#ThisIsHowTheComedyWorks Week 3 - “Move Any Mountain”

Many thanks to everyone who has donated, the support and love I’ve been getting genuinely humbles me! Please help by spreading the word, I’m using the hashtag #ThisIsHowTheComedyWorks, and/or buying tickets for the event on July 8th and/or donating to Cancer Research! You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/ThisIsHowTheComedyWorks

Buy Tickets from me directly, or online at: https://bit.ly/2wEsNUy If you order online, please make sure you mention my name in the box provided!

We decided that over half term, my sister and her kid and me and my kid would go and climb Ben Nevis - you know, for a laugh like.

The drive to Fort William from Nottingham took around 10 hours with traffic and loo breaks, and frankly Google Maps lying. It was hot, we arrived, had tea and went to bed. The "laugh" had started to ware thin...

It was due to be even hotter the day after - the Scotland had never seen anything like it. We took the decision to leave "proper early" the next day for our hike up Ben Nevis...

As we left our hostel at 6am for the short journey to the Ben Nevis Inn, I played “Move Any Mountain” by The Shamen. An all-time classic to get everyone in the mood…

“I will not fail nor falter, I shall succeed

My perception is altered, I do believe

Faith is so strong now nothing shall bar my way

Firm conviction, no fiction this is my day”

“DAAAAAAD, WHAT IS THIS? IT SOUNDS REALLY OLLLLLLD!”

Kids. No taste these days.

So, we went up, sat at the top, and then we came down. It was amazing - I've climbed Ben Nevis before, but it had always been cloudy at the top, on a clear day like it was, it was worth the effort.

A swift pint in the Ben Nevis Inn after we were done - you kinda have too - we’d parked in their car park, and off we went for Fish and Chips.

I’d not told the rest of the gang that we needed to be on the road for 6am the following day as I had Comedy Training that evening - and it’s a long ass drive from Fort William to Nottingham. So that was a pleasant surprise for them. I was not popular. 

While they slept in the car on the way home, I managed to think up some flesh on what I think is going to be my set - and I have to be honest, it’s coming on OK.

Obviously, I’m not going to share too much detail as I don’t want to ruin the surprise for those who’ve kindly bought tickets for the event on Sunday, July 8th in Nottingham at the Glee Club (￡20 - see top of post)! But yeah - it’s starting to take shape.

During this weeks lesson, we performed the 5 jokes we’d been told to write as homework and received feedback. I’ve a few bits to work on, but mine was essentially the bones of my set - all it needs now is a bit of fleshing out and a few more nob gags, and it’ll be good to go…. Well, sorta. I’m massively overplaying how hard writing comedy actually is.

You know when you’re in a pub with your mates, and Steve makes a total bell-end out of himself, and everyone laughs right? You tell that story amongst yourselves for the next 25 years, and it's still funny, Steve probably being renamed, “Bell-end Steve” in the process. You then tell the same story to someone perhaps your not so well acquainted with or does not know Bell-end Steve, and it falls flat on its arse. You simply say “…you kinda had to be there.”. Yeah. That. There’s also the thing that it needs to be funny.

But what’s to say what I find funny, you will find funny? I’ve noticed that Comedy, especially the writing process takes enormous amounts of confidence. You’re essentially saying “I find this funny and I expect you too”. There’s no “hope you find it funny”. It merely has to be funny - you’re the one up there. You’re actually asking to be judged. That is kinda scary. Thankfully, there is Gin, and that takes the pressure off. Somewhat.

In other news, fundraising has been going really well - thank you so much for supporting #ThisIsHowTheComedyWorks and in particular a special thank you to those that chucked us a few quid for the #MoodysUpAMountain Ben Nevis Climb. I’ve extended my target as a result. I need to keep the pressure up, as for some reason, it helps the writing process!

There's no lesson next week, but now the real hard work of coming up with a well written polished set really begins. I’m far more determined than ever to deliver the absolute best performance I can, purely because of the kind love and support I’ve been getting.

I’ve decided that I’ll need a practise or two for the main event. So - if you can’t make it on Sunday, July 8th in Nottingham at the Glee Club (￡20 - see top of post), then I have an offer - chuck ￡100 notes in the pot and you and a +1 can get an exclusive preview at my house and I’ll throw in food. Date TBC, limited spaces, contact me first, yada yada yada.

I’d prefer as many of you as possible to actually come and see me - I’ll need the bloody support for a start off - it'll be you that makes the night. You can buy tickets using the links below, or directly from me (preferred). 

If you’d like to donate to Cancer Research in support, then please visit my JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/thisishowthecomedyworks and if you’d like actually to watch me perform, you can buy tickets here https://bit.ly/2wEsNUy or preferably, from me directly - just get in touch @JohnMoody on Twitter.