Breather
I’ve had a precious night off today after the first four shows of the tour. I would say the first three were good, the last (in Birmingham) didn’t go so well. It was the biggest audience and the nicest theatre but they seemed to enjoy it far less. On the other hand there were some hardcore Watsonians there and I had the pleasure of meeting them and getting pens off them. I now have four from the tour so far.
Rachel – whom you know as Pandora, part of the MP3 team- and Helen also gave me a lovely gift, a glass which is always half full (the bottom part is solid, if you can picture what I mean), to boost my optimism campaign. So I’m going to be bold and say that the Birmingham crowd was just a bit of a tough one.
Doing a standup tour is a big test of optimism. Not every show will go the way you want. The feeling of having talked to say 700 people for two hours, and not really quite cracked them, is indescribable. Frustration, disappointment, puzzlement, lowered self-esteem etc. But when it does go well, there are few things in the world so fulfilling.
As long as three in every four are in the latter category, you should be overall pretty happy. But immediately after the 4th, it’s hard to see it that way.
The solution is either to always do a perfect show like certain friends of mine, or be psychologically robust like certain other friends of mine. I’m working towards both.
Posted by Chelle on October 19, 2010
the show was great…. just ignore the silly brummies who didn’t laugh…. i thought you were very funny
and it was lovely meeting you afterwards, you seemed to me like a genuinely nice guy…. and you didn’t force me into an odd pose for the picture…. unlike jimmy carr -_- therefore you win! and i will happily pay to see you again.
ooh and the book…. ’tis ace. keep writing. please.
Eddie Izzard – ‘Do you have a flag!?’
yes. yes, you do.
Posted by Elizabeth on October 14, 2010
From my perspective the Birmingham show was fabulous and I’m just so sorry that we didn’t seem to be enjoying from the stage.
I wonder if the feeling that the show didn’t go well was partially prompted by so many people coming in late – which must be offputting for a performer?
Amycool is spot on that different sections of the audience react in different ways, but every person in my part of the theatre seemed to be in hysterics throughout the show. And during the interval and afterwards all I could see were lots of beaming, happy faces. So thank you.
Posted by Heather Jones on October 12, 2010
Tony is entitled to his opinion, but incorrect facts should be corrected. Mark was NOT unprepared. As others have pointed out, a deliberately meandering and seemingly improvised style is Mark’s ‘thing’ As for no material – what??
Posted by fuzzy_ducky (Laura) on October 12, 2010
@Tony – we’re all entitled to our opinion, but, after reading Marks latest blog entry, it wasn’t constructive criticism. In this blog, we all try and be optimistic, encouraging and generally, we’re a little helpful community.
So, thanks but no thanks for your comment. No need for that stuff here.
Posted by Tony on October 11, 2010
Mark. Sorry to say the same crowd have laughed their socks off at other comedians on that stage. You were unprepared, seemed to have no material or sense of what you were gonna do next. A thoroughly unprofessional unenjoyable show. Must do better if you wanna continue taking people’s money!
Posted by Toby on October 11, 2010
I thought it was a great show and never once thought the crowd were not enjoying it. I have seen you in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Birmingham Town Hall and I came out saying that was the best gig I have seen you in. Even had a friend from Israel and she thought you were hilariuous but was too shy to speak up when you asked about anybody not from the UK!!!
Didn’t wait around to meet you after the show as had already met you at a Little Red Gig at the Lexington!
Kepp up the good work! Make sure Brighton is a good show. Told loads of people to get tickets!!!
Posted by Jimbo on October 10, 2010
Attended the Birmingham show,thoroughly enjoyed it as did my girlfriend. I have to agree the crowd did appear tough and in most cases extremeley late! However from speaking to those in crowd around me and on the way out the general consensus was that of appreciation and hilarity of a very well delivered show. I have seen numerous comedians this year on tour and can honestly say this was the best I attended by far!
Posted by Rach on October 10, 2010
Hey you were great, very warm and genuinely funny which after seeing a shit load of stand ups over the years was a breath of fresh air. My mate was even laughing and she’s had agonising toothache all week and wears scarily high-heeled shoes. Everyone round me was chortlling even the guy who thought you were Mark Thomas (he didn’t really and was more than impressed with you by time the interval came and he’d consumed a large baguette of unknown contents and accompanying foodstuffs in tupperware) anyway I digress. I was talked out of queing and asking you to sign my ticket as me mate thought we’d look like chav’s as I couldn’t afford your new book because I wanted to go for a curry. I now deeply regret this decision but will have to live with it.
You seem a truly decent, charming, whimsical and amusing blokey who can indeed work a crowd and please don’t be disheartened by the Brummies, dispite our ridiculous accents and appaulling architecture we can appreciate something original and well….just damn funny. That’d be you!
