Gig Round-Up
I keep meaning to do a round-up of my recent gigs, but keep getting distracted. That and a fortnight ago, I sprained my ankle while has left me pretty immobile until the past few days. Still isn't completely right, but getting there.
On 8th July, I headed to Barley Mow on Horseferry Road for a comedy night as part of SouthWestFest, a community festival taking place in South Westminster. It's a pleasure to perform at a show where thought has gone into the proceedings, a good room with an attentive crowd. Expenses were paid which was a kind gesture. I felt I had a solid above-average gig, although there were parts of the room I didn't quite connect with. I find sometimes that 10% of the crowd will really get behind what I'm doing while the rest of the audience can be a little more reluctant. It was one of those sorts of occasions although I was generally pleased with it and a decent percentage of my punchlines hit the mark. The routine I had pondered jettisoning at the Retro Pub the night before got a strong reaction, but then I've been doing this long enough to know that it's an unpredictable business.
18th July saw me return to Carnivale just off Brick Lane for another Comedy Bin gig. It's a very strange venue for a comedy night, with a large stage in front of a handful of seats. The stage also bizzarely features a church style pew and a wardrobe. You can realistically seat about 15 people within the general vicinity of the stage, with an upstairs area providing a peculiar balcony. Given that the audience comprised solely of other comics, a shrill Australian woman (who laughed at every other line irrespective of whether it was a punchline) and her boyfriend, it was difficult to draw too many conclusions. I think I acquitted myself well given the circumstances.
On 20th July, I took a short notice gig at Pear Shaped at the Fitzroy Tavern near Goodge St, a notorious open mic gig that I was playing for the first time. Run by the eccentric, entertaining Brian Damage, it was a peculiar gig. I've not often performed in a venue where the air conditioning is sporadically turned off to stop the aroma of faeces entering the room as the pub is on top of a sewer. Again very much an acts and two audience members affair, not going down to complete silence can be considered a triumph. I'll mainly remember Pear Shaped for the 15 minute headlining set from a man named Uncle Ivan, who largely quoted Shakespeare while rummaging through his bag and pretending to hit rats with a hammer. This is the life I chose.
Tomorrow sees the return of the Ministry of Whimsy (A Stainbank and McPhun venture) to the Camden Head in Camden. We've got Anna Freyberg, Nicholas Cooke, Marc Burrows, Jackson Voorhaar, Gareth Berliner and Nick Gibson on the bill. McPhun is compering, which means I'll be a lot less stressed. Must go and write some material.
On 8th July, I headed to Barley Mow on Horseferry Road for a comedy night as part of SouthWestFest, a community festival taking place in South Westminster. It's a pleasure to perform at a show where thought has gone into the proceedings, a good room with an attentive crowd. Expenses were paid which was a kind gesture. I felt I had a solid above-average gig, although there were parts of the room I didn't quite connect with. I find sometimes that 10% of the crowd will really get behind what I'm doing while the rest of the audience can be a little more reluctant. It was one of those sorts of occasions although I was generally pleased with it and a decent percentage of my punchlines hit the mark. The routine I had pondered jettisoning at the Retro Pub the night before got a strong reaction, but then I've been doing this long enough to know that it's an unpredictable business.
18th July saw me return to Carnivale just off Brick Lane for another Comedy Bin gig. It's a very strange venue for a comedy night, with a large stage in front of a handful of seats. The stage also bizzarely features a church style pew and a wardrobe. You can realistically seat about 15 people within the general vicinity of the stage, with an upstairs area providing a peculiar balcony. Given that the audience comprised solely of other comics, a shrill Australian woman (who laughed at every other line irrespective of whether it was a punchline) and her boyfriend, it was difficult to draw too many conclusions. I think I acquitted myself well given the circumstances.
On 20th July, I took a short notice gig at Pear Shaped at the Fitzroy Tavern near Goodge St, a notorious open mic gig that I was playing for the first time. Run by the eccentric, entertaining Brian Damage, it was a peculiar gig. I've not often performed in a venue where the air conditioning is sporadically turned off to stop the aroma of faeces entering the room as the pub is on top of a sewer. Again very much an acts and two audience members affair, not going down to complete silence can be considered a triumph. I'll mainly remember Pear Shaped for the 15 minute headlining set from a man named Uncle Ivan, who largely quoted Shakespeare while rummaging through his bag and pretending to hit rats with a hammer. This is the life I chose.
Tomorrow sees the return of the Ministry of Whimsy (A Stainbank and McPhun venture) to the Camden Head in Camden. We've got Anna Freyberg, Nicholas Cooke, Marc Burrows, Jackson Voorhaar, Gareth Berliner and Nick Gibson on the bill. McPhun is compering, which means I'll be a lot less stressed. Must go and write some material.
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