More Socks gigs, Derry, international, auction & DVD

 

A varied week of work this week, mostly for the Socks, who started the week by filming a DVD extra about Lytton, an obscure Doctor Who character from the 80s who's now got his own spin off comic. The comics have DVDs including interviews and documentaries. And, now, Socks easter eggs. I didn't actually realise this was a paying gig, so I shall definitely be doing more, and making them longer.

The Socks have returned to the comedy open mic circuit, to see and be seen, and they're enjoying it. Three gigs this week, the first being one that caught us off guard. We didn't realise we'd got it till earlier in the day. Don't Mention Covid Open Mic Comedy (or DMC Comedy to avoid being hidden on Facebook) was a fun night of a dozen comedians, half of whom were from the States. Not having done open mics for over a decade I'd forgotten the variable quality (some people are really not very good), but some acts were great, especially the American comics who were, of course, performing this as a lunchtime gig.

The striking thing about this, and the other gigs this week, was that they had such small audiences. Apart from the performing comedians, there were only about three or four viewers. I put the word out at the very last minute (I'd definitely plug it further in advance if I'm on again). I'm reminded that, back when I used to do open mics in London, this would be a frequent occurence. Gigs with next to no audience was always a London thing. At least this time one is seen by other comics, from around the world, and you only have to travel to the back room.

Chicken Box Comedy was a lovely show, coming from Derry, with the host and half the acts coming from Northern Ireland, it's based on the live show they run regularly and features fun items, like news stories and video clips, plus the presenter Les Ismore (in character) interviews the acts, and kept chatting to us throughout the rest of the show (the Socks opened). For the record, at Chicken Box and DMC Comedy we gave them Halloween and a few random gags. It doesn't take much to fill 7 minutes (DMC was just 5). The recording of the whole show is here. 

I stayed after the show for the group chat at Chicken Box, which was the nearest to being in a comedy club green room I've experienced for at least a year. Some people knew me from when I'd done the 2D comic festival in Derry, and from when the Socks had played at Black Box in Belfast. Quite the most sociable zoom comedy show I've done (apart from the Socks' own, obviously). Though, again, there was next to no audience. I'd plugged it a little further in advance to the Socks mailing list, but even then only on the day of the show, so we only attracted 4 punters. Surely everyone wants to be playing to a bigger crowd than that don't they? Thinks: maybe I should set up a Socks comedy club, a free show that our punters would come to, but would be mostly guest artists. Would anyone come? I'll run it up the flagpole.

Comedy Auction is an oddity. The acts pre-record their auction lots, which are just fairly worthless stuff about which you make up something funny, and the viewers can bid for it. We've recorded three items, the first of which will be in tonight (Friday)'s show. Other auction acts include Rachel Creeger, Izzy Mant and Trevor Lock, with auctioneer Thom Tuck. To be honest, I haven't ascertained where the money goes. It's a privelege to be included in a line up with such comedians, so I hope people like us. Like all these gigs, we're doing it for, as the kids say, exposure. You do open mics in the hope of seeing and being seen. Back in the day, there was a chance that, among the half dozen punters in your smokey cellar in Soho, would be a scout from the telly. I think this is slightly less likely when everyone can see who everyone else is on the Zoom screen, but hope springs eternal.

UPDATE: The Socks are guesting in Global Comedy on Monday March 1st from 9pm (7 minute slot). It's a free show, and I've shared the Zoom link to our Facebook page and mailing list. Let's see if we can make it a good turnout for this one. 

On Sunday 28th the Socks are doing Dean Friedman's All Request Show again; on March 16th we have Late Stage Comedy; on March 18th we're joining Darren Hoskins' novelty show; on March 19th it's our own next show; and in April we have the 27 Minute Comedy Hour show lined up. Let's see how many more Zoom gigs we can get in the diary before the rules relax in May, and suddenly it's all live shows again (which, of course, I won't be able to afford to do. In the past week I've played in Derry, London and Tamworth, and shared the stage with comedians in Florida and California - and on Sunday night I duet with Dean in New York. I hope they continue on Zoom, cos I'm not driving to them).

Mar 19: Talking Of Changing The Subject…

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/511549