Mining the family
School holidays have perforated my weekly stand up schedule, but have I gained anything from it?
I’m very much in the “get gigs wherever” mindset at the moment, but within reason. For example, recent jaunts to Manchester will not be repeated without a hotel. Four hours of driving is bad enough, but on both occasions it turned into 5/6 hours.
So, I’m sticking to a strict 90 minute range, with 1 hour the automatic approval from my manager (my wife). Anything further needs an early get out clause, or else it’s weekends only.
This is fair enough. After all, I have a career as a freelance writer that needs my attention daily with a 6.30 start.
(Unfortunately, I had a vast crisis of confidence a few days ago, which was happily contained on WhatsApp thanks to two previous guests of Mic Time. I’m already bit worried about where the freelance writer ends and the freelance comedian begins; on that day, you couldn’t see the join.)
Gaps in the schedule
You see, what happens with a typical school holiday is that I have to wind down the work. Whether paid work, or the effort that goes into writing jokes, it all gets put on the back burner.
This holiday, I didn’t have the opportunity to do any gigs, either, leaving me with a lot (too much) to think about (see above).
On the other hand, I had the time to spend time with my children, whom I will always admire, and my wife, who I adore. Vomity, I know, but these things need saying.
Because, you see, my mind wanders.
At 3am some nights, when Mrs Karma is feeling amorous, it is not unusual for her to turn to me, hands warm with blood, only to find me tapping out a punchline in need of a setup.
While driving, I make her text specific phrases to me so I can pick them up later.
On phone-free date nights, I’ve scrawled ideas on torn beermats.
It is the way my mind works, sadly. Even when there is a gap in the schedule, I have to fill it, rather than, well, “chill it.”
Funny kids, a wife in Labour
Increasingly, I’ve found myself returning to family life when I’m looking for material. As I don’t have strong opinions about anything political, and no remarkable personal experiences that I’m prepared to share, I find myself finding the humour in the everyday life.
This includes the school run, the dance school run, the weekend trips, the little characters we have raised, and my wife’s work as a local councillor.
(There is possibly a joke about IVF and Labour, but I’m not sure what it is at this point.)
Actually if I’m honest, my wife’s membership of the Labour party excludes me from certain jokes. I do have a couple of political ones, but they’re silly, rather than scathing. I’m more than prepared to be balanced in my disdain for politicians, however…
What’s coming up?
“Why Mick, we’re so pleased to read your witterings once more, but pray tell, when are you on stage again?”
OK, so I have two dates in my diary for the next couple of weeks.
First up, I’m on at Long Live Comedy at the Town Wall, Newcastle, on Tuesday, June 4th.
Next, later in the week, is my first gig in Hartlepool. This is a 5 minute slot on Thursday, June 6th at the Hops and Cheese, which I think is a deli-pub.
After that, I’m doing a charity gig in York on Saturday, June 15th. This is in the Holy Trinity, on Goodramgate, and is to raise money for the building, so I’m more than happy to help.
(The church is within sight of the Minster, and sits about halfway between that building and The Shambles.)
After that, I have a couple of weeks in the Czech Republic with my family, then two days later up in Newcastle for Craic Factory on Wednesday, July 10th.
I am open to more dates, do get in touch with me here or on my Instagram.
In the next few days I hope to bring at least one new podcast to you, so keep your ears open for that.
Until the next update, which may be from foreign shores, take it easy!