Can Marc Hogan, a man who’s never performed stand-up comedy before in his life have a successful show at the Edinburgh Festival – all to win a £1 bet?
“Hi Madelaine.”
Madelaine Bennett runs Prospero Communications. Jim gave me her number when I got back from Edinburgh as she also works with Stand up comics.
“Oh hi Marc how are you? Jims told me about your bet!”
“Yeah, I was wondering if you had any advice?”
“Well I think you’re insane quite frankly! Most comics spend 3 years gigging before they even consider a one man Edinburgh show. ”
“3 years! I haven’t got 3 years, I haven’t even got 1 year I’ve got 11 months! Is there not the equivalent of a 10 baskets or less fast track queue? ”
“Well if you were gigging 3 to 4 times a week, you may be ready.”
I drop the phone. “Four times a week! I have to be out four evenings a week? My wife (Kirsty) will kill me!
I can’t be out 4 nights a week until after midnight and hold down a job. I haven’t got the stamina; I’m 33 for Gods’ sake! If I’m not in bed by 10 pm I ‘m cranky for the next 2 days! I’m obviously presenting a lot; surely that gives me some advantage…
“Yes it should and you are quite funny”
What is it with the quite funny that’s like your partner saying you’re quite good in bed, this is not what I need!
“Thanks, I think? Any suggestions on how I could possibly be more funny?
“There is a great course run by the Amused Moose with Logan Murray who teaches aspiring comics how to be funny.”
“There s a course that teaches you to be funny (I’ve heard it all now)!
“Who’s this Logan Murray chap?
“Oh he’s been on the comedy circuit for years, he runs university courses, he directs shows, he did work with loads of famous people including We Are Klang who won a Spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe award in 2004, and they were nominated for ‘Best Act’ at Edinburgh in the 2006.”
“Sounds great! Does Logan do any stand up?”
“Oh yeah, loads, he’s also on TV.”
“Oh really, what’s he do?”
Well he’s currently on CBeebies.”
I almost dropped the phone, “You’re joking.”
“No, don’t worry about that, the career of a Comic is a many varied thing! I’ll send you a link to the course and book on it’s the only way you’ll be close to ready!”
“OK thanks,”
“Oh by the way have you got a spare 10 grand?”
“How much is this course!”
“No silly, that’s how much you’ll need to run a show in Edinburgh.”
“£10,000, will I get any money back from ticket sales?”
“Not unless you’re famous or very good, most comics loose money!”
“I’ve just bought a new house; we’ve just spent 3 grand on a table & chairs! Kirsty wants a dog, where the hell am I going to get £10,000 grand!”
“Well you could possibly do it for £8,000,”
“Kirsty is going to kill me”, I think to myself. “Bang goes the holiday, the new bathroom, the Starbucks latte on a Saturday….”
“Brilliant, send me the link anyway, I’ve got to get working.”
Great I now have to learn how to be funny from a man on CBeebies from a course about an amused mammal, and to run a show its going to cost me at least £8,000. This keeps getting worse…
