It was a very busy week last week. I went to Spain for a few gigs. I slept in for my flight, so instead of getting a taxi to the airport I drove, checked in on time and flew to my destination.
A resort that was, to say the least a bit of a shit hole. The hotel was nice and the Rep assigned to look after me was helpful as he listened to me whinge about the amount of kids running around and that under no circumstances would I set foot on that stage if there was one child in the audience. I had a snooze and woke up in a much better mood. The place looked nicer by night, I had some good food and whiled away the hours before my gig having couple of beers.
The gigs themselves were fantastic. As the Madeleine story was hot in the news a lot of parents weren't using the baby listening service so a small (50/60+) crowd were there for late night cabaret. What can I say they got the Motormouth experience and loved it. Over the course of the next few days I started to recognise some of my punters and as the nights went on the crowd swelled. I'll definitely be going back.
In true Roughy style the bus taking me to the airport didn't turn up so I had an extra couple of days in the sun while my missus sorted out a return flight...oh dear!. Now most blokes getting themselves in that situation would be looking forward to a few deaf and dumb breakfasts, but no Lorri pulled out all the stops and got me home with a minimum level of fuss and no ear ache. She's an amazing woman.
So sandwiched in between a couple of Rugby league sporting dinners I had what I could only describe as one of the most challenging gigs of my career. When acts are described as "self contained" it means that we bring our own sound system when needed. that's not a problem, I don't own one as I never get asked to bring it any more. For a gig for a new agent I was asked to be self contained for a show in Liverpool. I borrowed one from my apprentice JS (thank you young 'un!) but on turning up at the gig it was in a very small room for roughly 30+ people. I wish it had been a big enough gig to warrant a PA system! It was a strange one. A corporate for a company that had been holding a week long conference in Liverpool for people from all over the world. They invited them to Anfield (a beautiful venue ) for dinner and entertainment. At least a fifth of my audience were American..oh dear again! The company organising the conference were lovely people, I had dinner with them as I nervously awaited being introduced, I knew what the pitfall were going to be, an intimate crowd, loads of Americans who wouldn't get my cultural references and me not being sure what levels of rudeness I could achieve. The gig itself was OK, that's all, just OK. The crowd were nice and sometimes forgiving of me, they could see what a difficult job it was. They laughed, they groaned they hissed when I was naughty but all in all I thought I did a decent job. However!...just as I write this, the agent has rang and said that he'd heard second hand that the client wasn't too happy. I'm not sure as yet but I shall keep you, dear reader informed.
FTM!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thursday 10 May 2007
Long drive home yesterday, Lorri and I had spent the previous evening sorting our future out and it certainly looks exciting and a challenge I'm really looking forward to. It's strange being in Love and having someone to share the good times and bad..I'm just glad it's her!
Got to Leeds for my gig last night, I love Leeds. Even on a wet and miserable Wednesday night the city was buzzing. The gig itself was a strange one. It was the first for a new agent of mine so I was eager to impress. The deal was that some students at Leeds Met University, as part of their Marketing course were required to put on a nights entertainment, hire the venue, sell the tickets, book the acts and make a profit. I was duly booked and turned up to find an empty venue. I had supper in Wetherspoons (what a shit hole Wetherspoons = the new Brewsters!) and when I returned the venue was sold out! They'd done a fantastic job in promoting the evening and even though there was very little "performance" room that didn't seem to matter as I really enjoyed the gig. The lads and lasses went out of their way to make me comfortable and they got the assembled throng nice and warmed up and quiet ready for me. It was a strange gig, playing almost exclusively to 18 year olds, some of my references went over their heads but they really got into the spirit of the evening. Their tutors were there to assess the evening and they got some of the "in jokes". My favourite bit of the night was when 3 girls dressed as ninja turtles (students, wacky ey?) walked past me to go the loo. I announced them as "Dennis Wise and his back room staff at Leeds United" this got a roar of approval as being students, none of them were from Leeds!
