mostly david ephgrave

My main focus for the past few days has been organising and promoting the on-sale dates for July's proposed return of Hitchin Mostly Comedy (provided the Delta COVID variant doesn't keep us on ice) and editing the second and third episodes of The McCartney McAlphabet. Unsurprisingly, sales for Mostly have been cautious. I suspect they'll pick up once we know the Government's plans for 21st June onwards, but even bearing that in mind, the low take-up is concerning. I worry our seventeen-month closure could play havoc with a momentum we may never get back. And while we're prepared for our return to be a slow build, there's only so much we can juggle low figures when the club's not a cheap thing to run, and one too many loss-leaders will spell closure for us. (What a happy cheery chap I am.) The podcast, however, is lots of fun. Our first two episodes are now up , with number three being edited and four at planning stages. I'm really happy with how the fir...

Today, I finally finished compiling my 2017/18 tax records (with my wife as my unpaid assistant), which makes for depressing reading unless you're a fan of minus figures. (If so, then get ready for  this : -4922.679232) (I know: phwoar) I find myself at a crossroads over what to do next. The past four years have been primarily about performing stand-up to fringe audiences to work up my solo chops, having always performed comedy as one half of a double-act up to that point. While I've taken shows to London, Brighton, Bath, Leicester, Hitchin and Letchworth over that time, there's no doubt Edinburgh was the biggest underlying factor, with the other dates being either a warm-up for or a cool-down from three consecutive Edinburgh Fringes, with me writing another solo show in 2015 that I didn't take to Scotland, but was still put together with going there alone as my motivation. There's no denying the experience has been challenging, both creatively and financial...

Tonight saw the last of my three Brighton Fringe dates, which was the best of the bunch. The Quadrant: The Stage is Set (18.05.17) If you were to ask me what I said at any given moment, I wouldn’t be able to give you much detail, but at the very least, most of it felt right. Things started to find their rhythm, and I didn’t feel there was anything that slowed momentum down, bar two bits, one of which I don’t feel has actually been properly written yet and the other might just need a slight rethink. It was definitely the best way to draw a line under my Brighton run as, if I’d had a dodgy one tonight, it might have left me unsure as to what to do next. Yet again I’ve discovered that the thing most likely to make sense of the material is to do it in front an audience. That’s what gives the show life - and as long as I’m fairly comfortable with the structure, I can have a bit of fun with it, giving an energy that can never be there without a res...

One thing I didn’t anticipate on my way to tonight’s show in Brighton was I’d be performing to (amongst others) 27 German students. Informal. Their teacher popped his head around the door an hour before I began, to see (1) if there was anything on, and (2) if my show would be something I thought his class would understand. This was a hard question to answer as, while language wouldn’t necessarily be a barrier, they might struggle with some of the content, what with my propensity for choosing quite niche cultural references; did Noel Edmonds’ Nineties-era work make it as far as the Rhineland? Let’s hope not. My reluctance to answer with a clear yes or no may have been cause for doubt, as he didn’t commit to coming back. I took a bit of a risk tonight, by making some big changes to my set at the last minute, so I could be true to my original intention of using the three dates to chop and change what I do, to make the most of the chance to work t...

All in all, today’s show in Brighton was a good way to start the run. I travelled down alone, case in hand (except for when I stowed it), which was fine, as it’s a journey I’ve done a lot, but it was a long time to be in my own company. In some ways this was nice - it meant I could finish my book (‘Conclave’ by Richard Harris, which was very good) and meditate for a bit - but it made for quite a culture shock, going from speaking to no-one for three hours to speaking to a room full of people. I’m already feeling the benefit of scaling down the things I carry; so far, the show is prop-less, save all the projector gubbins, which consists of a small suitcase, a music stand and my manbag (when I’m playing a room with a projector and screen rigged). As it stood, I used their projector, which worked fine, but it’s always good to know I have one with me that I can trust if the technical shit hits the metaphorical pan. I arrived at the venue tw...

