The People Versus Stand-up Comedy

The End of Time - pt. 3

2010-04-25T21:53:00.000+01:00

With a heavy heart it's time to say goodbye to The People Versus Stand-Up Comedy.

Join us next Tuesday, 27th April at The Foragers, Sterling Place, Hove, 7:30pm, for the FINAL show with:

GAVIN INSKIP

CHIFF POWELL

RICHARD MASSING

LEE HUME

ADAM SMITH

DAVID BLOOD

CLIVE REEVE

KARL DAVISON

This time the entrance fee is on me, yeah it's free, so if you've been before then this is your interest payment and if you haven't then be my guest.

Alan Seabrook.

Penultimate show! Tiuesday 30th March 2010

2010-03-29T22:08:00.002+01:00

The long day begins to close with:

Eden Rivers

Paul Moynihan
Ben Harrington
Neil Dagley
Jo Public
John Gledson
Mandy Brown
Jonjo Rowlands
Matt Whistler
and with no expense spared Clive Reeve!

£4 on the door

this is the penultimate show the last ever show is in a month on April 27th!

STAND-UP FOR HAITI

2010-01-25T06:59:00.002Z

THE UK HAS RAISED OVER US$200,000,000 FOR HAITI. COME ALONG AND RAISE MORE OR TAKE PART IN THE FASTEST SHOW THIS SIDE OF BLATCHINGTON ROAD. 30 COMEDIANS, 2 MINUTES EACH.

TUESDAY 26TH JANUARY, 19:30, THE FORAGERS, STIRLING PLACE, HOVE.

ALL PROCEEDS TO DEC APPEAL FOR HAITI

WILL MAKE ROOM FOR COMEDIANS WHO WANT TO GIVE THEIR TIME

£43.74 - Prostate

2009-11-25T21:34:00.001Z

Well done to performers and audience at last night's Foragers show - £43.74 raised for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

On dates

2009-11-21T07:36:00.002Z

Dates - so important and still so so easy to get wrong. The wrong day with the right date, the right day with the wrong year; the list would go on and on if it wasn’t confined to a combination of day, date, month and year - the mathematicians amongst you making the quick jump to a possibility of 16 permutations of wrongness. Only yesterday yet another e-mail arrived about a comedy night with the date wrong; either the day or the date information, making the gig either last night or tonight depending which fact you decide is the correct one and discounting the other. In situations where you are compelled to go to something this adds the great news that you have an instant excuse that is unchallengeable. Unless of course that nemesis of the wrong date excuse arrives - the e-mail with the right information. This poisoned arrow is likely to appear somewhere between 1 and 24 hours after the original if the mistake has been noticed or pointed out - back in the dark days of office working I have been that fiend to make e-mail replies, short and ladled in sarcasm along the lines of:

do you mean the Friday?
do you mean September?
can you tell the time properly yet helmet head?

Among peers at the time you could tell who was always on-line, or more likely with little to do, by how fast a reply about your mistake comes back; there was some short lived status to be had from pointing mistakes out to people you either disliked, were your senior or, joy of joys, people who’d done the same to you.

TWO FOR THE SHOW (26/1/10) update

2009-11-19T08:00:00.001Z

places filling up quickly; so far colours nailed to the two minute mast by...

Richard Massing, Aidan Goatley, Phil Dukes, Matthew Tarran, Jenny Lorimer, Lee Hume, Molly Malone, Jason Blackwater, Gerry Bernstein, Lana Garth, Vicky Nangle, Dan Blunt, Tony Gaston, Kev Heritage, Jo Public and Steve Pepper.

Are you a local comedian? Have you got two hot minutes?

Next Tuesday looks Hairy - The Foragers, Hove, 24/11/09

2009-11-17T21:32:00.005Z

MOvember spawned a MOustache. Oh yes it's all hands off the razors for next Tuesday's show. Raising money for The Prostate Cancer Charity through facial hair (check http://uk.movember.com/), please please please wear a moustache and bring a quid for the cause, the stage will be graced by the following five-o'clock shadow of comedy:

TONY GASTON

GAVIN INSKIP

IAN RIGBY

DAN BLUNT

SUE GEE

SUZANNE WOOLF

DANIEL HARVEY

Tickets are on sale until Monday 23rd at the pub for £2, then you can pay £4 on the door.

If you fancy trying out stand-up comedy then you can inhabit the 'balls of steel open spot', available every last Tuesday of the month.

