Making Monday my admin day. Basically: tour booking, emailing those who have contributed to the crowdfunding for the new show so far to say thanks, offering Kate the role in the show as she read it so brilliantly yesterday, paying a parking fee, emailing actors about 'The Second' (this one is still slightly up in the air), chatting to our Little Sparks director, booking house show previews, turning down teaching assistant work, writing an advert for a school I'll be teaching after Easter to get parents interested in drum tuition and suddenly...my morning has gone.
2 drum lessons in the afternoon, one with a new student, one with one of my regulars. Did my food shop, got home and suddenly it's 7.30pm and I've only got about 4 hours to write before dozing off watching the amazing This Country. Busy day, need to manage my schedule better.
Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Monday, 26 February 2018
Sunday 25th February 2018
Agreed to another private student, and now trying to plot my schedule a bit so that I actually have a day or two off in the week - I mean, there's some days where I'm only teaching for one or two hours, but it would be nice to have some proper Richards time. My plan is now to try and cram all of the private students into Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays up until 4pm, with all of my college lessons on Wednesday evenings and Friday mornings/afternoons. Sunday is reserved for lessons I can't fit into those, but probably only 2-3 hours. That means I can still commit to all my gigs (and general being an awesome boyfriend stuff) at weekends, and still have the first 2 days of the week to work on theatre/comedy/writing malarkey. It's roughly falling into place, but is never as easy as that.
Today the cast and director of Little Sparks came over to a reading of the script and it was just awesome - it really, really comes off the page so well and everyone was very happy. The cast of Alan, Steph and Kate worked an absolute treat as Emily, our director, sat smiling and plotting. Our techie, Alan 2 (as we've started calling him, as it's confusing with two Alan's) was also there, it all feels like a nice team. 2 of my cast have just been cast in Cats, which concerned me at first but there's no clashes and you know, good actors are in lots of shows, I'm cool with that. This one really works, though, and it feels easy at the same time, we all want this to go beyond the fringe...my ambitions are higher than ever.
Lovely evening at a dinner party with A, lovely food, great games, great companies. And back in time for Match of the Day. Perfection.
Today the cast and director of Little Sparks came over to a reading of the script and it was just awesome - it really, really comes off the page so well and everyone was very happy. The cast of Alan, Steph and Kate worked an absolute treat as Emily, our director, sat smiling and plotting. Our techie, Alan 2 (as we've started calling him, as it's confusing with two Alan's) was also there, it all feels like a nice team. 2 of my cast have just been cast in Cats, which concerned me at first but there's no clashes and you know, good actors are in lots of shows, I'm cool with that. This one really works, though, and it feels easy at the same time, we all want this to go beyond the fringe...my ambitions are higher than ever.
Lovely evening at a dinner party with A, lovely food, great games, great companies. And back in time for Match of the Day. Perfection.
Saturday 24th February 2018
Up early (although according to my lady, not early at all...but she gets up at silly-o-clock for work), taught one drum lesson in Trumpington, and then over across town to teach another 2. Quick break, and then finally to Paul M's place for his final lesson - he was on my 6-lesson intensive course, and is certainly a drummer now.
Got very lost walking to a party, because I was totally going to the wrong place, so got there an hour later than planned. An old friend's 60th so lots of merriment, but I did feel a little disconnected at times with some of those there that I used to work with a lot on shows. I guess we've all just moved on.
Got very lost walking to a party, because I was totally going to the wrong place, so got there an hour later than planned. An old friend's 60th so lots of merriment, but I did feel a little disconnected at times with some of those there that I used to work with a lot on shows. I guess we've all just moved on.
Friday 23rd February 2018
I was on 'proper' boyfriend duty today, taking the young lady to hospital in the morning - she has an ongoing arm/hand problem, which they're working on.
Then over to a school in St Ives, great meeting, agreed to be their drum tutor. Then agreed to be the drum tutor at another school in the same town and realised I could do it all in one day and got very excited about how this is working out.
