The Rich Are Happy + Extra Normal Game Date
One of the overlooked harms created by the likes of Elon Musk and Donald Trump is that they perpetuate the idea that the super rich and powerful are actually very sad. That power not only corrupts, but blankets the powerful in a waking malaise that can be seen on the face, felt in the body and deteriorates the soul. The riches themselves make you angry and lonely. The coins make you cry.
While much of the heft behind this myth is powered by the overexamination of capitalism's wettest hierophants, it's also soaked into the cloth of prestige media. I've watched so much stuff about the turmoil of wealth. And I get it. No one wants a story about a happy billionaire. I don't. And you've got to imagine writing about the rich is easier, lets you do more with imagination and a budget. compare being a writer for a sitcom like Frasier, where you can do an episode about owning a restaurant because the main character has enough money to do so, than on The Royle Family where the restrictions of poverty are turned into a feature by necessity.
But come on. The Rich aren't sad. The Rich are happy. That's the problem.
Suffering's a strange thing. Having something and losing it feels worse than never having it. I once bought a loaf of bread from marks and spencers and it made my normal bread taste like shit.
Drawing
I've taken up drawing. It feels a funny time for it when a sector of the population have decided that human-made art is over. But someone's got to create stuff to feed into the model, I suppose. It began in August when I discovered that exceptional comedian Nate Kitch is also a renowned illustrator. Something about it really flipped a switch in my brain. It helped me understand his comedy a lot better, but also I suddenly realised all the conceptual limitations I've had with making my own graphics and illustrations over the years.
So for inktober I've been drawing animals. I recommend starting with animals. None of my people resemble themselves. But if I draw a squirrel, it just needs to look at like a squirrel. No one's going to tell me I've drawn the wrong squirrel.
They say once you do a lot of reference drawing you get better at looking. This morning I saw a man pridefully pluck a single orange leaf from the top of his car before getting inside. He was illegally parked outside a kebab shop, blocking the entire pavement.
I'm Number 6
Mark Muldoon from the British Comedy Guide has compiled a list of the 100 best comedy shows of the last 10 years. He must really like comedy. I'm number six, with I Apologise For My Recent Behaviour at Vault Festival in 2019. That's an interesting choice-date combo. I liked vault festival. I liked that at any moment a train would rumble over the ceiling. If I designed a show that at any time could start vibrating loudly people would say it was a needless intrusion, but when it actually can't be helped it's really something magical.
Extra Normal Game Date: Leeds
OK. There's an extra date added for Normal Game. It's coming to Wharf Chambers Leeds on Sunday 22nd November. That's in 3 weeks - which isn't long. Their wifi was broken so I was going to skip it, but now it's fixed so what the heck! Let's Normal!
Tickets here! Like with all Normal Game dates, you can get 20% off with code NORMORL.
Live Dates
BIRMINGHAM - Normal Game - Nov 19
MANCHESTER - Normal Game - Dec 06
SHEFFIELD - Normal Game - Dec 11
LONDON - Weekend At Dads at Backyard Comedy Club - Dec 15th
LEICESTER - Backchannel - Feb 8th
Even more things to come so stay tuned and remember to stockpile essential items.
