Standing Up For Cancer Research | Vital Football

Standing Up For Cancer Research

McGrath4Pope

McGrath4Pope

Vital Squad Member
I will be performing Stand-Up comedy, for the first time, at the Glee Club in Birmingham on Sunday 18th November. For years I’ve been harping on about wanting to perform comedy to an audience and this seemed like the best way to finally stop ‘talking the talk’ as there is no backing out now friends and family have donated / bought tickets.

I am fundraising for Cancer Research UK in memory of my friend Stephen who we lost to cancer in 2014 aged 31. At the time there was phenomenal support for his JustGiving page and for those who took part in the 3 Peaks challenge (in which I was unable to participate) - over £9000 was raised.

Now, I’m not saying scaling the three highest mountains in the UK in 24 hours was a breeze - but 10mins live comedy in front of a crowd of just under 500. That kind of heroism has to be worth a small sum of your hard earned cash!

I know that people are always asking for money for one cause or another these days but any donation people can afford would be greatly appreciated.

Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sean-o-regan2

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ultra-comedy-birmingham-18112018-tickets-48911947953

Please note that ticket costs will cover the admin costs of the event - all donations will go to Cancer Research UK.
 
Finally it's here – the official footage of my first (but hopefully not last) ever Stand-up gig! A huge thanks to those who donated - your contributions meant that I was the largest fundraiser in Birmingham and the second largest in the country raising £1,901 with Gift Aid to be added on top. The Birmingham group raised approximately £12,100 with over £80,000 being raised nationwide for Cancer Research UK.

So here’s my part of the bargain (They have managed to spell my surname incorrectly – I have asked them to change it) – WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE!

 
That takes some doing and full respect to you.

Richard Bacon when he was on 5 LIve charted his preparation etc for a 5 minute slot at the Edinburgh Fringe and it sounded the most nerve wracking thing going.
 
Thanks lads!

Mike - I am quite proud of the ‘practice nurse’ joke.

Appreciate the feedback boys, as I say it’s an ambition I’ve tip-toed around for too long. Writing some more material, will keep you posted and hope to see a Vital Villa representation at a gig soon. ??
 
For feedback - keep going, you commanded the stage excellently given it was your first time. You spoke well, you were clear...if anything the sound recording probably didn't do you full justice (or might be my well used headphones).

I really did enjoy that and I'm not just saying it to be polite.

The pace was good as you moved from punchline to punchline - the build up didn't take too long etc - you kept the momentum.

One thing I noticed, the Catholic part of the set someone in the crowd mentioned Priest during the buildup thinking that was where you were going, but I liked the fact you delayed that - you didn't take the obvious step.

You should be proud mate, and you should definitely do more. If you hadn't said that was your first ever - well, you looked natural and like you were used to 5 mins slots in my humble.
 
Cheers mate, I came up with that on the night - one of th earlier comedians rested his bottle of water on there and it just came to me. I hadn’t drank before going on as I wanted to be in control but ran to the bar before I started to get that beer as a prop. It got my first laugh which really settled the nerves.
 
Top stuff on not drinking ahead of.

Natural - spotting it and riffing and yes, set the tone very nicely.

:clap:
 
mike_field said:
For feedback - keep going, you commanded the stage excellently given it was your first time. You spoke well, you were clear...if anything the sound recording probably didn't do you full justice (or might be my well used headphones).

I really did enjoy that and I'm not just saying it to be polite.

The pace was good as you moved from punchline to punchline - the build up didn't take too long etc - you kept the momentum.

One thing I noticed, the Catholic part of the set someone in the crowd mentioned Priest during the buildup thinking that was where you were going, but I liked the fact you delayed that - you didn't take the obvious step.

You should be proud mate, and you should definitely do more. If you hadn't said that was your first ever - well, you looked natural and like you were used to 5 mins slots in my humble.
Click to expand...

Mike - really appreciate the feedback. Especially pleased to hear that you felt I commanded the stage. One thing I noticed was how many people naturally drifted to the back of the stage, which is a confidence thing, but noticed that the audience pick up on that nervousness. Back stage before I went out I kept pacing the dressing room telling myself “you own the stage, make sure you stand at the front, be confrontational, behave as if they’re all here to listen to you and they have no choice but to”.

The hardest bit to make work was the stuff about the porn. Every time I did it in the stand up training it failed to land. The comedian training us kept telling me it was a great concept, to watch Eddie Izzard’s ‘canteen on the death star’ or Dave Allen’s ‘teaching a child the time’ sketch (both of which I love) for hints on delivery. Every time I tried it I did it very dry, subtle and conversational and it never landed. On the morning of the gig, practicing in the shower, I decided to cut out anything that wasn’t ‘to the point’ and deliver it more exasperated - and finally ‘hit’ on the night.

I’m going to try and get open mic nights recorded - good or bad I’ll post it - because between that and music I’ve fantasied for years about performing. I’m too old now to be a relevant rockstar but want to persist with this.

Being told what works or what doesn’t will be genuinely appreciated.
 
mike_field said:
Top stuff on not drinking ahead of.
:clap:
Click to expand...

The people who really flopped, and some of them are really funny, were the ones who had too much to drink.

I love a drink, my mates couldn’t believe it when they turned up and I asked for a tap water. But if you’re going to do that you need to be in control, to be sharper than the audience who have been drinking.
 
Re the stage, you were on the front foot - as you say yourself, not gravitating to the back and hiding - using it to involve everyone. As JF mentioned the beer and E stood out for me once I clocked it (sound issues but as said maybe my headphones), as from minute one you were acting like you were in control, in charge and deserved to be there.

You nailed it and didn't psyche yourself out ahead of walking on.

Re beer - one for confidence and to settle the nerves isn't an issue when I've heard the 'greats' talk about pre-stage nerves, but it can only be one. Going without full stop is even better for the reasons you know yourself and have said. Be sharper, quicker, more on the ball and let the confidence come from belief rather than alcohol.

The porn bit I liked but, for me, and I think you feel the same maybe, it could be improved. Great concept yes, but could've been punchier for me and maybe even more relevant in a more obvious sense (50 Shades reference etc???? and kid at school dressing up if you know that one?). It still more than did the job though and I guess you're looking at the whole act looking to trim, add, tweak for round 2 - as you should.

We've all seen accepted professionals rehash their own work but make it tighter and improve it. Nowt wrong with that.

Just remember all of us here can say you 'should've done' but it doesn't take away from what you did and it doesn't make us right dude! So no criticism intended as I hope you'll appreciate.

But as said, the momentum for me was excellent, there wasn't wasted space between the jokes so whatever changes you made on the porn bit worked as I watched. And yes, your own emotion coming into the 'reaction' works a treat. As you'll know, even deadpan like Jack Dee lead the audience with their 'feelings' on jokes at points, and I thought you did that well and it worked.

Honestly, keep going mate and from what you've put you're already open to riffing the moment and learning on what does/doesn't work quickly, so keep doing that.

I'm an Izzard and Allen fan but absolutely knackered now, so will watch those tomorrow - but definitely take what you can from others.

Again mate, you should be proud because that was 6 minutes I certainly couldn't have done and until I met JF, I thought I was quite funny!
 
Can only echo what the lads have already said, great stuff, especially considering that's your first time, I would have never known, very confident and well timed with every joke.

I can see you have good influences re. Izzard and Allen. Just curious about who else may have inspired you, if any at all?

Bill Hicks? George Carlin? Bill Burr? I'm sensing a little bit of righteous anger in that set, lol.

Fair play mate, well done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.