The drive home wasn't too bad and it was straight to bed with a drink and the days papers while they no doubt were dancing the night away...I'm getting old!
I'm off to Spain tomorrow for three gigs, back on Monday. I hope it's warm
FTM!
Got to Leeds for my gig last night, I love Leeds. Even on a wet and miserable Wednesday night the city was buzzing. The gig itself was a strange one. It was the first for a new agent of mine so I was eager to impress. The deal was that some students at Leeds Met University, as part of their Marketing course were required to put on a nights entertainment, hire the venue, sell the tickets, book the acts and make a profit. I was duly booked and turned up to find an empty venue. I had supper in Wetherspoons (what a shit hole Wetherspoons = the new Brewsters!) and when I returned the venue was sold out! They'd done a fantastic job in promoting the evening and even though there was very little "performance" room that didn't seem to matter as I really enjoyed the gig. The lads and lasses went out of their way to make me comfortable and they got the assembled throng nice and warmed up and quiet ready for me. It was a strange gig, playing almost exclusively to 18 year olds, some of my references went over their heads but they really got into the spirit of the evening. Their tutors were there to assess the evening and they got some of the "in jokes". My favourite bit of the night was when 3 girls dressed as ninja turtles (students, wacky ey?) walked past me to go the loo. I announced them as "Dennis Wise and his back room staff at Leeds United" this got a roar of approval as being students, none of them were from Leeds!
The drive home wasn't too bad and it was straight to bed with a drink and the days papers while they no doubt were dancing the night away...I'm getting old!
I'm off to Spain tomorrow for three gigs, back on Monday. I hope it's warm
FTM!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Tuesday 8 May 2007
Having celebrated the title win on Sunday, we had, what started out as a night out in Aberdeen. Lorri had been really poorly through the week and I know it was a struggle for her to go out, but she said she felt up to it and was sick of staring at four walls to be honest. We'd decided to go to a lovely comedy club at a venue we know and love. I was toying with the idea of doing a cheeky ten minutes to keep my hand in, but the bill looked very good and full. On arriving it was packed and there were no seats. The promoter, a lovely chap said I could do ten minutes but would I like to compere? I declined, I don't like compering comedy clubs, I neither have the patience or the style to do it. It then turned out that he'd asked the headliner ( A top Scottish Comic and former Perrier nominee) to M.C. the evening and asked me to headline it. So a night out turned into work. The crowd were boisterous but our Perrier friend compered with such ease and guile he had them laughing in all the right places and respectful of the acts.
I was slightly concerned, this was, after all, Scotland, who don't always love English comics and Iwas wearing my "Mackems,- Ramones" T-shirt! I was introduced in a lovely way and the crowd actually believed they were getting a real treat they weren't expecting. I stormed the gig, they loved me and my t-shirt. Lorri was beaming with pride when I came off stage and I was surrounded by admiring Aberdonians. I suppose my fear of Scottish audiences is unwarranted and it made me think long and hard about extending the stuff I do up here.We then got very, very drunk!
Back home tomorrow, oh well!
FTM!
I was slightly concerned, this was, after all, Scotland, who don't always love English comics and Iwas wearing my "Mackems,- Ramones" T-shirt! I was introduced in a lovely way and the crowd actually believed they were getting a real treat they weren't expecting. I stormed the gig, they loved me and my t-shirt. Lorri was beaming with pride when I came off stage and I was surrounded by admiring Aberdonians. I suppose my fear of Scottish audiences is unwarranted and it made me think long and hard about extending the stuff I do up here.We then got very, very drunk!
Back home tomorrow, oh well!
FTM!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Sunderland AFC: Football League Champions 2006-07
What a fantastic achievement from the boys in red and white.
Thank you Niall Quinn, thank you for everything. The magic carpet has taken off!
FTM!
Thank you Niall Quinn, thank you for everything. The magic carpet has taken off!
