment on stage. It’s funny how you can forget the good parts of a set and just remember the reaction to the last gag. I suppose that’s why a boxer will step up the workrate for the last 30 seconds of a round, to catch the judges attention. You remember the gags that didn’t work too, wherever they feature.

So Harry is back on, and before long he introduces Junior Booker to the crowd. Junior delivered a great set with a lot of ad-libbing which was good for me to watch as he highlighted in my mind the kind of thing I should have said.

When Junior saw me earlier and introduced himself. I was like, I know who you are… and I did. I knew who all the other acts were, I’d laughed at them all before I’d ever been on a stage. And here I was in that group on gig number 7. Mental, just mental. Anyway, Junior delivered a top draw set which ebbed and flowed with the mood of the audience, another thing on my list to work on.

The headline act and one of my favourite comedians, Slim, arrived superstar-late and had to shoot off for another show afterwards but he more than made his dent when he was there. It’s amazing how quickly he can get the crowd on side and keep them there. A lot of energy and some great gags later, and then Slim was done and Harry was back up to close the show. Slim is doing a one man show in the Hackney Empire so keep an eye out for that, bound to be a chuckle-rich show.

I was surprised to hear Prince Harry has only been doing stand up for a year, you wouldn’t know it given the range of material he seems to be able to draw from. I lost count with the number of photos he was called into from audience members. 66000 instagram followers can’t all be wrong, and they’re not. Take a look for yourself: http://instagram.com/wyardie#

It had got to the time to go home, and at this stage I’m thinking it had not been the best show I’ve ever done but that I would have taken it as it was had it been offered to me beforehand, given my urban show virginity. The expectations you have for yourself just start to grow when you get there, and you start getting greedy! For example, Slim has been doing it for 20 years, and on Sunday alone performed a third of the number total shows I’ve ever done – and that was in one frigging night. Perspective…

Junior mentioned he runs a couple of other shows and I’m hopeful there will be a bring-in for me on one of them, just need to adapt the set again following the feedback from Sunday and make sure it is consistently strong throughout.

So I said my goodbyes and started writing and rewriting jokes in my head before I’d left the venue. I raced home, well not raced, my recent speeding ticket saw to that. I crawled home and watched the video back with baited breath.

Ultimately I am pleased with the result. I can make a room of 150 people laugh! I know why the bits that didn’t work didn’t work, but I am buzzing with how much of the new material did, particularly the new bits on my home town of Brent, and my kids.

Spoke to Warren the next day and there was agreement on how the set went, the strong start, the weaker finish, and we spoke about ideas for new jokes. We discussed writing some material together and that would be different as I’ve been a lone soldier in terms of writing up to now. That said, he flipping nailed the opener of this show, despite all my reservations haha.

Music plays a big part in these nights too, the DJ is up on the side of the stage in a booth and is a big part of the show. Not any DJ could do that kind of night, cudos to Mr l, who was not only a sound bloke but did a fantastic job with the choons and with his interaction with the comedians. Not going to lie, it’s also nice to have someone that close to you laughing at your jokes (most of them anyway J).

So what was all the stressing about? A slick venue with an audience, like all good comedy audiences, who have paid their money and are ready to laugh, or at least diss in good humour. Warren, Prince Harry, and co, you’ve got a great balance of sophistication, music, comedy, and audience. I really enjoyed being part of it, cheers to the Comedy Hangover collective.

Now for me, jokes to write and gigs to arrange! Catch up with you all later.

James

Hope everyone has been doing well since my last update. Things have been moving along nicely of late. I now have something of a portfolio for one thing, the result of combining a talented colleague with a well-used lunch break.

Sunday evening saw The Compass Theatre in Ickenham play host to my sixth appearance on stage on a night ran by Sian Doughty. It is a great venue and there is so much potential for the night, if you are anywhere near Ickenham on a Sunday that it’s on, go along to support the evening: http://www.compasstheatre.co.uk/index.php/events/?genre=23. From a comedian’s perspective, it’s very well run with Sian sending all the information you need without you even asking!

