After writing nothing for about five months, I should probably write something on here to make the money I am spending on keeping this site alive seem worthwhile.
I mean, it is not really worthwhile. But then neither are many things when you look at them through a rational or objective lens.
Anyway, the main reason I’ve not written anything on here in recent months is that I have been preoccupied with a podcast since January. The editing process consumes large amounts of my time at weekends.
Are you even a comedian in this day and age if you don’t have a podcast? That is debatable. I have wanted to do a podcast for years after having so much fun guesting on Luke Thompson’s podcasts several times. The main thing holding me back has been a theme and sticking with it. I did a brief podcast in 2020 about Edinburgh Fringe in the year it was cancelled, but it was a lot of effort for little reward. Turns out that, that is a good summary of what is like to start a podcast
Things took a giant leap forward about a year ago, when I saw my old mate Siobhan Dodd appearing as a guest on another podcast. I sent her a few ideas and asked if she’d be up for collaborating on something. The idea she liked best is particularly close to my heart, or perhaps another part of my anatomy.
If you were unaware, the podcast is called Following Through. Each episode focuses on a particular challenge that either one of us or a guest has persisted with. The other aspect is it is shitting stories, which is quite possibly my family heritage. I have enough toilet stories from over the years, I might as well use them.
The idea has been kicking around in my head for several years. I told a date about the idea a couple of years ago and I did not see her again. I thought a podcast about poo accidents on its own might be a little too niche, although I would gladly listen to it. So, then I thought about also talking about persisting with a challenge. And thus we followed through with it.
Over the first series, we have talked about living with Crohn’s disease, training to be a doctor, moving to Paris, writing a sitcom, riding a bike as an adult, and developing Ross Kemp: The Musical. It has been so much fun and the feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive. I have really enjoyed working with Siobhan regularly on a project. But it is hard work, especially fitting in the edits with everything juggling else such as working full-time and doing comedy. I’m enjoying the few weeks’ break and think I’ll need to hire an editor for at least some of the episodes if we’re putting out a weekly episode.
The other thing I have added to the juggling mix this year has been an evening class at the Central School of Speech and Drama on better managing my voice when performing. The issue of my throat closing up on stage has happened a few times after Covid, often when I’m trying to get those vital first few jokes in. It is horrible and really makes the rest of the set a struggle. Even if it subsides, you’re still starting off badly – which you never want in a comedy set. I am pleased to report that the class was great and I learnt so much over the eight weeks, with the techniques working wonders in a number of different ways.
The other thing the class did was that it awoke my teenage inner thespian, particularly for Shakespeare. I had forgotten how much I love the texts and the power of the iambic pentameter. It’s made me want to do more Shakespeare acting, which I haven’t done in about 23 years. I am already looking into open auditions in London and will likely do an evening class to focus on Shakespeare once I have returned from Edinburgh.
But before that, I am doing two dates at Brighton Fringe. Despite Brighton Fringe being the first festival I ever performed a show at in 2010 and three happy years there with Luke, Moz, and Langton, I have never actually performed How To Win A Pub Quiz. I’m not totally sure why. The reasons were something to do with using holiday from work tactically and then living in Manchester for 3.5 years. The first show is on 4 May (Star Wars day, unintentional), and then I’m back again at the very end of the month on the 31st. Tickets are available here.