Took mum shopping, then lovely evening with my lovely girlfriend, realising all is very cool indeed.
Then over to a school in St Ives, great meeting, agreed to be their drum tutor. Then agreed to be the drum tutor at another school in the same town and realised I could do it all in one day and got very excited about how this is working out.
Took mum shopping, then lovely evening with my lovely girlfriend, realising all is very cool indeed.
Thursday 22nd February 2018
2 very different meetings in the morning; one at a very high-brow Cambridge college about teaching drums there (where I just felt scruffy) followed by a brilliant meeting at a primary school (which ended with me signing a three-year contract to teach drums for them every Friday morning for 3 hours a week).
Final science lesson was a slog, but I'm out of there now.
Drum lesson with one of my regulars was great - he's 9 and I'm teaching him jazz, he's really getting the hang of it.
Evening stand-up set in Cambridge as part of a fundraising event was fine - not as sharp as Tuesday but a nice crowd all the same.
Final science lesson was a slog, but I'm out of there now.
Drum lesson with one of my regulars was great - he's 9 and I'm teaching him jazz, he's really getting the hang of it.
Evening stand-up set in Cambridge as part of a fundraising event was fine - not as sharp as Tuesday but a nice crowd all the same.
Wednesday 21st February 2018
A really productive day. Great meeting in the morning with a new venue in Cambridge, which is central and is the perfect size (30 capacity function room) for great comedy stuff to happen - the owner is great and willing, so we'll start some fringe previews there soon.
Got back, did some work on 'The Second...' and then over to teach drums in Shelford, followed by my weekly lesson at the college, and then over to teach young Dylan his second lesson. All very different lessons, all good fun.
Home, remembered I have previews of my other shows starting soon, so worked on those.
Got back, did some work on 'The Second...' and then over to teach drums in Shelford, followed by my weekly lesson at the college, and then over to teach young Dylan his second lesson. All very different lessons, all good fun.
Home, remembered I have previews of my other shows starting soon, so worked on those.
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Tuesday 20th February 2018
Resigned from the science teaching role - see, I thought I was a total disaster with this (there was a complaint about how chaotic my class was) but they seemed angry and saddened that I'm leaving. It's for the best, though, for both parties.
My penultimate science class today was ironically very lovely, but maybe that's because I cared less. I'm not a science teacher, I'm a drummer and writer dude.
Straight from that to teach little Milo drums, he's really progressing well, and then straight from there to the loveliest of stand-up gigs in Shepreth. It's the night I run but it feels like it's the first night it's actually worked the way it should do - Mel is an amazing guest MC, Minnie was just outstanding with her beautiful, beautiful songs, Edd and Geoff were a top house band and Dan, Martin, Rachel and myself all went down a storm. It just felt great. Such a good night.
My penultimate science class today was ironically very lovely, but maybe that's because I cared less. I'm not a science teacher, I'm a drummer and writer dude.
Straight from that to teach little Milo drums, he's really progressing well, and then straight from there to the loveliest of stand-up gigs in Shepreth. It's the night I run but it feels like it's the first night it's actually worked the way it should do - Mel is an amazing guest MC, Minnie was just outstanding with her beautiful, beautiful songs, Edd and Geoff were a top house band and Dan, Martin, Rachel and myself all went down a storm. It just felt great. Such a good night.
Monday 19th February 2018
Science lesson rehearsal thing in the morning, and then the typical chaos of a class later on. Bought myself some trainers to cheer myself up.
Drum lesson with Alison's kids was great fun, and then caught up with Vix for a pint and ideas chat about a new sideline project. She'll need a bit of convincing, but I'm working on it. Randomly bumped into a comedy mate, Byron, and we had a quick drink and fringe chat. This is far too much beer for a Monday night...
Drum lesson with Alison's kids was great fun, and then caught up with Vix for a pint and ideas chat about a new sideline project. She'll need a bit of convincing, but I'm working on it. Randomly bumped into a comedy mate, Byron, and we had a quick drink and fringe chat. This is far too much beer for a Monday night...