I'm looking for a sponsor for the comedy nights, if you have any ideas then drop me a line.

TWO FOR THE SHOW

2009-11-10T16:47:00.005Z

Calling out to all local comedians who've got "2 hot minutes" in them.

30 comedians, two minutes each, Tuesday 26th January 2010 at The Foragers, Hove.

please e-mail if you want to take part

RUE BARRATT - Stand up comedian and street fighter

2009-11-03T17:42:00.001Z

Got to send out some love to Rue Barratt. The local boy, quickly becoming the new pin-up of the Brighton comedy scene, was in a stand-off with 5 'geezers' defending a ladies virtue as I fell out of Moksha on Saturday night. He gave me his scarf too, which I think makes me Guinevere to his Lancelot, nice.

Check the act out when you can, he's got a co-writer and everything.

Moksha 31st October 2009 - an unusually intimate gig and a new experience for me

2009-10-31T17:16:00.003Z

I've been close to pulling gigs before, I spend a lot of gigs worrying about where the audience are, but I'd never ever taken the decision to not go ahead until Saturday. It's a hard one because you have, it feels, so much to lose - reputation - and previously an audience always turned up.

It turns out that reputation is no reason to make comedians perform in front of a handful of people and I'm happy with the decision I made. It isn't fun to play to a room who can't really respond and it isn't fun to put a small audience through it either. That seems really logical now but it took a long time to realise it. Ironically the 'call of the wild' for two wonderful performers - Jo Public and Daniel Harvey - was too great and we had a funny, intimate 30 minute show after all.

There will be one further show at Moksha on November 28th, 7:30pm, before I will be taking the opportunity to evolve the show for January 2010. When the unexpected happens it gets you thinking in other ways.

Sami Stone breaks through the glass ceiling to set world record women's time in 'World's Strongest Comedian'

2009-10-30T11:53:00.005Z

Taboos were smashed. Taboos were hushed. Taboos were drunk in the front bar as Sami Stone raised the bar at THE PEOPLE VERSUS STAND-UP COMEDY last Tuesday.

Sami took the the stage and wiped the smile off the faces of the male comedians with a world beating 15 seconds for the 5 litres of water straight arm dead lift.

Rob Dumbrell is the current mens champion, and he is likely to meet Sami in a cage fight at the December show if their respective records aren't broken in the forthcoming November show - Tuesday 24th 7:30pm, advance tickets at the bar £2.

Moksha 31st October 2009 COMEDY line-up

2009-10-26T12:01:00.002Z

Check out this lot of grisly ghosts and ghoulies at The People Versus Stand Up Comedy Too this Saturday 31st October at Moksha Caffe, 7:30pm

NEW YORK BOB

GERRY BERNSTEIN

DANIEL HARVEY

JO BROWNING

SAMI STONE

RUE BARRATT

GEORGE CLEARY

Looking good for Tuesday 27th October at The Foragers, Hove

2009-10-23T20:14:00.004+01:00

'sgoing to be a good un...

ZOE LYONS

TASHA DANRAJ

SAMI-LOU STONE

BEN PRITCHARD

RUARI BARRATT

and comedy virgin in the open spot NATHAN GOLDBERG

some early bird tickets available from the pub, otherwise £4 on the door.

Don't feed the Lyons!

2009-10-19T14:33:00.002+01:00

We got Zoe Lyons for the Foragers' show on October 27th! Get in!

Balls of Steel - the next contestant

2009-10-17T14:30:00.005+01:00

Just when you thought it was safe to come down The Foragers another brave soul has stepped up to the plate. This month we welcome comedy virgin Nathan Goldberg for his two minutes of... well... you decide. Tuesday 27th October, 19:30 The Foragers, early bird tickets selling fast...

your own comedy night - the must have accessory of 2009

2009-09-28T19:54:00.002+01:00

Can't move for comedy nights in Brighton and Hove at the moment, everyone's got one or planning to have one, opening their second or injecting comedy in some form into their local. Generally it is important to include the word 'comedy' or a synonym of it in the title and where possible you should try to clash with another night - apparently the local comedy class is not letting people in UNLESS they have their own comedy night AND are guest compere at at least two other nights.

This can only mean good things for the audiences of Brighton - afterall the BBC is built on repeats and they never fail.

