Just Do More, Richards

Last month I was still unpacking from the Edinburgh Fringe and now one of my booking agents is asking me what shows I have for next year, starting with the Leicester Comedy Fest in February, the deadline for which is tomorrow. I mean, I know, I'm always writing, but it's a bit soon, isn't it? Made the deadline for two new shows with a whole 24 hours to spare. Both of those shows have been in the pipeline for a while; the first is a play based around a conga player who doesn't feel like he gets enough credit as a musician because he is so flamboyant onstage (it's based on someone who plays percussion for someone really famous, but I can't say names here because you never know who reads this blog) (I mean, 68 of you, I think). It feels like a lovely story that needs to be told, how the showman is more popular than the skilled man, and when he changes his 'act' he faces a battle.  The other show is a little more personal. I've been feeling a bit restles...

It's been a busy couple of weeks; some lovely gigs with the band - with FH we've been back at the arts centres, playing to seated, respectful audiences with great sound. Also played a guest house with Claudia the other night which was quirky and great fun.  Most of my time has been either spent teaching, or writing the new house exclusive show, which is about the many cars I've had over the years and my lack of understanding with them. They say write about what you know, yeah? I like the idea of a house exclusive show, because it gets me out of the routine of Leicester (Feb, new show), Brighton (May, show should be tighter by then), Edinburgh (August, it's a proper show by then) and the 60-minute restriction. I can do what I like, I don't have to hire venues and I get to meet lots of lovely people. I said I'd do the show anywhere. And then an old friend in Australia booked me... Just as I was looking at flights, I had to pop out to see my mate Josie for a catch-...

It's a problem I've always had: not being able to say no. But...maybe, just maybe, I say yes to all these things because I actually enjoy it? Either way, joined a new band on Friday without really realising how much I've committed to. I turned up for a rehearsal ahead of Saturday's gig, which I was down to step in for as a one-off, but it went so well that by the end of our little jam I was being booked up for studio recordings, more gigs, Zoom interviews with radio stations in the US. But, you know, I'm a drummer, and if people say nice things to me, I get talked into this stuff. The gig yesterday with them, a lively Americana act, was rowdy but fun. Today I'm back with FH, tomorrow night I'm gigging with the blues band. On Thursday I had my first session with our wedding franchise band, which I'm running with Vicky H, and that's coming together well. I like drums.  In the meantime I'm back teaching full time, 11 hours a day, and everyone seems ...

I guess the reason why I keep doing the Edinburgh Fringe every year is that it's a reminder that it's one of the hardest things you can do - not just the shows/flyering/networking, but also just the sheer amount of walking. And then the rest of my year seems rather easy... I'm back in my schools next week, and the private lessons start properly then, too (although they kinda started, albeit slowly, a day after I got back from the fringe). I'm aware that from next week onwards things will get really bonkers again (not fringe bonkers, though, must remember that) with no time to breathe, so I've been trying to use this last, calmer, week, productively.  We had a read-through of the radio sitcom I wrote on my cruise, with Alan H, Kate, Alex, Nicole, Cara and Alan M all very kindly lending their talents. We made the mistake of picking the loudest pub by the station so we had struggles hearing each other at points, and I made the mistake of not ending it on episode three ...

I feel lazy for only a doing a week at the fringe this year. In previous years, Young Richards would do all three weeks, 8 shows a day, and barely notice it (apart from the 'shingles year'). I could still do that now, I reckon I'm in quite good shape but Aggie needed a holiday, and straight after that we had to attend the wedding of a close mate, and everything just seemed to land awkwardly in August. So here I am, just up for the final week, 8 days, 2 shows a day like the lazy part-timer I am. The shows were 'No Dreams' (which ran in Durham recently, as well as opening in France before that and a brief Cambridge run...it's a sleepy, slow little show and I was a bit worried about how it would go down in front of lively fringe audiences) and 'There's a Band Playing...' (my Leicester Comedy Festival show, which has also had runs at the Brighton and Bedford Fringes, as well as house shows etc - it's a loud show, booked for a central, loud room, I we...

 "That's Africa over there," pointed out my wife, as we sipped gin on our balcony whilst we sailed away from our final port. At that point, I realised I may actually be middle class. Rest assured, first day back and I've just picked up a four-pack of Carlsberg from our local Londis. But, for the past two weeks I've been winging it well enough, I reckon, wearing my tux more than I ever have done, eating the fine foods. I even washed my hair every day and only swore once at an old person who didn't know how to queue.  We've just returned from our two weeks away on a cruise. I'm not a holiday sort of person, so two weeks away at sea, with limited internet (sometimes two days totally off-grid), away from my dog, who is my favourite thing in the whole world, away from...well, drums...on a beautiful cruise ship with amazing restaurants, top class entertainment but could easily be considered a 'floating prison' if you see it that way...I wasn't re...