Tuesday 6 September 2016

Swallowed up by Edinburgh

I've not done a blog for a while, I have been kinda busy but it's no excuse (it is)

I've of course been to Edinburgh for the fringe, those who don't know what that means it's not anything to do with hair it's a festival, the largest arts festival in the world I gather, so yknow, pretty cool.

In the weeks leading up to the festival the black dog had been paying me visits, my mind was all at sea and there was a storm, and the thing is.. When my mind thought it had found a boat to sail it to freedom it got on board and George Clooney was the captain ably assisted by Mark Whalberg and William Fichtner et al... It's not good!

But my support network have been amazing and I was sent off to the fringe with a goody bag full of food thankfully as I've not been this skint since turning myself into a pro comic which is proving to be a joke given A, gigs dry up quickly and B, some fuckers just don't pay you!!

It's funny how these guys can make you feel like you're the bad guy chasing money you're owed! (It's not funny)

Anyway let's talk Edinburgh experience, I had borrowed my dads car to get there, driving 18 miles an hour to save fuel in a Jag is tedious!! At one point I was overtaken by an octogenarian on a bike!

I had last laugh though as I got to next set of lights and he was having a heart attack! I'd have gone to assist but the 3 dogs that were chewing on him seemed angry plus he'd fallen on the level crossing and there was a train coming!

Anyway I arrive in Edinburgh, I parked down the street from my venue, the White horse on canongate, it was belting down with rain, like I need to say that about being in Scotland although to be fair there were some glorious days.

Having met Jake Donaldson who I was doing the double hander show with (half an hour each) I saw the venue for the 1st time and it was packed... Shame I barely saw it that full again as our 1am timeslot was awful.

Man in kilt atop Arthur's seat and the sun is shining... Amazing

Jake and I had a drink, sorted out a plan of attack for the following days 1st show and I went on foot to try and find my accommodation which was not too far away... As I walked closer there were posters of some of my heroes in comedy, Tommy Tiernan, Hal Cruttenden and more recent hero, one that all podcast listening comics agree on, Stu Goldmsmith... I felt so insignificant seeing these.. I'm fucking nobody (this comment actually works literally too!!)
Then I see the posters of people nearer my experience level, Brennan Reece, Steve Bugeja and I start to feel like I'm a flea at an airport, everything around me is much bigger and way more important but I'm allowed to keep flying about as long as I don't bother anyone.

The thing is, all these feelings went away that 1st show, it was essentially Friday night, early Saturday morning and I didn't do most of the materiel I intended as I forgot the order and wound up just MCing, I mean it was dreadful in reality but I felt like I had as much of a right and reason to be in Edinburgh as anyone, being on stage and talking in a way I never could off is the thing I need in my life! I'm not terrible at it either, I'm not brilliant like but I'm aware and keep working.

One of the quieter nights at the White horse

That 1st night was amazing, I'll not forget it, I imagine Jake won't either, it set the tone for the rest of the festival, but that's another post so we will pick this up soon.

Thanks for reading, I'm back

J x