Sunday 18th February 2018
Caught up on sleep, finished a couple of the scripts for 'The Second' - these are really nice little shows, but not sure how they can be done. Spoke to comedy chum Rachel about them and she simply said, "I saw how exhausted you were last year, don't take on any more..."
We'll see.
Quick drum lesson with Paul M, which helps keep the bills paid, and then over to A's for dinner. It's been a nice weekend.
We'll see.
Quick drum lesson with Paul M, which helps keep the bills paid, and then over to A's for dinner. It's been a nice weekend.
Sunday, 18 February 2018
Saturday 17th February 2018
Saturday is fast becoming my most favourite day of the week - the three lessons I teach are the three I seem to look forward to the most as the studios are really up for it and it doesn't feel like work.
Then off to London with the very amazing A, to meet her friends, and it's all rather wonderful.
Then off to London with the very amazing A, to meet her friends, and it's all rather wonderful.
Friday 16th February 2018
The one (only) thing I thoroughly hate about living here is the lack of parking. Had to be up early to move my car, and then 3 hours later move it again. It's a shambles and creatively disruptive.
Still, did some more work plugging the drum lesson business and put a few more hours in to the 'Second...' script.
Great catch up with Alan, Steph and our new director, Emily, about the Edinburgh show. Having been rejected by another director earlier this week, it was brilliant to meet Emily who has an outstanding CV (Spamalot, etc) and who totally gets what needs to be done with this script. Lots of exciting chat was had, lots of exciting things in the diary.
Then drum lesson number 5 with Paul M, got him on the complex stuff now.
Still, did some more work plugging the drum lesson business and put a few more hours in to the 'Second...' script.
Great catch up with Alan, Steph and our new director, Emily, about the Edinburgh show. Having been rejected by another director earlier this week, it was brilliant to meet Emily who has an outstanding CV (Spamalot, etc) and who totally gets what needs to be done with this script. Lots of exciting chat was had, lots of exciting things in the diary.
Then drum lesson number 5 with Paul M, got him on the complex stuff now.
Thursday 15th February 2018
It's just that idea, that idea of 'the second...' show, which really excites me, but given I'm involved in seven others, not sure if it can happen this year. But I can't stop writing the thing.
Totally blitzing my to-do list this week, though, and all PR for forthcoming tour dates is nailed.
Great creative catch up with Izzy to discuss shows and possibilities, and then long but fun rehearsal with Gav and band. Plenty of good things happening.
Totally blitzing my to-do list this week, though, and all PR for forthcoming tour dates is nailed.
Great creative catch up with Izzy to discuss shows and possibilities, and then long but fun rehearsal with Gav and band. Plenty of good things happening.
Thursday, 15 February 2018
Wednesday 14th February 2018
I've totally won at Valentine's Day. I know she's not actually in the country at the moment as she's in Rome on a family visit, but the effort she has still gone to, even remotely, is just amazing. I'm winning at life, I reckon.
Cracking percussion lesson with Tom.
Some contract stuff to sort, both with venues and with teaching stuff, all very grown up and time consuming. Spent two hours working on a millage claim which only came to £6 and wondered why I bother sometimes.
Took Mum shopping, a long shop today as I'm very busy next week.
Got back and suddenly the concept and aim for the kids show made sense, and I'm quite excited about it all now.
Cracking percussion lesson with Tom.
Some contract stuff to sort, both with venues and with teaching stuff, all very grown up and time consuming. Spent two hours working on a millage claim which only came to £6 and wondered why I bother sometimes.
Took Mum shopping, a long shop today as I'm very busy next week.
Got back and suddenly the concept and aim for the kids show made sense, and I'm quite excited about it all now.
