Welcome

Hi,

First and foremost, thanks for reading this blog. Hopefully you find it quite amusing, it may even interest you. You don't have to be a stand-up comedian to enjoy this blog. You don't even need to know a stand-up comedian. You just need to be amused by the tales of a guy who gets on stage to try and make people laugh, often fails, and then documents it.


Either way, I hope you enjoy the reading and I appreciate your time and support.







Monday, January 16, 2012

Slow Going At Home........

 Bonjorno,

Life is hard. I've been back about 6 weeks now and my life has gone from care free and stress free, to stressful and generally a bit wank. When I was travelling, a job in a factory was fine and living on two minute noodles and drinking wine from a bag seemed like I was King Of The World. Doing those things at home seems like I've become exactly what my teachers thought I would. Nothing.

I have, indeed, started a job as a factory worker, working for a company which manufactures lenses for glasses. It couldn't be more boring and uninspiring for writing comedy. I have my moments where I think I've come up with a joke that is pure genius. Then I realise that my thoughts can't be trusted when my mind is so numb that watching a fly buzz around the factory seems like a genuine form of entertainment. I write it down anyway and usually discard it when I get home.

I haven't had any gigs on my home turf yet. I am keen to start getting gigs under my belt but it's quite difficult when the nearest gigs are an expensive but short train ride away. I have made enquiries though and I'm heading to Winchester on Thursday night to check out an open mic night there. Hopefully I can get myself a gig next month if all goes well. I am a bit paranoid that I'll find English audiences all to be aggressive hecklers but I guess there's only one way to find out. I have also found another weekly open mic night in Southampton that I plan on checking out. I would of liked to have sorted some gigs by now but, unfortunately, finding work was the priority. No matter how hard I tried to put it off.

I have taken one, fairly exciting step to becoming a regular gigger in the UK. Over the last month or so I have kept my eyes peeled for entries to open for So You Think You're Funny?, which is an annual competition to find Britain's best new comedian. Past winners have included Peter Kay and Bill Bailey so it isn't to be sniffed at! Entries opened last week and I have posted off my application, so fingers crossed I get asked to perform somewhen soon. From what I can make out, I would have to perform eight minutes of material at a heat somewhere in the South. Then the judges select 70-ish of their favourites to perform in the finals which are held over the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. The winner receives two thousand pounds and a spot on the Best Of British Show at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Nice prize.

Other than that, not a lot has been going on comedy wise. The more I think about it, the more I want to get the ball rolling so I think it's time to pull my finger out and get shit done. The next time you hear from me, I promise to have made positive strides and maybe even get myself a gig booked.

On a quick final note, I just want to say that every time I read a status update from my old comedy chum Dil Ruk back in Melbourne, I get more and more jealous and proud in equal measures. He seems to be going from strength to strength with his comedy and this is basically a note to, once again, claim to be friends with him so that when he's a professional comedian he can look after me and get me paid gigs and free booze! Do you hear this Dil?!

Thanks again for reading.

Lots of love

Sean