First Anniversary gig report - Moksha, The People Versus Stand-Up Comedy Too

2009-09-26T23:06:00.001+01:00

Well we had a laugh and the good house that drifted at half time leaving a cosy medium house had a laugh too. We sold tickets for the Macmillan Cancer Trust and were right royally entertained by new to us comics: James Birk, Tony Gaston and Ian Rigby and old friends: Sha Wylie, Gerry Bernstein, New York Bob and Phil Dukes.

Phil Dukes' stagecraft and material keeps on improving and it's been great to watch him grow over the last year or so - it can't be long until he gets a spot at Comic Bloom (CAN YOU HEAR ME JILL EASTWOOD?) I say it can't be long before he gets a spot at Comic Bloom. For those of you who can't wait you can keep up with Phil Dukes via his website.

female comedian - regular gig opportunity

2009-09-24T00:04:00.000+01:00

looking for a local to the brighton area female comedian who wants a regular gig on the last saturday of the month. should be willing to do 3mins + of new material each month. part of an established night that has regular and guest stand-ups.

contact alan seabrook

Tom Houghton added to 29/9/09

2009-09-23T12:57:00.004+01:00

great news humour-mongers, we've only gone and got Tom Houghton from Brighton and Hove legends 'The Noise Next Door'! He'll be bringing the ol' guitar and the smile that launched a thousand ships...

check him out next Tuesday 29th September at The Foragers - £2adv./£4 door

The Foragers - September 29th 2009

2009-09-19T21:34:00.005+01:00

Line-up currently...

JASON BLACKWATER

GERRY "LAUGH DOWN BABYLON" BERNSTEIN

LEE STEVENS

GEORGE CLEARY

JAMES BIRK

TOM HOUGHTON

Moksha Caffe - September 26th 2009

2009-09-19T12:00:00.002+01:00

Line-up currently...

PHIL DUKES

JAMES BIRK

SHA WYLIE

NEW YORK BOB

TONY GASTON

IAN RIGBY

GERRY "LAUGH DOWN BABYLON" BERNSTEIN

Rob Dumbrell smashes Phil Dukes' world record

2009-08-26T21:38:00.001+01:00

Change has got to come and my oh my it did at The Foragers on August 25th. After ruling the roost for months strong arm Phil Dukes has taken a back seat: the new 'World's Strongest Comedian' is Rob Dumbrell. The crowd at The Foragers went wild as Rob took the previous record and spanked it into submission, clocking up a mighty 1 minute 25 seconds for holding 5 litres of water on a straight arm, adding more than 15 seconds to the record. Dukes was contacted immediately by a member of the audience and was "gutted". How far can this go? Who knows.

Witness the next attempt on Tuesday 29th September at The People Versus Stand-Up Comedy, taking place at The Foragers, Stirling Place, Hove. £2 adv./£4 on the door.

Stand-Up Comedy Open Spots Brighton Hove

2009-07-19T08:47:00.003+01:00

three years on and still welcoming acts from everywhere to perform at The People...

last tuesday and saturday of the month in Brighton and Hove

contact link

Foragers Comedy tonight

2009-06-30T00:07:00.003+01:00

what ho punters!

looking good for tonight at the foragers with:

MARK CORNELL

BEN HARRINGTON

SHA WYLIE

SUZI PAYNTON

RUPERT BOON

ANDY WARD

£2 advance tickets £4 on the door

includes the next heat of "world's strongest comedian"

see you there, Alan.

Moksha Show - Saturday 27th June - Free - 7:30pm

2009-06-24T18:02:00.006+01:00

Very very happy to announce the line-up for our next big show:

SEAN McLOUGHLIN

THE NOISE NEXT DOOR

LOU-LOU COUSINS

Brighton's Mr Angry GERRY BERNSTEIN

The Legend that is NEW YORK BOB

JEAN KELLEY

MARK DAVIES

VICKY NANGLE

ANTON HAMMOND

2009-06-23T12:24:00.001+01:00

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

guess WHO's back.

2009-06-06T01:06:00.002+01:00

Brighton's Got Talent - free admission

2009-05-30T14:29:00.007+01:00

The cream of what's left after Cowell, Morgan and the other one (who is she, I thought Les Dennis killed her?) have trawled the nation - sucking the very marrow of the bones of taste and decency - will be on stage at 'the people versus stand-up comedy too' in Moksha Caffe tonight. Details.

expect to be amused, bewildered and given a good talking to by:

ROMESH 'RANGA' RANGANATHAN

ANTHONY AYTON

NEW YORK 'THE LEGEND' BOB

GERRY BERNSTEIN

SUZI PAYNTON

RICHARD MASSING

see you there 7:30pm - FREE ADMISSION

what's a hot spot not?

