back across the Pennines gig 15

Preston held a feeling of negativity for me but Wednesday 9th May was my original Preston booking for frog and bucket as the one i did 3 weeks ago was filling in for a drop out. So with J.Dunn on board i left Leeds and we headed off to try and beat the gong, I was on a high following being well received in Manchester this going some way to help me get over bombing in Preston last time, James slightly different as he had struggled so he was out to try prove a point in a way. Again we chatted comedy and cricket in the car journey as we ambled through the traffic back across the Pennines this time towards Preston.

We arrived early and parked in a multi storey that looked perfect for a Thelma and Louise style suicide if we both bombed!!  We walked the short distance from car park to venue my nerves would usually start twitching but the confidence i gained from Manchester maybe stopped this as i felt calm but arriving at the door that instantly changed, memories of being gonged here last time very fresh and although the gong doesn’t necessarily gauge how good or bad you are it does give an instant review on how much you are making the particular crowd at that time laugh.

We signed in, there were only 7 on the list this time i guess making it easier to be a winner. There were a few familiar faces from Monday, Gary Allen (who talks a lot of sense when we chatted pre gig when all us other newbies talk like seasoned pro’s) Rikki Burke and also the 8 spot opener Eddie O Dowd.

We thought we were the only acts there and we stood near the door to keep an eye out for other acts arriving, we were un aware that round the corner  Kayvan Khazaee (pronunciation still not sure on but i must point out he is one of the nicest blokes i have ever met who has a good word for everyone) and Owen McGough were sat chatting. Rikki arrived and we said our hello’s as we did not get chance to chat to him on Monday when he made his debut. Then the 2 lads round the corner twigged we were also acts and came and joined us, it was clear that Owen had an illness or disability but i have no idea what the etiquette is wish establishing what that was and just tried to act as if he was like anyone else, although my mentioning this means i clearly haven’t and i felt bad that i was not ignoring it and instead trying to figure out what. Gary Allen then arrived and i think i called him Kev Allen about 3 times!! No idea why? We all stood round a table and talked comedy.... it is too easy to slip into this subject but we really do not know what we are talking about with barley 100 gigs between us possibly?? Thankfully as mentioned Kev.. or Gary as he’s actually known was very down to earth in  his summing up although some people talked over him and i dare say did not listen to what he said.

It came to show time and the memories from last time were heavier in my mind than the buzz of doing well in Manchester, there were about 35/40 in and as MC Dave Williams began it seemed they were not in the mood but gradually they warmed up.

We then got to see Eddie a former winner try his 8 set again to a different crowd, he did well. What was to follow was just bizarre but after wondering if it was just genius or just odd i suggest it was very clever, it was a character act... clearly but thanks to Kayvan for pointing it out to me. Geoff the entertainer he was called. I could not really describe his act, there were not a lot of jokes yet it was funny, very funny!! He was essentially a tramp, one of his key attributes were the props he used including old newspaper for his birthday cake referring to the pages as plates!!

We then had a break and the competition began, the 3 cards were again handed to all women like last time i was here... i won’t do my fat bitch joke again then.

Rikki again opened as with on Monday, oddly he performed his set a lot better this time but sadly it was not enough and he was gonged this time, they had sharpened their claws early...gulp!

Joe Dowson followed, we didn’t even know he was here he did not mingle with us (not that he has to) so we knew nothing of him, but he was clearly the oldest newbie with his grey hair the biggest giveaway, his set had some good moments but again it was not enough and he was shocked to be gonged exclaiming “you’re joking!!” which made me giggle for some reason, no they aren’t.

Owen was next, i had chatted to him about his experiences and he told me he had won here 6 times and was also a magician, i was looking forward to this and he began by telling us it was Cerebral palsy that was what effected his speech and hand movement and if we didn’t understand him properly.... fuck off!! His set was very good drawing on the experiences of being called mong by chavs or being pulled by police thinking he’s drunk, our 1^st gong survivor and once again i had picked my winner.

A short break and the next act began, Kayvan was next, he had got a train from Newcastle for this and was staying in a tent overnight before getting the train back home next day, a long way to travel for 5 mins lets hope he makes it.... unfortunately he did not, he began with banter someone didn’t get it and he attempted to make light of this by calling them all c***s which i thought was funny but after only 1 min 14 secs he was gonged, if only they knew what a nice bloke he was offstage they would have given him longer.

I was next, very aware that last time i was here i failed, i followed someone who was gonged quickly, and all 3 card holders were women if that made any difference. I slowed my set down a little, my opening included mentioning my Yorkshire roots which lead to 2 cards up last time, and a guy in front row turned to one of the card holders this time and motioned to her to put the card up as i said it, 30 seconds in he didn’t like me, the irony i suppose being that he cheered loudest for me at the end, my set built momentum and they liked it, 5 mins came and again i was through, my Preston demon gone and another lesson learnt.

J.Dunn followed me as he did in Manchester. He performed better this time, he was getting laughs where there were none in Manchester, but the ladies didn’t get his humour and again he suffered a gong, but he was going in the right direction.

Gary Allen was last, his set is clever in places, gross in places and smooth in places. He was gonged in Manc but here he was doing better, one card went up but i could see one of the older card holders a woman in her 40’s in tears laughing so i knew he would survive and i was glad.

So clap off time, myself Owen and Gary stood at clap off, i knew my winner and waited for the usual, you came close but not quite Jim, but Owen received applause and a few cheers then it was me and lead by the guy who wanted the card up i got a great cheer and big applause, it felt great maybe i had a chance, Owen was my winner but Dave told him he had not won and he went back to his seat, it was then between myself and Gary, Gary got a good cheer too but i had actually won one!! Wow what a turnaround from when i was here last. I felt superb, im under no illusions i’m suddenly an amazing comedian but i am going in the right direction at least, i know there will be more bad days too but now i know i’ll get over it and bounce back, and yet more experience behind means as much if not more than winning the gong show, i’ll enjoy my moment and then return to reality tomorrow i think.

HollyBush Cradley heath next..... arguably one of my most enjoyable experiences so i will enjoy writing the blog for that.