I may have confused my neighbour’s cat by running my Brighton show in her presence this afternoon. The reason she was subjected to just under an hour of my material was I’m looking in on her for a few days and thought I might as well use the time on my own to do a quick run-through of the set as it was in Bath and at last Month’s Mostly Comedy, to see how much I remember before I work on it more solidly over the next few days. I don’t think she minded being forced to listen too much, though she did give me a look early on as if to say “Who’s he talking to and what’s he so angry about?” that I tried to placate with a tickle of the head; I’m a practised cat-whisper, after all. It’s my intention to use the three dates in Brighton to experiment with a few new ideas, though it’s highly likely I’ll keep the first show pretty much as per Bath, instead of expecting too much at once; I think I can allow myself a day to settle in to doing it again first. The...

I'm currently swimming in a sea of admin for the various festival dates I'm doing over the next few months that it's got to the point where nearly every waking moment is spent editing a press release or working on something show-related. This evening was no different, as I had to put together the press release for April's Mostly, so I could get it sent out in time to have a positive effect. See below for this month's cut-and-shut prose; I thought I'd share it here as it relates to me more than usual: Press Release – 01.04.17 mostly comedy a monthly comedy and music club at the sun hotel in hitchin With the Edinburgh Fringe looming on the horizon, most comedians turn their minds to putting together a new show. Consequently, April’s Hitchin Mostly Comedy will tip its hat to the time of year by hosting two extended work-in-progress sets from circuit comics TIFF STEVENSON and DAVID EPHGRAVE . TIFF STEVENSON is an a...

Today's been a good day, but a busy one, with a gig in Brighton to round things off. I caught the train into London this afternoon to meet a potential PR for Edinburgh at The Ivy (he said, as if this was an everyday occurrence). Before arriving, I'd had visions of being turned away at the door for being insufficiently important; I was so unsure as to the club's rules for admittance that I meant to ask a friend who'd been in The Mousetrap at the theatre over the road if I needed to wear some sort of blazer-and-cravat combo or learn a special handshake. Thankfully, i needn't have worried, as a mention of the chap I was meeting didn’t provoke confusion or a punch in the face; in my life, you can't ask for more than that.  The meeting was encouraging - and that, combined with me having watched a video of my set from last week's Mostly before leaving for London and enjoying the content gave me a much-needed shot-in-the-arm of...

Today, I finished registering the dates I’ll be doing on the Brighton Fringe next year. (A foretelling of what's to come next year.) I’ve billed the show ‘David Ephgrave: All Work, No Progress’ , with the caveat that this time it will be unfinished business; I decided to give myself less pressure to present a completed entity so early in the year, rather than expect too much too soon. Then, should I venture Edinburgh-wards in August, I’ll have a few months to work up whatever I have by May into something more polished. The title sadly feels like a statement of where I'm currently at. I’m feeling a little frustrated after my London dates, what with the cost incurred and the lack of a paying audience to counteract it. If you want signpost your perceived unpopularity, put together a show with your name in the title and let things unfold from there. I’m being melodramatic; things aren't re ally as bad as all that. I’d just like to get more of an industry t...

I enjoyed my first Brighton show tonight.  I arrived in town at around four-ish, with my (unpaid) assistant Stephen in tow, and made my way to the venue, laden down, as ever, with a mass of equipment. Rather fortuitously, my show is the first on every day, which is great, as it allows more time to wrestle with the - as usual - erratic technical set-up.  Minutes into the get-in , the comic who's assisting with the running of the space arrived to say the audio desk had blown out a week ago and has yet to be replaced; not the words you want to hear when your show is heavily technically reliant. She was the first to admit that she wasn't hugely tech-savvy, but between us - and with my reasonable sound knowledge (and experience of having to make gear function in a variety of bodged situations) - we managed to get the bare minimum to work. The only setback was the feed from my Mac would every so often emit a horrific foghorn-like sound that vibrated through the whole building, tha...

