Project Preston: an unstoppable juggernaut
So, it’s on. On Tuesday next week, 24 people will travel from Preston to Blackburn by specially-chartered motor vehicle. They will join the existing ticket-holders in what is just not just an audience-boosting stratagem, but a fine example of this blog’s readers in action. What began as a stupid whim is now going to become a stupid REALITY.
I’m working that afternoon, but I am going to endeavour to arrive in Blackburn in time to see the Watsonian Express pull up at St George’s Hall, Blackburn, after its epic 25-or-so-minute journey. Obviously, I will make it a feature of the show, too. I might set the Prestonians up in a separate area of the room, like away fans at a football match. I definitely will be looking to create some violence between the rival sects. If I succeed in doing that, I think I can almost be certain there’ll be a bigger crowd in Blackburn next time…
Now, anyone got an idea for Dundee?
The response to yesterday’s console-Megan blog was excellent, although some people were hurt by my calling her ‘one of my favourite’ readers. I should stress that this is purely based on the fact she comments a lot and I’ve had the opportunity to meet her. And anyway, I said ‘one of’, not ‘the only reader I care about’. You’re all special. Apart from that bloke that wrote that thing after Birmingham, and the occasional spammers who leave Comments inviting me to check out an incredible new product.
And to prove my love for the general blog-populace, here is a tiny scaled-down Can I Help You? I still have to finish the last one, from weeks back, but in the mean time two people have written questions as Comments, and I thought we could deal with them now:
‘I’m probably coming to the Oxford show in a couple of weeks, and I’m wondering whether it’s an appropriate show to bring my 15 year old to.’
-15? Oh, yes. I’ve had far younger on this tour and on previous ones. There is some ‘language’ but there’s little subject matter of the kind that would make a father and son eye each other in nervous silence in the car on the way home. Bring him. I think it’ll be absolutely fine.
‘After the tuition fees thing today I am slightly wondering what to do. I was going to apply this year and defer my entry, but now it seems like I can’t do that because of the whole money thing. I would like a year away from school just to be away from the stress of it, but more importantly I have absolutely no savings and some anxiety/depression stuff. I’ve just started cognitive behavioural therapy but I still don’t feel like I would cope on my own just yet and I’m scared of getting there and finding that I can’t handle anything.
So, I’m wondering whether I should apply this year and go and just hope that I deal with it or go this year to my back up uni (which I don’t actually want to go to) and live at home (which I didn’t want to do, because I am kind of… introverted, I guess, and I thought moving away might help me to be less terrified of the world). Or should I just defer and be in debt for the rest of my life?’
-This is a complicated one and I’m leaving it open for others to comment on. But I would just make two points: (a) Don’t go to a university you don’t want to go to, purely because it seems like a necessary move. You shouldn’t make a move as big as this if your heart’s not in it. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. (b) Even with the revised student loan system, remember you will probably only have to pay it back once you’re earning a wage. It gets added to your tax bill and it’s more painless than you think. Most people I know (aged about 30) still have mountains of student debt and it doesn’t really affect their lives. The repayment rate might change but it’s still all theoretical money, really. I don’t think the threat of it should stop you going to uni.
So in short, I would stick to your original plan. But we’ll see what others say.
Right, Project Preston in the bag, love demonstrated, and I’ve just eaten a chicken salad. This is going well. I will now try to tickle the people of Hull. With jokes. Not a tickling stick. That’s been done.
Posted by Andrew on November 30, 2010
Hi Mark. I was the chap who asked whether it would be appropriate to bring my 15 year old. Much to my disappointment, a series of logistical nightmares (think it’s a hassle organising one kid, wait till you’ve got four – here I am responding about three weeks late) meant we never made it. A friend of his went, and said you were awesome (I don’t think that was actually the adjective, but it was something equally teenage and enthusiastic). So, next time I hope. Please don’t take our absence as a reason never to return to Oxford.
Posted by Rachael on November 7, 2010
That is a complicated conundrum and I’m not sure I would be any good at making the right decision if it were me but what Mark said about the money all just being theoretical anyway makes sense.
