People often come up to me and say things like…
“Do you write your own material or make it up as you go along – as it appears you do?”
And…
“If you’re a comedian, how come I never sees you on ‘Buzzcocks’ and ‘Nine Out Of Ten Cats?”
And my reply is always “Could you kindly close the bathroom door on the way out!”
Because I’m a patient man.
I once spent 48 hours waiting in A & E and didn’t complain. There was nothing wrong with me. I had no plans for the weekend and fancied mixing with new people.
If you think that all a comedian does is stand on a stage and tell jokes, you‘re sadly mistaken, even if you’re feeling happy.
They say happiness and sadness are two sides of the same coin. But it’s not legal tender in this country.
What can comedians do apart from tell jokes?
Well, as I’ve never learned the art of ventriloquism, I can only speak for myself. Organising comedy shows for clubs and theatres, to fly the flag for variety and live entertainment in Wales takes up a lot of my time.
I’ve gained a reputation for putting on successful comedy nights and my aim is to take them to every theatre in Wales.
It’s quite a challenge putting a show together that will appeal to all ages and tastes because when you put several comedians together on one bill, you have to find the right mix of performers with their own individual styles.
There’s no point me booking six comedians in smart suits who deliver razor sharp one-liners. By the time they’d all finished, in the minds of the audience, they’d all melded into one fast-taking, smart-ass.
So, it’s a delicate business, choosing the right balance of performers who will hopefully sell enough tickets to earn money for themselves, the venue and the very last person in line after everyone else has been paid . . . me.
As I do this all on my own, I’ve acquired a variety of skills along the way.
I have to be a PR Consultant; Advertising Executive; Promoter; Talent Scout; Impresario; Producer; Compere . . . and, when a comedian gets last-minute nerves and frantically looks for the nearest exit, a Psychologist, who calms them down by telling them the truth. I wouldn’t have put them on the bill if I didn’t think they were capable of getting big laughs.
And there’ll be plenty of big laughs on my next comedy night – at the Lyric Theatre Carmarthen on St. Dwynwen’s Day, Saturday January 24th at 8.00 pm.
The line-up includes Ignacio Lopez, Dan Glyn, Paul James, Karen Sherrard, Simon Emanuel, beat-boxer & rapper Ed “Mr Phormula” Holden and me.
Now that’s value for money!
Because St. Dwynwen was the Welsh St. Valentine, I’ve called it “The Love and Laughter Show”.
So you can also add ‘Clever Clogs’ to my list of skills.