mostly david ephgrave

Today's audience were lovely and the show was considerably more settled than the day before, which was great. The turnout was a case of quality over quantity as there were only five in (which was five fewer than the guy on the door suggested were waiting in the bar beforehand, so God knows what happened to the other five; perhaps the doorman suffers from double vision). At first, all of them sat on one side of the room, though one had the sense to switch to the other side just before I started. They didn’t seem uncomfortable with the low numbers and were with me all the way, which is all you want from an audience really. It helped tthat I took on a new technician today, who was actually one of my flyerers until he received an upgrade (if an upgrade it is). He has the perfect temperament for it, plus he’s keen the job done right, but best of all, he doesn’t have to rush off at curtain down, which made the world of difference; finally, I could leave the room marginally less sweaty...

I woke up far earlier than I would have liked yesterday and today, which I think is partly due to the proximity of the Fringe and my unanswered questions about my show. It’s definitely been harder to get in the right frame of mind this year all the way through. Admittedly, I felt similar last year too, and was aware of how much longer it took to get going compared to the year before that, though I was ultimately happy with what I finally arrived at. Maybe that’s just the way it goes, though the challenge comes from doing so much alone when I’d sooner have some collaboration as part of the process, or a sounding board at the very least. I know I’m tackling something different in this show, more so than I’ve ever before, but I want to get it right. My biggest concern is that the tight running-time won’t allow enough space to broach more serious material and also be comedic. In any arena other than Edinburgh (with its very precise genre llsting) this ...

Today I continued the work I was doing yesterday, whittling down a jokes’ list to send to my PR before we meet on Friday, and watching the video of my extended work-in-progress set from May’s Hitchin Mostly while making detailed notes. It felt good to be working extensively all day, knowing I’d squeezed as much as I could out of the time. The most pleasing aspect of my set that night was it was surprisingly relaxed considering the circumstances, with a good percentage sitting comfortably together in a way that related to the show’s title. Watching it also reminded me there’s nothing wrong with taking your time over a story without trying to race to the next laugh - and while some of my delivery was rushed, a lot of it landed well. My only concern was a lot of the positive reaction at the gig was fed by the ad-libs that came about from moments specific to that night alone, and while this was as much a part of the performance as the prepared material...

I managed to do a little gentle writing today, which was good, though the piece I was working on still needs finishing. What I really miss, which I’ve said here before, is someone to collaborate with. I haven’t had this for so long, I almost can’t remember what it’s like, other than knowing how much easier it is to see an idea through to completion. Even a solo performer requires someone to bounce off of, or at the very least a director, but I never have this either; put simply, no-one would be interested in doing it, which is very dispiriting. I’m finding this lack of a sounding board particularly hard at the moment, as I approach writing my fourth solo show in three years. My three previous shows really were very different to each other; perhaps more so than necessary. Of the lot, the last one - ‘Now Who’s a Comedian?’ - felt the most like I was pulling out all the stops, and while it wasn't perfect (there definitely were parts particularly i...

I’m in the midst of what I’d best describe as a writer’s block when it comes to stand-up at the moment. Try as I might, I just don’t seem to be getting anything done. I have lots of blogs I’m considering developing into material, but what’s stopping me, I think, is that I’m just not feeling funny, or at least, I haven’t got the spark of energy that usually comes from being inspired to see an idea through because you’re genuinely amused with it. A lot of this is to do with a few imminent deadlines, which are making me try double-hard to finish things, but more for the sake of being able to move on than it being naturally complete; it’s all forced with one eye on the clock, which is the worst way to do anything creative; I really wouldn’t recommend it. I’m not sure what to do really, other than give myself a break for a few days, so I can return to it with fresh ears. The problem is, I don’t really have the luxury of that time at the moment. ...

I spent most of the afternoon today putting together a slideshow for a piece of material that if it goes into my show will only last about two or three minutes. It can be frustrating when that much work goes into something so short, but that’s the way it goes. I’m a fan of intricate detail and like the thought that people watching will be amused by the lengths to which I’ll go to illustrate a point. That’s where using projection is good, as you can shine on a light on the tiniest aspects of something and get a laugh out of the mundanities of it; Doggett & Ephgrave would never have had any stand-up material if it weren’t for this, and while a lot of my solo stuff is story led, I still think I’m best when I’m using a projector as I know what to do with it. As for the piece of material I was working on, I think it has promise, even if it is very short. It may be a little overwritten, but I’ll try it out as soon as I can do it properly to make sure...

(I should prefigure this blogpost with the fact that I’m falling asleep, so if I lapse into incoherence, or perhaps never finish it, that’ll be why.) Today, I popped into the office briefly to talk through a couple of ideas for a little bit of new stand-up. I particularly like going in there of a weekend, as I can talk aloud without fear of being overheard and sounding weird. It was nice to make a start at something new, as I I need to get on with this. I’m doing a couple of gigs this week - which are for the most part new material nights - so it would be nice to get a few lines up-to-speed enough to try them out. Admittedly, my new show may not go as far down the route of straight stand-up as my previous solo stuff (I’m thinking of using the projector more extensively), but it’s still worth chucking a few ideas about to see if they have legs. (...a confusing image.) I recorded my ramblings on my phone, using the Evernote app; brief...

I listened to this evening’s In Your Inner Ear when it went out, so I could tweet the relevant pictures along with it, as per usual. I laughed quite a lot at the content, which is always a good sign. I sometimes got a little annoyed by my tone, but I guess there’s nothing new here; everybody suffers from the old ‘not liking hearing a recording of their own voice’ syndrome from time to time, though as a performer, you get over it pretty quickly, otherwise you’d never do anything. Seeing and hearing yourself goes with the territory (unless you’re Roger Daltrey in Tommy, that is; *rock opera reference*). Today was also one of those few occasions in my life when I felt the urge to catch up on some housework. First off, my budgies’ cage has needed cleaning out for an embarrassingly long time; so much so, it had got to the point where I could barely see the birds for the pile of birdseed shells. I also took out the recycling and the food bin and vacuumed my flat. That’s possibl...

