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Hey Reader,

I wanna be adored.

(gold star to you if you get the song reference)

We all want to be adored, right?

Especially those of us who are performers in one way or another.

Which is why, as often as possible, I put myself on a stage and deliberately try to make strangers laugh.

But actually, being adored isn’t the point; it just feels that way until the magic happens.

What we really want is to make a connection: to see and be seen, and make ourselves understood.

On Friday night I went back to The Piston Distillery in Worcester, to the comedy night hosted by Mr Dave James, and this time I took the Pogfather with me.

My friend James Pogson did his first ever stand-up comedy set this Hallowe’en and I honestly don’t even know what to say.

He absolutely KILLED IT. He was SERIOUSLY GOOD.

I wasn’t bad either… at least, nobody threw anything at me so I’m calling that a win.

But my biggest win?

This note James sent me afterwards:

I mean, I’ll always crowbar someone onto a comedy stage if they want to do it because honestly it’s such a rush, but the part that made me cry?

I inspired his niece.

I INSPIRED A YOUNG WOMAN I’D NEVER MET BEFORE.

I made her feel seen, and understood, and showed her she’s not alone, and that is all I ever want to do with my writing.

And the Pogfather inspired ME. So did Dave. They are so comfortable on that stage and I aspire to that level of “I belong here mo-fo.”

So that’s what I’m working on over the next few months: putting myself on as many stages as I can and building an act and a talk that I can be proud of.

The biggest one in the pipeline this year is Bristol Ultra Comedy: on Sunday December 14 I’ll be performing in Bristol on a terrifyingly large stage with a group of other newbie comedians and tickets are available now.

We each get a 5-minute spot and it’s in aid of charity.

If you’d like to come along I would LOVE that.

You can get a ticket from here (please put my name in the box when you’re prompted to do so).

Or if you can’t come to the show but would like to support my charity, Medicins Sans Frontieres, you can donate here (even a couple of quid is amazing).

Thank you, you’ve been a brilliant audience!

TTFN,

Vicky 🫡

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