There's nothing less dignified than a sweaty Ephgrave running for the train in the rain, after returning to a venue to rescue his neglected umbrella. That's how the evening played out to me. I zoomed from the gig, after the MC had kindly put me on first so I could leave early, to find I'd mislaid my 'portable shelter'. I contemplated leaving it behind, but a quick peek out of the door made it patently obvious that this would be churlish. To make things worse, the room the gig was in was as tight and rammed as a room could be; I had to go back, having already made a painfully awkward, stumbly exit in the first place. The location of tonight's slapstick was the Black Dove in Brighton; a pub I've played before, about a year ago. The room has a distinct opium den vibe that adds character to proceedings. It was a shame I had to leave early as it looked like a good line-up. I got talking to a couple of the other acts before I went on, who were very nice. It'...

Today felt pretty productive. Aside from the odd bit of personal admin, such a dropping off prescriptions and buying bin bags, I spent much of the day running material and starting to piece a set together for this weekend’s show. I felt quite energised and enthused by the results, which was an exciting place to be this early in the week. My only sticking point at this stage is whether to be bold and make my setlist predominantly new, untested (and relatively untested) stuff, or whether to pad it out generously with things I've tried before, such as material from last year’s show. I'd initially intended on doing the latter, but working through my notepads today, I reminded myself of various bits and pieces I'd vaguely worked up, or blogs I thought would be appropriate for stand-up, that I could probably learn sufficiently over the next week. I remembered the reason I'd booked the Bath dates in the first place: as a chance to openly try new ideas out. I don't expect...

Tonight, I had the uncomfortable experience of eating a cod fillet next to a fish tank.  I was dining alone in a restaurant in Brighton before a gig, and hadn't considered where I was sitting until after I'd chosen my main course. Goldfish, catfish and koi swam within my eye line, judging me for my dietary preferences; no doubt hating me for my lifestyle choice. Being pescatarian means nothing when you could still be chowing down on someone's mum or dad.  To add insult to injury, I was wearing a shirt with pictures of fish on it. If anyone noticed, they'd have thought I was obsessed; not content with eating them, when I can wear them and watch them swim by me as well The gig was fun. It was in a tiny room below a pub, which was more like a Moroccan opium den than a comedy venue - and all the better for it. See below for a picture of the stage (Rowley Birkin QC / Ronnie Corbett out of shot). Surrounded by seating. ...

Today started with a feeling of positivity about where I'm at with my show, which was swiftly scuppered by reading a scathing review of it. I know the clichés - it's just one person's opinion, and getting negative write-ups are all part of the game - but it still hurts; mainly because I can't compete with the reach the source will get. ‎This isn't a concern because some of copy isn’t complimentary; more because it reveals a frustratingly large amount of the show's content in just a few short paragraphs.  It’s like seeing its key stories and punchlines resorted to bullet points. It takes away the element of surprise. I didn’t expect a Dummies Guide to ‘…and Ephgrave’ but I got it, or for my show to be available as York Notes. It’s a spoiler akin to Channel Four’s one-time advert for ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, which started with the prison governor throwing a rock at Raquel Welch. (I hope I haven't just made the same mistake myself.) When you’re work...

Today saw my third Brighton show in a row after a five-day-straight of gigs. It went well overall. I was slightly more rested then I was for yesterday’s performance, but still pretty exhausted. I’m looking forward to a day off tomorrow to allow me to regroup for Tuesday, when I have the luxury of a later start time. It should make for a fun - and more energised - finish to the run. There’s no doubt that today was pressured. I had press and an agent in, plus a friend who I had discussed the show with a lot without her seeing it. Glyn came too, despite suffering from what I'd affectionately term the Death Plague. This was very good of him - and I’m not just saying this because he’s next to me on the train as I write. Despite the added edge of an industry presence, and a quiet house, I felt less rushed than yesterday. I painted myself into a corner once or twice when adlibbing through tiredness, but there were still nice moments. I’m enjoying the experience; it’s been u...

