Resolutions resolutions? In 2024 I, Chris East, resolve to be “a person who makes comedy”. A person who makes comedy happen.
I have a day job. I don’t want to talk about it, and talking about it is a habit I’m trying really hard to break. How do you answer the question “and what do you do?” when you meet someone new? It’s the type of small talk designed for 1950s dinner parties where the attendees are just happy to have survived WW2 and get back to their non-wartime vocations, brimming with vim they declare “I am so glad you asked, please, take a seat as I tell you about the ins and outs of the ancient art of door hinge manufacturing, a field in which I am employed at quite a prominent level.” I’ve trained myself not to immediately answer with the job that pays me the bulk of my income, but instead - “I make comedy”.
I MAKE COMEDY
I make comedy. It’s easier than calling yourself a comedian. ‘I make comedy’ is all encompassing. It’s what I want to do, what I want to be known for, and the way I’d like new strangers I meet in bus queues and doctors offices to think of me.
And make comedy I shall. Things I am doing this year -
> At least 6 new Dip shows at MAP Studio Cafe in Kentish Town (as pictured above)
> A series of split WIP shows in February and March with my good pal Ben Goldsmith under the name ‘The Goldsmith & East Character Comedy Hour’ in at least 3 different UK cities.
> Make and publish video with my friends via Orca Comedy
> WIP of my own solo show at Brighton Fringe with the working title My Brain is Soup, Your Hands are the Spoons. (An early poster can be seen below. I don’t know if it’ll stick, but it’s what I’ve got for now)
> Take that same WIP to Edinburgh for that August fest everyone is always going on about.
> An exciting new monthly project in London. Honestly very excited about this. I’ll let you know more about it next time, as well as how you can get involved. Sorry to be a tease.
This is all in addition to the other very fun gigs I have in my calendar and I’d love to add more.
This first post was light. A little primer for what’s going on, and honestly useful for me personally to put these things out there for the sake of being intentional. If you want to do stuff, say it out loud, tell other people, don’t just keep it in a corner of your brain.