Flood defences
Just finished the final two recordings of the Kicks Off show. They were two of the best ones, so I’m in a good mood.
There were quite a few responses to my account of the controversial gig where I was attacked by an elderly man who ran the company. Nearly all of them were on my side and I am grateful for those. However, there is also one in which someone reproduces an email sent by the man to explain his interruption of my show, and – remarkably – one from his wife. I would never want it to be thought that I record these grudges on my blog so I can round up support and bully anyone or get my ego collectively massaged. So I would suggest, if you are at all interested in the events I mentioned, you go back and read these comments. It’s only fair they have a right to reply. I think it’s fair to say the man and I were on different wavelengths and I will be emailing his wife with the aim of putting the whole business, as they say, to bed.
I’m trying to buy a house, which is a bit stressful, so this is kind of all I can write today. Don’t panic, though, we do already live somewhere. It’s not like if we don’t get the house, we’ll be sleeping rough. At the absolute worst, we might be on your sofa just for a few nights while we get ourselves sorted out. See you tomorrow for slightly more in-depth blogging. Or see you in Portsmouth. That’s where I shall be.
Posted by Lydia on November 30, 2010
Hello. I have been gone for a while, because my life went a bit insane with school and turning 18 (urgh) and my best friend’s boyfriend turning into an arsehole (every day it gets harder not to hit him) and then NaNoWriMo took up all my free time. No one told me school gets even harder between AS and A2. I don’t know why the idea never occurred to me. To be honest given the 6 or 7 essays I am now behind I probably shouldn’t even be on here now. But oh well. I don’t know why I felt the need to share any of that.
I just read everything I missed, and having done that I think I probably should have commented on one post at a time since I have now forgotten what was in the first post that I read.
What I do remember is that I thought the thing with you and Minchin sounds amazing. Also the Winterflood guy, even though he apologised… well, I still think he’s kind of horrible. I can’t imagine ever treating someone who was performing like that. Or anyone really. I don’t understand how it is that people can justify behaviour like that. Whatever you said I don’t think that interrupting your show and insulting you was acceptible. I think the way that you dealt with it was amazing though, well done (sorry if that was patronising). Seriously, I would never be able to deal with something like that, I can’t even handle when people are mean to me at work (I’m a waitress. People are mean to us (or maybe just me) with alarming frequency. Although my boss has become somewhat overprotective of me so it’s not such an issue anymore)
I’m glad you’re okay and good luck with all the house stuff. x
Posted by nervous nelly on November 30, 2010
The rest of us thought you did a fantastic job mark and we were all pretty shocked by the outburst. The odd thing is that comedians at corporate dos are normaly ruder than you expect but you weren’t at all! Sending you some love from the younger elements of the firm…
Posted by Zoe Fell on November 30, 2010
*Pokes head in*
Hello. I know I’ve been a bit rubbish in terms of commenting on the blog, and for that, I am sorry.
So I’ve returned and want to pop my two pennies worth into this…debate? Conversation? Discussion?
Corporate events and the people who are booked for them always interest me. How are acts chosen? Why do certain comics seem more suited to one company over another? And surely Mr Winterfloods had an idea of the kind of stand up you are? The issue I have with his wife’s comment was that it doesn’t sound like you she’s talking about. You’re not smutty. You’re not even that sweary. Was she referring to ‘cock’ when she said “the C word”? Because that is silly. Think of something like Top Gear, that’s pre-watershed and they have no qualms about leaving that in.
Perhaps it is a generational thing? I have to take umbrage with this again though. Is Winterfloods a fairly young company? In terms of who you were playing to? Because you know better than anyone how to target your audience, and how to change your material accordingly.
(I am trying very hard not to get angry, but I really can’t help it. I am fuming a fair bit at this. Treating you like that was totally uncalled for.)
I say we boycott Winterfloods. And whatever they produce. Ahem. But Mark. As long as you’re okay, and this hasn’t knocked you too much, that’s all that matters.
(Companies take note. Don’t mess with the Watsonians.)
And that is what I have to say on the matter.
*Scurries off*
Posted by Ingrid on November 30, 2010
@ Aislinn well said!
Posted by Aislinn on November 30, 2010
Dear Mrs. CEO (‘wife of the 73-year-old’)
I would like to take issue with this statement from your comment:
‘the young ones do not seem to be bothered by it’
referring to strong language and swearing.
I would like to suggest, Mrs Winterlady, that you don’t use cheap, untrue stereotypes of young people to defend your husband after he ruined a comedy set. Not only do Mark’s fans have a ridiculously large age range (do your research, innit), leaving the ‘young ones’ part invalid, but it’s extremely patronising. I’m friends with a lot of the younger blog readers and have never heard any of them swear.
Not one fucking time.
Lots of love,
Aislinn Prior.
Posted by Ingrid on November 30, 2010
I think the wifes one was a little harsh… one of the main reasons i like your comedy is that you are so inoffensive. You dont swear much and i never feel offended or depressed after watching you.
Anyway good luck with the house hunting! x
Posted by Virtual Lintu on November 30, 2010
”My husband is a very courteous well-mannered gentleman …” – except when he’s threatening not to pay for a gig his company booked, eh?
Nice of him to send his e-mail to his staff. But Mrs W doesn’t do him any favours.
The fact that you’re even going to reply to her shows what a lovely man you are. I wouldn’t bother personally.
Good luck with the house purchase.