Tuesday 13th February 2018
In a slightly odd turn of events, the director we initially wanted for the Sparks show turned it down, as she didn't like the script, but Alan then sent it on to somebody else who really, really likes it and we're meeting on Friday. Can't say too much more, but her CV is incredible and she seems to totally get what we're trying to do here, which is very exciting. It's all very exciting.
Slightly hungover from impromptu drinks with my mate Vicky last night.
Great drum lesson with a student I haven't seen for a while as he's been travelling India for a month, but is now back to weekly lessons and really getting into it again.
Worked really hard on the kids show tonight but it isn't quite gelling as a script just yet.
Slightly hungover from impromptu drinks with my mate Vicky last night.
Great drum lesson with a student I haven't seen for a while as he's been travelling India for a month, but is now back to weekly lessons and really getting into it again.
Worked really hard on the kids show tonight but it isn't quite gelling as a script just yet.
Monday 12th February 2018
The start of what on paper seems like a very quiet week, which is always dangerous. Spent the morning just trying to get an extra couple of drum student clients in - I'm only a few off being really comfortable with this, so sent our a LOT of emails to various contacts. A new school already signed up, which is great.
Also spent quite a lot of time chatting to a few people about my 'Kitchen Sink Drama' concept, which will happen at some point before the summer.
Writing like crazy, so many ideas but am doing everything properly this year.
Also spent quite a lot of time chatting to a few people about my 'Kitchen Sink Drama' concept, which will happen at some point before the summer.
Writing like crazy, so many ideas but am doing everything properly this year.
Monday, 12 February 2018
Sunday 11th February 2018
A had to get up early as she sings in a choir, but I slept in till midday and never really woke up all day.
Still, taught a convincing drum lesson in the afternoon, before a perfect Sunday combo of great company, great food and the IT Crowd.
Bits of 'life jigsaw' are very much falling into place at the moment.
Still, taught a convincing drum lesson in the afternoon, before a perfect Sunday combo of great company, great food and the IT Crowd.
Bits of 'life jigsaw' are very much falling into place at the moment.
Saturday 10th February 2018
Saturday seems to be very much the day of the week where I earn the most money; two lessons - both amazing (seriously, young Alexandra is 7 years old and can now play the whole of Mr Bluesky on the kit perfectly - it's not an easy track!), and then over to the studio with FH to rehearse ahead of the evening gig.
Another friend died today (not the one I visited yesterday), I almost feel guilty that my own life is working out when there's so much bad happening to those around me.
After the studio (which felt tense), off to play in Cambridge. Totally stormed it tonight, we're so on it at the moment, a great mix of the old and new stuff.
Another friend died today (not the one I visited yesterday), I almost feel guilty that my own life is working out when there's so much bad happening to those around me.
After the studio (which felt tense), off to play in Cambridge. Totally stormed it tonight, we're so on it at the moment, a great mix of the old and new stuff.
Friday 9th February 2018
Technically my day off, went to visit and old school friend who sadly has a brain tumour (diagnosed just before Christmas) and doesn't have long to live. It really shook me up, he's (obviously) not in a great way. He needs us around him, will man up and visit again very soon and stop being so emotional about it all.
Then over to Mums, took her shopping and nailed the structure for 'Bobby Hero: Book 2'.
Met my young lady's friends in the evening, which could have been scary but they were very lovely and it was a great evening. Went to a couple pubs then to watch the comedy at Relevant, it was a lovely evening.
Then over to Mums, took her shopping and nailed the structure for 'Bobby Hero: Book 2'.
Met my young lady's friends in the evening, which could have been scary but they were very lovely and it was a great evening. Went to a couple pubs then to watch the comedy at Relevant, it was a lovely evening.
Thursday 8th February 2018
Working on a new show, which is always dangerous because the other 7 aren't quite in shape, just yet. This is the year I'll make all of these things happen, and properly.
Did a 3-hour 'child protection' course online for a school I'll be teaching at soon.
Teaching science was a disaster today, I got very shouty but they deserved it - that class is totally out of control. A couple more drum students and I'm out of here.
