Post-gig

30-09-2011

I've said it before and I will say it again: I love comedy clubs that are in underground rooms. I dunno why, it just feels right when it comes to comedy. Like the armature acts should all start out in basement clubs.

Which was why I was really looking forward to last night's gig as it was in an underground room, in my hometown of Lucan no less, and ran by the man that used to run "The Underground", Mr. Gary Lynch.

As club runners go he is up there with the best and it's always great gigging with him or at his clubs. They always seem to be places that are just "right" for comedy. Plus he has an understanding of this wonderful Internet lark and uses it to drum up bums in seats.

Last night marked my return to stage after about a year hiatus due to being too busy to contemplate doing a gig. Was I bricking it? Oddly enough no, not at all. Gigs are strange like that with me. The closer they start to come, the less panic sets in. In fact the ladyfriend was more nervous about last night than I was.She even had to tell me to go practice one more time before we left for the gig, because she was worried that I didn't have the material 100% down.

As my step-dad pointed out at his recent nuptials he has seen me perform to strangers on stage a dozen times and not look nervous at all. But when I was "tricked" into doing a reading at his and the mother-figure's wedding I was a bag of nerves.

Which in itself could be turned into a joke at some point I guess.

All that aside the gig itself was great, a more perfect first gig after a long break a person could not ask for. The crowd was there for comedy, plain and simple. If they weren't there to laugh then some laughing gas must have been pumped into the room before the show started. I got up and had to slow down my set to allow for laughter to die down at certain points.

First time for everything I guess

Now, I had been told that the slot was only seven minutes so I only had seven minutes of material to run through. Yet, as I reached the end of my last joke there was nobody to pass the mic to. No MC. No Lynch. No next act. Nobody.

Did I assume the fetal position and wait for rescue? Hell no, I decided to fly with an old joke from way back when. It slotted in nicely, complete with a bit of banter from the crowd to show them that I was now in unplanned for territory. Crowds appreciate honesty I find, if you simply admit you have just died on your arse or that you forgot a line they will be more sympathetic than if you continue meandering about the place. However my semi-random, not meant to be used, final joke finished off the set nicely and strong to a good laugh.

Overall what I got out of last night was that "buzz" that I get after every gig, particularly the ones that go very well. A "buzz" that I had forgotten I enjoyed so much. I had said to a few people last night that if I did alright on the stage I would consider getting back into it again, give it one final shot as it were. Based solely on last night I gotta honor that insane statement.

Besides, Lynch had me sign the club banner. Once you get to put your name up among some of your own favorite acts you gotta keep going. Even if I was a bastard and wrote it semi-small to mess with him

Once again a big thanks to those that came along to the gig last night. Here's to (hopefully) the next.

Blue_jester