Virt
x
Posted by Tracey on November 30, 2010
Hi Mark,I’ve read the post from that guy’s wife and I do think she was rather rude towards you – as another poster put it if she doesn’t understand the meaning of the word, how can she possibly be upset about it? I don’t see how anyone could be offended by you at all. I hope you have good luck with your house buying. If you’re in need of a sofa and you’re in Paisley you would be more than welcome with Emily and Kit at any time.Have fun in Portsmouth, I know the area well . Tracey x
Posted by Becca on November 30, 2010
It is meant to snow all day in Portsmouth so hopefully we will both make it there!
Posted by Rachael on November 30, 2010
I’m excited about these Kicks Off episodes almost as much as starting my advent calendar.
Posted by Chris P on November 30, 2010
I do hope Frankie Boyle gets thew Winterfloods gig next year!
Posted by Anji on November 30, 2010
I chuckled at the fact her fist and second initial makes DS and then see he signs himself BMW! I think whatever is a fitting term for them. If the word pissed and also shit can be said in ‘I’m a celeb’ without being beeped out then the winterthingys should go tackle ITV for being offensive. maybe BMW stands for big male wanker. I’ll be quiet now, it’s too cold to be nasty and I don’t really like being it.
So to make up for my early rudeness, sorry. And a nice thing. Good luck with the house buying! A strange event in life, which seems to need a lot doing to make it happen and then once it has it sort of all blurrs and you wonder how you got there. My experience anyway!
Posted by amycool on November 30, 2010
We’ve been “buying a house” for ages now but whenever we get to within an inch of our planned deposit, something comes along that empties the bank account. We’ve planned a mortgage advice meeting in January…and yesterday I discovered they’re making a fifth of us redundant between now and March. Yay.
Still, there are Quality Street in the staff room. Swings and roundabouts.
Posted by Tibbs on November 30, 2010
Seems to be a generation-related difference in what is and is not considered “offensive”. I guess I understand a bit more, but I still think he acted out of line; especially considering (or, well, assuming) that most of the people in the room were not of his generation and were perfectly fine with whatever c word it was that his wife took offense to (note to Josh: I’m pretty sure I know what the word is, but in an effort to preserve your innocence, I’m keeping mum). But I think he did realise that after the fact, what with his comment about being the only one who blushes.
Congratulations on finishing the first (of many, I hope) series of Kicks Off! I am really hoping I will get to see some when I am in the UK in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS EEEEEEEEEEE. (It’s possibly a little bit sad how excited I am that I’ll be able to watch things on the iPlayer thing-y, and it’s equally possible that I don’t care.)
I totally feel you on the house-buying stress; I have just started looking at places in earnest and it is “doing my head in” as they say in your country. You are more than welcome to stay on my couch, although given the exorbitant price of trans-Atlantic airfare I’m not really sure you’d be saving that much money by doing so
Posted by Joelle on November 30, 2010
I just went back to find the comments left by the 2 people that were there.
I think the person that was there was nice enough, and that the man that stood up to you did have some regrets about what he did.
His wife however was much ruder in her comment. It saddens me to think that swearing is a display of a bad or uneducated person. They’re only words, she’s the one who has put horrible things onto them. It also is appparent that she doesn’t even know what ‘cunt’ means. If you don’t know what it means how could you possibly get offended by it. Silly lady. I have much less tolerance for her, regardless of who she was saying that to.
I hope house hunting goes well!
Posted by Misha on November 29, 2010
I had a quick read, crikey eh? If she thought you were sweary and smutty (which you aren’t) I’d love to introduce her to the likes of Dave Johns or Michael Legge.
Good luck with the house buying, we’re trying to rent a flat at the moment and that’s bloody stressful enough as it is. Anyway, you’re more than welcome to sleep on the sofa if you end up in snowy Cardiff, but just be warned the heating is a bit temperamental.
Posted by Phill on November 29, 2010
Mark, I’m not a prude but I don’t like comedians who swear and use smut a lot. You are not one of those comedians. Seriously, I like to think my radar is pretty good with that kind of thing, and you are well off of it. In a good way.
That said I wasn’t privy to the conversation you were having so can’t comment definitively!
All I can say is that after having read the guy’s email, and his wife’s comment, I feel a bit bad about calling him a … erm, can’t remember what I called him, but whatever it was I regret it. Just goes to show you should never speak in haste.
Posted by Corry on November 29, 2010
I think it is good that he has emailed his staff to apologise for ruining their night. I’m curious to know if he has emailed you with an apology as he clearly realises that he is in the wrong.
Good luck with the house buying. In Brighton I hope (readymade babysitter) x
Posted by Carl on November 29, 2010
On the train back from the final recording of MWKO. Really, really enjoyed myelf. Johnny Vaughen was brilliant, Mark Foster was a lovely man and Richard Herring was fantastic, as ever.
You thoroughly deserve a new series, Mark. I feel you’ve grown into the presenter role marvellously. Must be a great rush.
I was going to say hello, however straight after the show you were deep in discussion with who I believe was your producer. I just felt a bit daft and that you should be celebrating the end of a great show and weeks of hard work. We did brush elbows though!
Take care, mate. It wa great. Thanks. x
Posted by Josh on November 29, 2010
What is the c….word that’s possibly Latin for penis?
I am most intrigued.
Posted by Declan on November 29, 2010
I live in Portsmouth so might hang around Guildhall Square and see if I can see you. Probably not though. It’s cold.