Come out ye black and trans

Tonight's gig is cancelled; bonus dates

Just a quick note to let you know that tonight’s G&B Dark Delights show is cancelled, due to the tube strike.

This newsletter supports RMT members in their struggle to defend their pay and working conditions.

If you’re one of these people who are mad that the best paid train drivers make a lot more than the average nurse, I agree: the average nurse should also get a pay rise. (EDIT: note that most of the striking workers aren’t drivers but station and maintenance staff who earn £25K). Also, I think nurses and doctors should go on strike by refusing to treat Conservative party members. Or maybe treat their cocaine-induced conditions, but with no anaesthetic.

To make up for it, here’s a bonus gig date:

Friday 24 June 10:45 pm - Roast Battle UK, Angel

https://dice.fm/event/e2nnd-roast-battle-uk-24th-jun-the-bill-murray-london-tickets

Bill Murray pub, 39 Queen's Head St, London N1 8NQ

All my dates for June are in this post which I’ve updated. I’ll post my July gig dates this weekend. I’ve got some fun stuff coming up, including more chances to see me do stand-up as a dog if that’s what you’re into. The dog act is the only thing I’ve done so far which promoters seem enthusiastic about. :/

Rover is getting an upgrade:

Shoutout to TailDesigner and MasterTailer from The Tail Company. I’m not a furry but I support the members of the furry community in their struggle to defend their lifestyle from bigots and haters.

Comedians only

• I did the G&B Everything But The Gags workshop on Sunday and found it pretty useful. If like me you’re a newer act and you’re not a natural performer, I would recommend trying to do it - Kyle is running it again this Sunday 26th and there are still spots available. Some of the advice is obvious in retrospect (rehearse with an actual mic so you’re building muscle memory, don’t dress in a way that conflicts with your on-stage persona, learn your set properly and don’t rely on writing on your hand) but it’s stuff that I don’t do consistently, even if I know I should be doing it, and I see a lot of open mic acts making the same mistakes.

• Do you have a podcast? Invite me on your podcast. I did 2 years of a podcast about obscure sci-fi books and I will bring a high quality backup recording device. I can be funny off the cuff and I promise I almost definitely won’t say anything that will get you in trouble. If I do, I can show you how to beep out words in Adobe Audition.

Recommendations

• Innerspace (1987) really holds up.

• Evidence File is a parody true crime podcast from the genius who does Whatever Happened To Pizza at McDonald’s? The Onion did a decent true crime podcast parody but this is much funnier and weirder. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

• I’m proofreading the sequel to Some Rise By Sin which is an excellent historical crime novel about body snatchers (as in grave robbers, not aliens that steal your identity). Actual Alan Moore read Some Rise By Sin and liked it so much he asked for copies of all the other books from the publisher (it’s a small press and every book they have put out so far is good). Some Rise By Sin is exceptional, and the sequel is an absolute banger so far. If you’re looking for a birthday present for someone who likes history (and can stomach a bit of gruesome historical medical detail), buy them the beautiful hardback edition, which is currently on sale so it’s cheaper than the paperback.

• The judging period for the $10K fiction contest I’m trying to win ends today, so there is still time to smash the like button and leave a quick comment on my story The Thunder Valley Guided Dragon Slaying Experience. Thanks so much to everyone who read it and commented. If I win the first or second prize and you left a comment, drinks/dinner are on me next time I see you. I probably won’t though.