Posted by Ingrid on November 7, 2010
Hey! Im just reading the thing about bringing a fifteen year old and it got me wondering, me and my brother are both 14 and we might be able to venture down and see you at some point, but since we are both 14 could we get in by ourselves or would we have to bring an adult or something?
Posted by Meg on November 6, 2010
I’m also a 15 year old going to the Oxford so I’m pleased to hear I’m not alone. Your show is going to be one of the highlights of an autumn full of tedious schoolwork and exams so I can’t wait. Haven’t much commented lately but I assure you I have been reading every day but just can’t think of anything to say that is relevant or interesting and I’m not very good at putting my thoughts into words so it would probably all come out wrong anyway. But I love reading. The atmosphere of this blog is lovely and everyone who comments seems really nice
and Mark you are remarkable! Good luck with Project Preston!
Posted by Matthew on November 6, 2010
To the University funding student:
(Disclaimer: This is what happened in the past, this is no guarentee it is what will happen this time. Please check and confirm.)
In the past when the fees changed (Introduction of topup fees, introduction of fees at all etc) Students who applied but deferred were charged the fee’s they would have been charged without deferring. So if you applied in 2004/5 but deferred starting till 2006 you only paid the £1200 fees not the £3000 fees applicants in 2005/6 who started in 2006 paid.
It may be the same this time. I would check with UCAS and your College/School careers advisor. They should know better than me. But every now and then, it is possible to get the best of both worlds.
Posted by Lydia on November 6, 2010
Thank you for answering my question, it was really nice of you. Everyone that I’ve talked to about it seems to think that I would be better off sticking to my original plan. Thank you again.
I think I’m going to have to produce my bestseller a lot quicker than I thought.
Posted by Bel on November 6, 2010
I’m from Blackburn but have lived in Preston for last two years. I was about to buy tickets for the Blackburn show but am a bit reluctant after reading the blog! I didn’t realise Mark was playing Preston until the evening of the gig, I’m SO gutted I missed it. I moved out of Blackburn cos it is so grim, I don’t wanna be lumped in with the non-coach arriving blackburners!!
Posted by Emily on November 6, 2010
I would suggest getting those going to Dunfirmline on a bus to Dundee but I suspect it’s too short notice, and perhaps unnecessary for people to see the show twice in 3 days or whatever it would be.
Posted by Kate B on November 6, 2010
Good luck on the Blackburn show, I really wish I lived in Preston now… and I never thought I’d say that. Hope everything goes really well!
Posted by Kay @ProjectPreston on November 6, 2010
Louise, if you sort the t shirts – im sure we’d all wear one!
Posted by josie on November 6, 2010
I think the 11 year-old in Bradford was proof enough that a 15 year-old will be a-ok.
I’m stressing out a bit about the university fees as well; we’ll be the first ever year that will have to pay the risen fees. Which is kind of stupid, but it’s weird, everyone my age is just kind of apathetic about it and they’ve just let it make their decision about whether they go to uni or not.
Oh deary me.
Posted by Tracey on November 6, 2010
I hope all the “Prestonians” have a fantastic time! I’m sure it’ll be great and I wish I could be there! Tracey x
Posted by Lora on November 6, 2010
The Watsonian Express sounds lovely! I look forward to hearing about their impact on Blackburn.
Posted by Misha on November 6, 2010
Oh god. I can only apologise for last nights (somewhat mangled) comment. I think it meant to say something along the lines of “woo project preston” but being typed drunk at 2 am on a friends sofa with a tempremental phone it got somewhat lost.
Posted by Carl on November 6, 2010
Dundee season ticket holder deal is a great idea, Daniel. I agree.
Posted by Daniel on November 6, 2010
Hmmm, Dundee…
Do a deal for Dundee season ticket holders – they’ve just lost ludicrous points ( 25? ) for going into administration, perhaps they can get discounted entry or something to cheer them up?
Looking at On This Day, on November 14th, Princess Anne was married. She’s president of the Scottish Rugby Union or something like that, lie horribly and say she’s coming to celebrate her anniversary at your show.
