Standing Up!

I guess it is called stand up comedy because, well, the comedian stands up to do it. And I stood up and did it, for nearly 20 minutes!!!! On Saturday night just gone.

It was very hot as we were the second set of the night, a hot night at that, and both times the smallish bar was full. SO I was well pleased I wore light cotton!
I was thrilled to see so many people there I didn't actually know, but even more thrilled to see my lovely friend Emma there - she was in my Burlesque class and is just one of those people whose company is always fabulous. She took the action shot on her phone.

This is Emma and I at Enigma Cafe afterwards. Emma dragged us the whole length of Courtenay Place in search of Pie. It was worth it mind you.
 Anyway what to say? My last set at my regular Thursday Night open mic was a total turkey, and I had never experienced this before. I was a bit freaked out given it was two nights before my proper debut as a stand up, but it also made me realise I had to take drastic steps to overcome my terrible memory.

I don't get stage fright, I am never nervous about being in front of people. But my mind can just blank out no matter how hard I try to memorise something. So, I got a big piece of paper and a black felt pen, and wrote my cues out in huge block letters. MrC sat at a front table with this held up against his knees. It was fantastic! And it amused the crowd too :)
As our one hour show featured three female comedians of whom I was the youngest by some years, I was expecting a mostly older audience, and indeed there were more over 40s there than I would expect. But there were plenty of  younger people too, making it a truly diverse crowd, Luckily they all found something to laugh at, not just during my set but also the others.

Will I do it again? too right! I love Constance and we do share some material, I do confess - I sang "Don't Copy Me, Lady Gaga" for example. But it IS nice to just be me, and it takes half the time to get ready!

And yes, there may be a video. It was made, I am not sure when I will get access to it, but if it is OK, I will post it :)