FTM!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday 30 April 2007
We're there! Sunderland were officially promoted to The Premiership yesterday afternoon after Derby County lost to Crystal Palace. It was a weird experience. Lorri and watched the game and it was an anti climax being promoted by default. It would have been nicer if we'd been able to do it on Friday night as Carlos Edwards goal was worthy of winning any major tournament in the world as we beat Burnley 3-2. It was also strange wanting Derby to lose, as people know they were my 2nd team when I was a lad and I've always followed them. I just hope they can go up via the play offs, though my money is on Southampton.
Today I booked a spot at the Manchester Comedy Festival(www.manchestercomedyfestival.co.uk). I don't usually go in for this sort of thing, my losses at Edinburgh were serious enough. But I've been given an opportunity to put on a show at a nice venue for very little cost, to showcase the best of the what I think is mainstream comedy. The show will be called "No Blacks, No Irish, No Mother In Law (Jokes!) - A Celebration of the New Mainstream". I'm not sure about the amount of people we'll get in but it'll be good for my profile and I'm sure we'll get lots of publicity.
FTM!
Today I booked a spot at the Manchester Comedy Festival(www.manchestercomedyfestival.co.uk). I don't usually go in for this sort of thing, my losses at Edinburgh were serious enough. But I've been given an opportunity to put on a show at a nice venue for very little cost, to showcase the best of the what I think is mainstream comedy. The show will be called "No Blacks, No Irish, No Mother In Law (Jokes!) - A Celebration of the New Mainstream". I'm not sure about the amount of people we'll get in but it'll be good for my profile and I'm sure we'll get lots of publicity.
FTM!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday 25 May 2007
I was woken by the news that Alan Ball had died. Lorri did this in a really special way. Knowing I would get numerous texts with the bad news, she left a little note at the side of the bed breaking the news to me gently.
Why should a 61 year old footballer who had never played for Sunderland have any connection with me? Easy really, I worked with Alan last May in Coventry. I was initially giddy that I'd be working with a World Cup winner but beyond the squeaky voice and the fact that he was an amazing player my feelings towards him were ambivalent to say the least.
He was amazing. he sat next to me regaling me with stories and anecdotes, taking a real interest in my work. He had the unerring habit of nudging me arm to emphasise his point. That gesture has been known ever since in our household as "doing an Alan Ball" His speech was terrific! the passion he showed shone through, he said that the passion and pride in the shirt should be the same for any shirt, be it an England shirt or your local park team. He was so enthusiastic about the game that had, after all kicked him in the teeth a few times. He mentioned how he'd lost his wife, Lesley to cancer only months previously and he swelled with pride when he talked about his family, much more than it did when he talked about winning the World Cup for England. By the end of his talk we all would have ran through a brick wall for him, he was that sort of person.
Lorri was there that night, she very rarely comes to dinners, she sat at the back and like all of us in that audience she was mesmerised. He listened and laughed to my act and stayed behind until every last autograph was given and every last photograph was taken. I'd like to think he's up there nudging St. Peter's elbow, telling him stories while waiting to see his beloved Lesley again.
FTM!
Why should a 61 year old footballer who had never played for Sunderland have any connection with me? Easy really, I worked with Alan last May in Coventry. I was initially giddy that I'd be working with a World Cup winner but beyond the squeaky voice and the fact that he was an amazing player my feelings towards him were ambivalent to say the least.
He was amazing. he sat next to me regaling me with stories and anecdotes, taking a real interest in my work. He had the unerring habit of nudging me arm to emphasise his point. That gesture has been known ever since in our household as "doing an Alan Ball" His speech was terrific! the passion he showed shone through, he said that the passion and pride in the shirt should be the same for any shirt, be it an England shirt or your local park team. He was so enthusiastic about the game that had, after all kicked him in the teeth a few times. He mentioned how he'd lost his wife, Lesley to cancer only months previously and he swelled with pride when he talked about his family, much more than it did when he talked about winning the World Cup for England. By the end of his talk we all would have ran through a brick wall for him, he was that sort of person.