Posted by Rachael on October 10, 2010
I like this idea of a permanently half-full glass.
Posted by Shell on October 10, 2010
No-one /always/ does a perfect show believe me. I have always loved Eddie Izzard and had a ball at various shows over the years. However, I went to see him at the Lyric last year (£60 a pop!!) and he was definitely having a bad night/tough crowd, whatever. He was still very funny but I expect he was disappointed with the show. My point is everyone will have the odd off night.
Another thing to consider is that, as I think someone else mentioned – sometimes your, the performer’s perception can be a bit off. Sometimes you may just have a bit of a ‘tough crowd’ right in front of you and everyone else is having a ball or the venue takes the sound of audience laughter and dampens/eats it so /you/ don’t get to hear/feel the positive vibe. If a room is too light it can seem to inhibit people too and they just don’t laugh out loud as much. I don’t think I know the Alexandra so not sure if either of these apply but certainly the bigger the venue the more difficult it must be to accurately gauge the mood/enjoyment of the room overall.
Your optimism glass sounds lovely and very apt.
x
Posted by Tracey on October 10, 2010
Hi Mark. You’re a great comedian, just focus on the success and don’t let the attitude of a few worry you. I can never understand people who really like someone, pay to see them and then seem determined not too enjoy it – it’s baffling. Carry on doing what you do best because you do it so very well. Tracey x
Posted by amycool on October 10, 2010
I wonder if at times, parts of the audience are enjoying it more than others, and you may just happen to be closer to the part that isn’t enjoying it as much. At Flight of the Conchords earlier this year I was surrounded by people who barely laughed and I was very confused. However, on the Internet people were saying how good the crowd was. It’s quite difficult to laugh hysterically when nobody around you is.
Basically, what I’m saying is that a tepid gig isn’t necessarily the fault of the performer, and has a lot to do with the mood of the audience.
The half full glass was a lovely thought.
Posted by Anji on October 10, 2010
I think it makes you human to care about how you did, it shows it’s important to you. A lot of people may not.
We all have days when we feel we did better at something than other days or vice versa. It all helps us learn and improve.
But Mark the first thing you have to remember is everyone in the audience is there for you in the first place. That speaks volumes.
So enjoy, care and think about it a little bit, just don’t over analyise! We love you just the way you are.
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on October 10, 2010
Glad you liked the glass Mark. I’m impressed Helen didn’t break it or leave it on the train, to be honest.
I think the gig was fab, we all really enjoyed it, anyway. Its the best show I’ve seen you do. Its perhaps more to do with odd Birmingham people then you (I’m allowed to say that, I used to be one). Please don’t let it get you down.
It was also lovely to finally meet you. The only interaction I’ve had with you before is you throwing a Babybell at me during ‘Cheese or Truth?’ at the last 24hr show, so a proper conversation was very nice.
xx
Posted by Aislinn on October 10, 2010
I would like to be a bit arty-farty here and say that a ‘perfect show’ is entirely subjective, and I’d imagine there’s plenty of people who were at Birmingham and thought your show was just that.
Posted by Misha on October 9, 2010
I would argue (personally) that it’s the slight imperfections that make a gig though. Material is all well and good, but if you can improvise around a truly terrifying audience member (as happened last night at the gig I was at) you’re going to get the respect of everyone else.
Does that make sense?
I shouldn’t be giving advice. I think you’re lovely the way you are Mark.
Posted by laurs on October 9, 2010
i’m glad you had a night off, you deserve it. And i would like to take this chance to say two things. Firstly, the birmingham show was brilliant, i really enjoyed it as did everyone around me. I thought you were wonderful. Secondly, i was one of the fortunate watsonians to have met you last night, and you are one of the nicest, most humble, wonderful men i’ve ever met. It was genuinely delightful to be able to have an albeit brief chat with you. I’ve spent all day telling everyone i know how wonderful you are. And i realise this may come across as a tad like arse kissing, but i mean every word of it. So to conclude my ramblings, thank you for a wonderful night of comedy and the opportunity to meet a genuinely nice man. I hope the rest of your tour is successful. X x
Posted by Mariam on October 9, 2010
I know it might seem like the audience doesn’t really… I don’t know. Get it? Have a good time? But I can guarantee that at least one person, at LEAST one, walks out of there having enjoyed their night. And the fact that you can make them feel like that should be a great sensation. Just enjoy your successes, no matter how little you might think they are at the time, and don’t sweat the other stuff. You’re great at what you do. This doesn’t make much sense but it’s my birthday today and I’m quite drunk, and trying to spread my happiness.
Posted by Patrick on October 9, 2010
I demand a picture of the half-full glass.