Author: Sam Freeman
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Creativity, Confidence and a Show
There are, it is said, two types of creative people. There are those who talk endlessly about the book they’re going to write and then there are those who write the book. I’ve been feeling over the past year that I’ve been falling, increasingly heavily, into category one. Sure I’ve done gigs, created some new bits of…
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Fixed-term contracts in the arts
The Stage posted a poll on twitter today asking whether Theatre’s Artistic Directors should be on fixed-term contracts. It’s one of those notions I find really interesting, and also a question that I don’t think should be, necessarily, linked to just the Artistic Director (but that’s for another time). I am also fully aware that…
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Return to cricket…
This week I did something a bit silly. Naturally with an opening like that (and imagining for a second that you’d started reading while also simultaneously circumventing this blog’s title) you’re thinking it’s probably drink related, or maybe you gigged in Preston or even tried to write a play. In fact, none of these, instead…
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Election Polling Data
A new poll has come out from YouGov surveying the carnage of the post-election landscape. It was incredibly interesting how over the course of the election how the polls changed and shifted towards Labour and then how the exit poll correctly predicted a hung parliament. This new poll only offers basic details, nor does it…
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Gig Report: New material in Warrington
There’s a few gigs that, since I started, I’ve kept coming back and doing. They’re not the most glamorous gigs or even the easiest to get to, what they have is something better, an audience that is brutally honest but also not cocks. The Albion is, for me, one of those. I’ve tried out loads…
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6 things I thought watching “The Battle For Number 10”
I’ve been watching Sky’s coverage of Jeremy Paxman vs Theresa May vs Jeremy Corbyn. It’s been interesting watching it while also being logged into twitter and facebook – seeing both sides claim victory and the opposition’s calamitous performance – I would like to bet that in every comedy club in the UK this week we…
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Insecurity
It’s 1:48am as I start writing this blog post. But before I get to the point, the crux, the pips in the core of this particular apple I’m going to give you a bit of context. So tonight I had a bad gig, I was dog shit, absolutely crap, i wasn’t met by boos or…
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Gig Report & Analysis
On Sunday night Hot Water Comedy in Liverpool let me perform and so I could record my set. I’ve needed a new recording for a while. Not gigging as often means I’m seen by less people so getting gigs from meeting people is getting harder. Also I’ve been conscious that when I record the songs…
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An idea, a graph and a calendar
It’s been a while since I wrote anything on here so, finding myself incredibly away at 12:46am I thought I might as well write down some thoughts about what’s happening and what I’ve been thinking about recently. Plays Regular readers will know that I finished writing a play, Opposition, in December and sent it to loads…
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Gigging with a famous comedian
So tonight I was on the same bill as a famous comedian. Regular readers will know that my general choice of gig usually includes at least two of the following elements: audience of less than 6 people audience casually eating food unaware of comedy happening, sometimes celebrating anniversaries compere’s begging people to not leave, or…
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30 mins thoughts: 5 opinions I have about arts marketing
I have, recently, found myself writing fewer blog posts about arts marketing and my work. This is for a few reasons. Firstly I’ve started a new job so spare time has dissolved into a thing of the past, along with worry-free sleeping and relaxation. Secondly I’ve found myself struggling to know what to write about.…
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Cologne
We came to Cologne for three days as part of a “let’s visit Germany” trip, otherwise known as “where are the cheapest flights this month”. We flew from Manchester to Cologne, then get the train to Berlin tomorrow and fly back four days later. It’s the first time we’ve flown during school holidays (normally the…
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Gig Report: Hot Water Comedy, Liverpool
Sometimes you make a mountain out of a molehill and build things up to a ridiculous degree in your head until you find yourself driving to Liverpool wondering if you could persuade your car to break down on the way so that you don’t have to do a gig. Now. I appreciate that is an…
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Resolutions 2017
Regular, loyal readers will know that every year I write 10 New Year’s Resolutions, then, at the end of the year, mark whether I’ve achieved these resolutions and make 10 more. It’s been my version of motivation all-bran – keeping me doing things productive in a world where I own a PS4 and Fifa 17…
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The Scarborough Boxing Day Tradition
Boxing day in Scarborough always seems slightly different to many places. Not for Scarborough the simple consumption of excess chocolate and the remains of Christmas dinner. Instead we’re all seemingly lured by the call of the sea to walk around the seafront in sub-arctic conditions as lunatics paddle home-made rafts around the harbour. As hypothermia…
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Rejection letters: what they say and what they mean…
I spent the last year writing a play. It’s good. I wrote it. It must be. Surely. Sadly no-one agrees. Lots of people say you should take rejection with a pinch of salt. I say no. Take that salt, add some lemon juice and squeeze it onto the gaping wound where you heart once beat.…
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You won’t believe what he looks like today…
Seriously now. Grow the fuck up and read the news. The Guardian – Click to read The Independent – Click to read The Daily Mail – Click to read Oh, and join my e-mail list.
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Drowning under the weight of a thousand e-mails
When I first started writing this blog it was to have a voice. “I’ve interesting things to say” I thought, “on interesting matters”. So I started to write and it turned out very quickly that I had nothing interesting to say when I tried to write something interesting. Instead it came across as someone trying…