Reduced Glue @ The Stand

A good night at The Stand last night in a packed Red Raw. Featuring something like a squillion acts, the place was mobbed; easily the busiest I’ve seen it since Doug Stanhope played.

There were all sorts of interesting goings-on. The BBC were there to record some stuff. Glasgow tour de force comic Raymond Mearns was there to deliver some material written by a cab driver, who was the subject of a documentary. Raymond is a total natural on stage and I’m sure the guy would have been delighted with the way he handled the material, which was pretty good stuff in the first place.

There was the usual smattering of acts who were ok, and a couple of folk who were well above average, like Rosalyn Hastings, who managed to blend some punchy material with a relaxed, warm stage presence.

American Carley Baker was very slick, with very funny well worked out material. The audience felt very comfortable in her obviously capable hands and she went down really well

The compere, Matt Reid, was ideal for the job – a very slick, smart and amiable lad who developed a good rapport with the audience from the off.

Highlight of the night though was a guy who died on his arse.

Yes, I know it’s a bit cruel, but there is nothing funnier than someone who gets on stage thinking “this comedy lark is a doddle”, isn’t prepared and makes a complete fud of him/herself.

It was an Asian guy, who appeared to be disabled and delivered a horrific set about how he finally “got the bitch”. In other words, his first sexual experience.

It was his profuse use of the word “bitch” that was hilarious – the audience were probably more than half women - and his wavering between a Barrhead and a Miami accent. He lasted 3 minutes before crapping himself and chucking it in. Brilliant.

We did pretty good. There were only four of us (me, Tom, Alison and Moira) but the new sketch we did seemed to go well and several folk were nice enough to be complimentary afterwards. I enjoyed doing it, but it’s a weird feeling coming off stage after just a 10 min set. You feel as if you’ve just got going and then you’re done.

Speaking of being complimentary, well know funny person about town Susan Calman (who has her picture in the Comedy Festival brochure and everything) was nice enough to say she enjoyed reading the rubbish we post on Pish, which was very nice of her.

Cheers Susan. There’s nothing we enjoy more than providing a wee 10 minute skive for folk who can’t be bothered doing what they are supposed to be doing.

All in all a good night, even though I got totally soaked on the way home. Boo.