Comedy in Hove - Rip it up and start again... Zoe Lyons et al. rule the dance

2009-05-27T07:34:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to all who performed and attended the 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee show.

It was a fantastic night and the nine performers, coincidentally all women, tore the roof off the place and showered down laughter upon the heads of the gathered.

In case you're a non-believer here's a picture of the legend ZOE LYONS in the middle of her fantastic 40 minute set in the back bar of a pub in Hove - amazing.

The People Versus Stand-Up Comedy is back each and every last Tuesday of the month at The Foragers, Stirling Place, Hove - next show June 30th, 7:30pm. Tickets on sale now.

Do comment if you have any feedback...

just me...

2009-05-27T00:28:00.001+01:00

or Coldplay bigger than the Beatles/Jesus?

Comedy in Hove 26th May - The Big Show

2009-05-26T13:23:00.003+01:00

Well, I made it. Third year of the Hove show kicks off with the 'Silver Jubilee' special.

I'm very pleased to announce we have none other than ZOE LYONS as one of nine very very special guests. Piping aboard:

Suzanne Buist

Jaq Bayles

Helen Raynor

Natassia Dhanraj

Zoe Lyons

Val Lee

Loulou Cousins

Lana Garth

and Sam Savage in the compere role

(Alan Seabrook is unwell)

See you there.

surely not!

2009-05-24T00:30:00.000+01:00

What would George Lucas and Frank Oz say?

Surely this one isn't part of the merchandising 'empire'; is that a light sabre handle in his head or is he just pleased to see me?

see you tuesday for the big Silver Jubilee special at The Foragers.

monkey drummer in town

2009-05-16T19:50:00.002+01:00

Comedy writing and performing opportunity

2009-05-14T21:28:00.002+01:00

Christopher Neilan, he's a comedy writer with his fingers in Channel 4 and Radio 4 pies, is looking for comedy writers and performers to put together a show for the Kemptown Carnival.

he wrote to me:

"Now, the day is approaching pretty quick now, and it's not a certainty that I will put anything on - basically I want to meet potential collaborators and, in particular, performers (I don't perform myself), and if I find the right kind of people and we find the right kind of material, and we have time, we'll put on a show. It's a good chance - a day of festivities, a good crowd."

So get in touch if this speaks to you.

It's not all Green Rooms and insidious back-slapping in the dark world of stand-up comedy: check me out with a load of 'H' on London Road

2009-05-13T19:42:00.005+01:00

Pay back time for MPs?

2009-05-12T22:13:00.004+01:00

With MPs and Party Leaders running around like cockroaches when the DDT is released it's time for us, the people, to be kicking back and thinking of ways to spend that big fat tax return.

I know what I'll be doing with the wonga I'm off to see Matt Whistler's next great show tomorrow at The Alibi in Hove, 8:30pm. And I urge you to too. The revolution starts here.

Greet me with "You are Kolly Kibber and I claim my right to buy you a beer" and you can buy me a beer.

the night features TPVSUC legend Richard Massing.

Aqua Aerobics and Men: okay or not okay?

2009-05-11T19:38:00.003+01:00

I can't help but wonder why there's no men in my Aqua Aerobics class. It's fun, it's in water, it's good for toning and weight control and, best of all, no one can see you sweating - result.

So why the grimaces and the aqua-phobic comments and looks from the other guys at the gym?

Please vote (over there on the right).

From Aqua Aerobics

When does the early bird become the late bird?

2009-05-09T16:06:00.003+01:00

What ho punters!

Just wondering how long you think is appropriate to have early bird tickets on sale for?

A punter last month insisted on getting the early bird price because he was buying the ticket before the show started.

What do you think?

What do other comedy nights/venues do?

2009-05-08T20:25:00.000+01:00

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Early Bird tickets go on sale this Friday

2009-05-05T08:26:00.005+01:00

It's the big Silver Jubilee show this month - Tuesday 26th May. The actual 25th performance at The Foragers; the birth place of The People Versus Stand-Up Comedy.

