Safety's sake
I’m not at all sure I shall be able to post a blog today (that is, Thursday), what with everything. In case of failure, this blog is going up as one of the traditional paperweights which ensure us against the dreaded Blogless Day. It’s coming up to 2am and I’ve just got back from Sheffield. The show was pretty good. A lot of people came in late, though, not for the first time this tour. Some had been wrongly told, by the venue, that it would be ‘doors at half seven, on at eight’. Others had wrongly assumed there’d be a support act. I must say, once more, for safety’s sake always arrive on time if you can. Not only do I not have a support act, I do various bonus things for the amusement of early arrivals. So it’s worth the effort. Normally.
Thanks. Goodnight/good morning.
Posted by Poppy on November 1, 2010
Hi Mark! Loved your show! I was seriously considering pretending to go to the toilet so you would chase me, and then I would wait at the doors and listen so I didn’t miss anything, but for a believable amount time it would take to have a pee. But I didn’t. Ah well. I do have a shiny new signed book and a shiny new signed ticket for my signed-tickets collection, though. I’m so totally coming to your next tour, now
But there wasn’t even a kangaroo… x
Posted by Tibbs on October 30, 2010
I came in very late to the show in Edinburgh*, and I am determined to come super early in London to make sure I don’t miss anything!
*which I still maintain was not entirely my fault; I didn’t have a proper ticket and I’m pretty sure the girl who was supposed to be walking me in forgot I was there.
Posted by Rachael on October 30, 2010
I’m intrigued but I still have to wait til december to find out what the bonus things are! You tease.
Posted by Dan on October 29, 2010
I think we all enjoyed seeing topless Mark on Kicks Off!
Posted by Kate W on October 29, 2010
Very much worth the effort of turning up on time. Apart from standard courtesy, which is a lovely thing, it would be a damn shame to miss the pre-show.
Posted by louisel on October 28, 2010
I’m coming to the show tomorrow, and I will really try not to be late. However, one of the people I’m going with is never on time (her record is 4 hours late) so we might be a tiny bit late. If we are, sorry in advance!
… do I get any Where’s Watson points for the effort?
Oh, and I bought a pretty awesome pen this morning to give you, but I think I’ve left it on the bus
Posted by Juliet on October 28, 2010
Good luck to DeborahF!!
Posted by Cathy on October 28, 2010
Less than a week till I’m dragging a group of friends along to see you! I say dragging… during Freshers Week I mentioned your show to a potential new group of friends and they all started squealing and asking when you were coming and we agreed there and then to go and see you – so cheers for helping me out in Freshers Week
And seeing as we’re only a five minute walk away from the venue I’m quite sure we can be early
Posted by chris bennington on October 28, 2010
thank for a good old giraffe last night me and the wife enjoyed our selfs and were in fits of giggles. we have now starting a boo campain.dont think my sons swimming teacher was inpressed when we bood her for makeing him swimm more.to say she is the hitler of the swimming world would not be fare off, thanks again
chris
Posted by Suzy on October 28, 2010
I’ll echo mostly everyone and say yes, be on time, it’s worth it
I’m always worried about being late for things, so I’m generally stupidly early instead :S I feel like being late to something is like saying you don’t care about it … but that’s just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
And Yay! to DeborahF for the possible job
Posted by DeborahF on October 28, 2010
I hate being late anywhere – anyway I turned up so early to the gig in Derby you (or one of your many minions) were still doing the sound check and the lady on the door wouldn’t let me in!
On an unrelated but important note, I may be gainfully employed again soon. I’ve not got the details of the offer so I’m trying hard not to get too excited – yet.
Posted by JontyLarr on October 28, 2010
I’d have to say it’s well worth getting there for the early arriver bonus material. Though it gets annoying when you’re trying to laugh at the man on the stage, and people keep trying to get past you.
Posted by Kathryn on October 28, 2010
I used to be really good at being on time. Now I’ve just mastered the art of getting up at the latest possible time and sprinting to my lectures with a cup of coffee. But seeing as the venue where I’m going to see you is about 30 seconds from my room I think I’ll be on time or even early.
Posted by Wayne on October 28, 2010
Hi Mark, Great show in Sheffield last night even withstanding that I was one of the lateshows and missed the first 15 mins!
We didn’t even have the excuse of being in McDonalds round the corner as the guy who turned up at the end of the first half did. We’re just rubbish at being on time!
Thanks for going relatively easy on us, as you correctly pointed out we have enough to deal with living in Barnsley!
Look forward to seeing you in Sheffield again.
Wayne
Posted by Clive on October 28, 2010
Mark, I have to say your show last night in Sheffield was disappointing… Not because of the content (very good), delivery (very good), kangaroo joke (hilarious) or your Derren Brown-esque ability to ascertain foreign nationals city of residence (impressive). My wife is heavily pregnant and our second baby is due in two days. In order to avoid a second caesarean, we had hoped a bout of heavy laughter might tip her into labour. No sign, I’m afraid. Very disappointing!
Posted by Jackie on October 28, 2010
We saw you at Preston recently and sat down at 7.15, the pre show posts were hilarious and had us howling with laughter.
Just seen an ad for 2 for 1 tickets in Blackburn coming up. Is the free coach still on from Preston? That would be a bargain – we like bargains up north!
Posted by Lydia on October 28, 2010
Hey. I’m glad your show went well. I hate being late for performance stuff, it always makes me feel really awkward. You have to do the whole ashamedly (not entirely sure that’s a word?) shuffling in thing, trying not to be noticed. On the last occasion this happened to me being subtle didn’t work out so well because my friend tripped and fell over a load of chairs, which made the whole row shake. Awkward. So yeah, being on time is good.
Posted by Laura on October 28, 2010
I really enjoyed your writing to the early arrivals at the Manchester gig. Especially the bit where you said Stoke was the worst place you had played…my boyfriends from Stoke so that gave Manchester some bonus points, thank you for that!! Seems as though most people there thought that you had a support act too, their loss though. Hope the rest of your tour goes well
Posted by amycool on October 28, 2010
I’ve only ever been late on 4 occasions in my life that I can recall. Bus didn’t come, bus driver didn’t bother to tell me we had arrived despite me asking, bus was late and snow stopped buses. If it weren’t for buses, I’d have a perfect record. Also, I wouldn’t now have a complex about being late and end up getting everywhere about an hour early.
But yes, it’s definitely worth getting to Mark’s gig on time as you get more value for money and you can feel smug.
Posted by Tracey on October 28, 2010
Hi Mark. Glad the show went well, hope you’re getting plenty of sleep. I very much regret not being able to see you this year but hope to put that right in the future. Have a good day, Tracey x
Posted by Misha on October 28, 2010
Safety blog eh? It sounds like it’ll be a busy day then. (I give up, I can’t manufacture intrieuge, or spell either of those words it turns out.)
Posted by Lora on October 28, 2010
I will most definitely bear this in mind on Friday when I come to see you and do my best to ensure that the group of people I’m with are all on time, for two reasons first none of us would want to miss any of the show and second I think it would be rather difficult for us to slip in quietly late on given how close to the front we’re sitting.
Posted by Juliet on October 28, 2010
First comment? Maybe.
I was just thinking that if (I didn’t live in Argentina and) I had tickets to one of your shows, it’s quite likely that I’d be late (and so embarrassed by it, of course). I don’t really know what my problem is, I have an issue with punctuality… I set my clocks early, I try very very hard but still I never make it in time (well, sometimes I do, but mostly I’m late). So, forgive me for maybe being late? haha have a nice Thursday Mark xx