Hello there! Don’t worry unduly, I’m not actually angry. That’s the title of the poem I plan to sit at the end of this post. I realise I didn’t write about my last gig – I wasn’t too sure if anyone’d be too interested in stories about gigs now they’re normal occurances. It was fun though sparsely attended. An audience of 4…who incidentally all had four letter names! I wore my favourite teal skater dress and poemed and sang as per normal. Here are a couple of pics from just after I got changed.
I was a guest of The Creative Martyrs at their monthly cabaret entitled The Sinister Wink. They amongst my very favourite performers and I was suitably honoured to be sharing a stage with them. Also performing were Jack Squat (whom I cannot do justice to describe with mere words) and Luna TikTok who was an awesome burlesque dancer. She wowed us with a routine inspired by Vampira and ‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’. It was a very intimate evening and I really enjoyed the show. I didn’t however enjoy the heat…which will become a recurring menace for the next batch of gigs I think. I wouldn’t normally choose to crossdress in the thick of the summer but now I absolutely have to as I’ve accrued some commitments 😄.
Last week marked a new first for me as it happens, I was attending a cabaret as Anna but not performing. It was also the first time I ventured outside in daylight and boarded a train to the gig. My debut Anna performance doesn’t count as the evenings in February are dark and therefore not daylight. Nothing untoward happened (apart from the damned heat ruining my carefully applied eye make-up). It was great fun! I got a chance to speak to a bunch of people and network as well. I met up with a couple of ladies who I’d briefly spoke to at the last All Sorts night Deborah and her friend Bea. Also I won a prize in the raffle which I sadly must have left at the venue. It was a scented candle as I recall 😯.
That last pic was taken by Deborah, she sent me a few but this was the best one.
I had a gig on Thursday night which I discussed in my last post. It was a real poetry and spoken word night so it was rather different to the cabarets I’m used to. I got changed in work again and damn me if it wasn’t even hotter this time on the train. Luckily I wore sunglasses this time so I didn’t look as messy. I had gotten myself really nervous this time but it turns out I needn’t have worried. It was a very interesting evening. Very inspirational indeed and I came away brimming with possibilities again. I was put on first which was fine by me as it meant I could relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening. I did a few choice favourites plus my equality poem which went well. My whole set did well luckily. There was laughter in all the right places! There was no photography on the night but I took a few snaps before ‘normalizing’.
It all got me really fired up for next few gigs. I’ve managed to infiltrate a night at the Classic Grand in Glasgow next Thursday called ‘Jamfest’. It’s not like a normal gig, there is a line-up but there’s also the bonus of being able to cross pollinate and jam with each other too! I fully intend to try a song out by recruiting a bassist and drummer on the hoof :). Including that show I have a total of 5 to look forward to up to November when I play the Burlesque Festival. Definitely shaping up to be an exciting few months!
So I shall end on a wee work in progess called… <br><br>
‘Angry at Shadows'<br><br>
Happily stealing
leftover feelings
scrape them away
like potato peelings
words are for writing
and sometimes igniting
the fire inside
when it’s time for fighting<br><br>
The syllables mounting
practically shouting
no virtue is made
of the facts they are doubting
geniuses fading
once were so laiden
with fantastic ideas
they’re no longer parading<br><br>
Movement is lyrical
moonlight is cynical
the risk of opinion
is swapped for a miracle
my temper forgot
it happens a lot
he has such a shit memory
of what he’s been taught
💋💋💋
Well done on the train ride.
Thank you! I listened to music so I had something to concentrate on X
Who doesn’t want to know about your success? I DO! You are looking so lush and so confident. I just love seeing this side to you Anna. You are living life not merely existing and it is a pleasure to witness xxx
Thank you Daisy, you’re very kind indeed! It’s been great fun recently. I do hope you’ve been having a suitably awesome weekend. Sadly I’m back to work after a week off – must try and take a fortnight next time 😄 xxx
Looking good. Love the ‘work in progress’
Thank you, you’re very kind indeed! X
Awesome poem. Shit memory…fantastic
Thank you! I thought I could have made it longer but who truly wants to hear a long poem? 😄
Fantastic! 🙂