A Year Of Confidence With ComedySportz 2: Improv Boogaloo
If you have managed to stop your Gregorian chants long enough to check your Gregorian calendar, you'll realise that yesterday was May 1st.
And what's so special about May the first? I hear you ask.
Well, in the event that you failed to notice the title of this blog post (or you happen to be viewing this in IE9 where the title does appear briefly for a second before going blank), I guess I'll tell you in the body of this blog post.
Saturday May 1st, 2010 was the date that I took my very first improv workshop with ComedySportz. I gained a lot of confidence in the first year of doing improv, so much so, I wrote about it here.
What better way to celebrate my 2nd Anniversary of Improv, and to burn off another Wednesday blog post, than to talk about what I have accomplished during the past year?
There are many things that are better, but until they master the art of getting drunk via the Internet (via the medium of licking your Computer monitor), you'll just have to stick with this one for now.
In the past year:
- I've been to New York City on my own to study improv in August. (The first time I'd ever actually taken a solo holiday.) I had an amazing time at Upright Citizen's Brigade. Met some really great people in my Improv 101 class, and got to see some really great improv and sketch shows at night hanging out at the Theatre on West 26th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. The sad thing about it was, I'm not in New York all the time. I'd have loved to carry on with the 201, 301, and 401 improv levels (and taken the sketch writing course, too) but I can't afford to stay in NYC for that long. Curse you, American women, and your lack of interest in marrying me.
- I got a "Cut for Time" email from Newsjack, which meant that my writing was noticed enough to be recorded, but not quite there to make the final edit of the show back in September 2011.
- Made more friends via the medium of ComedySportz.
- I got invited to (and went) to my first ever non-work related / non family related Christmas party. I enjoyed it, but I do need to get more comfortable talking to people in a purely social situation.
- I returned to my former job in the Midlands after the all around disaster that was Preston. I should never have left in the first place, and returning to the area has allowed me to attend improv workshops on a regular basis that aren't run by ComedySportz, which gives me another insight into the technique. Since January 2012, I've been a regular attendee at drop in sessions run by Wow Impro (Monday evenings in Bedworth) and with Box Of Frogs (Tuesday nights in Birmingham). These extra sessions have allowed me to have more practice than just at the weekends with the Intermediate workshop run by ComedySportz.
- I did stand up for the second time in front of an audience in February 2012. (The first time in front of a paying audience.) I sucked all the joy out of the room and died on my arse, but I didn't care. Unless I come up with something that I really want to perform, I doubt I'll try stand up again, as I didn't enjoy standing up on stage by myself.
- I went to London for the first time since 2004, and did a Saturday improv workshop with Hoopla Impro. (You maybe able to see a pattern developing here). It was really good fun. Got to meet a new group of people. Fun stuff. And while I was in London I met up with a friend (whom I first met on the Internet) the first time ever. I was as awkward as you'd imagine me to be, but in the evening I took her to see Comedy Store Players as her first Improv show. (I think she was impressed.)
- I performed in my first ever improv gig to a paying audience. (With the members of Wow Impro.) After only doing showcases for ComedySportz in the past, it was nerve racking to be up there. But I did it. Got one or two laughs in the bargain, too.
- I got my first ever BBC writing credit for a radio show on BBC Radio 4 Extra. (Internet Radio!). It took me 24 submissions over 4 series over 2 years but on the final episode of Series 6 (Episode 6) in March 2012 I managed to get a single joke on. (My first submission was Series 3 Episode 1 back in June 2010.)
- I did my first ever long form improv gig at the start of April, thanks to ComedySportz letting their workshoppers do a Sunday evening free gig in their place.
- I got invited to (and went) to the evening do of the Wedding Of The Century. Again I really enjoyed it, but I should try and be more talkative in these sorts of situations. (Though I doubt I'll be invited to another wedding any time soon as I know of no one else on the verge of getting married.)
- Boosted by my radio success, I'm writing some sketches for submission to Cofilmic's Sketch And The City New Writing Showcase that happens each month. Hopefully, I'll get one of my sketches picked and it might lead somewhere with my writing.
But that's not all, a group of the ComedySportz Intermediate Workshoppers have set up a Indie Improv group, Starship Improvise, and we will be performing our first gig in June:
(Poster courtesy of Kage.)
So hopefully my third year of doing improv will lead to a lot more gigs (with Starship Improvise, Wow Impro and hopefully other groups too), and learning a lot by doing improv in front of an audience. (i.e. to be more relaxed around an audience when they are staring at me.)
So here's to the third year of confidence. Who knows, one day I might actually have the confidence of someone my actual age.
So thank you to everyone who's helped me become the person I am this past year. You're awesome, especially you.
Let's see what magic is in store this upcoming year.
Matt.
