Met up with K and Seamus this evening. K’s news is that he’s arranged for us both to be able to book out an office together, free of charge, at the BBC in Manchester whenever we need to.
This is a great development because there will be far fewer distractions in there. When you’re trying to write a project at home there are things like DVDs to be watched, toast to be made, cups of tea to be brewed, Countdown to be laughed at, etc, that makes the day less productive.
Also, you’ve got producers and whatnot milling about at the BBC whom you can give your brand new and brilliant idea to as they poke their heads around the door to see how you’re doing, meaning the chances of them reading it increase from 1000/1 to 500/1, which is considerable.
This breakthrough comes at a time when I’m really looking forward to 2006 as easily my best year. I’ve got complete faith in my new agent (indeed, the work’s already coming in without me having even performed the new material yet) and I’m also really excited about the Power Of 10 book, which is going well. There’ll be a draft by Christmas, so 2006 sees me finish it and market it.
There’s also my first Edinburgh Festival next August. This is one of the reasons why I’m taking the trip to Denver this month as a treat, I’ll definitely not have a holiday next year. In fact, Edinburgh will act as a sort of anti-holiday, managing to pack about a year’s worth of stress into thirty days.
It will be interesting to see, from January onwards, just how far it’s possible to advance with hard work, a lot of writing, a good agent, and a bit of luck. I’d say a long way, theoretically.
But I’ve always been excellent at PLANNING a good year, just never quite as adept at seeing it through, so it’s going to take a big change in attitude. I think the main difference is I do really WANT success now, whereas in the past I just wanted to get on stage to show off for a bit so that I could be the centre of attention and have a few beers.
Also, despite it seeming small and irrelevant, I find this Blog helps because it does mean I write something every day, and most day’s use it as a springboard to getting on with the book or a script idea. It’s other advantage is that it forces me to make some progress and get out of bed or I wouldn’t have anything to report or write about.
Laziness is the comedian’s greatest malady, because the lifestyle invites and nurtures idleness. Whilst you’d be a fool to not occasionally take advantage of the fact you can get up at noon if you wish, it’s striking a sensible balance that presents the greatest challenge. No-body wants to do a nine to five shift, the reason you become self-employed is to avoid having to do that, but you still need to put the hours in.
Well – I’ll take that back – you DON’T have to put the hours in if you don’t want to, and therein lies the problem. I’ve seen comedians do the same twenty minute sets in the clubs for ten years. They earn a decent living. They must be bored silly, but they’re reliable and a lot of bookers like that.
The ones who do go on to greater things are generally the ones who put the effort in, though. I want to be seen in that category now.
Which means less talking about it here, and more getting on with it, which means I must go now and continue with the book.
Or watch that DVD.
And I could do with some toast first.
And perhaps I’ll redecorate the living room.
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