£2 early bird tickets will go on sale at the pub this friday (8th May) and will be available until Bank Holiday Monday 25th May.

Like a picture of dorian gray?

2009-05-04T19:00:00.005+01:00

Celeb Alert!

Quite by chance I managed to discover and photograph Robert Morley at a wedding on saturday. Apparently Morley, alive and well in a De Vere Hotel grounds near Southampton, has been re-generating since his supposed "death" in 1992. He's pictured here with that bloke from Red Dwarf and Scrapheap Challenge.

Two Stags' Wedding

2009-05-04T17:49:00.001+01:00

The comedian who came in from the cold

2009-04-29T12:54:00.004+01:00

well, well, well all things turn out alright in the end...

Michael Fabbri turned up out of the blue at the Foragers show last night. He had a quiet word with me 'backstage' and explained that if I was going to be asking the audience "what they did for a living?" - as if! Like I'm going to go down that comperes route - I should avoid him as he would have to answer "I'm a stand-up comedian." Aren't they all at gigs? Well, no they're not, but he is. Slipped him into the line-up and he was fantastic! At least I thought so and I'd love to hear what you thought comedy fans.

Check him out at his chortle page for up and coming gigs including a couple soon in Brighton. That boy's welcome any time.

The Foragers - April 28th

2009-04-29T11:38:00.009+01:00

It looked shaky audience-wise at 19:40.

But by 20:00 we were rocking! Why do the audience always do it to me? I'm trying to spend less time in Boots buying hair-dye and nerve tonic. It was a great show and if you were there please leave your thoughts.

Adam Preston opened strong, Phil Dukes followed with a tight laugh-filled set, Bunty Dann took us into 'Bunty's World' and got some great stage time for her Funny Women Competition heat, Michael Fabbri (the comedian who came in from the cold) ripped it up. Phil Dukes smashed the World's Strongest Comedian record and then we had a break.

The audience stepped up to the plate with their Swine Flu questions and we were in the presence of a celebrity when Purple Ron (the thinking woman's DLT) judged the competition. Richard Massing, a Foragers regular, unleashed his new 09/10 material, David Blood filmed his HBO special and Danny Alder, the cherry on the top, does what Danny Alder does - makes people laugh.

A big thank you to all - performers and audience and staff - and see you for the 25th Silver Jubilee Show next month, May 26th.

Big R and Purple Ron at The Foragers show

2009-04-28T23:00:00.001+01:00

If you click the photos they get bigger.

Phil Dukes smashes Chris Brazier's record!

2009-04-28T22:49:00.002+01:00

The NEW world's strongest comedian is PHIL DUKES. Taking Chris Brazier's 59 second record and breaking it into bits. Phil held four litres of water on a straight arm from the shoulder for 1 minute and 20 seconds. COME ON!

The Foragers - The Big April Show - 28th April 7:30pm

2009-04-27T21:55:00.006+01:00

With Andy Bryant failing once again, I think that's three times now, to make it on to the stage it's with great pride that I announce...

BEN HARRINGTON - cancelled, sorry people (this afternoon 28/4/09!)
RICHARD MASSING
BUNTY DANN
ADAM PRESTON
PHIL DUKES
DANNY ALDER
DAVID BLOOD

...as the fantastic line-up.

What do you think of those apples?

venue details

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April's Moksha Mash Up

2009-04-26T12:00:00.001+01:00

There's panic on the streets of Brighton... London Road to be precise. With Brighton's resident king of comedy unavoidably absent for a stag night (apparently he was spotted in a curry house in Burnham-on-Crouch sporting a pair of comedy breasts), I felt it my solemn duty to step into his giant clown shoes and cry "The show must go on!".

Matt Whistler stepped up as 'The Guest Host' and gave us an eye-popping display of acrobatics and magic. He's a bit like Paul Daniels doing a handstand. George Cleary kicked off proceedings followed by newcomer Ben Letz following up his comedy debut at the Foragers. Adam Preston travelled down from London and raised plenty of smiles, although he failed to raise house prices.

Matt Whistler had a visitation from the Ghost of Hecklers Past, who had apparently spent the day drinking with New York Bob. Mark Cornell covered the stage in talcum powder and Sammi Stone topped the bill, drawing cheers of appreciation even before she'd uttered a word.

So, turned out nice again. But I'm glad to see Sir Alan of Seabrook come riding back into town on his pantomime horse, ready to take up the reigns of comedy again next month.

