Owen Niblock and the Monkey Puzzle.
Hello All,
When I left you last, I had been gigging in Winchester, well things have picked up a lot recently (now I've got up off my backside and done some work hehe).
First up was the gig in Kiddersminster - which was cancelled and then reinstated (Andy decided he couldn't afford me - but then decided it wouldn't be fair to cancel the day I was meant to be going). I decided to do the honourable thing and decline his offer (therefore missing an opportunity to be on stage! Eek!) - Andy's a great guy and an ex Warwick boy - so we have to look after our own :-)
Next up was a gig for my lovely Lady Jem in Machynlleth. It was a small room - but perfect for comedy (low roof, focus in one place, door at the back) we had around 30 in - which is capacity, and I was opening. The other acts got very very lost coming up from Cardiff (even with a GPS which is more modern than mine) so I ended up opening the show as MC and introducing myself (something I've done once before and feel perfectly happy to do) I felt really confident with this gig, and really happy with how it went. I had to deal with a fair amount of heckling (mainly because I'd compered at the start so the audience were used to me talking to them) and I ended up doing about 30 mins. The rest of the acts did really well and overall the night was a great success. Jem's hoping to organise another one in December - which I might be MCing (if she'll have me hehe). After the show there was a party round and Jem's parents' and we all ended up getting very drunk (Jem was more hung over than I've ever seen her the next day).
The next day, I drove. I drove and drove and drove. First I went to Leamington from Mach to drop my PA off (3 hours or so). Then I drove to Plymouth for a gig (4 and a half hours or so) then I drove back (another 4 and a half hours). It's a good job I like my car! The gig in Plymouth was again rather heckly, I was closing and did about 25 mins, it went really well and I was happy :-) I had a nice pint of one of the local ales and Paul (the promoter) says he's had some really good feedback from the gig. As in Mach, I ad-libbed a lot and was really happy with the outcome - I'm finally starting to gain more faith in my ability to say stuff that's unplanned but still funny. I got paid more than I was expecting and went home a tired but happy man.
The next day, more driving. Bristol this time (so not as bad) and my first gig as Aaron son of Kaaron. I've been working on this for a while but it's still not ready (hehe shambolic is a word I'd use). I have a harp (which is a bit rubbish) and an outfit (thanks Jem - you are a star!) so I was looking good/odd as I walk through Bristol getting funny looks. The gig was a place where I used to cut my comedy teeth when I was a young comic - the legendary Hatchet. I was really nervous - if kinda felt like a first gig all over again, but it went pretty well. I stumbled at the start (verbally) but picked it up more as it went on and at the end the audience seemed pretty into it. Tom Hughes was also on (and travelling down with me) so that was cool - he's coming on very well and gaining confidence all the time which is ace.
Aaron is quite exciting, I'm trying to branch out of doing 'just' comedy and Aaron will be appearing at poetry nights, storytelling events and hopefully eventually festivals, private functions and music nights. I need to find some medieval flute music dating from before 1195 (sheet music - so if anyone knows anything, let me know) and I'm researching lots of stories from around his time (Queen Matilda, Robin Hood, The Holy Grail & King Arthur would all have been around when Aaron was).
Next gig (4th in a row) was me being me at the Reckless Moment in Leamington. A whole new audience (thanks to the Warwick Uni Comedy Soc) and another lovely night. I opened (so I could get drunk) and had a pretty good gig - I messed up a bit at the start because I wasn't concentrating enough, but sorted myself out and ended up having a lovely gig. I'll be back there tomorrow showcasing some of my Aaron material.
The more driving - all the was to Scarborough for a charity gig as Aaron. This was without doubt one of the heckliest audiences I've ever had to deal with - partly because of Aaron's outfit hehe. They were nice, but I had to slip out of character to deal with all the heckling (something Aaron will need to learn to deal with if he's going to continue to do stand-up). It's going down as a good gig though as I got great laughs and although it was a battle, I won ;-) I was dissapointed in myself for feeling the need to slip out of character however, so one of my next tasks for Aaron (after writing a few decent songs, poems and learning some flute music) will be writing a few pages of medieval put-down (suggestions on an email :-))
Finally! The night before last I gigged in Peterborough. A welcome return to a club I know and love. Last time I was there I was closing and getting rather a lot of money - this time I was doing 10 mins of Aaron stuff and getting paid a little bit of money (Aaron's second paid gig - Grrr, my comedy career was loads tougher at the start hehe). I stayed in character for the duration, it went pretty well, Aaron needs more jokes and the shambolic nature needs to be more planned to be used as a comedic tool, but I was happy with how it's progressing. There were less people in the audience than normal, but they were still lovely. King Knut's have agreed to let me go there every month to try out new stuff - hopefully this still stands (we'll have to wait and see!)
