Category → Comedy
Laughing in London
One of my favourite pastimes is going to London comedy clubs. There are a lot that I really like. Some are very big and seat hundreds and others are just a small room at the back of a pub. Generally you find that the quality might vary a bit but on the whole London comedy is excellent. It’s possibly the most competitive line of work you could get into and it takes a lot of talent, balls and commitment to make it. Many comedians spend years and years struggling to pay their rent but their passion for making people laugh keeps them plugging away until they get booked by bigger clubs. Sometimes I go to open mic nights where newcomers are getting up on stage. It can be sad if you see someone go to pieces and forget their routine. It’s awful when someone gets a complete knock back and is heckled off the stage. Some people are not cut out for it and won’t make it past one performance but some comedians thrive on the heckling and they learn to come back with extremely witty – and in the case of some comics- very cutting remarks which can leave the heckler stunned!
The London comedy scene is one of the best in the world and certainly the UK in my opinion. Comedians from all over the world come to perform in our clubs and bars and they always get a warm welcome. One of my favourite stand ups is the deeply politically incorrect Doug Stanhope. He does an annual visit to London and is always very entertaining. I go back every year to see him and in the meantime, I also follow certain guys who I enjoy on the circuit and look out for when they release their new material.