Bernie Masstein

Moksha Caffe Line-Up Announced for 25/4/09

2009-04-23T22:02:00.005+01:00

Got to be pleased to say the following will be wheeling out the comedy market and then ending the night in E20 on Saturday night at Moksha Caffe...

Mark Cornell

Adam Preston

New York Bob

Sami Stone

Ben Cooper

George Cleary

and in the guest host position, the one the only, Matt Whistler!

I won't be there. I will worry what is happening...

I'm leaving 'The R' in charge...

Is that a good idea?

The return of the crazy one...

2009-04-21T06:44:00.006+01:00

You thought it was well good that Eminem is back in the pop parade - that monkey feather ain't sh*t, we've got RICHARD MASSING back for his end of first year special at The Foragers, next Tuesday, 28th April 2009.
Now what do you think of that?

(we understand Richard is one of the two men pictured)

About Ben Lentz/Ben Cooper

2009-04-03T20:39:00.000+01:00

Fans of TPVSUC - please please leave your comments about Ben Cooper. He was the very very brave man who took to the stage and nailed the open spot. Having never done stand up before, and as a thinking ahead sort of man, he's asked me to give a little feedback so he can get more gigs locally (I'll book him again for TPVSUC 1&2), it'd be great if you could leave some comment too.

Ben Cooper at The Foragers 31/3/09: Fearless new boy Cooper took to the stage and made people laugh. In an act that got laughs from the core material as well as Ben's natural responses to his own performance, he showed great promise and seemed to enjoy himself and benefit from his hard work and preparation. B+.

The Foragers March Edition - All's well that ends well.

2009-04-01T09:10:00.000+01:00

It's mayhem. I haven't been this close to the edge since Dec 25. The amplifier goes missing (probably nicked from the car outside my house) and I'm lost about what to do. With a headliner missing and no Richard Perry things are looking bad. Of course I lose it momentarily in the car because of the lack of PA.

But the show goes on. Sue from the pub is fantastic and a PA system is cobbled together through the house sound system. Bless the poor punters in the front bar - they've got no music to obscure the monologues from the comics in the back bar.

As in situations of high drama the house is good (35+) and it includes friends I haven't seen for ages, heaping pressure on an already pressurised situation. We start late but it's a great night. Richard NTJ pulls in a favour and we have a full rosta of comedians. Thanks Richard NTJ. The line up becomes this:

Sam Savage

Claire Parker

Aidan Goatley

Ben Cooper

Sam Stone

Everyone performs really well and a good night is had by all. The early bird ticket promotion works well (16 punters) and the flyering of the local area turns up 5 punters. These 21 pay £2 each, technically a loss in the financial sense but it makes for a good crowd and show. Definitely ideas to repeat.

I must thank Richard and Calum for their support; Sam Savage for stepping in at the last minute; all the friends who turned up - nice one, do let me know next time and I'll make more of a fuss of you; Mel who won the interval competition; and everyone who knows me.

Tuesday 31st The Foragers - suddenly it all starts to go a bit pete tong

2009-03-31T19:50:00.000+01:00

Okay world, I'll level with you. The shit is hitting the fan. Luke Benson e-mailed this morning and cancelled - I got this message at 6:47pm.

The Amplifier has gone missing.

Richard Perry hasn't turned up yet.

look inside the comedy promoting world of angst

2009-03-31T18:40:00.004+01:00

it's at this time, with an hour or so before the show, that I start to worry about how to arrange the line up of comedians.

Over time it has increased in importance for me and, in parallel, as disappointment for the performers who aren't in the line up where they want to be - and in general this is first out the traps - to such an extent that I didn't bother to execute a line up for the Moksha show, I let it be done by lottery on the night (not in the set of balls number four and machine "Merlin" sense) as i couldn't take the pressure of having to make somebody first. It seems unkind, cruel because most performers think you're making a comment on them, on their act, but someone has to go first and a promoter has to start somewhere. Comics need not worry that their act is poor, it's more the case that they should take pride in being first if I put them there, I want a safe pair of hands to start off with, I want the audience to enjoy themselves. Once at least.

Perhaps I'll come back to this at a later point. In the meantime here's the line up I'm going for tonight (Tuesday 31st) - and why.

Richard Perry - a rising star of Brighton's new breed. Fits the criteria I talked about above - that's why he's first out of the traps.

