I am not sure who will eventually end up reading this particular posting, but it's been a while since I have posted using this particular account.
For those of you who read my last posting, I mentioned that I had started doing stand up comedy.
I'd done a course with the School Of Hard Knock Knocks (mention my name to get 50% off the price of the course).
I've had a few stand up gigs at the Crown and Anchor's Cranker Comedy nights, but nothing since then. They way it works is that you have to be really friendly with the bookers, the people who sign up acts, and you also have to network like crazy to get enough bums on seats to show that you can draw a crowd. In the comedy game, these are called "bringer" shows where you've stacked the audience in your favour. There's nothing wrong with this of course, it's an old marketing gimmick to claim a show is "SOLD OUT", but somehow they manage to be able to save you a few seats.
As opposed to say, something like Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, which genuinely sold out within a few minutes of the tickets being available. I will be sitting up the back row in between two people and I really, really hope that they don't talk during the whole thing. I have taken to not bothering to see evening screenings of movies because for some strange reason people seem to be rather rude after work. Maybe their jobs suck? Possibly.
Behind the limelight, microphone and curtains, stand up comedy can seem like a scam. Initially there is very little money behind it and you are operating at a loss. Often you will have to pay to get into a club, and you might not even get a chance to do any stand up.
But if you've got a decent routine and you are willing to stick to it and improve you can get far. It's the exception rather than the rule though, as there is a massive attrition rate, but there are some amazing success stories.
I just wish I had more mental focus to be able to do more practice. Self confidence, or the lack thereof, can be the undoing of many a comedian.
Anyway, I have a gig booked for the Adelaide Fringe Festival in which I have to do 10 minutes of my best material "off book". It will be recorded, etc. I'm having trouble finding gigs and so forth. So my plan is to hang around the venues and then network and practice my material until I get it right.
