Remember back in May, when I attended a weekend comedy course? Since then, I have been writing and rehearsing material in order to build up to a ten minute set . I’ve also been checking out the open mic venues in Bath & Bristol to get an idea of what to expect. Finally on August 13th I performed my first ever gig at The Smoke & Mirrors theatre bar in Bristol- at a new material night called ‘A bunch of Japes’. Most of the other comics, except the headliner , a fab Romanian guy who’d travelled up from London, were local to Bristol, mainly students. I , on the other hand, a 41 year old mum from Shepton Mallet, had set off at 2.30pm. My husband, had to bundle the kids in the car and drive me to Wells bus station, to catch the 376. He was then in sole charge of the boys all night - and had to book time off from his handyman business in order to look after them till I returned the next day. Meanwhile I made the long journey to Bristol ( long if you have claustrophobia, and don't like public transport) booked into a crowded youth hostel, rehearsed in a communal kitchen, walked in on my lovely muslim dorm-mate praying, and spilt my take-away goat curry on her pillow! Later, I vomited with nerves, before setting out to the venue. ' A friend from my comedy course met me, she was also doing her first ever gig. We confessed we were both ‘bricking it’ and felt a bit better. Five minutes before I went on, I almost had a full blown panic attack- but somehow I made it on the stage, and amazingly did a fantastic set! The laughs came thick and fast, I felt like I nailed it. My second gig couldn’t have been more different, an empty room on the lower deck of a barge. My third, went ok - a monthly student gig with some seasoned regular comics, I felt a bit of an outsider. I have loads more lined up, and even the ‘not so good’ gigs I can learn from. You’ll be excited to hear there will be some brilliant comedy acts heading to Shepton Mallet next year - I can’t say more now. But watch this space! Also, when Shepton Mallet Community Radio is up and running later this year, I hope to podcast some pre-recorded and live comedy events, plus interviews with local comedians ( there are more than you may think) For now, I shall keep on writing and keep on gigging, hopefully with less vomiting, and curry spilling. A big thank you to my husband Wayne aka My Big Handyman and my mum- who have been supporting me while I “Go off galavanting to fulfill some kind of mid life crisis fuelled delusional dream” ( I imagine they’re thinking) Nothing like pressure to succeed ! You can watch my first ever gig on Youtube here.....
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