Today, I reached a turning point regarding how to approach my forthcoming solo stand-up show; something that now seems so obvious, I feel stupid for not looking at it this way previously. For some reason, I've got into the mindset that the material I write for myself has to be very different style to what I do with Glyn. This made sense when I first started gigging alone, as I didn’t want to feel I was retracing Doggett & Ephgrave’s footsteps without forging an identity of my own. It was also a question of logistics, as I thought it might be difficult to get solo spots at clubs still using a projector – not to mention having to carry the equipment to venues by myself. Now I’m a year into doing gigs on my own, I’ve proved I can do comedy without the aid of a slideshow. I’m not sure why this was important to me, but it was. I guess it was partly because I liked the idea of challenging myself, as well as the thought of not having to lug the gear around to shows, which...

I wanted to get some writing today, but sadly, this wasn’t to be. I went at it with the best intentions, but it was one of those days where everything got in the way. I’ve always found there’s a peak moment in the day when, if you don’t start working, you haven't the brain capacity to see it through. This is usually mid-morning. If you don’t strike while the iron’s hot, there’ll be no iron to strike anyway. I hate wasting time, particularly when the clock is ticking for my forthcoming work-in-progress dates. I know I have a couple of years’ worth of blogs to fall back on when sourcing material, but it’s a hell of a lot to sift through, and a lot of it won’t necessarily translate into a live setting. I wish I could employ an editor to flick through it all, and then pull out a few that might work. The problem is the only person I have to motivate me - or tell me I’m on the right or wrong track - is myself. I don’t have the luxury of a producer or director; it all boil...

Today is my two-year daily blog-erversary. Celebrate. Since the 17 th September 2013, I’ve written something for every day. Well, that’s not strictly true: every day bar four . I think I can let this discrepancy slide, as missing four out of seven hundred and thirty consecutive days is still an achievement. (I’ll probably post a few extra blogs before the year is through, to quell my OCD.) For someone with a propensity for giving in, I’m proud I’ve seen it through. It hasn’t been easy. Some days, as ridiculous as it may sound, it’s a weight around my neck. If I haven’t written by a certain time, I get very stressed. Occasionally - in fact frequently - I have nothing to say. I’ll stare at a blank page not knowing how to fill it. Then a picture, tweet or a fleeting thought comes to me, I’ll spin it out and another day is done. So, don’t expect every blog to be top quality. Other days, I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been the catalyst fo...

I knuckled down on my show today, in preparation for next week's two-night run in Camden.  I started by doing a staggered run-through, to allow time for the stories to settle and for me to connect with the material again. It's easy to disassociate yourself from what you're saying, particularly when there's no-one to say it to; if you run the material too often in this way, you get used to saying it quickly, and end up doing the same thing in front of an audience. I have a habit of disconnecting, particularly when I've been doing something for a while, so I want to keep this in check. It's frustrating having to work without an outside eye. I had discussed the possibility of a friend directing it for me, who'd been present at all of my Brighton shows and gave excellent feedback, but this didn't happen. It's a shame, as he was the right person for the job, with an opinion I trust. I'm fully aware that working without a director isn't the...

I sometimes find it hard to hold an accurate representation in my head of how a gig went. Tonight was a good case in point. I did a five minute spot at a new material night. I was second on in the second half, following one of the most hate-filled acts I've ever seen. The MC even introduced him as such. It was a character act, well-observed and well-delivered, yet almost impossible to follow, with such a short set. I became a space-filler while people got their breath back. I know my place.  If I'd realised before, I would have planned a more attacking, energised set. As it was, I'd decided to go with some of my gentler, story-based material. In the few minutes before going on, I mulled over whether to adapt. I decided to stick with it. My intention had been to work some newer stuff in, so work it in I must.  As I stood at the mic, I became aware of the vacuum I needed to fill. The audience seemed quiet and tired, and I felt like I wasn't getting the story ...

I’ve decided to pull the shutter down on writing any new stand-up material for two weeks. This will help me to focus on getting to grips with what I’ve already got. Three deadlines are scorched into my brain: the first work-in-progress gig on 28 th February, the Comedy Project date at the Soho Theatre on 23 rd March and my first Brighton Fringe show on 8 th May. The middle one is the most ominous. I’ve always found Soho Upstairs difficult to play. I’ve never performed solo there before, but have been in countless sitcom readings, plays and sketch screenings with Glyn in the past. It’s wide and sound doesn’t travel well. A panel of industry people will also be watching, who give feedback afterwards in front of the audience. This adds extra fun to proceedings. As a result, I’ve been frantically trying to get new stuff down to give myself a head start. Quite a bit of material has either been tried out once or twice or never tried at all. By stoppin...

It occurred to me today that part of the reason I felt nervous before my solo set last Thursday was because a lot of the material I was about to do was fiercely autobiographical. This is something I haven’t done with Glyn. Most of our work centres around passing comment on things we’ve found. While we’re often self-deprecating (sometimes too much), the spotlight is seldom on us. We’re never the focus. The fact we use a projector and a screen compounds this; we spend our whole set saying ‘Look at this. Isn’t this funny’, rather than ‘look at us’. Psychiatrists would have a field day. This is much less the case with the stuff I’m writing for myself. This blog is partly to blame. You can’t write every day without eventually turning the spotlight inward (I’m enjoying my lamp-based metaphor). I haven’t revealed anything shocking, like the existence of an illegitimate lovechild – I’m holding that back for a bit – but I’ve documented a lot of what I think...