This week, I’m mostly writing a new comedy set.
I haven’t performed stand-up in 17 years so this unexpected turn of events has been rather a shock to the system. I take to the stage Friday evening.
It’s a short set, written from scratch and reflects who I am now. I was able to locate some of my old material and I think it’s fair to say that a few things have changed.
Gone are the gags that relate to my life as a sassy, young magazine journalist gadding about London, downing tequila shots, writing features about the merits of a Brazilian wax and (bizarrely) Snoop Dogg. In its place I’ll be talking about…well, that remains to be seen, heard and hopefully laughed at.
I did okay back in the day, placed well in a couple of comps, supported a big name or two, and even performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which was extraordinary fun.
The photo above is from a Laughing Horse gig at a pub, in central London. Nobody had phones with cameras back then so there are very few pictures of me in full flow. Just grainy moments like this one. And look at the glamour of it!
When I moved to Los Angeles, in 2007, I only ever did one more gig but there have been times over the years when I wondered if I should get back on the comedy horse.
Well that horse - laughing or otherwise - is now grazing in a meadow nearby and waiting to be saddled.
So essentially, my motivation to write this week is that I need to say funny things in front of a room full of strangers in just four days time. Sometimes, urgency is all it takes.
I’ll upload a longer blog about my comedy very soon but if you’re writing something for an equally extreme reason this week do let me know.
It’ll make me feel more stable.
BOOM TISH!
*drops mic, runs out of the room and hides in a cupboard forever*
Lisa