M25 and a rain-lashing later, I arrived at the gig. I was down for a 5 to 7 slot, which in my case means a 7 slot. I picked the better gags from the last couple of sets and then added two which fitted into the story.

I finally met the lovely Sian in person, and then saw that Pamela Hilton had come along to lend her support to the night. Daphna Baram and MC for the evening Charley Lucy Harrison kindly invited me to sit with them for the pre-show chinwag, and the other acts filtered in after that.

Marc, who’d come to my last show with his daughter Eleanor repeated the feat this time around, and went one better by taking responsibility for the footage. Well, I say take responsibility for the footage, when I looked down from the stage he’d delegated the task to Eleanor (who did a brilliant job – thank you!!). Very grateful to you both, great to have travelling support, I owe ya’s.

Sheraz Yousaf was the first act on, with me following soon after. The audience was a little different to those I’d performed at recently and I suspected some of the ‘edgier’ stuff, which basically means the rudest bits, might not go down as well as I’d hoped.

I opened my set and found the audience warm to the first gags, but there were two gags that didn’t work as well. I’m getting a terrible habit of making eye contact with elderly women as I get to the most adult parts of my set. It leads to them showing me a disappointed face which somehow reminds me of parents evening. However, I was really pleased with the non-scripted sections, which I think saved the set. And thanks to Pamela and her hubby-to-be for laughing along loudly!

Unusually, I had to peg it quite soon after I’d been on and it meant leaving quickly without saying anything to anyone but hopefully that won’t be held against me. It was Sunday night and the M25 awaited my arrival J Will try and come as an audience member for the next show, hope to see some of you there.

Now all thoughts to my next, and probably most challenging gig to date. Some amazing acts there, one has 66k+ followers on instagram, one was the first Brit to perform at the Hollywood Comedy Store and was main support act for Kevin Hart during his recent tour. If you don’t know Danny Slim Gray, then you are missing out. The set I am linking to here was one of those sets that made me want to try out stand up. Look at his control, his timing, his all-round genius funnydum. Watch it, and then free up and hour to watch more of his stuff. His delivery is impeccable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLqiTRVRdOw

Throw in the viral legend that is Prince Harry aka The White Yardie (and his 66k+ followers: http://instagram.com/WYARDIE ) and the brilliantly funny Junior Booker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxjq5x01jyY ), and I’m in fantastic company. Now I have to write some material that will stand up to another different audience, and this time there will be more of them, with a higher expectation. Hope the others don’t let them down!

Even as a joke that sounds wrong. Lots of work to do, this is only going to be gig 7! I just need to make sure I don’t let anybody down. As my two year old said to me earlier, ‘aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggh’.

Keep smiling peoples

James

Having made my debut at the world famous Luton Comedy Bar in April, I was delighted to be back there on Friday night (19th), and this time equipped with a ten minute set, some friends in the audience, and a slightly more reliable bladder than when here first time around.

There are pros and cons to increasing your set length. The obvious weigh up is twice as much to remember versus twice as much time on stage, and consequently more time to test and hone. More time for the audience to decide if you’re funny or if you’re an arse.

I’d written about 25% of new material to add to my set following last month’s Northampton gig. Two or three minutes is easy to sink in, but reordering you’re set is an absolute ball ache. You find yourself mentally launching into the wrong part of your set and you need to allow time to correct yourself before it comes out of your trap. When watching that back on video, the whole process takes less than half a second but while its happening, it feels like an age.

Woke on Thursday with the lurgies looming and it progressed throughout the day. I love the raw nature of stand-up comedy, the prop-free type, but the one thing you do need for that is your voice! Praise be to Lemsip. I survived through into Friday night, wilting a little, but carried through by the buzz of performing at a venue I’d long been eager to return too, pretty much since the minute I finished my first set there in April.

Steve Williams was down to emcee, which was reassuring. Steve was the guy who tore Alex a new hole in Ruislip and you couldn’t ask for a steadier hand to steer the ship and he duly went down a storm with the audience.

