21/08/08
Light at the end of the tunnel -
Categories: Didn't expect to be able to blog today, but chance would have it I am abusing the lovely Comedybox/Myspace people's wi-fi as Mat and Lauren film a sketch with them.
Only 4 more sketch shows to go, 5 more stand-up shows and a couple of extra gigs till I am free from having to tell a joke in any format for at least a week. I really really cant wait. Its felt like a long four weeks here, and I don't think I've ever gigged as much in such a short space of time. I have been semi-boasting about doing 76 gigs in 3 and half weeks, but in comparison to Paul Foot's record breaking '100 gigs in 10 days' or Phil Nichol's 5 gigs a day at last year's fest, mine is just tame.
Perhaps it seems such a feat because this year's fringe seems to have taken it's toll more than usual though. Less tickets have been bought, the weather has been horrendous, and in general it seems like people aren't backing the fun of the fringe quite as much, or wanting to promote the new and interesting that the festival usually regurgitates up. Even the if.comedys this year have nominated less acts for both categories. It's as though there is not enough worthy comedy around, which I'm sure there is. Even up until the nominations I had only heard general buzz about 3 or 4 shows, not all of which got nominated. I'm still gutted for the Penny's who so should have been nominated again. Truly one of the best shows I've seen in a long time.
I wonder if its because everything started early and now the fringe is a week behind. Last week was as busy as the first week should have been. This week, everyone seems to have fringe flu, which most people get in week two usually. Everything seems out of sync. Even I haven't been out as much this week as previous weeks, which is usually what happens in slightly tamer week 2 not mental week 3. I'm sure that will all change over the last weekend, but I'm just a tad tired of it all.
As long as can get to Sunday without going completely psycho with cabin fever I should be ok. Just two shows today, then out tonight, and same tomorrow but seeing the much hyped (and I hear deservedly so) Sammy J tomorrow night.
Last note: The E4 podcast is now number 1 download on itunes. I finally listened to it yesterday and it sounds damn good if I do say so myself. Go download me, then the new one this week with the excellent if.comedy nominee Rhod Gilbert on it. And no, they aren't paying me to say that. But they should.
RSS Feed