Also, their website shows there are only two people on the upper circle – is it possible to set up a communication system with them during the show? Paper aeroplanes? Can they be contacted about bringing more friends? Can you offer tickets for the upper circle as a way for people to overcome their fear of heights and then claim you’ve cured them in a Derren Brown-esque way?
By the way, Macca or Hakka was inspired!!!!
Posted by Kathryn on November 6, 2010
I’ve only just started uni, and I’m not sure I can offer any advice about the money thing, but I would say that I don’t think you get the full experience of university by living at home. A lot of my friends from home decided to commute and not move away, but I think it then becomes more difficult to move out later and move on with life. On the other hand, if you have pre-existing anxiety issues it could put pressure on you which could have a negative effect, but I know that as quite a shy person these first few weeks have really helped to build my confidence. I hope whatever you decide works out for you though.
Posted by misha on November 6, 2010
TONIGHTSCOMMENT COMES TO YOUFRM A TEMPREMENT HONE anD A FRIENDSSOFAL PN THDE UBIFROBTITSMOK, Az/ FORPTRESTOM, WOOMPRESTON
Posted by Shell on November 6, 2010
24! Ha! Project Preston and the Watsonian Express sounds a lot of fun! Excellent that it is all coming together. You must all sing appropriate songs on the bus…
I’d like to be a fly on the wall at that gig actually but I’ll settle for a detailed report or some tweets. Maybe we could have a hashtag for those on the Watsonian Express to use and for the rest of us to follow during the evening. Eh?
#Watsonians or something more linked to the event perhaps.
Posted by Sharron on November 5, 2010
Hello Mark
Just seen your show in Hull tonight, was in need of a good laugh and I was not dissapointed x Thanks
Posted by Louise on November 5, 2010
I’m so excited for Tuesday! Maybe we should have special t-shirts!
Posted by Alot of rach[a]els on November 5, 2010
I hope to see a picture of the 24 prestonians!
and for the uni q I agree with mark in that you shouldnt go somewhere you’re not certain about and also won’t need to pay it back until work has started. it’s over £15,000 atm but isn’t it going to go up to earning £21,000 before paying back? so might be slightly earlier. also the tuition fee hasn’t been passed yet so you never know what might happen in next couple of weeks
Posted by Carl on November 5, 2010
I always read, I try to comment regulary and I’m hopeful of that ‘big jump’ one day, but it’s blogs such as this one which restore my faith in the world.
Have fun Prestonians.
Posted by Kate W on November 5, 2010
Never before have I been envious of the people of Preston!
Re the 15 year old, I completely agree he’ll be fine. You swear a bit, but not dramatically, and I’d be astonished if he hasn’t heard worse. I remember there being a 13 year old (with dad) in your Edinburgh audience and I’m pretty sure he survive unscathed and, indeed, enjoyed it.
Re the university question, I also agree (this consensus could get dull, eventually) about not going to a university you don’t want to go to. As some Watsonians in their first term have commented, uni can be tough to start with, and being somewhere you don’t want to be isn’t going to help. Unless you actively want to, I really don’t think living at home for uni is a good idea. To me, a big part of the the point of going is that it’s a first chance to spread your wings a bit, to go away and live independently, but in a supportive environment. I think staying at home means you lose out on a lot of the non-academic learning you should be doing, and that’s all part of the joy of the thing (especially as you say you’d like to be less introverted). As far as deferring’s concerned, might be helpful to equip yourself with some figures. How much more will it cost to defer rather than go next year, and what sort of monthly payment will that mean when you start paying it back? How much would you (realistically) save if you do take a year out? I suspect trying to base a decision on lots of semi-unknown facts is making it bigger and scarier than it needs to be. And I shall now stop waffling.
Posted by issey on November 5, 2010
I’m in a similar situation, deciding whether to take next year to do a foundation course then go on to a degree course or because of the fees issue, go straight into degree. I hope someone can help!
Posted by Melanie on November 5, 2010
The Watsonian Express sounds great fun!
Posted by Dawn on November 5, 2010
Hi Mark:-)
How is Kit doing? Not heard about him recently!