Glasgow Comedy Festival Blog: Regrets – I may well have a few

Monday dawns bright and sunny in Glasgow.  The weekend is over and it seems to have been rather more hardcore on the drinking and carousing side. I met many a comic in varying states trying desperately to remember what happened the night before. One lovely comic woke up with magic marker all over his arm and a swastika on his hand. He couldn’t remember who did it. But at least he removed the swastika before gigging again. 

I did not get drunk this weekend. I am saving it for the last night of the festival where I intend to get very drunk in celebration of the end of a long month of comedy. It seems to be going very well so far though – everyone I have spoken to seems to be pleased, with the only complaint being the lack of free Magners at a Magners sponsored festival. Personally I detest the stuff so it makes no odds to me. 

Yesterday afternoon I headlined Lemoncustard, a glorious afternoon gig at Brel in the West End. It is genuinely lovely to be part of and Siân Bevan and Dee Custance MC it beautifully. Then in the evening I was fortunate enough to catch the last part of Stewart Francis gig at the Stand – he is a master joke teller and a treat to watch. After the gig I caught up with the gorgeous Zoe Lyons and Lucy Porter who were both been performing their solo shows that night. I also bumped in to the lovely Jim Muir – otherwise known as the Rev Obadiah Steppenwolfe III. You may or may not be aware of the current controversy surrounding the Rev. If you are not, the summary is that the Rev did a gig at a student union, he said things that offended some people, some people are trying to get him banned from all NUS venues, the Rev has offered to have a debate about the issue (more on this here). The reason why it is so personal to me is that the comments were made to a member of the LGBT society and being a young gay at one point myself I appreciate how some would have been upset at some of the comments which were allegedly made. I believe the feminists may have got it in the neck as well.  But on the other hand the Rev and Jim are two of my favourite people and the Rev makes me laugh like a loon. 

Now I don’t know who the exact panel is – I had heard it was the Rev, Tom Stade and Frankie Boyle (that may be untrue) but what I do know is a debate against those men (or any of the possible comics suggested to me ) would be a massacre. I feel really strongly that I would always defend a comics right to tell a joke which may be offensive but I also defend the right of people to be offended. I have voiced my concerns about this and Jim asked me yesterday if I wanted to adjudicate the debate. I have agreed on a number of conditions  

1.       It is clear I am supporting neither side and am genuinely there to ensure that there is some order.

2.       If they don’t pay attention to the rules I will walk out

3.       If it turns into gay bashing I will walk out

Some people may wonder why I am getting involved in the whole shenanigan but I would be more annoyed if the debate happened without someone trying to ensure some sort of fairness.  If the comics involved do not stick to the agreement I will have no problem in calling them a dick. If I stood by and moaned from the sidelines I would be of no use to anyone and at least I can call a little bit of my previous life to try and maintain some order.   

I will blog again and let you know how it goes. I hope I don’t regret it.