The gig sold out and there were a few there from work and home it was a treat and a first to have some support.  I arrived around 1920 and found Steve armed with a clipboard sorting out the schedule for the evening. The acts gathered round and I spoke with a couple, one of whom was making his debut. It was strange being the one showing someone around but Aaron was full of energy and did himself proud when his time came.

I was on last on the first set (so fourth act on), it was pretty much first come first served and I opted for earlier on in case my voice decided to get any worse. I said a few hello’s to those who’d come to see me and then made my way backstage and had a tribute piss in the toilet which had been so useful prior to my debut in April. Ah the memories. And look, they’ve replaced the door hinge I wore out!

So pacing up and down the corridor with my crib sheet in hand, I felt more nervous than I had done for a while. The thought of the sold out gig was fine, it was the fact that around ten of them had come specifically to see me. Of course, coming to see me demonstrated their excellent taste in comedy and that should be commended, but did mean I started thinking about the dreaded ‘what ifs’.
Ian Lane opened brilliantly, and I was preceded by Stella Graham. Steve then gave me a nice intro and I’m on…..

I could see some faces in the audience and at one point, I almost forget where in the set I was as I tried to spot who else was there. The throat was a wee bit ropey but survived. The set got a good response and the feedback was great, although once again I hadn’t really a clue how it had gone until I watched the video back. Overall I’d say a solid performance and another box ticked, having performed to a sold out crowd which included some familiar faces.  I can’t tell you how much I love the Luton Comedy Bar. Hope to be back ‘home’ there again early/mid next year.

Next month it’s Ickenham, followed by Hammersmith in early November.

Thanks to Liz Howard for all the usual stuff, David Brett for rounding his troop, Vicki Jackson and Simon Jackson for being two of the soundest people around, Marc and Eleanor Thornton for unwavering laughter,  Kevin Prosser and Ricky King for getting the last two tickets of the evening, Ibrar Hussain for telling me a single joke afterwards which took longer than my entire set, and Lukasz Pekalski and his lovely girlfriend – Lukasz you’re punching above you weight there pal 🙂

Damn, how different Monday morning is to Friday night!

Have a great week people and thanks again for the support.  Peace and love breadbins.
James

Back on the road last yesterday as Northampton’s Victoria Inn played host to the ‘We Are Most Amused’ monthly comedy night. The night is put on by comedian Tom Young, who also MC’s the evening with some great audience interaction. Tom is possibly the most relaxed person I’ve met on the circuit to date, let alone for a promoter. I’d heard from another comedian that it was a good gig to perform at and I have to say that is absolutely correct. Tom said about the venues layout, “it shouldn’t work, but it does”, and that is very much the case.

I had to leave before 11pm to get back to Stevenage as the wife had to leave at the crack of dawn to see her newly child-ed chum ‘tup north. Disappointed to miss the set of a lovely comedian I met named Sarah Martin and really hope I get the chance to catch her at a show soon.

Sat down before the gig with Tom and Harry Stachini, I gawped around the place trying to visualise how the night works. It looked like we would be stealing our laughs from each other and the bar staff. Then one or two came in, joined by more, then another group, and another, and within 20 minutes the venue was bubbling and the crowd had that beautiful ‘want-to-laugh’ look about their faces. I then found out, not long after Tom, that the venue was closing in two days while a new tenant was sought. A real shame and hopefully a pro-comedy replacement will be found before too long.

Also chewing the fat on the table was my wife Liz, the second gig she’s been able to come to thanks to Nana and Uncle Shaun taking the kids for a couple of peaceful days. It’s great having Liz at a gig; it means I don’t have to beg anyone else to record it. But seriously, she has to listen to the jokes over and over in the build-up and it’s great for her to be there to hear the reaction to the hard work we’ve put in.

Harry Stachini was up first. Harry performed at the Newport Pagnell gig I did, gig number two for me. A very friendly guy with a slight scouse twang (sorry mate), Harry has a good opportunity coming up soon at a big show and I wish him the best for it. It’s a great set brilliantly delivered so I’m sure it will go well.

