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Off to Hertford this evening to do an actual 20 minute set on an actual stage in front of an actual sold out audience (perversely in a theatre that was only a fifth full).
I made a vow during lockdown to bin all pre-lockdown stand up and faced with the aching chasm of a third of an hour to fill, I was sort of regretting that today. But also stuck to my guns. It's an important and useful resolution and I think will be worth it in the end. Even if it means a few bumpy rides along the way. I collated material from recent blogs (though wasn't sure I'd be able to remember any of it) and wrote a few jokes about Hertford and its supposed obsession with the fact that parliament briefly sat there in 1563 because of the plague (coupled with imagining the townfolk greeting Covid with some excitement - this could be their chance to host parliament again).
And I had the book as a back up - thinking I could read a chapter and then maybe discuss some of the Serena Williams tweets I've had.
And of course, I had a little frenemy in a box who could come in and heckle me if I ran short of gags.
It was also nice to be on a bill with other comics again (in the flesh rather than online). It was a bit skewed towards middle-aged men tonight, but it was fun to catch up with Alistair Barrie, Paul Sinha and (briefly) Mitch Benn. Ivo Graham was the only act under forty and he arrived a bit later so only saw him in the wings.
I had been led to the wrong dressing rooms (by a monthly badger who had also won the end of month draw, so part of a very elite club), which were all locked up, but I found the others eventually.
I was remarkably relaxed about my lack of material, but this is the kind of place I want to get to with stand up. A bit of winging it combined with the hope that I will come up with the goods in the sharp focus of the spotlight.
It worked OK and I didn't get round to doing many of my routines, doing some local stuff, some bits about my kids and the book reading (which I accept is cheating). Ally only had three and a bit minutes to fill and blazed brightly but let me down by running out of stuff to do, so I pitched my game show Bumming for Gold and fucked off. It was an acceptable set. The foolish people of Hertford, who I nearly lived amongst, seemed happy.
I wasn't elated but I wasn't embarrassed and it felt like a positive step just to have been back on a stage. Hopefully it won't be too long before we're allowed back (but I fancy that May might be the earliest we can hope for - there are some RHLSTPs pegged in at the Leicester Square Theatre then).
I also prerecorded an interview for Nick Helm and Nathaniel Metcalfe's show on Fubar radio which will be going out on Christmas Day. I talked about myself a bit too much, but Nick and Nathaniel seemed happy and we had some early Christmas cheer.
A really cracking RHLSTP out today with Marek Larwood.
You won't regret it.
