This was a special gig for me. Originally i was going to give myself a headline spot, but then decided that it’d be impossible to do all the routines in one go.. So i thought i’d scatter myself out throughout the night.
Because i was most nervous about performing as myself, i wanted to get that done first. If that went badly then i might be able to win them back with Edgar Casper. I hadn’t performed as myself since May 2016 and i wasn’t happy with how i came across at that gig. I was too energetic and to rehearsed, If i wanted to portray my true self, i’d need to slow down and approach it with a more natural vibe.
In preparation for this gig i figured out which jokes i wanted to tell and rather than learn them word for word i just put down my print off, turned off my iPod (which i usually use to listen to recorded routines) and just practiced telling the jokes or the stories without any aid.. Comedians aren’t perfect and in my experience people laugh when we fuck things up. So all i needed to know was the order of my jokes and roll with it.. if i fucked things up, that’d make it seem more natural.. that might then lead into improvised afterthoughts.
When it came to practicing Edgar and Barry, i just learnt the script and practised performing it. Unlike myself they are set routines, characters that will mostly perform the same set. I mean i’ll probably add/change bits to improve their sets, but they will never has as much freedom as i would performing as myself.
I decided to split the night up into 3 sections and have myself open each section. This way i’d have time to change and prepare myself.
There was a lot of people coming from work to see me. This always makes me a little nervous because if things go badly, i might get stick at work. . so i wanted to impress.
I was impressed with how many laughs i got. in my mind i imagined the room would be silent. obviously i wanted them to laugh, but i felt they might not because i was the first act on and they probably wouldn’t be drunk and acceptable to my comedic attempts. I had mentally prepared myself to leave that stage unsuccessful and then win them back with Edgar Casper.
But surprisingly they seemed to enjoy it. They laughed at the funnies, groaned at the groaners and didn’t laugh at the shit bits. People always say that the gigs will go better than you imagine..so be like me, imagine the worst gig ever and i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
After i performed, i went backstage and changed into Edgar. I missed a lot of the show because i didn’t want to be seen in the room until it was time for the performance. After we had a break i snuck out the fire exit, walked round the venue and stood at the back of the room waiting to be introduced. For the eagle eyed members of the audience that hadn’t seen me walk past since i performed as me.. it must’ve felt like magic.
Edgar went as well as i’d expected. I had a feeling he would be the best performance out of the three. Once again i hid backstage after his performance and waited. I sat outback dressed as Barry, listening to the other comedians. Nelson was closing the second half and the audience were having a great time.
After the break Steve (compare) came backstage and told me that a lot of the audience had vanished. This is something we’ve struggled with in the past. Whenever we have two breaks people bail on the second, which means the closer of the night only has half a room to perform too. This was shit! and made me look rubbish as a promoter. I decided then that in the future i’d only do one break a night and book fewer acts.
When you book a headliner for free and they potentially could be doing a different gig for money, the only thing you can offer them is a warm audience and a full room. But when you lose that, you’ve basically wasted their time, you’ve not kept you side of the deal and that’s not going to get you far.
So back to the night. After hearing half the audience had left, i was a bit pissed off. Would they be more committed had purchased a ticket? when a night is free (payment optional) people don’t seem committed to staying to the end.. unfortionalty for me, this is something i’d have to live with for as long as i held the night at jurnet’s bar. Jurnets don’t allow me to charge people for the comedy night because they want a free comedy night option for their members.. they also don’t pay me anything or give me free or even discounted drinks at the bar.. i literally just get a room for the night... if the room wasn’t as amazing as it is, i probably wouldn’t still be gigging there.. i love the venue.
Anyway, Steve introduced Barry the Plumber and as i went out, i was disheartened to see that half the room had left and most of the people left looked tired and fed up. I felt sorry for them. these nights needed to be tightened up.
When i left the stage, i knew Barry probably didn’t get the response he deserved. The night had worn the audience out and they weren't laughing like they did earlier.
I sat out back for the remainder of the night feeling a bit glum. wondering if this was still worth it.. should i keep this night going or should i bin it off and focus on writing a pilot script for the BBC? i could focus on that and gigging at other venues around the country. I had three routines, i could gig loads with them.
it’s a hard decision that i’m still not sure about. i Think it’d be a shame to wrap it up but i also don’t feel right giving it away..i’ve put so much work into this..
After Steve had closed the night, i nipped out and got the collections jar. I poured the jar out into a jumper, the last thing i want the audience to see/hear is the greedy promoter pouring all his money onto a table and counting it. The jumper reduced that noise..
I counted the change, hoping that we’d made enough to pay the Car share.. we did. i then counted the rest.. I’d made a tenner. This annoyed me (mostly because i was tired and emotional about the future of the comedy club.)
To me, £30 in the jar was quite insulting.. we put on a great night and at the start of the evening there must’ve been about 60 people in the room. if everyone popped in a pound, then maybe i’d feel like it was worth my time.
Someone had even put euros in the jar.. why? Why not just take the jar and pass it on if you can’t spare the change..
I was in a bad mood and i felt like the effort i put into the nights wasn’t worth it. it would never get better than this, i had no funding, i couldn’t afford to pay acts, i couldn’t afford to buy acts drinks.. i couldn’t afford anything..however I could guarantee that we’d raise at least £20 for a car share (which i’d agree with the driver before the gig).
I know it’s ‘pay what you want’ and i shouldn’t moan.. but i think it’s worth more and if i got my won way i’d be charging £4 entry per person..
The venue weren’t going to give me any money, this night was as good as it was going to get. I had reached the top of the jurnet’s bar ladder and i was disappointed.. For the club to grow (if i decide to continue) i’d need a bigger venue, one which will let me sell tickets and develop it into a pro night.
Maybe i could keep jurnet’s bar as a comedy crypt open mic night and take proper show else where. it was frustrating, i didn’t know what i wanted to do.
As Lucy and i put the equipment in the car, i told her that Tonight was the last night. i’m done with this, this is going nowhere and i need to take advantage of my relationship with BBC Norfolk. If i’m going to get noticed for writing and performing comedy, the BBC is the place to be.. i need to focus on that