A Year Of Confidence With ComedySportz
For a while now, I've been aware that my 100th blog post on this website was coming up. I wanted to write something meaningful (at least to me), so I decided to write about Comedy Sportz.
So please enjoy my 100th blog post. And remember, if you don't enjoy it, send it as a link to someone you hate. They'll read it, I'll get page views and you'll get revenge. Because remember, Revenge is a dish best served a la mode, especially if the recipient is lactose intolerant.
A few days ago, on May 1st of this year, it marked one year to the day since I started improv classes to improve my confidence.
I've been to see one ComedySportz UK show every calendar month at the Manchester Comedy Store, and another two for the Manchester Comedy Festival in October. I've also been to shows at Sale (1) and Withington (2). I've met some really cool people, both teaching and taking the classes with me.
I've performed improv on stage once in front of an audience and even had the balls to do stand up in front of an invited audience, too.
I've submitted solo written sketches to BBC Radio's Newsjack, and co-wrote a sitcom pilot (with people that I met via a ComedySportz sketch writing class) for a competition.
I've written a couple of short stories ("On Ice" and "The Call") for magazine competitions.
I've placed 3rd and then a few weeks later, placed 1st in the now defunct #win100 competition on Twitter.
I've written a few sketches that I'll hopefully be involved in filming in the upcoming months, too.
All things that I never would have dreamed were possible a year ago.
Thanks to everyone who has helped me on my journey. You're too numerous to tag in this post individually, but know you've made a difference.
So here's to another year of being more confident. Who knows what I'll achieve before April 30th, 2012?
All I know is, improv classes start again on May 7th, and I can't wait.
A Very Special Anniversary
Exactly six years ago today, Monday 14th February 2005, something special happened.
I met him.
Funny, cute, taller than me and he had a tie clip! What more could I want?
We've been friends ever since that day (never say that I'm not a pushover for those that are well groomed, and those that make the time and effor to groom me), and his presence made the working days go quite quickly, especially since we just tried to make each other laugh. There were a few hiccups but then he got a BMW and everything was fine. (I'm a sucker for a sleek body, and his car wasn't bad either.) Lunchtime, tea breaks, the laughter never stopped. Until 5.30pm of course, because he did have a come to go to. As I said to him many times on his way out the door: "I hate to see you leave, but love to watch you walk away." He's probably the reason why I stayed there so long, even if he did always beat me (at pool). I swore I would try and change that, though I only managed it once or twice.
The last time I saw him was on October 22nd, 2010. Or 115 days ago if you wish to check the maths on a calendar (or in your head if you think you're smart enough to do that). Now lunchtimes just aren't as fun.
If you have a Twitter account and you are not following @GoldMetalMonkey, you should surf over to his page and follow him, post haste. A funny guy who deserves more followers.
So Happy Anniversary, Babe. valentine's will always be our day. I hope to catch up with you again soon.
@mattfishwick <3 @GoldMetalMonkey
I Ruv You
I ruv you. Comedy gold!
First Anniversary of http://ilovemattfishwick.com
Yes darlings, can you believe that it was but a year ago that this very website that you are reading now came into existence?
I know you can't believe it, because no one is actually reading this.
I was going to do something special, but then I forgot to, but hey it doesn't matter, at this age websites are barely cognitive.
Maybe next year I'll get it a big badge with the number 2 on it or maybe I'll just give it a new template.
Here's to the next year of barely read posts. As Yazz once sang, The Only Way Is Up!
Matt.
Matt Fishwick v2.7
Yes, that's right kids I'm now celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of my 25th Birthday!
I've also decided to revamp the ol' blog. After all, there aren't many people who have blogs and we have to keep the standard up.
Can it get any better?
One Year Craptacular: A Clip Show Featuring Almost All Recycled Material
You remember back in the day when I started this blog?
No, I didn't think so. Let's take a look back shall we:
Now if... I have returned... and someone has found me... There once was a man... that looks like me. For those of you who don't... stop bothering me... Go... it just looks more professional.
I reached... me... the answer... truckin'
Everybody else... could have saved time by... a dish best served with sprouts... in a vacuum!
It's movie time.
Ah, good times.
Here's to the next lot of ignored posts...
And to ScriptFrenzy!
Hurrah!
One Year Craptactular!
That's right, it's been one year of inane posts that nobody has read.
You may be the first, unless you are reading this over someone's shoulder and that means you are a close second. So take a step back, and stop invading my personal space.
So while this is the Internet, happy e-paper anniversary. (An anniversary of this magnitude doesn't warrant an exclamation point.) But you could have at least sent an e-card you unsentimental bastard.
Will we reach the next one? Probably, unless I forget my login details.
Don't forget the traditional Anniversary Clip Show Featuring 10% New Material!
Coming up next.
(Recycling, not only is it good for the environment, but it removes the need to be creative.)