Anyway, Leamington tonight, Manchester on Weds, and the future... Who knows? (See below).
On a personal note, Jem and I went on a steam train from Solihull to Oxford recently for her birthday (which was absolutely lovely! Even though it weed it down.) and (pending my landlady approving it) Jem has moved in with me rather than moving back to her parents' in Mach. Woo! I'm very happy.
See you all soon.
Owen
OCTOBER - 2006
16/10/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
18/10/2006: Comedy Balloon, Manchester - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
23/10/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
24/10/2006: Poetry Night, Jug & Jesters, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron
25/10/2006: Yates, Wolverhampton - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
31/10/2006: Bath - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
NOVEMBER - 2006
01/11/2006: Bristol Story Telling Circle - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10/20 mins
02/11/2006: Lunacy, Stoke - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
06/11/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Owen Niblock - 10 mins
08/11/2006: Atticus, Bearwood, Birmingham - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
12/11/2006: Aldershot - Owen Niblock - 15 mins
16/11/2006: Breakspear Arms, Uxbridge - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
17/11/2006: Queen's Head, London - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
22/11/2006: White Bear, Bristol - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
24/11/2006: The Melton, Melton Mobray - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
26/11/2006: Aberystwyth - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
28/11/2006: XS Malarkey, Manchester - Owen Niblock - 15 mins
DECEMBER - 2006
17/12/2006: Essex - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
JANUARY - 2007!
18/01/2007: Frog and Bucket, Manchester - Owen Niblock - 10 mins
24/01/2007: JERSEY! (TBC) - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
FEBRUARY - 2007
25/02/2007: Aberystwyth - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
MAY - 2007
01/05/2007: The Guildhall, Gloucester - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
When I left you last, I had been gigging in Winchester, well things have picked up a lot recently (now I've got up off my backside and done some work hehe).
First up was the gig in Kiddersminster - which was cancelled and then reinstated (Andy decided he couldn't afford me - but then decided it wouldn't be fair to cancel the day I was meant to be going). I decided to do the honourable thing and decline his offer (therefore missing an opportunity to be on stage! Eek!) - Andy's a great guy and an ex Warwick boy - so we have to look after our own :-)
Next up was a gig for my lovely Lady Jem in Machynlleth. It was a small room - but perfect for comedy (low roof, focus in one place, door at the back) we had around 30 in - which is capacity, and I was opening. The other acts got very very lost coming up from Cardiff (even with a GPS which is more modern than mine) so I ended up opening the show as MC and introducing myself (something I've done once before and feel perfectly happy to do) I felt really confident with this gig, and really happy with how it went. I had to deal with a fair amount of heckling (mainly because I'd compered at the start so the audience were used to me talking to them) and I ended up doing about 30 mins. The rest of the acts did really well and overall the night was a great success. Jem's hoping to organise another one in December - which I might be MCing (if she'll have me hehe). After the show there was a party round and Jem's parents' and we all ended up getting very drunk (Jem was more hung over than I've ever seen her the next day).
The next day, I drove. I drove and drove and drove. First I went to Leamington from Mach to drop my PA off (3 hours or so). Then I drove to Plymouth for a gig (4 and a half hours or so) then I drove back (another 4 and a half hours). It's a good job I like my car! The gig in Plymouth was again rather heckly, I was closing and did about 25 mins, it went really well and I was happy :-) I had a nice pint of one of the local ales and Paul (the promoter) says he's had some really good feedback from the gig. As in Mach, I ad-libbed a lot and was really happy with the outcome - I'm finally starting to gain more faith in my ability to say stuff that's unplanned but still funny. I got paid more than I was expecting and went home a tired but happy man.