Lorri was there that night, she very rarely comes to dinners, she sat at the back and like all of us in that audience she was mesmerised. He listened and laughed to my act and stayed behind until every last autograph was given and every last photograph was taken. I'd like to think he's up there nudging St. Peter's elbow, telling him stories while waiting to see his beloved Lesley again.
FTM!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Saturday 21 April 2007
There are bad gigs and there are awful gigs!
On Thursday I came away from work feeling like a cheap whore that had just wanked a fat businessman off in a Travelodge!
My friend and apprentice JS accompanied me to the gig, we already had our misgivings but it was an opportunity to catch up with each other and enjoy a convivial evening making people laugh and earn a few bob for a our weekend's beer money.. He kindly offered to drive and the journey was uneventful and chatty.
How we laughed as we passed a run down pub with a similar name to the restaurant we were playing at, along with the obligatory hoodies on bikes outside. Mrs. Tom the sat nav woman informed us that we had "reached our destination" this couldn't be right? We are playing a restaurant and it's fifteen pund a ticket! Unfortunately Mrs. Tom was right as was her husband, Tom. The "restaurant" was annexed to the pub and our hearts sank. Mine sank even further when I saw the place and discovered only 12 tickets had been sold. This may have been due to the "marketing" which amounted to three fluorescent cardboard stars with our names written in felt tip pen!.
The pub itself was expected, more dirty ashtrays than customers. JS was asked if he'd like some food, his reply was priceless "No thanks I've ...er....seen the place".
We were then introduced to the compere for the evening who immediately starting firing questions at us like " So? How do you get into this comedy malarkey then?" and " What do you think of Peter Kay?" to the mind numbingly predictable "Isn't it shite that we can't do asylum seeker jokes anymore?" He then "warmed up" the audience with a selection of "jokes" that were too disgusting for even my ears. JS and I cringed and nursed our pints.
It was our turn, the pros's. JS did well it's ever so difficult playing to such a small crowd but his laid back approach made them feel comfortable in what were difficult circumstances. My mood was darkening but I went on and got through it, they enjoyed us because we delivered. Sometimes it has just got to be like that.
FTM!
On Thursday I came away from work feeling like a cheap whore that had just wanked a fat businessman off in a Travelodge!
My friend and apprentice JS accompanied me to the gig, we already had our misgivings but it was an opportunity to catch up with each other and enjoy a convivial evening making people laugh and earn a few bob for a our weekend's beer money.. He kindly offered to drive and the journey was uneventful and chatty.
How we laughed as we passed a run down pub with a similar name to the restaurant we were playing at, along with the obligatory hoodies on bikes outside. Mrs. Tom the sat nav woman informed us that we had "reached our destination" this couldn't be right? We are playing a restaurant and it's fifteen pund a ticket! Unfortunately Mrs. Tom was right as was her husband, Tom. The "restaurant" was annexed to the pub and our hearts sank. Mine sank even further when I saw the place and discovered only 12 tickets had been sold. This may have been due to the "marketing" which amounted to three fluorescent cardboard stars with our names written in felt tip pen!.
The pub itself was expected, more dirty ashtrays than customers. JS was asked if he'd like some food, his reply was priceless "No thanks I've ...er....seen the place".
We were then introduced to the compere for the evening who immediately starting firing questions at us like " So? How do you get into this comedy malarkey then?" and " What do you think of Peter Kay?" to the mind numbingly predictable "Isn't it shite that we can't do asylum seeker jokes anymore?" He then "warmed up" the audience with a selection of "jokes" that were too disgusting for even my ears. JS and I cringed and nursed our pints.
It was our turn, the pros's. JS did well it's ever so difficult playing to such a small crowd but his laid back approach made them feel comfortable in what were difficult circumstances. My mood was darkening but I went on and got through it, they enjoyed us because we delivered. Sometimes it has just got to be like that.
FTM!
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