Underground Contest

04-06-2010

Last night was my first time performing in "The Underground Comedy Club" running out of the basement of The Oak on Dame Street every Thursday night (do I know how to plug a comedy club or what!).

I like venues like this one. Basement clubs. There is something very comedy about clubs that you have to walk down stairs to get into. I don't know why. It might have something to do with the fact that the comedy career of The Jester began in an underground based comedy club all them years ago called The Neptune. I always feel a lot more relaxed in clubs that have a similar set up, not that I would ever turn down a gig of course. Just I like the ones that operate out of basements.

There is a joke in there somewhere, leave that with me.

Anyway, back to the gig at hand. It was my first time performing here and I was looking forward to it. The rush leading up to and during the actual gig is always brilliant, it's my version of drinking I think. Originally I was going to have nobody in the crowd, but four people (including the lady friend, dedicated fan right there) turned up about half an hour before the show started. So I had four votes in the bag, at least I hope they voted for me, out of about thirty-ish people in the crowd give or take. Plus that meant I brought four other votes along for other acts on the night as well. It was one of those contests that you vote for two acts.

Third on the night out of ten guys, not generally the best slot to be in. You either have to nail the set on the head and make sure you are remembered or hope that at the end of the night when the voting starts folks don't just vote for the last few acts they saw because they are fresh in their minds.

Not that I was in this to win. The returning champ is a hilarious guy with an amazing voice despite being a white man, honestly it's like listening to Barry White tell jokes, and had held the title for a few rounds. I was here for the gig, for the craic, to get another run through of the set before the semis in just over a week.

I got up, I did my stuff, I figured I was dying a little because some guys in the front row weren't laughing. Then I couldn't figure out how long I had left, but since the MC didn't come and force-able take the mic from me I am guessing I was under the seven minute limit.

The other guys hammered out there sets, the crowd laughed, a good time was had by all. Then the voting happened. Generally I don't get my hopes up in this situations, never have. Something from my childhood maybe, who knows. But I can't help wishing as the names get called out that I have at least made third place.

I didn't

Then second was called out and it wasn't me again. Which is really when the panic sets in. If you couldn't make it second then first is obviously not you.

Right up until it was me.

First time at the Underground, first time in that contest, first on the night. All in all a great gig. Cheers to Gary for giving me the slot.

Now, onto the semis with Comedy Dublin.

Blue_jester

<--end of instaGram Feed-->