Brighton - part 2

We awoke with hangovers. Happy, but with hangovers. And a sharp voice from one of our team saying, "we need to be out by 10am." Four people trying to pack away, shower, have breakfast...generally getting in each other's way. 

Eventually we left and went our separate ways; Alan went to take photos, Paul went shopping, Esther went to my car to sleep. I just...stressed about my show. 

Aware that my solo show was rubbish yesterday, I was fired up today (once the hangover had cleared; nothing that a Ginsters slice and a Red Bull couldn't fix) but I still went into it with a slight weariness, as if I was starting to doubt the show itself despite it being fairly safe earlier in the year.

I needn't had worried; I had a small but lovely audience (two mates, a young couple, and a trio who had seen me last year and enjoyed it). They were up for it from the start, which meant I was too and I had a lovely gig; playing with them, doing the show properly, getting distracted and playing with them again, eventually getting back to the plot. Messy, but it's what I really do best. Best that one has ever looked. 

We were thrown a curveball with the 'Jim...' show, though...someone from the national press was in. I told Esther, as I always said I would in this situation, but, you know, it's her first ever stage show, was this the right move? We have a friendship, a very longterm friendship, built on trust. But still that, coupled with a really dry, let's be honest, Sunday, audience, didn't put us in the best of mindsets. It's not like we were terrible (as much as Esther told me we were, on repeat, for the whole 3 hour drive home), but we were not at the same level as yesterday. Far from it. 

I don't care about reviews; I've had plenty of amazing reviews over the years and, in particular in my earlier days, a few really, really bad ones. I've got enough credit in the bank, and I wasn't particularly worried about this one. I was probably more worried about how off the pace we were, and how easily we could get sloppy. The review came out two days later and was fine, 3 stars, nice enough, no harm done.

The other show was bizarre. Small audience, but the most enthusiastic crowd and the guys were great.

And then we all said our goodbyes and headed home. Brighton done for another year. A lot of work for 2 nights, isn't it? Probably worthwhile, though. 

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