Just went to see two fellow character comics (and obvious fans of the absurd) in one of the shittest venues ever. The walls were paper-thin, held together with hessian sacks and tape, with a substandard sound-system, in a baking hot room, with the DJ blaring his choons outside the room and a tired audience who could barely manage a smile. Poor bastards.

I enjoyed myself, hell ever since I started performing I really appreciate acts who really put in the effort, but I get absolutely annoyed by audiences who (and this isn’t their fault) are fed on a diet on mainstream stand-up comedy and maybe a sketch-show and don’t even try to enjoy themselves. They stare, bewildered, their brains asking “where’s the jokes, where’s the punchlines?” not realising that punchlines are one very small element of comedy, and that there is such a thing as “originality” and that “originality” can be enjoyed, if you just let yourself go, enter the world, don’t be afraid to laugh.

It really makes me appreciate the audiences I have and the hard work I’ve put in but it also hardens my commitment to my own brand of comedy. Yes it still needs lots of developing, no I’ll probably never end up on TV, yes it is hard work, but (as my “super-fans” have shown) at least I’ll be remembered, and as long as I remain proud of what I’ve achieved, then that’s a good enough reason to continue. I also know I never want to end up as just a punter.

Looking forward to next year’s show, whatever it’s going to be.

Mxxx