The show was great tonight - loads in (certainly over 150, maybe more like 170, but didn't get exact figures) and getting much more confident about it. Unfortunately I was ten minutes over and had to rush the end, but can see some places for cuts. One more day of re-writing and learning should pretty much sort it out. I walked home later tonight feeling very happy about it all. It's felt like the writing hell part would never end, but now I am close to being prepared enough to just have fun with it all. And as long as people keep coming then nothing else really matters. I don't know if I've had any reviewers in for the first couple of shows - I hope not as it would be good for them to see a really rocking one, but this year the reviews don't seem so important. I know this has the potential to be a great show and I think that as long as people are enjoying it then the word should spread. Time will tell. It will be hard to make a call until we see how many people come on Sunday and Monday which can be difficult days to get an audience.
It feels like it's going to be a good Edinburgh already and I am enjoying bumping into friends and acquaintances on every corner. In past years I have sometimes felt self-conscious, awkward and paranoid and maybe those feelings will return if there is a rash of unfair reviews and a paucity of punters, but I think it's mainly to do with self-confidence. Years ago I worried that the "proper" stand-ups were looking down at me because I didn't really play the clubs. But I think I've earned my dues now and also realised that I was probably imagining all this anyway. Maybe the message of my show has permeated through a bit. When I was thinking about whether I should attempt this crazy show back in about February/March time (and I may have written about this) I picked up a book of answers, where you have to imagine a question and then open the book at random and it will give you an answer. I asked it whether I should do this show and the book's response was "You'll be glad that you did," (or words to that effect).
The book did not lie.
I am guessing that doing these Edinburgh shows is probably cheaper than hiring a therapist.
The old lady wasn't at her window this evening. I hope she hasn't died! Still at least we gave her something compartively interesting to look at for the last couple of days of her life if she has.