Drum lesson in the evening with one of my regulars was just great, he's just improving so much every week and it's a joy to see this progress.
Great catch up with Edd over fine pizza and great comedy.
Did a 3-hour 'child protection' course online for a school I'll be teaching at soon.
Teaching science was a disaster today, I got very shouty but they deserved it - that class is totally out of control. A couple more drum students and I'm out of here.
Drum lesson in the evening with one of my regulars was just great, he's just improving so much every week and it's a joy to see this progress.
Great catch up with Edd over fine pizza and great comedy.
Wednesday 7th February 2018
Long morning catching up on emails and being frustrated that my to-do list is longer than the hours I have in the day.
Put in the fringe application for the compilation show I'm doing with Bim, Nessie and Ali.
Regular lesson at the college was great fun, the Chinese kids have so much respect - an absolute joy to to teach.
Evening, now that I'm 'proper' boyfriend, went with A to dance lessons. Terryfying stuff, in all honesty - I really, really can't dance yet everyone else really, really could. Amazing company all the same, though.
Put in the fringe application for the compilation show I'm doing with Bim, Nessie and Ali.
Regular lesson at the college was great fun, the Chinese kids have so much respect - an absolute joy to to teach.
Evening, now that I'm 'proper' boyfriend, went with A to dance lessons. Terryfying stuff, in all honesty - I really, really can't dance yet everyone else really, really could. Amazing company all the same, though.
Tuesday 6th February 2018
Signed the dotted line for one of my fringe shows; quite ironic that the only one I've confirmed so far is the only one I haven't actually written yet. It's an easy show, though, I'm more comfortable with this than anything I've ever done before.
Negotiations with the other venues continued for the 'paid' stuff, and I've been jotting down more ideas than I can possibly handle. As always.
Tom came over for his first percussion lesson and that was great - he was really starting to nail it already.
The science lesson was messy, as always, and a teacher next door complained about the noise we were making. Whatever.
First drum lesson with a new student after that, went well - really well, and his parents have signed me up for weekly sessions.
Got back, dumped my car and then ran over to the Tram to catch the comedy night there and catch up with comedian friends. We're all totally in fringe mode, it's like we don't have the ability to chat about anything else at the moment.
Negotiations with the other venues continued for the 'paid' stuff, and I've been jotting down more ideas than I can possibly handle. As always.
Tom came over for his first percussion lesson and that was great - he was really starting to nail it already.
The science lesson was messy, as always, and a teacher next door complained about the noise we were making. Whatever.
First drum lesson with a new student after that, went well - really well, and his parents have signed me up for weekly sessions.
Got back, dumped my car and then ran over to the Tram to catch the comedy night there and catch up with comedian friends. We're all totally in fringe mode, it's like we don't have the ability to chat about anything else at the moment.
Monday, 5 February 2018
Monday 5th February 2018
The fringe stuff (with the free shows and the paid one) is all starting to come together nicely, finally.
Long day of proper work stuff - my tutorial for the science malarkey in the morning, followed by actually teaching it (it's a different assignment every week I have to learn). Even though I was teaching robots, which is a fun subject, it was still absolute chaos at times. Still, the kids enjoyed it.
Then a double drum lesson in the evening which was nice, I understand drums, I like teaching drums - I like spotting their progress and the glimmer in their eyes when it's working.
Got back, did a bit of fringe admin (I'm totally getting everything write this year) and jotted down ideas for an amazing show that I don't have time to write properly this...well, year, I imagine.
Long day of proper work stuff - my tutorial for the science malarkey in the morning, followed by actually teaching it (it's a different assignment every week I have to learn). Even though I was teaching robots, which is a fun subject, it was still absolute chaos at times. Still, the kids enjoyed it.
Then a double drum lesson in the evening which was nice, I understand drums, I like teaching drums - I like spotting their progress and the glimmer in their eyes when it's working.
Got back, did a bit of fringe admin (I'm totally getting everything write this year) and jotted down ideas for an amazing show that I don't have time to write properly this...well, year, I imagine.
