It's Tuesday and I'm on the train on the way back to London from Edinburgh the beautiful East coast is rolling by. A time for reflection and planning the next step.
Sometimes I think it good to consider the highs and lows. To acknowledge the stuff that went wrong and the stuff that went well.
These are in no order:
High - I did it! Never did I think lets pack up and go home. Never did I get wingy or 'Woe tis me' I've never considered myself a great planner but this was conceived planned and implemented with an unusual level of control over my own life that I find surprising. Welcome to the stage .. The New Me!
Low... The sad news that my friend and fellow open mic'er Nigel Roberts had died suddenly. We had gone from open mic acts to coffee shop friends in no time. His sudden death at sixty two was too soon and gives me a sense of deja vous as my father died in similar circumstances aged sixty. The lesson is clear. Live as if today is your last. A cliche, only because it is true.
High... Helen my land lady. Ceo of Rowan Alba charity. Passionate about real food, politics, friends and known to like a wee drink or two :-)
Helen has become my official soul sister and I look forward to many a blether.
Low... The Mambalsa show was not a busy as I'd hoped for but the Free Fringe averages six audience per show and i managed over seven. I'm actually not unhappy with the show which is a delight to perform. It's the marketing that was wrong. The marketing message appealed to dancers but not to the non dancers. Not enough connection with public before the Fringe. They'll be way more on this in later post.
High.... Camden Comedy was a massive success. My compere skills have gone from ok to high quality if you'll allow me to blow my own kazoo. Connecting the audience and riffing without offence. Building energy and noise and now, at sodding last, i can seamlessly move from compere to material.
Camden comedy has taught me so much regarding marketing. A four word pitch. Conversations not flyer volume. Tons and tons more later.
Low... Tiredness
Candles are burnt at one end for a reason! I have to find ways to manage my energy better. The habitual energy cliff experienced in London came to Edinburgh. Add that to Helen's hospitality and many shows that I would have enjoyed did not get seen, many contacts didn't get made.
High.... Running. The training and weight loss as part of the preparation for the fringe have paid off. I like the way I look. I like running and I like not sweating buckets on stage. Most of all I like getting up early and starting the day energised.
Low... Back pain. One of my big fears was some sort of injury. It hurt and I literally had to grin and bear it. Taking ten minutes to get across the room followed by a hours hobble home was not fun.
High... Dancing in the street with the Mambalsa Strut. It was fun when it was just a few but when i had groups of four plus it was brilliant. We owned the space and promoted dance and joy.
Low... Web site crash. Totally critical to my business the crash left me doubly frustrated as I couldn't do anything about it and i hadn't taken the action before i came. Two lessons: Take action sooner; Finish the tasks I set for myself and build in fail safes.
High... Flyering! I don't love it, but I can now say without doubt that I can flyer. I can manage a flyering team and I can take action to effect the necessary changes where I need to.
By the way reader. Now I'm back the blogs will get a little further apart so please clibk follow so Blogger will inform you when I've posted.