Aidan Goatley - I'd have put him first but he did that last time; solid act for a relative newbie.

Sam Stone - She's here because she got in-touch late, I'm trying to accommodate her talent and ending the first half should be a strong place for her.

Interval

Ben Lentz - because he's never done stand-up before

Claire Parker - should go down well here; helped me out of a tight spot when the PA broke last time she played.

Luke Benson - did a great set last time at The Foragers, had him in the end slot from agreeing his appearance.

March Moksha - what a show!

2009-03-29T12:14:00.004+01:00

greetings blog watchers!

last night was incredible... wonderful... amazing... fantastic.

You really missed a treat if you weren't there, and I'm not just saying that (and it would be so easy too in these days of comedy club saturation in B'ton and Hove), it was a cracker indeed. A worryingly good cracker, a how do we continue at this level cracker, a where do we go from here cracker? But enough of the autopsy for now, let's explore why it was so good...

There are six reasons:

Rupert Boon - first out of the blocks and what a talent! Couldn't believe he was still at the start of his comedy career - I'm still laughing at his material about being "bi-curious". Lots of great feedback from the audience.

Sara Pascoe - another solid, laugh filled, surreal journey into Sara's world. Can't be long before Sara breaks through into the craft full-time. Well worth spending money on if you ever see her advertised.

Romesh "Ranga" Ranganathan - talented, good looking, young. What a bastard! He works hard and has a lot of fun with the audience and his material. Big laughs, a real crowd pleaser last night.

New York Bob - Bob's customary voyage into why NY and Brighton really aren't that different drew laughter and surprise from the audience in equal measure. He's good fun, good value and on every month.

Karl Davison - the laid back legend took it to the audience and they were buying. He's getting that assured stage presence that's starting to open up his act. Great to see.

The Noise Next Door and G4 - separated at birth?

A real treat for the punters as they usually only get to see morose individual comedians. They were excellent and the feedback was of the highest order. The one in the red tie doesn't pout as much in real life as he does in the above photo. A job well done lads.

MOKSHA CAFFE TONIGHT

2009-03-28T16:10:00.000Z

Friends the ship is about to set sail. And my my the wind is in our favour; Karl Davison 's ready with at least ten minutes of the reason why he's the local heat winner of the Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Competition; The Noise Next Door have confirmed twenty, yes twenty, minutes of themselves; and Romesh "Ranga" Ranganathan will be getting the bus from creepy Crawley and setting the stage alight with his petrol of comedy and his packet of laughter tipped safety matches. Some people believe you can take a metaphor too far, I say you can take a horse to water, force a load of salt into it's little horse mouth AND make it drink, oh yes.

Ollie, the proprietor of Moksha Caffe, is putting on a tapas menu tonight (all dishes £3.50) for your delectation and pleasure as well as his usual credit crunching wine offers - he's a good lad.

We are still blissfully unaware of where Kev Heritage is after his no-show at Richard's party and his blanking me in the week. The plot thickens...

Do pop in and say hello tonight if you're about.

The Alibi - oh yes.

2009-03-28T01:53:00.000Z

well fans you'll be pleased to know that an alibi is "the plea in a criminal charge of having been

elsewhere at the relevant time"; unfortunately I was at The Alibi tonight and in this definition I have no "alibi".

Shauny Shaun however managed to recreate the bonkers island where they open the ark of the new covenant in 'Raiders'. That really is the 'holy spirit' coming out of his mouth. Nice one Shaun, good effort.

Barrie Fashion was a delight, I don't think. Therefore I am.

All the best everyone, have a couple of more photos.

Line Ups Announced!

2009-03-27T16:28:00.000Z

Great news TPVSUC fans I can now announce the line-ups for Moksha Caffe this Saturday and The Foragers next Tuesday.

So for Saturday 28th at Moksha Caffe York Place, bums on seats 7:30pm FREE entry, it's:

New York Bob (of course 'cos he's on every month)
Sara Pascoe
Romesh Ranganathan
Karl Davison
The Noise Next Door
Rupert Boon

And for Tuesday 31st at The Foragers, Stirling Place, bums on seats 7:30pm £4 on the door, £2 early bird advance ticket from the pub, it's:

Richard Perry
Aidan Goatley
Claire Parker
Ben Lentz - first time ever performance
Luke Benson
Sam Stone

...what a couple of smashers.