My turn was next. I quite like being second position for the night, you’re not first so you don’t have a cold audience, but neither are they comed-ied out. Another bonus is you don’t have long to wait and worry about your set. All round, it was a good start.

This was my first ten minute show and the first showing of my new set. It’s different to my first, in the sense that the first probably chased easier laughs if I’m honest. The emphasis on more mature subject matter means the output is also slightly less likely to be viewed by my mum or kids. Of my previous experiences, it was most like the first gig, because I didn’t know the strengths and weaknesses of the set and that did throw me at one point when a gag I was sure was a belter escaped laughter-free.

The set went down a treat. Watching the video back, I’m elated with the number of new jokes that got a lengthy belly laugh. The line I had added for the benefit of Liz’s attendance went down really well and she became part of the show. After I’d left the stage, the MC (Tom) raised a round of applause for the ‘long suffering Mrs Howard’. The last section of the set was possibly my favourite moment of my currently four-gig career. It didn’t really feel it at the time, but I also looked more relaxed and aware of the audience – and I managed to shut my cakehole long enough to let them laugh! By no means the finished article, but definite progress. I feel like I’m getting a good understanding of the type of comedy that works for me.

I couldn’t have hoped for a better response and I’m buzzing again like I was after my debut in April. That’s not to say all the jokes worked, there were no groans or sighs, but there were a couple of jokes that passed like I’d just given a brief weather update between gags. A couple of the audience spoke to me about my set, one while I was pissing, which was a bit weird. Maybe I’ll try using the bathroom in future. The feedback was great and again gave me belief in the new set. People got it, and I was frigging delighted that they did.

I’ve got some work to do in a few areas of the set to have ready for my next gig, which sees me return to the stage I made my debut on in Luton. I’m really excited about going back there, this time for ten minutes. I am sure I can pick the lessons from the last night and make the most of the great night of comedy next month.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

James

URL: http://www.jameshoward.me.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameshoward1

Twitter handle: @standupjames (https://twitter.com/StandUpJames) – come on…. someone?? anyone??

It’s been a while but we’re off and rolling again, starting out in Northampton on Thursday. Going equipped with my inaugural ten minute set, it’s quite a nervy time as I have never performed this much new material. Remembering ten minutes is more than twice as hard as remembering five. I just about know it, but it’s not as fluent as it will need to be on Thursday. Being twice as long, I’m only getting half as much practice as I did with my first set, but I’m persevering and every day sees some progress. A huge thanks to the kids, without whom I would have probably perfected the set by now.

I started a twitter account but not really got into yet. Am going to make an effort so if you fancy joining the one or two followers, and the tumbleweed, follow me: @standupjames

I had a call from an old school friend who promotes music and comedy events in London. It’s going to be a different audience than I’m used to, but one where I can try out material the usual audience wouldn’t really buy into. It’s going to be interesting, it’s a bit of a leap into the unknown but that’s what this is all about. Next month’s show will come around too soon, but my Harlesden-born gags might be an airing the month after. We spoke about how I could adapt parts of my set and straight away new material was coming out. This one was a real unexpected bonus and I’m chuffed with it, cheers to Warren for that.

And the news full of stories from my past life in the corridors of British boxing, Frank Maloney is now Kellie, and will be making that fully confirmed (if you know what I mean), next year. I met Frank once and spoke to him on the phone a number of times. He was an interesting man, humorous and quick to get caught up in emotion, anything from red anger to blue despair. There are some people who say they saw signs, but nobody said much about that when the rumours broke last night, only to be labelled as a hoax. Frank, sorry Kellie, has a family and it must be a bad time for them as much as him right now. Hope they are all ok. In other boxing news, I have heard rumour that Audley Harrison is considering a sex change to become a man.

The comedy world has centred in Edinburgh and a lot of the comic’s I’ve performed alongside are up there making name for themselves. Wishing them all the best and hoping that there is an agent and a deal up there for all of you.

Will post again after Thursdays gig. Can’t wait to get back out there and lose the butterflies having a rave in my stomach. Until then, keep smiling.

James

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