Today I’m suffering from four-day-travelling-between-Hitchin-and-Brighton fatigue. This was compounded by the fact I didn’t get home until 01:00am last night and had to be back in Brighton at 11:00am in time for kick-off at 12:45pm. It’s hard to be funny at lunchtime, particularly when your last few days have been peppered with late finishes. I struggled to get my brain into gear before the show, and had to purposely over-enunciate during it to get the dialogue across. Still, someone liked it: Or are they being sarcastic? I was offered a homemade chocolate brownie by an audience member afterwards in lieu of payment, which was a nice treat. I asked if it was a hash cake to an inconclusive response. If it was, it hasn’t kicked in yet.   There were a couple of off-the-cuff moments that went down well, which I might keep in, if I can remember the gist of how they went. I made a point of recording all of my previews so I had the audio for reference, but haven’t...

I'll keep it brief, as I've got to get up in a couple of hours to get the train; such are the unsociable hours of a performer.  Tonight saw my first proper performance of '...and Ephgrave' on the Brighton Fringe. I have to say I enjoyed it. I don't HAVE to say I enjoyed it, in fact, but I still will. The initial set-up was stressful, due the usual problems I associate with doing a show in a Free Fringe venue. While they do a wonderful thing, and I'm exceptionally grateful for the opportunity, it's always a little fraught when you're playing a space with no technical support. I spent at least an hour and a half trying to work out which channels worked on the two desks at my disposal. As someone who's reasonably technically proficient and still struggled, I dread to think what it would be like if you had no idea how anything worked.  Thankfully, I had my friend Stephen there to assist me. It was nice to have the moral support, particularly ...

Someone has left an open packet of wine gums on the train; should I or shouldn't I?  They're sitting on the table by the seat in front, taunting me with their prospective juiciness. It's proving hard to resist. There'd be no effort involved; no fumbling with the tiny tin foil with my fingers. I could just reach over and pop one in my mouth. No gummy sweet tastes better than a free gummy sweet. I keep saying WINE gums, when that's not strictly true: these days, they're called FRUIT gums. When did this change come about? Did somebody sue them for trade descriptions? Surely no-one ever believed they had any actual alcoholic content. If they did, it would make for a cheap night out.  The reason for my late night train journey is I'm coming back from a gig in Brighton. I've been on the 'Laughing Horse Pick of the Fringe' bill for the past couple of nights. They've served as a little warm-up for my show, which starts tomorrow. I'm...

Tonight's the second time in my life that I've become unreasonably excited on remembering I have a Kit Kat in my bag.  That's not to say there haven't been occasions when I've achieved acceptable levels of joy at the thought of a two-or-four-fingered treat (INSERT YOUR OWN PUNCHLINE HERE). I'm certainly never disappointed by the prospect - but it's fair to say that tonight's moment of realisation gave me a spring in my step that's seen me through the rest of the day (at time of writing, we have four minutes left).  The last time this happened was in 2003, when I was on tour with The Roy Orbison Story. It was in the midst of a matinee on a two-show day, after a very long week, that the fact I'd bought a chocolate bar earlier came back to me. The moment is seared in my memory. I was on stage at the time, wearing a white rollneck and a black suit jacket, playing the bass part to Mean Woman Blues. I'm sorry to say that the thought of that ...

I spent most of the day writing and sending out press releases for my Brighton Fringe show. I’m pleased to say I got everything done that I wanted to. It's satisfying to set yourself a task and then complete it. Part of the problem with having no outside help is your attention is split. You're constantly changing hats, in a metaphorical sense; one minute you’re the writer and then the next you’re the producer. The minute after that you’re the technician and then you’re the performer. That’s four minutes’ worth of show prep and I’m not prepared to do it. It’s also makes for a clunky paragraph. The next step will be to prepare for next Thursday’s preview at Hitchin Mostly Comedy . I intend to sprinkle a few new bits into last month’s Soho Theatre set, bringing the running time up to about forty minutes. I don’t want to cross that time limit; if anything, I may do less. I’m very aware that I’ll be a physical barrier between the audience and the two acts they've c...