Wow, 16 shows down, 9 more to go! That is, of course excluding the bits of club gigs here and there. With nearly a week of the festival left, I look back at lessons learnt and ask myself, “self, would you really come back?” Self takes a sip of imaginary red wine, a Cabernet, of course, smile curling on the corner of her lip, and shrugs: “yeah, why not. Like this glass of fine, red wine, your vinification isn’t just in maturing over time. It is in the selection of ingredients, your process and, finally, time. Only then can we bottle you with confidence for the enjoyment of discerning comedy fans.” I really like my ‘self’, she can be so deep sometimes.

Anywho, how did the past two nights go? Effing awesome! Well, night 15 had a semi-decent number in the house. I played, and actually exhausted myself on stage because it was a big POLITE audience which drives me nuts I tell you. Again, I had to school them in the art of parking decorum and getting on with the good time. Energy went up a notch and we got down to business. I was in the zone, I was hitting the mark, and playing to a constant rhythm that I really enjoyed. I didn’t want the show to end, but 50 minutes in, I felt like I had exhausted them. So we went into a cool down and ended the show gently. They enjoyed it, I eavesdropped and heard lovely things. Nothing like a satisfied customer. I guy who had stared at me the whole show smiling here and there applauded me so hard with such a smile I was so confused ( unless he was THAT glad it was over lol).

Night 16 turned the heat up. But I had no focus. I don’t know, my head was all over the place and I wasn’t in the show. Nothing worse than trying to get your focus back in the middle of your show, when there are no real breaks or moments to step back and recollect yourself. I just kept throwing toys at the audience to entertain themselves while I chided my brain for mucking about on duty. Files where all over the place, even my little cheat page placed strategically behind the flat did not help. The eyes were now arguing with the brain as to why it wasn’t registering anything, it was just seeing alphabets but they weren’t making sense. I have up, and just trusted that after doing this everyday for the past two weeks, surely i can get through one freestyle night. And that, dear reader, I did. I heard guffaws for the first time, I watched a reserved man, collapse ina  heap of laughter in spite of himself and cover his face. I had fun. I got real. I shared things on that stage that I have never shared with any audience, and don’t think I ever will again because it really was all part of THAT moment. The room was almost half full and I was sweating like crazy. End of the night I went out for a much deserved glass of cranberry juice ( how rock n roll am I?)

Tonight I hit the streets, and hopefully make it to some shows because I now realise to my horror that I have 8 days left to watch everything I’ve been meaning to watch. Edinburgh has moulded me into something I like. It has hardened me in some ways and made me smarter in others. It is far from over, and I am almost scared of what may happen between now and my last show, because if I know this beast, it is that it throws a mean curveball. You need to stay on your toes. 

That’s MyStory and I am sticking to it…