New Comedy recordings from the studio...

I have been a busy fella of late and have no idea how I am going to catch up with my work load. Even had to knock back a guest spot at the Fringe doing some stand-up simply due to lack of time. Having spent the last 5 years consolidating my performing and the direction, once again I am going to have to make some choice about what to concentrate upon.

Which means doing less of some and more of others. Damn it that means some serious thinking time is on the cards and I really really do not like pruning my projects. It is the only drawback of doing what I love for a living. Thinking gives me brain ache when I have to do this. I still remember when I started and the amount of effort put into getting any sort of a gig. Now I can be more selective and the work offers come in as well and I still want to do all of them in my heart even if I know that some will be a challenge to do well. And that is the crux of my quandary when it comes to this. THE CHALLENGE to do a good show in a place that it going to be really hard for it to happen is invigorating and I firmly believe is beneficial. Sure it is great to walk out in front of an audience that is in tune with the act and medium of stand up comedy for entertainment. But performing in front of a new or unsure audience is by far and above a thrill when I have to work hard to get them laughing.

On another subject matter is lately i have had to start working on accents for tv and film auditions. Something that I have hardly ever done so for your listening critique click the link and listen to my recent attempts...

http://www.reverbnation.com/geoffdening

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

My TV Auditions for 2008 so far...

2008 has started off with leaps and bounds career wise. Seems to be another decade ago that just before Xmas I was musing over what I would have to do to get the ball rolling for myself. Mind you dear readers I tend to be impatient and never satisfied that I am doing enough even if that is not the case. Getting work is not a problem for me as a performer, it is one of the oddest of circumstances that it does take time to prepare and develop a career and I have done that quite well in my opinion and I am happy with my progress. The catch 22 is that for some reason the instant gratification and result I derive from doing stand-up has some warped manner of creeping into the reality of setting up and preparing for future projects and shows. Ridiculous as it may seem a performance is simply that and is nothing to do with the 'admin.' side of the business yet it has the tendency to interfere with my happy demeanour.

Here I am nearing the end of February and so far have eight tv auditions under my belt this year and two feature film auditions coming up in March. I made a decision in late 2006 to start a concerted effort to do more tv and film work as a goal and this has been well worth the effort. It is a long way from success be sure of that but the progress from doing tv commercials to getting a screen credit took eight years of work and has made the results of the past 12 months possible.

The most important ingredient is professional feedback to be able to gauge my progress. Not being a particularly talented actor and with a limited range in my skill is not a problem. That can only improve and fortunately I have been auditioning with a production company and their review team for the various roles I have gone for have been sensational to say the least. While the early reviews were simply encouraging and a basic recognition of my ability to do better, now they are concise and push for me to discover and develop my performances to new levels and complimenting the bits they find to be good and at times excellent.

Wishing you all a happy and fruitful 2008 and here are some auditions so far, the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
The Directions for the auditions in their order on my blogg were

1) J.O. is a very bouncy and jovial character who likes nothing more to string along gag after gag. However, being a lawyer, his approach is not always in the best taste. J.O. hosts a phone in consumer legal service, like you might find on a radio programme. His Eddie Murphy style delivery contrasts inappropriately with the sober nature of the enquiries. One thing is for sure, he does not respect the law.

2) Dave Grohl is famously "the nicest man in Rock", however we all have limits... Now that Dave is a successful rock star, he wants to use his considerable influence to do good in the world. Dave wants to spend more time offering his sage advice to vulnerable celebrities, and to encourage them to help him with numerous worthwhile causes.

3) Public Member 7 asks a question to Richard Branson

WORLD CHAMPION PUMPKIN GROWER, yes I am!!!

As the self declared World Champion pumpkin grower, after washing my hands from toiling in the best pumpkin patch in the world it would be remiss of me not to pen an acceptance speech.

Big credit goes to ME for finally realising that the funny looking plants that were sprouting among my Mint were not mint which is probably why when I used them in cooking, the food did not taste 'minty' at all. Hey herbs have lots of funny looking leaves and I checked them by seeing if they smelt like mint, and they did. Admittedly sprouting among a patch of mint there was not much chance of them not.

Anyways being the inquisitive type and seeing how I did not get ill or grow hairs out my ears after eating them as failed flavouring condiments. I decided to plant them and see what happened. I am the now proud horticultural GOD OF PUMPKIN. No... please, stand erect, the genuflecting is accepted but let my false modesty reign for a little while.... That's long enough back to genuflecting now.

Not one to rest on my omnipotent laurels as GOD OF PUMPKIN the everlasting SPRITE OF CHERRY TOMATO's will now be added to my deity status. Yes, next to the sacred Pumpkin Patch is the Grove of Tomato. with so many cherry red fruits ripening that it is quite possibly going to resolve world hunger. If I was predisposed to sharing them instead of strutting around alternating Gardening Hats and rearranging hoes and rakes and stuff so it looks busy.

It is true, I have not stopped there either, embarking on creating the Compost Heap of Ascension so when the season is past the World Champion Pumpkin and Tomato plants will go there to become the base for next season.

Yes dear readers, I have created a pile of fertile crap from being dazed and confused by MINT. Which proves that crap can come from the most unexpected quarters if you look hard enough for it.

Be happy and have a great day, Get up now, genuflection can cause carpet burn and I am a kind GOD of PUMPKIN.

Thank you for your time and attention, Geoff

How to shop and save your male sanity at the same time!

Some things just make me laugh usually the stupid or sublimely stupid with planning. This piece I had sent to me is one of those as these thought have crossed my mind at times and occaisionally I have done little antics in Supermarkets to amuse myself.
Proof of what can happen if a wife or girlfriend drags her husband orBoyfriend along shopping . This letter was (apparently) recently sentby an unnamed supermarket' s Head Office to a customer in Oxford:
Dear Mrs. Murray,
While we thank you for your valued custom and use of the LoyaltyCard, the Manager of our store in Banbury is considering banning youand your family from shopping with us, unless your husband stops hisantics.
Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified byour surveillance cameras:
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them inpeople's trolleys when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading tofeminine products aisle.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an officialtone, "Code 3" in housewares.. ... And watched what happened.
5. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
6. September 15: Set up a tent in the outdoor clothing department andtold shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring sausages and aCalor gas stove.
7. September 23: When the Deputy Manager asked if she could help him,he began to cry and asked, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
8. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as amirror, picked his nose, and ate it.
9. November 10: While appearing to be choosing kitchen knives in thehousewares aisle asked an assistant if he knew where theantidepressants were.
10. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly hummingthe "Mission Impossible" theme.
11. December 6: In the kitchenware aisle, practiced the "Madonnalook" Using different size funnels.
12. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed,yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
13. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker,assumed the fetal position and screamed "NO! NO! It's those voicesagain."
And; last, but not least:
14. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile; then yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here."
Yours sincerely,
Store Manager