Saturday 9 May 2015

Hats, buses and laminator - new props aplenty


This week has seen some new writing, recording and prop making for the Socks, along with a couple of gigs and a visit to Bodelwyddan over an extended bank holiday weekend. I'm pleased with a couple of gags, a nifty new sketch and a new song, all for Minging Detectives that we'll have to wait a while to see. Meanwhile here's a prop (see clip above) that's very much work in progress.



And ain't this a treat? I'm really hoping the song for which this prop has been made (Tie A Yellow Ribbon) works, otherwise I'll have to start writing some new bus related material. Any suggestions?


And this rather ropey video captures the moment when I used my new laminating machine (for which many thanks to Audrey and Dennis in Bod, who gave it to us as a pressie, unused and unopened, it works like a dream) for the first time, to make a prop of Walter White. Another brand new piece of material for Minging Detectives which, if it works, will be a delight. Not having so many shows this month, and those that I do have being the sort of show where you can really only do the tried and tested stuff, means that I have to wait until either next week in Keighley or the following week in Brighton before we'll know whether the new songs and sketches are as funny as I think they are, and whether the whole thing holds together as it should.



Last night's gig in Bristol, from which these selfies came, was certainly not the sort of show to test new material in. Playing on the bill at RipRoar in Bristol we were supposed to open the show, so the Socks and I got into place behind the set on the stage at about 8.20 ready to lurk behind thru the MC's set (Ben Van Der Velde, now you ask). Then, just before the start, Ben pops his head round to tell us there's been a problem with the lights and that the Socks won't be on until the middle of the show. But before I got the chance to nip out and watch the show from in front, they'd started and I was stuck in situ throughout the opening act, then the next interval, then another MC set, eventually getting to perform at 10pm. Not a bad set but not one of our best, it being hard to keep the energy up after over an hour and a half behind the set, exhausting my water bottles and not getting the chance to exercise the voice. I hate to let you in on too many tricks of the trade, keep it to yourselves eh.


And here's Saturday night's novel but enjoyable gig, playing at a 50th birthday party in Redhill in Surrey, in a marquee extending out from a couple called Emma & Tom's living room giving a nice 50 seater venue. The Socks headlined, following Anil Desai and Carey Marx, and I was away not long after 9.30. We do some interesting gigs at times.


The Socks do new material from Minging Detectives, and the best of their recent satire, on tour

May 15 Exchange Keighley
May 22 & 23 Brighton Komedia
June 25 Cheltenham
June 27 Old Joint Stock Birmingham
July 17 Carriageworks Leeds
July 19 Sheffield New Barrack Tavern
July 23 Spread Eagle Croydon
July 24 Porters, Cardiff
July 25 Bedford Fringe
Aug 5 - 31  10.30pm Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh Fringe

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