Sunday 4th February 2018
First Edinburgh fringe venue offer in; feels good to get that in the diary in quite good time. It's for the show about Joe Jackson, and will run for all 3 weeks.
Morning drum lesson with Paul M was superb, and then meeting about our new promo video with the band, which was very productive.
Date 3 tonight was amazing. It's probably best I don't talk anymore about that stuff on here, but all feels good with the world.
Morning drum lesson with Paul M was superb, and then meeting about our new promo video with the band, which was very productive.
Date 3 tonight was amazing. It's probably best I don't talk anymore about that stuff on here, but all feels good with the world.
Saturday 3rd February 2018
Was up till late working on fringe admin, and then this morning doing the same thing. It feels like myself and my team are very much on the same page, though.
3 drum lessons, all great fun and all continued repeat bookings, which is great.
Evening beers with Rob and Darren (who I haven't seen in YEARS), great fun.
3 drum lessons, all great fun and all continued repeat bookings, which is great.
Evening beers with Rob and Darren (who I haven't seen in YEARS), great fun.
Friday, 2 February 2018
Friday 2nd January 2018
I think I know I'm dating the right girl when she thinks that my mum knitting the dog a scarf is a good thing. I just see it as dementia, or something.
My one day off for the week, but never actually a day off when you're self-employed so spent the morning chatting to my teaching agent and have agreed to some more stuff for next week, and then did some fringe venue research alongside the continued negotiations.
Took Mum shopping, which gave me the opportunity to continue writing my football story.
Evening chat on the phone to G about band stuff, and then on Facebook to Steph about the show and how we can make this into something amazing.
So much on my to-do list that I haven't achieved yet.
My one day off for the week, but never actually a day off when you're self-employed so spent the morning chatting to my teaching agent and have agreed to some more stuff for next week, and then did some fringe venue research alongside the continued negotiations.
Took Mum shopping, which gave me the opportunity to continue writing my football story.
Evening chat on the phone to G about band stuff, and then on Facebook to Steph about the show and how we can make this into something amazing.
So much on my to-do list that I haven't achieved yet.
Thursday 1st February 2018
Morning spent chasing up invoices, mostly from the New Year's Eve gig - the Embankment in Nottingham should be ashamed for how long they take to pay their entertainment acts, it's actually insulting.
Last night has got me all excited about life again. Calm down, Richards.
Taught my first science class without any other teachers. The usual chaos, but got through it. Was a lot of clearing up at the end, though.
Evening gig with FH, first of the year, tiny venue, sold out. 90 minutes of quite angry, punchy but brilliant stuff, a band so on the edge (we travelled in separate cars again tonight, this was becoming a worrying trend at the end of 2017) but so magical for it. We can fight for this.
Last night has got me all excited about life again. Calm down, Richards.
Taught my first science class without any other teachers. The usual chaos, but got through it. Was a lot of clearing up at the end, though.
Evening gig with FH, first of the year, tiny venue, sold out. 90 minutes of quite angry, punchy but brilliant stuff, a band so on the edge (we travelled in separate cars again tonight, this was becoming a worrying trend at the end of 2017) but so magical for it. We can fight for this.
Wednesday 31st January 2018
Finally paid my tax, having gotten mightily confused by the website. That was cutting it very fine this year.
Caught up on that, and various other bits of admin, in the morning, before working on the kids show for a bit.
Taught a drum lesson at the college which was great, as always at that college the standards are high - both musically and their manners.
In the evening had my second date, it was amazing, she totally is, it works so well, that's all I need to put on here about that, really. This might actually be a brilliant year.
Caught up on that, and various other bits of admin, in the morning, before working on the kids show for a bit.
Taught a drum lesson at the college which was great, as always at that college the standards are high - both musically and their manners.
In the evening had my second date, it was amazing, she totally is, it works so well, that's all I need to put on here about that, really. This might actually be a brilliant year.
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