19/08/06
The Sold-Out Kid goes home -
Categories: Well, it would appear that not only has the "Sold Out Kid" gone home, he has also taken with him his friend the "Decent Sized Audience Kid" leaving only the "Embarrassingly small audience size that I'm not even going to type but it was double figures but still depressing Kid".
This blog has become a bit of a quandry for me at the moment. I'll tell you the problem. See, this blog is primarily for publicity, just a little effort every day to get your name known a bit more and then perhaps shift a few tickets with recognition. The other reason I thought it would be a good idea is because my show is called "Out Of Character" and is basically about me (the real me - not the 'character' of Ray Peacock), so this blog has been a companion to my show which is - and I hate this word - confessional. So, that's the problem. I am committed to writing a daily thing in order to promote my show, but I also have to be honest, and being honest at the moment with three tough shows on the bounce won''t sell my show.
Do you see?
So what do I do? Do I crack on with the all-important "projected image of success" or do I tell the truth and say I'm in a bit of a slump (which - I might add - I am fucking getting out of tonight come what may at my show) and retain some sort of credibility?
I have to tell you, I AM okay. Have had a few supportive messages through this site, and even more texts from folk sending me their best. I fear I may have provoked the opinion that I am falling apart, and that really isn't the case. I've never done a Fringe before when I haven't had a little blip thing, and I think the past few days have been just that. Really regretting having a day off, it may have knocked me slightly out of stride.
There were three factors to last night's show being a tough one;
Firstly it was a low audience. Like Stephen Grant said about himself in his blog recently, a lot of my on-stage success comes from a two way energy between myself and the folk sat in front of me.
Secondly, it was being filmed. I don't really need to explain that. Two cameras recording every move of it can really jiggle your paranoia.
Thirdly, I found out early on that a bloke in the front was reviewing for Metro. If I was a reviewer I don't think I would reveal myself in a show - even if the performer asked (which I stupidly did). I don't look at which reviewers are coming to my show, and this year have avoided reading them too (with the exception of Chortle which - naturally - I couldn't avoid) for the simple reason that it is distracting. So, not only had I walked out in front of an audience of 20 people tops (looked like less mind you) with camera's whirring, I then found out I would be publicly judged as well as committed to film.
Wasn't a great show. The audience were supportive, I'll never watch the recording, and I don't think it is too defeatist of me to predict the reviewer is going to crucify me (possibly upside down).
I was meant to compere the Free Beer Show last night but came over ill on my way over to Reid Hall. Probably things getting on top of me a bit. Genuine thanks to the brilliant Nick Revell for agreeing to sub for me at literally the last minute. He's a life saver.
I had a brief chat with Wil Anderson before I left Reid Hall. I first met him in 1999 when we were both doing our first Edinburgh Fringe shows. I really enjoyed his company when we used to both be flyering our shows in the, now barbequed, Gilded Balloon Bar on Cowgate. After the fringe he went back to Australia and became hugely famous, but this year he is back over here. His reasons for doing this, that he told me last night, were accidentally inspirational. He has a blog on here too so you can read that to see how he stands, but I feel I should give him a little thankyou, as well as an apology for leaving abruptly without a goodbye after taking the phonecall that interrupted our chat. I wasn't being deliberately rude - I thought I was going to be sick.
I am going to spend the rest of the day getting worked up (in a good way) and charging myself up for a good show tonight. I have just been getting too concerned with technical distractions and perhaps going through the motions slightly on stage. I'm never good when I just regurgitate stuff. In tonight's show I will get a grip - I absolutely promise.
As best as I can.
Comments:
No Comments for this post yet...
This post has 26 feedbacks awaiting moderation...
RSS Feed