I had my first show in 2018 for How To Win A Pub Quiz. It was in Oxford and I managed to get a decent sized crowd.
It’s a different set to previous years, or at least meant to be. As with many gigs, time conspired against me and I didn’t have enough time to get my set together. It wasn’t quite as much of a manic rush as the Newcastle show in October, but it wasn’t far off.
I ended up only doing ten minutes of material at the top and forgetting a large chunk of new stuff I’d supposedly written. It was a nice gig, the quiz was fun, but I felt a little rusty. It’s certainly motivation to make it better, especially with time running out.
I have been toying with the idea of dropping the traditional film sketch just before the quiz begins, but have since realised that it is an integral part of the show. I’ve written a new one, so hopefully it’ll be as well received. But the previous one had been honed over four years, so it may take a few attempts to get it to where I need it.
I was also meant to have a previous last week for Stop the Press…, but it was rescheduled after England ended up doing far better in the World Cup than anyone ever expected. But due to the lack of time to promote the show, the rescheduled one ended up being pulled too. The show is getting closer to where I went it, but it’s not quite there yet.
I’m previewing both shows in Beverley, East Yorkshire, on Saturday, which at the moment will be my last one for Stop the Press before I return to the Kilderkin.
Then I have one more Pub Quiz at the Hollybush in Cradley Heath next Friday. I’ll keep an eye out for others, but that may the last stop before Edinburgh and I’ll have bypassed London for previews for the first time ever.
I’ve been trying to get a final preview sorted for my hometown of Stroud on the last weekend of July, but I think I may have left it too late to get anything organised and promoted effectively now. There is only so much emotional blackmail you can do to friends in a short period of time.