Comments on: Let's hope for the best

By: Knox

Knox — Sat, 07 May 2011 23:52:55 +0000

@MW – I reckon changing a way of seeing the world, overhauling a mindset, is a massive thing, and I think it’s amazing that you’re doing it.

I second the ‘please don’t become Michael McIntyre’. Unlike a lot of people I know, I don’t hate Michael McIntyre. I agree with those who argue that his comedy pushes no real boundaries, and is safe, hence his popularity. I find him funny, but wouldn’t spend 2 x 24 hours of my life watching him orchestrate very funny chaos. I wouldn’t book a ticket to his show at Edinburgh for a summer when I’d told myself I would not be going, and then shedule other things around it. I wouldn’t care about his wife, or his newborn baby, nor get offended on his behalf when people haven’t been to any of his gigs (yet). And I definitely wouldn’t send him messages saying how brilliant he was.
(OK, this isn’t going to stop sounding like a bit of a gag-fest, so anyone reading feel free to skip it)
Mark, you have this amazing ability to bring people together and spread joy, and inspire people and share yourself in a lovely, brilliant way. Michael McIntyre couldn’t do that even if he had the world’s largest ever tub of Haagen-Dazs in one hand, and a personal recommendation from Martin Luther King/Gandhi/Nick Vujicic in the other.

anyways, you already know how popular your shows from last year were, and here’s a reminder – the queue waiting to get into the (i think) first night of the show in edinburgh last summer: http://tiny.cc/marksteven (couldn’t resist the custom url name…)

By: Knox

Knox — Sat, 07 May 2011 23:33:31 +0000

@Margaret Pope – God, that’s horrible to read, and I am so sorry to hear it. I might be completely speaking out of turn here, but from what I see, I think comedians tend to make fun of all groups – perhaps not being older, I’m not as sensitive to things about age, but I’m a pretty avid MW fan, and I can’t say I’ve noticed particularly that he goes on about older people.

By: margaret Pope

margaret Pope — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:29:05 +0000

I wrote to you earlier this evening but I see my email has not been put up.We have watched you since you started Mark but sometimes we switch you of as you seem to have a thing about old people.We are not that ancient but last Monday our son died of cancer after only being ill for 5 weeks. I expect you wont get this email as it will be blocked by your staff but if you do remember our grief we are going through both young and old and remember things like this happen to anyone.We watch a lot of panel shows such as IQ and several others and hear Frankie Boyle and quite a few others of your age having a pop at us pensioners.We never expected to outlive our children and I pray no one else ever does.Instead of having a pop at us pensioners have a pop at the goverment as up to date 5 in our whole family plus friends have died before getting a pension,makes you wonder where it all goes,Sincerly Margaret

By: Hannah T

Hannah T — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:47:42 +0000

I’ve probably left it a bit late to commet here, but I’ve been sick and had limited Internet access.

To take a step towards my goal of playing or having played a piano gig by 2020, I bought a sustain pedal for my keyboard.

I suppose this could be seen as trying to be “the little engine that could” as I proposed, since I’ve no money for lessons and haven’t given up despite this. I’ve even done all my reading and attended all my classes so far this semester, even though at times I’m struck by the pointlessness of my Arts degree. Just taking baby steps at the moment. Having faith in oneself regardless of the predicted outcome isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

By: lora

lora — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:15:38 +0000

Week 1:
Keeping gig reviews & photos: started a blog, uploaded some of my favourite photos from the past couple of years and some reviews. All going well. http://laruso-lost.tumblr.com/
Pass my degree: Well i’ve been doing work and things, i suppose that counts
Go to a music festival: Plans are in place to go to download festival this year!
Attend every date of a tour by my favourite band: Well I discovered the band are planning on playing 3 dates in december…

I think I’m doing well

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:50:40 +0000

Is it too late to submit a challenge? It’s only quite a small one to begin with: my flatmate told me that the local healthfood shop is looking for volunteer staff, and I’d really like to apply. As a teenager I had to leave my Saturday job because of overwhelming panic attacks, and even though I’m now 21 and my confidence has grown greatly since then, I still find stuff like this to be a massive obstacle. My main worry is that I’ll be graduating from uni this year, at which point I’ll have no choice but to go out and find myself some form of employment, but thinking about this terrifies me. Hopefully, if I start small – a few hours per week volunteering, and then perhaps a weekend job – I’ll build up enough confidence and be able to contemplate some sort of career.

By: James Walker

James Walker — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:40:36 +0000

Week one: One of the tasks I set myself was to improve my writing. Since last week, I’ve completely re-written a script I’ve been writing for College. Before, I’d just write things I thought would be funny, but this week I thought about the plot a lot more, and the emotions I’d like the viewer to be going through when watching it. As a result of this, my script now follows a serious plot and isn’t jam-packed full of nonsense. This is definitely (a bit of) an improvement, in my eyes.

Another of my tasks was to learn a brand new word every week. Last weeks word was ‘Farkel’. It’s a dice game of some sort. Probably a lot of fun.

By: Rebecca J Payne

Rebecca J Payne — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:49:01 +0000

Week 1 in my quest to be a full-time, published author:
About 600 words of a new short story written on Saturday. Not a great total for the week. -1.
Went to a meeting with some fellow writers on Sunday and shared feedback on our current works-in-progress – got some very useful feedback on mine, and hopefully gave some to others too. +1!
Started reading Milton’s Paradise Lost (inspired by Kathryn’s attempt to do the same) and am loving it so far. +1!
Got a rejection on Monday for a piece of flash fiction I had sent to an online magazine. -1.
So, I reckon I finish the week even-stevens. Time to get my act together and write more in Week 2.

By: clara81

clara81 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:44:23 +0000

I think all new parents worry like that, I know I did. I still do to a certain extent, but it does get easier as you get more confident. By the time Kit’s three months old you’ll be expertly offering advice on the best way to wind him and how to avoid the “spray” that results from changing a small boy’s nappy on a cold day.

RE TYSIC:

Parenting – very much a long term goal this one. Seems to be going ok though. Son definitely becoming more confident at trying new things. Resulted in a black eye this week, but he’ll live.

Not getting asked for ID – not been asked this week, but also not bought any age restricted products. Did almost get mistaken for a pupil at a secondary school though. I’m 28…

Teaching – applied for a teaching assistant’s job… almost certain I don’t have the experience required, but there’s only one way to find out!

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:40:07 +0000

Goal: work towards a career in some sort of entertainment (preferably the type that doesn’t involve dancing bears or nipple tassles)
Be happier with myself, talk to people without overthinking it.
- I’ve been volunteering at the Brisbane comedy festival. It has been great, although I haven’t spoken to any comedians (cause I’m still worried about looking like a dick, baby steps).
- Its my last day tomorrow, and I’m currently trying to work up the courage to ask the venue manager how I could get training in ushering. I’m taking a leaf out of your book Mark by convincing myself its not a big deal – “whats the worst that could happen?” “he says theres nothing available, I’m exactly where I am now”.