The deadline for my entry for the Edinburgh Fringe programme is pretty much the end of this week so this afternoon I had to sit down and think how best to describe a show that does not exist in 40 words. It has usually been this way for me. First comes the title (and maybe a basic premise), then the 40 words, then the poster, then the press release and then I have to try and write the bloody thing. Last year was a little different, as by this time I already had a couple of the big routines that would find their way into the show and of course the whole yoghurt bit was up and running.
This year I have a title "
ménage à un" and just a very vague idea of doing a stand up show around a central theme of solitude. That might not be what the show ends up being, but the nice thing is that "
ménage à un" is quite a nice title for a non-themed stand up show anyway.
But how to describle this non-existent show in 40 words (and then 60 words for another brochure - that's 20 whole more words) in a way that will grab people, make them laugh and make them want to see your show? It's a bit like the 60 seconds of stand up idea - brevity is much harder, which is why it is the soul of wit.
Anyway, this is what I managed to achieve:
60 words
Richard Herring – ménage à un. Star of TMWRNJ, Banter, Talking Cock in his 21st Edinburgh show. Just two people short of a threesome, Herring reflects on solitude, singledom, Onanism, why you must sometimes walk alone and whether fantasies are best left unfulfilled. “Endlessly funny” Sunday Times “Hilarious…if only more Edinburgh shows were like this.” Chortle. “Worst Comedy Experience 2005” Telegraph.
40 words
Richard Herring – ménage à un. 21st Edinburgh show. Just two people short of a threesome, Herring (TMWRNJ/ Talking Cock) considers solitude, Onanism and whether fantasies are best left unfulfilled. “Endlessly funny” Sunday Times. “Hilarious.” Chortle. “Worst Comedy Experience 2005” Telegraph.
I hope no-one will attempt to sue me if the things in the Fringe brochure end up not being in the show. "He promised Onanism but there was none. I want my money back!"
I also sent out my latest newsletter (click on newsletters above to see what I wrote, but better still sign up for the thing if you haven't done so already) and realised how much I've got to get done in the next four months, so hopefully that will force me to knuckle down a bit.
I drove to Birmingham for another enjoyable gig at the Midland Arts Centre and was delighted to find out that it had sold out. As you know if you read regularly it's always a bit of a lottery as to whether I'll get 20 people or 200 at these things, but to sell so well gave me hope that maybe things have started moving in the right direction. But when I got home I found out that my gig in Kingston on Saturday has been cancelled because I've only sold 8 tickets. So it seems I am still in this confusing hinterland between obscurity and celebrity. It is where I belong. It is where I am most happy.