...Barry Fashion, impressionator to the Royal Court, is doing a one-off visit to Brighton/Hove performing at The Alibi tonight, 8:30pm.

Welcome Moksha Caffe linked readers

2009-03-27T16:26:00.000Z

watcha fans!

big thanks to Stephen for linking my humble blog to the Moksha Caffe website.

Free Gig Moksha Caffe- Saturday 28th 7:30

2009-03-25T07:33:00.000Z

Morning fans!

I'm alive, so very very alive, more than ever, oh yes.

Only days to go until this month's double entry of comedy (Saturday and Tuesday) into the cannon of Brighton creativity. Book early etcetera - did I mention the cheap early bird tickets for Tuesday? £2!

Clive Dunn announced as headliner for Saturday night at Beachdown! Are those promoters spoiling us or what? And now, with the "you can't bring your own drink in" policy, it's really shaping up to be another Brighton classic value for money for local people event alongside the May Festival, anything Fatboy Slim does on Madeira Drive, the housing prices and a night out at the Komedia.

BTW, how did the Komedia get into so much debt when it's about £20 to go to their comedy nights?

I digress. With the sun out it's only right for me to identify the top five tans in order of deepening from January 1st onwards:

Scaffolder
Street Drinker - a.k.a. The Brew Tan
Unemployed - like 2. but outside pubs
Taxi driver (right side only, arm and face)
Outdoor type in denial of alcohol problem
John the Fish

Goody Goody Cancer

2009-03-22T20:52:00.000Z

It seems only right that I delve into the vaults of TPVSUC history and publish this winning poem from last month's Moksha show:

Jade Goody was once on Big Brother,

as well as her one-armed lesbian mother.

She sucked PJ's willy,

was branded as silly,

got sick and now won't recover.

I think now, as I did at the time, that that about sums it up and makes a poignant epitaph.

I wonder if we can get Harrison Ford and Jade's mum to add a third movie to the 'The Fugitive' franchise...

GQT Y2K

2009-03-19T07:33:00.000Z

The end of month shows are almost upon me. No idea how the new 'early bird' ticket scheme is going at The Foragers, £2 if you buy in advance, nor indeed what the house will be like at Moksha Caffe. The line ups are looking good though.

Kev Heritage ignored me in Boundary Road on Tuesday - this is may not be of interest to many but I want you all to know I notice these things AND acting like you've left your wallet/have forgotten to switch off the gas/are tuning in to Doris Stokes and turning on your heel to march the other way doesn't cut it with me. Anyway, hope you're well Kev and work, stand-up and impro is going good - did you switch off the gas in time?

I have the problem of Richard NTJ's birthday gig coming up - no material but a great idea for a character that's really not that great. "Barry Fashion" - not sure that the name is really the sum total of the idea. Erm...

Oh the title... went on C's small holding yesterday, had a fantastic time digging my hands in the dirt. It struck me that when you start growing for your own consumption it's not a nice and fluffy Guardian reading ball of self-sufficiency; you start a war with nature, a war you will never win.

Off to Tile a bathroom in Hove. Nice.

The Difficult Second Post

2009-03-18T00:28:00.000Z

Book club tonight. Thought it was going to be a no show until C arrived at 20:40. We had been due to read "The Origin of Species" by one Charles Darwin; only one turned up as Mr Darwin recorded.

Are there intrinsic problems involved in a men only book club (or indeed a book club that only reads Men Only)? How might the Victorian Scientist investigate this?

Next. S has chosen 'Hawksmoor'. Nice. How will a novel about a serial killer effect the group if Darwin has us dropping like flies? A Web Log about it asks only two questions: Who was it? Did it happen?

Apparently a German Carpnter trains for 10 years in order to become 'Master Carpenter': 5 at College, 3 in work and 2 travelling across Germany working at a customer's request for bed and food.

Sweet.

Guess who's back?

2009-03-13T23:45:00.000Z

After holding out for months not to do a gig outside the comfy confines of TPVSUC 1 & 2 (will Richard NTJ shut up now?) I can announce that I'll be guest hosting Karl Davison's "Laid Back and Laughing" soon; was to be Easter Sunday but this was a rash decision that I have to contact Karl about and get a postponement, hopefully I'll get May...

I'll be watching The Guest Host episode from series one of Larry Sanders in preparation.

"Laid Back and Laughing" is at The Tin Drum, Seven Dials, Brighton.