The next day, more driving. Bristol this time (so not as bad) and my first gig as Aaron son of Kaaron. I've been working on this for a while but it's still not ready (hehe shambolic is a word I'd use). I have a harp (which is a bit rubbish) and an outfit (thanks Jem - you are a star!) so I was looking good/odd as I walk through Bristol getting funny looks. The gig was a place where I used to cut my comedy teeth when I was a young comic - the legendary Hatchet. I was really nervous - if kinda felt like a first gig all over again, but it went pretty well. I stumbled at the start (verbally) but picked it up more as it went on and at the end the audience seemed pretty into it. Tom Hughes was also on (and travelling down with me) so that was cool - he's coming on very well and gaining confidence all the time which is ace.
Aaron is quite exciting, I'm trying to branch out of doing 'just' comedy and Aaron will be appearing at poetry nights, storytelling events and hopefully eventually festivals, private functions and music nights. I need to find some medieval flute music dating from before 1195 (sheet music - so if anyone knows anything, let me know) and I'm researching lots of stories from around his time (Queen Matilda, Robin Hood, The Holy Grail & King Arthur would all have been around when Aaron was).
Next gig (4th in a row) was me being me at the Reckless Moment in Leamington. A whole new audience (thanks to the Warwick Uni Comedy Soc) and another lovely night. I opened (so I could get drunk) and had a pretty good gig - I messed up a bit at the start because I wasn't concentrating enough, but sorted myself out and ended up having a lovely gig. I'll be back there tomorrow showcasing some of my Aaron material.
The more driving - all the was to Scarborough for a charity gig as Aaron. This was without doubt one of the heckliest audiences I've ever had to deal with - partly because of Aaron's outfit hehe. They were nice, but I had to slip out of character to deal with all the heckling (something Aaron will need to learn to deal with if he's going to continue to do stand-up). It's going down as a good gig though as I got great laughs and although it was a battle, I won ;-) I was dissapointed in myself for feeling the need to slip out of character however, so one of my next tasks for Aaron (after writing a few decent songs, poems and learning some flute music) will be writing a few pages of medieval put-down (suggestions on an email :-))
Finally! The night before last I gigged in Peterborough. A welcome return to a club I know and love. Last time I was there I was closing and getting rather a lot of money - this time I was doing 10 mins of Aaron stuff and getting paid a little bit of money (Aaron's second paid gig - Grrr, my comedy career was loads tougher at the start hehe). I stayed in character for the duration, it went pretty well, Aaron needs more jokes and the shambolic nature needs to be more planned to be used as a comedic tool, but I was happy with how it's progressing. There were less people in the audience than normal, but they were still lovely. King Knut's have agreed to let me go there every month to try out new stuff - hopefully this still stands (we'll have to wait and see!)
Anyway, Leamington tonight, Manchester on Weds, and the future... Who knows? (See below).
On a personal note, Jem and I went on a steam train from Solihull to Oxford recently for her birthday (which was absolutely lovely! Even though it weed it down.) and (pending my landlady approving it) Jem has moved in with me rather than moving back to her parents' in Mach. Woo! I'm very happy.
See you all soon.
Owen
OCTOBER - 2006
16/10/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
18/10/2006: Comedy Balloon, Manchester - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
23/10/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
24/10/2006: Poetry Night, Jug & Jesters, Leamington Spa - Aaron son of Kaaron
25/10/2006: Yates, Wolverhampton - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
31/10/2006: Bath - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
NOVEMBER - 2006
01/11/2006: Bristol Story Telling Circle - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10/20 mins
02/11/2006: Lunacy, Stoke - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
06/11/2006: Reckless Moment, Leamington Spa - Owen Niblock - 10 mins
08/11/2006: Atticus, Bearwood, Birmingham - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
12/11/2006: Aldershot - Owen Niblock - 15 mins
16/11/2006: Breakspear Arms, Uxbridge - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
17/11/2006: Queen's Head, London - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
22/11/2006: White Bear, Bristol - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
24/11/2006: The Melton, Melton Mobray - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
26/11/2006: Aberystwyth - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
28/11/2006: XS Malarkey, Manchester - Owen Niblock - 15 mins
DECEMBER - 2006
17/12/2006: Essex - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
JANUARY - 2007!
18/01/2007: Frog and Bucket, Manchester - Owen Niblock - 10 mins
24/01/2007: JERSEY! (TBC) - Owen Niblock - 20 mins
FEBRUARY - 2007
25/02/2007: Aberystwyth - Aaron son of Kaaron - 10 mins
MAY - 2007
01/05/2007: The Guildhall, Gloucester - Owen Niblock - 20 mins